Chapter 53- The First Part of the Basic Alchemical Exam

Alchemy has a long and rich history that dates back to the beginning of times. It is said that the first practitioners of Alchemy were the gods themselves, who used the power of the stars and the heavens to create and shape the world as they saw fit. The Garden of Eden was said to be one of the very first creations of Alchemy. The first humans who lived here learned the secrets of transmutation and the manipulation of elemental energies.

As the ages passed, the knowledge of Alchemy was passed down from generation to generation, from the gods to the humans. The knowledge was kept hidden, guarded by the powerful Alchemists who held the keys to the power of transmutation. Over time, the art of Alchemy evolved, becoming more sophisticated and complex, and the practitioners became more skilled.

However, it was during the Primordial era that Alchemy truly reached its peak. It was during this time that the last known God of Alchemy was born, a being of immense power who was said to have created entire universe with the power of his alchemical abilities. The basics of the art has been freely taught then to humans, allowing them to begin their own journey to mastery.

The basics of Alchemy were considered the foundation of the art, and it was said that mastering these basics was the key to unlocking the full potential of the art. The basics of Alchemy were taught to apprentices, who were trained in the art of transmutation, the manipulation of elemental energies, and the creation of potions and elixirs. These apprentices were tested, and those who passed were considered to have the potential to become great Alchemists in their own right.

As Juanxiu entered the examination room, Xiannu Yindao greeted him with a smile.

"Ah, Juanxiu. I see that you have been hard at work." Xiannu Yindao said.

"Yes, I have been studying day and night." Juanxiu replied.

"Good, good. That's what a student of alchemy should be doing." Xiannu Yindao said. "Now, let me explain the nature of the first test. This is the theoretical examination and it will test your knowledge about the basic principles, theories, and concepts of alchemy."

"The first part of the examination will consist of three questions, each covering a different aspect of alchemy. The first question will test your understanding of the principles of alchemy, including the four elements and the three energies. The second question will test your knowledge of the theories of alchemy, such as the flow of Qi and the balance of the five elements. The third question will test your wisdom of the concepts of alchemy, such as the difference between the inner and outer alchemy and the three ways of refining Qi."

Juanxiu took a deep breath and steeled his resolve. He could feel the weight of responsibility settle upon his shoulders. This was not just a test, but a gatekeeper that would determine his future in the art of Alchemy. He had been given the opportunity to study and practice Alchemy in the tower, and he was determined to make the most of it.

He knew that the theoretical examination would be challenging, and he needed to be at the top of his game. He closed his eyes and focused his mind, banishing all distractions. He envisioned the principles, theories, and concepts that he had learned, committing them to memory.

When he opened his eyes, his expression had changed. Gone was the relaxed and carefree demeanor, replaced by a seriousness that bordered on sternness. He was ready to tackle the first test, and he was determined to pass with flying colors. The future of his cultivation and his ability to support his people depended on it.

As Juanxiu stood before the testing hall, Xiannu Yindao's voice echoed throughout the room. "Juanxiu, are you ready for the first question?"

Juanxiu took a deep breath and replied, "Yes, I am ready."

Xiannu Yindao continued, "Good, then let's begin. The first question is a fundamental principle of Alchemy. Observe this moving image."

The image of a vast, starry sky filled the room. A beautiful, luminous garden appeared in the center, surrounded by an intricate alchemic array. Xiannu Yindao's voice resumed, "What is the relationship between the elements of the garden and the stars above?"

Juanxiu's eyes were fixated on the image, his mind working to understand the concept being presented. He knew that this was not just a simple question, but a profound test of his knowledge and comprehension of the basic principles of Alchemy.

Juanxiu's eyes narrowed as he tried to recall all the teachings he had learned about the principles of Alchemy. He knew that this was a critical moment that would determine his future in the art. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, allowing himself to sink into the depths of his mind. The thoughts and images of the lessons he had learned in the past floated around him like stars in the night sky.

He searched for a glimmer of understanding, a thread that he could pull to unravel the mysteries of the first question. Minutes passed, and Juanxiu began to feel a sense of frustration. He felt as though he was missing something, a key piece of information that would allow him to understand the question fully. He opened his eyes and glanced at the moving image Xiannu Yindao had provided, trying to make sense of the symbols and concepts it portrayed.

Juanxiu took a deep breath, steadying himself. He knew that he couldn't give up now. He was determined to find the answer, no matter how difficult it was. He closed his eyes once more, and this time, a flash of insight suddenly struck him. He remembered a story his mentor had told him, a tale about the ancient gods and their creations. With that knowledge, he slowly pieced together the answer to the first question.

Juanxiu opened his eyes and cleared his throat. He then began to explain, "The first question is about the principles of Alchemy, specifically about the creation of life. According to the ancient legends, the gods created the world and everything in it, including the Garden of Eden and all the creatures that live in it. In Alchemy, we aim to imitate the power of the gods by creating life through the manipulation of Qi, the life force of all living things."

He continued, "The creation of life is not an easy task, and it requires a deep understanding of the principles of Alchemy. It requires one to control and harmonize the elements, to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang, and to infuse the life force with the power of the heavens and the stars. By doing so, an alchemist can create a being that is truly alive, a being with a soul and a will of its own."

