The Competitive Spirit of Youth

Upon entering the hall, the usually quiet and elegant Alchemist Guild had become unusually lively and resplendent.

Several flame-lit pillars that had not been used in a long time were now releasing dazzling light throughout the hall. The bright flames illuminated the vast examination hall as though it were broad daylight.

The hall was already filled with apprentices waiting for the examination, their hushed conversations rising and falling in a noisy murmur.

Otto bade everyone farewell first and headed straight for the presiding platform, where Master Frank had long been waiting in formal attire.

"Brother Su, I never expected the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild to have two Fourth-grade Alchemists stationed here."

Seeing Otto and Frank, Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised. This was the first time he had seen two Fourth-grade Alchemists at once.

Su Heng, on the other hand, remained calm and composed. After all, no matter how famous a scenic attraction was, to the locals, it was simply ordinary.

"It's nothing much... Brother Xiao, the somewhat tall and thin one is Master Frank, president of our Black Rock City Alchemist Guild. The other is my teacher, Master Otto, whom you just met."

Doing his duty as a host, Su Heng began introducing Xiao Yan to the examiners and the contents of the examination.

At the center of the hall stood more than a dozen separate bluestone platforms, arranged neatly before everyone.

Each bluestone platform was covered with all kinds of medicinal ingredients, along with a standard medicine cauldron for apprentices.

The pill formulae for this examination had been randomly selected by the organizers.

The apprentices taking the examination first had to find the ingredients they needed among those laid out on the bluestone platforms.

Then, within the two-hour time limit, they had to refine a formed first-grade pill.

As long as the pill took shape, they would pass.

Beside those bluestone platforms, some impatient apprentices had already taken their places. Even Lin Fei had claimed a spot in advance.

"Brother Xiao Yan, let me introduce you. This is the Black Rock City Lord's daughter, my senior sister, Lin Fei."

"Senior Sister Lin Fei, this is the person I mentioned to you—the younger brother of Xiao Li, Second Brother Xiao of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, and the young clan leader of the Xiao Family in Wu Tan City, Xiao Yan."

Su Heng led Xiao Yan over to Lin Fei and formally introduced his senior sister.

"You're Xiao Li's brother? You look pretty pleasing to the eye. Do your best in today's examination too."

Lin Fei casually patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, offering her own "Lin Fei-style blessing."

"Ah... thank you, Miss Lin Fei!"

Lin Fei was so bold despite this being their first meeting that Xiao Yan felt a little embarrassed.

"Brother Xiao, just pick whichever platform catches your eye and claim it. In Black Rock City, the other apprentices will give me some face. No need to be restrained."

"Alright, thank you, Brother Su!"

Xiao Yan looked around and decisively chose a bluestone platform near the front. Having come to Black Rock City, he had originally intended to directly take the Second-grade Alchemist examination. There seemed to be no need for him to keep a low profile.

"Frank, where's Xue Mei? Why hasn't she come out yet? The examination is about to begin!"

Master Otto glanced at the hourglass on the table, his brows knitting slightly as he anxiously spoke to Frank, who was chatting with someone beside him.

"Xue Mei lost to Lin Fei in pill refinement last time, and today is her first examination. Perhaps she needs more time to prepare properly."

Watching the impatient Otto, Frank could only smile and explain.

Ever since Xue Mei had lost to Su Heng several months ago, she had lost her entire stockpile of alchemy resources. Without medicinal ingredients to practice with, her alchemy had progressed much more slowly.

Not long ago, she had competed against Lin Fei and been beaten to pill completion by her, dealing her an even heavier blow.

For this examination, Xue Mei had prepared thoroughly, determined to wash away her humiliation.

After hearing Frank's explanation, Otto could only shake his head helplessly and sigh.

"There are only ten minutes left before the examination begins. I hope that girl gets here soon."

Frank smiled and nodded, then began observing the other apprentices who had come to take the examination.

His gaze slowly swept across the hall. Most of today's examinees were familiar faces, and quite a few had traveled from other places to take the Black Rock City examination several times.

Only the black-clad youth in the front row on the right looked unfamiliar to Frank.

"Little fellow, are you here for the apprentice examination too?"

It was Xiao Yan's first time seeing so many Alchemists, and his heart was pounding with excitement. Hearing Frank's question, he froze briefly before immediately nodding.

Seeing Xiao Yan nod, a trace of surprise flashed through Frank's eyes. Smiling, he asked, "Little fellow, how old are you this year?"

"I'm... seventeen."

Though he did not understand Frank's intentions, there seemed to be no reason to hide something like his age, so Xiao Yan answered truthfully.

