It wasn't that everyone was deliberately ganging up on Song Wanníng, but the worst alchemy furnace on stage was still a fourth-grade furnace. What about Song Wanníng's furnace?
It couldn't even be called first-grade.
Showing that off was only embarrassing.
And later, don't let her use the furnace as an excuse to cover herself.
Among the crowd, Qin Ming and Feng Xue's expressions shifted slightly when they saw this.
"I should have asked Wanníng earlier. It's all my fault. She only recently ascended, how could she have a good furnace? If I had thought of this sooner, she wouldn't have been laughed at!"
Qin Ming's face darkened, full of guilt.
No matter how talented the Martial Nephew was, she just recently ascended. These were details his Martial Uncle self should have handled.
Feng Xue's expression was equally grim. "I heard there's a top-grade furnace at the Qionglai auction house down the mountain. If only I had gone to get it earlier!"
Both felt regret deeply, but Yue Lin and the others remained calm.
"Martial Uncles, don't worry. Senior Sister Song has her own plan."
"Yeah, don't underestimate Senior Sister Song!"
They had already witnessed Song Wanníng's alchemy skills back in the secret realm.
These people were no match for her.
They exchanged looks that clearly said, "I'm here to watch the fun."
While the few distracted, the contest on stage had already begun. This time, to select talent, the contest started directly with refining fifth-grade pills. Victory or defeat would depend mainly on the number of completed pills and their grades.
Once the contest started, no one had time to mock Song Wanníng anymore. Everyone focused all their energy on refining.
From start to finish, Song Wanníng ignored the taunts completely. Words were useless compared to seeing it with one's own eyes. She calmly began preparing the ingredients, then started refining the pills methodically, step by step.
At first, many disciples in the audience still joked about her. After all, no matter how talented, she had just ascended. Where would she find so much time to study alchemy?
Her skills must be poor.
But as time slowly passed, everyone's expressions toward Song Wanníng gradually changed. Not only were her movements clean and efficient, but her speed was incredible.
Other alchemists wore serious faces and moved carefully with each step. But Song Wanníng's smooth, natural actions looked like a graceful dance, enchanting everyone who watched.
Before they realized it, they were completely captivated.
Even Luo Hantian on stage noticed this, his eyes suddenly shining.
Song Wanníng's alchemy skill had to be extremely high!
On the high platform, the Fourth Elder of Guhan Sect stared fixedly, eyes sparkling. As one of Guhan Sect's alchemy grandmaster, she recognized Song Wanníng had reached an ethereal realm in refining.
It was like a cultivator completely immersed in their cultivation, enjoying the process and sinking their mind and body into it.
Pills refined this way would be top-notch in both effectiveness and grade.
"Sect master, why did this girl apprentice so early?"
The Fourth Elder's face showed regret. Such an outstanding junior, if she focused on alchemy, Guhan Sect would soon produce its youngest alchemy grandmaster.
"If she apprenticed under me, I would teach her all my skills!"
The Fourth Elder's love of talent was apparent. After all, Leng Qingzhu knew nothing about alchemy and could offer no help to Song Wanníng.
Luo Hantian smiled quietly at this and said nothing.
If Song Wanníng had no mentor, would the Fourth Elder even have the chance to teach her?
He would have snatched her up long ago.
"I think the disciples in the sect are foolish, thinking they have the right to look down on someone who just ascended."
The Fourth Elder grumbled angrily, clearly displeased with those people.
"To have ascended so early from such a harsh environment in the lower realm and have real skills—she is a true genius and powerhouse! A bunch of shortsighted fools, even with all the favorable conditions, still cannot compare. Yet they smugly congratulate themselves."
Where there are people, there is scheming, especially in the cultivation world.
But these disciples were just foolish.
Luo Hantian twitched an eye and glanced at the Fourth Elder.
Seeing her scowl, he couldn't help but twitch a smile.
So quick to defend? Song Wanníng doesn't even know her yet.
Boom—
A heavy thud sounded as Song Wanníng's furnace lid suddenly flew off, landing on a nearby table. From the furnace rose a faint fragrance of herbs, curling into gentle white smoke. Those close enough took a deep sniff, immediately feeling their spiritual energy surge wildly.
They swallowed hard, stunned, and stared at Song Wanníng.
Only two incense sticks' worth of time had passed, and the pills were already refined?
Song Wanníng looked down at the pills inside the furnace, expression calm, without a hint of surprise. She turned and leisurely sat down in a chair, waiting for the others to finish. Her gaze swept quickly over the others. She roughly guessed which few might be her real opponents.
As for the red-clothed male cultivator, he was indeed quite capable. No wonder he had been so arrogant before.
But...
Song Wanníng's lips curled slightly before her expression quickly masked it.
"Hiss, did Song Wanníng fail or succeed?"
"Probably failed. Look at her expression, she doesn't seem pleased."
"I think she failed too. After all, the strongest, Martial Uncle Li, is still refining, and she's already done. There's no way she's stronger than him."
"Tsk, even if she failed, she looks so calm. I'm ashamed of my own mentality!"
Many disciples watched Song Wanníng closely. She finished too quickly to convince anyone she succeeded. Even some who bet on her winning began to hesitate and regret their naive optimism. They really thought Song Wanníng would create another miracle, but she lost in the first round.
At least she didn't blow up the furnace, so that was a small relief.
Time passed quickly as contestants finished refining one after another. Only two blew up their furnaces and failed, while the others safely removed their lids.
But the results varied, and so did the expressions on everyone's faces. The red-clothed male cultivator looked the happiest. His proud smile was impossible to hide. He boldly raised his eyes to glance at Song Wanníng. He had just seen Song Wanníng fail early on.
Now she was pretending to be mysterious. Did she really think she was some prodigy?
"Now please take out your pills and place them on the trays beside you. Fourth Elder will examine the pills and announce the results of the first round."
The steward elder called out sharply. Everyone quickly took out their pills.
The smile on the red-clothed cultivator's face froze.
Because he found Song Wanníng had really refined pills after all.