Assessment

Fenghua Alchemy Alliance headquarters.

A towering complex of palaces stood in the core area of the Immortal City's inner district.

Giant trees served as beams, and spiritual jade paved the ground.

The air was permeated with the mingled scents of all manner of medicinal ingredients.

Chen Sheng stepped inside.

An Attendant in a green Deacon's robe, at the Qi Condensation Late-stage, came forward to greet him:

"Fellow Daoist, are you here to join the Pill Alliance?"

Chen Sheng nodded lightly:

"Indeed!"

The Attendant nodded gently:

"May I ask what grade of Alchemist you are, Fellow Daoist?"

Before the Pill Alliance, there was no point in hiding one's abilities. Only strength could earn respect.

Chen Sheng answered truthfully, "First-grade high-tier."

A flicker of surprise crossed the Attendant's eyes, and the smile on his face grew warmer:

"A High-grade Alchemist? Fellow Daoist is truly young and accomplished."

"My apologies for any discourtesy. Please follow me to register!"

Before long.

Before a jade table in a side hall.

Chen Sheng registered his basic information, as well as the types of Pills he specialized in.

The Jade slip recorded the information and left behind an imprint of Mana.

The Attendant's attitude became increasingly respectful.

"Alchemist Chen, please proceed with me to the assessment alchemy chamber."

Another, more composed and seasoned Deacon appeared and gestured for him to follow.

Chen Sheng nodded and followed him.

They passed through several corridors surging with Spiritual Light.

The temperature in the air gradually rose, while the lingering scent of Medicinal Ingredients grew increasingly intense.

At last, they stopped before a heavy stone door carved with flame patterns.

"Elder, First-grade High-grade Alchemist Chen Sheng has arrived for his assessment."

The Deacon bowed as he reported.

"Enter."

A somewhat imposing voice came from behind the door.

The stone door slid open without a sound.

Scorching air immediately rushed toward them.

At the center of the alchemy chamber.

A purple-gold Alchemy Furnace hovered in midair, supported by an invisible force.

Directly beneath it, blue-white Earth Fire surged upward, scorching the surrounding air.

Before the furnace.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a robe bearing the Dao of water and fire, sat cross-legged with his hands held in an empty embrace, nourishing the Alchemy Furnace.

The aura around him was deep and unfathomable.

He was unmistakably a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The moment Chen Sheng saw the Earth Fire, his eyes lit up.

He usually used the fire formation within an Alchemy Furnace to ignite Spirit Fire. Its quality was nowhere near that of this Earth Fire.

The Attendant bowed and withdrew.

Noticing Chen Sheng's gaze, the old man smiled gently, his manner mild:

"Are you interested in this Earth Fire, young friend?"

Chen Sheng quickly cupped his fists:

"Chen Sheng greets Senior."

"Indeed. This junior has never used Earth Fire before. It truly is pure and stable."

The old man laughed heartily:

"Haha, young friend, you certainly know quality when you see it!"

"Several pure earth veins have been drawn beneath our Pill Alliance headquarters, and many alchemy chambers of different grades have been built."

"As long as you join the alliance, you may exchange contribution points for the right to use such alchemy chambers. You may try one for yourself in the future."

"This old man is Li Changyang, a Second-grade mid-tier Alchemist. How old are you now, young friend?"

Chen Sheng cupped his fists:

"Greetings, Senior Li. I am twenty-eight this year."

Li Changyang smiled faintly at that:

"Young friend, you have maintained yourself well."

After saying that, he put away his smile and turned serious:

"You registered as a First-grade High-grade Alchemist just now. By convention, you must refine one furnace of High-grade Pills."

"If it is a secret, exclusive medicine, refining ordinary mid-tier Pills will suffice."

"This old man can judge the extent of your ability from your control of the heat, the quality of the finished Pills, and the proficiency of your Hand Seals."

His words carried the confidence of a Second-grade Alchemist.

Chen Sheng nodded lightly.

This was more or less what he had learned from his inquiries.

Some Alchemists' High-grade Pill Formulas were secret inheritances. How could they be exposed merely for an assessment?

Chen Sheng had long been prepared and did not hesitate:

"This junior wishes to refine one furnace of mid-tier Qi-Harmonizing Pills."

Li Changyang nodded lightly.

The Pill Formula for the Qi-Harmonizing Pill was widely circulated.

It demanded precise heat control and best reflected one's fundamentals.

