“Continue to apply for the second-grade alchemist assessment?” Xiao Yan’s words not only left Frank and Otto dumbfounded, but even Xue Mei and Lin Fei on the side stopped their actions, lifting their heads with wide, startled eyes, their red lips slightly parted, staring at the young man on the stone platform. In the hall, all eyes were fixed on the young man. If Xiao Yan’s smooth passage through the first-grade alchemist assessment had filled them with awe, his current application was truly jaw-dropping. A nineteen-year-old first-grade alchemist, although rare, was not unheard of in the Jia Ma Empire, but a nineteen-year-old second-grade alchemist—now that was an extremely rare gem. After all, even Gu He, the Pill King of the Jia Ma Empire, had only just become a first-grade alchemist at that age.
If Xiao Yan were to successfully pass the second-grade alchemist assessment today, wouldn’t it mean that his future achievements would surpass even those of Pill King Gu He?
“Heaven… We might be witnessing a monster rising from the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild,” someone in the hall muttered, looking around, then chuckled softly.
“You… don’t underestimate the conditions for the second-grade alchemist assessment. To pass, you need to not only concoct second-grade pills but also possess a strength of a Dou Shi. Dou Shi! Have you reached that level?” Lin Fei, turning her head to look at the young man with a smile, couldn’t help but frown, her eyebrows knit together.
“A Dou Shi, huh…” Smiling lightly, Xiao Yan looked at Lin Fei’s beautiful face and said cheerfully, “I just want to give it a try. Whether I pass or not, it’s not too big of a deal.”
“Are you really going to retake the second-grade alchemist assessment?” Frank and Otto exchanged glances after hearing Lin Fei’s words, and seeing that Xiao Yan still showed no signs of giving up, they asked in a low voice.
“Shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Scratching his head, Xiao Yan smiled and replied.
“How confident are you?” Otto’s expression was slightly serious. If this young man really passed the second-grade alchemist assessment, he would be a remarkable talent, perhaps even becoming a more formidable alchemist than Pill King Gu He in the future!
This would undoubtedly be a shocking news for the alchemy world of the Jia Ma Empire.
“Uh… fifty percent, I guess.” Xiao Yan pursed his lips and, after analyzing his success rate for concocting second-grade pills, gave a conservative estimate. Fearing to sound too confident, his figure was somewhat restrained. However, even this conservative figure made Otto and Frank’s bodies shake slightly, and the expressions of others changed subtly. The failure rate for concocting second-grade pills was quite high. Even the present alchemists here couldn’t guarantee a success rate of over fifty percent!
Yet, the young man before them was saying this with a smile. Instantly, the several second-grade alchemists in the hall felt a hint of doubt. Clearly, they didn’t entirely believe Xiao Yan’s words, even with his strange flame!
“Fifty percent…” Xue Mei muttered to herself, turning her head slightly to look at the young man’s tall figure, thinking, “Is this guy too arrogant?”
“Well? Can we continue with the assessment? If it’s not possible, then forget it. I’m just passing through Black Rock City for now. If there’s a chance, I’ll go to another place next time.” Seeing that Frank and Otto didn’t respond, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly and said.
“Wait!” Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Frank hurriedly spoke. It was a perfect opportunity for the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild to show off in front of their peers, so he couldn’t let Xiao Yan go to another city to take the assessment, as that would be like giving away this opportunity to someone else.
“Someone, prepare the second-grade alchemist assessment immediately!” Frank and Otto exchanged glances again, both seeing a glimmer of excitement in each other’s eyes. Frank waved his hand and called out.
Hearing this, a few alchemists behind him quickly stepped forward and hurried into a side door of the hall, where the sign read ‘Second-Grade Alchemist Assessment Room.’
“Alright, I’ll let you continue the assessment. Kid, don’t fool us old guys.” Clapping his hands, Frank turned to Xiao Yan and smiled.
“I’ll do my best… By the way, I heard that if you pass the assessment and register with the guild, you can enjoy some privileges, right?” Stepping out of the stone platform, Xiao Yan asked with a smile.
