Alchemy Examination

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The Ocean Listening Pavilion officially posted its notice for accepting disciples and opened its doors.

Qi Refining cultivators with special skills, such as talisman makers, artifact refiners, and alchemists, could join if they passed the examination. Of course, not just anyone could pass.

Han Changshuo had a skill to his name, so he signed up for the alchemy examination.

Dozens of Qi Refining cultivators stood in line. Han Changshuo looked a little nervous; it was the first time he had seen so many alchemists.

He had been full of confidence, but after seeing how many cultivators were taking the alchemy examination, his confidence began to waver.

This was his first time traveling so far from home. He knew very well that joining the Ocean Listening Pavilion would be a good thing for both him and the family.

Han Changming and Han Changjiong chatted with Han Changshuo nearby, distracting him so he wouldn't feel so nervous.

"So many people are taking the alchemy examination. I wonder if I'll pass."

Han Changshuo gazed at the long line and let out a sigh, speaking with some nervousness.

"Second Brother, I spent a lot of money to get two bottles of Spirit Water through an acquaintance. They say it's Spirit Water passed down from the Lu Clan of Black Crow Island, and that it helps with alchemy. Take them! They might come in handy!"

Han Changming sent him a voice transmission, took out two blue porcelain bottles, and handed them to Han Changshuo.

Black Crow Island was one of the four great powers in the Red Algae Sea. It was the home of the Lu Clan, a cultivation family. The Lu Clan was famous throughout the Red Algae Sea for its alchemy. It was said that their ancestors had been disciples of the Heavenly Pill Sect, one of the seven great sects of the East Sea. The sect was filled with experts, including several Nascent Soul Cultivators.

The Lu Clan excelled at water-attribute alchemy. This was no secret in the Red Algae Sea.

To be honest, Han Changming had no idea whether the Spirit Water made by the Taiyi Spirit-Transforming Gourd could help with alchemy. But since Han Changshuo was taking the alchemy examination, it might come in handy, so Han Changming had prepared two bottles of diluted Spirit Water in advance.

"Spirit Water passed down from the Lu Clan of Black Crow Island? Ninth Brother, that's thoughtful of you."

Han Changshuo smiled and accepted the two bottles. How could Spirit Water that enhanced alchemy be so easily passed around? Han Changshuo thought Han Changming had been duped.

That was hardly surprising. With the Ocean Listening Pavilion accepting disciples, the crowds in Kuixing Market had swelled, and many shops were offering discounts to boost sales. Some people had started peddling all kinds of scams: insider information about joining the Ocean Listening Pavilion, backdoor connections that would let someone join directly, introductions to the children of the Pavilion's elders, and so on.

Of course, such claims couldn't fool experienced cultivators, but some people really had fallen for them.

A member of the Zhao Clan, one of the Han Clan's affiliated families, had been swindled. The con artist had claimed he could introduce him to the son of an Ocean Listening Pavilion elder and secure him a place through back channels. The man had lost hundreds of spirit stones and complained to the Han Clan. The Han Clan sent people to find the swindler, but he had already disappeared. In the end, the matter came to nothing.

Han Changshuo knew Han Changming meant well, so naturally he didn't point out the truth.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Han Changshuo entered the Earth Fire Chamber to take the examination.

"Ninth Brother, Second Brother's already gone in. Let's hurry to the auction! It's started already, and I heard they're even auctioning a Foundation Establishment Pill. Seventh Aunt and the others have gone."

Han Changjiong urged him on, looking excited.

They jogged along, and before long they reached the entrance of a golden palace more than ten zhang tall.

The signboard bore three gleaming characters: "Treasure Competition Palace."

Two Qi Refining cultivators in matching golden robes stood at the entrance. Visitors had to pay a fee to go inside.

Even from the doorway, they could hear a clamor of voices. The place sounded lively.

Han Changjiong paid twenty spirit stones, then went in with Han Changming.

