Propping her chin on one hand, she blinked her cool, clear eyes. A spark of worldly amusement seemed to flicker within their starry depths.

"I do have one question, though."

"How can we be sure the poison... wasn’t produced during Ye Chuxue’s Alchemy process?"

A profound glimmer touched the corners of her lips, too fast to be caught.

Ye Chuxue’s heart leaped, and she frowned immediately.

"Impossible! I followed the Medicine King Sect’s legacy for every single step of my Alchemy... How could it have produced toxins?"

"I know that Uncle Song visited the ruins of the Medicine King Sect, only to return empty-handed. It’s natural that you would still be bitter about it."

"But the Medicine King Sect was a top-tier Sect in the Ancient Times. Their Pill Recipes are absolutely flawless!"

With the gloves now off, her words became much sharper.

’Isn’t Song Wanning doing all this just because she’s jealous I obtained the Medicine King Sect’s legacy?’

"Lan Le just said it himself. The Pill Recipe is fine."

The Sect Master also chimed in, taking Ye Chuxue’s side.

’It’s impossible for me and Song Wanning to coexist peacefully anymore. I might as well throw my full support behind Ye Chuxue!’

’No matter how much the Old Ancestor favors her, she can’t just blatantly frame Ye Chuxue.’

"Oh?"

Song Wanning rested her chin on her hand, a mocking glint in her crystalline eyes.

"I’ve said it before: the Sect Master is completely blind and unfit to lead a Sect."

She sighed and shook her head as she spoke.

"SONG! WAN! NING!"

The Sect Master gritted his teeth in fury. He tried to hold it in, but finally burst out, roaring, "What did I say that was so wrong?!"

"Lan Le only said the Pill Recipe was fine. Did he ever say her Alchemy process was?"

"And the Medicine King Sect’s legacy... is it really infallible?"

Song Wanning leaned back languidly, looking utterly at ease.

"I beg to differ."

She wasn’t just questioning Ye Chuxue; she was questioning the Medicine King Sect itself.

’Who the hell does the Medicine King Sect think they are?’

’She and the Medicine King Sect were simply fated to be enemies.’

’She was going to drag the Medicine King Sect’s name through the mud in the Lower World!’

"Uncle Song!!!!"

Ye Chuxue couldn’t take it anymore.

She took the initiative and declared, "If there is a problem with my Alchemy process, then I am willing to accept punishment in the Erosion Wind Cave!"

"But if I can prove my Alchemy process is flawless, what will you do, Uncle Song?"

Her eyes, full of defiance, were locked on Song Wanning.

"Chuxue!!"

Gu Qingyuan frowned and was about to speak, but Ye Chuxue shook her head at him.

"Master, trust me. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with my methods!"

She had complete faith in herself and in her legacy!

’It’s impossible for there to be a problem!’

Seeing this, Gu Qingyuan said no more, choosing to trust her.

The exchange between master and disciple did not escape Song Wanning’s notice. The smile on her lips widened, but her eyes grew even more dangerous.

She asked with deep meaning, "And what do you propose?"

"Uncle Song must apologize to me and my Master! And to Brother Bai and An Ze as well!"

Ye Chuxue shot back immediately, pulling all of them onto her side.

’No matter how powerful Song Wanning is, the people closest to her still ended up on my side.’

’All her schemes will come to nothing!’

"Very well."

Song Wanning agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

"I’m not an unreasonable person, now am I? Hahahaha..."

She covered her mouth and let out a low chuckle.

A chill suddenly ran down Ye Chuxue’s spine.

After the scare from before, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of fear whenever Song Wanning smiled.

Telling herself to stay calm, Ye Chuxue took out her Alchemy equipment from her Storage Ring.

A top-tier Alchemy Furnace, High Rank Spirit Grass, Spiritual Liquid...

She first took an Elixir Pill to replenish her Spiritual Energy, then began the Alchemy process in front of everyone.

"Lan Le, you’d better watch closely. This is a perfect opportunity for all of us to witness the might of the Medicine King Sect’s legacy."

Song Wanning called out to Lan Le with a smile. After all, he was the most credible judge present.

Lan Le’s expression stiffened as he cursed up a storm in his head.

’All I want to do is practice Alchemy in peace! Who did I piss off to get stuck with this thankless job?’

Still, he was genuinely curious about the Medicine King Sect’s legacy. It wasn’t a bad opportunity to broaden his horizons.

"Whoa, Senior Sister Ye is going to perform Alchemy in public!"

"We’ll get to learn a thing or two."

"They say that back in the Ancient Times, the Medicine King Sect’s word was law and no one dared to cross them. If Senior Sister Ye completely masters the legacy, she’s destined to be one of the greats!"

"Our Heavenly Inquiry Sect will gain a lot of prestige because of her, hahaha..."

The disciples whispered amongst themselves, their words filled with admiration for Ye Chuxue.

Compared to the unapproachable Song Wanning, Ye Chuxue was clearly more popular and admired by her peers.

Everyone was secretly hoping Ye Chuxue would put Song Wanning in her place and show her who the true Alchemy genius of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect was!

As time ticked by, Ye Chuxue’s Alchemy gradually fell into a steady rhythm.

She had long since forgotten her surroundings, completely immersed in the process. Her Fire Control Skill and her mixing motions were like a graceful dance, a captivating sight to behold.

Even Song Wanning had to admit that Ye Chuxue was indeed exceptionally talented in the Alchemy Dao.

She didn’t even need to train as hard as Song Wanning once had to; in just six months, she had reached a level that took others decades, or even a century, to achieve.

’But so what?’

’Now that she’s run into me, even a genius’s wings must be clipped.’

’The higher she flies, the harder she’ll fall!’

Just as the Alchemy reached the critical condensation step, Ye Chuxue first poured in the extract from the Forget River Grass, followed by the Qi Jian Flower, Cow Whip Powder, Heavenly Snow Lotus, and Bodhi Leaf...

The order was correct.

Lan Le nodded in confirmation, a pang of envy for Ye Chuxue’s talent stirring in his heart.

’First Song Wanning, now Ye Chuxue... A guy just can’t catch a break.’

He sighed inwardly, but when he focused his gaze again, he froze, a jolt running through him.

"Wrong... it’s all wrong... Everything is out of order..."

Lan Le snapped out of it and quickly yelled to stop her. The sudden shout startled the immersed Ye Chuxue, causing her Spiritual Energy to falter.

"The fusion sequence is wrong! The sequence is wrong!"

Lan Le rushed forward in a panic, ignoring Ye Chuxue’s face, now pale from the disruption to her Spiritual Energy. He pointed at the concoction in the Pill Furnace and said, "Your fusion order is completely wrong!"

"The Heavenly Snow Lotus and the Qi Jian Flower are both warm in nature, but they can’t be fused together first! They should be fused with the other Spiritual Liquids separately before being combined. That’s how you reduce the Dan Poison!"

"The way you’re doing it will only double the Dan Poison!"

Alchemy is an extremely precise process. The slightest mistake can, at best, result in the destruction of the Elixir Pills, and at worst, cost someone their life. There is no room for carelessness.

Ye Chuxue’s sequence was clearly wrong.

"Impossible! The legacy says to follow this exact sequence!"

Ye Chuxue retorted without a second thought, "The Medicine King Sect’s legacy is different from common Alchemy methods, so that’s to be expected!"

"But you can’t say my method is wrong!"

The implication was that a "common Pill Master" like Lan Le was not qualified to judge her.

Lan Le’s expression instantly turned foul.

Song Wanning couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter.