Behind the curtain.
Two extremely handsome faces both showed smiles.
One was unrestrained and unruly.
The other was like a thousand-year-old iceberg meeting the first rays of the sun.
Separated from the high platform by the curtain, a spell was cast inside to reflect the situation, allowing those inside to see everything on the platform clearly.
However, those on the platform had no idea who was on the other side of the curtain.
Zhao Shuning looked around as she stepped onto the platform.
For some reason, she always felt as if there were three strange pairs of eyes staring at her. But when she looked around, she found nothing out of the ordinary.
On the jury seats, besides the outstanding disciples of their own sect, there were also noble and respected martial artists specially invited by the sect association to participate in the selection.
Zhao Shuning took a glance and noticed that representatives from both the Lin and Wang families had come.
The sect association didn't give them much face. The seats arranged for the Wang and Lin families were not in the first three rows, which were the best seats.
The tough attitude of the sect association meant that even the Four Great Families had to swallow their anger.
Lin Feng of the Lin family had many spiritual herbalists as disciples. However, spiritual herbalists were still not as rare as alchemists. The sect association had the most alchemist disciples in the Eastern Ze Wilderness. Naturally, any of the Four Great Families had to show respect to the sect association.
Among the invited martial artists on the jury, a woman wore a black veil, looking extremely mysterious.
That woman was Rong Yan, who had saved Zhao Shuning a few days ago.
The reason Rong Yan agreed to the invitation from the sect association was that she knew Zhao Huai's opinion would also be taken into account in this selection.
So Zhao Huai would surely participate.
From the moment Rong Yan arrived, her eyes would occasionally glance at the young man in white.
From the start of the competition until the little girl appeared, Zhao Huai didn't pay any attention to the platform.
When Lan Anran announced the next person to come on stage, Rong Yan also felt the name sounded familiar. At the same time, she noticed that Zhao Huai was shocked and excited. He suddenly stood up.
Rong Yan looked at the platform. That little girl was clearly the one she had saved a few days ago.
Right, her name was Zhao Shuning.
Zhao Huai also had the surname Zhao. What was their relationship?
On the platform, things continued as usual, but the actions of those below the platform were all seen by Yan Ruyu and Feng Zhan behind the curtain.
"Brother, do you know that young man in white? He seems quite concerned about your little Ning'er."
Yan Ruyu took a casual glance.
"He's just her elder brother."
"That's strange. This young man in white doesn't look like your little Ning'er at all."
Yan Ruyu didn't say a word and felt a bit awkward.
Feng Zhan could tell that the only thing Yan Ruyu would admit defeat on was this little girl.
"Bu Ran, look at the people below. There are no less than a hundred hidden talents. Can your little Ning'er handle it?"
Yan Ruyu said, "Little Ning'er is different from others. She can do it."
Feng Zhan also sat down and set up the chessboard.
"Come on."
Yan Ruyu turned around. "What are you doing, brother?"
"Playing chess."
"No."
"Bu Ran, don't you like to play chess while watching other things? You're the best at doing several things at once."
"Brother, I'm not in the mood now."
"Oh, I see."
Looking at Yan Ruyu's serious eyes, Feng Zhan found it quite interesting.
"You said, if elder sister were here and saw you like this, would she find it extremely strange?"
Yan Ruyu raised his eyebrows in confusion.
Feng Zhan explained, "Among our four siblings, you're the coldest and least approachable. You're okay with your family, but you barely talk to outsiders. I saw that when our cousin Mo Li had an accident, you didn't seem to care. But now, for a little girl, you've become so concerned. Why?"
Yan Ruyu thought for a while and didn't know how to refute.
He just said one sentence.
"She's not a little girl."
Her mind was extremely mature. She just happened to be in a petite body.
After Zhao Shuning stepped onto the platform, she followed Lan Anran's instructions and went to her position.
Looking at the materials in front of her, Zhao Shuning felt a headache coming on.
There was nothing she could do.
Her luck was just that bad.
Look at the spiritual herbs on her table. Then look at those on others' tables. They were clearly not on the same level.
There was even an element of luck when it came to the medicinal materials.
"Since we have two highly respected grandmasters here this time, the difficulty of the next competition has been increased. You will be randomly assigned different medicinal materials. You need to use the alchemy techniques you've learned in the past to combine these materials and refine new pills."
This time, it would test not only the alchemists' alchemy abilities but also their adaptability.
Lan Anran looked at Zhao Shuning and whispered, "Little girl, do you understand what I mean?"
Zhao Shuning nodded.
People had never seen an alchemist as young as Zhao Shuning, so they couldn't help but take a few more glances when she came on stage.
"Have you heard?"
"What?"
"This little girl is from the Gong family."
"Ah, she doesn't seem to have much strength."
"That's right. I heard she was able to come on stage because an official from the Gong family spent a fortune on her."
"I can tell. Look, there isn't even a single copper coin on her chest."
Zhao Shuning felt a bit embarrassed.
It was only later that she found out that ordinary alchemists with copper coins didn't need to pay as many spiritual stones or gold.
That rule was for wandering alchemists like them.
If you didn't have the strength, you had to rely on your wealth to create a path.
Behind Zhao Huai, a woman in black appeared out of nowhere.
"Sir."
"What are you doing here?"
"Do you know this young lady?"
Zhao Huai's eyes became a bit dangerous.
He lowered his voice and said, "Boss lady, don't have any ideas about her."
Rong Yan saw the concern in his eyes and understood at least seven or eight points. She gave a bitter smile and returned to her seat.
It seemed that the person the sir was concerned about was this little girl.
Looking at Zhao Shuning, Feng Zhan behind the curtain said, "I really don't understand how a little girl with such good talent and who has never lacked food or clothing would have the determination to compete on this stage."
Never lacked food or clothing? Good talent?
Yan Ruyu shook his head.
"Brother may not know. She once had her spiritual roots destroyed and all her cultivation stripped away by someone she trusted. Her body was almost torn apart by horses. That's why her character is much tougher than others."
Feng Zhan nodded thoughtfully.
If Bu Ran thought so highly of this little girl, it seemed her past was indeed not simple.
"No wonder she's also extremely thick-skinned."