Choosing this Pill showed that the other party had a steady mindset, solid foundations, and did not rely on tricks.

Chen Sheng said nothing further.

After his talent in the Way of Alchemy had increased.

The hundred years of experience from his Previous Life had completely transformed into nourishment, and his alchemy skills had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Even Chen Sheng himself did not know just how strong he had become!

He happened to need guidance from a professional.

With a slight movement of his mind, a gleam flashed from his Storage Bag.

A High-grade Alchemy Furnace, jade-green from top to bottom, appeared.

He had never used Earth Fire and was unfamiliar with its nature.

Thus, he still honestly used a formation to ignite it—the High-grade Red Crystal Flame.

"Rise!"

Flames surged and danced within the furnace, and the temperature abruptly soared.

Chen Sheng flicked a finger.

"Divide!"

The Red Crystal Flame instantly transformed into Ten Thousand Strands of Fire Threads.

They coiled around the prepared Medicinal Ingredients with incomparable precision.

Some wrapped around them, some pierced through them, and some spun as they seared them.

Every drop of Medicinal Liquid was subjected to precisely the right temperature, angle, and pressure.

They rapidly boiled, purified, shed impurities, and became the purest liquid essences.

There was almost no delay, like a butcher carving an ox along the natural seams.

Li Changyang had merely been nodding slightly, but at this sight, his eyes suddenly lit up!

Before long, the Medicinal Liquid whirled and condensed into Pills.

Chen Sheng precisely seized the moment and consecutively formed Hand Seals to Solidify Pill and Lock Spirit.

Ten sides formed a net, firmly locking down the restlessness of clashing medicinal properties and rampaging Spiritual Energy.

The entire process flowed like drifting clouds and running water!

Only at the end did he form the Pill Collection Incantations.

"Collect!"

The Alchemy Furnace opened.

Twelve Qi-Harmonizing Pills flew out, round and smooth throughout, evenly colored in pale blue.

Two natural Pill Patterns faintly flowed across their surfaces as they spun rapidly through the air.

They hovered steadily before Elder Li Changyang.

Pill Fragrance filled the entire chamber!

From igniting the furnace to forming the Pills, the whole refinement process had taken no more than Half Incense Stick. It had been so smooth that it was suffocating to watch.

"Good! Good! Good!"

A smile blossomed across Li Changyang's face as he praised him repeatedly:

"Twelve Pills from one furnace, each containing evenly distributed and abundant medicinal power. The utilization rate must be ninety-eight percent!"

"Young friend, your alchemy Hand Seals, the precision of your heat control, and the subtlety of your force control."

"Among First-grade Alchemists, they can be called the pinnacle of achievement!"

"This old man has seen countless people. Those who can reach such a realm of flame control and Pill Condensation at this grade are few enough to count on one hand!"

His appraisal was exceedingly high, and he made no effort to conceal his admiration.

Chen Sheng inclined slightly:

"You praise me too highly, Senior. It is merely practice making perfect."

Li Changyang stroked his beard, taking it only as modesty, and smiled faintly:

"What kind of Spirit Root do you have, young friend? What Cultivation Method do you practice?"

He had now developed an appreciation for talent and wished to learn what Chen Sheng's Dao path was like.

Chen Sheng cupped his fists:

"A Low-grade Fire Spiritual Root. I practice the Lihuo Art."

Li Changyang's fingers paused slightly as he stroked his beard, and a trace of disappointment flashed through his eyes.

After pondering for a moment, he could only offer a few words of advice:

"Do not rush to improve your cultivation. Carefully temper your Mana; only then will it benefit your breakthrough to Foundation Establishment."

Chen Sheng remained calm and steady:

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Li Changyang nodded gently, clearly quite satisfied with Chen Sheng's temperament:

"Would you be willing to join the Alchemy Hall, young friend?"

Chen Sheng was instead taken aback:

"The Alchemy Hall? Not the Pill Alliance?"

Li Changyang explained with a genial smile:

"Our Qinghua Alchemy Hall has always welcomed outstanding Alchemists from the Pill Alliance."

"Your alchemy skills have already met this standard, young friend."

"If you are willing to join, you may also select one technical inheritance."

Chen Sheng hurriedly nodded:

"I am willing."

He had thought he would need to build up seniority in the Pill Alliance for several years. He had not expected to be able to join the Alchemy Hall directly.

How could he possibly refuse?