Chapter 481, Wolves Working Together in Villainy

Translator: Silavin

 

Cheating! This was clearly cheating! Yet, it should be impossible!

 

After all, to deceive all these people present was nearly impossible, unless the person helping Qin Yichen cheat had cultivation above theirs.

 

However, they were unwilling to accept this fact.

 

If this was truly accomplished by Qin Yichen, how terrifyingly strong must he be!?

 

Yet, this did not make sense.

 

Why? Because Qin Yichen was simply too young.

 

“You think he cheated?” Tian Liang came to his senses and snorted coldly, “Duan Quan, why don’t you try cheating too?”

 

“You!…” That single sentence left Duan Quan speechless.

 

Cheating!? What nonsense! How could he possibly cheat?

 

Duan Quan wanted to refute, but even if he claimed Qin Yichen was cheating, he could not produce any evidence of it.

 

“Do you also think he cheated?” Tian Liang looked askance at the middle-aged invigilator, his tone impolite.

 

As someone without any true background, he felt helpless about certain situations within the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor.

 

Ten Corner Alchemy Manor was originally a sacred place for Alchemy Masters, but now it had been eroded by various powers and was riddled with problems.

 

This was the weakness of being independent within such a place.

 

The two major elements for an Alchemy Master’s growth was:

 

First, talent.

 

Second, resources.

 

No matter how talented one was, without sufficient resources, they would still be buried in obscurity.

 

Those Alchemy Masters from powerful Forces like the Three Sects had their own foundations. Whatever resources they wanted, they could have them all. Naturally, they grew quickly, completely incomparable to those that were independent.

 

Just like now, apart from the Manor Master, the two Grand Advisers were both from the Three Sects.

 

During each contest for the Grand Adviser position, the Three Sects had spilled no small amount of blood!

 

It was also because of the bias of those in power that nowadays, those independent could barely survive within the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor. Even someone like Tian Liang, an independent Alchemy Grandmaster who already held the position of Elder, still could not escape misfortune, let alone others.

 

Therefore, the atmosphere within the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor had changed.

 

Alchemy Masters who should have been dedicated to the Dao of Alchemy were instead focused on flattery, just like this middle-aged invigilator before him. Where was the integrity that an Alchemy Master should possess!?

 

“P-passed.”

 

Though the middle-aged invigilator’s expression was very unpleasant, he still announced the result.

 

Duan Zihai did not say anything, but the indignant look on his face indicated that he absolutely did not believe Qin Yichen possessed such ability.

 

“Brat, although you’ve managed to slip through, don’t think that entering the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor is going to be that easy!”

 

Duan Quan snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and walked to Duan Zihai’s side. He whispered a few words in his ear, and the latter nodded in understanding, his gaze toward Qin Yichen filled with ill intent.

 

“Second test, identifying medicines!”

 

The middle-aged invigilator calmed his emotions and, after exchanging a glance with Duan Quan, said, “Ten different Medicinal Liquids, you must identify at least eight correctly to pass the test!”

 

“It was clearly supposed to be five, how did it become eight!?” Hearing this, Tian Liang’s expression changed, and he loudly demanded.

 

“Elder Tian, before the examination, everyone is equal. Young Master Duan also needs to identify eight to pass the test.”

 

The middle-aged invigilator calmly replied, then glanced at Qin Yichen and said in a sarcastic tone, “If you don’t have the ability, it’s better to withdraw early, rather than embarrassing yourself later.”

 

If there was a possibility of cheating in refining the Iron Heart Fruit, then this second test, identifying medicines, was absolutely impossible to cheat on.

 

Because the Medicinal Liquids were randomly configured by the examination personnel.

 

Of course, if one colluded with the personnel, cheating was possible, but this middle-aged invigilator would absolutely not give Qin Yichen any opportunity to cheat.

 

Soon, the middle-aged invigilator had prepared the Medicinal Liquids and brought them over, placing them in front of Qin Yichen and Duan Zihai.

 

A total of twenty bottles of Medicinal Liquid, ten bottles in front of each person. The twenty bottles contained liquids of different purity and colour.

 

This naturally further eliminated the possibility of cheating.

 

However, it was very obvious that the ten bottles in front of Duan Zihai were relatively clear, while the ten in front of Qin Yichen… were extremely murky, with varied colours.

 

Clearly, although both had ten bottles of Medicinal Liquid, the ten bottles in front of Duan Zihai were obviously single types of medicinal herbs, while those in front of Qin Yichen were mixtures of different medicinal herbs combined together.

 

“Is this what you call being fair!?” Tian Liang could see through the scheme, and almost gritted his teeth as he questioned. This was clearly making things difficult for Qin Yichen, obviously intending to eliminate him!

 

Everyone knew how difficult it was to identify different Medicinal Liquids mixed together. The more types of medicines, the harder it became, and some were simply impossible to identify.

 

In the current situation, if Qin Yichen failed to clearly identify even one type of medicine property in each bottle, it would definitely be considered a mistake.

 

Forget about eight bottles, even correctly identifying every type of medicinal property in any single bottle would be as difficult as ascending to Heaven, especially with the time limit for this test.

 

“Tian Liang, we are holding a test here, how dare you make such a commotion!?” Duan Quan spoke up and retorted.

 

“You all…” Tian Liang trembled with rage and was about to launch into a tirade when Qin Yichen shook his head, stopping him.

 

Indeed, someone who was overseeing this test, this middle-aged invigilator had the right to do things his way, but such blatant bias was actually still very rare.

 

After all, the Ten Corner Alchemy Manor would not refuse Alchemy Masters with excellent talent, as long as they could be brought under their banner.

 

However, Qin Yichen was very special; he had been recommended by Tian Liang.

 

This matter, even if brought to the Manor’s Grand Advisers, would probably yield no result. Unless, the Manor Master personally intervened.

 

But with the Manor Master’s status, how could he possibly come forward to mediate over such a small matter!?

 

It was precisely because the Manor Master was immersed in the Dao of Alchemy and left all matters of the Manor to the Grand Advisers and Elders below him that the Manor had formed this vicious competitive environment.

 

“You’ve done well.” Duan Quan had a face full of smiles, and in his gaze toward the middle-aged invigilator was an added measure of approval.

 

“I just need Elder Duan’s guidance in the future.” The middle-aged invigilator said softly to Duan Quan, with delight flowing in his eyes.

 

His goal was also very clear; he simply wanted to curry favour with Duan Quan.

 

And now, without a doubt, he has achieved his goal. As for Tian Liang? He did not care about him at all.

 

He was just a beggar!

 

As long as the Eastern Overcast Sect existed, Tian Liang would never have a day of redemption!

 

“One incense stick’s time. Now, the test begins!” The middle-aged invigilator again shortened the time from the original three incense sticks to one, clearly giving Qin Yichen no way out!