Alchemist Assessment

Chapter 48: Alchemy Assessment

"I've been wanting to learn alchemy recently. Are there any alchemy-related tasks?" Shi Yue said casually.

"Alchemy?" Steward Wang was slightly taken aback when he heard this.

"What? Are there no alchemy-related tasks?" Shi Yue's expression showed some disappointment.

"That's not it. Junior Brother Shi, please wait a moment. Let me take a look." Steward Wang shook his head and said.

After speaking, he fiddled with the silver jade plate in his hand.

After a while, Steward Wang looked up and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Shi, there are currently three alchemy-related tasks. The first is that Uncle-Master Chen of Fire Cloud Peak needs a furnace-watching disciple. This comes with twenty Contribution Points per month, and the additional reward is guidance in alchemy. However, you must spend at least twenty days a month with Uncle-Master Zhang, eating, drinking, and sleeping there. The second task is that our sect's Divine Pill Hall needs an alchemy apprentice who can refine either the Bigu Pill, Qi Refining Powder, or Qi Nurturing Pill. The Contribution Points will depend on the number of pills submitted each month. The third is that Martial Uncle Liu of Green Cloud Peak needs a pill-crushing boy, with twenty Contribution Points per month. I wonder which task Junior Brother Shi would like to choose."

"I'll choose the second one!" Shi Yue said after careful consideration.

The second task was tailor-made for him, so of course, he chose the second one.

"Alright, here is the token for claiming the task. Junior Brother, take this token to the Divine Pill Hall to report. As long as you pass the assessment, you can claim this task." Steward Wang nodded and said. Then, he flipped his hand and took out a cyan token, handing it to Shi Yue.

"Assessment? What assessment?" Shi Yue was slightly taken aback.

"They will provide you with some alchemy materials and have you refine pills. If you succeed, you will pass the assessment. If you don't pass, you cannot claim this task. This is the rule set by the Divine Pill Hall," Steward Wang explained.

Shi Yue nodded, thanked him, and turned to leave.

After leaving the Deacon Hall, Shi Yue summoned his flying Magic Tool and flew towards the Divine Pill Hall.

After about fifteen minutes, Shi Yue landed at the foot of a giant peak. Teams of patrolling disciples occasionally flew overhead, and an endless stone staircase stretched from the foot of the mountain. Disciples could be seen ascending the stairs from time to time.

The mountainside was obscured by a thick white mist, making it impossible to see what lay above.

At the foot of the mountain stood a stone tablet over two meters tall, with the words "Divine Pill Peak" inscribed on it in large characters.

Divine Pill Peak was one of the important locations in the Great Void Sect. The pills sold by the Great Void Sect to the outside world were refined here. Furthermore, over ninety percent of the Great Void Sect's Alchemists practiced their craft here. Consequently, not only were there numerous restrictions, but several teams of patrolling disciples also maintained vigilance in the vicinity.

It was rumored that a Core Formation cultivator resided in seclusion on Divine Pill Peak year-round, deterring any troublemakers.

Shi Yue recalled the relevant information he knew and then began to ascend the stone staircase.

After another fifteen minutes, Shi Yue stood on a step, panting and gazing at the seemingly endless stone staircase ahead. If it weren't for someone emerging from the mist, he would have thought he had taken a wrong turn.

Shi Yue wiped the sweat from his face and continued forward.

Half an hour later, Shi Yue stopped. A transparent barrier blocked his path.

Seeing this, Shi Yue's brow furrowed. He remembered that the senior brother before him had passed through easily. Why was he being stopped? Did he need to use Magical Power?

Shi Yue circulated his Magical Power and walked forward, but he was still blocked by the transparent barrier.

Just then, after a ripple of spatial energy, two transparent passages suddenly appeared before him, just wide enough for one person to pass through. Two disciples in red robes emerged from the passages.

"Who are you? Don't you know you need a token to enter Divine Pill Peak?" one of the red-robed disciples asked coldly, glancing at Shi Yue.

"Token?" Shi Yue was slightly taken aback and quickly produced the token Steward Wang had given him.

"Not this one. This is a token for entry and exit. Without the Divine Pill Peak entry and exit token, unauthorized entry is forbidden. Those who trespass will be killed without mercy," the red-robed disciple said coldly.

"I'm here to be an alchemy apprentice at the Divine Pill Hall, as assigned by the Deacon Hall," Shi Yue said, his heart tightening.

"You? Alchemy? Can you do it?" one of the red-robed disciples asked doubtfully.

"I can refine the Bigu Pill," Shi Yue replied truthfully.

