Zhao Shuning glanced at the incense stick. There was probably still a quarter of an hour left.
As the alchemists later grasped the basic tricks, the sound of exploding pill furnaces on the stage became much rarer.
It seemed that they had started to find the pattern through their exploration.
Zhao Shuning held her breath and focused all her strength on the small furnace in her palm.
The flames slowly rose.
Zhao Shuning let out a long sigh. Apparently, she was a bit nervous. She began to select the herbs needed for high - grade pills according to the mental method.
Then she added them one by one.
Yes, one by one.
Because the heat requirements and refining times for each herb were different, she couldn't just pour them all in at once like before.
Zhao Shuning had a particularly good memory.
So she was extremely careful when adding the herbs.
Those who were close could see the tiny beads of sweat oozing from her forehead.
Everyone was amazed at Zhao Shuning's actions.
Did this little girl want to refine a high - grade pill in the last quarter of an hour?
Was she crazy?
Not to mention she was only nine years old. Even if she was extremely talented, it would be a pipe dream to refine a high - quality pill in one go.
The alchemists on this stage were all quite powerful.
They were somewhat well - known in the capital, Chang'an.
This girl named Zhao Shuning was the first time they had ever seen her.
Although this little girl's previous actions had truly amazed them, it didn't mean they recognized her.
Refining a high - level pill in a quarter of an hour required not only solid strength but also remarkable on - the - spot capabilities.
Sure enough, in the middle of the process.
A muffled sound came from Zhao Shuning's pill furnace.
It seemed that her pill furnace was about to explode.
Zhao Shuning's gaze became even more focused, and she didn't dare to relax her spiritual power in the slightest. Her divine sense kept wandering among the herbs.
She tried her best to soothe the herbs that were about to be damaged.
Cooling them down and adjusting the heat.
She didn't dare to slack off at all.
Finally, after that muffled sound, she managed to save the pill, and the pill furnace didn't break.
She didn't dare to relax and still highly concentrated her spiritual power on the herbs.
After they were completely refined, the pill began to take shape slowly.
"Time's up."
As this voice came, Zhao Shuning slowly opened her eyes. After the flames faded, a pill appeared in front of everyone.
That little girl had actually succeeded?
How was that possible?
Was there really such a talented alchemist in the world?
Or was it just good luck?
A blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse?
The pills of the other alchemists had also taken shape.
It was just that Zhao Shuning had a bit more time than them.
Zhao Shuning let out a sigh of relief. It was already good enough to achieve this result. She knew that there were many talented people in the capital, Chang'an. She just wanted to get a top - ten spot so that she could enter the Alchemist Association.
This spot was also very rare.
When the results were announced, sure enough, Zhao Shuning just made it into the ninth place. If she hadn't made good use of the waste and let those twelve One - Yuan Entry Pills play their value, she might have been ranked outside the top ten by now.
In the subsequent competitions, because the previous ones had been so intense, the later ones were not very interesting.
Everyone's attention was no longer as focused as before.
They stayed for the final part.
At that time, the most outstanding disciples of the Alchemist Association would show everyone on stage how to refine a good pill.
After Zhao Shuning was sure of her ranking, she sat in her seat and slowly ate the snacks prepared by Gong Xiaotang for her.
She knew that among this batch of newbies, her abilities might be quite good.
But when it came to the Alchemist Association, her spiritual power was nothing compared to theirs.
Zhao Shuning didn't have the capital to be proud yet.
She was well aware of this truth.
Just when she was being absent - minded, two teenagers suddenly appeared on the stage at the same time. One was Lan Anran, a well - known prodigy of the Alchemist Association.
The other was the white - robed teenager, Zhao Huai.
Zhao Huai was the most mysterious teenager that people in the capital, Chang'an, had been talking about in the past two years.
In the Alchemist Association, his current status was approaching that of Lan Anran.
Even Fu Nian, who had previously looked down on Zhao Huai, now had a flattering look on his face.
Zhao Shuning just took a casual glance, but when she did, she found that the white - robed teenager looked a bit familiar. Taking a closer look, she covered her mouth in surprise.
The person on the stage had star - like eyebrows and sword - like eyes. His eyes were sharp, but when he looked at Zhao Shuning, they were filled with tenderness.
"Brother!"
It was really her brother.
After so many years of separation, Zhao Shuning felt that Zhao Huai had changed a lot.
He had transformed from the gentle and delicate scholar he used to be into the high - spirited and unrestrained young man he was now.
Zhao Shuning could tell that the Zhao Huai she saw now was completely different from the one she had known before.
His current abilities were probably far beyond hers.
How could her brother have progressed so quickly?
Seeing that Zhao Shuning had finally noticed him, Zhao Huai showed a long - lost smile on his face.
That smile looked so warm.
He nodded at Zhao Shuning.
Zhao Shuning also smiled at him, her eyes narrowing into slits. She looked extremely cute.
Rong Yan, who was in the audience, felt an indescribable feeling in her heart when she saw this scene.
Not long after, a maid came to Rong Yan's side. Rong Yan said softly, "Have you found out?"
"Madam, I've found out. This little girl is called Zhao Shuning. She is Zhao Huai's younger sister. According to those who know the information, this little girl named Zhao Shuning has been the apple of Young Master Zhao Huai's eye since childhood. She is also Young Master Zhao's only sister."
Rong Yan nodded thoughtfully.
Then she motioned for the maid beside her to leave.
A younger sister? Was it really as she had thought?
But for some reason, Rong Yan always felt a bit uneasy in her heart.
Fortunately, she hadn't stood by and watched that night. If the young master had lost Zhao Shuning, he would surely be in great pain for the rest of his life, right?
Zhao Shuning gave Zhao Huai on the stage a cheering gesture, and Zhao Huai smiled back.
Then, Zhao Shuning began to seriously watch the stage.
After not seeing each other for a few years, had her brother already become an outstanding disciple of the Alchemist Association? Such progress was far beyond what she could achieve.
Behind the curtain, Yan Ruyu's face showed a hint of displeasure.
Feng Zhan teased, "Seeing your little fiancée flirting with others, you must be feeling bad, right?"
Yan Ruyu took a sip of tea and said very calmly, "Brother, you're overthinking."
"Don't I know what you're thinking? Buran, we're brothers. When you're unhappy, your eyes will look a bit unnatural. You still haven't gotten rid of this habit."