Second- and Third-Rank Exams in Succession

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words,

the smile on Frank's face suddenly froze.

The expression on Otto's face also went blank.

Everyone in the hall stared at Xiao Yan, stunned by what he had said.

A nineteen-year-old First-Rank Alchemy Master was already astonishing.

As mentioned before, Pill King Gu He had only been a First-Rank Alchemy Master at nineteen.

Yet Xiao Yan wanted to take the Second-Rank exam as well. If he succeeded, wouldn't his talent and future achievements surpass Pill King Gu He's?

"Did I hear that right? You said you want to take the Second-Rank Alchemy Master exam too?"

Frank asked again for confirmation.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. Did everyone at the Black Rock City Alchemy Masters' Guild have hearing problems? That woman named Chang Xinxin had repeatedly confirmed his examination request earlier, and now this old man was doing the same.

His voice had clearly been loud enough, and he had spoken very clearly. How could they not understand?

"Yes, I would like to continue with the Second-Rank Alchemy Master exam. Is that possible?"

Xiao Yan said with a smile, deliberately slowing his speech this time for fear that the other party would not hear him clearly.

"...Of course it is."

Frank knew Xiao Yan had misunderstood him as not having heard properly, but he did not argue and simply replied in a deep voice.

"Someone, prepare the procedures for the Second-Rank Alchemy Master exam."

Before long, the examination arrangements were complete.

With Xiao Yan being the only examinee, it naturally did not take long.

The examination hall for Second-Rank Alchemy Masters was much smaller than the one for First-Rank Alchemy Masters, with only thirty stone platforms.

When the purple-robed girl and the silver-robed girl tried to enter the hall to watch, Frank stopped them outside.

"The Second-Rank Alchemy Master exam differs from the First-Rank exam. You cannot enter casually. Wait outside."

The First-Rank Alchemy Master exam could only be considered an entry-level test. Its sole requirement was to successfully form a pill without impurities.

The Second-Rank Alchemy Master exam was far stricter. One had to refine a Second-Rank pill that was transparent and solid, with a single pill pattern appearing on it.

There were only five people in the entire examination hall: Frank, Otto, two staff members, and Xiao Yan.

The people outside did not leave. Instead, they sat and waited, wanting to know whether Xiao Yan could pass the Second-Rank Alchemy Master exam.

The silver-robed girl walked over to the purple-robed girl and whispered, "Lin Fei, do you think this guy can succeed?"

"I don't know either. But Xue Mei, didn't you once say that if there were someone in Black Rock City who was younger than you and more talented at alchemy, you would marry him? This guy seems to be a year younger than you. Hehe."

The purple-robed girl named Lin Fei rolled her dark eyes and spoke mischievously.

"Unfortunately, he isn't from Black Rock City."

The silver-robed girl named Xue Mei replied calmly, her pretty face faintly flushed.

"Tch... he might not even be interested in you."

Lin Fei said with a charming smile.

"You like him? Then go after him. Your father is the lord of Black Rock City, after all."

Xue Mei said with a smile.

Time passed in an instant amid the two beautiful girls' discussion of Xiao Yan.

"The exam is over?"

The doors to the hall slowly opened. Frank and Otto emerged first, both wearing strange expressions.

Seeing their expressions, Lin Fei and Xue Mei frowned slightly. Had he failed?

"This fellow's talent in alchemy is truly astounding. Even I have no choice but to admire him."

Seeing the girls' expressions, Otto explained with a face full of amazement.

"He passed the exam."

Frank said helplessly as well.

"He really succeeded? A nineteen-year-old Second-Rank Alchemy Master... isn't that too absurd?"

Upon hearing this, everyone inwardly marveled. Looking at Xiao Yan behind them, their gazes filled with awe.

"Teacher, shouldn't you be happy? He took the Second-Rank Alchemy Master exam at the Black Rock City Guild. Why do you still look like this?"

Xue Mei asked in confusion.

"Happy? Of course I'm happy."

Frank gave a bitter smile and continued, "This little fellow has applied for the Third-Rank Alchemy Master exam again!"

