The talent potion’s effect was to permanently enhance the strength of one’s spiritual root and the speed of absorbing spiritual energy. It was extremely rare and difficult to refine, with a high failure rate. It was also a potion that cultivators would go to great lengths to obtain.
Nan Gong Huan stood in front of Madam Shen, glancing at the two bottles of talent potion held by the maids beside her. One bottle was for her, and the other was for the auction.
But what surprised Nan Gong Huan was that she sensed the presence of gu worms in both bottles!
Wow, a sudden realization struck Nan Gong Huan. The talent potion being auctioned off actually contained gu worms. What about the ones sold earlier? Could they all have gu worms too?!
If that were the case, Nan Gong Huan had to admit that Shen Ye Rong had played a brilliant move—she was trying to control the disciples of the four great families!
Whoever consumed the gu worms would have to obey her!
But... what did that have to do with her?
"Here, this bottle is for you, Xiao Huan. Take it and show everyone," Shen Ye Rong personally handed her a bottle.
This was meant to put her in a difficult position.
Nan Gong Huan remained expressionless and took the potion. Hmm... this bottle’s fusion rate was only fifty-two. Even if it didn’t contain gu worms, she wouldn’t want to drink it.
The effects were minimal.
But with so many people watching, Nan Gong Huan used a sleight of hand. She raised her sleeve to partially block the view, pretending to drink the potion while actually pouring it all into the Di Ming Ring.
After "drinking," Nan Gong Huan even flipped the bottle to show it was empty.
"How do you feel, Xiao Huan?" Shen Ye Rong asked with concern.
"Hmm, I don’t feel anything. Is this a counterfeit?" Nan Gong Huan replied dismissively, not wanting Shen Ye Rong to feel too comfortable.
Shen Ye Rong’s smile stiffened, but she quickly laughed and said, "It seems the talent potion doesn’t take effect immediately. You’ll need to go back and feel it out. But these two bottles of potion have been certified by the Authentication Association. They’re genuine talent potions."
Afraid that people wouldn’t believe her, Shen Ye Rong directly invoked the Authentication Association. With so many people watching, she wouldn’t dare lie.
Thus, everyone began bidding frantically, and the potion was eventually won by a disciple from the Ye family.
Nan Gong Huan sighed. These foolish disciples were in for a rough time tomorrow.
The auction ended amidst the cheers, and the crowd gradually dispersed.
As soon as Nan Gong Huan stepped out of the auction house, she was stopped by the Ye siblings.
Ye Wan Jun, as if he had been preparing for a long time, mustered his courage and said, "Nan Gong Huan, let’s team up tomorrow."
The disciple trial allowed participants to form teams freely, with a maximum of five people per team. The final rankings would be based on the average score of the team.
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Ye Sang, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. She had participated in the trial last year and couldn’t join this time. She was here to support her brother, as she had some acquaintance with Nan Gong Huan.
Team up? Nan Gong Huan suddenly thought this was a good idea. A plan to bring down Madam Shen began to form in her mind.
"Did you two buy any of Madam Shen’s potions just now? Show them to me," Nan Gong Huan asked first, catching the siblings off guard.
The siblings exchanged a glance, and to show their sincerity, Ye Wan Jun took out the potion he had just won and said, "Yes, we did. It was quite cheap. Why?"
Nan Gong Huan looked closely and confirmed that the potion indeed contained a gu worm!
"As I thought..." Nan Gong Huan now had confirmation. Every potion Shen Ye Rong had auctioned off contained gu worms!
"As you thought what?" The siblings were confused. Why was she being so mysterious?
"These potions contain gu worms. In fact, every potion auctioned tonight has them," Nan Gong Huan revealed directly. Of course, this was a necessary part of her plan.
The two of them gasped. "Gu worms?!"
Such a sinister thing was still being used?
"Don’t believe me? Watch." Nan Gong Huan opened the bottle cap, and with a flash of purple light, a translucent gu worm, wrapped in the light, flew out of the potion, struggling in mid-air.
Seeing this, the siblings’ faces turned pale!
"Don’t be shocked yet. Listen to me. Tell the Ye family disciples not to consume tonight’s potions, and then help me with one thing..."
Nan Gong Huan explained her plan to the two of them.
"Damn it! That Shen Ye Rong is actually pulling such tricks behind the scenes!" Ye Wan Jun clenched his fists in anger.
"Alright! I’ll make sure it’s done. Thanks for the warning, or my brother would have fallen into their trap tomorrow," Ye Sang said gratefully, immediately agreeing to Nan Gong Huan’s plan.
This time, they would definitely ruin Shen Ye Rong’s reputation!
It was destined to be a sleepless night.
...
The next morning.
The eastern area of the Three Winter Forest, usually quiet, was bustling with activity. The disciple trial of the four great families was being held here.
As an annual event in the city, many commoners came to watch from the sidelines, eager to see the outstanding disciples of the four great families compete for the top spot this year.
The disciples had arrived early and were waiting, forming small groups based on their chosen teammates. Nan Gong Huan stood with Ye Wan Jun, ready to go.
The heads of the three great families and the city lord were seated in the judges’ panel, but Nan Gong Jie Ming’s seat was empty.
Nan Gong Huan had heard from the servants that her grandfather was in seclusion, locking himself in his room for the past two days and not allowing anyone to disturb him. She didn’t know when he would come out.
Among the judges were also respected elders from a few smaller families. Nan Gong Huan also spotted two familiar faces—Xue Lao and Princess Song Xi Ran, whom she had met at the Authentication Association.
Beside Song Xi Ran was a man dressed in luxurious black robes with a qilin pattern. From the conversations around her, Nan Gong Huan learned that he was the Sixth Prince of the royal family, Song Que. Since Jiang Lou City was part of his fiefdom, he had been invited to observe the event.
"I’ve heard that Jiang Lou City has produced two promising talents this year, both with nine-level aptitudes. In my opinion, the Purple Star must be Nan Gong Qian’er," Song Que said, waving his folding fan and gazing at Nan Gong Qian’er with admiration.
"That’s highly possible. The Cloud Star Sect also said the Purple Star is a woman and that she’s among the participants in this trial. Today’s trial will confirm whether it’s her," Song Xi Ran said with a light laugh, her eyes scanning the disciples before landing on Nan Gong Huan.
Perhaps it was because the black marks on her face were so distinctive that she left a deep impression.
Song Que said confidently, "I’d say it’s almost certain. After the trial, I’ll recruit her into our Royal Academy. We can’t let such talent go to waste."
Hearing their conversation, Xue Lao looked thoughtful. He glanced at Nan Gong Qian’er, seemingly aware of something, but his expression was conflicted.
Last night, he had received dozens of potions. The sender claimed they were from the Black Lotus Master, requesting an examination of the potions from Shen Ye Rong’s auction.
Without exception, they contained gu worms.
And Shen Ye Rong and Nan Gong Qian’er were mother and daughter...
"I think the disciples of the four great families this year are all quite impressive, full of energy. Perhaps the Purple Star isn’t necessarily the one with the highest aptitude," Song Xi Ran said, her gaze lingering on Nan Gong Huan for a few seconds. She felt as if she had seen this woman somewhere before, a sense of familiarity.
With that in mind, Song Xi Ran pointed at Nan Gong Huan and asked, "Who is that woman with the black marks on her face?"
