by Feng Yise
"Sun Keyun's refinement went smoothly. Without any accident, it should be a high-grade medicinal pill. But Xu Feng-er made a small mistake at the start of the refinement, Even though she corrected it right away, it definitely affected the quality of the Fierce Tiger Pill. At best, it can barely reach the high-grade standard. If later on she made another mistake, it wouldn't be surprising for it to become a middle-grade medicinal pill." Ye Yuan continued to analyze calmly.
"Did Xu Feng-er make a mistake? Why didn't I see it?"
"Your level is too low, so you can't see it."
"Ye Yuan! You!" If not for the fact that this was not the right place, Feng Zhirou would definitely stab him with her sword again.
. . . . . .
Xu Feng-er and Sun Keyun finished refining virtually at the same time. Furthermore, they succeeded with one try and only used an hour.
Among these two groups of students, they thoroughly deserved to be kings. It was already without any doubt that they passed the high-rank Alchemy Apprentice test.
What was left was seeing the quality of the medicinal pill that the two of them refined to determine who was better.
The two of them carried the medicinal pill that they refined and walked to the hall. Bowing towards the two old men, they said respectfully, "Master (Grandfather), please inspect."
But Wang Jinfu laughed and turned to Feng Ruoqing instead. "It naturally isn't nice for us to talk about our family. Can Miss Feng come and help us judge?"
Feng Ruoqing smiled lightly and said, "It's better to accept than to stand on ceremony."
Feng Ruoqing took the medicinal pill on Xu Feng-er's tray and inspected closely. "A high-grade Tier 1 medicinal pill, the Fierce Tiger pill. It was completed outstandingly and has reached the standard of high-grade."
Finishing, Feng Ruoqing did the same with Sun Keyun's medicinal pill, and said, "A high-grade Tier 1 medicinal pill, the Profound Clarity Pill. Similarly finished splendidly. The grade of the medicinal pill has also reached the standard of high-grade."
At a corner, Feng Zhirou's jaw dropped and looked at Ye Yuan as if she saw a ghost . . .
Chapter 61 - Opponent?
Along with Feng Ruoqing's mellow voice, the shock in Feng Zhirou's heart grew greater.
What Ye Yuan said earlier was no different from what Feng Ruoqing said!
One had to know that the light curtain only showed the herbal warehouse, and those herbs could only be vaguely seen. Some of them could not even be made out. At least, Feng Zhirou was unable to make it out.
But Ye Yuan actually guessed the medicinal pills the two girls were going to refine just by looking at the light curtain!
Just how did he do it?
"Haha. Don't be afraid of offending us two old crocks, Miss Feng. If there's anything, just say it. Our tolerance isn't small to that extent. Since I'm competing with Old Man Sun, there obviously needs to be a winner. In the end, there has to be a difference in quality between the medicinal pills refined by Feng-er and Keyun. Miss Feng doesn't need to have any misgivings; just say it."
Wang Jinfu knew that Feng Ruoqing did not want to offend both sides, which was why she said it as if the two girls fought to a draw.
But in reality, no matter how similar two people's Alchemy Dao prowess were, in the end, it was impossible for medicinal pills refined to be identical. That was because there were too many elements that could affect the finished product.
Feng Ruoqing gave a faint smile, before saying, "Then Chairman Wang and Chairman Sun mustn't blame this little girl, alright?"
"Don't say that! Since you were invited to be the judge, it wouldn't be reasonable to blame you."
Sun Jianming who had been keeping mum also voiced out.
"In reality, both Miss Feng-er and Miss Keyun are very outstanding. The two people's abilities are also on par. It's just that during Miss Feng-er's refinement process, there was a slight flaw, resulting in the medicinal pill to be slightly inferior in quality. I can see that this Fierce Tiger Pill's color is slightly dull. This should have been a result of a small error during the first step when tempering with fire." Feng Ruoqing's words were on point.
"Hahaha . . ." Wang Jinfu laughed heartily, but there was no unexpected color change on his face. "To think that the disciple you, Old Man Sun groomed is so incredible. It looks like you have a qualified successor! Feng-er, learn from this mistake. In the future, you have to be more diligent. Don't become arrogant just because you are my apprentice, understood?"