"What?!"

"He still wants to take the Third-Rank Alchemy Master exam?!"

"Did I hear that right?!"

Everyone looked at one another, their mouths hanging slightly open.

A nineteen-year-old Second-Rank Alchemy Master was shocking, but still within the bounds of what they could comprehend.

But a nineteen-year-old Third-Rank Alchemy Master—was that even human?

Seeing everyone's reactions, Xiao Yan could not help regretting being so high-profile.

He simply felt that since he had come to the Alchemy Masters' Guild with difficulty, he might as well take as many rank exams as he could.

If Medicine Elder had not stopped him, he would have even wanted to attempt the Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master exam.

A Third-Rank Alchemy Master required the cultivation of a Grand Dou Master.

A Fourth-Rank Alchemy Master required the cultivation of a Dou Spirit.

Although Xiao Yan was only an Eight-Star Dou Master, with Purple Flame and his powerful soul force, refining Third-Rank pills was no difficult matter. Even with Fourth-Rank pills, his success rate exceeded seventy percent.

He could even refine Fifth-Rank pills within the Portable Space.

"Um, how about we forget the Third-Rank Alchemy Master exam?"

At this moment, Xiao Yan said awkwardly to Frank.

"How can we forget it? Since you brought it up, you must take the exam. Even if you fail, it doesn't matter."

Frank hurriedly said, seemingly afraid that Xiao Yan would give up. He turned to the staff and said, "Hurry and prepare the procedures for the Third-Rank Alchemy Master exam."

If Xiao Yan truly passed the Third-Rank Alchemy Master exam, then the Black Rock City Alchemy Masters' Guild would gain immense glory from it as well.

They could not miss this opportunity.

Soon, the procedures for the Third-Rank Alchemy Master exam were ready.

The onlookers were also driven out of the Alchemy Masters' Guild.

The emergence of a Third-Rank Alchemy Master, especially one so young, would draw the attention and flattery of countless experts and factions.

Xiao Yan approved of the Guild's decision, since it would spare him a great deal of trouble.

Because of their teachers' status, Lin Fei and Xue Mei were allowed to remain and wait at the entrance, so they could learn the examination result immediately.

Time passed bit by bit.

Outside, Lin Fei and Xue Mei felt as if time were moving painfully slowly.

The rather restless Lin Fei paced around the hall, glancing at the examination hall doors from time to time.

Although Xue Mei sat quietly in a chair, her long crossed legs shifted positions every so often, proving that she was not calm inside either.

Inside the examination hall, Frank, Otto, and the two staff members watched Xiao Yan's exquisite alchemy techniques, superb temperature control, and artistic soul control. To them, time seemed to fly by.

In the blink of an eye, a transparent and solid Third-Rank pill, bearing two pill patterns and emitting a strange medicinal fragrance, had been refined.

Frank and Otto exchanged glances, their faces full of shock.

Xiao Yan seemed to refine Third-Rank pills without any effort at all. Could it be that he could even refine Fourth-Rank pills?

The absurd thought had barely appeared in their minds before they immediately threw it out.

They could only attribute everything to Xiao Yan having refined this Windwalking Pill frequently before. Practice made perfect, that was all.

That night, Xiao Yan looked at the three-patterned Alchemy Master badge and purple Alchemy Master robe issued to him by the Alchemy Masters' Guild in his inn room.

The Alchemy Master badge had nothing special about it, so Xiao Yan casually placed it into his Storage Ring.

The Alchemy Master robe, however, pleasantly surprised Xiao Yan. Ordinary blades and weapons could not pierce it, and neither water nor fire could damage it.

If the materials had not been scarce and its manufacture difficult, the Jia Ma Empire would have wanted to issue this robe throughout its army.

The material of the purple robe was also elastic, making it fit Xiao Yan perfectly. It emphasized his broad shoulders and straight back, instantly making his bearing seem entirely different.

After being teased by the purple-robed and silver-robed girls that afternoon, Xiao Yan's heart had begun to itch. With a flash, he entered the Portable Space to find Little Fairy.