The Mighty Cauldron: Extreme Alchemist! - Chapter 1
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“You’re disqualified. Your root bone is too weak!”
The resonant voice hummed in the ears of the numerous youths. It was so loud that it made their eardrums hurt.
A middle-aged burly man with a thick, powerful back and shoulders stood in front of the youths, examining the quality of their root bones. Next to the middle-aged burly man was an old man dressed in gray. He nodded occasionally as he watched the group of youths before himself with a smile on his face.
Most of the young people present had anxiety written on their faces. There were only a small number of people who were calm and composed.
“The bone examination is such a strict process. I think Young Master Fang Yang is the only person among us capable of passing the examination.”
“That’s right. Young Master Fang Yang is the most qualified person in our Fang clan. He’ll certainly be able to join the Purple Glow Sect.”
“Our Fang clan’s position will rise with the rise of Young Master Fang Yang’s reputation if only he can become a disciple of the Purple Glow Sect.”
…
In the crowd, there was a handsome youngster surrounded by a group of three to five youths. Clearly watching him with respect, they were speaking to him in pleasant tones. The youth had a rather arrogant smile on his face as he listened to the conversation of these people. It was apparent that he enjoyed doing this very much.
On the other hand, a youth with a slightly emaciated face watched these people silently from the side. His lips curved into a subtle smile.
“Snotty little brats!” The young man, Fang Lin, observed the man named Fang Yang and his henchmen in contempt. He was a disciple of the Fang clan. He joined Fang Yang and the rest of the people to go to the Purple Glow Sect this time and participate in the sect’s recruitment examination.
However, the rest of the disciples from the Fang clan were gathered around Fang Yang instead of Fang Lin. It was as if Fang Lin was the lone wolf in the crowd.
Fang Lin refused to join these Fang clan disciples. From his point of view, they were all henchmen.
Fang Yang basked in the joy of listening to the flattery from the Fang clan disciples. Simultaneously, he also noticed that Fang Lin was standing by the side while smirking. He could not help feeling annoyed and grunted softly upon seeing that.
The few Fang clan disciples shifted their attention to Fang Lin who was standing by the side upon noticing the displeasure on Fang Yang’s face.
“Hey, Fang Lin. Why are you smirking over there? Do you think you’re good enough to join the Purple Glow Sect?”
“That’s right. Fang Lin, you’re only here to make up the numbers, yet you assume that you’re actually that big a deal.”
“Young Master Fang Yang is the great champion of our Fang clan. Who do you think you are, Fang Lin?”
…
The Fang clan disciples began to verbally attack Fang Lin. Fang Yang did not stop them, but he merely stood there and gazed at Fang Lin coldly.
Nonetheless, Fang Lin remained smiling just as before as if he had not heard the voices of these Fang clan disciples. Fang Yang began to feel more and more displeased upon seeing this. The reason behind Fang Yang’s hatred for Fang Lin was that all the Fang clan disciples were busy flattering him, except for the latter.
Fang Yang was extremely pissed off by Fang Lin’s attitude.
Fang Lin, you’re no one but an ordinary disciple in the Fang clan. On the other hand, I, Fang Yang, am the first genius of the Fang clan. I’m the one who stands the highest chance of becoming a Purple Glow Sect disciple. Fang Lin, you should be joining the rest of the people and come over to flatter me. Chop-chop!
On the contrary, Fang Lin did not budge an inch. He did not try to flatter Fang Yang and he could not fit in with the rest of Fang clan disciples. As a result, the rest of the Fang clan disciples rejected him too.
Fang Lin did not actually mind this. Anyhow, Fang Yang and the rest of the Fang clan disciples were all seen as a group of snotty little brats in his eyes.
“Heh-heh. Perhaps, I can get accepted into the Purple Glow Sect too,” said Fang Lin smugly.
Upon listening to Fang Lin’s words, Fang Yang grinned coldly. There was a wisp of scorn in his smile. On the other hand, the rest of the Fang clan disciples burst out laughing aloud. They began breaking out with all sorts of mockery and insults at him.
Fang Lin simply reacted by smiling. He did not bother to make a big fuss.
The bone examination was still being carried out continuously. A person was only qualified to become a Purple Glow Sect disciple after passing the bone examination.
The vast majority of the youths on the scene arrived in confidence. However, many of them began to doubt themselves after witnessing the bone examination process.
It was extremely difficult!
The vast majority of the people taking the examination before them had been eliminated. So far, there were only less than ten people who had passed the examination successfully, and they had done so with great effort. Perhaps, they would be eliminated as well if they scored just a little lower.
Currently, the middle-aged burly man pressed his palm against a young maiden’s shoulder. She was intensely anxious. Her forehead was covered in sweat and she was even shivering ever so slightly.
The middle-aged burly man was expressionless and his gaze was filled with boundless coldness. It was as if the person standing before him was not a delicate maiden but a chunk of lifeless rock. “You’re disqualified. Your root bone is too weak,” he announced with a voice as emotionless as his face.
The young maiden turned ghastly pale at once. Her legs turned limp and she almost toppled onto the ground.
Just as the middle-aged burly man was about to call upon the next person, the old man in gray suddenly spoke, “Young maiden, please come forward to me.”
The middle-aged burly man took a glance at the old man, but he did not speak. The young maiden was swarmed with emotions as she hastily walked to the old man upon hearing his words. She saluted the old man respectfully.
With a wide smile, the old man stretched his hand out and revealed three withered medicinal herbs in his hand.
“Young maiden, please put your hand on the plants,” said the old man kindly.
