Jiang Yuanxin was holding back a surge of determination, determined to crush Jiang Yunnuan in the competition.
At the same time, she was very confident.
Other than being prettier and more vicious in temperament, what abilities did Jiang Yunnuan even have?
Over the past few days, she had asked around for information. Hardly anyone had heard of the Wanxuan Sect, and no one even knew where it was located.
Although she couldn't understand why the Ke Family treated them so well, Jiang Yuanxin was certain of one thing, Wanxuan Sect definitely wasn't some big sect!
If it wasn't a major sect, then naturally it wouldn't have resources for practice or famous masters to provide guidance.
Without those things, Jiang Yunnuan must have come here just to embarrass herself.
Jiang Yuanxin would make her understand that sharp words were useless!
Strength was the only real support!
The judges didn't care about the grudges between contestants. After explaining the rules, they immediately announced the start of the competition.
Jiang Yuanxin quickly selected the materials she needed from the pile, then took out an exquisite furnace and began refining.
Before long, she heard noisy murmurs around her.
Turning toward the sound, she saw Jiang Yunnuan pulling out a strangely shaped furnace.
The furnace looked like it had been stepped on several times and then blown back into shape, or like it had fallen from a great height and smashed into something grotesque.
Covered in patches and looking shabby and miserable, the furnace made everyone fall silent.
When Jiang Yuanxin saw it, she almost burst out laughing.
Was Jiang Yunnuan that poor? Couldn't she even afford a proper furnace?
That furnace wouldn't be something she made herself, right?
"Ha ha ha…" Jiang Yuancheng also started laughing.
If he hadn't just been beaten up earlier, he probably would've continued mocking her.
Even so, the look he gave the furnace was full of ridicule.
But none of this affected Jiang Yunnuan's mood at all.
Meanwhile, Qin Yiwei and the others looked completely calm.
What did these people know? This furnace had been made by their master together with Jiang Yunnuan!
Qin Yiwei practiced alchemy, and under master's instructions she used an iron pot for refining pills.
At first it felt awkward and troublesome, and accidents happened frequently. But with master's guidance and her own practice, she gradually mastered it.
Jiang Yunnuan practiced artifact refining, so her tools were naturally different from Qin Yiwei's.
Artifact refining required a special furnace.
A suitable furnace could better control airflow and flame intensity, and also help materials break down more thoroughly.
Such furnaces were naturally very expensive.
However, when Jiang Yunnuan had planned to go out and buy one, Mu Shiyue had instead gathered materials already available in the sect and worked together with her to make a furnace.
When the furnace was finally completed, everyone fell silent.
Only Mu Shiyue looked confident, "Don't judge it by how it looks, it may not be pretty, but it works! Don't judge a furnace by its appearance!"
Everyone had doubted her words.
But once Jiang Yunnuan started using it, she realized that this furnace actually worked extremely well!
It might look ugly, but it wouldn't easily explode!
Whether in alchemy or artifact refining, the most terrifying thing was the furnace exploding.
This furnace had already exploded several times. But after patching it up, it could still be used!
Just think about how much money that saved!
If it had been any other furnace, it would've been completely destroyed already!
But this one was like a pair of shoes, the more you used it, the more comfortable it became.
—Even though the patches multiplied and it became uglier and uglier.
Now, surrounded by other furnaces that were elegant, majestic, or beautiful, Jiang Yunnuan took out this ugly patched furnace without the slightest hesitation.
Besides, before she came here, master had already told her. Go all out. Don't be afraid.
With her master and fellow disciples supporting her, what did she have to worry about?
Thinking of this, Jiang Yunnuan lifted her chin slightly, glanced around at the others, and began handling her materials.
Below the stage, Jiang Yuancheng nearly laughed himself to death.
"Is she really that poor? That furnace is practically falling apart and she still uses it?!" He wished he could run up to Jiang Yunnuan and laugh at her to her face.
Of course, after being beaten up so many times, he didn't dare.
Still, much of the resentment and anger he had felt earlier had now disappeared thanks to that ridiculous furnace.
Now he just wanted to laugh.
Wan Junquan also glanced casually at Jiang Yunnuan's furnace before looking away.
There's no need to look closely, Jiang Yunnuan had already lost!
No, more precisely, she was bound to embarrass herself.
That broken furnace was practically a joke.
Even Ke Minglu and Wen Yan were stunned, they turned to the others, "Th-this furnace…"
It was their first time seeing such a furnace!
It looked far too broken!
"Can this even be used?" Ke Minglu asked quietly. "Should we replace it now?"
Although he wasn't an artifact refiner himself, Changtian Sect had an artifact refining division.
He could easily borrow a furnace.
"No need," Qin Yiwei said, shaking her head with a smile. "Third Junior Sister is used to this furnace, it'll be fine."
"But this… this is just…" Ke Minglu hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
"This furnace was made by master herself," Chu Jingzhuo explained.
"It was made personally by Sect Master Mu?" Ke Minglu immediately straightened up, his expression stunned and full of admiration, his tone instantly changing. "Then there's definitely no problem!"
Everyone: "..."
Your attitude changed that quickly?
Wen Yan also nodded, "If Sect Master Mu made it, then it must be fine."
Seeing her gentle smile, everyone fell silent.
Their confidence in master was really impressive!
"I should've known," Ke Minglu continued with a laugh. "Sect Master Mu just has that kind of style!"
"Style?" Qin Yiwei's voice sounded slightly strained, something about that didn't feel quite right.
"She probably just likes things that look ugly, weird, or even a bit smelly, but are extremely practical!" Ke Minglu laughed loudly.
Everyone: "..."
Master's reputation had been severely damaged.
Seeing their strange expressions, Wen Yan glared at her husband and hurriedly added, "You're all very good-looking with strong abilities!"
Everyone: "..."
That didn't actually sound very comforting.
But after thinking about it carefully, the things master made really...weren't that beautiful.
Unconsciously, everyone recalled the strangely colored paste Mu Shiyue made, the ridiculously hard steam buns, and the tea so bitter it felt like it lifted the skull…
It seems that they really couldn't refute it.
"Alright, alright, the competition has started, let's watch!" Ke Chongzhen quickly tried to smooth things over.
Everyone exchanged glances before turning their attention back to the arena.
At this moment, Jiang Yunnuan had already begun processing the materials methodically. One by one, she placed them into the furnace and lit the fire.
And sure enough, she became the center of attention.
Not only because of her fairy-like beauty, or her earlier violent display, but what made her the most eye-catching was her furnace.
No one had ever seen such a bizarre furnace!
Wouldn't it suddenly explode?
The spectators near Jiang Yunnuan instinctively stepped farther away.
Of course, their eyes still couldn't help drifting back toward her.
Under everyone's gaze, the furnace didn't explode. Instead, a stick-shaped object quickly appeared inside.
When people finally saw the stick clearly, everyone fell silent.
This fire poker-like weapon truly matched that furnace perfectly!