After what seemed like an eternity, the room was filled with a long, oppressive silence. Juanxiu couldn't help but feel his heart rate increasing, his anxiety mounting with every passing moment.

Finally, Xiannu Yindao's voice broke through the silence. "Barely passable," he declared. Juanxiu let out a long, relieved sigh as he slumped back in his chair. Despite not being fully confident in his answer, he had managed to pass the first question. He felt a rush of relief and satisfaction wash over him, and he couldn't help but smile at his accomplishment.

Juanxiu was already feeling the weight of the first question and the pressure was starting to take its toll. But before he could take a deep breath, Xiannu Yindao's voice filled the room once again. "The second question is about the theories of Alchemy."

The air in the room suddenly shifted and Juanxiu felt his nerves tense up. The images on the walls of the room started to change and shift, forming a new and more complex image. "The second question requires a deep understanding of the theories behind the practice of Alchemy," Xiannu Yindao said.

Juanxiu's eyes widened as he took in the image before him. He saw a vast sky filled with stars, each shining brightly and emitting a powerful energy. A single figure stood in the middle of the sky, their hands outstretched as they harnessed the power of the stars.

"What is the theory behind the creation of elixirs through the use of celestial energies?" Xiannu Yindao asked, his voice filling the room once again.

Juanxiu's face scrunched in concentration as he stared at the second question in front of him. This was it, the moment that would determine his fate as an alchemist. The moving images danced across the room, showcasing the theory and principles that Xiannu Yindao wanted to test him on. Juanxiu took a deep breath and dove into the depths of his knowledge, determined to find the right answer.

Hours passed and Juanxiu was no closer to finding the answer. The clock ticked away, and he could feel his frustration growing. But he refused to give up, he knew that the future of his alchemy journey hung in the balance. Finally, after 22 hours of intense concentration, Juanxiu had an epiphany. He scribbled down his answer and held his breath as he read it out loud.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘹𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘹𝘪𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘲𝘪 (𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦), 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘯 (𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺), 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘪𝘯𝘨 (𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦).

𝘛𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘹𝘪𝘳𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘹𝘪𝘳.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵'𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘹𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴."

"Well done, Juanxiu," Xiannu said, his voice ringing out in the room. "You have answered the second question correctly."

Juanxiu let out a sigh of relief, but before he could bask in his achievement, he asked Xiannu if he had passed the exam. "You said there were only three questions, right? Since I managed to answer the two, does it mean that I have passed?"

Xiannu said, "Not yet, Juanxiu. You need to score perfectly in all three questions to pass the exam." Juanxiu's face fell, but he quickly regained his composure. He was ready for the final challenge.

Xiannu Yindao's voice boomed in the room, "Juanxiu, are you ready for the final and most challenging question of the basic alchemy test?"

Juanxiu took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment on his shoulders. "Yes, I'm ready," he answered determinedly.

The room was filled with an ethereal light as the air around Juanxiu began to swirl and form into a moving image. Xiannu continued, "For the final question, we delve into the mysteries of the alchemical universe. Can you explain the concept of 'The Synthesis of The Three Realms'?"

Juanxiu watched as the image in front of him depicted the three realms, the physical realm, the spiritual realm and the arcane realm, and how they intertwined and intertwined to form a seamless whole.

Xiannu's voice echoed through the room, "In the beginning, there were only the three realms, each existing separately and distinct from one another. But as time passed and the alchemical arts evolved, it was discovered that it was possible to synthesize the three realms into one. To do so requires a deep understanding of the fundamental principles of alchemy, the balance of elemental energies and the manipulation of the life force that binds all things together."

Juanxiu stood in awe of the moving image and the complexity of the question. This was truly a test of his knowledge and mastery of the basic principles of alchemy.

Xiannu's voice faded away, leaving Juanxiu to ponder the question. It was time for him to demonstrate his understanding of the alchemical universe and prove himself worthy of advancing to the next level of his studies.

Juanxiu sat in front of Xiannu Yindao, staring blankly at the moving image that was presented to him. He had never felt so lost in his life. The third question was far more difficult than he had anticipated, and he found himself completely at a loss.

Days passed by as Juanxiu struggled to find the answer. He went through countless ancient texts in his mind, trying to find a hint or a clue. He meditated, hoping to unlock some hidden knowledge. But no matter what he did, he simply couldn't find the answer.

Finally, after two full days of thinking, Juanxiu had an epiphany. The answer was so simple, so basic, that it had been right in front of him the whole time. He quickly scribbled down his answer and presented it to Xiannu Yindao.

His answer reads as:

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘉𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦. 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘺.

"Well done, Juanxiu," Xiannu Yindao said, nodding his head in approval. "You've passed the exam."

Juanxiu was overjoyed, but he also felt a sense of confusion. "But the answer was so simple," he said. "I couldn't believe it was right in front of me the whole time."

"That's the lesson, Juanxiu," Xiannu Yindao replied. "Sometimes, the answer to the most perplexing question is only basic. This is why the basic foundation is extremely important. Without a solid understanding of the basics, you'll never be able to unlock the more advanced knowledge." Xiannu then continued, "Congratulations, you passed the first part of the exam. Are you ready to proceed to the next part?"