Poaching Talent

Walking one after the other with Wen Wen, Shi Yu was about to head downstairs when she happened to run right into President Song coming up.

Seeing Shi Yu come out, his face froze in surprise. “Why have you come out?”

Shi Yu noticed that President Song’s expression was a bit unnatural, his eyes constantly darting downward as if he were hiding from someone.

She followed his gaze to look down, but President Song immediately stepped right in front of her, blocking her view.

Puzzled, Shi Yu replied, “There are only two days left before we depart for Hengze Prefecture. I wanted to do a bit more preparation.”

Besides, she hadn't had the chance to return Miss Yun's Soft Red Silk after repairing it.

President Song gave a large wave of his hand. “What is there to prepare? I’ve arranged everything properly. There are still two days left, so go back inside and read some more.”

As he spoke, he tried to push Shi Yu back into the Legacy of Subtle Wonders.

Confused by his intentions, Shi Yu was pushed forward a step and protested, “I’ve finished reading everything.”

“Even if you're done reading, you still—finished?!” President Song froze, pausing mid-action, and scrutinized her with a doubtful look. “What do you mean finished? Did you finish reading one volume, two volumes? Or a single shelf of a cabinet... Surely not an entire floor?”

By the end of his sentence, President Song’s pitch rose, laced with incredulous suspicion.

Shi Yu blinked. “I’ve finished everything. I’ve read through the entire Legacy of Subtle Wonders.”

President Song’s lips twitched, rendered speechless.

Meanwhile, the two deacons had also overheard this exchange. The displeasure on their faces deepened, clearly dismissing Shi Yu as someone full of empty boasts.

Standing to the side, Wen Wen keenly picked up on the shift in the two deacons' mood and grew worried. The two deacons hold high status. If they take a disliking to her, then in the future, Little Yu...

President Song, having spent considerable time with Shi Yu, understood her character well. He knew that if she made such a claim, she undoubtedly had complete confidence.

His heart trembled slightly, and his voice quavered as he tested her: “On the third shelf, second compartment of the first row of cabinets, there is an ancient text titled 《Pill Nurturing Art》. It records several methods for nurturing pills, but due to improper preservation, the section on Object-Congealing Pill Nurturing is incomplete. Tell me, do you have any ideas on how to complete this missing passage?”

Shi Yu pondered for a moment before speaking slowly under President Song’s gaze: “Congeal fire into an object, conceal the pill within the object, and fuse them in refinement.”

President Song’s brow twitched. Taking a deep breath to feign composure, he pressed further, “Oh? How do you congeal fire into an object, and how do you fuse and refine it within?”

Shi Yu replied, “Wait until the fire-element stars align, when heaven and earth blaze with heat. Then head to a place where the Five Elements are out of balance to collect the fire elemental power within. Use this fire elemental power to congeal an object, and employ fire-controlling and fire-gathering techniques to extract the refined essence while discarding impurities.”

President Song asked again, “And then? How do you nurture the pill without destroying it? Fire-attribute elements are violent and turbulent; even the slightest carelessness will ruin the pill or drop its grade. How then can it achieve a nurturing effect?”

His questions came in rapid succession, pressing hard, yet Shi Yu remained unhurried, offering structured and methodical answers.

Relying solely on her past life's experience, she could already answer President Song's questions accurately. Now, with the Fate-Tapping Bell having refined and perfected her knowledge, her answers were even more precise.

“The key to the Object-Congealing Pill Nurturing method lies in the pure condensation of fire elemental power. Thus, the essence is not in nurturing the pill, but in cultivating the fire. Once the fire is formed, nurturing the pill follows naturally...

“...Supplemented with jade, metal, rare wood, or any substance capable of holding fire elemental power...”

Every word and sentence flowed naturally and fluently.

The more President Song listened, the quieter he became.

These were methods he had racked his brains over in the past. What Shi Yu described aligned perfectly with his thoughts, yet it was far more comprehensive and refined than his own rough ideas.

