In truth, Xiahou Ying didn't want to make any choices either. Neither of these two factions was to her taste. One she looked down on, the other she despised — neither was worthy of her attention.
So Xiahou Ying thought it over, then shook her head. "Master, you should be the one to decide."
Ziche Min saw that Xiahou Ying had no objections, and after a moment's thought, nodded. "Very well. Let each of them write down their answers on paper and submit them. If both answers are correct, each will receive bonus points. If an answer is wrong, then it's simple — wrong answers lose points, correct ones gain them."
Xiahou Ying considered this and found the approach reasonable, nodding. "Disciple will follow Master's arrangements."
Ziche Min smiled faintly, then turned to address another elder present — Duan Zhiyuan, the State Preceptor of the Eternal Divine Kingdom.
"State Preceptor Duan, what do you think of this arrangement?"
Duan Zhiyuan was clearly very courteous toward Ziche Min as well, smiling as he replied, "Matters of alchemy are naturally your domain, Brother Ziche. I am merely a guest — how could I presume to interfere?"
Ziche Min laughed. "State Preceptor Duan is an honored guest as well. Your opinion is highly valued."
"Haha, let us defer to Brother Ziche." Duan Zhiyuan, seeing that Ziche Min respected his opinion, felt quite pleased and naturally had no reason to object.
Ziche Min then made it official, distributing paper and brushes to each contestant, instructing them to write out their answers as quickly as possible — the correct medicinal formula, with the missing supplementary Spiritual Medicine filled in, forming a complete and perfect prescription.
Jiang Chen accepted the paper and brush without ceremony. He wielded his brush with fluid ease, setting to work without hesitation.
Jiang Chen's speed was remarkable. In a short moment, he had finished.
And over on the other side, Pang Wei was no less quick, completing his answer at a similarly brisk pace.
Thus, both answers reached Ziche Min's hands almost simultaneously.
Ziche Min opened Pang Wei's answer from the Yaochi Sect first. He scanned it, studied it more carefully for a moment, and nodded slightly.
Clearly, Pang Wei's answer was satisfactory to him.
Ziche Min's expression and actions did not escape the notice of the Yaochi Sect geniuses. One by one, their faces lit up with delight, casting pleased gazes toward Pang Wei and congratulating their sect's foremost prodigy.
Pang Wei merely twitched the corner of his mouth, looking every bit the picture of calm confidence. It was evident that he had long since been entirely sure of his answer to this question.
What he cared about now was how the Yan family contestant had performed.
If the Yan family got this question wrong, they would lose ten points. That would bring the Yaochi Sect's score to sixty.
The Yan family's score, reduced by ten, would drop to forty.
The gap would widen dramatically in an instant. With only two questions remaining, the Yaochi Sect needed to secure just one of them to effectively lock in the championship.
Pang Wei watched Ziche Min with an air of serene detachment. It was easy to see that he possessed the domineering bearing expected of a top-tier genius — confident and composed.
The deeper into a contest he went, the stronger his mental fortitude became. His potential was unleashed more and more fully.
But Jiang Chen paid no attention whatsoever to Pang Wei's display of confidence. No matter how formidable Pang Wei might be, Jiang Chen simply could not bring himself to care.
In the field of alchemy, Jiang Chen had never bowed to anyone in the past, would not bow to anyone now, and was unlikely to bow to anyone in the future.
His inner calm, in fact, surpassed even Pang Wei's.
Perhaps Pang Wei's composure carried a touch of affectation — the deliberate attitude of a genius, put on display for all to see.
But Jiang Chen's calm came from within. It was a tranquility that was genuinely felt in the depths of his heart.
Clearly, opponents of the Yaochi Sect's caliber were simply not enough to stir a ripple within him.
Ziche Min set Pang Wei's answer aside and picked up Jiang Chen's. The moment he opened it and read through, his brow furrowed slightly.
Every expression of Ziche Min's was visible to the crowd.
When the onlookers saw his reaction, the Yaochi Sect side was delighted. Clearly, the Yan family's answer must have had problems — otherwise, why would Lord Ziche furrow his brows?
On the Yan family side, hearts clenched with alarm. Especially Yan Qingsang — his tension was plain for all to see.
Ziche Min studied the answer, reading it over several times. A thoughtful look flickered through his eyes. He appeared somewhat uncertain about what he was reading.
Finally, Ziche Min let out a soft sigh and shook his head.
He set Jiang Chen's answer down.
His gaze swept over the crowd, pausing with a hint of regret on the Yan family's side.
He announced: "In this eighteenth question, the Yaochi Sect is the winner. They receive ten bonus points. The Yan family's answer contains discrepancies, and per the rules, they lose ten points."
The moment these words left his mouth, the Yaochi Sect erupted in jubilant cheers.
On the Yan family's side, everyone except Yan Jinnan was stricken with dismay. Yan Zhenhuai and Yan Qingsang, in particular, looked as though they had been struck by lightning.