"Feng-er understands," Xu Feng-er replied dispiritedly.
"Alright. It's almost time. Let the next batch begin," Wang Jinfu commanded.
There was naturally someone to judge the medicinal pills refined by the others. Elder Wang and Elder Sun obviously would not stoop to do these sort of things with their exalted status.
In this batch of people, the main focus had to be Wan Yuan.
One had to say that Wan Yuan had the capital to be arrogant in terms of Alchemy Dao.
He was only a few months older than Ye Yuan, but he had already possessed the strength of a high-rank Alchemy Apprentice. He could absolutely wander proudly within the same age group. His future accomplishments would most likely not be beneath his father's.
Humph. Feng Ruoqing, Feng Zhirou, I'm going to let you see what a true Alchemy Dao genius is! That Ye Yuan is just a clown. On the day I step on the stage of Alchemy Master, would I even need to fear that you, Feng Zhirou, wouldn't be moved? Wan Yuan thought to himself.
He had saved up enough strength in order to perform well in front of Feng Zhirou, just to make her see him in a different light.
Wan Yuan felt unspeakable emotions watching Feng Zhirou and Ye Yuan making eyes at each other.
. . . . . .
Entering the herbal warehouse, Wan Yuan chose his herbs at top speed. The other students only came out of there after he had exited 30 minutes earlier.
From this, whoever was superior could be instantly judged.
Wan Yuan had the intention of showing off. The later phases were practically finished in one go.
Especially after he started refining, his technique dazzled everyone, leaving them overwhelmed.
"Old Sun, it looked like Old Brother Wan has groomed a fine son. He even beat our two apprentices."
Wang Jinfu was a veteran Alchemy Grandmaster, so his judgment was on point. As he watched Wan Yuan's refinement performance, he knew that Wan Yuan was much stronger than Xu Feng-er and Sun Keyun.
"That's right. Wan Donghai that punk really has some skill. These past few years, he suppressed Ye Hang completely. Who would have thought that the son he groomed was also this impressive? At this rate, Wan Yuan would probably surpass his father."
Sun Jianming had always been a man of few words. To have given such an evaluation showed that Wan Yuan's performance had already conquered him.
"Indeed. The way I see it, Wan Yuan's Flowing Cloud Scattering Hands is already 70% of Wan Donghai's. What's lacking is only experience and cultivation realm. In the future, this child will surely do great things. Humph! Unlike Ye Hang's son. Trying to seek popularity through claptrap. Ridiculous!"
Wang Jinfu gave an exceedingly high evaluation to Wan Yuan, while at the same time he also dropped a timely disdain toward Ye Yuan. He was clearly very displeased with Ye Yuan causing trouble today.
Every alchemist had their own unique refinement technique. And Flowing Cloud Scattering Hands was precisely the technique Wan Donghai was famous for.
Wang Jinfu and Sun Jianming did not deliberately cover up their conversation, so it naturally reached Feng Zhirou's and Ye Yuan's ears.
Ye Yuan looked calm and relax, and he did not show any reaction.
Instead, it was Feng Zhirou who had a gloating face. She transmitted her voice once again and said, "Hey, how can you be so calm when they are praising your opponent like that?"
Having experienced the initial shock, Feng Zhirou could only use 'abnormal' to explain Ye Yuan's earlier performance.
Perhaps he really could do it?
Hearing Feng Zhirou's voice transmission, Ye Yuan remained emotionless as he replied, "Opponent? I've never treated him as an opponent."
If it were in the past, Feng Zhirou would definitely snort in derision at these words.
But now, Feng Zhirou felt that Ye Yuan might truly think this way in his heart.
One had to know that earlier when Xu Feng-er made that tiny error, not even the two Alchemy Grandmasters present and her aunt saw it. Otherwise, they would not need to hold this competition.
However, Ye Yuan saw it long ago. And during Xu Feng-er's and Sun Keyun's refinement process, Ye Yuan already determined the grade of their medicinal pills. This was not something that an ordinary person could do.
