Chapter 119

Chapter 119

As the five minutes concluded, Eve meticulously reviewed the materials on the table. Looking up, she saw the teaching assistant somewhat laboriously carrying a waist-high exotic plant onto the stage, positioning it precisely between the two contestants.

The plant resembled a grapevine but appeared to be in poor health. Its slender, yellowish vines drooped limply against the support, and the few clusters of fruit were shriveled and small, their skins marred by brown disease spots.

The judge patted the assistant’s shoulder and began, "This is a Star-Spotted Grape, an exotic plant used both medicinally and as a food source. I trust you are both familiar with it. This particular specimen was borrowed from the neighboring Agricultural College. Due to improper handling during transport, it is currently in very poor condition."

"Your task for this round is to help this Star-Spotted Grape recover. You have a maximum of one hour for preparation. The winner will be determined by the degree of recovery achieved. In case of identical recovery, the contestant who finishes sooner will win."

The teacher’s gaze swept over both contestants, lingering for several seconds on Eve, who had recently gained some renown, before he continued, "While our department boasts many alchemists, we do not restrict solutions to alchemy alone. Any method that achieves the intended medical assistance—be it alchemy, technology, spiritual means, or any other approach—is welcome. Therefore, students, please choose the method best suited to your abilities to solve this challenge."

This statement was so formal that it wasn't until Eve stepped forward to examine the plant, noticing the judge’s seemingly stern yet deeply earnest gaze fixed on her, that she belatedly realized his words were a subtle hint that she could leverage her financial power to enlist external aid.

"......"

Meanwhile, the current challenger, who had just defended his position, hesitantly approached. His expression was peculiar, a mix of fear, admiration, and anxiety—emotions that seemed out of place for someone who had just triumphed over several opponents.

"Miss Lu Qing, I am Qi Cheng," he whispered. "My teacher is Lord Levin, the one... well, the one......"

As Qi Cheng sidled closer to whisper, Eve was in the midst of examining the Star-Spotted Grape, her psychic energy flowing steadily from her fingertips into the plant’s leaves upon contact. She cast a glance at the unfamiliar student.

Although Qi Cheng stammered and struggled to articulate his point, Eve quickly understood his meaning after a brief moment of recollection.

"Are you from the Oliver Family?" she inquired.

Qi Cheng immediately nodded vigorously.

Had he mentioned anyone else, Eve might not have remembered. However, Lord Levin was precisely the four-star alchemist who had assisted her recovery after she had exhausted herself curing Lorca’s poisoning. This connection prompted her to give Qi Cheng a genuinely surprised and direct look.

"What a coincidence..." she mused, then reassured him, "It’s fine. You don’t need to hold back. Just give it your all."

As a student of a four-star alchemist, his skills were likely considerable. Eve surmised that his self-introduction was driven by apprehension due to her relationship with Lorca, causing him to be overly cautious.

With that thought, she subtly glanced at Lorca, who was seated in a corner of the audience—a silent instruction for him not to interfere using family influence.

Lorca, who suddenly caught Eve’s eye from below: "?"

Even with his sharp intellect, he couldn’t immediately grasp her meaning. Yet, he instinctively straightened up and nodded back with a smile.

Regardless of the reason, it was always best to project a positive attitude.

Observing this, the chestnut-haired student who had just spoken with Lorca became subtly excited again, his hands moving like lightning under the desk as he furiously typed on his device.

Meanwhile, Qi Cheng: "."

Wasn’t he subtly suggesting that she go easy on him, out of respect for his teacher?

By then, Eve had already withdrawn her psychic energy from the withered plant and returned to her workstation.

After a thorough psychic examination, Eve had a complete understanding of the Star-Spotted Grape’s condition. While it appeared withered, this wasn't due to a lack of water or nutrients, but rather an elemental imbalance.

The key difference between exotic plants and animals in the interstellar realm and their ordinary counterparts is that the former possess inherent elemental affinities, which manifest as unique special abilities. For instance, the dream eater that Eve and Alice hunted on the dark star, which fed on grasses and small animals, had a strong wood elemental affinity. This made metal weapons more effective against it than those made of other materials.

Most exotic plants and animals tend to have affinities for wood, earth, or water elements. Only a select few, with unique habitats and abilities, lean towards metal or fire. Coincidentally, the Star-Spotted Grape is a metal-affinity exotic plant, with the star-like patterns on its fruit skin being a visible manifestation of its metal element.

The problem likely arose during its transportation: instead of using a container specifically suited for metal-affinity exotic plants, a water-affinity container was used—one that generally benefits plants but, crucially, suppresses metal elements.

