Propping her chin on one hand, Song Wanníng blinked slowly. A spark of human warmth flickered in her otherwise cool gaze, like a wisp of smoke drifting through a starry sky.
"This Zhēnjūn has a question. How can we be sure that the poison... was not produced during Ye Chuxue's alchemy?"
Her lips curved with an almost imperceptible hint of amusement, too quick to catch.
A chill crept down Ye Chuxue's spine. Her brows pinched sharply.
"Impossible. Every step of my pill refinement follows the legacy of the Yaowang Sect to the letter. How could it produce poison?"
She raised her voice a little, sharp and clear. "I know that Martial Aunt Song once visited the ruins of the Yaowang Sect and left empty-handed. Perhaps that has left her with resentment. But the Yaowang Sect was a top-tier sect in the ancient era. Their pill formulas are flawless."
Since things had already turned ugly, her words grew sharper as well.
Song Wanníng had done all this out of nothing more than jealousy over her inheritance. Wasn't it obvious?
"Lan Le already said the pill formula has no issue," the Sect Master added from the side, openly siding with Ye Chuxue.
There was no going back to the peaceful coexistence he once had with Song Wanníng. He might as well fully back Ye Chuxue.
Even if the old ancestor was biased, surely she wouldn't go so far as to slander Ye Chuxue without reason.
"Oh?"
Song Wanníng tilted her head slightly, eyes gleaming with mockery like polished glass.
"This Zhēnjūn has long said the Sect Master is blind. He's clearly unfit to lead a sect."
She sighed and shook her head slowly.
"Song. Wanníng!" the Sect Master grit out through clenched teeth. After holding back again and again, he finally snapped. "What exactly did I say that was wrong? Lan Le said the formula was fine. Did he ever say the refinement process was flawless?"
"Just because it's from the Yaowang Sect, it can't possibly be flawed?"
Song Wanníng leaned back lazily, completely at ease.
"In my view... that's far from certain."
Not only did she question Ye Chuxue, she was casting doubt on the entire Yaowang Sect.
So what if they were once a great sect?
She just didn't get along with the Yaowang Sect. She wanted to drag their reputation through the mud.
"Martial Aunt Song!" Ye Chuxue finally couldn't hold back. "If there really was a problem with my pill refinement," she said sharply, "I'm willing to accept punishment in the Corrosion Wind Cavern."
"But if I prove that my process is sound—what then?"
She stared directly at Song Wanníng, eyes full of challenge.
"Chuxue!" Gu Qingyuan frowned, just about to speak when Ye Chuxue shook her head at him.
"Trust me, Master. I've done nothing wrong." She had full confidence in herself and in the legacy she received.
There was no way she'd make a mistake.
Gu Qingyuan fell silent, choosing to believe in her.
The scene between master and disciple landed squarely in Song Wanníng's eyes. Her smile deepened, but her gaze turned sharper.
"And what do you want, then?" she asked, voice lazy but dangerous.
"You must apologize—to me, to my Master, to Senior Brother Bai, and to An Ze!" Ye Chuxue responded immediately, drawing all of them to her side.
No matter how strong Song Wanníng was, those around her would still favor Ye Chuxue in the end.
All her scheming would amount to nothing.
"Very well."
Song Wanníng agreed without hesitation.
"This Zhēnjūn isn't the type to act unreasonably, after all. Don't you agree? Hehehe..."
She covered her mouth and let out a soft laugh.
Ye Chuxue felt her scalp tingle.
After that earlier fright, even a smile from Song Wanníng now felt terrifying.
Steadying herself, she drew out her alchemy tools from her storage ring.
A top-tier pill furnace. High-grade spirit herbs. Refined spirit liquid.
She first took a pill to replenish her spiritual energy, then began refining the pill in full view of everyone.
"Lan Le," Song Wanníng called with a smile, "you'd better keep your eyes wide open. Let's see just how powerful the Yaowang Sect legacy really is."
Lan Le's expression stiffened. Internally, he cursed nonstop. All he ever wanted was to refine pills in peace. Why did he have to get dragged into something so messy?
Still, he had always been curious about the Yaowang Sect's legacy. This might be a good chance to observe it firsthand.
"Whoa, Senior Sister Ye is going to refine a pill right here?"
"We'll get to witness it live!"
"The ancient Yaowang Sect used to be second to none. If she's mastered their legacy, she'll be someone truly untouchable in the future!"
"And when that happens, our Wentian Sect's prestige will rise with her! Hahaha!"
Whispers spread among the disciples, full of admiration for Ye Chuxue.
Compared to the aloof and distant Song Wanníng, Ye Chuxue clearly won more hearts.
Many silently hoped Ye Chuxue would pull off a victory and slap Song Wanníng in the face—just to show everyone who the true alchemy prodigy of Wentian Sect really was.
Time ticked by. Ye Chuxue's pill refinement entered a steady rhythm.
She soon forgot her surroundings and immersed herself in the process. Her fire control, her movements, all of it flowed like a graceful dance, pleasing to the eye.
Even Song Wanníng had to admit—Ye Chuxue truly was talented in the path of alchemy.
She didn't even need to work half as hard as she once had, yet in just half a year she had reached a level others might spend decades or centuries pursuing.
But so what?
When faced with her, even the most gifted would have their wings broken.
The higher they soared, the harder they would fall.
As the process reached the critical fusion stage, Ye Chuxue added the decoction of Wangchuan Grass, then followed with Qijian Flower, bullroot powder, Tianshan Snow Lotus, and Bodhi Leaf...
The order was correct.
Lan Le nodded in approval. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
First it was Song Wanníng, now Ye Chuxue. With talent like this on either side, how was anyone else supposed to live? He sighed inwardly and looked back toward the cauldron, only to suddenly freeze.
"That's wrong... something's off... it's all wrong!"
Lan Le jolted to his senses and quickly raised his voice, startling Ye Chuxue so badly her spiritual energy slipped. "The fusion process is incorrect. You did the steps wrong!"
He rushed forward, ignoring Ye Chuxue's pale face and pointing at the mix in the furnace.
"You combined them in the wrong sequence!"
"The Tianshan Snow Lotus and Qijian Flower may both be mild in nature, but they can't be fused first. They must be separately integrated with the other liquids first, then combined together. That's how you reduce pill toxicity!"
"The way you're doing it only amplifies the poison!"
Pill refinement was a precise art. A single misstep could ruin the batch, or worse, cost lives.
Ye Chuxue had clearly made a mistake.
"That's impossible! The legacy explicitly lays it out in that order!"
Ye Chuxue shot back without hesitation. "The Yaowang Sect's methods differ from ordinary pill refining. That's to be expected!"
"But that doesn't mean my method is wrong!"
The implication was clear—someone like Lan Le, a mere "ordinary alchemist," had no right to question her.
Lan Le's face turned a terrible shade.
Song Wanníng couldn't help letting out a soft laugh.