“Haha, yes, alchemists always need all sorts of rare and strange ingredients, and it’s impossible for one person to gather them all every day. So, if you register with our Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Guild, you can enjoy the privilege of exchanging… For example, if you’re lacking an ingredient for a certain pill and another alchemist has it, under willing conditions, the guild can facilitate the exchange. Of course, the prerequisite is that you must offer something of value to the other party.” Frank nodded and explained with a smile. “Of course, the higher your rank, the more privileges you can enjoy. So, to smoothly obtain the items you need, you should strive to improve your rank.”
“That’s a great thing…” Xiao Yan’s face lit up, nodding. This measure of the Alchemist Guild would save many alchemists a lot of time. And he, at the moment, was lacking some critical items. After passing the assessment, he would have Frank help him check if anyone had what he needed, and if so, he would do his utmost to get it!
“Okay, the second-grade alchemist assessment is set up. Follow me.” Turning his head, Frank saw several alchemists coming out of the small room. Seeing them nod at him, he smiled and said.
“Sure.” Xiao Yan nodded and followed Frank towards the small room. Otto also followed closely. As he entered, he turned and smiled at the people outside, “The second-grade alchemist assessment is different from the first-grade. So, you can’t just enter. Wait outside; we’ll know the result soon.”
“Teacher… Let me go in and see, please.” Hearing Otto’s words, Lin Fei’s pretty face grew anxious, and she rushed up, tugging at Otto’s sleeve, pleading cutely.
“It’s the guild’s rule. I can’t do anything about it. Just wait outside.” Shaking his head helplessly, Otto gently shook off Lin Fei, who took a step back, and quickly entered the room, closing the door with a loud thud.
“Hmph, so what? If I can’t see, I won’t see.” Staring at the closed door, Lin Fei pouted and mumbled unhappily.
Turning around, Lin Fei looked at Xue Mei’s calm face, walked a few steps, and whispered by her side, “Do you think he can succeed?”
“How should I know? Didn’t he say he had a fifty percent chance? That seems pretty good, right?” Glancing at Lin Fei, Xue Mei replied coolly.
Pouting, Lin Fei leaped gracefully, sitting on the stone platform, her long legs, revealed under her purple robe, swaying, drawing the gaze of some men in the hall.
“Sigh, I thought it was impressive enough that we became first-grade alchemists in two years, but this guy who suddenly appeared is even more monstrous. He’s younger than us and has the qualifications to take the second-grade assessment. Isn’t that too much of a blow?” Turning her head, Lin Fei said helplessly, looking at her longtime rival.
Hearing this, Xue Mei’s calm face also showed a hint of meaning, and she sighed softly, “It really is a blow.”
“Didn’t you say that no one in the younger generation of Black Rock City could surpass you? Now, someone has appeared. I remember you said you’d…”
Xue Mei’s pretty face blushed slightly, and her beautiful eyes flashed with a sly gleam as she smiled at Lin Fei, “Sorry, he’s not from Black Rock City.”
“You’re so ruthless…” Pouting, Lin Fei smoothed her hair, smiling, “But with his talent, it wouldn’t be a loss for you. Although your teacher is a big figure in Black Rock City, you should know that to teach such a prodigy, his teacher must be incredibly strong.”
“Not interested. You like him, go ahead. Master Otto is a famous alchemist on par with my teacher, and your father is the mayor of Black Rock City.” Xue Mei smiled, her indifferent words making Lin Fei clench her teeth.
“Tsk… My suitors line up outside the city for miles. I don’t have the interest to pursue him.” Lin Fei pouted and laughed.
Smiling faintly, Xue Mei raised her eyebrows slightly, her gaze turning to the door as she quietly clenched her fists, whispering, “They’re coming out.”
“Is the assessment over?” Hearing this, Lin Fei’s spirits lifted, and she quickly turned to the door. The wooden door creaked open, and Frank and Otto emerged first, exchanging a glance and shaking their heads with a sigh.
Seeing their expressions, Lin Fei and Xue Mei furrowed their brows, did he fail?
“This kid’s alchemy talent is truly astonishing. We can’t help but admire him.” Frank shrugged, smiling, “It looks like our Black Rock City Alchemist Guild will have the youngest second-grade alchemist in nearly a century…”
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