Feng Zhirou believed that even if Ye Yuan did not pass the Alchemy Master test, his horizons were not something that the two Alchemy Grandmasters could compare to.
Could it be that Ye Yuan's theoretical standard was already on par with an Alchemy King?
A fifteen years old youth with the standard of an Alchemy King? Feng Zhirou was frightened by her own thought.
"Tch! You really can act." Although she already agreed with Ye Yuan's words in her heart, Feng Zhirou still remained scornful on the surface.
She did not know why, but she felt that Ye Yuan was very infuriating.
Perhaps the reason was that she had always been pursued since young. No man had ever been so contemptuous toward her before.
Seeing that Ye Yuan did not react, Feng Zhirou asked again, "Hey, Ye Yuan. You said that I can't pass the test this time. Is that true?"
"Of course it's true. I'm not so familiar with you as to joke with you," Ye Yuan replied casually.
"Hey! Why do you talk like this?!" Feng Zhirou was upset again.
"Am I very close to you?" Ye Yuan glanced at Feng Zhirou and asked.
"That . . ." Feng Zhirou recalled that this was only their second meeting. They really could not count as being on familiar terms.
"Not only we are not close, but we're also even considered enemies, right?"
Feng Zhirou's face flushed red. She knew that Ye Yuan still bore a grudge again that sword. "Ye Yuan, are you a man or not? Why do you keep harping on that small matter?"
"Small matter? That sword of yours nearly took my life! Just how great is the hatred between us?" Ye Yuan snarled irately.
". . . . . ." Feng Zhirou knew that she was in the wrong, and so she kept mum in anger.
Chapter 62 - Important Things Need to Be Said Thrice
"Fine! I was wrong, alright? Don't tell me a grown man like you don't even have this bit of magnanimity and intend to remember this grudge for life?"
After keeping mum for a while, Feng Zhirou finally could not resist the loneliness and opened her mouth. It was just that her apology did not sound sincere at all.
"It's not that I'm bearing a grudge. I'm just afraid that I might accidentally offend you, My Lady. Then this small life of mine is gone. So I think it would be better for us to maintain a distance."
Ye Yuan was really still a little afraid of Feng Zhirou. This lass was too willful. Who knew if she might be unhappy someday and stab him with her sword again? Ye Yuan did not have the confidence to dodge again.
He could disregard the Alchemy Roll of Honor's experts, but he could not disregard experts on the Martial Roll of Honor. Feng Zhirou was rank three on the Martial Roll. If she really came with her sword again one day, Ye Yuan's life might just be over.
Feng Zhirou was so angry at Ye Yuan that she gnashed her teeth. No one had ever said something like that to her before.
As long as they were men, regardless of high or low status, poor or wealthy, which one of them would not try everything they could to get close to her?
But this Ye Yuan was something else. He could not even wait to hide from her!
Feng Zhirou grew up in a 'honeypot' and was still rather cautious of men's approach. In the past, there had been a man who pretended to be enigmatic and deliberately maintained his distance to try to attract her attention.
However, she could feel that Ye Yuan honestly found her to be a pain and did not want to get close to her. This made her feel a deep sense of defeat.
"Humph! Do whatever you want. But first, you have to tell me why I can't pass the test!" Truth be told, this was what Feng Zhirou wanted to know most of all.
"Why should I tell you?" Ye Yuan rolled his eyes. He had never seen someone ask for advice this way.
"Hur hur! If you don't tell me, I will . . ." Feng Zhirou gave Ye Yuan a threatening look and drew her hand across her neck, making Ye Yuan feel a chill on his neck.
Ye Yuan felt exasperated. Even if he was an Alchemy Emperor's reincarnation, the incarnation of a Divine King, but today he was only a little Fourth Level Essence Qi Realm rookie.
Without question, this move from Feng Zhirou was the simplest, more direct, and also the most effective.
Ye Yuan knew that once this wayward lass lost it, she would go completely wild. If he really provoked her, she might just stab him again.
He still intended on keeping this useful body to take revenge and did not want to die so dubiously.
"Fine! You win!" Ye Yuan exclaimed helplessly.
This was the first time Feng Zhirou had gotten back at Ye Yuan. She felt like she was cleared of all anxieties and flashed a gloating smile.
