Chapter 305 – Sharp-eyed and Deft-handed (1)

That smile was so deep that it could make others unable to utter even a single word.

If Shangguan Xiao noticed that the edge of Shen Yanxiao’s mouth was curled up, surely, he wouldn’t be as confident as he was right now.

Choosing what potion to concoct, refining the herbs, and concocting weren’t difficult for her at all. Shen Yanxiao was all smiles as she looked at the group of students at one side, who were acting as if they were facing their mortal enemies, yet also eager to start.

It was only when the mentor finished his speech about the competition did her head move around.

In her mind, she was looking for a “decent” potion to concoct, and immediately after the mentor had said all the rules did she think of such a potion.

She had seen this potion a few days ago when she was watching Ye Qing practice his skills in concocting potions. It wasn’t that Ye Qing was having difficulty when concocting this potion. But at that time, he would be depressed from concocting the Blood Feast Potion, and so he would occasionally practice.

Obviously, as Ye Qing’s assistant, Shen Yanxiao saw the whole process of how he concocted that potion. Also, Ye Qing was considerate enough to teach her how to refine this potion.

The potion that Ye Qing concocted, even if it was just for practice, wouldn’t be just any ordinary potion.

It shouldn’t be a problem if she were to use it for this competition.

The only depressing thing was that she didn’t know the name of the potion.

Shen Yanxiao was pondering about it. But, it wasn’t like she was required to explain it anyway. Once she finished concocting the potion, the mentor could just judge it for themselves. So, she decided to let this matter go.

These past few days, Shen Yanxiao had been studying different intermediate level potions. However, one of her opponents was Shangguan Xiao, so she needed to be more cautious. She didn’t think that the talented student, who was at the top of the Pharmaceutical Branch, would be defeated by just any normal intermediate level potion.

Having made up her mind, Shen Yanxiao no longer thought about it much.

After a while, as soon as the competition officially began, all the participating students ran to the medicinal herbs as fast as they could and began to look for what they needed.

Shen Yanxiao unhurriedly walked while watching those hurrying backs, not even evaluating them.

Her gaze was neither soft nor fierce, but the watching crowd of students couldn’t help but feel terrified.

“How could Shen Jue just walk so leisurely? If he doesn’t hurry then those great medicinal herbs would be snatched away!” The freshmen students, who came to cheer for Shen Yanxiao, were now unable to remain calm.

Three thousand medicinal herbs sounded like a lot, but many of those medicinal herbs couldn’t be used by them in their current level. There were only dozens kinds of herbs that these students could harness. Also, one hundred students would be snatching other’s herb with all their might!

Yet, Shen Yanxiao was just leisurely walking, so careless, ah!

Lin Xuan also couldn’t help but silently sweat while looking at Shen Yanxiao.

“Don’t worry, maybe he’s just thinking of what potion to concoct. After all, the potion formulas being taught are different for each grades. Maybe Shen Jue is still thinking about it.” Lin Xuan’s heart was beating so fast like a drum. Usually, Shen Yanxiao was like a cloud that had a relaxed and indifferent manner. But, it was a race against time right now, how could she still remain like that!

Indeed, it was not the emperor who was anxious but the eunuchs who were distressed! [1]

The students, who arrived first at the place where the medicinal herbs were, began to search for what they needed in the pile of medicinal herbs.

However, looking at the medicinal herbs before them which all appeared almost the same, they almost shed tears.

They didn’t know who would have thought of such a competition, actually mixing the different kinds of medicinal herbs that were similar in smell and appearance together. Even if they relied on the characteristics of the medicinal herbs, it would still be hard to distinguish the medicinal herbs they needed from the rest.

[1] Simply means the “emperor” or the leader, Shen Yanxiao wasn’t a bit anxious but her subordinates or the “eunuch” are.

That smile was so deep that it could make others unable to utter even a single word.

If Shangguan Xiao noticed that the edge of Shen Yanxiao’s mouth was curled up, surely, he wouldn’t be as confident as he was right now.

From Princess Wei Young

Shen Yanxiao: Fool. You’re just one of the cannon fodders that the author prepared for me to slap. So, laugh while you still can.