Chapter 315

Chapter 315: The Last Maiden to Appear

The purple-haired Othuna immediately drew everyone’s attention when she stepped onto the stage. After all, she was a rare beauty, with a purple tear-shaped pendant hanging from her ear, shimmering brightly. Her graceful figure, paired with black sheer stockings, exuded a captivating charm.

While waiting beside the stage earlier, Othuna had seen many important figures, including renowned teachers from the school and students from the high nobility. She had also done some investigations during this period. Among the students, the highest-ranking was Princess Evelyn of Verdant, though she was usually busy with student council duties and rarely appeared publicly. Next came Jielanen, the eldest son of the Griffin Duke, and Florasia, the legitimate daughter of the Unicorn Duke. There were also the Flowerwing siblings from the Falcon Kingdom, followed by the children of various Earls and core members of major organizations. As for the students from the Eastern House of Plantagenet, they formed their own small circle, and little was known about them outside.

Today, Jielanen, the eldest son of the Griffin Duke, had come to the scene. Dressed in an unremarkable black student uniform, he sat at the back corner, seemingly wanting to remain inconspicuous. Unfortunately, Othuna noticed him, and she naturally wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. The Griffin Duchy was no smaller than any kingdom in the West Wind, and the Duchess’s power was unparalleled. Unless she went to the Imperial Capital, no one could overshadow her.

“Good afternoon, everyone. I am Othuna, a second-year student from the Fortress Academy,” she said, one hand holding her waist and the other lifting her skirt. Her violet waves of hair shone brightly under the lights.

“I will be showcasing the [Ivy Poison Soul-Strengthening Potion],” Othuna said, taking out a glass bottle containing a light purple potion, then began her explanation.

This potion was made by Othuna, combining her innate talent for disease treatment with alchemy techniques from the Eastern Continent. It could enhance soul strength, but it came with the side effect of chronic poisoning.

“Although it causes chronic poisoning, it can be cured after some time,” Othuna explained, handing the potion over to the masters for review.

The audience began to whisper among themselves.

“The effect of enhancing soul awareness is quite rare. No wonder Othuna is so confident.”

“Yes, even if one is poisoned, there are always ways to remove it later. And with enhanced core soul strength, one’s power could significantly increase, possibly even breaking through a prolonged stagnation in the Extraordinary Sequence.”

“Let’s see what the Sage says. If the side effects aren’t too severe, I might want to try it myself.”

Potions that affect the soul were indeed rare, and if they could permanently enhance one’s abilities, they would be extremely valuable. The masters reviewed it more carefully.

After a long while, the staff announced the scores. “Comprehensive score: Creativity 87, Effectiveness 81.”

“Despite some side effects, it remains an excellent invention. This potion should be of gold-level rarity,” commented a teacher in deep blue silk robes, seeming very satisfied with Othuna’s creativity.

With the masters’ approval, the audience erupted in cheers, all eyes turning to Othuna. There were feelings of envy, jealousy, adoration, and greed.

Facing these gazes, Othuna felt no discomfort but instead a sense of indescribable joy. Only mediocre talents faced no jealousy; geniuses were always at the center of attention. She knew this well, so she gently flicked her purple waves of hair and bowed confidently and proudly towards the podium, expressing her gratitude.

Lolan Hill sat in a corner of the venue, watching the purple-haired maiden on stage and silently marveling. She was a reserved person, so sometimes she admired those who were outgoing and bold.

After receiving praise from the judges, Othuna turned around to leave the stage. Her gaze inadvertently shifted towards the corner where Jielanen, the eldest son of the Griffin Duke, was sitting, hoping to catch his approval.

However, Jielanen wasn’t looking at the high platform but at a dim corner where a delicate and beautiful girl sat quietly.

Othuna suppressed her disappointment and jealousy, maintaining a professional smile as she descended from the central podium. As she walked into the darkness, her expression grew colder, and she couldn’t hear the remaining contestants’ words.

The next two contestants didn’t particularly stand out. Many in the audience were still lost in thoughts about Othuna’s potion until the penultimate contestant took the stage.

Gene, recognizable by his signature monocle and fitting black-gold evening gown, ascended the stage. He was curious why he was the second-to-last to appear and why the black-haired girl in the corner had caught the teachers’ attention.

Gene had left early during the preliminary round and didn’t know that Lolan Hill had scored high. Additionally, he spent most of his time in his alchemy lab, so no one had told him about such trivial matters. Thus, he didn’t recognize Lolan Hill yet.

“This is my work, the [Lightning Storage Potion],” he said, pulling out a clear blue potion with occasional electric glimmers, quite eye-catching.

“It stores and releases electricity. That’s it,” he finished, handing the potion to the staff before stepping down.

“Is that it? So quick?” some students began to discuss.

“As expected of Chief Gene, always concise.”

“It doesn’t seem very special, this potion.”

After a while, the staff finally announced the master’s scores. “Comprehensive score: Creativity 70, Effectiveness 86.”

“Why is the effectiveness score so high?” some students found it hard to understand, and the hall buzzed with murmurs like mosquitoes.

Bang! A crisp sound of a wooden hammer on the podium silenced the crowd. Then, a sage began to speak.

“Though the creativity isn’t particularly striking and overlaps with some potions in records, the effectiveness is significant. It can store large amounts of electricity. With improvements in materials to reduce production costs, it could be widely distributed. Gene, you can earn the title of Master with this potion,” the sage gave a startling evaluation, causing the students to gasp in surprise.

Othuna, sitting on the side of the venue, looked across at Lolan Hill and felt increasingly annoyed. Why was it always her? She had worked so hard and received such praise. Why couldn’t the legitimate son of the Griffin Duke look at her? It wasn’t fair.

It wasn’t until the shouts in the venue made her realize, raising her head to see Gene, the Chief, thanking everyone amidst applause, that she felt bewildered. What happened? Did he win first place? Had she lost everything?

Although Gene’s effectiveness score was high, his creativity only scored 70, which wasn’t enough to surpass Othuna. After all, the ‘Rainbow Neck Bottle’ competition primarily encouraged innovation. Understanding this, Othuna gradually calmed down.

What Chief Gene? In the future, I’ll be called Chief Othuna, she thought, pinching her nails. At this moment, the last contestant of the competition slowly appeared before everyone.

Lolan Hill adjusted her hairband and dress. Two strands of hair fell beside her ears, while the rest cascaded smoothly over her shoulders. Her red dress swayed slightly with each step.

When she stepped onto the stage, the lights illuminated her exquisite and perfect face, and her dark eyes gently moved, causing the entire venue to fall into a brief silence.

“I am Lolan, a second-year student from the Fortress Academy. This is my work, the [Glowing Soul Potion],” her voice clear and ethereal, echoed throughout the venue.

After spending nearly a year in Emanas, Lolan Hill finally stood on a stage watched by thousands. Perhaps, many years later, few would remember her competition piece, but those few seconds under the spotlight, the flawless and dreamlike maiden, would be etched deeply in the hearts of the students, akin to an unforgettable first love.

Thank you, Dusty Low QAQ, Dog Cat Ning, Ouzhou Ren, Ashes, Cloud Solitary Dream, Tangmen Infantry, Leanmit, Bento 216, and nine classmates for your support~