The young maiden placed her hand on the three medicinal herb plants as instructed.
A moment later, the old man asked, “Can you feel anything?”
The young maiden hesitated. It seemed like she was finding the courage to answer his question.
“Don’t be afraid. Tell me if you can feel anything,” said the old man with a smile.
The young maiden mustered the courage, but she answered weakly, “I can feel that there is a gush of very weak energy moving on my palm.”
Upon listening to her words, the old man nodded and kept the medicinal herbs. He said, “Young maiden, my name is Meng Wuyou. You may choose to join the alchemy sect.”
Whoa!
The numerous youths present were astonished yet envious upon hearing the conversation.
The young maiden nodded hastily as she was swarmed with emotions. She said, “I’d like to join the alchemy sect!”
The old man known as Meng Wuyou nodded and instructed the young maiden to stand behind him.
In the crowd, Fang Lin had also witnessed the scene. The smile on his face grew wider.
The initiation examination of the Purple Glow Sect was actually divided into two parts. The middle-aged burly man was in charge of the bone examination. Those who passed the bone examination would qualify to become a disciple in the Purple Glow Sect’s martial arts division.
If the person failed the bone examination, he or she would still stand a chance by taking the examination on Meng Wuyou’s side.
On the other hand, Meng Wuyou’s examination was focused not on testing the quality of a person’s root bone but on the person’s ability to perform alchemy.
If the person was not gifted in root bone but in alchemy, the person could still become a Purple Glow Sect disciple. It was just that the person would not be placed in the martial arts division but in the alchemy division. Even if a person failed to become a disciple in the martial arts division, becoming a disciple of the alchemy division was just as impressive.
However, the process of becoming an alchemy disciple was actually tougher than being a martial arts disciple. One could be recruited to become a martial arts disciple as long as he or she had the suitable root bone quality and achieved certain standards.
However, one must possess good alchemy quality in order to become a disciple of the alchemy division. On the other hand, the so-called alchemy quality was found inherently in a person and could not be elevated through effort.
One could still accumulate root bone quality through repetitive cultivation and by consuming heavenly and earthly treasures. However, alchemy quality was found inherently; one was either born with it or did not have it.
In the examination that followed, the old man Meng Wuyou chose a few people to join the alchemy division.
However, these people had all failed in the bone examination earlier without exception. In reality, they wanted to become a martial arts disciple in their hearts more than anything else. After all, the martial arts division was the orthodox division.
After a long while, it was finally Fang Yang’s turn to come forward and take the bone examination.
Fang Yang’s expression was calm as before. In fact, there was even a wisp of a faint smile on his face as he made his way to the front of the middle-aged burly man.
“All the best, Young Master Fang Yang!”
“You’ll pass for sure!”
A few Fang clan disciples shouted aloud. It made the surrounding people roll their eyes in disgust.
“Noisy scoundrels!” the middle-aged burly man roared aloud and glared at the clamorous Fang clan disciples. He scowled at them and silence ensued at once. They did not even have the courage to breathe loudly.
Fang Yang was feeling extremely displeased with these disciples as well. ‘Why do all of you have to shout loudly here? That’s so embarrassing!’ he thought inwardly. Instantly, he pretended that he was not acquainted with these fools and kept his gaze fixed on the front as he stood in front of the middle-aged burly man respectfully.
The middle-aged burly man stretched out his hand and pressed Fang Yang’s shoulder. At once, Fang Yang felt his body sink as if a huge rock was being pressed against his body. However, he was not alarmed at all. He was feeling very confident in his capabilities.
A moment later, the middle-aged burly man raised his hand and said in a muffled tone, “Root bone passed.”
Upon listening to his words, Fang Yang could not help feeling emotional. However, he still managed to suppress his emotions as he bowed to the middle-aged burly man who waved his hand to beckon him to take his position behind him.
Fang Yang stood there with a rather triumphant expression. Then, his lips curved into a scornful smile when he looked toward the crowd and found Fang Lin.
Fang Lin, I’m destined to soar up into the sky. On the other hand, you’re just going to end up like that father of yours, a miserable person with no accomplishment in the clan for life.
“See, Young Master Fang Yang has passed the examination. He is destined to be a Purple Glow Sect disciple. This is the greatest honor of our Fang clan.”
“Even if we don’t end up becoming as great as Young Master Fang Yang, we are still proud of him.”
“Fang Lin, stop looking. Even though you are Young Master Fang Yang’s cousin, Young Master Fang Yang is destined to be a warrior. It’s best that you return soon and make an honest living by taking over your father’s family business.”
…
The Fang clan disciples taunted Fang Lin with their words. It seemed that they were even happier for Fang Yang to be accepted into the Purple Glow Sect than from themselves to be taken in by the sect.
Fang Lin pursed his lips. He could not be bothered to talk nonsense with these people.
The examination continued. The disciples from the Fang clan came forward to receive the bone examination one by one. However, none of them passed. Albeit feeling dejected, they made peace soon enough. Anyhow, they had already come mentally prepared.
The final person from the Fang clan to take the bone examination was Fang Lin. He walked to the front of the middle-aged burly man with a smile on his face and did not have the slightest nervousness.
The middle-aged man frowned ever so slightly. He found that he was disturbed by the smile on Fang Lin’s face as if his authority was being challenged.
Bang!
The middle-aged burly man’s hand pressed Fang Lin’s shoulder so heavily that he almost swept Fang Lin to the ground.
Man! Fang Lin grimaced in pain and cursed in his heart. It’s just an examination. Why do you have to be so rough?