"Do not be rude!"
Huo Jinchuan's brow suddenly darkened, and he sharply commanded the woman. The woman's face instantly turned pale, and with a thud, she knelt down.
"Senior, I apologize. I should not have been disrespectful!"
Though she spoke apologetically, her heart was full of anger. Her master already had a fiancée, and the city lord teasing Song Wanníng was an insult to him.
"Heh, no need for that. I was only joking," the city lord said, smiling without warmth. If it weren't for sparing Huo Jinchuan, this rude junior would have been slapped away long ago.
What a nothing.
She withdrew her gaze. Just from that brief interruption, she noticed Song Wanníng had already stopped refining. But this time, the furnace lid remained closed, leaving everyone unable to see inside.
Not even those in Unity stage could peer through—this pill furnace was no ordinary one. A faint gleam flashed in the city lord's eyes. She glanced at the official, who immediately understood and announced the end of the second round.
"Everyone, please take a break."
He called attendants to gather the pills that had been refined.
When they reached Song Wanníng's furnace, the official politely said, "Daoyou, please open the furnace lid."
Song Wanníng nodded. Just as she was about to act, voices came from disciples of the Medicine King Sect.
"Tch, all show and no substance. Failing but trying to confuse everyone. Who are you pretending for? Song Wanníng, if I were you, I'd just quit. Don't embarrass Guhan Sect!"
He was absolutely sure Song Wanníng had failed. Now she was only trying to buy time, unwilling to face the truth.
Others thought the same.
Breakthrough Pills were extremely difficult to refine. Song Wanníng had already made a mistake from the start. There was no way she could save it.
"Yeah, beautiful lady, it's still not too late to quit. Once they check the pills, it'll be even more embarrassing. And you can refine seventh-grade supreme pills already. Even if you fail, no one will laugh at you."
Some in the audience agreed. Song Wanníng was beautiful and skilled at refining seventh-grade pills. Most still wished her well.
If the lid opened to reveal a pile of useless residue in front of other pills, it would be a sorry sight...
On the stone stage, Song Wanníng's gaze swept over the faces of the Medicine King Sect disciples. Her lips curled into a slight smile.
"What you cannot do doesn't mean others can't. You'd better worry about yourselves and mind your own business if you want to live longer."
Her eyes revealed clear mockery. She was obviously not on good terms with the Medicine King Sect.
"You—"
The Medicine King Sect disciples recognized the sarcasm in her voice and grew angry immediately.
"You don't recognize good intentions! We warned you because we thought your woman's face would be too thin!"
The two disciples grew more disgusted with Song Wanníng. As expected, those hunted by their sect were never good people.
"I, a woman, may not be as thick-skinned as you men. But you lack skill and still point fingers at others. If I were you, I'd be ashamed! You don't even know what's between your two ears!"
Song Wanníng did not hold back. Her beautiful lips moved quickly, spitting out insult after insult.
The two disciples were left dumbfounded, faces flushed red, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long while. Even within the Medicine King Sect, they were star pupils, highly regarded. They had never been cursed like this.
"You—you are unreasonable!"
They glared hatefully at Song Wanníng, wishing they could tear her mouth apart.
"Enough arguing. The truth will be revealed once the furnace is opened," the official said, still smiling warmly. "We are all pill refiners here. Let us not lose harmony over this."
He made a polite gesture toward Song Wanníng.
Without further words, Song Wanníng opened the furnace lid decisively.
Immediately, four pills came into view.
"Hiss, they actually formed pills?"
"Really formed pills! I thought it would be a pile of scrap…"
"This beauty has some real skill!"
Countless eyes brightened. To form pills under such conditions proved this woman's alchemy was extraordinary.
Wu Qingfeng and the two Medicine King Sect disciples also changed expressions, pupils suddenly contracting.
One disciple dashed forward.
"Impossible! You actually formed pills?"
He flew to the Immortal Furnace, looking down in disbelief.
But once he saw the pills clearly, he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha… look closely. So what if they formed pills? This is definitely not a Breakthrough Pill!"
"Look at these messy patterns. If this is a Breakthrough Pill, I'll change my surname to yours!"
He then grabbed the pills and placed them on a plate.
Everyone could now clearly see the pills' appearance.
Strange patterns covered the pills, clearly not Broken Rank Pills.
"Hiss, did she accidentally refine some other pill?"
"Tsk, I really thought she was a genius who saved it at the last moment!"
"Right, I guess I was thinking too much."
"Actually, she is talented. Just unlucky to be refining Broken Rank Pills. One mistake and it's all over."
"The poor girl, such precious ingredients wasted…"
The spectators all felt regret. These Breakthrough Pills, if successfully refined, might appear at auctions in a few days.
One more pill increased their chance to bid.
Besides Song Wanníng, half of the contestants hadn't succeeded either...
"Whether it's a Breakthrough Pill or not, let the seniors judge. Why be so impatient?"
Lu Yi couldn't stand the Medicine King Sect disciples any longer and glared at them from afar. He and Wu Feng had received much guidance from Song Wanníng and had succeeded. She wouldn't fail either.
Also, Song Wanníng had recently been researching new methods. It was normal for something unusual to happen. These people were just jealous.
"Yes, official, don't listen to these nonsense. We'll know once the pills are inspected."
Wu Feng, usually taciturn, also spoke up. It was fine to doubt him but not Song Wanníng. The three from Guhan Sect were united against the Medicine King Sect.
The official's smile stiffened slightly. Upon seeing the pills, he frowned. Indeed, these pills did not look like Breakthrough Pills.
"Everyone, please calm down. I will take the pills to the city lord immediately."
He personally carried the plate with the pills to the city lord and Huo Jinchuan.
"City lord, please have a look at this…"
"Huo young master, would you care to examine them?"
She smiled and placed the plate before Huo Jinchuan.
Tens of thousands of eyes in the plaza immediately turned to him, waiting for the verdict.