Master Chemir

"My master is free-spirited by nature and has always traveled the continent. He isn't from the Jia Ma Empire. Why, can't I register?"

Yao Feng casually made up an excuse.

"You can. As long as you pass the assessment, our guild will likewise issue you an alchemist badge and an alchemist robe."

The maid smiled faintly, recorded the information, and asked:

"What Grade Alchemist assessment would you like to take, Young Master?"

"Let's start with Grade One!"

Yao Feng thought for a moment before answering. He remembered that alchemist assessments had to be taken one grade at a time. Only after passing the Grade One assessment could one take the Grade Two assessment. Since he had rarely even left the Yao Clan, he had naturally never taken an assessment before, so he could only proceed step by step.

"Alright. You've come at just the right time. A Grade Alchemist assessment is about to begin, and I'll take you inside now."

"Thank you."

Yao Feng followed the maid to a large doorway, where several burly men in uniform stood guard. Every one of them had an aura far stronger than Yao Feng's.

"This young master is also here to take this assessment."

The maid handed the Beast Skin Paper to one of the burly men. The man accepted it and gave it a quick glance, his eyelid twitching slightly. He took out a black armband and handed it to Yao Feng. A large number nine was embroidered on it.

"This is your examination number. Once inside, find your place according to the number on the workbench and follow the instructions."

The burly man spoke with a touch of respect.

"Thank you."

Yao Feng took the armband and slipped it onto his arm. After thanking him, he flashed through the doorway.

"Ding, detected that the host is inside the Alchemist Guild. Would you like to check in?"

Hearing the voice in his mind, Yao Feng could not help but complain, Do I have to stay at the check-in location for a certain amount of time before I qualify to check in?

Though he thought so, Yao Feng still promptly chose to check in immediately.

"Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the Basic Flame Control Technique."

"Flame Control Technique? What is that?"

Yao Feng asked in his heart, somewhat puzzled.

"Ding, the Flame Control Technique can greatly enhance the host's ability to control flames, allowing the least amount of Dou Qi to unleash the greatest power of the flames while increasing the success rate of pill refining."

"That sounds pretty good."

Yao Feng considered it. The effects of this kind of technical skill could not be seen for now, but they would naturally reveal themselves when he used it in the future.

"Young man, you're here to take the alchemist assessment too, aren't you? Hurry to your workbench. The assessment is about to begin."

While Yao Feng was lost in thought, a white-haired old man looked at him and asked kindly.

Yao Feng suddenly came back to his senses and looked at the old man. He wore an exquisitely crafted alchemist robe, and a faint smile rested on his wrinkled face. His slightly narrowed, clouded eyes were calm and gentle, while the four silver ripples on his chest were particularly eye-catching.

After apologizing, Yao Feng hurriedly found the workbench marked with the number nine. It was covered with all sorts of alchemy equipment.

Yao Feng glanced around and discovered that the girl in purple he had encountered at the entrance was standing right beside him. Seemingly sensing his gaze, the girl turned her head toward him and flashed him a bright smile before turning away again.

The other male examinees nearby immediately revealed infatuated expressions upon seeing this. However, when they looked at Yao Feng, their eyes carried a few traces of jealousy and resentment.

Seeing this, Yao Feng could only smile bitterly. He did not know this girl at all, yet because she had inexplicably smiled at him, so many people had become hostile toward him. It truly was as the saying went: beautiful women brought disaster.

The old man swept his gaze across the crowd and smiled gently before saying:

"I will be your examiner for this assessment. I am Chemir, vice president of the Alchemist Guild."

"The vice president came in person!"

Yao Feng was somewhat surprised, but when he thought of the girl beside him, he began to understand. In the Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire, the only people who could travel with such grand pomp were likely the imperial family. If Yao Feng remembered correctly, the imperial family's little princess was the disciple of Chemir, vice president of the Alchemist Guild.

"The requirement for a Grade Alchemist is to independently refine a completed pill. On the tables before you are Grade One pill formulas. Each of you has three sets of ingredients. Refine the pill within the allotted time, and you will pass the assessment."

Chemir spoke to the crowd, his gaze lingering slightly when it passed over Yao Feng. The boy was simply too young. Earlier, he had looked through everyone's registration forms and found that this youth named Yao Feng was only thirteen years old. Moreover, Chemir had never even heard of his mentor, which piqued his interest in the little fellow.

"Now, the assessment begins!"

At Chemir's command, everyone began bustling about.

Yao Feng also picked up a sheet of parchment from the table and examined it carefully. It contained the formula for a pill called the Explosive Power Pill. This pill could grant its user immense strength for a short period of time, but its duration was brief. Once the effect faded, the user's entire body would become sore and weak, requiring a full day of rest to recover.

However, for mercenaries who lived with their lives on the line, the Explosive Power Pill perfectly suited their needs. Thus, among Grade One pills, it could be considered above average. Still, using it for a Grade Alchemist assessment was indeed somewhat difficult.

But it was nothing much to Yao Feng. After all, his alchemy had already reached the peak of Grade Two. If he could settle down and study alchemy for a while, he might reach Grade Three before long.

After committing the steps for refining the Explosive Power Pill to memory, Yao Feng put down the formula and glanced at the others. He found that they had all begun refining one after another. Clusters of pale yellow flames rose inside their Medicine Cauldrons, causing the temperature in the room to rise somewhat.

Those pale yellow flames undoubtedly showed that all of them were below four-star Dou Zhe. The Dou Qi condensed from fire-attributed cultivation methods was yellow, and the Dou Qi flames it ignited were naturally yellow as well. The higher one's realm, the deeper the color. One could roughly judge a person's realm from the color of their flames.

Yet the little princess beside Yao Feng had a somewhat different flame. Her flame was blue, and even though Yao Feng stood beside her, he could barely feel any heat from the Blue Flame. Instead, it gave off only a warm sensation. Yao Feng looked at the Blue Flame in surprise and thought, The world is vast and full of wonders. It seems I still can't underestimate the people of this world.

Seeing that everyone had begun refining, Yao Feng calmed himself as well. He placed his palm against the Medicine Cauldron, and the Dou Qi within his body flowed through his meridians before gathering in his palm. With a soft sound, boom, raging black flames suddenly surged up from within the Medicine Cauldron.

A fierce and sinister aura spread out. The little princess glanced sideways at the black flames inside Yao Feng's Medicine Cauldron, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes.

Sensing the unusual aura, the others all cast astonished looks his way.