The hall was spacious and bright. In the center stood a circular stone platform about one zhang high. A golden-robed man in his thirties stood atop it. In front of him was a square green wooden table, on which sat a golden brocade box containing three gleaming golden flying swords. A golden wooden mallet lay beside it.

Rows of tiered seats spread out in a fan around the circular platform, giving everyone a clear view of what was happening onstage.

"This fellow Daoist has offered nine hundred spirit stones. Anyone willing to bid higher? Nine hundred, once. Nine hundred, twice. Nine hundred, three times. Sold! This set of flying swords goes to this fellow Daoist." The golden-robed man picked up the golden mallet, brought it down hard on the table, and called out.

"Ninth Brother, find us seats!"

Since they had arrived late, they couldn't sit near the front. They found seats toward the back and sat down.

Just then, the golden-robed man brought out five shimmering blue talismans.

"Five Second-Rank Mid-Grade Water Escape Talismans. Each can transport its user ten li. They'll be auctioned separately, starting at two hundred spirit stones. Each bid must rise by at least fifty."

When fighting cultivators or hunting demonic beasts, a Second-Rank Water Escape Talisman might save your life.

Escape talismans were also sold on the market, but had to be custom-made and weren't cheap.

The bidding was fierce. Han Changming spent six hundred spirit stones to win one Water Escape Talisman.

Han Daohe traveled with the Han Clan's merchant caravan to transport goods. They might encounter evil cultivators or Second-Rank demonic birds and beasts on the road. With a Water Escape Talisman in hand, Han Daohe could save his life at a critical moment.

Without Han Daohe, Han Changming wouldn't be where he was today.

After selling all five Water Escape Talismans, the golden-robed man took out five reddish-brown talismans.

"Second-Rank Mid-Grade Fire Flood Dragon Talismans. Their power is tremendous, comparable to a full-force attack from a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator. The starting price is three hundred spirit stones, and each bid must rise by at least fifty."

"Three hundred!"

"Three-fifty!"

"Four hundred!"

Bids rang out without pause. Han Changming joined in, spending eight hundred spirit stones to win a Fire Flood Dragon Talisman.

After that, the golden-robed man brought out more than a dozen items to auction, including Second-Rank talismans, Second-Rank artifacts, and Second-Rank pills. Every item fetched a high price.

Han Changjiong spent a thousand spirit stones on a bundle of Second-Rank Low-Grade Spirit Nourishing Incense. It was said to gradually strengthen one's spiritual sense. Burning it while making talismans could also speed up the recovery of one's spiritual sense.

"Seventh Brother, why don't you buy Spirit Nourishing Pills instead? Aren't pills better than incense?"

Han Changming asked curiously through a voice transmission.

"Spirit Nourishing Pills are too expensive—a bottle costs three hundred spirit stones. I'll try the Spirit Nourishing Incense and alternate between them. If you take too many pills, you build up a resistance."

Han Changjiong explained.

After selling a Second-Rank Mid-Grade defensive artifact, the golden-robed man cleared his throat and said with a smile, "Thank you all for waiting. We've now come to the auction's final lots."

He clapped his hands, and a maid in a red dress came forward carrying a tray covered with red silk.

The golden-robed man lifted the silk, revealing three pale-gold metal spheres covered in spirit patterns.

"Second-Rank Puppet Beasts?"

Han Changming's expression turned strange. The Han Clan had built its name on artifact refining and excelled at making artifacts and Puppet Beasts. The Hundred Refinements Pavilion sold Second-Rank Puppet Beasts.

If these were merely Second-Rank Puppet Beasts, the auctioneers would have no reason to put them up for sale. Unless they were Second-Rank High-Grade Puppet Beasts—but it would still be unusual to auction three of those at once.

"Three Second-Rank Low-Grade Puppet Beasts. Together, they can form the Small Three Talents Formation and each release a spell of a different attribute. The starting price is two thousand spirit stones, and each bid must rise by at least two hundred."