Chapter 114: Testing for Alchemist Certification

Chapter 114: Testing for Alchemist Certification

In the bustling capital city filled with countless powers and factions, there existed one organization that stood apart from all others: the Patternist Guild. This guild, composed of pattern masters proficient in various arts, was respected and independent, even beyond the influence of the royal family and Northern King's forces.

Located in the southern district of the capital, the Patternist Guild spanned over 200 acres and included specialized halls such as the Alchemist Hall, Formation Hall, Artisan Hall, and Rune Hall. Among these, the Examination Hall at the forefront of the guild served as the official site for certification and advancement of patternist qualifications.

Inside the Examination Hall

"Ha! Yuer, are you and your friends here to take the patternist certification test today?"

A gray-robed middle-aged man greeted a group of three young individuals with a smile. On his chest gleamed a badge marked with two red lines—a symbol of his status as a second-tier alchemist.

"Yes, Uncle Sun, I'm here to take the alchemist test," replied Xiao Ziyu, a striking girl in a light purple dress with a sharp, beautiful chin and a youthful elegance.

"Does Master Xiao know about this? He'll be thrilled!" The middle-aged man laughed warmly.

"I haven't told him yet. I want it to be a surprise," Xiao Ziyu said with a mischievous smile.

"Ziyu, you're only seventeen and already taking the certification test. Your talent puts the rest of us to shame," a young man in the group flattered her, drawing nods of agreement from the surrounding onlookers.

Xiao Ziyu was a renowned prodigy in alchemy, known not only as the granddaughter of the guild's Alchemist Hall Master but also for her exceptional skills at such a young age.

Arrival of a Controversial Group

Suddenly, a large group entered the hall, drawing immediate attention. Among them were powerful figures like Mu Chen, the head of the Mu family, and Mu Ye, an elder of the clan. Even more striking was the presence of Lu Chuxue, a strong ally of the Northern King.

"Isn't that the Mu patriarch and the Northern King's envoy? What are they doing here together?" whispered the onlookers, their eyes filled with curiosity and awe.

The gray-robed examiner, Sun, approached respectfully and greeted them. "Patriarch Mu, Lady Lu, what brings such distinguished guests to our humble Examination Hall?"

Before Mu Chen could respond, Zhang Quandan, a second-tier alchemist from the Mu family, stepped forward. "Sun, I brought someone here for the alchemy certification. This arrogant brat thinks he can challenge me, but he doesn't even have a basic certification."

Zhang gestured dismissively toward a white-haired youth wearing a silver mask—Mu Feng.

Sun glanced at Mu Feng with a mix of curiosity and doubt. "Very well, Patriarch Mu, we can arrange for his test. Young man, follow me to register."

Mu Feng followed Sun to the registry desk.

Registration

"Name?" Sun asked.

"Feng Ye," Mu Feng replied after a moment's pause.

"Age?"

"Seventeen."

"Seventeen?!" Sun exclaimed in surprise. Zhang Quandan, who had been standing nearby, burst into laughter.

"Seventeen? A seventeen-year-old challenging me? Ha! Who gave you the audacity, boy?" Zhang sneered.

The murmurs among the onlookers grew louder. Xiao Ziyu, who had been preparing for her test, also glanced at Mu Feng with curiosity, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Let's see if you can even pass the alchemist test," Zhang said mockingly.

Sun completed the registration and led Mu Feng and Xiao Ziyu to two black alchemy furnaces. "The first-tier alchemist test requires you to refine three different types of first-tier pills. You must provide your own materials and complete the task within the time it takes three incense sticks to burn."

The Test Begins

Mu Feng sat before one furnace while Xiao Ziyu sat before another. Both summoned their origin fire, a prerequisite for alchemists, and began refining their pills.

As Xiao Ziyu worked skillfully, combining a single medicinal herb in her furnace, Mu Feng surprised the audience by throwing three different herbs into his furnace simultaneously.

"Three herbs? What's he trying to refine?" Xiao Ziyu wondered as she glanced at Mu Feng, her hands steady but her thoughts distracted.

The onlookers whispered among themselves:

"Who is this kid? Seventeen years old and acting so confident? Doesn't he realize how hard it is to refine three different pills?"

