C9 Pill Refining Examination

Yang Xiao settled into a corner, but as if by design, Wang Zeyu and his group took seats directly across from him. Once everyone was seated, Medicine Master Yuu Lezhan stepped to the forefront of the stone table, hands clasped behind his back, and announced loudly,

"Ladies and gentlemen, the examination is about to commence. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask. If not, I will proceed to explain the rules of the exam, which you'll need to remember carefully."

After a brief pause and seeing no signs of confusion in the crowd, Yuu Lezhan gave a subtle nod to the Pill Boy, who confidently took his position behind the examinees, ready for the start.

"The Pill Refining Master examination consists of two rounds. The first round tests your ability to recognize a variety of medicinal herbs. All participants will perform this task simultaneously. It's a measure of your knowledge of Pill Refining Masters, your memory, and your soul's focus, which is linked to the strength of your soul. And remember, the power of your soul can determine the success or failure of pill refining."

The elder elaborated on the rules, but for Yang Xiao, it was all irrelevant. He found himself drifting into his thoughts.

"Before you are scrolls detailing over five thousand types of medicinal herbs. The Pill Boy behind you will keep track of each herb you identify and the total number you recognize."

Yuu Lezhan continued calmly, "Please take this examination seriously, as any form of cheating will not be tolerated. The Pill Refining Building is committed to recognizing true talent and will not overlook anyone with a natural gift for alchemy."

"The exam will last for one hour. Those who identify over a hundred types of medicinal herbs with at least an 80% accuracy rate will pass. Now, without further ado, I extend a warm welcome to those of you who will join our ranks as Pill Refining Masters!"

With an inviting gesture, Yuu Lezhan smiled at the group and declared, "The first round of the Pill Refining Master examination officially begins now."

No sooner had Yuu Lezhan finished speaking than the Pill Boys swiftly approached, unfolding the scrolls before the examinees to reveal an array of medicinal herbs.

Yang Xiao surveyed the booklet before him, and a thought crossed his mind, "Ah! I recognize all these medicinal herbs. This exam should be a breeze."

Wang Zeyu, seated across from Yang Xiao, noticed his furrowed brow and mistook it for confusion. He sneered, "Kid, I'd love to see how you're going to pass this exam. You can't even condense your Vital Spirit, and yet here you are, trying to take the Pill Refining Master's exam. You're living in a fantasy."

"Zeyu, let's not waste our energy on this loser. He'll show his true colors soon enough, and then everyone will see him for the failure he is. Haha, I wonder how he'll have the nerve to stick around after that."

"Right! We'll all have the pleasure of shaming him together. I can't wait to get even. This Yang family reject is physically inferior, and I bet his mind is just as weak. Out of over five thousand herbs, he might recognize a hundred if he's lucky. Without cheating, he wouldn't know ten."

"Your mouths are filthy. It looks like you're the ones in need of a lesson," Yang Xiao retorted coolly.

Taken aback by his response, Wang Zeyu and his companions exchanged surprised glances. It seemed the Yang family's 'reject' had snapped and was ready for a showdown.

"Silence during the examination," Pill Boy commanded sharply from behind them.

Wang Zeyu and the others fell silent, though they continued to mock Yang Xiao with their eyes.

Ignoring their taunts, Yang Xiao turned to Pill Boy and declared, "I'm prepared. Let's start."

Pill Boy gave a nod, and Yang Xiao turned to the first page of the booklet. He examined a dried, tangled herb and began, "Longyan Grass! Typically found on sheer cliffs, it's challenging to harvest. It possesses a yang quality and takes twenty years to mature. This herb is incredibly rare and is used to craft Grade Nine pills. Legend has it that Longyan Grass can prevent the death of those on the brink, but it cannot bring the dead back to life."

Pill Boy glanced at Yang Xiao with a hint of surprise, scribbling a note in his booklet before advising, "There's only an hour. No need to go into such detail. A brief explanation will suffice."

Yang Xiao nodded in agreement and turned the page of the tome he was studying. The illustration depicted a red fruit speckled with white dots.

"Flame Fruit! Typically harvested in sweltering climates, it has a Yang attribute. It matures in two years and can be used to concoct pills of Grade Three or lower."

Yang Xiao rattled off the information effortlessly, appearing quite at ease. In his past life, he had dedicated himself to mastering the art of alchemy, poring over texts that cataloged over five thousand varieties of herbs from the Eight-wasteland in pursuit of the Three-purity Wonderful Stage.

Pill Boy made another mark in his booklet and nodded, seemingly taken aback by Yang Xiao's rapid and smooth responses.

"Bundled Forest Leaf! These leaves shed from the Bundled Forest deep within the mountains. They grow within a year, have a mild nature, and are suitable for crafting pills of Grade Two and lower."

"Nine-Turn Spirit Worm, found only in the bitter cold. It takes ten years to mature, and its remains can be used to refine pills up to Grade Seven."

