Gate of Immortality

Chapter 238: Hua Yewan's Test

It's very common for people coming to Longevity Hall to take the alchemy exam. Only after taking the exam, they can be called certified alchemists. Out of thousands, only a couple few have talents for alchemy, but talent only isn't enough.

Learning any kind of profession, be it alchemy, blacksmithing, or talisman crafting, all need the tribute of money. Learning requires trials and errors, and each error costs a tremendous amount of money.

Not everyone was like Yang Shi who has memory worth a giant library of Samara Emperor. Materials, hard work, and luck, all require mastering a profession.

That's why only wealthy factions groom such talents as they have all three. Many younger people can only join them to pursue their aim.

As they were taking tests, people can pay some points to watch them as spectators. After all, watching someone concocting pills also helps one's understanding of alchemy and pill refinement.

But today, It was much different. Hua Yewan could be considered a celebrity in Azure Feather Ancient Kingdom. Her coming to take the alchemy exam caused a big ruckus.

Since there are many young alchemists in the Longevity Hall, they felt their blood boiling as they saw Hua Yewan coming out from her carriage.

" Damnm! Flower Princess truly looks like a beautiful flower. Even her face is behind the veil, her eyes are enough to catch my soul."

" Ahh! Only if I could be with her, I am willing to shorten a hundred years of my life."

" Every night, I only fantasize about her. Ahh, My Flower Princes!"

Yang Shi was speechless to see the reaction of these young men.

Hold your horses, brothers. You guys are getting carried away. And what the hell about fantasizing all night? Your kidney will be empty even before you see a real girl.

" Miss Hua, I am the youngest adept alchemist here. If Miss Hua wishes, I can show you around the Longevity Hall." A youth wearing the uniform of an alchemist suddenly stood up as he reached near Hua Yewan.

" Lady Hua, He is just trash. I am currently the most genius Adept alchemist below twenty. I can help you to dispel your doubts." Another young man popped out as he pushed Long Tao.

" I appreciate the admiration of everyone, But I hope you guys will calm the atmosphere and let me take the test with ease." Hua Yewan chuckle lightly as she spoke.

The crowd suddenly turned silent they felt embarrassed, though, they still pestered her. The soldiers, who are the bodyguards of Huan Yewan, were having a hard time clearing the crowd.

" Hmm, Although I had only left her some notes about beginner's alchemy, she learned them pretty fast. Let's see her performance." Yang Shi rubbed his chin as he remembered when he met her back then.

  He had traded the notes for her Bright Moon Crystal. Although he had written the notes in hurry, it was in fact, the most essence of pill refining and flame controlling. Using Samsara Emperor's comprehension, he left a sort of treasure for her.

" If she comprehended all that, she might become a Master grade alchemist." Yang Shi followed her to her examination room.

It was like a giant hall, with three invigilators sitting there.

" Elder Mu, It seems today, things might become a bit rowdy."

" Hehe, Let the youngsters be.

Hua Yewan entered the hall as she bowed before the examiner. The senior alchemists nodded.

" Lady Hua, we have heard your name. You are the sole disciple of Lady White Crane, aren't you?" Elder Mu asked curiously.

" Thi humble one is indeed, Master Crane's disciple. But due to my low comprehension, I couldn't learn much from the master." Hua Yewan shook her head as she replied politely.

" Ahem, Do you know where she is now?" Elder Mu asked.

" Hehe, Elder Mu, you still have thoughts about her? It seems your age didn't change your personality." The elder sitting next to Elder Mu chuckled loudly.

" Hmph, I was just asking about her as an old friend. I am not a hypocrite like you guys." Elder Mu snorted.

" Even I don't know where the master is currently at. She already left the kingdom a year ago." Hua Yewan said.

" Very well, Let's talk about the alchemy test. The first test is based on knowledge, would like to give a written test or a debate?" The second elder asked.

" I would like to choose the debate." Hua Yewan spoke.

The written test is like a typical exam, while in the debate, one had to face the questions of the examiners. It can be hard or tricky or can be easy. But it's only the first round of the test.

" First question- What are the three main ingredients of Soaring Cloud Pill?" The first elder asked.

" Core blood of Ice Minx, Purple River Weed, and Misty Sprout Flower." Hua Yewan answered immediately.

The elder showed no expression as they kept taking the notes. They won't reveal the scores till the end.

" Name all the auxiliary herbs in Soothing Moon Pill."

" Third question- What will happen if Nightwing Flower and Ghostly Root are concocted together?

The elder asked questions nonstop and Hua Yewan was able to answer all of them. The elders asked around a hundred questions, after that they stopped.

" Lady Hua answered eighty three correct answers from one hundred questions. Impressive." Elder Mu smiled as he said at last.

" Damn! Such a high score!"

" I can barely answer twenty of them. Lady Hua truly has qualifications for a master grade alchemist." People admired her.

Even the knowledge test is the first test for alchemists, the theoretical knowledge is too complex for even a cultivator to remember. 

One has to remember thousands of herbs and their ten thousand combinations. Moreover, it's only enough for Adept and Master grade.

But Yang Shi shook his head. Although he doesn't have any practical knowledge in alchemy, his theoretical knowledge could be called near perfect. Samsara Emperor, who had lived across eras, knows the countless amount of herbs.

" Heh, If I was the one giving the test, I would have answered all of them correctly. Nonetheless, her talent is still good."

" But theoretical knowledge is just theories in the end." Yang Shi smiled.

" Let's proceed to the next test. This test is simple. Within six hours, concoct a rank three pill." Elder Mu said. 

The test was simple and straightforward, yet it's the most crucial thing to become an alchemist. Most people choose some basic rank three pills to concoct to ease their difficulty. 

Another reason is that most pill recipes are strictly guarded by alchemy factions, and without a pill recipe, one can't refine a pill.

As most cultivator who comes to take the alchemy exam are from a humble background, they can only learn pill recipe which is available in public. 

" I will refine a Clear Water Pill." Hua Yewan spoke.

" Very well, We are giving you three sets of materials. You need to refine pills from one set successfully to pass the test." Elder Mu nodded.

One set of herbs can be refined into nine pills at most. Moreover, each pill is graded as low grade, mid grade, and high grade.

  Beyond high grade is the Legendary grade. So at the pinnacle of alchemy, one can produce nine legendary grade pills.

But it's just treated as a myth as legendary grade pills are rare like Heavenly Sovereigns. But Yang Shi fully understood that in both ancient and recent times, many individuals could make legendary grade pills without any effort.

Hua Yewan took out her cauldron as she made several hand signs. A lump of flame appeared in her palms it took shape of a bird.

" Beast Flame from Red Beak Flaming Bird? That's a grade two spirit flame." A person hissed. " As far I can remember, It has the ability to become a grade three flame if cultivated well."

The flaming bird flapped its wing as it blazed around the cauldron. Hua Yewan's hands were moving gracefully as she added herbs into the cauldron. 

Under everyone's eyes, the herbs melted slowly as Hua Yewan extracted the essence from it.

The time passed, and it was already pat an hour. Hua Yewan already extracted the essence from all herbs.

" Hah!" She clapped her hands as the flames rose around the cauldron. The essence slowly merged as the congealed into beads.

" The essence condensation! She is almost at the last stage!" Everyone held their breath as they watched her.