Before long, Gerard returned with three sets of medicinal ingredients. The four of them entered a private room together. Normally, outsiders weren't allowed to enter an alchemist's examination.
But Xiao Chen had made it plain that he wanted to bring the young woman inside, and Fama hadn't tried to stop him. What could Gerard say?
Since Gerard hadn't objected, Xiao Chen had assumed he could come in and observe as well. It was a way for both sides to show each other some courtesy.
"Ahem... Young friend, the medicinal ingredients are ready. You can begin!"
Seeing that Xiao Chen hadn't taken out a pill cauldron, Fama gave a light cough and reminded him. He had no idea that Xiao Chen's next move would nearly make his eyes pop out of his head.
Xiao Chen didn't answer. He turned his palm over, and a sea of golden flames surged forth. Then he swiftly formed several hand seals and cried, "Condense!" As his words fell, the golden flames gathered in midair, forming a pill cauldron.
"Forging a cauldron from flame! Young friend, what an impressive skill!"
Fama sprang to his feet and stared at the cauldron in the air, formed entirely from the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. He couldn't help exclaiming in astonishment.
As he marveled at it, he also noticed something was off. The flame brimmed with violent energy. It didn't look like the real flame an alchemist condensed from his own power, nor did it resemble Beast Flame. Fama had Beast Flame himself, and it couldn't possibly contain such violent energy.
At that thought, a frightening guess surfaced in Fama's mind. "Young friend Xiao Chen, could this flame of yours be a Heavenly Flame?" His voice trembled as he asked.
That was a Heavenly Flame—the dream flame of every alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent. Even a Heavenly Flame at the very bottom of the Heavenly Flame Ranking could drive countless alchemists to fight until rivers ran red with blood.
"President Fama, you have a keen eye. This junior's flame is indeed a Heavenly Flame!"
Xiao Chen made no attempt to hide it. Besides, only the ignorant would mistake a Heavenly Flame of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame's caliber for Beast Flame.
After all, Fama had spent several years by Yao Lao's side. He knew something of the rumors circulating across the continent. How could Xiao Chen hide it from him?
Having received Xiao Chen's own confirmation, Fama's eyes filled with envy, but envy was all he felt. He harbored no other intentions.
If Xiao Chen dared to reveal a Heavenly Flame so openly, he must have something to rely on. In terms of strength alone, Fama was indeed stronger than Xiao Chen, but life-and-death battles had never been decided by cultivation level alone.
Besides, even if he could really kill Xiao Chen and take the Heavenly Flame, would he truly be able to get away? Would the power behind Xiao Chen let him off?
Someone who could wield a Heavenly Flame, and who had become a Peak Fifth-Grade Alchemist at such a young age—the power behind him was clearly no ordinary force. Fama had no wish to die without knowing why.
"A golden Heavenly Flame... My teacher once told me that the Heavenly Flame Ranking recorded twenty-three known Heavenly Flames. Of those, only two match this one!"
Fama stared at the golden flames in midair, lost in thought. A moment later, his eyes flew wide. "Young friend, could this be the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, ranked fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking?!"
"I've long heard that President Fama is learned and well-informed. After meeting you today, I can see the rumors were true!"
Xiao Chen didn't directly confirm it. As he controlled the flames to refine the medicinal ingredients, he replied.
Though his words weren't a direct answer to President Fama's question, they confirmed from another angle that it was indeed a Heavenly Flame.
Gerard, standing nearby, had gone completely speechless. He stared blankly at Xiao Chen.
That's right. He was the ignorant fool who had mistaken a Heavenly Flame for Beast Flame. Remembering what he'd done in the hall earlier, he wished he could find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.
If word got out that he'd mistaken a Heavenly Flame for Beast Flame, his colleagues would probably mock him for the rest of his life. Sure, most of them would likely have made the same mistake, but that wouldn't stop them from laughing at him!
Having confirmed his guess, Fama said no more, lest he disturb Xiao Chen as he refined the pill. Xiao Yi Xian hadn't said a word either. She simply watched the cauldron in silence, her eyes full of longing.
Time passed little by little. Though the private room had no windows, it had a timer. Fama watched the pill in the cauldron nearing completion, his heart pounding with excitement. He marveled inwardly, Three days! He made a Peak Fifth-Grade Dou Ling Pill in just three days. Truly, the young would surpass the old!
Xiao Chen rapidly formed hand seals, controlling the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame inside the cauldron as it refined the impurities from the pill.
About the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Xiao Chen gave a low shout. "Condense!" The Dou Ling Pill took shape. The Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame dispersed, and a smooth, fragrant pill spun in midair.
Xiao Chen used Battle Qi to draw the pill into his palm, then held it out to Fama. "President Fama, sorry for the trouble. Could you appraise it?"
"This is... a Pill Pattern!"
Fama took the pill and stared at the rippling lines across its surface, once again falling silent. After a brief pause, he let out a long sigh. "Alas! The young truly will surpass the old. There's no need to appraise this pill. I'm not even qualified to do so!"
According to the Alchemist Association's rules, a pill belonged to the person who made it. Fama returned the Dou Ling Pill to Xiao Chen and first clasped his hands in congratulations. "Congratulations, young friend. You've passed the examination to become a Fifth-Grade Alchemist!" Then he turned to Gerard, who stood at his side, and instructed him, "Gerard, quickly, bring out the robe!"
"Senior, this is the Alchemist Association's standard robe. Please wear it for now. If it doesn't fit, you can tell me your measurements!"
Now that Xiao Chen had passed the Fifth-Grade Alchemist examination, his status was even higher than Gerard's. Calling him "young friend" was no longer appropriate, so Gerard had wisely changed his form of address right away.
The title made Xiao Chen feel awkward. The reason was simple: their ages. It was like walking down the road and suddenly having a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties call him "uncle." It was hard to accept. "Brother Gerard, let's just treat each other as equals. I really can't accept you calling me 'senior'!"
"Senior, you're mistaken. As the saying goes, the pursuit of the Dao has no fixed order, and those who have attained mastery are teachers. Your alchemy is better than mine. What's wrong with calling you senior?!"
Gerard shook his head again and again at those words, refusing no matter what. Seeing this, Fama smiled and said, "That's just how the boy is—honest and straightforward. It was precisely that quality that made me take him as my disciple."
"All right, this isn't the place to chat. Let's head outside first."
After Fama had put it that way, Xiao Chen had no choice but to say no more. He nodded and followed him.
"After spending three days in that private room, coming out all of a sudden feels a little strange!"
Xiao Chen looked at the dazzling sun in the sky and narrowed his eyes slightly. After staying in the private room for so long, the harsh sunlight was a little uncomfortable.
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