Chapter 108: Meeting Enemy On A Narrow Road

Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Meeting Enemy On A Narrow Road

After all the participating disciples had finished their work, the evaluation process finally began.

"For the evaluation, each of you will bring your medicinal essence forward to have its purity tested. We will begin with the disciples on the right and proceed toward the left. Those in the first group, come forward."

Elder Shan Li’s voice remained as calm and emotionless as ever. At the front of the hall, a special testing artifact had already been prepared. Once the medicinal herbs was placed inside, the artifact would be able to determine how much impurity remained and display the corresponding result.

As soon as Elder Shan Li finished speaking, the disciples began standing up one after another and making their way toward the front.

Their reactions were varied. Some wore confident expressions, their steps steady as they approached the testing artifact, seemingly certain that their results would not be too embarrassing. Others remained completely indifferent, their faces giving away nothing as though the outcome had little to do with them. There were also disciples whose expressions were noticeably gloomy, their lowered gazes and hesitant movements making it clear that they already had a rough idea of how poor their results would be.

The atmosphere in the hall gradually became more tense as everyone waited to see who would pass and who would not.

Sui Sui was seated on the far left side of the hall, which meant that his group would be among the last to undergo the evaluation.

Just like Ji Ling, there were also quite a few other Golden Core cultivators who had attended the lecture as well. It seemed that they had also come specifically for Elder Shan Li. They were among those who looked the most confident, after all, as Golden Core cultivators, it would be rather embarrassing if they couldn’t even achieve one or two high-grade results among the Qi Refining and Foundation Building disciples.

After the first batch was evaluated, the second batch soon followed. Just like before, the disciples displayed all kinds of reactions, some looking relieved while others appeared disappointed with their results.

Amid the crowd, however, Sui Sui suddenly spotted a rather familiar face. The young woman wore the signature blue robes of a Wenjian Sect inner disciple. She had delicate features, but her slightly upturned eyebrows gave her an inherently haughty appearance.

It was Chu Ran.

Only then did Sui Sui remember that she was also part of the Alchemist Division.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

It seemed that enemies really did meet on a narrow road.

Chu Ran didn’t look nervous in the slightest. She stood calmly beside the testing artifact, her expression confident as though she already knew what her results would be. As expected, when the three batches of medicinal essence were tested, the results were announced one after another.

"Chu Ran. First batch: thirty percent impurities. Second batch: twenty-five percent. Third batch: ten percent. Passed."

The announcement immediately caused a stir among the disciples.

This was the first Foundation Building cultivator to successfully pass the evaluation. Almost everyone who had passed before her had been Golden Core cultivators, so Chu Ran’s result naturally attracted quite a bit of attention.

Several disciples from her group quickly gathered around her to congratulate her, while others took the opportunity to flatter her and praise her alchemy skills. Chu Ran clearly enjoyed the attention, her expression becoming even more satisfied as she listened to the surrounding praise.

After Chu Ran’s evaluation was completed, there were only a few disciples left in her group. Once the final person finished, the elder finally announced that it was time for the last group.

"Last group, come forward."

The announcement finally reached Sui Sui’s group. He stood up together with Ji Ling and the other disciples, carefully gathering his medicinal essence before making his way toward the testing area. As they approached, they happened to cross paths with Chu Ran and the disciples who had gathered around her.

Chu Ran had just finished enjoying the congratulations from her fellow disciples. The moment she noticed Sui Sui walking over, the satisfied smile on her face immediately turned into one of disdain. Her gaze traveled over his probationary disciple robes before she raised an eyebrow and gave a mocking laugh. "Oh? I didn’t know just anyone was allowed to attend Elder Shan Li’s lecture. Even someone like Young Master Bai is allowed to participate? Aren’t you tired of embarrassing yourself? You can barely cultivate, yet you actually think you can learn alchemy?"

The disciples beside her immediately laughed, clearly enjoying the opportunity to mock Sui Sui. Chu Ran seemed even more pleased by their reactions and continued, "You really do have quite a lot of courage. Be careful not to blow up your cauldron later. It would be a shame if your first attempt at alchemy ended with your face covered in soot."

