by Feng Yise
Ye Yuan chuckled and said, "Since it follows the rules, let's go take the test then."
Manager Tong had a gloomy look. This punk really took himself to be someone from the Xiao Family.
. . . . . .
When Manager Tong brought Ye Yuan out from the wing-room and Ye Yuan was invited upstairs, the assistant's eyes went wide.
Could it brat really be an alchemist?
The clerk had a premonition that he seemed to have gotten into big trouble and provoked someone that he should not have.
Don't look at me, don't look at me . . . the clerk repeated in his heart.
But whatever one feared would come. Ye Yuan suddenly turned his head and flashed a slight smile at him. Then he went up slowly.
The assistant's legs went wobbly, and he nearly kneeled on the ground.
"It's over. This time, it's really over," the assistant murmured to himself with a wail.
. . . . . .
Manager Tong brought Ye Yuan straight up to the third floor and arrived at a hall.
There were already quite a few people in the hall and even a number of medicinal cauldrons laid out.
At the far end, there was a partition. The partition was blocked by many layers of chiffon. But, one could faintly see a lithe and graceful silhouette inside.
Manager Tong asked Ye Yuan to wait for a moment and walked over to the partition.
Ye Yuan calmly sized up this hall and those alchemists.
These few people were all the same: high-rank Alchemy Grandmasters. Seemed like only he alone was a middle-rank Alchemy Grandmaster.
Mm, of course, in these peoples' eyes, he most likely did not even count as an alchemist.
There were still four alchemists apart from Ye Yuan. They clearly saw Ye Yuan too. Seeing the badge adorned on Ye Yuan's c.h.e.s.t, they could not help having a disdainful look.
"Elder Brothers are all here to enlist for Xiao Family's guest retainer?" Ye Yuan was warm and enthusiastic as he went forward with a flattering smile.
"So what if yes? You aren't the same as us, right?" said an alchemist among them, making a scornful look.
"Ah? Haha, you even saw through this. Big Brother has really good eyesight!"
That person said sneeringly, "You, a low-rank Alchemy Master, came to play the fool, right? This place isn't suitable for you. Better get lost quickly so as to avoid incurring Miss Ruyan's disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e!"
"Yeah. A little fellow who doesn't know his own limitations. This bit of strength and you also dare to come out and lose face. I think you better go back home and drink milk!" said another person.
"Without the strength of a high-rank Alchemy Grandmaster, don't come out and make a spectacle of yourself! The few of us were chosen through layers upon layers of sifting! Who do you think you are?!"
Ye Yuan chortled and said, "Why are all the stuff I wanted to say all had been said by you people?"
Chapter 366 - Look at You All Play
This sentence from Ye Yuan drew the aggro from all the alchemists.
At this time, Manager Tong came before the five people and said, "Alright. The few of you were selected very carefully, and your strength goes without saying. I won't say anything unnecessary. Let's start the test now."
"Hang on, Manager Tong!" said an alchemist, interrupting Manager Tong's words.
"En? You have something to say?" Manager Tong asked with a frown.
That alchemist pointed at Ye Yuan and said, "Manager Tong letting a low-rank Alchemy Master compete together with us, isn't this insulting us? I refuse to compete with him!"
"Yes! We don't want to compete together with a low-rank Alchemy Master!" The other three people immediately concurred.
Manager Tong's face darkened, and he said solemnly, "I've already tested. He's not a low-rank Alchemy Master. He's the same as you all, possessing Alchemy Grandmaster divine soul realm! It's just that he hasn't taken part in the Alchemist Association's tests for a long time, that's why he's wearing low-rank Alchemy Master badge."
The few people naturally did not believe it. Not everybody on this earth was Xiao Ruyan.
A 16-year-old youth could become an Alchemy Grandmaster? Even if he became an Alchemy Grandmaster, could he become a high-rank Alchemy Grandmaster?"
"Possessing Alchemy Grandmaster divine soul realm doesn't mean being able to refine Tier 3 medicinal pills. I think that Manager Tong is clearer than us on this point, right? If Manager Tong insists on letting him compete with us, I'll withdraw!" The alchemist earlier pulled out the big guns.
