Luo Fei, on the other hand, was struggling in silence. His technique wasn't bad, but his hands shook with nervousness.
His hesitation caused minor mistakes—his fire wasn't stable, his timing was slightly off, and though his mixture wasn't ruined, it was far from perfect.
In contrast, Gu Jin remained steady.
She stirred the mixture in her cauldron with slow, deliberate movements, letting the ingredients fuse together flawlessly.
The soft glow within the cauldron deepened as the liquid thickened, transforming into a shimmering golden hue.
She was almost done.
Wei Lin noticed this and felt a surge of urgency.
He was nearing the final step as well, but he had already made a small mistake earlier—one that he couldn't correct now. If he didn't finish quickly, he might not secure second place.
With one final, precise motion, Gu Jin infused the last bit of plant energy into her cauldron.
A soft, crisp sound rang out—ding!
