CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35: SECOND GRADE ALCHEMIST

"Has it succeeded..."

The commotion on Qu Luoning’s side clearly caught Ji Chen’s attention.

He looked over, watching the elixir that Qu Luoning took from the Pill Furnace.

It must be said, the Eldest Princess’s alchemical talent is indeed quite impressive. To become a Second Grade Alchemist at the age of twenty-three is rare even in a small place like the Chu Kingdom.

However, she can’t be compared to Ji Chen.

In his past life, Ji Chen was already able to refine Ninth Grade elixirs at only twenty years old.

For this examination, Qu Luoning refined a Second Grade elixir known as the ’Recovery Pill,’ a common elixir that quickly restores Spiritual Qi. Compared with other Second Grade elixirs, it’s relatively simple to refine.

It’s no wonder that Qu Luoning managed to refine the elixir so quickly.

"Buzz..."

Another fluctuation arose, and soon after, a fifty-year-old elder also successfully refined his elixir.

He had also refined a Recovery Pill and achieved success shortly after Qu Luoning.

The two of them succeeded consecutively, passing the examination and becoming Second Grade Alchemists.

Now, in the field, only Ji Chen was still refining.

It’s not that his mastery isn’t enough, but the Calamity-Breaking Pill is extremely intricate to refine, with a difficulty ten times that of the Recovery Pill.

As such, the refining process requires more time.

"Why is it still ongoing?"

Many in the audience began growing impatient.

Most of them had placed bets on Ji Chen failing the examination.

They only wanted him to finish soon so they could collect their Spirit Stone winnings.

But as time passed, not only did Ji Chen show no sign of failure, the fragrance emanating from his Pill Furnace grew even more intense.

"Could it really succeed?"

The speaker was a young man, the one who had set up the betting previously.

He was a Young Master of a large family in Celestial Essence City, otherwise he wouldn’t have the authority to hold the bet.

With the increasing aroma from Ji Chen’s Pill Furnace, he couldn’t help but get excited.

Although the odds for Ji Chen passing were one in a hundred, more people bet on his failure. If Ji Chen actually passes the examination, he might earn nearly a thousand Spirit Stones!

"Still not failed?"

"Could he really succeed?"

"No way! I’ve bet a hundred Spirit Stones, my entire fortune!"

...

Amid the crowd’s discussions, suddenly, Ji Chen, sitting cross-legged in front of the Pill Furnace, showed a subtle expression.

The next moment, he just let out a light cry.

Soon, the Pill Furnace trembled, and after the fire within gradually extinguished, a perfectly crafted Calamity-Breaking Pill was taken out by Ji Chen.

"Although it consumed a lot of my Spiritual Power, I managed to refine it after all." Looking at the elixir in his hand, he smiled and then stood up to present it to the examiner of the Second Grade assessment for verification.

Soon, the results were out. After an inspection, the examiner announced there were no issues with the Calamity-Breaking Pill Ji Chen had refined.

This meant he successfully passed the examination!

"This can’t be!"

"My Spirit Stones... My hundred Spirit Stones!"

The entire venue was in an uproar, everyone was in shock and disbelief.

Some were almost in tears, having gambled their entire fortune.

"Could it be... he succeeded?"

Qu Luoning, who had not left, witnessed Ji Chen’s entire refining process after completing her Recovery Pill.

Now, with the results in, she was frozen in place, feeling the scene before her was unreal.

An eighteen or nineteen-year-old Second Grade Alchemist had truly emerged!

"The Second Grade assessment is over. All who passed, please proceed to the fifth floor of the Anomaly Pavilion. The Pavilion Master will personally issue your Alchemist credentials."

With this announcement, Ji Chen soon left under the crowd’s gaze, heading to the fifth floor of the Anomaly Pavilion.

"You really are well-hidden, having truly refined the Calamity-Breaking Pill and becoming a genuine Second Grade Alchemist."

En route, Qu Luoning accompanied him, looking dazedly at the white-robed youth beside her.

Even now, Qu Luoning found it hard to believe.

"Luck was on my side," Ji Chen said with a smile.

Qu Luoning naturally wouldn’t believe such nonsense. At this moment, she could sense that behind this decadent Young Sect Leader lurked an unknown secret.

It seemed that the Royal Family’s information regarding Ji Chen, and even the Lingyun Sect, was outdated.

...

Meanwhile, elsewhere in a teahouse outside the Anomaly Pavilion.

Nie Yuan and Lu Ren had already arrived.

They had left after Ji Chen passed the First Grade examination and were unaware of Ji Chen’s recent Second Grade achievement.

"Young Sect Leader, what should we do now? Ji Chen has become a First Grade Alchemist. If we wish to make a move against him, we must consider the Alchemy Master Alliance’s stance," Lu Ren frowned.

Hearing this, Nie Yuan remained silent for a moment before coldly snorting, "He’s just a First Grade Alchemist. Even with some talent, it’s nothing. As long as we handle things cleanly, no one will know."

"The Great Elder should be arriving soon. According to his letter, he instructed us to wait here. Previously, Song Chengyuan’s cultivation was abolished by the Lingyun Sect, infuriating the Great Elder. He harbors deep resentment towards the Lingyun Sect. With him personally coming, Ji Chen won’t return to the Lingyun Sect alive."

...

Meanwhile, while Nie Yuan and Lu Ren were talking.

Ji Chen, along with Qu Luoning and others who passed the examination, had already reached the fifth floor of the Anomaly Pavilion.

Upon hearing the news, even Dan King Zhuang Miao couldn’t contain his surprise.

Clearly, Ji Chen passing the Second Grade was beyond Zhuang Miao’s expectations.

However, recalling that Ji Chen mentioned adding Hidden Spirit Grass to enhance the Qi Refining Pill’s effects, it wasn’t surprising.

Now, Zhuang Miao was even more curious about the supposed ’wise master’ behind Ji Chen.

He wanted to know what kind of existence was hidden within the Chu Kingdom?

The ability to transform a disreputable Young Sect Leader into a Second Grade Alchemist, this master’s accomplishments must rival his own!

Soon, Ji Chen received the Second Grade Alchemist credentials, officially becoming a Second Grade Alchemist of the Alchemy Master Alliance.

This news spread swiftly and would soon be known throughout the Chu Kingdom.

The story of a notorious, decadent Young Sect Leader suddenly transforming into a Second Grade Alchemist would be hard for anyone to believe.