"Yes! I'll withdraw too!"
Manager Tong did not think that these few people would actually make things difficult for him. He involuntarily sneered coldly and said, "Withdraw? Heh heh, the way I see it, you people seem to feel that our Xiao Family is easy to bully, eh? But I'm telling you, a starving camel is larger than a horse!"
The Xiao Family's matters were not a secret. Now, the news that the Xiao Family was going to be thoroughly finished this time was circulating outside. These few alchemists naturally also heard some extent of it.
It was just that they also did not think that if the Xiao Family was perfectly fine, why would they find them?
Indeed, once Manager Tong said these words, these few people's faces changed.
At this time, Ye Yuan sat down carelessly on a chair and said, "Alright, alright, you guys just play. I won't participate, alright? But . . . if you guys all can't make it, it should eventually be my turn, right?"
"You're the one who said it!"
"So what if I said it? This little lord, I, will sit right here and watch you guys play. I want to see what the hell you all can come up with!" Ye Yuan said.
Manager Tong secretly heaved a sigh in relief. Ye Yuan taking the initiative to withdraw really resolved his imminent problem.
Honestly speaking, the counter-attack by those people earlier was seriously quite devastating.
He could indeed use the Xiao Family's power to forcefully suppress them. But if they really chose someone and he intentionally went easy during the Grand Pill Assembly, that would not be amusing.
Yet, Manager Tong did not have much hope in Ye Yuan. Hence, Ye Yuan taking the initiative to withdraw was naturally the best alternative.
Earlier, he already clarified the situation to Miss Ruyan. Miss Ruyan also agreed to give Ye Yuan a chance. As long as Ye Yuan performed well, entering the Xiao Family was naturally not difficult.
But the difficulty of this test was much, much tougher than the difficulty of the test to be given to Ye Yuan afterward.
"Hehe, you still want to appear on the stage? There's no more chance. Sit there properly!"
. . . . . .
The test officially began. Manager Tong said to the four people, "The content of the test is very simple. There are refined medicinal embryos in here. The content of your test is to refine these medicinal embryos into pills, and it will be considered as passing the test."
Evidently, this pill formula was very precious and naturally could not be leaked out. If just the medicinal embryos were provided, even if these few people were even more powerful, they also could not possibly steal the pill formula.
Of course, this did not include Ye Yuan.
The four people were even happier when they heard it. This was too easy.
One had to know that the process of refining pills was very complicated. Any single oversight could cause the pill refinement to fail.
But now, even the medicinal embryos were refined. They were only responsible for the final refinement and forming the pill. It was practically something that was not troublesome.
Although they knew that this medicinal pill was surely not very easy to refine, how could the few of them be simple people?
The four of them held their cleavers and entered the battlefield, starting the refinement at the same time!
Perhaps they deliberately wanted to show off in front of Xiao Ruyan; these few people's refinement techniques were very resplendent, looking qu
ite like the model of a respected grandmaster.
Even Manager Tong also nodded secretly when he saw it. These people were indeed worthy of being strictly and carefully selected. Their strength was highly outstanding.
Ye Yuan watched this scene composedly by the side, with a slightly ruminating expression on his face.
Actually, same as martial artists, the ranks of alchemists and the true standards of alchemists could not be equated the same.
An alchemist obtaining the title of high-rank Alchemy Grandmaster did not mean that he could refine all the Tier 3 high-grade medicinal pills.
The same Tier 3 high-grade medicinal pills, but the refining difficulty varied greatly. Even high-rank Alchemy Grandmasters could not refine some Tier 3 middle-grade or even low-grade medicinal pills!
Behind the partition, Xiao Ruyan was also watching these four alchemists refine medicinal pills in a perturbed mood. This concerned whether the Xiao Family could win at the Grand Pill Assembly or not!
Truthfully speaking, even if selected, Xiao Ruyan did not have the confidence to win for certain. The strength of the Tong Family's juniors was actually even stronger than the Xiao Family!
