The sixth-grade alchemist assessment?

Xiao Yu took another pill formula and a set of medicinal ingredients from beneath the platform and began refining.

This time, the old man did not recline on the raised platform. Instead, he watched from a short distance in front of Xiao Yu, far enough away not to interfere with the refinement.

When he saw yellow flames leap from Xiao Yu's hand, his expression changed dramatically. "A fourth-grade alchemist?!"

Xiao Yu ignored the old man's startled cry and continued refining.

He fed the flames into the medicine cauldron, tossed the ingredients inside, and began extracting their essences.

This time, he was refining a second-grade Pulse-Protecting Pill, a common pill of that grade that protected the meridians and was generally used when attempting a breakthrough.

The old man also knew he had violated a cardinal taboo of alchemy. An alchemist must never be disturbed while refining, or if the pill exploded and was destroyed, it would forge a bitter feud.

But he could not afford to worry about that now. Xiao Yu's ability to give his flames tangible form alone proved that he possessed the strength of a Dou Ling or higher, and most alchemists with Dou Ling strength were fourth-grade.

In any case, he could not be below third-grade, because the old man himself could not give his flames tangible form.

He had thought this would be an ordinary assessment, but the candidate was now an alchemist equal to him, if not superior. He was no longer qualified to oversee the rest of the assessment.

So he walked toward the door as quietly as possible and slipped out of the assessment hall without a sound.

Xiao Yu naturally noticed his movements but paid them no mind. Presumably, he had gone to fetch a higher-grade alchemist.

He had known this would happen when he used his Dou Qi flames, so he was not surprised.

Generally, alchemists below Dou Ling could not give their flames tangible form, because they could not yet release Dou Qi outside their bodies.

Where, then, did their refining flames come from? That was where medicine cauldrons came in. Every medicine cauldron had a special mechanism at its flame inlet. As long as fire attribute Dou Qi was supplied to it, the inlet would produce the flames needed for refining pills.

It was like unleashing a Dou Technique: all they needed to do was supply Dou Qi, without having to release it outside their bodies.

That was also why most low-grade alchemists needed medicine cauldrons to refine pills.

But that did not mean alchemists of fourth-grade and above no longer needed medicine cauldrons. From fourth-grade up to, but not including, seventh-grade, they still needed a cauldron's help, because their soul power was not yet sufficient to control flames and refine pills outside one.

Alchemists of seventh-grade and above, however, could refine pills in their palms. Upon reaching seventh-grade, their soul power approached the spirit realm. Their souls were sufficiently powerful, and their spiritual perception, control, and mastery of flame intensity had reached a terrifying level.

Even that did not mean they no longer needed medicine cauldrons. A cauldron's benefits went far beyond simply producing flames. It also made flames easier to control, reduced the expenditure of soul power, and increased the success rate of pill refinement.

A good medicine cauldron was just as enticing to alchemists. They flocked like ducks to those that could improve their success rate.

Otherwise, there would have been no such thing as the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking.

Nor were fourth-grade alchemists the only ones capable of giving flames tangible form. Those who possessed special flames, such as beast flames or heavenly flames, could also manifest them outside their bodies.

The most typical examples were Xiao Yan, Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and others. With either heavenly flames or beast flames, they could all give their flames tangible form.

Calling it giving flames tangible form was not entirely accurate, either. Both heavenly flames and beast flames worked like Dou Techniques: they could be activated by expending Dou Qi. They were unlike Xiao Yu's flames, which came directly from fire attribute Dou Qi leaving his body and turning into fire.

Ten minutes later, Xiao Yu had finished refining the Pulse-Protecting Pill.

Just then, the assessment hall's door opened, and the old man from earlier returned with another old man whose hair was snowy white.

This old man wore an exquisitely crafted alchemist's robe. A faint smile rested on his wrinkled face, and his slightly narrowed, cloudy eyes were calm and gentle. At first glance, apart from the robe that signified his status and the four silver ripples gleaming with a strange light on his chest, he looked like an ordinary elderly man, without any particularly imposing aura.

"Sir, the Pulse-Protecting Pill is finished, but I would still like to continue with the third-grade alchemist assessment."

Xiao Yu smiled as he spoke.

The old man was astonished to hear this. He had not expected Xiao Yu to finish the Pulse-Protecting Pill so quickly.

However, he did not respond to that and instead introduced the white-haired old man beside him.

"This is Lord Chemir, vice president of the Alchemist Guild. Your next assessment will be overseen by the vice president himself."

