Ten Times
Otto and Master Bu Lin led Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan out through a side door, walked to the end, pushed open a large door, and slowly entered.
Before Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan lay a spacious inner hall decorated in a classical style, where many young alchemists were already standing, many of whom were Third-grade Alchemist!
The Little Princess he had met at the gate was also here. Xiao Yan's gaze swept around and suddenly landed on the handsome young man chatting and laughing with several Third-grade Alchemist. It was Liu Ling, a disciple of Gu He!
Upon hearing the door open, the whispering crowd in the hall immediately stopped talking. Liu Ling's gaze met Xiao Yan's as he entered. Xiao Yan could see the hostility in Liu Ling's eyes, but he didn't care!
Liu Ling's gaze finally landed on Xiao Yu, slightly surprised. He had never seen such an unfamiliar and young Third-grade Alchemist before.
The Little Princess, who was surrounded by admirers, looked at Xiao Yu with a hint of interest in her eyes, but she refrained from going over because of her status.
The gazes that kept coming over in the hall were a mix of caution and mockery. The caution was directed at Xiao Yu, while the mockery was directed at Xiao Yan. After all, most of the alchemists here were third-grade, and it was indeed a bit of a letdown for a Second-grade Alchemist to barge in.
However, Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan didn't care about any of this and calmly followed them in, then stood down next to Otto and Master Bu Lin.
"Hey, Old Otto, Old Bu, I didn't expect you two to come together? And you even brought your recommenders?" An old man with snow-white hair stood on a high platform and said with a smile.
Xiao Yu turned his head and saw some elderly men dressed in alchemist robes standing there, the lowest of whom were Fourth-grade Alchemist.
Otto whispered to the two of them, "This is the guild's vice president, Qiemier, and also the Little Princess's teacher!"
Otto then looked at Xiao Yan and comforted him, "Little guy, these young people who can become Third-grade Alchemist at this age naturally have their own pride. There's no need to care too much about what others think!"
Xiao Yan nodded slightly and said, "I know, Master Otto!"
Otto and Master Bu Lin led the two of them up to the high platform.
Master Bu Lin looked at Qiemier and laughed, "This year I've brought you a formidable opponent, you know?"
"Oh? Hehe, you old fellow, it's been quite a few years since you've been to the Imperial Capital. It seems life in Shi Mo City is quite good, making you reluctant to leave!" Qiemier said with a smile.
Master Bu Lin chuckled and pulled Xiao Yu aside, saying, "This kid's alchemy skills are unparalleled in my life; he has great potential!"
Xiao Yu slightly raised his gaze and looked at the old man in front of him. The old man had Alchemist Badge with four silver ripples on his chest, and a slight smile on his wrinkled face. He looked extremely gentle.
Hearing Master Bu Lin's words, Qiemier looked at Xiao Yu with some surprise. It was the first time he had heard Master Bu Lin value a junior so much.
The rest of the Fourth-grade Alchemist also turned their gazes to Xiao Yu, but Xiao Yu stood there calmly, unmoved. Qiemier nodded slightly; this little guy's composure was not bad.
"Hello, Vice President Qiemier!" Xiao Yu said with a smile.
"Hehe, little guy, Master Bu Lin values you so much, you'd better give us a surprise at this Alchemist Tournament!" Qiemier said with a smile.
Then Qiemier looked at Xiao Yan and said with a smile, "Little guy, I hope you can pass this refinement. Although it's a bit difficult, you can do it if you try. Don't let Otto's recommendation go to waste!"
Xiao Yan smiled slightly and said, "I believe that at least this test is fine!"
"That's good!" Qiemier said with a slight smile.
Soon, Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan walked down from the high platform, and the test began!
However, before entering the testing area behind the black curtain, the Little Princess came to Xiao Yu's side and said, "If there's a chance, we can spar a bit on alchemy!"
Xiao Yu glanced at the Little Princess indifferently, then nodded slightly and walked directly behind the black curtain. The Little Princess pouted and said, "What an arrogant fellow! Don't disappoint me with your alchemy skills!"
On the other side, Xiao Yan was also provoked by Liu Ling, but Xiao Yan simply ignored it, leaving Liu Ling alone to angrily watch his back.
In the small room, Xiao Yu indeed saw the Ironwood Spirit Leaf that needed to be refined in the original story. This kind of thing is extremely difficult to refine and can be considered quite challenging.
Without much thought, Xiao Yu released the Cloud Turtle Cauldron. With a flick of his finger, a wisp of dark blue flame shot directly into the cold Cloud Turtle Cauldron, and the icy Medicine Cauldron began to slowly rise in temperature!
For Xiao Yu, this refining process was incredibly simple. With the added enhancement of the Heavenly Flames, the Ironwood Spirit Leaf underwent refining time and time again as Xiao Yu's ten fingers flew across the surface.
In the quiet hall, Qiemier and the others sat quietly in chairs on the high platform, their eyes closed in rest, while an hourglass slowly descended on the table in front of them.
Time slipped away bit by bit, and soon, nearly half of the sand in the hourglass had been gone.
Suddenly, a black curtain fluttered, and all the alchemists on the platform opened their eyes. Their first gaze fell on the hourglass on the table. Qiemier asked in surprise, "Less than half the time has passed?"
The test questions were set by the elders on the platform, so they naturally knew that Ironwood Spirit Leaf was still quite difficult for second and Third-grade Alchemist. At least for them, a group of Fourth-grade Alchemist, it was possible to refine Ironwood Spirit Leaf three times in such a short time to pass the test, but it was probably impossible to get a high score!
Master Bu Lin and Otto looked toward the black curtain, a thought flashing through their minds. Master Bu Lin shook his head and smiled, saying, "It really is him!"
A young, Third-grade Alchemist calmly stepped out from behind the black curtain; it was Xiao Yu!
Qiemier frowned slightly and asked, "Little one, it's still early. Aren't you going to refine the Ironwood Spirit Leaf a few more times?"
Xiao Yu smiled and said, "No need, I think this level is sufficient!"
Upon hearing this, the other Fourth-grade Alchemist frowned slightly, their impression of Xiao Yu diminishing somewhat. This man was far too arrogant. This time, refining the Ironwood Spirit Leaf wasn't about the length of time it took, but about the purity. How much purity could he achieve in such a short time?
Even Otto, who was standing to the side, glanced at Master Bu Lin with some concern. After all, if Xiao Yu failed to refine the Ironwood Spirit Leaf, Master Bu Lin's recommendation would be invalid, and it would be a blow to the reputation of the Stone Desert City Alchemist Guild!
However, Master Bu Lin just kept smiling as she looked at Xiao Yu, seemingly not worried at all, as if she had a lot of confidence in Xiao Yu.
Qiemier stepped forward and lifted the black cloth covering a platform, revealing a sophisticated machine underneath that shimmered with a faint light.
"This is a purity measuring instrument specially made by our guild for this refining process. Since you've decided to test it, then put your materials in here for testing," Qiemier said calmly, clearly somewhat disappointed with Xiao Yu's actions.
However, Xiao Yu didn't say anything. Just as he was about to put the refined Ironwood Spirit Leaf into the machine, Qiemier stopped Xiao Yu again and said in a deep voice, "Before you put it in, you have to say how many times you've refined it. I'll ask you one more time, are you sure you want to put it in?"
At this moment, all the Fourth-grade Alchemist stood up from their seats and came to the measuring instrument, curious about how many points Xiao Yu could score!
Xiao Yu chuckled, "I am naturally certain that I have refined the Ironwood Spirit Leaf countless times..."
Ten times!