But this matter was related to the Xiao Family's development in the next decade. Xiao Ruyan was compelled to face the problem head-on.
A pair of beautiful eyes stared fixedly at those four people, hoping that it was best if they did not make mistakes.
But whatever one feared would come. Just seven and a half minutes later, only to hear a puff. Someone already failed. The medicinal pill was burned into black charcoal.
That alchemist had a dejected look. "Why is this damn pill so hard to refine?"
The other three people's faces currently no longer had the composure from when they just started. The difficulty of this medicinal pill had indeed exceeded their imaginations.
Their soul force was completely locked onto the medicinal pill, and they did not dare to slacken the slightest bit.
However, this did not have any d*mn use!
Another series of puffing sounds went on. A furnace of useless pills was refined out.
When that person came to one side and saw Ye Yuan's Cheshire cat smile, he wished that he could go up and rend his face.
But their attention was very swiftly drawn over by the other two people.
The two people's foreheads were already drenched in sweat. Clearly, the difficulty of this medicinal pill was already on the verge of surpassing their limits.
Before long, another person failed. Only one person was left still persevering.
The three people who were defeated had their eyes glued on the last person, hoping that he could succeed.
Because from their peripherals, they already saw the expression on Ye Yuan's face.
Earlier, each and every one of them looked down on Ye Yuan, thinking that they would definitely be the one who won. But now, there was only one final seedling left on the field.
Manager Tong was also very nervous. In the blink of an eye, the four people who were carefully chosen only had one left. This unwittingly made him feel tremendous pressure.
Fortunately, the strength of this remaining one was still considered decent. He actually already barely managed to finish refining the medicinal pill!
"Condense!"
Following his cry, everyone's heart tightened. Did it succeed or not?
Chapter 367 - Work like a Horse
When the medicinal pill formed, everyone heaved a sigh in relief.
Even the always composed Manager Tong also secretly wiped his sweat at this time.
The other three people came forward as well, wanting to see what kind of medicinal pill was refined.
"Qiu Zhi, how is it? Succeeded?" the three people asked, rather nervously.
Qiu Zhi wiped away the sweat on his forehead and nodded, saying, "I'm exhausted to death! Finally I formed the pill!"
Talking up to here, Qiu Zhi looked at Ye Yuan with a proud grin and said, "I said that you won't have the chance, means you won't have the chance! Well? Can you get lost now?"
Ye Yuan was delighted when he heard that. "Isn't the furnace not opened yet? Come, open it and have a look. See what kind of crap you refined."
Qiu Zhi's face darkened. He finished extremely forcefully earlier. He knew that the grade of the medicinal pill was definitely not high.
But in front of so many people, he naturally had no reason to fear.
"Have a look then! I'll let you give up after this!"
As he said, the medicinal cauldron opened. Fragrance suffused all around.
The four people reached their heads over to take a look. Even Manager Tong could not resist moving closer to have a look too.
With this look, Qiu Zhi's face could not be preserved anymore.
The medicinal pill was refined. But it was simply a defect good; unable to even enter the ranks.
Qiu Zhi said to Manager Tong with a bitter face, "Manager Tong, you take a look . . ."
Manager Tong was quite disappointed as well. But he also knew how great the difficulty this pill refinement was. Qiu Zhi being able to refine successfully was already fairly decent.
Manager Tong sighed and said, "There's already no more time. It's you then."
Qiu Zhi was overjoyed when he heard that. Being able to join the Xiao Family, he no longer needed to worry for the rest of his life.
One had to know that alchemist was a profitable career but also a money-burning career. Without the support of a major faction behind, it was very hard to have improvements.
Qiu Zhi being able to cultivate to High-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster Realm was already his limit. Any further, and he must find a backer. Otherwise, it would be like this for this life.
"Hold on!" Right at this moment, a pleasant voice sounded.
Xiao Ruyan spoke!
The gauze curtains were pulled aside. A veil-covered girl walked out from behind the partition.
