Chapter 43: Alchemist Master?

But since Nie Li made this request, she couldn't refuse, because it was an Alchemist Association regulation—whether it was the Junior Apprentice or Junior Alchemist Master assessment, they were completely open to the public! Anyone could participate, with no age restriction; you just had to pay two hundred Demon Spirit Coins.

Some advanced apprentices would even come to take the test every month, because once they passed all three rounds and became Junior Alchemist Masters, their status and treatment would undergo an earth-shaking change.

However, the Junior Alchemist Master assessment wasn't that easy to pass. Generally, after a round of testing, out of a hundred people, only a few would remain. The second and third rounds were said to be even harder!

"To take the Junior Alchemist Master assessment, you need to pay two hundred Demon Spirit Coins, and it must be paid all at once before entering the examination hall!" Miss Xiaolan looked at Nie Li and said.

"Only two hundred Demon Spirit Coins? Take me there!" Nie Li said to Miss Xiaolan, turning back to glance at Xiao Ning'er and the others.

"You all wait here first. I'll come find you once I pass!" Nie Li seemed relaxed and at ease.

"Okay, we'll have a dinner gathering tonight after you pass!" Lu Piao chuckled, clearly very confident.

"Go for it, Nie Li!" Xiao Ning'er said gently, her hands clasped in front of her chest.

Hearing the conversation between Nie Li and Lu Piao, Miss Xiaolan couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly. This was the assessment for an Alchemist Master, not an apprentice! Did Nie Li and his friends take this so lightly? Did they think becoming a Junior Alchemist Master was that easy? Nie Li was likely wasting his two hundred Demon Spirit Coins. But it was his money, not hers; she just needed to do her duty.

"Follow me!" Miss Xiaolan pursed her lips but said nothing more.

In the Junior Alchemist Master examination hall, a long corridor stretched far into the distance, flanked by small rooms. Each participant would enter one of these rooms to complete a complex knowledge assessment on alchemy. Only after several Junior Alchemist Masters reviewed the papers and passed them could they proceed to the next round.

This time, six people had come to take the test. Among them were three young men in their thirties, and two others whose hair was already graying.

When they saw Miss Xiaolan leading Nie Li in, they were all a bit dumbfounded.

One of the young men's gaze landed on Nie Li. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he asked, "What are you here for?"

Nie Li looked up at the young man and replied flatly, "I'm here for the same reason as you, of course—to take the assessment."

The young man glanced at Nie Li's attire. Nie Li's clothes clearly indicated he wasn't a scion of some noble clan. He laughed contemptuously. "Haha, a brat barely out of diapers actually comes to take the Alchemist Master assessment? Kid, you're in the wrong place. The Junior Apprentice test is more your speed!" A thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy coming to take the Junior Alchemist Master assessment was practically an insult to them!

"And who are you?" Nie Li glanced casually at the young man.

"I'm Chu Ning, of the Chu Clan, an Alchemist Clan!" Chu Ning declared arrogantly.

"An Alchemist Clan? Does the Chu Clan even deserve to be called an Alchemist Clan?" Nie Li sneered with disdain, recalling Chu Yuan, whom he'd crossed paths with in the Ancient Lan City ruins—that guy also seemed to be from the Chu Clan.

"In our Chu Clan's history, we've produced three Advanced Alchemist Masters, six Intermediate Alchemist Masters, and over twenty Junior Alchemist Masters! How are we not an Alchemist Clan?" Chu Ning retorted haughtily.

"What's the use of constantly prattling about past glories? What about now? The Chu Clan currently has only one Junior Alchemist Master left. Do you still think you deserve the title of an Alchemist Clan?" Nie Li countered with a smile.

Chu Ning hadn't expected a mere child like Nie Li to know so much about the Chu Clan and to be so sharp-tongued.

"Hmph, so what? I, Chu Ning, will definitely become an Alchemist Master. Run along, you little brat. This is the Alchemist Master examination hall, not a playground for children!" Chu Ning snorted. Even though he'd already failed twice, he was still quite confident about his third attempt.

Hearing Chu Ning's words, a few low chuckles came from the others nearby. They had all spent at least ten or even decades immersed in the art of alchemy and were only just starting to take the Junior Alchemist Master assessment. If they were outperformed by a child like Nie Li, where would they put their faces?

Nie Li shrugged and said calmly, "We'll just have to see when the time comes."

Nie Li pushed open a door and walked inside.

Chu Ning sneered. He simply couldn't believe that a little brat could have cultivated the art of alchemy to any significant degree. He stepped through one of the doors.