Xiao Heyun's heart sank as well. Ninth Grade pills...
The system's reward only allowed him to refine up to Eighth Grade, and he hadn't had time to deeply study pill refining himself. His confidence faded, and he began blaming those women even more. If their favorability hadn't been so hard to win, he would have been a pill refining grandmaster long ago!
A mere Ninth Grade pill would be a piece of cake.
Only the demon clan young master and Song Wanníng remained completely calm.
Huo Jinchuan's gaze swept over the two, expression indifferent as he lifted his teacup and took a sip.
From the start, he had known how this would end.
But still...
Who among the two would claim first place?
His interest was genuinely piqued.
"Now everyone, begin refining!"
With the official's order, the contest officially began.
This time, most didn't rush, instead first pulling out their pill formulas and studying them carefully.
Only Song Wanníng and the demon clan young master immediately began preparing and processing medicinal materials. It was clear they were extremely familiar with their formulas.
Wu Qingfeng watched this and felt like his last thread of hope was snapping.
He dared not imagine what would happen if the Medicine King Sect lost.
He regretted leading the team himself...
His face was extremely grim. The Fourth Elder by his side mocked him repeatedly, making him furious enough to want to kill.
"It's not over yet. Mei Daoyou, don't be so happy too soon!"
He glared fiercely at the Fourth Elder, but deep down, he had already figured it out.
Song Wanníng's pill refining talent was far beyond ordinary. Those two disciples were no match. He furrowed his brow, doubts creeping in.
With Song Wanníng's aptitude, why hadn't the Ancestor chosen her back then?
If she had been chosen as heir, would things have ended like this?
She would have led the Medicine King Sect to another peak...
But it was too late now. The only way to protect the sect's future was to eliminate Song Wanníng...
...
On the stone platform, disciples gradually began refining pills, while the crowd focused all their attention on Song Wanníng and the demon clan young master.
"Hiss, those two are freaks. So calm at such a young age…"
"What kind of freak is that demon clan young master? Not only superb at pill refining, but his cultivation is in a league far beyond us…"
"Even though he's a demon clan member, I have to admit, he's truly exceptional!"
"Yeah, people like that just make you jealous!"
"Hey, you think he's the only freak? Song Wanníng is a total freak too. She's a cultivator who ascended from the lower realm!"
"And she's advanced continuously in just one or two years…"
"What? Only one or two years since ascending? Really?"
"Of course. I just heard from someone from the Eastern Region. When she first ascended, the Medicine King Sect tried to hunt her down..."
"Hiss! She not only escaped the pursuit but now she's dominating Medicine King Sect disciples? That's so... satisfying!"
A disciple's eyes shone bright. Such a legendary figure was their true model.
"No kidding…"
For ordinary strong cultivators, jealousy might linger. But for true geniuses, there was no jealousy, only pure admiration and respect.
Wu Qingfeng heard the crowd's talk and his expression grew darker. But he knew he couldn't lose his temper. He had to stay calm. What use was a genius if she never grew strong?
As long as she didn't rise, she was doomed to become a lost soul under his control!
"Look, they're about to succeed!"
With a shout, Song Wanníng and the demon clan young master simultaneously lifted their furnace lids.
The two exchanged a glance, eyes full of battle intent, then smiled almost in unison. Here, they did not care about alliances but were simply glad to face worthy opponents.
The official leaned in to watch, his expression suddenly shaken. He looked at the two in surprise, his fingers trembling slightly.
He looked up at the city lord and silently nodded.
The city lord sat straighter, surprised. She had intended to test everyone's potential, but didn't expect these two to complete the task so easily.
"Heh... this reminds me of a saying."
She curled her lips into a bitter smile and glanced at Huo Jinchuan.
"In the face of absolute talent, all the effort in the world is worthless."
These two were so young, and with cultivation to manage, their time to research pill refining was extremely limited...
This was absolute, overwhelming talent.
Huo Jinchuan turned the teacup in his hand, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.
"The city lord is absolutely right."
...
The third round ended.
Four furnaces exploded, three produced pill dregs, and two yielded failed pills.
Xiao Heyun barely managed to refine a low-grade pill, but since it was successful, he entered the top three.
Song Wanníng and the demon clan young master refined top-grade pills and naturally advanced to the next round.
"It's over, it's over…"
The two Medicine King Sect disciples stared blankly at the failed pills in their furnaces, almost unable to stand. Their eyes were red, unable to believe they had lost so completely and failed to break into the top three. Their harsh words earlier had turned into a complete joke.
They looked stiffly at the crowd below. When their eyes met Wu Qingfeng's, they involuntarily shivered. That murderous look shook them to the core. It was over. Forget the rewards; they would definitely be punished back home!
This was the Medicine King Sect's worst defeat ever...
They didn't even dare face the sect disciples' gazes...
"The third round results are out. The demon clan young master, Song Wanníng of the Guhan Sect, and Xiao Heyun of the Qingyun Sect have entered the finals!"
Now the three had earned the right to enter the Central Domain, only the final winner needed to be decided.
Though three remained, everyone knew this was really a battle between Song Wanníng and the demon clan young master.
The three rested on the stone platform, replenishing spiritual energy while others gradually left the stage.
The two Medicine King Sect disciples nervously approached Wu Qingfeng. Although they made it to the third round, their results were worse than another disciple eliminated earlier.
At least he hadn't given that disciple a murderous glare.
The two shrank back, hearts filled with endless fear.
"Get to the back."
Wu Qingfeng gritted his teeth, barely restraining himself from rushing up to challenge Song Wanníng.
"Yes…"
The disciples felt as if pardoned, quickly retreating to the back, afraid to offend him again. Yet looking at Song Wanníng on stage, they couldn't help but feel envy and jealousy. They should have been the winners... If not for Song Wanníng's disruption, how could the competition require Ninth Grade pills?
She owed them for this!
The three exchanged glances, each seeing cold determination in the others' eyes.