The Tian Hen Family—the two Junior Alchemist Masters vaguely recalled them. It was a very small family among the noble clans, with little reputation and unremarkable strength. They smiled slightly to themselves. If
The two Junior Alchemist Masters chatted with Nie Li for a while and discovered that he was remarkably well-versed in alchemy, and extremely familiar with the actual practical process as well.
What a prodigy!
The two of them had been immersed in the art of alchemy for decades, only managing to pass the Junior Alchemist Master examination in their forties or fifties. When they thought about Nie Li's age, they couldn't help but blush with shame. It really was true that comparing yourself to others will drive you to despair—Nie Li was only in his teens, yet he already possessed knowledge that was no inferior to theirs!
Truly, ambition knows no age!
It was time to bestow some favors upon Nie Li!
The two Junior Alchemist Masters collected Nie Li's test papers, intending to bring them to the Association President for personal review. They absolutely could not let a humble and polite genius like this slip away!
"Nie Li, please wait here for a moment. The two of us will go see the President and find out if we can specially recruit you into the Alchemist Association!" the two Junior Alchemist Masters said with smiles.
"Then I'll trouble you, my esteemed teachers!" Nie Li became even more humble, giving a slight bow.
Seeing Nie Li's manner, the two Junior Alchemist Masters were so delighted that every pore in their bodies seemed to open up. They hurried off with the test papers in hand.
Meanwhile, in the room next door.
Before coming, he had silently sworn that this time he would definitely pass!
But the content of this examination was even harder than before!
Chu Ning groaned inwardly. He had stuffed plenty of answers into his Space Ring before coming, but with the two Junior Alchemist Masters sitting right beside him watching like hawks, he had no opportunity to cheat at all. An hour had already passed, and his papers still had only a scant handful of answers on them.
Seeing Chu Ning's answers, the two proctoring Junior Alchemist Masters couldn't help but shake their heads. Chu Ning's accuracy rate would at best reach sixty percent, and to become a Junior Alchemist Master, one needed to achieve at least ninety percent accuracy.
Two hours passed, and the tolling of bells sounded from outside.
Chu Ning didn't even need to think about it—he definitely hadn't passed. Feeling dejected and listless, he stood up and shuffled out. With this failure, he would have to wait another year before he could retake the Junior Alchemist Master examination!
In the corridor, the various students who had come to take the Junior Alchemist Master examination filed out one by one. Only a single student in his thirties wore a look of joy on his face; everyone else wore grim expressions. The first round had been far too difficult.
The Alchemist Association Elder Hall.
"President, please look at this test paper!" Hu Yan Ming held out two test papers to
The entire Alchemist Association had only two Advanced Alchemist Masters, and Gu Yan was one of them. He also served as the Association President. With a full head of white hair, he was over sixty years old.
Just a set of test papers, yet two Junior Alchemist Masters were rushing to present them to him. Gu Yan had been in the middle of refining pills and had been interrupted—his mood was not good.
"President, these are test papers from a student's Junior Alchemist Master examination. Please review them!" Hu Yan Ming said. Even though they could see that President Gu Yan looked displeased, they were completely unconcerned, brimming with excitement.
Gu Yan gave a cold humph, picked up the test papers, glanced through them, and said, "This student has studied well—all the questions are answered correctly. Some of the answers are quite incisive and on point. Send him on to the second round of testing." His expression relaxed somewhat. After all, it was quite rare for someone to answer every question correctly in the first round of the Junior Alchemist Master examination.
Hu Yan Ming and
"Pass directly?" Gu Yan raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "That's impossible. To become a Junior Alchemist Master, one must not only know a great deal of alchemical experience but also understand practical operations. If he has only passed the first round with absolutely no practical experience, he cannot become a Junior Alchemist Master!"
"President, what if that person is a thirteen-year-old child? Even without actual alchemy experience, experience can be cultivated! If we let this prodigious young talent slip through our fingers, we will surely regret it!" Mu Yang added from the side.
Hearing Mu Yang's words, even someone as composed as Gu Yan was startled and blurted out, "What did you say? He's a thirteen-year-old child?"
"Yes, President!" Mu Yang and Hu Yan Ming nodded in unison.
"Are you two trying to conspire to trick me? How could a thirteen-year-old child possibly have mastered so many alchemical texts and completed the Junior Alchemist Master examination papers?" Gu Yan's piercing gaze swept over Mu Yang and Hu Yan Ming.
"How would we dare deceive the President?"
"Go bring him here. Also, have Director Yang come to me immediately. This matter is not to be told to anyone—not even the other elders. Understood?" Gu Yan said, looking at Mu Yang and Hu Yan Ming. If there really was such a prodigious young talent, he had to be cultivated into his own inner circle.
"Yes!" Mu Yang and Hu Yan Ming's hearts stirred, and looks of joy spread across their faces.