"Elder Han please don’t apologize."
Elder Han heaved a sigh of relief. Thank god Gu Jin was soft-hearted...
"If apology could fix everything why would we need police?"
"From the moment I joined the competition, I was attacked repeatedly. At first, I was still able to put up with these petty tricks, but now...it is too much."
She turned toward the audience’s seat and said with a cold expression,
"If you all want your respective representative to stand at the top of the alchemy, killing me won’t benefit you.
After all, they are second because I am first and I am first because there is nothing above it."
A hush fell over the crowd.
She looked around, meeting the eyes of the audience, the judges, and her fellow competitors. There was no anger in her gaze, only cold amusement.
"If your chosen alchemist is truly talented, then let them surpass me with their own strength." Her lips curled into a smirk.
"But if the only way they can win is by removing me from the competition—doesn’t that just prove their inferiority?"
The audience erupted.
"She’s right! If they’re truly capable, why do they need to resort to underhanded tricks?"
"This is a competition of skill, not a battlefield!"
"Whoever planned this assassination—just admit that your favorite can’t beat her fairly!"
"Ah! She is arrogant! I love it!"
The crowd’s anger shifted, not just toward the organizers but toward the unseen forces trying to manipulate the competition.
The judges looked uneasy. Even Elder Han, who had tried to smooth things over, now felt the pressure of thousands of eyes demanding justice.
Gu Jin’s words had turned the situation against them.
Wei Lin clenched his fists, his face dark.
Shen Yue, standing nearby, let out a low chuckle.
"She’s quite something," he murmured, watching Gu Jin with an unreadable expression.
Zhao Ming looked furious. His lips pressed together tightly, but he said nothing.
Luo Fei... only sighed, looking away. He had long known this competition was anything but fair.
Gu Jin turned back to Elder Han. "Now, tell me," she said calmly. "What will you do?"
Elder Han wiped his forehead, realizing he was trapped.
If they dismissed this incident, they would lose all credibility.
If they canceled the competition, it would be admitting their failure.
After a long pause, he spoke.
"We will launch a full investigation. Every staff member will be questioned. Security will be tightened immediately."
He hesitated, then added,
"And as an apology, Miss Gu, you may skip this round and still qualify for the next."
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying I’m too weak to pass the test myself?"
Elder Han stiffened. "No, of course not, but—"
"Then I will participate as usual." Gu Jin’s voice was firm. "I don’t need special treatment."
The audience cheered again.
"God Gu never backs down!"
Elder Han felt his headache. This girl was too difficult to deal with.
"Now tell me what is my compensation?" Gu Jin asked.
Elder Han gritted his teeth and said,
"The National Alchemy Association will allow you to use all the common herbs for free, and rare herbs at a 95% discount for the next year."
Gu Jin’s eyes flickered with amusement.
"Only 95% off?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "Elder Han, are you sure my life is worth so little?"
Elder Han’s face twitched.
"She’s really bargaining with the judges?!"
"Haha, I love her confidence!"
"Honestly, after what just happened, she deserves it!"
Elder Han took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "Miss Gu, this is already a very generous offer."
Gu Jin tapped her fingers against her arm, pretending to consider. Then she smiled.
"Make it free. For all herbs. For three years."
Elder Han nearly choked.
"That sounds fair," Long Yifan suddenly spoke, cutting in smoothly.
"After all, the competition failed to protect its top contestant. A mere discount isn’t enough to compensate for nearly losing her life."
Wei Lin remained silent, his eyes dark. But even he had to admit—Gu Jin was handling this brilliantly.
The audience, already on her side, quickly joined in.
"Yes! Give her full access!"
"The National Alchemy Association is rich anyway, why be stingy?"
"Three years of free herbs is nothing compared to a life!"
Elder Han could feel sweat dripping down his back. He turned toward the other judges, and after a long, tense moment, they nodded reluctantly.
"Fine," Elder Han finally said.
"The National Alchemy Association will grant Gu Jin free access to all herbs, including rare ones, for the next three years."
The audience roared in approval.
"God Gu always wins, no matter the situation!"
