181: Invigilator

Jiang Donghua stood on the high platform in the Alchemy Department hall, toying with the Fifth-Grade Soul Condensing Pill in his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Forget it, in exchange for this good thing, I'll forgive that old fellow this once."

He looked down at the bustling crowd below, raising an eyebrow involuntarily.

The hall was packed with black-robed alchemy apprentices; their chests were bare, without even a pill pattern, meaning they weren't even First-Grade Alchemists.

But today, if they could successfully refine the designated pill for the assessment, they would officially be promoted to First-Grade Alchemist, their status instantly changing drastically!

"Tsk tsk, these guys are so nervous their hands are shaking!"

Jiang Donghua's gaze swept over the crowd, seeing many apprentices clutching their medicine bags tightly, sweat beading on their foreheads, muttering to themselves, clearly reciting the Pill Formula steps.

Suddenly, his gaze stopped on a slender young man.

The young man looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, his face pale, but his eyes were exceptionally firm, and he wasn't flustered like the others; instead, he quietly checked the Medicine Cauldron and medicinal ingredients in front of him, his movements meticulous.

"Oh? Interesting."

Just as Jiang Donghua was about to take a closer look, a sudden commotion arose behind him.

"Look! It's Elder Mo Xuan!"

"Oh my god, three of the Ten Great Elders actually came!"

Elder Mo Xuan was seen walking slowly with two other Alchemy Department Elders; as they passed, apprentices bowed their heads in greeting, their eyes full of reverence.

Elder Mo Xuan walked up to Jiang Donghua and whispered,

"Stinky Kid, what are you spacing out for? The assessment is about to begin!"

Jiang Donghua snapped back to reality and chuckled.

"Master, you've come personally to supervise the exam?"

Elder Mo Xuan snorted.

"Isn't it because I'm afraid you'll slack off!"

After speaking, he turned to face everyone and announced loudly,

"Today's First-Grade Alchemist assessment will be based on the Pill Formula in the jade box before you!"

As soon as his voice fell, a wail of lamentation immediately erupted in the hall.

"windwalk pill?! Oh no, oh no, wind-attribute pills are what I'm worst at!"

"This pill requires too precise control over the heat; I failed three times last time I practiced!"

Jiang Donghua listened to everyone's complaints, the smile on his lips deepening.

Elder Mo Xuan glanced at him, a hint of slyness flashing in his eyes, and continued,

"The assessment time is two hours; those who successfully refine the pill will be promoted to First-Grade Alchemist!"

"Now—the assessment begins!"

With a command, all the apprentices immediately sprang into action, and the sounds of flames rising and falling instantly filled the hall.

Jiang Donghua stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze once again falling on the slender young man.

The young man calmly ignited his flame and placed the wind spirit grass into the Medicine Cauldron, his movements fluid and graceful, subtly showing a touch of masterly style.

"This kid is not simple."

Just as Jiang Donghua was secretly praising him, a loud bang suddenly came from a corner of the hall.

"Boom!"

One of the apprentices' Medicine Cauldrons exploded!

Amidst the rolling black smoke, the apprentice's face was charred black, on the verge of tears.

Jiang Donghua shook his head and sighed.

"The heat was too fierce, the wind spirit grass burned directly to ash. It seems not many will pass this assessment."

Elder Mo Xuan had appeared beside him at some point and whispered,

"Stinky Kid, the Pill Formula you wrote is quite vicious; even I didn't expect the windwalk pill to stump so many people."

Jiang Donghua shrugged, looking innocent.

"Master, didn't you say it shouldn't be too simple?"

Elder Mo Xuan laughed heartily, patting his shoulder vigorously.

"Good! Very good! That's more like my Disciple!"

Jiang Donghua also chuckled, but his gaze never left the slender young man.

He was very curious if this seemingly unremarkable apprentice could bring him a surprise.

Mainly, he had never seen this face in the Alchemy Department before.

Seeing Jiang Donghua staring at the young man, Elder Mo Xuan couldn't help but cough twice and said with a smile,

"What? You also see that the kid isn't simple?"

