Once?
Everyone present was left speechless by Xiao Yan's words.
Even the worst Second-Rank Alchemist could refine it twice, surely? What could a single refinement accomplish?
"Old Otto, is this the young fellow you and Frank recommended? His refining skills seem a little... too poor, don't they?"
Several nearby Branch Presidents of the Alchemist Guild could not help teasing Otto. Otto finally understood why Xiao Yan had come out so quickly.
"Wait, did you mishear the instructions and think you'd pass just by completing the refinement?"
Even Otto was struggling to keep his composure. If Xiao Yan failed this time, he would thoroughly lose face.
Faced with Otto's questioning, Xiao Yan shrugged helplessly. "I couldn't help it. This thing is just too fragile. Refining it once was my limit. Any more and it would have turned to ash."
Huh?
Xiao Yan's words left the assembled Alchemists speechless once again. The ironwood spirit leaf was famously resistant to burning.
Even a peak Fourth-Rank Alchemist would not dare claim they could burn it to ash after refining it ten times. This brat certainly had a glib tongue-he did not even know how to make his lies sound plausible.
"Old Otto, it looks like the young fellow you chose doesn't quite live up to his reputation. One refinement was his limit? What, was he using heavenly flames?"
Faced with the doubts and mockery of the surrounding Branch Presidents, Otto could only redden. "All right, all right. Let's see how pure it is. If he manages four points, that'll be enough."
Deep down, he had already stopped hoping Xiao Yan would earn a high score.
Xiao Yan placed his ironwood spirit leaf on the device. Before setting it down, he lightly tapped its outer shell. The charcoal-black coating promptly fell away, revealing a faint,