Chapter 166: Passing the Test
“That guy… actually summoned a purple colored flame? Don’t tell me… it’s a ‘Heavenly Flame’!? How can it be?”
All
the alchemists within the hall stared at the soaring and burning purple
flame in the medicinal cauldron with shock. Since there was a light
curtain separating them, they could not be certain of the exact details
of the tlame. However, the color of the flame was definitely not an
ordinary Dou Qi Flame created from condensed Dou Qi.
“Heavenly Flame?” Frank and Ao Tuo exchanged glances and immediately shook their heads.
“Doesn’t
look like it… moreover, with that kid’s strength, he should not be able
to control the intense Heavenly Flame with such ease!” Ao Tuo stared
intently at the Purple Flame that was rising under the control of Xiao
Yan’s Spiritual Perception as he said in a deep voice.
“There is
indeed some difference. A ‘Heavenly Flame’ isn’t so easy to control…”
Frank wiped the water stains on his beard. The expression on his face
was extremely serious.
“But why is his flame purple in color?”
Frank and Ao Tuo frowned. They felt a little ignorant. Neither had heard
of any flame other than a flame that was refined from a Heavenly Flame
that was entirely purple in color.
“This kid… isn’t simple. No
wonder he dares to take the test for a tier one alchemist at such a
young age. He actually has some background. Looking at the richness of
the Purple Flame, this kid’s strength is at least that of a five star
Dou Zhe. What frightening training talent!” Frank sighed after he
gradually calmed down.
“I was saying that I had a strange feeling
when I met him for the first time. It was really unexpected that he
could actually hide his ability under my nose. This kid, is quite
mysterious…” Ao Tuo pulled on his long beard as he gave Frank a smile,
“I suddenly have a desire to meet his teacher. I want to know just who
could actually teach such an outstanding student. Ugh, compared to him,
Xue Mei and Lin Fei are a grade lower.”
“Yes.” Frank nodded his
head slightly and said with a smile, “To think that after these two
girls fought for so long, they both ended up receiving a surprise blow
from this young man called Xiao Yan. It is also just as well to let them
learn the meaning of the two phrases ‘there is no limit to one’s
ability’ and ‘there is always someone stronger than you’.”
“Circulate
a message to the other cities Alchemist Association and seek their help
in finding out whether there is a high tier Alchemist known as Yao Lao.
Being able to groom such a student, he should not be someone unknown.”
Frank waved his hand and called an alchemist over before his whispered
his order.
The alchemist respectfully nodded his head before he stealthily left the hall.
In
the corner, Ao Tuo simply smiled as he watched what happened. After
which, he once again shifted his gaze toward the interior of the light
curtain. In a soft voice, he said, “Although he may be able to control
this unique Purple Flame, refining pills does not simply involve on the
flame. One’s Spiritual Awareness, control of the flame, the quantity of
the different medicinal ingredients needed etc, are all very important
points. Now, we should just continue watching….”
Frank nodded his
head. As a tier four alchemist, he naturally knew all this already.
Therefore, he did not continue speaking. Instead, he silently looked at
the young man behind the light curtain who was entirely focused on
refining the medicinal pill.
Following their quietness, the hall
once again fell into silence. This time around, however, most of the
gazes were placed on Xiao Yan. Many people wanted to know whether this
young man who could control a flame that appeared similar to a ‘Heavenly
Flame’ would still be able to maintain an outstanding performance in
the other criterias.
Xiao Yan, who was behind the light curtain,
naturally did not have the leisure of observing the commotion in the
hall caused by the Purple Flame. His gaze roughly swept across the stone
table. Then he pick up a few types of medicinal ingredients at a speed
that was neither fast nor slow before throwing them into the medicinal
cauldron in an orderly and continuous manner. Under the suppression of
his Spiritual Awareness, the ferocious Purple Flame was as docile as a
sheep as it gently surrounded the medicinal ingredients that were thrown
into the medicinal cauldron. After which, he began refining the
essences of the different medicinal ingredients needed for the ‘Amassing
Strength Pill’.