Without any pause, Yang Xiao briskly flipped through the pages, articulating each description with ease, much to Pill Boy's amazement.

"Damn, can this be real?" Wang Zeyu, Ye Kaifeng, and Zhao Lin inhaled sharply, struggling to believe their ears. "He can't be cheating, can he? Even reciting from memory shouldn't be this fluid!" Their astonishment was akin to witnessing a miracle.

"No way. That guy's usually so clueless. How can he recall such complex herbs with such ease? There must be a trick to it!"

"A dunce in martial arts but a prodigy in alchemy?" Ye Kaifeng questioned his own judgment.

Zhao Lin, however, dismissed the idea with a sneer, murmuring, "Perhaps he's just lucky, having come across herbs he's familiar with. Just wait; he'll soon show his true colors."

Ever since he began his cultivation journey, Yang Xiao had been concealing his Vital Spirit. Unless he wielded it in combat, discerning his true power was nearly impossible for others.

Until now, Wang Zeyu and his two companions still believed that Yang Xiao was the same person who, after more than a decade of cultivation, remained at the Essence Condensation Stage.

Yang Xiao, naturally, had no intention of revealing his transformation to the trio. In fact, he was already plotting to give them a stern lesson in manners should they dare to trouble him again after leaving the Pill Refining Building.

As time swiftly passed, half an hour had elapsed, and Wang Zeyu and his companions began to concentrate on their assessment. Unlike Yang Xiao, they were far from at ease. Each time they encountered a medicinal herb, they would ponder at length before managing to piece together a halting response.

"The Phoenix Branch typically grows near the mouth of a volcano. Harvesting it is perilous, and it requires two years to mature. It's used in the crafting of pills below Grade Five."

"The Fire Serpent Gallbladder is taken from the body of a rankless Fire Serpent. It matures in one year and is used to refine pills up to Grade Three."

"The Frost Nature Eagle's Blood comes from the Yellow Grade Demonic Beast. With its cold nature, it takes over six years to mature and can be used to refine pills below Grade Six."

Yang Xiao effortlessly recited the descriptions of various medicinal ingredients as he flipped through the pages. For newcomers to pill refining, memorizing such dry and complex information could be a daunting task. Yet, for Yang Xiao, the intricate properties and origins of the herbs were as simple as eating and drinking. Even if he had a manuscript in front of him to read from, he probably wouldn't be as fluent.

This performance left Wang Zeyu and his companions with their eyes wide in disbelief. Even the Pill Boy, a veteran of many assessments, was agape with astonishment.

The Grade Three Pill Refining Master seated at the forefront of the stone table also cast a surprised glance in Yang Xiao's direction. Yuu Lezhan, having witnessed countless assessments within the Pill Refining Building and seen many prodigies, had never before encountered someone as effortlessly adept as Yang Xiao.

"Ming Zhe, go and check that young man's records," Yuu Lezhan instructed a Pill Boy beside him, both shocked and delighted. He then turned back to Yang Xiao, his face breaking into a gratified smile.

"If all goes as planned, I'm set on securing this young man! It's my first encounter with someone so knowledgeable and skilled in medicinal herbs, surpassing even my own expertise in alchemy," Yuu Lezhan mused, his excitement growing within him.

With a heavy sigh, Yang Xiao turned another page. His lips were parched, and his brow furrowed as sweat beaded on his forehead.

Gazing at the booklet before him, Yang Xiao let out a knowing smile. He had come to realize that, despite its unassuming appearance, the booklet was imbued with substantial Vital Spirit.

Each time Yang Xiao identified a medicinal herb, he had to expend his own Vital Spirit and soul force. It was no wonder that he felt increasingly exhausted as he progressed. Clearly, passing this initial test would take more than mere rote memorization.

"Enough for now; passing will suffice," Yang Xiao told himself. He turned to the Pill Boy and inquired, "How many herbs have I identified?"

"Two hundred and four!" The Pill Boy responded, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"Hmm! Over a hundred more than necessary. I've shown too much of my hand; I must be more discreet," Yang Xiao reflected. He then set aside the booklet and informed the Pill Boy, "I've completed my identifications."

The Pill Boy nodded in acknowledgment. Feeling weary, Yang Xiao closed his eyes to rest.

As Yang Xiao finally ceased his efforts, Wang Zeyu, the other two individuals, and the examiners around them all breathed a collective sigh of relief. This fellow was defying all expectations. If he kept on at this pace, where would that leave the rest of them?

Nearly two hours had passed, and many of the examinees had already finished, leaving only a handful of pensive individuals still diligently working through their identifications.

When time was up, the Pill Boy declared the identification phase over. They collected the examinees' booklets and presented them to Yuu Lezhan.

"Take a short break while I review your answers," Yuu Lezhan instructed the group as he rose to his feet. He then immersed himself in the booklets, which had been sorted into two piles: one to his left for those who had passed and another to his right for those who had not.

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