Chapter 98 - Concentrated Is the Essence (2)

“Yeah!” Leng Ruoxue was a little depressed. Artificing was the same as alchemy. The flames used were the fire-attribute of the body’s natal flame, but the natal flame also had levels, mainly divided into the grades of earth, heaven, and divine. The natal flame in her body was a divine-grade flame. The purity of the divine-grade flame was very high, so the quality of the equipment refined was also the highest. And tomorrow’s competition was the same as the alchemist competition. There was a round of basic skill assessment, but now even the equipment she casually refined was a sacred artifact. Alas, it seems like I’ll have to forfeit the first round tomorrow.

“If you can’t refine it, so be it. Stop thinking about it and rest early!” Ye Chen said. He didn’t want Xue’er to be upset over such a trivial matter.

“Okay, I’m going to bed.”

“Hurry up and go!”

The top 20 academies had representatives to participate in the artificer competition. The rules of the competition were similar to the ones of the alchemist competition. But because of the uniqueness of artificing, only two rounds would be held, and the judges finalized the winner.

On the day of the competition, Leng Ruoxue walked into the venue under the crowd’s escort. The audience was surprised when they saw that it was Leng Ruoxue participating in the competition. Leng Ruoxue’s performance in the team competition was really too breathtaking. People were amazed. A powerful spiritualist coupled with the noble status of an artificer, is this still possible?

“Hey, what’s the matter?” an audience member asked the person next to him in a low voice. Many people were stunned when they saw the girl. She was really too beautiful!

“That girl is the champion of the team competition. I didn’t expect her to be an artificer. This is too shocking!” an audience member who knew the situation explained.

“Really? Are you sure?” someone asked doubtfully.

“Of course! I watched the team competition!” the person said proudly.

“The team competition isn’t open to ordinary people. How did you get in?” another person asked with a puzzled face.

“Of course… It’s none of your business!” the person roared in anger.

The host took the lead to go on stage. “Everyone, please be quiet! The competition is about to begin.

“Now, let us welcome the participating artificers onto the stage.”

The moment the host finished speaking, the competitors walked onto the stage in an orderly manner, found their place, and began preparing.

After the judges gave the order, the already-prepared artificers began to focus on artificing. Every artificer carefully followed the steps and threw the materials into the furnace in order. But only Leng Ruoxue didn’t do anything.

“What’s wrong with this girl? Why isn’t she moving?” Elder Qiu asked in bewilderment.

“Eh, Elder Qiu, do you think that person is Cong Min?” Feng Da deliberately averted Elder Qiu’s gaze.

“Where? It is her! Damn it! She’s actually representing the Lunar Shadow Academy in the competition!” Elder Qiu’s face twisted in anger when he saw the school badge on Cong Min. What is she trying to do?

“Elder Qiu, Cong Min obviously isn’t a good person. And you still treat her as a treasure,” Lin Yuan said disdainfully.

“…”

“Well… she’s the most qualified student in our artificer division after all. It’s normal to treat her better than the other students.” Elder Qiu wiped the sweat off his forehead.

“Hmph! Our young lady said that aptitude and whatnot aren’t important. Character is the most important,” Lin Yuan said. He increasingly understood how reasonable the words of his young lady were after being together with her for a long time.

“That girl is a monster,” Elder Qiu couldn’t help saying.

“What? Can’t refine anything? Do you think anyone can be an artificer?” Cong Min, who had completed her refinement, looked at Leng Ruoxue with some jealousy and provoked her. She was an artificer with a heaven-grade natal flame and a boundless future. How could a simpleton compare to her?

“I don’t need you to worry about me. Just take care of yourself,” Leng Ruoxue said indifferently. She didn’t even have the desire to attack such a clown.

“I’m just being nice, yet you don’t appreciate it?” Cong Min said aggrievedly.

Leng Ruoxue was speechless. Why do these people like acting so much? Aren’t they tired?

“You’re still a student of the Heavenly Phoenix Academy, aren’t you? But you’re actually representing the Lunar Shadow Academy in the competition,” Leng Ruoxue said mockingly. She originally didn’t want to bother with her, but she just had to cause trouble. So why should she be polite then!

“Hmph! I’m no longer a student of the Heavenly Phoenix Academy,” Cong Min said nonchalantly.

“Is that up to you? Have you completed the procedures?” Leng Ruoxue asked. The academies had a consensus on student management in order to prevent students from being poached by other academies. Students who had not completed any withdrawal procedures were still considered students of the academy.

“Do I need to worry about such a small matter? Someone will arrange it for me,” Cong Min said proudly. The Lunar Shadow Academy treated her much better than the Heavenly Phoenix Academy, which greatly satisfied her vanity.

“Then I wish you success!” Leng Ruoxue said indifferently and then ignored her.

After the first round ended, Cong Min came in second. The first was Wang Wei, the artificing genius of the Rising Dragon Institute. Leng Ruoxue was last because she didn’t refine the required equipment.

The artificer could choose the equipment they were good at and refine it for the second round.

The second round of the competition just began, and the participating students already seized the time to smelt the materials. Artificing and alchemy were different. Most of the materials used for artificing were very hard, so the time to melt them was relatively long. Moreover, it had to be purified after melting, and then it had to be molded and tempered. The steps were more complicated than alchemy, and the time taken was also longer.

While the others were smelting materials, Leng Ruoxue was not in a hurry to start. She was thinking about the equipment she wanted to refine.

After deciding, Leng Ruoxue began to work. She first lit the furnace fire and then threw the materials into the furnace one by one. After the materials melted into liquid, she removed the impurities and purified them. After condensing the liquid into the size of a baby’s fist, she began to shape it according to her imagination and finally tempered it.

Although Leng Ruoxue was the last to start, she was the first to finish. After she completed the last step, the people below the stage could finally see clearly that she was holding a palm-sized man’s clothing and pants. The clothing might be small, but the style was novel, and it was in a style they had never seen before. But could such a small piece of clothing be worn? The people below the stage couldn’t help being a little puzzled.