Sui Sui stopped walking and looked at her. Instead of becoming angry, he simply glanced at the disciples laughing behind her before calmly turning his attention back to Chu Ran. "Oh? Even someone like you is allowed to attend, so why can’t I? Besides, this is the sect’s monthly lecture. It’s open to all disciples. I don’t remember hearing that you were in charge of deciding who is allowed to attend."

The laughter around Chu Ran immediately died down. Her expression stiffened as irritation flashed across her face. In her mind, she was a legitimate disciple of the Wenjian Sect, while Sui Sui was merely a foolish probationary disciple who could not even cultivate. Yet this fool had actually dared to question her right to be here.

"Watch your mouth, stupid waste," Chu Ran snapped, her voice rising slightly. "Do you really think you’re qualified to speak to me like that? You’re nothing more than a probationary disciple who only managed to enter the sect because your family pulled strings for you. Without the Bai Family behind you, what are you?"

Sui Sui blinked before a faint smile appeared on his face. "That sounds rather familiar. I was just wondering why you sounded so confident saying that. After all, wasn’t it your family that helped you get into the sect as well?"

Chu Ran’s expression instantly froze. Sui Sui continued looking at her innocently, his smile becoming slightly wider. "So I’m a waste because my family helped me enter the sect, but you’re somehow different because your family helped you too? Where exactly is the difference?"

"You!" Chu Ran’s face flushed with anger. She clearly had not expected Sui Sui to know about this, much less throw the same accusation back at her. "You’re just a fool! What right do you have to compare yourself with me?"

Sui Sui shrugged, completely unfazed. "I don’t know. You’re the one who started comparing us. You’re the one who came over and told me that I shouldn’t embarrass myself, so I’m just wondering why you’re so concerned about what I’m doing."

His calm attitude only made Chu Ran more irritated. She glared at him and said, "Do you really think you can become an alchemist just because you attended one lecture? Don’t make me laugh. Alchemy isn’t something a fool like you can learn just because you suddenly feel like it."

Sui Sui looked at her for a moment before calmly replying, "I suppose we’ll find out soon enough."

There was no anger in his voice, and that complete lack of concern seemed to irritate Chu Ran even more than an angry retort would have. She took a step forward, clearly intending to say something harsher, but Ji Ling finally stepped between them. His expression had already turned cold, and the friendly warmth he usually showed Sui Sui was nowhere to be seen.

"Miss Chu, I advise you to watch your words," Ji Ling said sternly. "This is a public lecture organized by the sect, not a place for disciples to provoke one another. The sect has rules against deliberately inciting internal conflicts. If you continue causing trouble here, don’t blame the sect for punishing you."

Chu Ran’s expression changed slightly. She clearly wanted to argue, but after glancing toward the surrounding disciples and remembering that Elder Shan Li was still nearby, she reluctantly suppressed her anger. She gave Sui Sui one last resentful look before saying, "Fine. Then I’ll wait and see how you embarrass yourself. I doubt anything you produce will be worth looking at anyway, so don’t come crying afterward when everyone sees just how useless you really are."

With that, Chu Ran turned around and walked away with the disciples accompanying her, still looking visibly displeased.

Sui Sui watched her retreating figure for a moment before quietly clicking his tongue. He honestly didn’t care much about what Chu Ran thought of him. What irritated him was simply her arrogant attitude, as though everyone around her existed beneath her feet.

Beside him, Ji Ling let out a quiet sigh. "It’s unfortunate. Sect bullying really has become too common lately." He turned toward Sui Sui and gave him a reassuring smile. "Junior Brother, don’t take her words to heart. Whether you were a fool before or not doesn’t matter. As long as you have a good heart and are willing to work hard, you’re already better than someone who only knows how to look down on others."

Sui Sui smiled at him. "Senior Brother, don’t worry. I’m not upset. I just really don’t like her arrogant face."

Ji Ling was momentarily stunned before laughing. "Fair enough."

The two exchanged a glance before finally continuing toward the evaluation area, leaving the unpleasant encounter behind them.