After the introduction, Chemir smiled warmly at Xiao Yu. "My friend, may I examine the pill you refined?"

Xiao Yu handed it straight over. "Please, sir."

Taking the pill, Chemir carefully examined it with his perception.

Then he smiled and said, "My friend, this pill is of exceptionally high quality. An ordinary second-rank alchemist would struggle to refine one to this standard."

"After completing the third-grade alchemist assessment, do you intend to proceed with the fourth-grade assessment as well?"

Xiao Yu smiled and nodded. After all, he had come here for more than a mere third-grade alchemist qualification.

Seeing him nod, Chemir stroked his beard and smiled. "Since you wish to take the fourth-grade alchemist assessment, I shall exercise my authority and waive the third-grade assessment. You may proceed directly to fourth-grade."

At that, Xiao Yu asked, "Grade assessments can be skipped?"

"Hahaha, your abilities clearly exceed the level of a third-grade alchemist, my friend. In that case, why waste time? Rules are made by people. Under special circumstances, exceptions can be made."

Chemir laughed. As vice president, he did have the authority to waive unnecessary alchemist grading assessments.

Hearing this, Xiao Yu immediately said, "In that case, can I skip the fourth- and fifth-grade assessments and take the sixth-grade assessment directly?"

He had already found the prospect of taking the assessments one grade at a time far too troublesome. But he had no connections in the Alchemist Guild, nor any grounds to ask anyone to waive them for him.

Now things were different. Since the vice president was here and had said unnecessary assessments could be skipped, he would naturally go straight to the sixth-grade alchemist assessment.

If Xiao Yu took the assessments grade by grade, that really would be showing off. Would everyone present not suck all the cold air out of the hall with their gasps?

He had no desire to bear the blame as the chief culprit behind the warming of the entire continent.

Little did he know that putting it this way made him seem even more of a show-off.

"Of course. Next, I shall arrange your fourth-?!"

Chemir had still been speaking with a smile, but once the words registered, he was dumbfounded.

What did he just say? Skip fourth- and fifth-grade? Take the sixth-grade alchemist assessment?!

The third-grade alchemist beside him had already been left reeling by Xiao Yu's words, his brain grinding to a halt.

Coming back to his senses, Chemir felt as though none of this was real. He asked cautiously, "My friend, are you saying you wish to take the sixth-grade alchemist assessment?"

"Of course. Going through the grades one by one is too much trouble. I want to obtain my sixth-grade rating as soon as possible."

Xiao Yu answered with complete composure.

"Hiss!"

Seeing that Xiao Yu did not appear to be joking, Chemir sucked in a sharp breath. Then his expression turned solemn. "Sir, are you joking? You must understand that a sixth-grade alchemist assessment is not something that can be arranged lightly. If you request one without possessing the requisite ability, it may lead to certain troublesome consequences."

The prospect was so shocking that even Chemir's way of addressing Xiao Yu had changed.

Xiao Yu naturally knew what those troublesome consequences meant.

Just imagine someone entering an upscale restaurant, swearing that he was a billionaire, and demanding its finest private room and dishes, only to be unable to pay in the end. What would happen?

Besides, the Dou Qi Continent was not Earth. There were no strict laws to protect people. Deceiving a powerful individual or a powerful organization could cost someone his life.

But was Xiao Yu afraid? Not in the slightest. Fear came from lacking strength. Did Xiao Yu lack that ability? What a joke. Of course he had it, beyond any doubt.

So Xiao Yu still replied with a calm smile, "Naturally, I understand the consequences. Please go ahead and make the arrangements, Vice President. Whatever happens, I will bear full responsibility."

Seeing that Xiao Yu remained so composed, Chemir began to waver. He could not tell whether Xiao Yu truly possessed that ability or was merely bluffing.

A sixth-grade assessment was a matter of great importance, not something that could be held on demand. After all, Gu He was the Jia Ma Empire's only sixth-grade alchemist. Even the president of the Alchemist Guild was merely a peak fifth-grade alchemist.

"Very well! I shall notify the president at once and arrange a sixth-grade assessment for you. I hope you truly possess that ability!"

Chemir's expression shifted uncertainly before he finally agreed.

Since he could not determine whether Xiao Yu could truly refine a Sixth-Grade Pill, he would summon the president and let him decide. If anything went wrong, he would not be implicated.

If the sky fell, someone taller would hold it up.

With that thought, Chemir turned and left the hall to find the president.

Another short and feeble chapter.