Under Xiao Yan’s gentle refining, the initial
shape of the ‘Amassing Strength Pill’ was gradually formed within the
medicinal cauldron.
Every stone table within the light curtain was
separated by a smaller square-shaped light curtain. However, Xiao Yan’s
Purple Flame was far too unique, causing the two beside him, Xue Mei
and Lin Fei, to notice something not long after the Purple Flame was
released. They tilted their heads over and their beautiful eyes widened
when the soaring Purple Flame appeared in their sight. After a faint
muffled sound, the medicinal ingredients they were refining in their
medicinal cauldrons were burnt to ashes by their flame due to their
attention being diverted. Ignoring the medicinal ingredients that had
turned to ashes, the two girls opened their red sleek small mouths and
blankly stared at the the Purple Flame that was cool, hot, and warm
under Xiao Yan’s control. A moment later, they could not help but inhale
a cool breath in his heart.
Although they did not know what the
Purple Flame that Xiao Yan had was, they knew it was definitely harder
to control compared to their dark yellow Dou Qi flame after looking at
the extent of turbulence within the flame.
However, from the
leisurely manner of the young man in front of them, it appeared that he
was very proficient in the control of this Purple Flame. This extent of
control was something that caused even the proud Xue Mei and Lin Fei to
feel inferior to.
The gazes of the two girls shifted away from the
medicinal cauldron. Finally, as though they had a tacit understanding,
they placed their gazes onto the young man whose entire attention was
focused on what was happening within the medicinal cauldron.
At
that moment, the delicate and handsome face of the young man did not
reveal the slightest bit of anxiety. A faint purple color was imprinted
on his face due to the soaring Purple Flame. However, the exceedingly
calm and leisurely demeanor almost caused the two young girls to think
that the person in front of them was not an immature young man who was
younger than twenty. Instead, he appeared as though he was a high-tier
alchemist with a wealth of refining experience.
This kind of calm
and leisurely demeanor was something that Xue Mei and Lin Fei could only
see when their teachers were refining medicine. At this moment,
however, the young man in front of them had once again let them
experience it.
The gazes of the two girls met briefly in midair
and both of them witnessed a bitter smile and defeat. “Uh…” Their gazes
once again circled to Xiao Yan’s body and Xue Mei sighed gently. Her
hand gently combed the silver hair on her forehead before she withdrew
her attention and once again focused on her medicinal cauldron.
“This
guy hid everything so well… I was actually mistaken by his appearance…”
Once again, Lin Fei glanced at Xiao Yan as she muttered. The Xiao Yan
who had been a simple passerby in her heart just a moment ago had risen
to someone of high status who possessed a frightening talent and should
be treated with the utmost respect.
Shaking her head, Lin Fei
bitterly smiled and sighed again as she thought of the swiftness in the
change of their positions. After which, she threw the second set of
medicinal ingredients into the medicinal cauldron and began the
refinement.
Xiao Yan, who had placed all his attention within the
medicinal cauldron, naturally did not realize that the two girls were
watching him a moment ago. His eyes were simply staring intently at the
interior of the medicinal cauldron.
Under Xiao Yan’s
concentration, time flew by quickly. After the medicinal pill in the
medicinal cauldron flipped and rolled for an unknown number of times, it
finally began to become round. Seeing the luster on the surface of the
medicinal pill, Xiao Yan smiled. His palm slowly moved away from the
medicinal cauldon. As his hand left, the purple colored flame in the
medicinal cauldon also gradually disappeared.
Xiao yan’s finger
lightly flicked and the cover of the medicinal cauldron was flipped open
by a gentle wind. Xiao Yan’s hand then beckoned, prompting a pale
yellow colored medicinal pill to shoot out of the medicinal cauldron and
fly toward him.
Swiftly grabbing a jade bottle with his palm,
Xiao Yan quickly waved it in front of him. The pale yellow medicinal
pill was then precisely stored within it.
Xiao Yan raised his head
after gradually putting the bottle down. He realized that the sheet of
light around him had unknowingly been removed and that the surrounding
gazes were all staring intently at him.
