Watch Him Make a Fool of Himself, Holy Crap

"Young Sect Master, what brings you to the Alchemy Hall?"

"Please, have a seat!"

The elder who had been reprimanding Lin Cheng suddenly changed his tune, wearing a fawning smile as he hurried over to fuss over Meng Tangtang.

The difference in treatment was like heaven and earth.

Seeing this, Meng Tangtang waved her hands repeatedly, offered a few perfunctory remarks, and turned her large eyes toward Lin Cheng.

"Junior Brother, what are you doing here?"

Junior Brother?

Hearing this form of address, the crowd couldn't help but look strange, feeling a bit confused.

If it were based on seniority of entry, he should be called Senior Brother.

If it were based on her status as Young Sect Master, it was even more puzzling.

It seemed that, usually, only those under the same master would address each other this way.

Most importantly, their Young Sect Master seemed quite concerned about Lin Cheng, a mere outer sect servant.

For a moment, everyone fell into deep thought.

"It's nothing. I just came to take the Alchemist rank examination, and a small accident occurred."

Lin Cheng explained directly.

The elders nearby stiffened at his words, but Meng Tangtang waved her hand and said, "I heard everything you just said. Since Junior Brother has the confidence, let him take the test. It's just a trial; there's no harm if he fails."

"But, Young Sect Master..."

Meng Tangtang immediately stated, "Elder, say no more. Since my Junior Brother's talent is unprecedented, why can't he create a few miracles? Do not view a genius through the eyes of an ordinary person."

Once these words were spoken, the elders fell silent.

Thinking about it carefully, it seemed to make sense.

They had no choice but to give her some face. Although the elder who had been reprimanding him still didn't think much of Lin Cheng, he sighed and said, "Very well. Since the Young Sect Master has spoken, let him try."

After saying this, he took a long, hard look at Lin Cheng.

"Young man, confidence is a good thing, but one must also have self-awareness. I hope you do not waste such great talent."

With the elder's word given, the matter was settled.

"Then many thanks, Elder. Please, set the task."

Lin Cheng didn't dawdle and spoke directly.

The elders exchanged glances and whispered among themselves. A moment later, one stepped forward and said, "Here is a formula for a Qi-Replenishing Pill. It is a low-grade pill. As long as you can refine it within two hours and the impurities do not exceed fifty percent, you will pass."

Meng Tangtang's lips moved upon hearing this, as if she wanted to say something.

Although the Qi-Replenishing Pill was one of the most common low-grade pills, used to accelerate the replenishment of internal energy, it was only useful for those below the Fifth Grade realm.

The difficulty of refining it was not low at all.

Among low-grade pill refinements, it could be ranked in the middle tier.

Furthermore, refining pills would inevitably result in impurities; even if a Yellow-rank Alchemist were here, the same principle would apply.

For ordinary pills, excluding failed ones, keeping impurities below seventy percent was considered a pass.

Below fifty percent was considered quite good.

This level of quality could usually only be maintained by low-grade alchemists who had been immersed in the art of alchemy for many years.

For a newcomer who knew nothing, it was truly too harsh.

"Elder, isn't this a bit too difficult?" Meng Tangtang said, displeased.

The elder shook his head.

"Young Sect Master, that is where you are mistaken. If this were an ordinary sect, I would pass anyone who could refine a pill with seventy percent impurities."

"But my Jingyun Sect is no small sect; we are one of the ten great sects of the Southern Region."

"The requirements for an alchemist must naturally be the best of the best. How can this be child's play? Otherwise, wouldn't we be a laughingstock if word got out?"

Everyone present nodded secretly upon hearing this, feeling it was reasonable.

This was not the elder deliberately making things difficult for Lin Cheng, but simply the reality of the situation.

At this moment, many people stared at Lin Cheng with strange expressions, seemingly waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Originally, with his talent, he was destined to be dazzling, someone they could never hope to catch up to in this lifetime.

But now, given his arrogance, waiting to see him become a joke was, in its own way, a great pleasure in life.

They even believed that it wouldn't be long before what happened here spread like wildfire, and the entire Jingyun Sect would know of this alchemy genius's scandal.

Just thinking about it made them feel a sense of anticipation.

"Dis... Senior Sister, there is no need to say more. How could a mere assessment possibly stump me?"

Lin Cheng stepped forward to meet everyone's gaze, a spark of irritation ignited within him, and he resolved to put on a spectacular performance.

With a system at his disposal, how could he let himself be looked down upon?

He decided to act immediately.

Lin Cheng glanced at the pill formula, and a vast amount of related knowledge, various refining techniques, and precautions surged through his mind like a cascading waterfall.

Half an incense stick later.

Just as the crowd was growing impatient, Lin Cheng finally began to move.

He walked straight to the alchemy furnace designated for the assessment, carefully inspecting its quality and familiarizing himself with its structure.

Watching Lin Cheng continuously patting and tapping the furnace, the onlookers couldn't help but feel puzzled, and many even scoffed out loud.

"Could he really be some bumpkin who got lucky, someone who has never even seen an alchemy furnace before?"

"It's quite possible..."

"Shut up! What are you squabbling about?"

Meng Tangtang turned and glared at them, and the latter immediately fell silent, though their eyes clearly showed their defiance.

Could Junior Brother really know nothing at all?

Meng Tangtang watched the busily working Lin Cheng, feeling equally uncertain.

Although he had spoken boldly, Meng Tangtang also felt that Lin Cheng had little hope of success.

If he messed this up, she wouldn't know how to answer to the elders.

Thinking of this, she snuck a glance at the elders, but to her confusion, the expected disdain and mockery were nowhere to be found.

Instead, their faces were filled with surprise and shock.

Especially as time passed, the initial contempt on their faces had long since vanished, replaced by deep admiration and even astonishment.

"Such skilled technique, it's simply perfect!"

"This kid actually understands alchemy. I've never even heard of this method of inspecting a furnace... Wait, why is he doing it this way? Hiss! So that's it, I understand now!" The elder watched Lin Cheng's movements and suddenly had a breakthrough.

"This is the long-lost 'Mountain-Piercing Ox Strike.' With just this move, the overall coordination of the furnace has changed drastically; the success rate of the alchemy has increased by at least thirty percent before he has even begun!"

"So my previous technique was wrong. No wonder the quality of my pills was always low; it turns out I was missing a step."

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

"Where on earth did he learn so many lost techniques..."

The other elders were in much the same state.

They had gone from being indifferent to surprised, and finally to completely amazed.

By now, they were staring unblinkingly at Lin Cheng's movements. They could no longer fully grasp what he was doing, only feeling that every detail was full of profound meaning, worthy of their study.

They even felt that certain problems they had accumulated over the years were suddenly becoming clear.

They felt enlightened.

Before the actual alchemy had even begun, they had already been won over by Lin Cheng's spectacular warm-up performance!