Rise of the Alchemy God

Chapter 53: Beginning of the Test

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Time passed, and one by one the remaining empty seats were filled.

Silence enveloped the area as everyone settled into their positions and waited quietly.

Some were examining the materials provided directly by the Medicine Pavilion, while others inspected the cauldrons also provided by the pavilion.

There were even some who were reading papers, which Ethan believed to be the recipes for the pill preparation.

Seeing these people, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

"What's the point of reviewing now? You should have already memorized it if you've made this pill before the exam," Ethan thought.

Ethan had noticed that most of the cauldrons present were similar, as they were those provided by the pavilion.

The others, which were different, were probably brought by the candidates and given to the pavilion for inspection and placement in the test hall.

Ethan decided to use the cauldrons from the pavilion, as the only one he had was the bronze cauldron he used, which was a spiritual artifact.

He certainly couldn't bring it here. He could already imagine the commotion it would create.

Everyone waited in silence for the last few minutes before the start of the test, anticipating the arrival of the examiners.

Yes, this time there wouldn't be just one examiner but five, one for each row, so they could closely monitor each candidate and possibly intervene if someone messed up the mixture, causing the cauldron to explode.

This was quite common, in fact, Ethan was the only one who hadn't had the chance to experience it yet, something for which he was more than grateful.

The last thing he wanted was to end up in the infirmary for who knows how long and be scolded by the nurse from last time. Just thinking about it gave him chills.

Time passed quickly, and finally, the door at the end of the hall opened, and five figures entered the room.

All the test participants, upon seeing these figures, stopped whatever they were doing and composed themselves, waiting silently for the five figures to speak.

The five figures were respectively four men and one woman, each of a different age.

There were indeed figures who seemed to be in the prime of their years, as well as figures who were old, with apparent wrinkles.

However, Ethan didn't think much of it.

There was an important rule that all people, especially cultivators, had to remember.

The apparent age of a person could be deceptive.

For example, Ethan, with his current cultivation base at level 4 of body refining, could comfortably live for more than 100 years.

Beings of higher stages could live for 200, 300, or even a thousand years.

And given their high cultivation, these beings could choose to preserve their youthful appearance or not, so when encountering a high-level cultivator, one should never take their real age for granted, because just like their strength, it could also be hidden.

It wasn't unusual to hear cases of people who had offended certain individuals, only to later discover they were hidden tigers.

Given the level of alchemy of these figures, Ethan was sure that each of them was already over 50 years old.

From the left, an elderly man of short stature with long white hair and a beard could be seen.

He positioned himself in front of the first row of candidates and scrutinized everyone present with his sharp, penetrating gaze.

His robes were a rich dark green, embroidered with intricate silver decorations hinting at his high rank.

His eyes, though clouded by age, held a spark of wisdom and authority that inspired respect in everyone in the room.

The second figure was the only woman in the group.

She stood in front of the second row, observing her section with a bored expression.

Despite her apparent disinterest, her sharp eyes moved from person to person, as if evaluating their souls.

She seemed to be a little over thirty, with an elegant demeanor that set her apart.

Her long, straight black hair was elegantly gathered with a decorative hairpin, showcasing a refined face with high cheekbones and a slightly upturned nose.

Her eyes were keen and calculating, like a fox observing its surroundings, even though her overall attitude conveyed a sense of detachment.

The third figure was a tall man, around forty or fifty years old, dressed in a blue tunic decorated with golden embroidery.

He had a strong and authoritative presence, with broad shoulders and a confident stride.

His short brown hair was streaked with silver, and his clean-shaven face was marked by the wrinkles of experience.

His deep, penetrating brown eyes surveyed the room with a mix of curiosity and judgment.

The fourth figure was a younger man, probably in his thirties.

He was dressed in a simple gray tunic that seemed to prioritize functionality over elegance.

His physique was lean but muscular, and he moved with a fluid grace that suggested both agility and strength.

His sandy blonde hair was messy, and his face was marked by a slight stubble of a few days, giving him a rugged yet approachable look.

His eyes were a clear, bright blue, shining with a keen intelligence that contrasted with his otherwise relaxed demeanor.

The fifth and final figure was a middle-aged man, with a serene expression and an affable presence.

He was dressed in a dark blue uniform tunic, and his hair was gray, short, and neatly kept.

His face was lined with a few smile wrinkles, and his green eyes conveyed a sense of calm and understanding.

His demeanor was that of someone who had accumulated much wisdom over the years, and his bearing reflected an air of tranquility and openness.

As the five examiners took their positions, a respectful silence fell over the room.

From the expressions on many participants' faces, Ethan could tell that they knew who these figures were.

For Ethan, on the other hand, it was difficult to know the names of the various important figures in the pavilion, let alone their faces.

He had only recently entered the world of alchemy, and since then, the only thing he had done was produce pills and make as much money as he could.

He hadn't bothered to learn more about the various famous alchemists of Sun City.

And why should he?

After all, knowing their names wouldn't be of much help to him since he would still have to produce the pills himself.

He doubted that someone like him, without any connections, could gain any advantage from these experts.

But this didn't mean that he didn't recognize any of these five figures.

In fact, the figure who would be overseeing the first row of examinees was someone Ethan knew very well.

"It seems that even Expert Li will be participating in the evaluation of this exam," he said to himself.

Yes, the familiar person to Ethan was none other than the examiner from the last time, who had supervised the test to become an apprentice alchemist.

Ethan was currently in the middle of the third row, so he hadn't noticed him immediately.

At that moment, the man standing in front of the central row, which was row three, spoke:

"Welcome to the adept alchemist test," he began with a deep, authoritative voice.

"I am Master Liang, and I will be one of your examiners today.

What you are about to face is not just a test of your theoretical knowledge, but a trial of your practical skills and alchemical ingenuity."

"Until now, you have only studied the basics of alchemy.

You have learned the fundamentals, the theories, and the principles that govern our art.

However, today, you will take your first real step into the world of alchemy.

From here on, it is no longer just about theoretical knowledge but practical skill.

You will have to demonstrate your ability to apply what you have learned."

"Today's test involves creating Basic Recovery Pills using the materials provided by the Alchemy Pavilion.

You will have five attempts, and you must succeed in at least three of them to pass the test.

If you fail more than twice, you will be eliminated.

If the quality of the pills you create does not meet the minimum standards of a low-grade pill, you will be eliminated.

If you attempt to cheat, you will be eliminated and barred from retaking the test for at least a year."

He paused, carefully observing the participants' faces.

At this, the participants shuddered.

If someone was caught cheating, although they would have the chance to retake the test after a year, they would still be labeled as untrustworthy.

The label of a cheater would follow them, even if they achieved good results in the future, so no one, no matter how poor their refining skills, would attempt to cheat in the test.

It wasn't worth sacrificing one's credibility as an alchemist from the start.

For an alchemist, credibility was very important, as it directly influenced their business.

No one wanted to dig their own grave so soon, especially since with five expert alchemists present, it would be almost impossible to attempt any cheating.

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FRANK_LEE_JUNIOR:

Here's today's chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

I will upload another chapter for you in a few hours, as a way to commemorate the fact that we have nearly reached 200 collections. (?O?O)?? ???

As usual, if you have any comments, suggestions, or errors to report, do so below.

See you tomorrow with a new chapter.