Although there was a fine gauze covering the face, it could not conceal that lithe and graceful figure of hers, swaying until the four people were entranced.
The four guys did not dare to slight her. They hastily gave a bow and said, "We pay respects to Miss Ruyan!"
Xiao Ruyan nodded her head lightly, but said, "You all are also aware that the Grand Pill Assembly this time is of utmost importance to my Xiao Family. Qiu Zhi, although you refined the Jade Dragon Heart Calming Pill, it's only a defect good, not even entering the ranks. While your strength is not bad, you can't win the Tong Family."
Xiao Ruyan was clearly also slightly melancholic in her words.
In truth, this sort of method like finding guest retainers from outside was a choice that could not be helped. The powerful alchemists were long divided up by the various large factions. The remaining ones were those who were rejected.
These four people in front of her were considered passable among those who failed to meet the mark.
Qiu Zhi was thunderstruck when he heard this. He said with a face full of indignation, "But just now, Manager Tong clearly said that we just have to succeed in the refinement and that will do! How can you all renege on your word?"
"Snort!"
A discordant snicker interrupted Qiu Zhi's words. It was precisely Ye Yuan.
Qiu Zhi had anger that he dare not flare towards Xiao Ruyan. But it did not mean that he dare not turn it towards Ye Yuan. He immediately said furiously, "What are you laughing about, stinking brat?"
Ye Yuan chuckled and said, "Sorry, I couldn't hold it. If this is also considered as a successful refinement, then aren't alchemists too easy to become?"
"Humph! Making sarcastic remarks when you can't understand the difficulty! You come and refine then if you have the capabilities! Weren't you saying that you could refine very arrogantly just now? Why don't you refine one for me to see?!" Qiu Zhi said with a cold smile.
Xiao Ruyan's mind was currently in a whirl. These two people's endless bickering made her even more displeased, and she could not help sa
ying, "Stop arguing! Although his soul force is not bad, wanting to refine the Jade Dragon Heart Calming Pill is basically an impossible thing. The few of you leave first. I need some peace and quiet!"
When these words were said, Ye Yuan was piqued. "Why is Miss Ruyan the same as these uncultured people, judging people by their outward appearance?"
When these words came out, everyone perspired profusely.
Xiao Ruyan was uncultured? Wasn't this brat's gall too fat?
Indeed, Xiao Ruyan was so furious that her entire body was trembling. She was just about to blow her top when she heard Ye Yuan curl his mouth and say, "Isn't it just Jade Dragon Heart Calming Pill? Give me 15 minutes. I'll refine for you to see."
Xiao Ruyan s.u.c.k.e.d in a deep breath to calm her emotions. But her tone became cold. "What a high-sounding sentiment! 15 minutes to refine a Jade Dragon Heart Calming Pill? Do you think that you're an Alchemy King? Fine. I'll let you try it. If you can't refine it . . ."
"If I can't refine it, I'll sign my life away to work like a horse for Miss Ruyan for the rest of my life. How's that?" Ye Yuan said smilingly.
Xiao Ruyan's pretty face went red. Luckily, there was the fine gauze blocking her face. But when she saw that Ye Yuan's smile did not have lecherous intent, she knew that she misunderstood.
As one of the two beauties in the capital, there were too many men pursuing Xiao Ruyan. Even if she did not wish to, she still had immense skill in the aspect of examining a man's words and observing his countenance.
"What do I want you to work like a horse for? If you can't refine it, then help our Xiao Family refine medicinal pills for life!" Xiao Ruyan said.
Hearing these words, the four people all took p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e in his misfortune.
They knew deeply from experience the refining difficulty of this Jade Dragon Heart Calming Pill. This punk only had a middle-rank Alchemy Grandmaster soul force. It was still uncertain if he could refine pills or not. It was essentially impossible to refine it.
He was going to be a pill slave for the rest of his life for sure!
Not everyone was Xiao Ruyan!
Xiao Ruyan being able to reach such a realm was because her talent was good. More importantly, she had the powerful Xiao Family supporting her from behind.