Eve’s approach was clear: address the deficiency directly. Since the Star-Spotted Grape lacked metal elements, she could prepare a restorative potion primarily using metal-based materials. If that proved impossible, supplementing with wood elements would also work, as the plant, being exotic, still had an affinity for wood. However, since metal suppresses wood, the effect would likely be quite limited.

The real danger lay in thoughtlessly adding water upon seeing the plant’s withered appearance, which could exacerbate its condition. She glanced at the seemingly ordinary materials on the table, which in reality contained extremely high elemental properties, and couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

The teacher who designed this challenge was quite cunning.

Many restorative potions fit the criteria. After a moment’s thought, Eve selected two metal-based materials and added some dried plant powder with wood affinity as a harmonizing agent. Then, with her left hand, she ignited the furnace, and with her right, she began inscribing alchemical ciphers.

Qi Cheng, being a student of a four-star alchemist, would likely not be fooled by such a display. Unsure of his exact alchemy proficiency, Eve focused on maximizing her speed.

The judge had already stated that, given identical results, the faster contestant would win.

Since she began learning alchemy, it had always been for practical purposes—initially to earn money, and later to secure the support of the Oliver Family. Driven by the urgent need to rapidly increase her strength, Eve had consistently used both hands simultaneously when brewing potions, aiming for maximum efficiency and minimal time.

However, this sight was quite startling to the students and even the teachers watching below.

"Wait, how can she be doing two things at once while brewing the potion?" someone exclaimed in disbelief. "Doesn’t she need to think about the order of adding materials or recall the alchemical formula?"

"If she’s not just messing around, it means her alchemy skills are incredibly refined—so much so that she knows exactly what to do the moment she picks up the materials."

"What about all those formulas and recipes? My goodness, if she’s memorized all of them, how is she any different from a monster?"

"And she can operate a mech too!"

"......Perhaps Lu Qing has a twin sister, with one studying mechs and the other alchemy. Otherwise, I can’t accept that one person could possess such immense talent."

"Hey, the results aren’t even out yet. Why are you all singing her praises already?"

The person who uttered the last remark was not an alchemist, earning him disdainful looks from those around him.

This privileged heir, who likely gained entry through connections, couldn’t even discern the subtle differences in alchemical skill levels!

Was there any need to wait for the results? It was obvious at a glance that these two were not on the same level.

Ever since his plea for leniency was misinterpreted by Eve, Qi Cheng had been anxiously monitoring her progress. He, too, had identified the plant’s ailment, but perhaps due to his unsettled nerves, he only recalled a more suitable alchemical formula just as he was about to add his materials.

Individuals with timid personalities often instinctively look to others in stressful situations, and Qi Cheng was no exception. Thanks to his teacher’s rigorous training, his most prominent strength in alchemy was speed. If—just if—Eve wasn’t progressing faster than him, he planned to discard his current materials and start over with a new potion.

But that one quick, surreptitious glance nearly made his eyes pop out.

No... no way, how is she using both hands for alchemy?

No matter how fast he was, one hand could never outperform two!

Qi Cheng’s world came crashing down.

His lips trembled, on the verge of uttering "I forfeit," but no one was paying attention to him anymore. All eyes were glued to Eve, and even the judge overlooked Qi Cheng’s prolonged, rule-breaking stare at his opponent.

The black-haired girl deftly applied the alchemical formula, then collected the potion, her movements as fluid and seamless as flowing water. The roots and sandy soil that had been mixed among the materials moments before had transformed into a golden-glowing alchemical potion, contained within a narrow glass tube.

The judge was equally astonished by Eve’s alchemical prowess. The moment he received the potion, he knew Qi Cheng was defeated. However, out of professional integrity as a teacher, he respectfully addressed Qi Cheng: "Student Qi Cheng, the one-hour limit has not yet been reached. Although your opponent has finished, you still have the right to continue."

Was there any point in dragging this out, only to humiliate himself further?

Qi Cheng’s face was numb, his heart as cold as ice. "...No, don’t mind me. I forfeit."

Hearing this, Eve turned around. She first checked the time on her terminal before frowning. "There are still forty minutes left—plenty of time to complete a potion."

Qi Cheng: "......"

Eve: "The potion I made isn’t the best choice. I prioritized efficiency, so the effect is too potent. If you think carefully, you could definitely come up with a better formula."

Qi Cheng: "…………"

Eve: "Ultimately, the competition is about effectiveness. There’s still plenty of time—as I said, you don’t need to go easy on me."

Qi Cheng: "………………"

"Sis, please, no more—I’m begging you, sis," Qi Cheng’s spirit finally shattered completely. Grabbing his hair, he crouched down in despair and said, "You’ve already crushed me in skill. Could you at least spare me psychologically?"

While comparing oneself to others can be soul-crushing, did it have to be demonstrated so utterly and completely?

He really, really didn’t want to be so thoroughly defeated!