Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! Chapter 527 Alchemist Competition

"Let's have a competition. Between me and you!"

Silence!

Those words rang out with crystal clarity.

For an instant—

Everyone remained motionless.

As though they doubted their own ears.

Suddenly, a wave of murmurs erupted across the hall.

"A competition?! Against Mu Linyue?!"

"Is he for real?!"

"Doesn't he realize that across the whole Desolate Heaven Empire, nobody in her age group can rival her?"

"Her talent surpasses even the present Pill King! Yet Bai Zihan dares to take her on?"

Those holding back their chuckles now gawked in plain view. Shock!

Disbelief!

Mu Yuelan's eyes widened just a bit.

This turn of events caught her completely off guard.

After all, such a choice was utterly foolish.

For a talentless figure like Bai Zihan, unable even to concoct a starter pill, to defy a millennial prodigy such as Mu Linyue in a contest—

Not even idiots would opt for something so idiotic.

Mu Linyue blinked once.

Then again.

Next, laughter bubbled from her once more.

"You... wish to challenge me?"

Her finger lightly tapped her own chest.

As if seeking assurance.

She glanced back at him, seeing his firm nod.

A gradual smile spread across her lips.

"Cousin..."

Her voice lowered.

"...do you even grasp what you're uttering?"

Mockery had vanished from her tone.

It carried near pity instead.

A novice.

Daring to face her?

In the art of alchemy?

This went beyond pride.

It was pure folly.

Bai Zihan held back his reply for the moment.

He merely locked eyes with her.

"Whatever pill you manage to forge..."

His words came steady and even.

"...I'll produce a superior one."

Arrogance filled that declaration utterly.

A bizarre hush descended on the hall.

Even the soft pops from the fires under the furnaces appeared to quiet.

Mu Linyue fixed her stare on him a few breaths more.

Gradually, her grin dissolved.

Not toward fury.

Rather, toward grave intent.

"You should halt now."

Her voice grew even more composed.

"This isn't a matter for jests."

Her eyes held his steadily.

"No reason to push it so extreme."

A brief hesitation.

"You've spoken plenty already today."

Her tone eased by the slightest degree.

"Let it end here."

This time, humiliation wasn't her aim.

She offered him an escape.

No gain existed here.

Vanquishing Bai Zihan at alchemy?

Victory was certain for her.

Zero question.

Yet what glory in that?

Toppling one incapable of basic pill-making?

That brought no honor.

Merely squandered effort.

Worse still, it would shatter Bai Zihan's dignity entirely.

A result unwelcome to either the Bai Clan or Mu Yuelan.

Thus, this marked her last kindness.

"Learn to quit while ahead."

She murmured softly.

Yet Bai Zihan simply regarded her.

"You're afraid?"

Just three plain words.

The tension detonated.

Mu Linyue's gaze turned razor-sharp at once.

"What did you just say?"

Bai Zihan's face stayed unchanged.

"I figured the famed Mu Clan genius wouldn't dodge a mere

contest."

His voice stayed casual.

Practically indifferent.

"Looks like I thought too highly of you."

Gasps echoed around.

Mu Linyue eyed him intently.

For a prolonged beat, silence reigned from her.

Then laughter escaped her.

"Afraid?"

She echoed gently.

Her presence flickered subtly.

"You truly overstep your bounds."

All remnants of patience vanished.

"Fine!"

A single syllable.

Yet it sealed the deal.

"Craving a showdown?" She advanced a step.

Her stare pierced his.

"I'll grant you one."

A tiny break. "Don't come crying later!"

A faint smile touched Bai Zihan's lips.

"Those are my words exactly!"

Mu Yuelan observed the pair.

A pounding ache built in her head.

(These two...)

She sighed deep inside.

No halting this anymore.

"Enough!"

Her command sliced through again, steady and firm.

"If it's a contest you want, make it official."

Internally, she mused that a total thrashing for Bai Zihan could make him back off.

Both faced her direction.

Mu Yuelan's eyes scanned the assembly.

Next, she declared.

"How shall we conduct this contest?"

Her voice stayed impartial.

Bai Zihan replied instantly.

"Higher-grade pill decides the victor." Direct and clear-cut. Mu Yuelan gave a small nod.

Her attention shifted to Mu Linyue.

"And you? Any objections?"

Mu Linyue agreed without pause.

"I have no problem."

Confidence laced her steady voice.

In her view, the result was already set.

The hall's mood transformed entirely.

Gone were mere barbs.

This stood as a true clash.

Disciples hastily retreated, opening the area.

A pair of furnaces stood ready.

Bai Zihan moved ahead.

He halted in front of one furnace.

His eyes rested on it for just an instant.

Next, he directed his attention to the ingredient shelves.

Neat rows of herbs, roots, and spiritual materials stood organized there. Yet, this room served only Grade-3 alchemists.

Thus, no ingredient exceeded suitability for Grade-3 pills.

Bai Zihan stretched out his hand.

He casually grabbed a handful of herbs.

Then one more.

And yet another.

Meanwhile, Mu Linyue on the opposite side had started choosing her materials.

Her actions flowed with elegance and accuracy.

Whispers erupted from the disciples nearby.

"What is Senior Sister Linyue choosing?" "That... isn't that-"

One disciple's eyes suddenly widened.

"Cloud Mist Grass... Crimson Spirit Root... and that's..."

"Three-Yin Flower!"

A wave of astonishment rippled outward. "She's going for that?!"

"No way... that's one of the hardest Grade-3 pills to refine!"

"Top-grade Grade-3... the Heavenly Meridian Cleansing Pill!" Shock laced their tones.

That pill carried a fearsome reputation for difficulty.

Among all Grade-3 pills, it towered at the summit.

Failure rates soared high. It demanded flawless, rigid control.

Its effects, however, proved extraordinary.

Choosing to refine it signaled a single bold intent.

She aimed to clinch victory in one decisive strike. Meanwhile, gazes gradually turned to Bai Zihan.

Confusion quickly followed. "What is he picking?"

"That combination doesn't make sense."

"Wait, is that even a proper set of ingredients?"

"I don't recognize any pill formula from that..."

The murmurs swelled in volume.

Unlike Mu Linyue's methodical picks, Bai Zihan's choices appeared utterly haphazard.

One herb snatched from this area.

Another plucked from over there.

It seemed he barely understood his own selections.

Then a hushed voice murmured-

"Does he even know what those are?"

Silence blanketed the area.

Soon after, stifled snickers broke through.

"That has to be it..."

"He's just picking randomly."

"He probably can't even identify the herbs..."

"Looks like he really came here to embarrass himself."

Mu Linyue took notice as well.

Her brows knitted ever so slightly.

For a fleeting second, she wondered if she'd overlooked a detail.

Yet no matter her scrutiny, nothing emerged.

A faint smirk tugged at her lips.

(So this is your confidence?) A glint of disappointment crossed her eyes.

She had assumed-

At the least- Something would appear.

Something surprising.

But this?

This hardly merited any real attention.

Bai Zihan stayed utterly serene, though.

Ignoring every murmur encircling him.

As though it all meant nothing.

For the item he intended to forge lay far beyond their expectations.

A Grade-4 pill!