Learn with a Vengeance!

As expected of disciples from a great sect, their movements were as smooth as flowing water. One elixir cauldron after another appeared on the field, dazzling the onlookers.

Disciples of similar strength were grouped together for the competition, and currently, it was the turn of the Foundation Establishment disciples.

To Jiang Lu's surprise, Liu Qingqing was actually participating in the Foundation Establishment division's alchemy competition.

She sat up straight and craned her neck to look in her direction.

According to normal logic, she would probably stun everyone this time and trample the other disciples in her group underfoot.

“Look, it's Senior Sister Liu!”

“Rumor has it that Senior Sister Liu broke through to Foundation Establishment. The rumors are indeed true.”

“Senior Sister Liu is exceptionally talented. Do you think she'll take first place this time?”

“Uh...”

Hearing this, some of the disciples' gazes wavered. They didn't know either.

Given Senior Sister Liu's talent, they should have believed in her.

But...

Senior Sister Liu had never refined elixirs before. Could she really do it?

No!

How could they doubt Senior Sister Liu? She was so good, so kind~

Liu Qingqing let out a soft snort, the corners of her mouth curling upward. Her eyes were filled with smugness as she lightly waved her hand. A glowing white cauldron appeared in her palm—it was actually a high-grade spiritual tool.

As expected of a direct disciple.

With a twist of her wrist, the cauldron instantly expanded and landed on the ground with a heavy thud.

The other disciples on the stage glanced at her before turning their gazes away. Although Liu Qingqing was highly talented, they were also outstanding members of the sect and wouldn't back down so easily.

She processed her spiritual plants and, like the others, placed them into the cauldron one by one.

This technique—

Jiang Lu frowned slightly. As expected of a mighty figure's inheritance, the technique was remarkably similar to the ones she had seen in 《Endless Elixir Recipes》. However, it was a bit stiff, likely because this was her first time refining.

But when she saw the spiritual fire Liu Qingqing channeled into the cauldron...

Jiang Lu's expression mirrored everyone else's as her eyes widened in disbelief.

They had been wondering what felt off. Liu Qingqing didn't possess both fire and wood spiritual roots, so she shouldn't be able to refine elixirs at all!

Then how was she doing this?!

As if aware of everyone's astonishment, Liu Qingqing sneered inwardly.

She was the child of fortune. She could refine elixirs even without fire and wood spiritual roots.

From the spiritual fire gourd in her hand, streaks of fire shot straight into the cauldron. Soon, the temperature inside reached the required level for refining.

Seeing this, Jiang Lu's lips twitched. Fine, she couldn't keep a straight face. If elixirs could actually be refined this way, she would refine ten batches today!

Although the competition didn't forbid using external fire for assistance, it was the first time any of them had witnessed such a method.

Jiang Lu shook her head and turned to look for the other direct disciples. With their Little Junior Sister refining elixirs here, she refused to believe her senior brothers weren't watching from below.

Sure enough, they were standing at the very front of the spectator stands. However, she noticed that their bodies seemed a bit stiff, and their faces were flushed with embarrassment.

Jiang Lu shook her head. Their skin still wasn't thick enough. Liu Qingqing was the one being embarrassing, so why were they the ones blushing?

“Second Senior Brother, I told you we should have stopped Little Junior Sister from refining elixirs.”

Xi Siyu covered his face, not daring to meet the gazes of the crowd.

“Hmph, I didn't see you insisting on stopping her either.”

Lu Lingfeng clenched his fists tightly, glaring at Xi Siyu through gritted teeth.

He was clearly the one who lost, yet he dragged him along to embarrass himself every single time.

He let out a sigh. If they hadn't wanted to see what kind of inheritance their Little Junior Sister had obtained, why would they even be here? From the looks of it, however, this inheritance didn't seem to grant much talent in alchemy.

Fu Yao's figure flickered as she appeared beside them. Watching Liu Qingqing's movements, her brow furrowed deeply. Could my guess have been wrong?

Amidst everyone's anticipation, Liu Qingqing extinguished the spiritual fire.

She opened the cauldron, and six elixirs appeared before them—they were actually medium-grade elixirs.

Looking at the elixirs in her hand, Liu Qingqing's expression turned unsightly. She had clearly followed the techniques and steps from the inheritance exactly. Why did she only manage to refine medium-grade ones?

On second thought, she immediately regained her confidence. It must be because it was her first time refining. Producing medium-grade elixirs on her very first try—how could she not be considered a genius?

After all, many disciples couldn't even refine low-grade elixirs on their first attempt.

Sweeping her gaze over the crowd in the stands, she saw that many disciples indeed looked envious, making her even more certain of her assumption.

Jiang Lu thought to herself, If she had that level of confidence, she would succeed at absolutely anything!

Liu Qingqing put away her cauldron and headed toward the evaluation area with her elixirs.

With all six being medium-grade elixirs, she definitely wouldn't be able to advance to the next round.

But!

She definitely had talent. If only she had given it a try before the competition yesterday!

That way, she would have certainly stunned everyone!

Seeing this, Fu Yao and the others walked toward the evaluation area. They were highly curious about the efficacy of the elixirs Liu Qingqing had refined in such a chaotic manner.

The elder used spiritual energy to lift the elixirs and place them onto a spiritual tray. The light emitted from the tray displayed the condition of the elixirs.

Wrapped in a beam of light, the density of the elixirs was revealed. The interior was not balanced, showing an uneven composition of light and dark areas.

This was Jiang Lu's first time seeing how they evaluated elixirs in person.

“Medium-grade elixirs. Unfortunately, the temperature of the spiritual fire was not controlled properly, and the steps for melting and condensing the elixirs were lacking.”

The evaluating elder hesitated for a moment upon seeing this. Only after seeing Fu Yao nod did he speak to Liu Qingqing.

He let out a sigh. If she didn't have fire and wood spiritual roots, she should have just behaved and done something else. Why make trouble for him?

That old coot of a Sect Master also had no idea what he was planning, and he hadn't even given them a heads-up.

No, he still had to report this to the Grand Elder so the Grand Elder could have a proper talk with the Sect Master.

Hearing this, Liu Qingqing looked displeased. But seeing the elder's stern face, she swallowed whatever she wanted to say.

The elders: "..."

Jiang Lu thought of the elixirs she had refined. Although she knew they were all high-grade or even Supreme-grade, she didn't know their exact medicinal efficacy.

It seemed she could go have them verified.

After the alchemy competition ended, she headed to the venue for poison arts. Poison arts were different from alchemy.

Elixirs needed to be refined, but poison...

It could be in the form of pills, powders, liquids, or Gu insects...

Back when Jiang Lu was in her homeland, she had been extremely curious about it. Now that she had the opportunity to learn, it was naturally a given. Moreover, she possessed the two most suitable spiritual roots.

She didn't have to fear that these venomous insects and beasts would harm her during the poison-making process at all.

However, when she saw the pile of venomous insects on the competition stage, her scalp tingled for a moment. The thought of dealing with them in the future made her want to back down.

But on second thought, although poison arts were not among the top ten arts, they were still one of the techniques everyone feared. Like ghost arts, they made people's scalps tingle and shrink back in fear.

After all, while other spells and techniques were cast out in the open, these two operated in the shadows.

No!

I must learn!

I have to learn!

I will learn with a vengeance!

Jiang Lu set a small goal for herself.

Wait, she counted on her fingers. It seemed she had quite a few "small goals."

The Disciple Tournament lasted for two months, finally drawing to a close amidst everyone's excitement.

Jiang Lu constantly bustled through the crowds, and relying on her photographic memory, she reaped a bountiful harvest.