Lin went on. “The assessment lasts one day. Fail to refine successfully within it, and you fail the test.
Also, a reminder: more than three failures in pill refining means failure too.
No interference with each other. Focus solely on your cauldron. Each refines a different pill, so peeking avails nothing.
Begin now.”
As Tie Yun Shan, Ling Xiao, and Sikong Yue entered last, their number tags ran consecutive.
So did their cauldrons.
Tie Yun Shan glanced at Ling Xiao. “I care not whence you hail or what your name. When refining starts, do not disturb me. Fail as you might, keep it contained, or you will regret it after.”
Ling Xiao ignored her outright, leaving Tie Yun Shan snubbed.
She dared not strike here, lest disqualification. Even a fool restrained her temper.
Ling Xiao already checked his tools.
Once confirmed, he took up the pill name laid there.
In that instant, he frowned slightly.
Rage Burst Pill!
This Rage Burst Pill counted as standard Yellow-grade junior fare. It let Mortal realm or Heavenly Vein martial artists unleash potent combat power briefly.
Of course, post-burst came a lengthy weakness.
Ling Xiao had never refined it before. He found it rather superfluous; many special martial arts could substitute.
More crucially, refining the Rage Burst Pill demanded exquisite heat control, for it required infusing all medicinal power in a single instant.
Though Yellow-grade junior indeed, even mid-grade apothecaries faced high failure rates.
“Ling Xiao, skip that Rage Burst Pill. Swap it. You cannot succeed.”
Tie Mu said suddenly.
“Yes, likely our staff erred. The Rage Burst Pill’s effect is mere Yellow-grade junior, yet refining rivals mid-grade.”
Lin nodded too.
“No need.”
Ling Xiao shook his head.
For others, the Rage Burst Pill might prove tough. For him, no issue.
After all, his heat command was not merely superb, but near flawless.
“Hmph, pretend all you like. The president and my grandfather kindly advise, yet you heed not. Fail the test, and weep then.”
Tie Yun Shan snorted coldly and focused on her own refining.
In her eyes, Ling Xiao was an overreaching fool.
As for Sikong Yue, from start to end she spared no glance for other candidates. Her attention stayed fixed on her task.
“Ling Xiao, think carefully. Fail, and regret comes too late.”
Tie Mu warned.
“Thanks for the concern, Master Ironwood. I feel I possess the ability.”
Ling Xiao said.
“Very well then. Carry on.”
Since persuasion failed, and he had done his duty, no point pressing.
In selecting materials, others took three portions. Ling Xiao took one.
For him, one sufficed. More could not be carried away anyway. Why bother?
“What ails that lad? Only one portion? Does he mean to smash his own prospects?”
Seeing this, Lin frowned. “Who recommended him?”
“To the president: no recommendation letter. The door guards let him in.”
The green-clad woman answered.
“Nonsense. Fetch those two. I will question them myself.”
Lin now took Ling Xiao for a saboteur. Else, a sixteen-year-old boy refining the hardest Yellow-grade junior pill, with but one material portion? How to explain?
Did he truly hold such confidence?
“Old Lin, no need for such tension. His cultivation seems shy of Cave Heaven. Even if mischief, would he act so boldly?”
Tie Mu smiled.
“So you think he truly grasps the Rage Burst Pill at one go?”
Lin asked.
“Who knows? We shall see.”
Tie Mu could not say.
By now, those with materials mostly began refining, including Sikong Yue and Tie Yun Shan.
Their pills ranked average difficulty: not simplest, but simpler than Ling Xiao’s Rage Burst Pill.
One could tell Tie Mu and Lin played fair.
Boom!
Just then, a blast echoed in the hall. A cauldron had exploded.
“Eliminated!”
Cauldron bursts were commonplace in apothecary tests.
Hence the recommendation letter rule.
Yet even with letters, true skill was no guarantee. Some helplessness there.
Soon five or six more burst outright, injuring themselves sorely and wasting materials.
For such, association rules demanded compensation.
Not the association to them.
They to the association!
This deterred future irresponsible rabble-rousers.
Bursts harmed none else.
Each candidate stood boxed in a minor array. Even a blast struck only the self, sparing others.
Perhaps the bursts distracted Lin and Tie Mu from Ling Xiao for the moment.
Five or six in a row was no small thing.
“President.”
“What?”
Lin’s mood soured, so his tone turned curt too when someone reported.
“The two guards, brought.”
The green-clad woman said awkwardly.
“You two, what possessed you? No letter, and you let him in? Fear not the chaos?”
Perhaps in temper, Lin’s voice rose.
This drew even Ling Xiao to pause his work and glance over.
The Rage Burst Pill posed him no trouble, so a brief delay mattered little.
“To the president: he wields Samadhi True Fire!”
The guard explained hastily.
“I care not for Samadhi True Fire. Wait, what? He wields Samadhi True Fire?”
Lin’s eyes widened like a bull’s. “You are certain?”
“No need for their surety, Old Lin. Look.”
Tie Mu suddenly pointed to Ling Xiao’s spot.
Lin turned. Beneath Ling Xiao’s cauldron roiled a scarlet flame, exuding fierce heat that dwarfed all nearby fires.
“Truly Samadhi True Fire!”
Lin cried in astonishment.
As association president, such loss of composure ill befitted him. But no helping it; he felt too stirred.