Jiang Donghua nodded, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"His foundation is solid, and his technique is seasoned; he doesn't seem like an alchemy apprentice at all, but rather an old hand who has refined pills countless times."

Elder Mo Xuan stroked his beard and smiled.

"This kid is indeed interesting. I heard he started dabbling in alchemy at fourteen and could independently refine semi-finished pills at fifteen."

Before he could finish speaking, a cold snort suddenly came from the side.

"Hmph, that's natural. The person I brought back to Jia Nan Academy wouldn't be mediocre, would he?"

Jiang Donghua turned his head and saw a female Elder in a plain white robe with a cold and beautiful face, arms crossed, looking at the young man in the arena with a hint of arrogance.

Elder Ice Red, one of the Ten Great Elders of the Alchemy Department, was cold and arrogant, rarely praising anyone, but once she approved, it meant extremely high talent!

Elder Mo Xuan laughed heartily and patted Jiang Donghua's shoulder.

"Stinky Kid, this is a talent Elder Ice Red personally brought back from outside. Putting everything else aside, he really has some skills!"

Jiang Donghua's heart stirred. No wonder the young man was so composed; he was someone Elder Ice Red valued!

Elder Ice Red glanced at Jiang Donghua and said indifferently,

"Jiang Donghua, I heard the Pill Formula for this assessment was written by you?"

Jiang Donghua quickly cupped his hands.

"Replying to Elder, it was indeed written by this Disciple."

Elder Ice Red nodded slightly.

"The windwalk pill was a good choice. It tests both fire control and the Soul Power's mastery over wind-attribute medicinal ingredients. If one can successfully refine it, they are indeed qualified to be promoted to First-Grade Alchemist."

Jiang Donghua was secretly delighted; it wasn't easy to gain Elder Ice Red's approval!

However, Elder Ice Red's next sentence made his smile freeze.

"However, if he fails, your Pill Formula will have to be rewritten."

Elder Mo Xuan, beside him, was stifling a laugh, clearly already familiar with Elder Ice Red's temperament.

Jiang Donghua was helpless and could only give a dry chuckle.

"Elder, rest assured, this Disciple has confidence in his Pill Formula."

Elder Ice Red remained noncommittal, her gaze simply returning to the young man, and she said indifferently,

"Then let's wait and see."

Jiang Donghua also looked into the arena, where the young man had already completed the extraction of the wind spirit grass and was now fully focused on controlling the heat, slowly integrating the light spirit flower into the medicinal liquid.

His movements were extremely precise, every step seemingly honed through thousands of trials, without a single superfluous action.

"Is this guy really just an alchemy apprentice?"

Jiang Donghua was surprised.

Suddenly, the young man's brows furrowed slightly, as if he sensed something. With a gentle flick of his finger, the flame instantly weakened by a third, and the medicinal liquid in the Medicine Cauldron stabilized accordingly.

"Such keen perception!"

Jiang Donghua couldn't help but praise.

Elder Ice Red's lips curved upward almost imperceptibly for a moment, but she quickly reverted to her cold and arrogant demeanor.

Elder Mo Xuan, meanwhile, leaned over to Jiang Donghua's ear with a smile and whispered,

"Stinky Kid, now you know there's always someone better, right? This kid is Lin Chen. Ice Red found him half a month ago in a remote small town. They say he was born with exceptionally powerful Soul Power, but just lacked systematic training."

Jiang Donghua suddenly understood; no wonder Elder Ice Red valued him so much!

Just then, Lin Chen in the arena suddenly clapped his hands together, and the flame in the Medicine Cauldron surged, a faint green pill fragrance wafting out!

"The pill is formed?!"

Everyone exclaimed.

Lin Chen flipped his palm, and a round, green pill flew out of the Medicine Cauldron, landing steadily in his palm.

windwalk pill—successfully refined!

Moreover, a pill pattern was faintly visible on the surface of the pill!

"A pill pattern?! To get a pill pattern on the first attempt at refining a windwalk pill?!"

The entire hall erupted in an uproar!

Elder Ice Red finally showed a hint of a satisfied smile and said indifferently,

"Not bad."

Jiang Donghua also couldn't help but applaud.

"Amazing!"