Second-Grade Pill

As the yellow-clad man on the arena struck his opponent head-on with a beast-form combat technique brimming with surging Dou Qi, the struggle for this year's Inner Academy selection finally came to an end.

Xiao Yan let out a long breath, feeling that the trip had truly been worthwhile. Among the many students, only fifty each year qualified to enter the Inner Academy. Nearly all of them were Seven-Star Dou Masters or above, while the final two contenders for champion and runner-up had even reached the realm of Great Dou Masters!

Such a group of fifty was already no weaker than the Xiao Clan of Wutan City, yet they would still only rank at the very bottom after entering the Inner Academy. This showed just how formidable Canaan Academy's Inner Academy truly was.

If I weren't so reluctant to leave the library, I'd be itching to see what the Inner Academy is like!

Suppressing the anticipation in his heart, Xiao Yan stopped listening to the cheers around him and the elders' concluding speeches. He pushed through the crowd and left, as he still needed to prepare for the Alchemy Department's test that afternoon.

This test concerned refining a Second-Grade Pill. The specific pill they would be required to make was still unknown, so Xiao Yan planned to head to the pill chamber and adjust his condition.

Although Xiao Yan had now become a Second-Grade Alchemist, that did not mean he could refine Second-Grade Pills without any risk of failure. On the contrary, if the formula was unfamiliar, refining it would still be quite difficult.

Yet on the way to the Spirit Pill Pavilion, Xiao Yan ran into the person he least wanted to see at Canaan Academy—Han Xian.

This fellow had always harbored a strange hostility toward Xiao Yan, so Xiao Yan naturally had no pleasant expression for him. He only intended to ignore him as he had before.

"Junior Brother Xiao Yan, wait—"

To his surprise, Han Xian took the initiative to greet him this time. Xiao Yan could not bring himself to simply ignore him, so he had no choice but to stop.

"Senior Brother Han Xian, why did you call me over?"

Han Xian said with a smile, "Nothing important. I merely heard that Junior Brother became a Second-Grade Alchemist some time ago, and I haven't had the chance to congratulate you yet."

As he spoke, he puffed out his chest and casually displayed the badge on it. Compared to a year ago, it now bore an additional ripple, signifying that Han Xian had become a Third-Grade Alchemist.

Xiao Yan watched Han Xian's actions speechlessly. He neither understood nor cared what this peacock-like display was meant to prove. He gave a bland response, then took his leave, having no desire to say more to this fox pretending to pay a New Year's call.

Seeing that Xiao Yan was unwilling to pay him any attention, a flash of jealousy passed through Han Xian's eyes. His rank as an alchemist might be higher than Xiao Yan's, but how long had Xiao Yan even been studying alchemy? Only a year!

It was foreseeable that Xiao Yan would definitely surpass Han Xian in the future. What Han Xian found even more intolerable was that if Xiao Yan entered the Inner Academy alongside him next year, it would disrupt his plans there!

If Xiao Yan were willing to lower his head, Han Xian would not be unable to coexist with him peacefully. Yet Xiao Yan showed him no courtesy at all, let alone the slightest respect!

Watching Xiao Yan's departing back, Han Xian muttered in a voice only he could hear, "Since that's the case, don't blame me..."

The afternoon alchemy test arrived as scheduled. However, when Xiao Yan reached the prepared testing grounds, he was surprised to find a large crowd gathered there. There were not only Alchemy Department students and trainees, but also quite a few ordinary students.

Only some of the Alchemy Department members among them stared intensely at Xiao Yan.

Although Xiao Yan rarely interacted with them, that did not stop them from knowing about this talented new student of the Alchemy Department. Alchemists might be proud, but among peers, the strong were still respected.

At this moment, an elder from the Alchemy Department came over and directed those participating in the test into the pill arena to choose their seats. Everyone else could only watch from around the edges.

Alchemists truly were the rarest and most precious profession. Aside from Xiao Yan, only seven others were taking the test. There were far more people there to observe.

Yet after entering the pill chamber, Xiao Yan sensed that something was off. The arrangement of the refining positions was rather strange, and after everyone else chose their places, Xiao Yan had been left with the position right in the center.

This strange feeling became even stronger when Xiao Yan saw Han Xian sitting quietly in a corner. In an occasion like this, that fellow would normally be directing everyone and putting on the full airs of the Alchemy Department's senior disciple, yet now he had not said a word.

Thinking of Han Xian's inexplicable greeting earlier that day, Xiao Yan was certain that something was wrong here!

However, Xiao Yan did not rashly speak up. After all, he had no evidence, and even if Han Xian intended to deal with him, with Canaan Academy's elders present, he would not dare make it too obvious.

Xiao Yan calmly sat in the only empty seat. At that moment, the elder began to explain.

"Our Alchemy Department's test is the same as in previous years. Based on each of your abilities, the academy will give you different pill formulas and provide two sets of ingredients. Successfully refining the pill means you pass."

The rules were very simple. The elder then distributed different formulas and ingredients to everyone.

Xiao Yan accepted his share and focused his mind on examining the formula.

Second-Grade Pill: Scarlet Flame Pill

For users of fire-attributed Dou Qi. It could increase the power of one's Dou Qi for the duration of one incense stick.

Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Combat pills like this had always been highly sought after among pills of the same grade, second only to pills that improved one's cultivation. Their difficulty was correspondingly high as well.

As everyone examined their formulas, the crowd outside began chattering. Some complete outsiders who did not understand the field asked in confusion,

"Isn't this an alchemy test? Why are they staring at their formulas? Hurry up and start refining!"

Naturally, someone refuted such ignorant remarks.

"If you don't understand anything, then stop talking! Those are alchemists' pill formulas. Do you think they're prescriptions from a pharmacy? Alchemists have to study them carefully!"

Although there were no official alchemists present, there were still quite a few people familiar with alchemists. Upon hearing this, they could not help but burst into laughter.

Indeed, a pill formula had to be inscribed by an alchemist using soul power, recording every detail of the refining process within it. Likewise, one needed soul power to read the information contained inside, so it took some time.

As everyone immersed themselves in reading their formulas, Xiao Yan secretly grumbled, But no matter how much time it takes, you've all been looking at them for far too long...

Xiao Yan had initially intended to wait leisurely and see what Han Xian was plotting, deliberately refraining from beginning his refinement. Yet he discovered that everyone else was also pretending to examine the formulas in their hands. Even though enough time had passed to read two formulas, not a single person showed any intention of beginning to refine.

This ill intent is way too obvious! Xiao Yan sighed inwardly. Their acting is terrible...

Then come on. Let's see what tricks you can pull!

Having made up his mind, Xiao Yan confidently put away his formula first, took out his medicinal cauldron, and prepared to refine the pill.

As Xiao Yan placed the first medicinal ingredient into his cauldron, the others seemed to have had a switch flipped. They too took out their cauldrons and began refining, and the scene finally became what everyone had imagined an alchemy test would look like!