Second Grade Alchemist

"How confident are you that you can refine a second-grade pill?"

Seeing the firm look in Yao Feng's eyes, Chemir asked. Rules were fixed, but people were flexible. If he truly passed the Second Grade Alchemist assessment, the Alchemist Guild's reputation would surely rise to another level. If Yao Feng became an even higher-grade alchemist in the future, it would be a sensational event for the entire Jia Ma Empire.

"Sixty percent."

Yao Feng hesitated before answering. At his current level, refining a second-grade pill would hardly result in any mistakes. After all, he was the system's favored child. Still, it was better to stay a little low-key, or he would end up like this, with everyone's eyes fixed on him.

Isn't this a bit much? Since I'm taking the Second Grade Alchemist assessment, what's the point if I can't even refine a second-grade pill?

Seeing the astonished and disbelieving looks on everyone's faces, Yao Feng grumbled inwardly.

Chemir's body shuddered at Yao Feng's answer. Even ordinary Second Grade Alchemists might not match that success rate. Though deeply shocked, Chemir was still someone who had seen much of the world. He cleared his throat and said:

"Come with me. I'll arrange the Second Grade Alchemist assessment for you."

Standing to the side, Yao Yue watched Yao Feng's calm, confident expression and murmured inwardly:

Isn't this guy being a little too arrogant? Second-grade pills are far more difficult than first-grade pills.

She had studied alchemy for many years and had only just touched the threshold of a Second Grade Alchemist. Yet she could not even refine the simplest second-grade pill. Yao Feng looked even younger than her—could he really pass the second-grade assessment?

Yao Yue frowned and followed after them.

Beside the room for the Grade Alchemist assessment was a side door, with the words "Second Grade Alchemist" written upon it. Several alchemists emerged from within, bowed to Chemir, curiously glanced at Yao Feng, and then quickly left.

"Go in," Chemir said, turning back to Yao Feng.

"Mm."

Yao Feng nodded and entered the small room. Chemir stopped Yao Yue, who wanted to follow him in, then said to the others who had come along as well:

"The Second Grade Alchemist assessment differs from the Grade Alchemist assessment. No outsiders are permitted to enter. If you're curious about the result, wait here for a while."

"Teacher, just let me go in and watch!" Upon hearing this, Yao Yue grabbed Chemir's sleeve and gently shook it, speaking coquettishly.

"These are the Alchemist Guild's rules. Just wait here obediently."

Chemir smiled, then pushed Yao Yue away and slipped into the room, shutting the door behind him in an instant.

"Hmph, fine, I won't go in if I'm not allowed! Why are you being so fierce? It's not like I was going to barge in!"

Yao Yue gave a delicate snort, stomped her little foot hard against the floor, and complained indignantly.

"Good thing I moved quickly. Otherwise, that girl would definitely have barged in."

Chemir stroked his beard with an expression that said he had seen right through her.

"Hehe, young man, the Second Grade Alchemist assessment can be simple enough. You only need to use the medicinal ingredients on that table to refine a second-grade pill, and you'll have passed."

Chemir walked to Yao Feng's side and pointed at the many medicinal ingredients on a table.

"Demon Blood Fruit, Wood Spirit Flower, Snake Origin Vine..."

Looking at the wide variety of medicinal ingredients on the table, Yao Feng saw that most of them were quite common. Yet every Second Grade Alchemist assessment required such materials, which showed just how wealthy the Alchemist Guild was.

Still, they did not even provide a pill formula for the assessment. If they encountered impoverished alchemists who did not even possess a second-grade pill formula, wouldn't they be unable to take the assessment at all?

Alchemy really is a lucrative profession!

Yao Feng sighed inwardly. Since it had nothing to do with him, he did not dwell on it. His gaze swept across the ingredients on the table as several second-grade pill formulas emerged in his mind. The Second Grade Alchemy rewarded by the system was not merely refining techniques; it also included quite a few common second-grade pill formulas. Thus, Yao Feng was not inferior in the slightest to those old fellows who had held their Second Grade Alchemist badges for years.

After some consideration, Yao Feng chose a pill called the Spirit Awakening Pill. Taking a Spirit Awakening Pill could keep one's mind clear and make cultivation twice as effective with half the effort. It also had excellent effects for alchemists. Taking one after refining pills would prevent them from becoming dizzy and muddle-headed due to Soul Power depletion.

Having made up his mind, Yao Feng glanced at Chemir.

Chemir understood and said:

"Once you're ready, begin on your own. I'll keep time."

Yao Feng nodded and took a yellow fruit from the medicinal ingredients on the table. It was a Six Apricot Fruit. It was said that a Six Apricot Tree bore only six fruits at a time, and it had the effect of stimulating the soul. After glancing around, Yao Feng picked up another item—a cabbage. This was called Jade Cabbage. The entire medicinal plant was as crystal-clear as jade and carried a jade-like texture.

Yao Feng held the Jade Cabbage, his expression turning somewhat strange. Though this thing really did resemble jade, and was quite small, only the size of an adult's fist, its familiar appearance still made him involuntarily think of familiar dishes like boiled cabbage and hot-and-sour cabbage...

Wiping away nonexistent drool from the corner of his mouth, Yao Feng picked up several more medicinal ingredients. The materials needed to refine the Spirit Awakening Pill were now complete.

But he was troubled again. The Demonic Flame contained a fierce and baleful aura. If he used it to refine the Spirit Awakening Pill, that baleful aura might enter the pill. Rather than awakening the user's spirit, it would probably send them into cultivation deviation. But would using the Mysterious Yellow Flame be too conspicuous?

Whatever. So what if I'm high-profile? Someone as outstanding as me is destined to shine too brightly to hide.

Yao Feng sighed shamelessly inwardly. He placed the ingredients beside the Medicine Cauldron for easy access, then directly covered the cauldron with his palm. Dou Qi circulated within his body, and with a whoosh, a dark yellow flame surged forth. Immediately afterward, faint cracking sounds rang out. Fine cracks appeared across the Medicine Cauldron and rapidly spread over its entire surface. Finally, with a bang, the Medicine Cauldron exploded, scattering fragments all over the floor.

"Cough, cough."

Yao Feng waved away the smoke and dust, looked at the shattered Medicine Cauldron, and curled his lips speechlessly. "What trash quality. It couldn't even withstand the power of the flame!"

"Th-this is a Heavenly Flame!?"

Even the normally steady Chemir was filled with shock when he saw the Mysterious Yellow Flame, though it had only appeared for a brief moment. Its pressure had made the Beast Flame within his body tremble with unease and fear. Such a strong reaction would never occur between Beast Flames, no matter how vast the difference in their grades. That left only one possibility: this dark yellow flame was a true Heavenly Flame, one of the twenty-three Heavenly Flames that existed in the world.

"Master Chemir, this Medicine Cauldron..."

Seeing Chemir's reaction, Yao Feng felt somewhat helpless. Heavenly Flames held an overwhelming attraction for alchemists, and as a Four-Grade Alchemist, Chemir naturally understood their power even better.