“Uhh… is the test time
up?” Turning his head to look around, Xiao Yan found that Xue Mei and
Lin Fei beside him were also staring at him and could not help but speak
in an embarrassed voice.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s embarrassed
expression, Xue Mei stilled slightly. She immediately nodded her head
with a smile. Her cool voice was slightly gentler than it had been
before, “The test was over a few minutes ago. However, teacher saw that
you did not seem to have finished so he waited for a while. Relax, you
will not lose your qualification to take the test because of this.”
Xiao Yan smiled at Xue Mei gratefully before raising his head and watch the smiling Frank and Ao Tuo who were walking over.
Slowly
walking to the front of the stone tables, Frank glanced at Xiao Yan
with a deeper meaning, he then smiled and laughed, “Little kid, you hide
things very well.”
Xiao Yan waved his hand but did not say anything.
Frank
and Ao Tuo first alternated to retrieve the medicinal pills Xue Mei and
Ling Fei refined and carefully observed the medicinal pill’s color,
luster etc. They nodded to each other and smiled, “Not bad. Although
there was some shortcoming in the flame’s strength, these still meet the
standard to pass the test.”
Hearing this, Xue Mei and Lin Fei gently let out a relaxed sigh.
After
checking the two ladies’ medicinal pills, Frank and Ao Tuo did not
immediately check Xiao Yan’s. Instead, they bypassed him and lifted the
medicinal pills of the other six behind Xiao Yan to judge. Among these
six, only two met the requirement. The other four lowered their heads in
a crestfallen manner.
“Ha ha, all of you need not feel dejected.
If you cannot do it this year, then do it the next year. Young people
may not have much else but they do have lots of time.” Seeing the manner
of the four, Frank smiled and encouraged them before exchanging a
glance with Ao Tuo. The two of them once again arrived in front of Xiao
Yan.
Seeing Frank and Ao Tuo’s action, the gazes in the hall gradually stopped on Xiao Yan.
Beside
him, Xue Mei and Lin Fei were also curiously staring at Xiao Yan. They
also wanted to know the standard of the medicinal pill that the guy who
could control a mysterious flame managed to refine.
Lifting the
goatskin parchment from Xiao Yan’s table, Frank glanced at it. His old
face changed slightly as he said in an astonished manner, “Amassing
Strength Pill?”
“Uh…” Hearing this, Ao Tuo also slightly stilled.
Appearing as though he realized something, Ao Tuo immediately said with a
smile, “No wonder this little boy took a little more time. You actually
got this medicinal formula.”
Hearing the name ‘Amassing Strength
Pill’. Xue Mei and Lin Fei helplessly shook their head. Just by
comparing the level of difficulty of the medicinal formula, they were
already inferior.
“Tsk tsk, the little kid does indeed have some
ability. To successfully refine the ‘Amassing Strength Pill’. This
medicinal pill is something that even some real tier one alchemists
would have difficulty refining.” Smacking his lips in amazement, Frank
poured out the medicinal pill from the jade bottle. Instantly, a pale
yellow colored round medicinal pill around the size of a thumb playfully
rolled out. It was entirely pale yellow with some faint dark green
ripples that was mixed within, appearing like a spreading ripple and
giving it a strange appearance.
“Pill-Lines…”
Seeing the
circular dark green ripples, Frank and Ao Tuo once again smacked their
lips in amazement. When refining medicinal pills, these Pill-Lines would
usually only appear on the refined medicinal pill that had peak color
and luster.
Hearing the words ‘Pill-Lines’, Xue Mei and Lin Fei
knew that during this examination, the both of them could not be
compared with this young man beside them.
“Congratulations, Xiao Yan. You have passed the test for a tier one alchemist.”
After replacing the medicinal pill into the jade bottle, Frank gradually sighed and told the young man with a smile.
Hearing this, everyone in the hall looked at the lucky young man behind the stone table with both envy and surprise.
“Uh…
that… “ Hearing these words, Xiao Yan blinked his eyes. He rubbed his
head and softly said, “That… can I continue to take the test for a tier
two alchemist?”
Immediately after Xiao Yan spoke, the faces of
both Frank and Ao Tuo which were full of smiles just a moment ago became
lifeless…