Illusion magic, the innate ability of the serpentine clan was not something that is to be trifled with.
After all, only by relying on this ability, the snake spirit beasts have survived for so long.
Illusion magic is not heaven defying when it comes to combat. In fact, it was not even worth mentioning when it comes to combat.
It is a second rate ability that can be easily blocked by protecting the heart and mind with sufficient mana, by training the soul and by improving cultivation base.
But when it comes to escaping, this ability is second to none.
At its highest strength one is even able to use illusionary magic to meld with the mana in the air and become completely invisible.
More importantly, the spells cast using illusionary magic are very difficult to detect.
Unless one was actively prepared against it, like in a combat or hunting expedition, one wouldn't even notice the magic.
This was why Tang Yue was confidently wreaking havoc to her heart's content.
"Startle." The snake muttered again, seemingly busy with her own work.
This time it was not random but calibrated to the second.
She had waited for Marvin to process the sensitive stamen of the last herb and in that split second mumbled the illusion magic spell.
And just like before, Marvin as well momentarily blinked in confusion, just for a fraction of a second.
However, in that millisecond, the herb in his hand was already burnt to a crisp.
And since the stamen needed to be added within the next second, he was unable to continue the current concoction and inevitably had to start over.
SHIT SHIT SHIT
Marvin looked up in anger and frustration. His eyes darted over to his competition.
"Please tell me that the damned snake is also struggling?" He prayed in exasperation.
But unfortunately for him, it looked like Tang Yue was progressing quite smoothly.
She seemed a bit slow, but nothing else was out of place.
While his entire batch was ruined, Tang Yue was effortlessly throwing in one ingredient after another.
Marvin gritted his teeth and started the next batch.
This time he straightforwardly followed the protocol and started brewing the fresh batch.
Marvin tried his best to intensify his flames and hurry the process.
But alas…
In the next few seconds, right in front of his eyes, Tang Yue succeeded in concocting the low-grade pill.
The smug looking snake happily held in her palms a white translucent pill called the dew drop, the low-grade pill typically used for adjusting moisture content in pill concoctions.
She even went as far as to raise the pill under Marvin's murderous glare.
She vainly held it under the luminescent moonlight and then the bright lantern light alternatingly to admire and show off her accomplishment.
Marvin cringed in repulsion.
Why the heck are you so happy over a stupid low-grade concoction? Damn it!
Tang Yue sneered. Her cold gaze swept over the squirming chubby elf in front of her.
"Hai Hai. I hope the young master won't complain this time that I copied from him!"
"After all, I am already done, but you are still…"
Marvin slapped his thigh in anger but remained silent.
He tried to focus on the current batch he was brewing.
"Aha. Are you starting over again? Was the entire batch ruined? Awww…"
"I pray that the young master's second batch is successful." Tang Yue clasped and bowed. Her sweet smile was simply enchanting.
Marvin had an odd expression on his face. He wanted to bury his head somewhere and disappear from this spot.
Even with his thick skin, by playing the role of a cripple for so many years, he still felt the stinging pain.
Several members of the crowd also had weird expressions on their faces. No one knew how to respond.
Everyone was too dumbstruck to say anything.
In the earlier exam, they could at least accuse her of cheating? But what could they say now?
Right in front of their eyes, Tang Yue concocted the pill to perfection, while Marvin's batch crashed and burned.
So technically she is the winner of this duel. There was no doubt in that.
But why did she have to act so…
Finally, the examiner intervened and broke the awkward silence.
"Ahem… Good job, princess."
The examiner eyed Tang Yue from top to bottom. He still couldn't believe that a snake had succeeded in concocting a pill!
"Please follow me to receive the trainee robes and your first place reward."
He sighed and gestured the happy snake to follow him.
"Ahh. If you don't mind, could we please wait until young master Marvin finishes his concoction?"
"His techniques are very… cough cough… knowledgeable. Just watching him is very eye-opening for a newbie like me."
Tang Yue innocently blinked, with her long lashes fluttering.
She was still not done yet!