"Junior Brother Chen, take him to see Uncle-Master Zhao." Hearing this, the disciple's expression softened, and he instructed another red-robed disciple.

"Follow me," the red-robed disciple said, then walked towards the transparent passage.

Shi Yue dared not delay and quickly followed.

The scene behind the passage greatly surprised Shi Yue. Tens of meters ahead was an exceptionally wide bluestone platform, upon which stood a magnificent palace. Above the palace's main entrance, the words "Divine Pill Hall" were written in golden, flowing calligraphy.

There were no guards outside the palace, only a pair of lifelike, jet-black lion statues, each about three meters tall, standing on either side of the entrance, as if cast from fine iron.

"Follow me closely. There are many restrictions here. If you violate any of them, even I can't save you," the disciple surnamed Chen said coldly.

"I understand," Shi Yue nodded.

As soon as Shi Yue stepped onto the bluestone platform, he felt several powerful divine senses sweep over him before quickly disappearing.

Shi Yue was startled but then understood that this was the work of the guards. Even so, he felt a little nervous and obediently followed the red-robed disciple, afraid of triggering any of the restrictions.

Upon entering the hall, he was met with a vast hall over a hundred meters wide. Passages led off to the left and right, their destinations unknown.

In the center of the hall was a large wooden table, upon which lay over a dozen scrolls. A middle-aged man with a scholarly air and a middle-aged woman with ordinary features sat chatting behind the table.

"Uncle-Master Zhao, Uncle-Master Wu, this is someone sent by the Deacon Hall. He claims to be here as an alchemy apprentice," the disciple surnamed Chen said, bowing to the middle-aged man and woman and pointing at Shi Yue.

"Disciple Shi Yue pays his respects to Uncle-Master Zhao and Uncle-Master Wu," Shi Yue stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"What pills can you refine?" the middle-aged man asked, scrutinizing Shi Yue with a frown.

In his opinion, Shi Yue, who was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, could not possibly know alchemy. Many disciples were busy cultivating at the fourth level of Qi Refining!

"Replying to Uncle-Master Zhao, this disciple can refine the Bigu Pill," Shi Yue replied truthfully, his expression extremely respectful.

"The Deacon at the Deacon Hall must have told you before you came! To refine pills here, you need to pass an assessment," the middle-aged man said faintly, his eyes narrowing.

"This disciple has heard about it, but I don't know the specifics of the assessment. Please instruct me, Uncle-Master Zhao," Shi Yue said, nodding.

"I'll give you five sets of materials. If you can refine thirty-six Bigu Pills, you'll pass the assessment. If you refine fewer than thirty-six Bigu Pills, you won't pass. However, you'll have to pay for the Spirit Stones for these five sets of materials yourself. Five Spirit Stones per set, for a total of twenty-five Spirit Stones," the middle-aged man said word by word.

Upon hearing this, Shi Yue nodded. He took out twenty-five Spirit Stones from his storage bag and handed them to the middle-aged man.

"Follow me." The middle-aged man put away the Spirit Stones, uttered a sentence, and then walked towards the passage on the left.

Seeing this, Shi Yue dared not delay and quickly followed.

Not long after, the middle-aged man led Shi Yue into a stone room.

The stone room was only about ten zhang in size and contained a meditation cushion and a red alchemy furnace.

"Here are the five sets of materials for refining Bigu Pills. You'll pass the assessment if you hand over thirty-six Bigu Pills in two hours," the middle-aged man said indifferently, taking out a leather pouch from his robe and handing it to Shi Yue.

"Uncle-Master Zhao, how can I refine pills without Fire?" Shi Yue asked after a slight hesitation.

"Use Spirit Charcoal. Pills refined with Spirit Charcoal are of better quality. There are five pieces of Spirit Charcoal in total, all packed in the storage bag. One piece of Spirit Charcoal can refine one furnace of Bigu Pills. Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving. I'll be back in two hours," the middle-aged man said and turned to leave.

"Wait, Uncle-Master Zhao, don't you need to stay and watch me refine pills?" Shi Yue quickly called out to the middle-aged man, asking cautiously.

"Why would I watch you refine pills? You just need to give me thirty-six Bigu Pills in two hours. Whether you refined them yourself or brought them with you, I'm not interested in knowing. However, let me remind you, once you become an alchemy apprentice, I will provide you with a certain amount of materials each month. You'll need to refine a specific quantity of Bigu Pills. Rewards for exceeding the quota, penalties for falling short. Don't try any tricks, or you'll be the one to suffer," the middle-aged man said, rolling his eyes meaningfully.

After speaking, he turned and left.