"He's going to embarrass himself. Zhang Quandan is a second-tier alchemist. This boy doesn't stand a chance."

Even the Mu family members in attendance looked concerned, murmuring their doubts about Mu Feng's capability.

Progress of the Test

As the first incense stick burned down, Xiao Ziyu's pill took shape. Her hands moved with practiced precision as she picked up a red rune pen, dipping it into essence ink. Carefully, she inscribed intricate patterns on the surface of her pill, infusing it with the properties of an alchemy rune.

Moments later, her furnace emitted a faint glow, signaling success. With a smile, Xiao Ziyu opened the lid and retrieved a radiant red pill, placing it into a jade bottle.

"Excellent work, Ziyu! You've done it again!" praised her companions.

Meanwhile, Mu Feng still hadn't started inscribing runes. He remained focused on refining his ingredients, his expression calm and unhurried.

"Look at him! He's not even halfway done," someone scoffed.

"This is hopeless," Zhang muttered, leaning back smugly. "Let's see how much longer he can keep up this charade."

But Mu Feng's calm demeanor suggested otherwise.

As the second incense stick began to burn, the atmosphere grew tense. All eyes were on the masked youth as he continued to refine his ingredients with unyielding focus. The faint crackling of flames under the furnace punctuated the murmurs of the crowd.

"What's taking him so long? Refining three herbs for a single pill is risky even for experienced alchemists," someone whispered.

"Exactly. He's either overconfident or clueless."

Meanwhile, Xiao Ziyu prepared to start her second pill, her movements precise and deliberate. She glanced occasionally at Mu Feng, curiosity evident in her eyes. Despite his unusual approach, something about his calmness unsettled her.

A Moment of Focus

At last, Mu Feng's hands moved. His origin fire shifted in intensity, its temperature rising sharply as the herbs inside the furnace fused into a shimmering liquid. The onlookers leaned forward, surprised by the sudden change.

"Finally," Zhang sneered, but his smirk faltered when he noticed the subtle skill in Mu Feng's control of the fire.

Mu Feng retrieved a rune pen from his storage ring, its tip glowing faintly with energy. Unlike Xiao Ziyu, whose movements were methodical, Mu Feng's strokes were swift yet precise. A series of glowing, complex runes appeared on the furnace, interweaving to form an intricate pattern.

The crowd fell silent. Even Zhang and Sun watched with widening eyes.

"This... this is not something a novice should be capable of," muttered Sun.

Completion

The glow from Mu Feng's furnace intensified. With a sharp gesture, he extinguished the flames, and the room filled with the faint, pleasant aroma of medicinal herbs.

Mu Feng opened the furnace, revealing three perfectly formed pills, each with a faint golden sheen and a single glowing rune etched into its surface. He placed them carefully into jade bottles before turning to face the examiner.

The crowd erupted into hushed whispers.

"Three pills at once, each with a rune! Is that even possible for a first-tier alchemist?"

"How did he...?"

Sun stepped forward, inspecting the pills with a scrutinizing gaze. After a moment, he turned to Mu Feng, his voice filled with a mix of disbelief and admiration. "Each pill is flawlessly refined, with runes expertly inscribed. Congratulations... you pass."

Shock and Awe

The room fell into stunned silence before erupting into murmurs of shock.

"He passed? Not just that—he refined three perfect pills simultaneously!"

"Is this kid really seventeen? How is this possible?"

Xiao Ziyu, holding her own completed pill, stared at Mu Feng in amazement. For the first time, doubt crept into her confidence. Who was this masked youth?

Zhang Quandan's face turned pale, his smug expression replaced with unease. He had underestimated Mu Feng completely.

"How... how is this possible?" he stammered, turning to Lu Chuxue for support. But even the Northern King's envoy regarded Mu Feng with newfound interest, her playful smirk now tinged with caution.

Mu Feng stepped forward, his voice calm but sharp. "Now that I'm a certified alchemist, you have no excuses. The challenge is on."

Zhang clenched his fists, his earlier bravado crumbling. The onlookers murmured, sensing the shift in power.

Mu Chen, who had been silently observing, smiled faintly, pride evident in his eyes. "That's my nephew," he thought.