"Seventeen? Otto, your prized disciple Su Heng seems to be seventeen as well, doesn't he?"

"I have this feeling I can't quite explain. This little fellow called Xiao Yan may not be weaker than your prized disciple!"

Although he had no proof, Frank felt that Xiao Yan's aura was extraordinary. Even with the soul power of a Fourth-grade Alchemist, he could not sense Xiao Yan's true level at all.

"Frank, wait until this child passes the examination before praising him. I don't think he can compare to our little Su!"

Otto snorted with slight dissatisfaction. In his view, when it came to alchemy talent, no one present could match Su Heng.

After all, even under the hands-on guidance of a mentor, most Alchemist Apprentices needed nearly a year just to master the basics of alchemy!

Yet Su Heng had learned all the fundamentals of alchemy in only half a month. In less than two months, he could refine medicinal ingredients of high purity and potency.

Beyond that, Su Heng had ventured deep into the Magic Beast Mountains, obtained a Sixth-Order Magical Beast Flame through his own efforts, then entered seclusion for four months and successfully refined third-grade pills.

Otto truly could not think of anyone who could surpass Su Heng in alchemy talent.

Seeing the two masters compare him to Su Heng without even consulting him, Xiao Yan felt somewhat baffled.

He curiously glanced at Su Heng beside the neighboring bluestone platform and quietly asked.

"Teacher, can you see Brother Su's strength? Is he really that powerful?"

Young people naturally had a competitive streak. When two Fourth-grade Alchemists placed him on the same level as someone else, even Xiao Yan found it hard not to wonder just how strong Su Heng was.

"Judging from soul power alone, he is indeed above you. As for his alchemy techniques, I'll need to see them for myself before making a judgment."

An aged yet vigorous voice sounded beside Xiao Yan's ear. Medicine Elder, within the black ring on his left hand, had long since secretly finished sensing Su Heng's soul. That immense soul power made even Medicine Elder quietly praise him.

"He's really stronger than me?"

Hearing even his teacher say that, Xiao Yan immediately lost some of his composure.

His intense desire to win ignited the flames in Xiao Yan's heart. He no longer merely wanted to pass the Alchemist examination—he wanted to compete with Su Heng.

Coincidentally, Su Heng had the same idea. He had long wanted to see with his own eyes just how skilled Xiao Yan was at alchemy.

From the moment they entered, Su Heng had already been considering what pill he should refine during the Second-grade Alchemist examination to compete against Xiao Yan.

"Teacher, sorry, I'm late."

A familiar icy voice came from behind them. Just minutes before the examination began, Xue Mei finally arrived at the venue.

"Hmph, I thought you didn't dare come, loser!"

Lin Fei gave a smug snort, her eyes full of mockery. Xue Mei remained silent, still wearing that cold expression, seemingly unwilling to pay her any attention.

Xue Mei ignored Lin Fei and instead cast a provocative look at Su Heng.

After losing to Su Heng, she had no medicinal ingredients left to practice with, allowing Lin Fei to surpass her in alchemy. Xue Mei had poured all her resentment onto Su Heng.

Seeing the hatred and grievance in Xue Mei's eyes, Su Heng looked completely unconcerned.

If you're weak, practice more... You said that yourself, Xue Mei. I wonder if you'll still have the courage to look at me like that after today.

All the examinees had arrived. Master Otto and Master Frank checked the hourglass on the table, then rose to distribute pill formulae to every apprentice taking the examination.

Looking at the pill formula in his hand, Su Heng could not help smiling knowingly.

The formula he had received was for the Strength-Accumulation Pill, the most difficult pill to refine among first-grade pills. By comparison, Lin Fei had received the Wound-Recovery Pill, while Xue Mei had received the Flame-Congealing Pill. Both were relatively simple pills.

Teacher Otto had deliberately given Su Heng the hardest test so he could show off in public and bring some glory to his teacher.

"Everyone, check your pill formulae. If there are any problems, raise them now..."

Frank looked around. Everyone was checking their own pill formulae. After a long while, the hall remained silent, with no one raising any objections.

"Since there are no problems with the pill formulae, I now declare the examination begun!"

Frank swept out his hand, and dense dark-red Dou Qi shot from his palm, striking the ancient iron bell hanging from the hall ceiling with perfect accuracy. Clear chimes immediately echoed through the hall.

As the bell rang, the examinees eagerly ignited their Dou Qi flames inside their medicine cauldrons. Only Xiao Yan and Su Heng made no move.

Standard medicine cauldrons had poor resistance to flames. Su Heng had once caused a cauldron explosion merely by changing cauldrons.

