Passing

Alex's gaze swept over Chen Chuan for the third time. This time, it lingered a little longer, as though he were assessing something.

Chen Chuan paid no attention to the commotion around him, focusing on the work in his hands.

He mixed the iron thorn powder with two other prepared ingredients in precise proportions, then added a measured amount of magic power source liquid.

The liquid in the crucible began to glow pale blue, a sign that the protection potion was about to take shape.

His movements were like those of a precision machine. Every step followed the details in Alex's recipe book, and even the angle at which he turned his wrist matched the illustrations in the manual exactly.

Just as the last drop of potion fell into the test tube and took on a standard emerald-green color, the clock in the examination area rang.

"Time's up. All candidates, please stop working."

Chen Chuan slowly set down the test tube and glanced at his three potions. Their colors were pure and their sheen even; they had clearly reached the excellent standard.

He put his tools in order and looked around. Aside from a small number of blue robes and some black robes, most people were deathly pale and glassy-eyed.

Five hours was far too short for these apprentices, who had yet to learn the basics of potioneering, so they could only work faster.

Some workstations were already empty, meaning those people had been eliminated early for various reasons.

The inspections began with number one.

Chen Chuan sat quietly at his workstation, looking toward number one.

His three potions were neatly arranged in a corner, giving off a faint glow.

Not far away, Feierte had already finished his potions, but his face was dark. Clearly, he wasn't very satisfied with his finished products.

Lili, meanwhile, kept her head down as she carefully put her tools in order, occasionally stealing a glance at Chen Chuan.

The wizards in the examination area began inspecting the potions one by one.

Chen Chuan noticed that the quality of most people's potions varied widely, and only a few had made potions that met the passing standard.

When Feierte's turn came, the wizard in charge of inspecting him picked up his potions and frowned slightly.

"Elementary Life Potion, good quality. Elementary Purification Potion, pass. Elementary Protection Potion..." The wizard paused. "Fail."

Feierte's face instantly soured. The wizard said nothing more, simply making a mark on his examination card before turning to the next person.

Lili's results were good. All three of her potions passed, and one reached the good-quality standard.

She breathed a sigh of relief, bowed to the Formal Wizards, and returned to her place.

Chen Chuan saw Alex's gaze fall on him again. This time, Alex nodded slightly, as though affirming something. Chen Chuan's heart stirred, but his expression remained calm.

At last, it was workstation number fifty-five's turn.

The three potion judges were already standing in front of number fifty-five. Chen Chuan bowed slightly and presented his three potions.

Alex personally took Chen Chuan's three potions.

"This... the color. Could it be excellent quality?" An elderly man in a dark green robe beside Alex sounded somewhat unsure.

Alex did not answer directly. Instead, he raised the test tube and examined it closely.

The pale blue liquid shimmered with a subtle luster under the light. Tiny droplets of water were evenly distributed across the glass, and there was not a trace of impurity.

"The color is pure, the sheen is even, and the texture is as clear as crystal."

Alex flicked the rim of the test tube, producing a crisp ring. "It has indeed reached the excellent standard."

Another middle-aged wizard in a dark green robe leaned closer to look, surprise flashing in his eyes. "For an Elementary Protection Potion to reach this quality is rare, even when made by an elementary potionist."

Alex lined up the three potions and looked over them in turn: the pale green of the recovery potion, the silvery white of the purification potion, and the pale blue of the protection potion.

"All three potions are excellent. That's a very good result even among all the examinations held over the years."

He turned to Chen Chuan, his tone calm but carrying a hint of approval. "Candidate fifty-five, the potions you made exceeded my expectations."

The examination area fell silent in an instant. The surrounding apprentices all turned to look at Chen Chuan, their shock, jealousy, and envy mingling together.

Feierte's expression grew even uglier, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

"Elementary potionist examination: pass."

Alex's voice was not loud, but it carried clearly throughout the examination area.

"Your name is Chen Chuan, right?" the elderly wizard judge suddenly asked.

Chen Chuan was slightly taken aback. "Yes, Lord Wizard."

"I think you have considerable talent. I can offer you a position as a researcher on my project. What do you say?"

Before Chen Chuan could react to those words, the other apprentices around him erupted.

"That can't be possible! He's only just passed the elementary potionist exam, and he's being offered a researcher position? Isn't that a post reserved for first-class wizard apprentices or intermediate potionists?"

"Wow, this guy looks pretty handsome. I wonder if he has a girlfriend."

"No way. I didn't even pass the exam, and he's about to become a researcher? That's not fair."

Chen Chuan felt the burning gazes of the apprentices around him. Feierte's face was buried in the crowd, and his fists were clenched white inside his sleeves.

Chen Chuan nodded slightly, his voice steady. "Thank you for your generous offer, Lord Wizard, but I've already made a promise to another Lord Wizard."

When the old man heard this, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. "Oh? Has someone already made a move?"

"Yes, Lord Wizard." Chen Chuan bowed slightly.

The discussion in the examination area grew louder.

Lili's gaze also grew somewhat distant, as though she were recalling something.

"Haha, Acitake, see? I told you he wouldn't be tempted." Alex suddenly burst out laughing and patted the old man.

The latter shook his head helplessly.

"Chen Chuan, you're even more outstanding than the last time I saw you. I'm officially informing you that you'll be a researcher in my project group, not a research assistant."

Alex spoke with a serious expression.

Chen Chuan was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Alex to raise his position directly.

"Thank you for your favor, Lord Alex." Chen Chuan bowed respectfully. "I won't let you down."

Alex nodded in satisfaction and handed Chen Chuan a badge. "Don't lose this badge. It has a built-in rune sensor. You can use it when accepting tasks issued by the Potions Association and storing the points you earn from completing them. But its most important value is that it identifies you as an elementary potionist."

Chen Chuan took the badge. A design combining potions and herbs was engraved on it, with a single star stamped above it.

—Elementary potionist badge.

Alex said, "Third floor of the library tomorrow. Don't be late."

He then walked toward the next candidate with the old man and the middle-aged man beside him.

Chen Chuan walked out of the Potions Association and saw heavy snow falling before him.

He followed the route he had taken there back to the dormitory. Along the way, many gray-robed wizard apprentices gave him strange looks, and some whispered about something.

Chen Chuan quickened his pace, leaving their whispers behind.

Snow pellets struck his newly acquired black robe with a faint rustle. He unconsciously touched the badge on his chest, its dark black lines still glimmering faintly in the cold wind.

He continued on, and a familiar voice came from around the corner.

"Chen Chuan, wait."

Chen Chuan turned and saw Lili emerge from behind a tree, a complicated expression on her face. "Congratulations on becoming a researcher."

Chen Chuan nodded slightly. "It's just an opportunity."

Lili hesitated, then finally said only, "I heard Lord Alex's project group is very strict."

"I'll be careful," Chen Chuan replied calmly. He turned and continued toward the dormitory.

Lili watched his retreating back, a trace of almost imperceptible disappointment flashing in her eyes.