A Drop of Liquid Added

The Grand Summit lasted a full three days.

Grace spent all three days making her Youthful Grace Balm.

Once it was done, she invited Elder Conrad and Victor Li to help her inspect it.

The inspection had three steps.

They were: checking for Spirit Bugs, verifying the quantity, and testing the efficacy.

The most important step was: checking for Spirit Bugs.

Spiritual medicines are easily targeted by Spirit Bugs.

Some Spirit Bugs are invisible and undetectable. Once they get into the medicine, it quickly spoils.

If someone takes it, best case it does nothing, worst case it injures, cripples, or even kills.

Last time, the pills sent in caused an incident—five people died. All because of Spirit Bug contamination.

That's why this step was extremely strict.

Everyone checked it, and confirmed there was no problem.

Then they tested its efficacy—the results were excellent.

After applying it, everyone's skin became smoother and fairer than ever. Elder Conrad looked ten years younger!

Seeing such dramatic results, Duke Winston Wood decided to submit the Youthful Grace Balm as the Alliance's entry for the competition.

Grace placed the Youthful Grace Balm inside the Potion Shell and sealed it with wax.

"Grace Zhu, did you bring your Seal Stamp?" Duke Wood asked.

"Of course I did," Grace replied.

"Stamp your Seal on the wax seal! If you win first place again, you might just get your suspension lifted and be reinstated as Alliance Leader."

"Thank you, Duke Wood!" Grace said gratefully.

Duke Wood smiled faintly.

Grace carefully stamped her Seal on the Potion Shell and handed it to Duke Wood.

After Duke Wood left, he handed the Potion Shell to Henry Chen. "Open the wax seal," he ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Henry Chen took it and carefully opened the wax seal.

Duke Wood poured a drop of liquid into the Potion Shell.

The liquid seeped right in, showing no sign of anything unusual.

Then he had Henry Chen reseal it.

"President, what did you pour in there?" Henry Chen asked in a low voice.

"The same way she went down last time, she'll go down again!" Duke Wood chuckled.

"Got it!" Henry Chen nodded and respectfully handed the resealed Potion Shell back to Duke Wood.

Duke Wood carefully tucked it into his coat.

...

The next day was the final event of the Grand Summit: the Regional Branch Competition.

Once the branch competitions were done, pretty much all the formalities were over.

Next, the new Eastern Alliance President would be announced.

All the entries from the regional branches were submitted.

Everyone from the Vermilion Spirit Alliance watched the judges on stage with nervous anticipation.

The judges were the four Vice Presidents of the Vermilion Spirit Alliance.

In addition, Elder Samuel, with the surname Su, was in charge of the final decision.

Normally, low- and mid-grade pills from the branch competitions wouldn't be judged by the Alliance Elders.

But since there's no President for the Eastern Alliance right now, Elder Samuel stood in to make the final decision.

Just like last time, all eyes were on Grace and Felix Xi's entries.

Felix Xi submitted a small bottle of Youthful Grace Pill.

The judges tried it and nodded approvingly.

Grace, on the other hand, submitted the Youthful Grace Balm.

They opened the Potion Shell and each took a bit, rubbing it onto the back of their hands.

Everyone from the Vermilion Spirit Alliance had tried it—the results were fantastic.

Everyone watched the judges with hopeful eyes.

But unexpectedly, after trying it, the judges all frowned.

They whispered amongst themselves, and after a brief exchange, Elder Samuel called out, "Vermilion Spirit Alliance."

Duke Wood's lips curled as he stepped forward. "The Vermilion Spirit Alliance is present. Elder, do you have any advice?"

"What exactly is this?" Elder Samuel asked.