Clearly, she had truly read through that copy of 《Pill Nurturing Art》. And rather than merely skimming through it, she had genuinely memorized and comprehended its contents.

To the side, Wen Wen understood nothing of alchemy, but seeing President Song’s expression, she wisely kept her mouth shut.

Meanwhile, the two deacons exchanged astonished glances, unable to figure out what was happening.

President Song paused, thinking that perhaps Shi Yu had just happened to know that answer by coincidence. Composing himself, he asked again, “On the first shelf, fourth compartment of the second row of cabinets, there is a jade slip...”

“On the fourth shelf, third compartment of the second row, there is a volume...”

“On the second shelf, first compartment of the first row...”

He cycled through several questions, and Shi Yu did not fail to answer a single one. Her reasoning was crystal clear and rigorously logical, leaving no room for flaw.

President Song stared at her, unable to come up with any more questions, his expression dazed. Even though he had long known Shi Yu’s talent for alchemy was unlike anything he had ever witnessed, he still felt completely stunned and dazed in this moment.

The two deacons also finally caught on: So we completely misunderstood! She really finished reading everything! Back inside the Legacy of Subtle Wonders, the girl wasn't just skimming for show, she was actually...

Looking at President Song's deeply shaken appearance, the two deacons took a sharp breath, their expressions turning solemn.

Having guarded the Legacy of Subtle Wonders for decades, they had never met anyone like Shi Yu who could boldly and naturally declare, "I've finished reading."

Stormy waves surged in their hearts.

A single thought simultaneously arose in both of their minds: The Alchemist Association might truly rise to prominence this time...

At this point, the gaze with which the two deacons looked at Shi Yu was brimming with hope and deep respect.

President Song gave a light cough. Alongside a sense of loss, he felt both deeply moved and overjoyed—a chaotic mix of emotions.

Not forgetting to maintain his posture as the president, he offered a stern word of caution: “Even if you understand all these theoretical concepts, putting them into actual practice is a whole different matter. You must not be careless or become someone who only talks on paper.”

Shi Yu graciously humored him. “You speak the truth, President.”

Having said that, she patted her belly and sought his permission: “Then, President, may I take my leave and go downstairs with Sister Wen to grab something to eat?”

President Song stopped her. “Take leave for what? Just eat right here.”

With that, he gestured to Wen Wen, who was holding the food container. “Girl Wen, you must be hungry too. Come, come, you two eat together right here.”

Wen Wen said hesitantly, “There are no tables or chairs here, how can we—”

Before she could finish, President Song generously pulled a set of white jade table and chairs from his storage ring.

“...” Shi Yu finally caught on to what was happening. President Song was determined not to let her go downstairs, coming up with all sorts of excuses to keep her here.

Upon the white jade table, a sumptuous meal was spread out, all prepared from spiritual grains, spiritual vegetables, and spirit beast meat.

Wen Wen sat down awkwardly and began to eat alongside Shi Yu under the gaze of the three onlookers, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.

Shi Yu was truly starved, so she paid no mind to the eyes gathered upon her. Elegant yet swift, she ate her meal, not forgetting to offer praise for how delicious it was every now and then.

Seeing her like this, Wen Wen gradually relaxed her restraint, smiling as she gently put food into Shi Yu's bowl.

Just then, footsteps sounded from the staircase. The group turned to look, only to see President Cui of the Array Association walking up.

President Song froze for a moment before barking angrily, “Old Cui, how dare you intrude into the restricted grounds of my Alchemist Association!”

President Cui stopped at the top of the stairs. “I haven't entered.”

President Song's eyelids twitched with fury. He hadn't expected that even after hiding up here, President Cui would still track them down.

President Cui’s expression remained calm and unruffled as he looked toward Shi Yu. “I merely wish to have a chat with a junior. Why must you keep blocking me?”

“Sounds nice! Is having a chat all you want?” President Song sneered. “You want to poach our Alchemist Association's talent! You're trying to dig out our very lifeblood!”