Alchemy Master

Chapter 485, Passing the Assessment

Translator: Silavin

However, life is full of unexpected events.

Just as Duan Zihai was calculating in his mind how to dispose of Qin Yichen afterwards, the sounds from beside him suddenly stopped, and at the same time, the latter’s voice calmly resonated.

“Done.”

[Done?] Duan Zihai’s body trembled, and he stiffly turned his head, just in time to see Qin Yichen placing a fragrant Pill into a jade bottle.

Upon seeing that Pill, Duan Zihai’s face instantly turned pale, his gaze scattered as he stared at the jade bottle in Qin Yichen’s hand. His legs weakened, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

That Pill was extremely familiar to him—it was the Purple Cloud Pill he had been preparing to refine!

That was a genuine Fifth Grade Pill!

How much time had passed?!

He had not even finished refining the first batch of medicine, yet Qin Yichen had already successfully completed refining a whole Pill?

At this moment, an absurdly terrifying thought arose in Duan Zihai’s mind. [This guy isn’t Human!]

[How old is he!? To refine a Pill so quickly, even the two Elders in my Duan Family responsible for refining Purple Cloud Pills could not achieve it in such a short amount of time!]

*Hiss…* Finally, a plume of smoke from burnt medicinal herbs rose from the Pill Furnace in front of Duan Zihai, pulling him back from his dazed state.

“Quick, let me see!” Tian Liang excitedly walked over and extended his hand.

“*Ahem…* Elder Tian, I must examine the Pill first…” The middle-aged invigilator also came to his senses, clearing his throat awkwardly.

“Get out of the way!” Elder Tian frowned and scolded.

At this moment, he could not care less about rules and protocols! As an Alchemy Master, he naturally recognised how uniquely profound Qin Yichen’s Alchemy Technique had been—even his own Soul had been entranced by it. One could imagine that Qin Yichen’s Alchemy Technique was far superior to his own.

And for a Pill refined in such a short time, he was curious whether there would be significant flaws due to the brevity.

*Ahem…* Rebuked by Elder Tian, the middle-aged invigilator coughed awkwardly twice to conceal his embarrassment. Not long ago, he had deliberately made things difficult for Qin Yichen to curry favour with Duan Quan, even mocking Elder Tian. But after witnessing Qin Yichen’s terrifying talent, he no longer dared to act improperly.

Seeing Elder Tian’s excited demeanour, Qin Yichen smiled and handed over the jade bottle.

Tian Liang snatched it eagerly, and under the nervous gaze of the middle-aged invigilator, tilted the bottle, causing a fragrant Pill to roll into his palm.

“This fragrance… it’s at least a Level Five. No, it might even be above Level Five!” Looking at the lustrous, aromatic Pill in Tian Liang’s palm, the middle-aged invigilator could not help but swallow, mumbling in a hoarse voice.

“A Level Five Fifth Grade Pill!?” Behind them, although unable to crowd forward to look, upon hearing this mumble, Duan Quan’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch violently.

A Level Five Fifth Grade Pill…

He could refine it with a high success rate. But he was also well aware that he could never successfully refine it in such a short span of time!

“Invigilator, have I passed the test?” The stunned group was finally brought back to reality by Qin Yichen’s gentle call.

“P-passed!” The middle-aged invigilator’s body jolted suddenly, and he hastily answered.

Then, he took out a jade token from his bosom and handed it to Qin Yichen.

“This is the Alchemy Manor’s Divine Jade. Once you infuse your Spiritual Energy into it, you will officially become a member of our Alchemy Manor.”

Taking the Divine Jade, a cool sensation transmitted from his hand, slightly invigorating Qin Yichen’s Soul. Afterwards, he nodded, casually tucked it into his robe, and did not ask any further.

This Divine Jade was the symbol of entry into the Alchemy Manor.

However, this was no ordinary jade; it was an object that the Alchemy Manor had long steeped in a special Medicinal Liquid.

Wearing it for a long time could keep one’s mind clear and Soul refreshed, multiplying one’s Spiritual Energy. Moreover, when refining Pills, it could increase the wearer’s sensitivity, thereby enabling better temperature control and improving the success rate of Pill refinement.

It could be said that countless Alchemy Masters squeezed into the Alchemy Manor partly for this item.

“Let’s go,” Qin Yichen said with a smile to Tian Liang, and then, completely ignoring Duan Quan and his companion, walked directly towards the lower floor.

“That boy…” Watching Qin Yichen’s departing figure, Duan Quan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and within that thin slit, was a terrifying gleam.

The threat Qin Yichen posed to him was too great. At such a young age, with such ability, if he were in Duan Quan’s own camp, it would be a dream come true. Unfortunately, someone recommended by Tian Liang was destined not to be used by him…

“Since I cannot use you, keeping you around will eventually be a calamity for me!” Duan Quan calculated secretly in his heart that with Qin Yichen’s talent, if he did not eliminate him early, should those important figures above discover him, he might find it difficult to act by then.

The middle-aged invigilator who was in charge of the assessment also sensed the violent fluctuations emanating from Duan Quan, but being the smooth operator that he was, he dared not say anything to Duan Quan at this time.

If Duan Quan redirected his anger towards him, it would be counterproductive. More importantly, in his heart now, he found it difficult to choose between currying favour with Qin Yichen or Duan Quan.

“Oh, they’re coming down?” As Tian Liang and Qin Yichen appeared from the second-floor hall and walked down, the gazes of numerous Alchemy Masters on the first floor turned towards them. Upon seeing the two, everyone’s pupils slightly contracted.

“Why does that young man seem completely unharmed? Isn’t Elder Duan upstairs?”

“Indeed, Elder Duan and Elder Tian have never got along, how did they come down intact?”

Upon seeing the two walking down, everyone could not help but speculate. Many knew that Duan Quan had gone up not long before Tian Liang and his companion.

“Could it be that the young man passed?” At this point, someone suddenly speculated, but as soon as his words fell, they were refuted.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Would Elder Duan be so magnanimous!? With him there, how could someone recommended by Elder Tian possibly enter the Alchemy Manor?”

“Shh! Lower your voice! If these words reach Elder Duan’s ears, do you still want to remain in the Alchemy Manor?”

…

Qin Yichen naturally heard those clamorous voices.

[Seems like upon entering the Alchemy Manor, I’ve already been marked…] Qin Yichen sighed inwardly. He also knew that although he had passed and entered the Alchemy Manor, Duan Quan would not let him off easily.

However, since he had chosen to let Elder Tian recommend him to the Alchemy Manor, he was mentally prepared for the ostracism he would face.