169: Pre-conference testing

The long list was densely packed with at least twenty or thirty names, each followed by simple information: affiliated power, Alchemist rank (estimated), specialized area, and past achievements (if any).

This was an internal prediction ranking of the seeded contestants for the Alchemist Convention.

Mo Yuhan's gaze quickly swept over it.

Sure enough, in a very prominent position, he saw several familiar names:

Liu Ling: Yunlan Sect, Pill King Gu He's direct disciple, a Third-Grade Alchemist (suspected to be on the verge of breaking through to Fourth-Grade), the biggest favorite to win the championship. Specializes in: exquisite flame control, high pill formation rate, mastery of various secret pill formulas passed down by Gu He.

Following closely was:

Little Princess Yaoyue: Gama Imperial Family, Great Master Vice President Chemier's top disciple, a Peak Second-Grade Alchemist. Specializes in: refined purification of medicinal ingredients, keen Mental Energy perception, and abundant Imperial Family resources.

Further down, there were other geniuses from other Empires and major powers, as well as some rising young Alchemists within the Gama Empire. Mo Yuhan's gaze finally settled on a name:

Yan Xiao: Registered with the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild, Second-Grade in rank, deeply hidden strength, good potential. Remarks: Low-key movements, very little information.

Mo Yuhan understood in his heart that Yan Xiao was Xiao Yan.

Otto saw Mo Yuhan reading intently and quietly added, "This list is considered an internal 'assessment' by the Alchemist Guild for the contestants recommended by us branch presidents.

This is the last internal prediction before the convention; outsiders are unaware of its existence.

The Alchemist Guild's higher-ups want to see how good our old eyes are.

If we can't even recognize everyone on this list, or if we severely misjudge the strength of the opponents within it, then..."

He paused, saying meaningfully, "It's also an evaluation of the recommender's own dereliction of duty. So, take a good look and get a clear idea. Especially those ranked at the top, they are all tough nuts to crack."

Mo Yuhan nodded solemnly, carefully putting away the list: "This disciple understands, thank you, Great Master Otto."

Just then, a slightly aged but robust voice sounded from a passage on the side of the hall: "Frank, Otto, you two old fellows, why didn't you come to my place first? And you few youngsters you recommended, come with me, the last internal small test is about to begin."

Everyone looked over at the sound, only to see an old man dressed in an Alchemist robe standing there.

The old man had a gaunt face, his white hair neatly combed, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, and the badge on his chest was clearly a Fifth-Grade!

Beside him stood several people, including the Little Princess Yaoyue who had just left. When she saw Mo Yuhan, her eyes flickered, then she haughtily lifted her chin again.

There was also a young man dressed in a moon-white robe, with a handsome face and an air of aloofness and arrogance, who was Liu Ling.

In addition, there were two or three other young Alchemists whose auras were not weak.

And slightly behind the crowd, a figure dressed in an ordinary black robe, with a deliberately plain face, carrying a huge black ruler on his back, stood quietly. It was Xiao Yan, using the alias Yan Xiao.

"Vice President Vice President Chemier!" Frank and Otto quickly stepped forward to salute. Mo Yuhan also saluted along with the others.

Vice President Chemier's gaze lingered on Mo Yuhan, who was behind Frank and Otto, for a moment, with a hint of scrutiny, evidently having heard about the commotion at the entrance.

He nodded slightly: "Hmm, is everyone here? Then follow me."

The group followed Vice President Vice President Chemier, passing through several heavily guarded corridors, and arrived at a relatively enclosed and quiet hall.

In the center of the hall were several long tables, each with an identical hourglass and a stone platform, on which were several identical sets of medicinal ingredients.

Vice President Chemier walked to the front of the group, his gaze sweeping over the approximately ten young Alchemists, including Mo Yuhan, Princess Yao Yue, Liu Ling, and Yan Xiao—these were all the seeded contestants recommended by the various branch presidents.

He announced the rules in a steady voice: "The rules are simple. Do you see the stone platforms in front of you? On them are three portions of 'ironwood spirit leaf'. This is a Third-Grade medicinal ingredient with a hard texture and stubborn impurities."

He pointed to the hourglass on the table: "The hourglass takes one hour to completely run out. What you need to do is to use your flames and Mental Energy to refine and purify these three portions of ironwood spirit leaf as much as possible before the hourglass runs out! The more times you refine it, and the higher the purity, the better!"

"Remember," Vice President Chemier's voice grew a few shades heavier, carrying an undeniable authority, "those who fail to complete the refinement before the hourglass runs out will be eliminated! Even if completed, if the purity of the final refined medicinal essence does not meet the minimum required standard of us judges, it will also be considered a failure!

And the price of failure is the loss of eligibility to participate in this Alchemist Convention!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became solemn.

Aside from a few confident individuals who maintained their arrogant composure, Little Princess Yaoyue's small face also showed a hint of nervousness, Yan Xiao's (Xiao Yan's) eyes slightly narrowed, while Mo Yuhan still maintained his calm demeanor.

The other less confident contestants even had their breathing quicken.

This seemingly simple refinement was in fact a cruel elimination round.

It tested the Alchemist's most fundamental basic skills: flame control ability, precise manipulation of Soul Power, understanding of medicinal ingredient properties, and refinement speed.

"Alright, everyone to your positions. The test begins!"

Vice President Vice President Chemier gave the command, simultaneously activating all the hourglasses!

Swish!

Almost at the instant the command fell, ten flames of varying colors and strengths simultaneously rose from the contestants' palms.

The temperature in the hall suddenly rose.

Liu Ling's movements were the most elegant and composed. A light green flame rose from his palm, extremely high in temperature, and the flame danced with a nimble rhythm, clearly indicating his exquisite flame control technique.

He flicked a finger, and a portion of ironwood spirit leaf was thrown into the flame, beginning a smooth and flowing refinement.

Little Princess Yaoyue's palm held a bright yellow flame, and its temperature was also not low. Her movements carried a hint of a maiden's briskness, but her eyes were exceptionally focused, clearly indicating that Vice President Chemier's teaching had made her put in hard work on her basic skills.

Yan Xiao's (Xiao Yan's) palm flame showed a strange deep yellow color, carrying a sense of weight. His movements were unpretentious but exceptionally stable. The flame enveloped the ironwood spirit leaf, beginning a slow and powerful burning.

From Mo Yuhan's palm rose a fiery red flame, which was formed from his own Dou Qi.

He did not use a strange flame, and even deliberately suppressed the flame's temperature and intensity, as this was just a test, no need to be too serious.

His movements appeared standard, neither fast nor slow. He placed a portion of ironwood spirit leaf into the flame, his Soul Power like invisible tentacles, meticulously sensing the changes in the leaf within the flame, guiding the flame to remove the stubborn impurities within it.