Chapter 478, Refining in Progress

Translator: Silavin

 

“As long as he can go up on stage, I certainly won’t disappoint you Elder Duan.” Said Duan Zihai, glancing at Qin Yichen with a slight smile as he spoke to Duan Quan.

 

As the Duan Family’s top prodigy, at the mere age of twenty, he had already become a Human Grade Alchemy Master that countless Alchemists could only dream of. He indeed had the qualifications to be proud!

 

Regarding the undisguised threatening words from the two Duans, Tian Liang’s expression grew somewhat uneasy. Although Qin Yichen had previously demonstrated extraordinary Martial prowess, the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor’s assessment had nothing to do with Martial Arts Cultivation!

 

Whether recommending Qin Yichen to enter the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor was good or bad, he could not help but hesitate.

 

“Sir, rest assured, I won’t stop here. I haven’t even treated your Knowledge Sea injury.” A voice like a thin thread transmitted into his ear just as Tian Liang was hesitating.

 

[Voice condensed into a thread?] Hearing this voice in his ear, Tian Liang’s pupils slightly contracted. Seeing Qin Yichen’s composed demeanour, he had not expected his control over Spiritual Energy to reach such a level! Even he could not achieve such exquisite control at his peak!

 

“En!” Finally, Tian Liang took a deep breath and nodded slightly.

 

“If you two are ready, please proceed to the side,” the middle-aged invigilator responsible for the assessment pointed to the Pill Furnaces at the side of the hall and said to Qin Yichen and Duan Zihai.

 

Upon hearing this, Qin Yichen directly strode forward, walking to a Pill Furnace.

 

Afterwards, Duan Zihai, with a strange smile, walked straight to the Pill Furnace to Qin Yichen’s right.

 

There were more than ten Pill Furnaces here, but Duan Zihai chose the one next to Qin Yichen’s. Clearly, he would not let this assessment proceed normally and peacefully!

 

Seeing Duan Zihai’s actions, Tian Liang’s expression also changed. However, after seeing Qin Yichen’s calm face, he clenched his fists slightly, suppressing the disturbance in his heart.

 

“You two are recommended by the Elders of our Alchemy Manor, so I imagine your prowess in Alchemy must also be good. Despite this, to enter the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor, you must pass our assessment.” The middle-aged invigilator said.

 

“As everyone knows, in Alchemy, the refining of medicinal herbs is an extremely important step, and our first test is to assess your ability to refine medicinal herbs!”

 

“On the table beside you, the medicinal herbs needed for the test have been prepared. What you need to do is to refine the medicinal herbs to the highest purity you can achieve in the shortest time. If you fail to complete the refining within the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, you will be deemed to have failed. Moreover, even if you successfully refine it, if you don’t meet the requirements set by us, you will also be treated as having failed!”

 

The middle-aged invigilator pointed at the two incense sticks in front of him and explained slowly.

 

Then, his gaze fell on Qin Yichen. Seeing the latter’s calm expression, he could not help but be a bit surprised, muttering to himself. “Could it be that this young man really has some ability? If he truly has the ability, finding any recommender would be better than Tian Liang, wouldn’t it?”

 

“Alright, begin!” the middle-aged invigilator retracted his gaze, lit the two incense sticks in front of him, and said to the two of them.

 

“Hehe, kid, the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor’s assessment isn’t something just anyone can participate in. Finding Tian Liang to be your recommender. Seems like you couldn’t find someone to recommend you. You were just desperate, right?” Duan Zihai squinted and said with a light laugh, with mockery and doubt in his tone.

 

“Whatever you think.” Qin Yichen glanced at him calmly, uttering just these three words unhurriedly.

 

“Hehe…” Duan Zihai gave a slight laugh, but there was coldness flashing in his eyes. [This ignorant brat. I was speaking to you. Not only did you not feel honoured, but to show such indifference!]

 

Such an attitude made him rage inside.

 

“Wanting to see the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor’s assessment is understandable, but you should be careful. I’ve heard that during the assessment, quite a few people have mentally collapsed due to excessive pressure, becoming cripples!” Duan Zihai’s gaze swept over Qin Yichen as he coldly said.

 

In response to this, Qin Yichen merely shrugged his shoulders and did not pay any more attention to him. Instead, he took the medicinal herb for the test from the side and put it into the Pill Furnace.

 

Then, with the fluctuation of Spiritual Energy, flames rose from within the Pill Furnace.

 

[*Hmph!* This Iron Heart Fruit is extremely resistant to burning. Ordinary Alchemy Masters won’t be able to refine it. One must refine it at least three times to barely pass the assessment. I’d like to see if such an arrogant brat is qualified to pass! If he can’t even pass the first two tests, he is not worthy of me taking action!] Duan Zihai snorted inwardly, retracted his gaze, and quickly began refining.

 

His goal was not merely to pass the assessment. In his Family, he was the youngest Human Grade Alchemy Master in nearly a hundred years. His goal was correspondingly to his status as a prodigy. Although he was not aiming to break the highest record of the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor, to prove himself, he was determined to break the record left by Duan Quan, from his Family!

 

Meanwhile, Qin Yichen skilfully controlled the flames, the temperature within the Pill Furnace already reaching an alarming level. Those scorching flames continuously burned that Iron Heart Fruit, but under such burning, that Iron Heart Fruit showed no reaction whatsoever.

 

[Worthy of being called Iron Heart Fruit…] Looking at the Iron Heart Fruit that showed no change, Qin Yichen murmured to himself, and then, he stepped back behind the Pill Furnace, using it to shield most of his body, his hands moving rapidly.

 

This set of hand movements was completely different from normal Pill Refining, because this set of hand movements was specially prepared for refining medicinal herbs like Iron Heart Fruit that resist burning!

 

*Whoosh!* As he performed these hand movements, the flames in the Pill Furnace suddenly trembled, rising fiercely, and the temperature abruptly increased!

 

As the two were refining, the two incense sticks in the hall slowly burned, ashes gradually falling from above. The hall was completely silent, with only the sound of rising flames.

 

This quiet atmosphere continued for about half an incense stick’s time. Duan Quan’s eyes swept over the two Pill Furnaces, and he smiled and said. “They still haven’t finished refining yet, seems like Zihai’s goal isn’t merely to pass the assessment!”

 

“Such a young Human Grade Alchemy Master. I believe his goal is to break your record from back then, no?” the middle-aged invigilator beside him said with a smile, flattering him.

 

“That boy’s talent is indeed great. At his age, I doubt I could match up against him!” Duan Quan said with a smile, his eyes narrowed into slits. As the saying goes, flattery never fails, and Duan Quan was clearly very pleased.