Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 150: Rank-1 Alchemist Assessment (Part-3)

Zora’s actions were far too practiced. It was clear she had poured immense effort and time into alchemy.

Even among seasoned alchemists, few could claim their techniques surpassed hers.

Watching her purify herbs felt less like an examination and more like witnessing a piece of art. Every motion was graceful, steady, and precise.

By contrast, Morgana Frost’s movements were visibly stiff. Her hands hesitated, betraying tension and anxiety. She constantly worried that the flame might slip out of her control.

Alchemy was forged through endless repetition. Only after countless failures would that stiffness fade.

The difference between the two was stark.

Rurik couldn’t hide the astonishment in his eyes. "Zora is truly extraordinary. This alchemy technique is natural and made."

There was something he did not say aloud.

Deep down, he felt that even his own alchemy skills were inferior to hers.

Gerrad nodded slowly, his gaze filled with admiration. "She is indeed a rare genius."

He had seen countless prodigies across the Holy Mystic Continent, yet he had never encountered someone as monstrously talented as Zora.

What others might fail to achieve even after decades, she had mastered while still in her teens.

How could one not be amazed?

The smugness on Cassian’s face gradually faded. He swallowed hard, disbelief creeping into his expression. How couldn’t a Rank-3 Alchemist like him see Zora’s talent and see her mastery in her movements...

At this point, there was no longer any doubt.

Zora was undeniably a genuine alchemist.

If she passed the assessment, then his earlier arrogance would become a complete humiliation.

Yet Rurik and Gerrad were entirely focused on Zora now, paying no attention to Cassian’s turmoil.

Once all the herbs had been purified and turned into paste, Zora then added one after another, while pouring a little bit of water and stirring a few times every interval. In the end, she closed the cauldron lid. Her spiritual power then wrapped around the cauldron in a steady flow.

This was the most intricate stage: potion formation.

Gerrad and the others watched intently.

With her current pace and composure, there was no doubt she would succeed.

Meanwhile, Morgana Frost, noticing her master’s increasingly strange expression, couldn’t help but glance toward Zora.

That single glance made her freeze.

She had only just finished purifying her third herb.

Zora, however, had already completed purification and moved on to potion formation.

Clang!

Just as Morgana Frost was drowning in confusion and doubt, a sharp sound rang out. In the next instant, a scorching, acrid smell spread through the assessment hall.

Her heart skipped.

She looked down in horror. While she had been distracted, the medicinal herb inside her cauldron had already been burned to ash.

Morgana Frost’s face turned ugly in an instant.

She had never imagined that a moment’s lapse would directly ruin her first ingredient.

Gritting her teeth, she shot an angry glance toward Zora, only to find that the latter had not spared her even a single look.

Raising her head again, she met Cassian’s faintly reproachful gaze. Her heart tightened. She no longer dared to hesitate, hurriedly picked up the second medicinal herb, and forced herself to focus as she resumed the work.

Time passed, drop by drop.

Zora remained calm and unhurried, her breathing steady. At last, a faint yet unmistakable medicinal fragrance drifted out from her cauldron.

Her lips curved slightly.

On the judging platform, Gerrad and Rurik exchanged glances, both smiling without concealment.

There was no longer any suspense.

Zora had already passed.

Morgana Frost, however, smelled that familiar, tranquil fragrance and felt her heart plunge into chaos.

Didn’t she say this woman couldn’t make potions?

Yet now, Morgana Frost was still stuck purifying herbs, while Zora’s potion was about to succeed.

Her last shred of confidence collapsed.

Scenes from earlier in the guild hall flashed through her mind. Once today’s events spread, she would lose all face. She might not even be able to lift her head again in Heavenly City.

Clang!

The sound rang out again.

Morgana’s hand trembled, and the herb she was refining turned to ash for the second time.

Her face went deathly pale.

Her flame control was no longer stable at all. Her mind was in complete disarray.

Ding!

Zora flicked her finger lightly. The cauldron lid flew open.

Inside lay a perfectly formed potion with a lustrous surface.

She picked up the white porcelain bottle beside her, casually poured the potion inside, and sealed it.

From start to finish, her movements were smooth and natural, as if this outcome had been inevitable.

Setting the bottle on the table, Zora lifted her gaze toward Gerrad and Rurik on the platform.

"It’s finished."

The two stepped forward. Gerrad opened the bottle, and a rich, pure medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air. Inside lay a potion without the slightest defect.

Gerrad nodded without hesitation, his satisfaction evident. "This Mana recovery potion is excellent. Nearly perfect."

Rurik followed with a firm nod. "Indeed."

Zora smiled faintly. "So, have I passed the refining alchemist assessment?"

"Of course," Rurik answered immediately, without the slightest pause.

As a Rank-2 alchemist himself, he was often the object of admiration. Yet standing before Zora, he felt there was no room for even a trace of arrogance.

"Thank you." Zora put a hand on the left side of her chest and slightly bowed.

Off to the side, Morgana stood frozen.

The allotted time had not yet ended, yet no one spared her a glance. It was as if she no longer existed.

Should she continue... or stop?

Her thoughts were in chaos.

Zora cast a faint glance toward Cassian, the corner of her lips lifting into a barely perceptible smile.

No words were needed.

The meaning was already painfully clear.

Cassian’s face flushed red. With a sharp flick of his sleeve, he turned away.

"Let’s go."

Morgana Frost was at a loss, but she dared not linger. She hurried after Cassian.

If she stayed even a moment longer, she feared the humiliation would never end.

With Cassian and Morgana Frost gone, the tension in the assessment hall quietly dissipated. Gerrad and Rurik exchanged a glance but did not pursue the matter further.

Zora lifted her gaze and spoke calmly, voicing the thought she had already settled in her mind. "If I want to take part in the assessment for a Rank-2 refining alchemist, do I continue with the examination now?"

Her tone was unhurried, as if she were asking about something entirely ordinary.

Rurik’s expression shifted. "Huh?"

In his view, it was already astonishing that Zora had passed the assessment for a first-grade refining alchemist at such a young age. He had not expected her to set her sights directly on the Rank-2 assessment as well.

Yet after witnessing how Cassian had been forced to retreat, Rurik understood one thing clearly. Zora never spoke without certainty.

If she said she wanted to attempt it, then she truly believed she could succeed.

All along, he had regarded Sylvandria as the sole alchemy prodigy of their generation. Now, however, Zora stood before him, overturning that belief entirely.

What was even more shocking was that her talents were not limited to alchemy. Her medical skills alone were already enough to command awe. Compared to that, even her alchemical prowess felt like just another dazzling facet.

Such a person could only be described as monstrous.

"Miss Zora," Rurik said after a brief pause, "you can’t participate in the rank-2 alchemist assessment."

Zora raised her brows slightly, a trace of clear confusion passing through her eyes. "Why not?"