The Ways of the World

After sending a message to the middle-aged cultivator, Xu Yan sat cross-legged on the ground and waited quietly. At the same time, he considered how to deal with the middle-aged cultivator and the two stewards. After all, pills that had been drained by the Green Pearl were rather different from ordinary pills.

"According to that cultivator, two stewards will come to confirm the assessment results. As long as both of them approve, I'll have passed. Once they arrive, I'll play it by ear."

Xu Yan muttered to himself, then closed his eyes and slowly circulated his cultivation technique to restore his magic power.

About an incense stick's worth of time later, he sensed a faint glow coming from the Jade Slip. A sweep of his divine sense revealed a message from the portly cultivator, Yun Feng.

"I've invited the two senior steward brothers over. Please open the formation and let the three of us in, Brother Lin."

Upon receiving the message, Xu Yan slowly stood and used the Jade Slip to open a gap in the formation outside.

A few breaths later, Yun Feng led two cultivators, one tall and one short, into the pill-refining chamber.

The two cultivators wore the same blue-green Daoist robes as Yun Feng, but the word "Steward" was embroidered in gold thread on their chests. Both appeared to be around fifty and were at the ninth level of Qi Refining. Their standing seemed slightly higher than that of the middle-aged cultivator, Yun Feng.

Each also held a crimson Jade Slip about the size of a palm. Streaks of light radiated from them, and a golden pill furnace was engraved on each surface.

Once the three entered, Xu Yan soon learned the two men's identities through the middle-aged cultivator's introductions. The taller cultivator was named Ma Pengfei, and the shorter one was Sun Yan. Both were stewards of the Alchemy Hall's first floor.

After hearing Yun Feng's introductions, Xu Yan forced a smile onto his stern face and said, "I am Lin Yan, a rogue cultivator. Greetings, Brother Ma, Brother Sun."

Xu Yan's respectful greeting pleased the two stewards greatly. In the cultivation world, the status of a First-Tier Low-Grade Alchemist was no lower than that of a cultivator at Qi Refining Perfection.

Ma Pengfei chuckled. "There's no need to be so formal, Fellow Daoist Lin. Since you've already joined our Rogue Cultivator Alliance, we're all brothers here. No need for such courtesy."

It had to be said that the man had a few tricks up his sleeve to have become a steward of the Alchemy Hall. He certainly knew how to make the right pleasantries sound pleasing.

Beside him, the shorter Sun Yan also smiled and echoed his words.

Once their greetings were over, the middle-aged cultivator's expression turned solemn. He cupped his fists toward the two cultivators and said, "Rogue cultivator Lin Yan's assessment time is up. Senior steward brothers, please determine whether he has passed."

Ma Pengfei and Sun Yan also grew serious at his words. They exchanged a glance, then slowly approached the bluestone table.

Seeing their movements, Xu Yan's heart tightened slightly. Whether he succeeded now depended on their decision.

If he failed this assessment, he would have to wait five years before taking the Rogue Cultivator Alliance's assessment again. Without the alliance's certification as an alchemist, he would have trouble earning spirit stones in Ascendant City, greatly delaying his cultivation.

Just as these thoughts arose, the steward named Sun Yan picked up the white jade porcelain bottle. He gently opened it and took a light sniff. "Not bad. There's a pill fragrance, mixed with White Perilla and a trace of fiery heat. These Qi Gathering Pills should indeed be freshly refined."

As he spoke, he looked into the white jade porcelain bottle. The moment he saw the pills inside, the words he had been about to say caught in his throat. He stared fixedly at the bottle, a strange expression crossing his face.

His behavior immediately drew Ma Pengfei's attention. Ma Pengfei gave a light cough. "Brother Sun, what's wrong? Is there a problem with the pills?"

Sun Yan did not answer at once. Several breaths later, he shifted his gaze away from the bottle and finally squeezed out a sentence. "Take a look yourself, Brother Ma."

