Situ Yue froze mid-bicker with Lan Yue. It was a pity that the handsome man couldn't become her Junior Brother. Still, the Immortal Realm was full of handsome men. Missing one hardly mattered.
What did matter was that he had better win—she was counting on him to claim that crescent pendant for her.
The noise finally subsided. Dao Qing sipped his tea and turned his attention back to the water mirror. He was curious too—who would take the final round?
After a series of challenges, Song Wanníng had passed the sixth trial.
Each stage involved refining pills.
At first, her technique had been stiff, but once she attempted a recipe, she could usually master it in a single try.
Only top-grade pills demanded extra time and patience, which explained why things had taken this long.
She exhaled softly, swallowed a pill to restore her spiritual power and mental strength, and stepped confidently into the next chamber.
The seventh trial was empty.
Brows knitting, she was still puzzling over it when the great doors swung open again. A familiar figure strode in—it was Xiao Heyun.
Wind followed at his heels, his posture brimming with confidence. He hadn't expected to see Song Wanníng, and his usually frosty face cracked with surprise.
It's her?!
What is she doing here?!
Questions roiled in his head. A few silent curses later, he reined in his expression.
"Song Daoyou, you are here as well?"
He approached with his cold, aloof air.
"A coincidence," she replied, smiling like spring sunlight after snow, her beauty as soft as a breeze over the heart.
The momentary flutter in his chest kept him from noticing the glint hidden deep in her gaze.
"Song Daoyou also passed the trials to reach this place?"
He found it hard to believe. He himself had relied on his system to advance this quickly—what qualifications did an ordinary woman like her have?
"A stroke of luck."
She kept her smile serene, as though she were all gentle patience.
His heart sank a little. Even his system was uneasy.
"Host, you'd better win. Don't fumble at the last step and let a woman outdo you. This one looks dangerous."
Worried, the system watched as Xiao Heyun's gaze lingered on her, thoughts turning in a different direction.
"What's there to fear? She'll be mine sooner or later."
Whether the inheritance fell to him or her, it would ultimately belong to him. He had faith in his own charm. She smiled at him the moment they met—surely, she already felt something for him.
Too bad she wasn't a target in his strategy, so he couldn't check her favorability.
A sudden beam of light descended from above, cutting the air between them.
Two neat sets of ingredients dropped into place before each of them, followed by the thunderous arrival of two pill furnaces. The ground trembled.
Their eyes flashed with the same understanding.
"My apologies, Song Daoyou," Xiao Heyun said, cupping his hands, wearing a look of reluctant courtesy."
"No need, Daoyou. Opportunity is for any who can grasp it. As for where the flower falls, let skill decide."
Her smile lingered, yet to Xiao Heyun it held something faintly predatory.
He forced a nod and moved toward his furnace.
The instant his back turned, her smile vanished, and killing intent flickered in her eyes.
She took the ingredients and strode to her own furnace.
The task was to refine a fourth-grade spirit pill: the Yuan Spring Pill, a high-grade counterpart to the Restorative Pill. Its healing effect was first-class, and it always fetched a high price.
She summoned the pill formula, but didn't begin right away.
Since she was competing with Xiao Heyun this time, she had to succeed on the first try. Otherwise, from past experience, she knew she'd just be wasting effort.
No mistakes. None.
Still, her recent leap in pillcraft delighted her. If she succeeded now, she could explore more fourth-grade pills—and never worry about spirit stones again in the Spirit Realm.
Xiao Heyun watched her apparent focus and scoffed inwardly.
Think you can beat me? Do you even know who I am? I'm a Heaven's Chosen with a cheat.
"System, advance me the points. If I lose, you know the consequences."
Another loan. The system was speechless but powerless to refuse.
With its help, Xiao Heyun began first.
His movements were smooth and steady, each step precise.
In Wuji Sect of the Immortal Realm, the onlookers brightened at his pace.
"Looks like little Junior Sister will win!"
"Of course. I said our little Junior Sister's judgment was right. Senior Sister, you'd better not go back on your word and keep that pendant."
"Ha! Senior Sister isn't that kind of person."
Their joking only made Lan Yue's stomach turn. She ignored them, face blank.
"Master, do you think I'll win?" Situ Yue asked Dao Qing, feigning innocence but inwardly smug.
Dao Qing's gaze followed Xiao Heyun's deft hands, and he nodded.
"This one has talent."
To master the method so quickly was no small feat. Leaving him an inheritance might not be a bad idea.
The others kept their eyes on Xiao Heyun, while Song Wanníng—still seated, studying her materials—was forgotten, save for Lan Yue, who silently prayed for her victory.
Time slipped by. Xiao Heyun had already cast his ingredients into the furnace.
Only then did Song Wanníng rise to prepare. She didn't rush; instead, she heated the furnace first, running through every step of the process in her mind.
When she was certain she'd make no mistakes, she began.
One step late, every step late.
By the time Xiao Heyun finished, she was still refining.
"Done!"
He nearly laughed out loud, but remembered to maintain his image, forcing a nonchalant air. Still, pride lit his eyes.
"Song Daoyou, thank you for letting me win."
He retrieved his pills from the furnace—three flawless Yuan Spring Pills—and readied himself to gloat.
Too bad she didn't even glance at him.
His smile froze. He cursed her in his heart.
He had already won. No matter how hard she worked now, it was meaningless.
Better she just devote herself to pleasing him. If he was in a good mood, he might even let her look at the inheritance.