The Alchemist Examination

The hall was spacious, with a carpet bearing a Medicine Cauldron design spread across the floor in the center. Eight counters surrounded it, each with a maid standing behind it.

So these were the reception counters?

Xiao Yu walked slowly toward them.

Seeing someone approach, the receptionist at one counter hurried over and asked respectfully, "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

"I'd like to take the Alchemist examination. How do I go about it?"

Xiao Yu explained why he had come, making the receptionist even more respectful. "Oh, you're an esteemed Alchemist."

"If you wish to take the Alchemist examination, I can show you the way."

As she spoke, she made an inviting gesture, then led Xiao Yu toward the area the guild had set aside for Alchemist examinations.

"Sir, Alchemist examinations are generally held in the Examination Hall, where a Third-Rank Alchemist is stationed every day. To take the examination, you need to explain your circumstances to the Alchemist on duty, who will then arrange it for you."

Every maid in the Alchemist Guild had been carefully selected. Whether in looks or figure, they were all first-rate.

The receptionist explained things to Xiao Yu as she led the way, her slender waist swaying to show off her graceful figure. Her full, rounded hips were an equally lovely sight.

Yet Xiao Yu, following behind her, paid no attention to the beautiful scenery ahead. Instead, he was considering how to proceed without looking like a show-off. After all, he had come to take the Fifth-Rank or even Sixth-Rank Alchemist examination.

Once word spread, it would inevitably cause a sensation. Gu He was the Jia Ma Empire's only Sixth-Rank Alchemist, and even the Alchemist Guild's president was merely a Fifth-Rank Alchemist. With an unfamiliar Alchemist suddenly appearing, it would be difficult not to attract attention.

When that happened, many factions would inevitably try to recruit him, and both the Imperial Family and the Misty Cloud Sect would take notice of him.

With so much trouble waiting ahead, how could he be in the mood to admire a beauty? Besides, he had already met Yun Yun and Medusa, and even enjoyed a good relationship with a woman as utterly alluring as Ya Fei. Why would this receptionist interest him?

After passing through several corridors and making a few turns, the two arrived before a large door.

"Sir, this is the Examination Hall. However, guild rules prohibit us from entering, so you'll have to go in alone."

The maid maintained her professional smile and the respect due to an Alchemist.

"All right, thank you. I can go in on my own."

Xiao Yu nodded, then pushed the door open and stepped inside.

This esteemed Alchemist is so friendly. I've never met anyone like him before. Hehe.

Watching Xiao Yu disappear inside, the maid couldn't help giggling at the thought.

The Examination Hall was very spacious, with individual chambers around its perimeter and numerous pill-refining stations in the center.

At the front of the hall stood a raised platform, where an old man sat.

The old man wore the distinctive attire of an Alchemist, with a Third-Rank Alchemist's badge pinned to his chest, and was dozing off.

Watching over the Alchemist Examination Hall really was boring. Alchemists were exceedingly rare, after all, and not just anyone could take the examination. On an ordinary day, it was difficult to encounter an Alchemist who had come to be tested.

The place generally only came alive when the disciples of the guild's many Alchemists took their examinations.

Having a Third-Rank Alchemist stationed here every day was nothing more than routine procedure.

Moreover, most Third-Rank Alchemists assigned to this duty were old, with little hope of advancing further. Fourth- and Fifth-Rank Alchemists had no time to spare for it.

It was a cushy post, paid and undemanding. For Alchemists with no hope of promotion, it was quite a good job.

Most Third-Rank Alchemists possessed the strength of a Da Dou Shi, so they could sense when someone entered. Besides, Xiao Yu had made no attempt to conceal his aura.

Sensing someone enter, the old man woke and looked down with interest. But when he saw an unfamiliar middle-aged man, he immediately reclined again.

The visitor was middle-aged, and the old man didn't recognize him, which meant he wasn't anyone important. Nor was he young, so he wasn't some genius Alchemist.

Taken together, that meant he could only be an older, low-ranking Alchemist, perhaps first- or second-rank. There was nothing worth paying attention to.

"Do you know the rules?"

Reclining in his chair, the old man asked lazily.

Xiao Yu didn't mind his indifference. "I know a little. Please help arrange the examination for me, sir."

"What rank of Alchemist are you? I'll need to know to prepare your next examination."

Xiao Yu shook his head. "I've never taken an examination, so I don't have a rank yet."

"Then you're taking the first-rank examination. All right, choose a pill-refining station yourself. There's a hidden compartment beneath each station containing first- and second-rank Pill Formulas, along with a Storage Ring holding the corresponding medicinal ingredients, their properties fully preserved."

"Just choose a first-rank pill and refine it. Once you've finished, place it in the recess on the station. If it lights up green, you've passed."

"After the examination, go collect your badge and attire yourself."

Having explained the examination rules as required, the old man closed his eyes to rest again and said nothing more.

Xiao Yu smiled, unconcerned by the old man's attitude, and walked straight to a pill-refining station, where he found the Pill Formulas and ingredients in the hidden compartment.

"A first-rank Power Accumulation Pill. That'll do."

Xiao Yu looked over the Pill Formula. It wasn't particularly difficult even among first-rank pills, so he began refining it.

With a first-rank Pill Formula like this, he didn't even need to adapt it for Lightning-Fire Pill Refining beforehand. He only had to run through it in his mind to refine it directly using the Lightning-Fire Pill Refining Method.

It was simply too easy. Even if something unexpected occurred midway through the process, he could keep it under control, so there was no issue at all.

He tossed all the ingredients into the two cauldrons on the station. Yellow Dou Qi flames flared in his hands and flowed into the cauldrons through their fire inlets.

Under Xiao Yu's practiced flame control, all the ingredients were refined in no time.

The old man on the platform hadn't noticed that Xiao Yu could actually manifest flames. Having decided that Xiao Yu was, at most, a Second-Rank Alchemist, he naturally paid little attention. Instead, he remained half asleep, even rolling over comfortably.

When he reached the Pill Fusion stage, Xiao Yu used the Myriad Transformation Flame to conceal the aura and activity within the Medicine Cauldrons, and silver lightning appeared.

Tempered by the lightning, the medicinal liquid grew increasingly pure. At the appropriate moment, however, Xiao Yu stopped tempering it and moved on to Pill Fusion.

He didn't want to turn a first-rank pill into a second-rank one. Properly refining a first-rank pill would suffice.

Refining a first-rank pill took Xiao Yu very little time. In just a few minutes, a Power Accumulation Pill emerged from the cauldron.

He placed the pill in the recess, and green light blazed out, attracting the old man's attention.

"Hmm?"

The old man rose and looked at the beam of green light shining from the pill-refining station below.

Then he leaped down from the platform, approached Xiao Yu's station, and picked up the pill to examine it closely. He couldn't help exclaiming in admiration:

"This Power Accumulation Pill is actually so pure!"

Looking at Xiao Yu, the old man offered a rare smile. "It seems your control over tempering medicinal ingredients is exceptionally practiced."

"All right, you've successfully refined a first-rank pill and are now officially an Alchemist. Go collect your Alchemist Badge and attire afterward."

Xiao Yu shook his head. "Sir, I can't leave just yet. I'd like to take the Second-Rank Alchemist examination next."

The old man looked Xiao Yu over and nodded. "Hmm, judging by this Power Accumulation Pill, you indeed have the ability to refine second-rank pills. You may take the Second-Rank Alchemist examination."

"Now you only need to refine a second-rank pill successfully to advance."

A short, feeble chapter.