"Oh no, why did she put the Heart Soul Wood in first? That ingredient is unstable. It’s the easiest way to make the cauldron explode!" someone cried out, slapping their thigh in dismay.

"Did you all see that? How did the Illusion Spirit Flower Bud turn into that? I couldn’t see it clearly—how did that happen?" another person exclaimed in astonishment.

"Ah, how can she add the tiger root and Pusuo Fruit at the same time? Their medicinal properties clash! Putting them in together will interfere with the extraction of the active ingredients! Even if she succeeds in the Alchemy, the medicine’s efficacy will be drastically reduced!" someone remarked.

Many others wore grave expressions. They stared intently at the screen, their eyes glued to it, refusing to miss a single detail.

This young girl’s Alchemy techniques were so masterful. In under five seconds, she had single-handedly refined the Illusion Spirit Flower Bud into a semi-liquid state and perfectly fused it with the Heart Soul Wood. It was so silky smooth, so fluid. She had instantly solved a major hurdle in creating the Soul Calming Potion and saved at least half the time in the process. ’How on earth did she do that?!’

Fifteen minutes after Ning Xuan began, a dazzling purple medicine was successfully created. Ning Xuan picked up the vial and swirled it gently, finding it brilliantly radiant.

Before she could even place the medicine back on the glass shelf, four or five people rushed into the examination room. The man at the front, who was slightly bald, was smiling so broadly his eyes narrowed into slits. "Miss Ning, leave it to me! It’s a success! Congratulations on passing the Advanced Alchemist examination. I’ll take this medicine to be tested for its purity and the concentration of its active ingredients!"

This was the chief examiner of the testing center. Ning Xuan handed the medicine to him, and someone behind him immediately presented her with an Advanced Alchemist badge.

Ning Xuan accepted the badge with a polite nod of thanks. After her Spiritual Power Level had advanced to B-rank, she had consulted Chen Nan and searched for information on the Star Network, finding the most advantageous growth environment and plan for someone with her qualifications.

A female B-rank Spirit Controller could gain the right to reside on the Central Star, the most resource-rich Star System in the entire Federation. Furthermore, a female B-rank Spirit Controller who passed the Alchemist Association’s examination to become an Advanced Alchemist would qualify for direct admission into the Central Star Military Academy.

For Ning Xuan, passing the Advanced Alchemist examination was no trouble at all.

Ning Xuan certainly wasn’t going to miss out on the chance for direct admission into the best academy in the entire Federation.

As Ning Xuan held the Advanced Alchemist badge, Dean Wang looked at her in amazement. "Ning Xuan, you are truly incredible! I can hardly believe I’ve had the chance to meet a student like you in my lifetime!"

"Ning Xuan, I know your current level grants you the right to live on the Central Star and direct admission into the Central Star Military Academy. But for the school’s sake, I have a selfish request. I’d like to ask you to consider participating in the Alchemist Competition. It’s a grand event broadcast live throughout the Federation. With your skill, you could enter the unrestricted division. That division has no age or Alchemist Level restrictions. Compared to the student divisions for those under twenty, the prizes in the unrestricted division are far more generous. If you win the championship, you can receive a Guiding Key to enter the Chaotic Divine Domain!" Dean Wang looked at Ning Xuan, his expression anxious.

"Ning Xuan, my main reason for asking you to compete from here is, of course, the hope that you can win honor for our school. However, this would benefit you as well. After all, you come from a Low-class Star. Even with direct admission to the Central Star Military Academy, it’s a bit late now to secure a spot to compete from their side. If you can place in the Alchemist Competition, you’ll gain more attention. With greater public influence, you won’t be so easily manipulated or sacrificed once you get to the Central Star Military Academy!" Dean Wang told her with sincerity.

"Dean Wang, since I’ve already promised, I will compete as a student of this school. However, to improve my Alchemy skills, I plan to go to the Central Star ahead of schedule." ’Ning Xuan wanted to get to the Central Star as soon as possible, not just to improve her Alchemy, but also because the Cultivation resources there would be better.’

At Ning Xuan’s current level of strength, staying on D618 Star was something of a waste of time.

"Of course, of course. At your current level, you certainly don’t need to attend our special training camp. The competition begins early next year, and Principal Qi is about to take some people to the Central Star to arrange accommodations in advance. You can go with him! We will definitely provide you with every convenience!" Hearing Ning Xuan agree to compete as a student of the school, Dean Wang was thrilled, expressing his understanding and support for her plans. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

After all, this was a major, officially organized competition. As the participating entry from D618 Star, Ning Xuan’s school, regardless of its strength, would be provided with accommodations and necessary practice rooms by the organizers for the period before and after the event. Principal Qi was going ahead of time specifically to liaise with the officials about this.

After Ning Xuan and Dean Wang finalized their discussion, Chen Nan came to pick her up and take her back to her home in Xingluo Bay.

Looking at the house, Ning Xuan felt a sense of warmth wash over her. ’I’m back!’

Ning Xuan got out of the Flying Car and was about to head inside when she suddenly stopped. It felt like something was approaching.

Ning Xuan turned to look and saw a Starship suddenly emerge from the void not far away. It flew rapidly in her direction and soon stopped a short distance from her. The Starship, which had seemed small from afar, was now revealed to be dozens of meters long and over ten meters high—a behemoth, like a fortress in the sky.

Having come to a stop so close to her home, she couldn’t help but suspect that this Starship was here for her.

Ning Xuan had a bad feeling. She focused her gaze and saw the words "SS14 Pioneer Corps" printed on the Starship. This was a military vessel.

The SS14 Pioneer Corps was one of the top elite legions in the Federation Army, famous for its formidable military strength and its invincible combat record.

The Starship’s hatch slowly opened with a dull, mechanical groan, like a great beast opening its maw.

The first to appear in Ning Xuan’s view were two squads of fully armed soldiers. They wore black combat uniforms, the SS14 insignia gleaming on their chests.

The soldiers’ eyes were cold, their movements perfectly synchronized. They were clearly elite soldiers who had undergone rigorous training, and a potent killing intent radiated from them. They disembarked swiftly, flanking the hatch to form a tight defensive line.

Next, a tall man dressed in black appeared at the hatch. He descended the ramp step by step, his knee-length coat and crisp trousers making him look both flowing and elegant.

He had a refined, scholarly face with a faint smile. One hand was held behind his back, and his posture was ramrod straight, giving him an extraordinary air.

In his other hand, he carried a square box that emitted a faint glow, and he walked toward Ning Xuan.