CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: THE EXAMINATION BEGINS

At this moment, outside the room, a servant arrived.

He handed an intelligence report to Zhuang Miao.

Zhuang Miao opened it and his expression became even more intriguing, "Interesting..."

"Did something happen?" Qin Lan couldn’t help but ask.

Zhuang Miao smiled, then handed the report to the two of them for them to examine themselves.

"Liu Rong from Celestial Profound Sect died?"

"And... it was likely done by the Young Sect Leader?" Li Huayuan was shocked.

The Liu Rong they mentioned was the black-robed elder who tracked Ji Chen during the day.

"Although no one saw it firsthand, from the description in this report, Liu Rong most likely died at Ji Chen’s hands," Zhuang Miao spoke.

Li Huayuan frowned, "Isn’t this unlikely? Although the Young Sect Leader’s strength has improved significantly recently, Liu Rong is still a Vein Condensation Realm Eighth Layer powerhouse..."

Even Li Huayuan, who had the most contact with Ji Chen, found it hard to believe.

"It seems that behind this young fellow, there are many secrets we are unaware of."

Zhuang Miao squinted his eyes, "But anyway, interacting more with the Lingyun Sect in the future would not be bad for us."

Until late at night, Li Huayuan and Qin Lan bid farewell and left here.

...

The next day, Ji Chen awoke from his cultivation state.

He was sleepless all night, sitting and cultivating in place the entire night.

Now, Ji Chen’s cultivation finally broke through to the Vein Condensation Realm Fourth Layer.

"The Supreme Scripture truly lives up to the Great Emperor Scripture. In just over a month, it helped me grow from the Qi Refining Realm Eighth Layer to where I am now," Ji Chen muttered to himself.

In his previous life, he reached the Half-Saint Realm at twenty, mastering both pill and martial arts, thanks to the help of the Supreme Scripture.

This is the Ancient Scripture of the Great Emperor, the most supreme secret technique in the world, and most importantly, while cultivating with the Supreme Scripture, the intensity of spiritual power can also be enhanced to a certain extent.

Now, Ji Chen’s cultivation reached the Vein Condensation Realm Fourth Layer, and before this, he was already able to refine Fourth Grade Cloud-Breaking Pills.

According to Ji Chen’s own estimate, in at most half a year, his spiritual power strength should be sufficient to refine Fifth Grade elixirs.

That’s equivalent to possessing Fifth Grade Alchemy Dao proficiency.

This is quite an astounding achievement.

To know, in the entire Chu Kingdom, only the Pill King Zhuang Miao reached such a height.

Even looking at the entire Alchemy Master Alliance, those with Fifth Grade Pill Master proficiency definitely do not exceed two handfuls!

However, Ji Chen is aware of the principle of attracting attention when growing strong.

Before his strength truly develops, he obviously cannot easily expose these matters to avoid inviting unnecessary trouble.

Soon, he got up, washed simply, changed into a clean white garment, and then left his room.

Anomaly Pavilion Third Floor.

Shortly, Ji Chen arrived here.

At this moment, many people had already gathered on this third floor.

Because today is the day of the Pill Master assessment, and it is conducted right here on the Anomaly Pavilion’s third floor.

The whole space on the third floor is large enough to accommodate a thousand people.

Aside from those Pill Masters participating in the assessment, on the current third floor, there are also numerous experts from various families or sects to observe.

The assessment venue is divided into two sections, one for the First Grade assessment and the other for the Second Grade assessment.

Without exception, both places are now crowded with people.

As for the Third Grade and Fourth Grade assessments, they will be conducted on the Anomaly Pavilion’s fourth floor.

Relatively speaking, there will be even more spectators there, because those who can participate in Third Grade and Fourth Grade assessments, looking at the entire Chu Kingdom, are also high-ranking and influential figures, the key targets of family and sect recruitment.

Ji Chen also arrived at the First Grade assessment venue.

Compared to other grade assessments, clearly, more people participated in the First Grade assessment.

And due to the limited number of Alchemy Furnaces, only ten in total, each assessment can only allow ten people to proceed simultaneously.

After this round of ten people completes the assessment, the next batch is arranged for assessment.

The order of assessment is based on the numbers recorded on each person’s assessment certificate, from number one to ten, starting first, then sequentially onward.

Long before arriving at Celestial Essence City, Ji Chen got the assessment certificate from Qin Lan.

His number is twelve, meaning he is arranged for the second round of assessment.

"There are indeed many young people, but who among them will pass the assessment today?"

At the First Grade assessment venue, the gathering crowd couldn’t help but discuss in low voices.

Relatively speaking, among those participating in the First Grade assessment, at least half are youthful faces.

"Compared to previous years, there are noticeably more young people participating in the First Grade assessment this year, but few will truly pass the test."

This is no idle talk; becoming a true Alchemist is indeed not easy.

Most of the young people participating now are disciples trained by well-known Second or even Third Grade Alchemists.

Although they have been exposed to the Alchemy Dao for a few years, asking them to independently refine a First Grade elixir is rare.

"In recent years, except for the Eldest Princess, there seem to be very few young people who have actually gained the First Grade Pill Master certificate?"

"Speaking of the Eldest Princess... she is now about to become a Second Grade Alchemist, truly incredible."

"To have the qualification to ascend as a Second Grade Alchemist at such a young age, such a genius, besides the Eldest Princess, can you find another in Chu Kingdom in a hundred years?"

Many are discussing, unable to suppress their amazement at Qu Luoning’s astonishing talent.

"Now commencing the first round of assessment, evaluation participants holding numbers one to ten certificate, please enter."

As this voice fell, soon, ten people walked out of the crowd one after another. They moved to the Alchemy Furnaces numbered one through ten and began to prepare.

In this assessment, the Alchemy Master Alliance provided those participating in the First Grade assessment five types of First Grade elixirs to choose from, allowing any selection as long as they can produce one, then they successfully obtain the First Grade Alchemist certificate.

Ji Chen chose a First Grade elixir named ’Wind Travel Pill’ for participation.

Reportedly, consuming this elixir can temporarily accelerate movement speed, which is quite common and inexpensive in the market, and many cultivators consume it when traveling.