Chapter 104: Third-Level Alchemist

About half an hour later, flames erupted throughout the examination hall, and various scents wafted through the air.

Yan Qingye finally finished stuffing the immortal herbs.

The formal alchemy process began.

Though Yan Qingye's initial movements were slow, his later performance was truly dazzling.

The other candidates, focused on refining their pills, suddenly found their attention drawn to the golden-glowing teapot furnace.

Inside the teapot, a single pill was being refined, while outside, the golden furnace was synthesizing an entire batch.

The speed at which the pills were completed was astonishing.

The person nearby ceased their mockery, wearing an expression of disbelief.

Who would have thought that the once-ridiculed, unconventional alchemy furnace held such profound secrets?

“Focus on your own alchemy!”

At first, Zhuang Mo was also captivated by the peculiar furnace, but he quickly regained composure and promptly snapped the dazed candidates back to their senses.

If they continued to fixate on Yan Qingye’s work, it was only a matter of time before a furnace explosion occurred.

Upon hearing the sharp command, the candidates finally concentrated on their own work.

However, barely moments into their renewed focus, a commotion arose near Yan Qingye’s station.

Dark clouds began gathering above the teapot furnace.

The other candidates glanced again, now growing anxious.

The look in the nearby man’s eyes completely changed; he furrowed his brows and stopped watching Yan Qingye.

Zhuang Mo also turned his gaze back to Yan Qingye, remarking to the female alchemist beside him, “This youngster seems to have quite the talent.”

The female alchemist smiled and nodded, “He does seem promising.”

As three bolts of lightning struck, Yan Qingye’s pill was completed.

Three strikes meant three visible pill veins—the mark of a successful third-level alchemist.

Though the lightning had only struck the pill inside the teapot furnace and not the ones in the golden furnace, Yan Qingye was delighted.

It was no wonder he found this familiar pill easy to concoct.

Yan Qingye lifted the teapot lid and peered inside.

His expression instantly darkened.

The other alchemists watching him craned their necks to see what was amiss, puzzled by his reaction.

As an inspector, Xu Chang immediately approached Yan Qingye.

“What’s the matter?”

Yan Qingye quickly closed the teapot lid.

“I... this batch of pills doesn’t count.”

“Doesn’t count? Why?” Xu Chang was baffled. Those pills had been struck by three heavenly lightning bolts; why wouldn’t they count?

“Because... because they didn’t form properly,” Yan Qingye’s eyes darted nervously as he lied.

Xu Chang clearly didn’t believe him. “Nonsense. How could the lightning strike if the pill wasn’t formed? Open it, let me see.”

Yan Qingye locked eyes with him for a moment, then reluctantly lifted the lid again.

Xu Chang leaned in and was taken aback.

“This...”

“What’s wrong?” Zhuang Mo noticed something unusual and walked over, picking up the still-glowing teapot.

The teapot was hot to the touch, and Yan Qingye winced slightly.

But Zhuang Mo remained calm as he poured the pill out of the teapot.

Sure enough, the pill was the same as before—shaped exactly like the first time Yan Qingye refined the Resurrection Violet Pill.

Only this time, it looked even more vivid, with the lightning strikes tracing clear veins on its surface.

Zhuang Mo and Xu Chang exchanged stunned glances.

Suppressing his laughter, the man nearby burst out laughing but quickly covered his mouth to avoid drawing attention.

His face flushed red, he suddenly glanced at Yan Qingye with a newfound respect, thinking this fellow was truly something.

Yan Qingye blushed under the stranger’s inexplicable gaze.

He had shown off so confidently before Ming Chenyu and the others, but now, standing before alchemists from the Pill Refining Association, he felt bashful.

The female alchemist who had spoken to Zhuang Mo approached as well, lowering her gaze to the pill.

“This... although the shape is somewhat unconventional, it does exhibit three pill veins, and its effects seem superior to the usual form.”

Xu Chang nodded in agreement, “Indeed, its efficacy exceeds typical three-veined pills, but I doubt anyone would willingly consume it...”

The pill’s color was already very similar, and combined with its unusual shape...

Zhuang Mo’s expression changed the least; he calmly placed the pill back into the teapot and glanced at the recommendation letter on Yan Qingye’s desk.

He then announced, “Yan Qingye, Third-Level Alchemist, recommended by Lan Shi.”

“What?!” The man nearby was once again stunned.

As Zhuang Mo and the others walked away, the man hurried over and asked Yan Qingye, “You... you know Lord Lan Shi?”

Yan Qingye tidied the clutter on his desk and looked at the man curiously. “No, why?”

“Are you kidding? If you don’t know him, how did you get a recommendation letter from Lord Lan Shi?”

Yan Qingye picked up the letter and examined it. To be honest, he had never opened it since receiving it—it was merely required for entry into the exam.

“You mean this? My junior master gave it to me.”

“Your junior master? You know Lord Lan Shi?” The man grew excited and grabbed Yan Qingye’s arm.

Looking around, Yan Qingye pushed him away gently. “Focus on the exam.”

“Oh, right!” The man hurried back to his furnace, but his pills had already lost their shape and were clearly ruined.

When he looked back, Yan Qingye had already left the examination hall.

Outside, someone had prepared a pass for Yan Qingye, confirming his success.

“Here you go, Alchemist Yan.”

“Alchemist Yan?” Yan Qingye was overjoyed to hear this title.

“Yes, Alchemist Yan. In three days, we will prepare the official attire for novice alchemists at the Pill Refining Association. Please come by with this pass to collect it.”

“Alright, thank you.” Yan Qingye took the pass, rubbing it happily.

Thinking of the pill in the teapot furnace, he sighed in relief. “Looks like my father is only fit to keep this oddly shaped pill.”

He had already decided to take the pill home and give it to Yan Yaofeng to keep, replacing the strangely shaped pill he first refined, since this exam was the decisive start of his alchemical career—an event of great significance.

Unexpectedly, the pill’s form remained the same, only more vivid and detailed.

When Yan Qingye returned to the inn, neither You Xiyue nor Xue Yu were there; their whereabouts unknown. They had left a note on the table: “Develop well within the Pill Refining Association,” and nothing more.

Yan Qingye pocketed the note, looked at the pill in his hand, and resolved to use the next three days to visit his family and present the pill to his father.

He checked out of the inn and headed toward the Heavenly Tribulation Staircase.

Meanwhile, You Xiyue and Xue Yu were in another town of the Immortal Realm called Yangquan Town.

This town had been attacked by monsters half a month ago.

Coincidentally, that was around the same time Yan Qingye had encountered Yuan Yibai.