To ensure success in a single attempt, Su Heng gently tossed a small flame into his cauldron, choosing the most conservative method of ignition.

Black flames gradually burned and spread within the medicine cauldron, beginning to preheat it.

Xiao Yan, meanwhile, seemed to have some concerns. Only after thinking for a long time did he place his palm against the cauldron's fire opening.

Bang!

After a muffled explosion, surging purple flames roared to life within Xiao Yan's medicine cauldron.

Seeing Su Heng ignite his cauldron successfully, Otto had been leisurely sipping tea. He had barely taken a mouthful when the sight of those surging purple flames left him staring in utter shock.

With a pfft, Otto sprayed all the tea in his mouth out...

The tea soaked his clothes, but Otto could not care less. His trembling finger pointed toward Xiao Yan in the front row on the right as he cried out in panic.

"Purple flames? Heavenly Flames?"

Seeing his teacher so flustered, Su Heng shook his head slightly. Did he make a bet with Frank or something? To calm his teacher, Su Heng raised his head and said evenly.

"That's not Heavenly Flames! If I'm not mistaken, it should be a Beast Flame on the same level as mine!"

How could he let one person take all the spotlight?

Xiao Yan's purple flames stunned the entire hall, but Su Heng was unwilling to be outdone. Profound Flame surged up within his cauldron, echoing the purple flames from afar as the two vied against each other without yielding an inch.

Seeing Su Heng's black flames, Xiao Yan was also startled. He had thought his Purple Crystal Winged Lion Flame would be enough to shock everyone present, but Su Heng's black flames were actually no less impressive than his own purple flames.

"Teacher, what kind of flame is that? It feels incredibly powerful!"

Xiao Yan's lips moved slightly as he quietly communicated with Medicine Elder.

"It looks like the Beast Flame of a Sixth-Order Magical Beast. It's on about the same level as the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's purple flames. This little fellow has some skill."

"Alright, don't let something like this distract you. Focus on refining the pill."

Medicine Elder was not particularly impressed by Su Heng's flame. It was perfectly normal for some alchemy families to possess inherited Beast Flames, so there was no need to make such a fuss.

"Old Otto, it seems my earlier feeling was right. This little fellow called Xiao Yan really was hiding his strength. In my opinion, your beloved disciple might not be able to suppress him."

"Hmph, Frank, don't be so hasty! Even if he has a high-grade Beast Flame, it doesn't mean he can beat little Su in alchemy."

The two old men began bickering on the presiding platform. Su Heng and Xiao Yan both smiled below, no longer allowing themselves to be distracted as they focused on pill refinement.

As the two fell silent, the entire examination hall gradually quieted as well, everyone concentrating on the medicine cauldrons before them.

Time passed second by second. Apart from a few unfortunate souls whose cauldrons exploded due to insufficient skill, most had already completed refining their ingredients and begun pill fusion.

Su Heng looked at the medicinal ingredients refined to a pure state within his cauldron, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

Hundreds of practice sessions had given him an intimate understanding of the ingredients used in all kinds of first-grade pills. Even the tiniest flaw could be sensed by his soul power and removed afterward.

The refined medicinal liquids and powders gradually merged, forming an oval mass of paste-like material. Dense flames gently pressed against it, and under the flames' pressure, the paste gradually became rounder.

A bright sheen spread across the pill's surface. A top-grade pill was about to emerge.

The last stretch was always the hardest. Su Heng did not lower his guard in the slightest. Only once the pill had fully formed did his hands slowly leave the cauldron's fire openings.

As Su Heng withdrew his palms, the black flames inside the medicine cauldron gradually extinguished.

The fire died, and the pill formed. Su Heng lightly raised his right hand, and a pale-yellow pill with a lustrous sheen flew from the cauldron's mouth, landing steadily in his left palm.

Several faint red ripples ran through the surface of the pale-yellow pill, like spreading waves that repeatedly rippled outward until they covered the entire pill.

Only when a pill's quality and luster reached their peak would pill patterns appear on its surface.

Yet Su Heng did not care much about this first-grade top-tier pill with pill patterns. There were more than six hundred first-grade pills in his Storage Ring, and half of them were top-tier pills bearing pill patterns.

Pill patterns? He had seen plenty of those already.

After finishing his inspection, Su Heng gently placed the pale-yellow pill into the white jade porcelain bottle in his right hand and sealed it. With that, everything was complete.

There was still half an hour before the examination time limit. Aside from Xiao Yan, everyone had completed their pills.

At that moment, everyone's gaze turned toward the slender figure dressed in black.