As expected, this move worked well!
Ye Yuan transmitted his voice helplessly, "Is the cultivation law you are training in being of extreme yang and masculine?"
"En? How do you know that?" Feng Zhirou questioned in surprise.
"As expected! A girl training some extreme yang and masculine cultivation law? What an idiot!" Ye Yuan was filled with disdain.
"Hey! Can't something nice come out of your mouth?"
"That will have to depend on who I'm talking to! To a moron like you, I will be letting you down if I don't scold you! Women are inherently gentle yin, originally already in conflict with extreme yang and masculine cultivation laws. Yet, you actually chose an extreme yang cultivation law. If this isn't moronic, then what is?"
"Humph! So what?"
"Do you want to say that you are still top three on the Martial Roll of Honor?" Ye Yuan mercilessly interrupted Feng Zhirou's bragging and gave a cold smile as he continued saying, "Currently, you can still compete with Senior Apprentice Brother Long and the rest because your cultivation law is extremely high-level, and not because of your cultivation realm. Just wait and see the difference between you, Senior Apprentice Brother Long, and the rest after ten years! Other people develop their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. But you develop your weaknesses and avoid your strengths. Wouldn't you say that you are a moron?"
"Hey! Do you believe that I will kill you if you scold me a moron again?!"
"Moron! Moron! Moron! Important things need to be said thrice! Kill me then! If you kill me, then you can forget about breaking through the Spirit Condensation Realm for the rest of your life!" Ye Yuan also lost his temper as he snapped back coldly.
"Humph! It will be strange if I believe you! Even if the cultivation law that I train isn't suitable, what does it have to do with passing the alchemist test?" When Ye Yuan's temper flared up, Feng Zhirou backed off instead.
"This world is nothing more than yin and yang. A divine soul that has the yin-attribute requires nourishment from freezing yin qi. Yet, you cultivate extreme yang laws instead. So your body produced all masculine yang qi. The masculine yang qi is suppressing the growth of your soul strength. Even if you eat Soul Nourishing Pills like beans, the growth of your soul strength would be very limited."
Feng Zhirou was furious at first, but after Ye Yuan said so, she started thinking about it.
Ye Yuan continued explaining, "Right now, your soul strength barely reached the level of a low-rank Alchemy Master, but the success rate o
f refinement is extremely low, so it's very hard to pass the test. If you continue cultivating like this, the yang qi in your body will acc.u.mulate even more, and the suppression of your divine soul will be even more obvious. Then you can forget about advancing and becoming an Alchemy Master for the rest of your life!"
"Humph! You're just trying to scare me! Do you think you can trick me with just a few words?" Although she already believed most of it in her heart, Feng Zhirou remained stubborn.
"Is that so? If I'm not wrong, is your cultivation currently getting increasingly slower? Every day at noon, do you feel uncomfortable throughout your body, your Dantian burning hot, and a swelling pain around your temple? If you feel that I'm just trying to scare you, then just treat it like I never said anything."
Ye Yuan's casual words made Feng Zhirou feel ice-cold. What Ye Yuan said was completely right. In the past, her cultivation was a lot faster than those in the same age group. But ever since breaking through to the Spirit Condensation Realm, her cultivation speed suddenly fell. Now, it was not even two-thirds of the original speed.
Every day at noon, Feng Zhirou's entire body would always be uncomfortable. The symptoms were exactly the same as Ye Yuan described.
Could it be that it was really as Ye Yuan described? Did she choose the wrong cultivation law?
"Y-you are talking rubbish!" Feng Zhirou's eyes became vacant. But her pride which was present since the start made her refuse to admit her mistake.
"Actually, it's not irreparable. At least, there's a method of letting you pass the test today."
"What method?" The moment the words came out of her mouth, Feng Zhirou regretted it. Was this not equivalent to admitting that Ye Yuan had already convinced her?
"When you are refining later, suppress your essence energy to the First Level Spirit Condensation Realm, and at the same time eat a Soul Nourishing Pill. You should be able to refine a Tier 2 medicinal pill. But don't force yourself. Just refine some of the easier medicinal pills."