Gu Jin smiled, pleased. "Good. Now, let’s continue the competition."
The competition resumed with heightened tension in the air.
The failed assassination attempt had rattled everyone, but Gu Jin stood calm and composed as if nothing had happened.
The other contestants, however, were visibly affected.
One by one, the contestants were blindfolded again, their nerves high.
The judges, now wary of potential sabotage, personally checked each herb before it was handed to the contestants.
Security around the stage had doubled, with guards stationed at every corner.
Gu Jin allowed the blindfold to be tied around her eyes once more.
This time, she didn’t hesitate. She sat cross-legged, waiting.
A staff member—this time personally verified by the judges—approached and carefully placed a herb in her palm.
Gu Jin brought the herb closer to her nose and inhaled gently. A faint, bitter scent filled her senses, with a subtle undertone of spiciness.
She didn’t need to taste it.
"This is Starleaf Root," she said confidently.
"A common herb used in calming potions. It grows in damp, shadowed areas and can be toxic if improperly prepared."
The judge overseeing her nodded, pleased. "Correct."
The audience murmured in amazement.
"She didn’t even need to taste it!"
"Her sense of smell alone is enough? That’s insane!"
"Of course! It’s God Gu we’re talking about!"
Meanwhile, the other contestants were struggling.
Wei Lin furrowed his brows. He had identified his herb correctly, but it had taken him longer than Gu Jin. That fact alone irritated him.
Shen Yue remained composed, identifying his herb with a relaxed expression.
Zhao Ming, on the other hand, hesitated.
His blindfold was still on as he frowned. He licked the edge of the herb cautiously, his face scrunching up. "Is this... Frostbloom Petal?"
A judge shook his head. "Incorrect. You may try again."
Zhao Ming cursed under his breath.
He had already licked the herb, and its taste was overpowering his senses, making it harder to identify.
His turn had come, and he hesitated before even touching the herb. He was clearly nervous, afraid of making a mistake.
When he finally spoke, his voice was weak. "Is this... Sunberry Leaf?"
The judge paused before shaking his head. "Incorrect."
Luo Fei’s shoulders slumped.
The audience murmured.
"Luo Fei failed again?"
"He’s from a famous alchemist family, but..."
"He just doesn’t have talent."
Despite the murmurs, Luo Fei said nothing. He merely nodded and stepped back, as if he had already expected this result.
The third round continued with more contestants stepping forward, identifying their herbs to varying degrees of success.
Gu Jin remained relaxed, arms crossed as she waited for the final results.
After what felt like an eternity, the rankings were displayed once more.
Final Rankings for Round Three:
1st Place: Gu Jin – 98 points
2nd Place: Wei Lin – 97 points
3rd Place: Shen Yue – 95 points
4th Place: Zhao Ming – 85 points
5th Place: Luo Fei – 80 points
The moment the rankings appeared, the crowd burst into noise.
"She scored 98?! I seriously suspect that someone from the judging panel holds a grudge."
"Yeah! She should have gotten 100 points!"
"Of course! She identified the herb in seconds!"
"Even Wei Lin couldn’t catch up!"
Wei Lin’s expression darkened. 97 points was a high score, but it wasn’t enough.
It was never enough. No matter how hard he tried, he always ended up beneath Gu Jin.
Zhao Ming looked absolutely furious.
He had barely scraped through this round. Meanwhile, Luo Fei stood silently, his gaze fixed on the ground.
Shen Yue, however, simply chuckled. "Gu Jin, congratulations."
Gu Jin glanced at him and nodded. "You too."
Despite his usual easygoing attitude, Shen Yue was still a threat.
His skill was solid, and unlike Wei Lin, he didn’t let his emotions get in the way of his performance.
If there was anyone to keep an eye on, it was him.
The judges finally stepped forward to address the audience.
"We apologize once more for the earlier incident. From this moment on, the competition will be under strict supervision."
Elder Han’s voice was heavy with exhaustion, but he forced himself to remain professional. "That being said, the next round of the competition will be held in Beijing City and the reward for this competition will be handed out now."