His words stirred Ma Pengfei's curiosity. He slowly took the jade bottle Sun Yan handed him and peered inside, an incredulous expression spreading across his face. Then he took out a pill and held it between two fingers before his eyes, examining it closely.

Their strange behavior had naturally long since caught Yun Feng's attention. Only when Ma Pengfei took a pill out of the jade bottle did he understand the reason, and surprise appeared on his face as well.

The reason was simple: pills drained by the Green Pearl differed far too much in size from normal pills, and they contained only half the spiritual energy. Although all three men dealt with pills regularly, they had never seen anything so strange.

"By rights, Qi Gathering Pills this size shouldn't be able to form at all. But I just examined this pill with my divine sense, and the spiritual energy within is no different from that of an ordinary Qi Gathering Pill. There's simply less of it because the pill is smaller." Ma Pengfei frowned slightly as he studied the pill before him.

"Brother Ma is right. At first, I also thought these were defective pills, but a sweep of my divine sense showed they were no different from ordinary pills. They're simply a little too small." Sun Yan confirmed Ma Pengfei's judgment.

Seeing their fairly objective assessment, Xu Yan relaxed a little. If they had declared the pills defective from the outset, it would have meant he had failed this assessment.

Their words instead kindled considerable hope in his heart.

Then Sun Yan changed tack and looked at Ma Pengfei. "In your opinion, Brother Ma, do these pills qualify?"

"Well..."

At this question, Ma Pengfei's expression shifted slightly. He pondered for several breaths but still could not make up his mind. Feeling that the circumstances were rather unusual, he tossed the difficult question back to Sun Yan. "What do you think, Brother Sun?"

When Sun Yan remained silent, Ma Pengfei continued, "Since neither of us can decide, why don't we invite Elder Yu to judge?"

Sun Yan did not immediately answer Ma Pengfei's suggestion. Elder Yu was a second-tier alchemist at Foundation Establishment Perfection, and his temper was exceedingly peculiar.

If they troubled him over such a trivial matter, they might not only find his door slammed in their faces but also earn his resentment.

Seeing the atmosphere grow awkward, the middle-aged cultivator stepped forward to smooth things over. "Elder Yu is wholly devoted to cultivation. He has repeatedly declined even important alliance matters. I'm afraid troubling him over something so minor would be inappropriate."

At these words, Xu Yan's eyes brightened. He cupped his fists toward the three men and said, "My divine sense was injured in childhood. As a result, the pills I refine are sometimes smaller than ordinary ones. There are six pills in the jade bottle now, and their combined spiritual energy and effects are no different from those of an ordinary batch."

Seeing the two men look thoughtful, Xu Yan paused, then continued, "Though my skills are humble, I was fortunate enough to produce three successful batches. I still have three Qi Gathering Pills here. Please try their effects, brothers."

With that, Xu Yan took out the three pills he had previously placed in his Storage Bag and handed one to each man.

The three accepted the pills, and a hint of a smile appeared on their faces. They had already examined these pills with their divine sense. They were no different from ordinary Qi Gathering Pills, merely containing less spiritual energy, so there was no need to swallow them to test their effects. The three exchanged glances, all understanding the rogue cultivator's intentions.

Sun Yan discreetly tucked his pill into his Storage Bag, then coughed lightly. "Impressive, Brother Lin. Three successful batches—with such a success rate, you certainly deserve the title of first-tier, low-grade alchemist. I consider your performance in this assessment outstanding."

As soon as he finished, Ma Pengfei chimed in. "All six pills are genuine and can count as one batch. Perhaps Brother Lin's pill-refining methods differ from those of others. In any case, I believe he has passed this assessment."

"Indeed," the middle-aged cultivator echoed from beside them.

Hearing this, Xu Yan breathed a sigh of relief. He knew those three pills had not been given away in vain.

At last, I've succeeded in taking the first step toward joining the Rogue Cultivator Alliance.

Xu Yan silently murmured to himself.