Nie Li's request couldn't be refused by her, as it was a regulation of the Alchemists' Guild.
Whether it was the assessment for a beginner apprentice or a beginner alchemy master, it was completely open to the public! Anyone could take part, with no age restrictions, as long as they paid two hundred demon spirit coins.
Some advanced apprentices would even come every month to take the exam, because passing the three rounds and becoming a beginner alchemy master would drastically change their status and treatment.
However, the assessment for a beginner alchemy master wasn't easy to pass.
Typically, only a few out of a hundred manage to make it through, and the second and third rounds were said to be even harder!
"Participating in the beginner alchemy master assessment requires a payment of two hundred demon spirit coins, which must be paid in full before entering the exam hall," Miss Xiao Lan said, turning to Nie Li.
"Two hundred demon spirit coins, that's all? Lead the way!" Nie Li replied to Miss Xiao Lan, glancing back at Xiao Ning'er and the others.
"You guys wait here. Once I pass the exam, I'll come find you!" Nie Li seemed relaxed and carefree.
"Alright, once you pass, we'll have a feast tonight!" Lu Piao chuckled, clearly full of confidence.
"Good luck, Nie Li!" Xiao Ning'er said softly, placing her hands on her chest.
Listening to the conversation between Nie Li and Lu Piao, Miss Xiao Lan couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Who did they think they were trying to pass an alchemy master assessment? She thought Nie Li's two hundred demon spirit coins would be spent in vain, but it was his money, not her concern.
She just had to do her job.
"Follow me," Miss Xiao Lan said, pursing her lips and not saying any more.
The beginner alchemy master exam hall was a long corridor extending into the distance, with small rooms along the sides.
Each participant would enter one of these rooms to complete a complex alchemy knowledge test.
Only after it was graded by a few beginner alchemy masters could they proceed to the next round of assessment.
This time, there were six people taking the exam.
Among them, three were young men in their thirties, and two had hair that was already going grey.
When they saw Miss Xiao Lan leading Nie Li in, they were all stunned.
One of the young men focused his gaze on Nie Li, slightly frowning.
"What are you doing here?"
Nie Li glanced up at the young man and replied casually, "I'm here to participate in the exam, just like you all."
The young man looked at Nie Li's attire, which clearly wasn't that of any prominent family or clan heir.
He laughed disdainfully.
"Hah, a young kid like you comes to take the alchemy master assessment? Little boy, you've come to the wrong place. You should be taking the beginner apprentice exam!" A thirteen or fourteen-year-old coming to take the beginner alchemy master exam was an insult to them!
"And who are you?" Nie Li glanced casually at the young man.
"I'm from the Chu family, known for our alchemy. My name is Chu Ning," Chu Ning declared proudly.
"The Chu family, known for alchemy? Does your family even qualify to be called that?" Nie Li sneered, recalling a past encounter with Chu Yuan from the Chu family in the Ancient Orchid City Ruins.
"The Chu family has produced three advanced alchemy masters, six intermediate alchemy masters, and over twenty beginner alchemy masters in the past. How is that not a clan known for alchemy?" Chu Ning retorted proudly.
"Boasting about past glories is worthless. Now, the Chu family only has one beginner alchemy master. Is that still worth calling a clan known for alchemy?" Nie Li laughed in reply.
Chu Ning was surprised that a kid like Nie Li knew so much about the Chu family and was so articulate.
"Hmph, so what? I, Chu Ning, will definitely become an alchemy master. A little kid like you should just scram. This is an alchemy master exam hall, not a playground!" Chu Ning scoffed.
Although he had taken the test twice already, he was confident in his third attempt.
Hearing Chu Ning's words, the others chuckled softly.
Many had spent over a decade or several decades in alchemy, only now taking their first alchemy master test.
If a kid like Nie Li passed, where would they put their faces?
Nie Li shrugged, saying calmly, "We'll see about that."
Nie Li pushed open a door and walked inside.
Chu Ning snorted in disbelief, thinking there was no way a kid could reach such a level in alchemy.
He stepped into another room.
Inside, two beginner alchemy masters, both in their fifties or sixties, sat at the front with desks and a stack of scrolls nearby, along with a horned goat pen.
Seeing Nie Li enter, one of them was surprised and asked, "Young man, are you sure you're in the right place? This is the assessment for beginner alchemy masters!"
"Masters, I'm in the right place. I'm here to take the beginner alchemy master exam," Nie Li replied politely, maintaining a courteous attitude towards the examiners was always a good idea.
The two alchemy masters exchanged glances, confused as to which family's child dared to try a beginner alchemy master exam.
Soon Nie Li would realize how difficult the test was! Without decades immersed in alchemy, one couldn't become a master!
"Alright then, on this table are over three hundred sixty pages of scrolls. Pick a few from them—you have to complete twenty. Find the answers to the alchemical questions written on them. You have two hours, and you'll need a ninety percent accuracy to move to the next round," one of the alchemy masters instructed.
"Master, why don't you select a few for me?" Nie Li asked the alchemy master, which would prevent any accusations of cheating.
Impressed by Nie Li's clear eyes, the alchemy master nodded and said, "Alright!" He randomly picked twenty pages and placed them in front of Nie Li.
"Answer these."
Nie Li picked up the horned goat pen and glanced at the questions, a slight smile on his lips.
The questions were too easy for him, akin to a master taking an apprentice test.
His understanding far surpassed that of a beginner alchemy master! Some questions required him to write simplified answers to prevent confusion among the masters.
In some instances, he had to give incorrect answers because the masters lacked the deeper insights!
Nie Li wrote quickly, rapidly completing dozens of questions.
The two alchemy masters hadn't expected Nie Li to finish even one question, let alone so swiftly.
They assumed he was scribbling nonsense, prompting them to take a closer look.
"The first question is about the sixteen uses of Yuan Ling Grass. Well, he's answered perfectly, without missing a single use!"
"The second question details the process and considerations when crafting a Condensing Yuan Pill. All twenty-six steps are thoroughly explained!"
The two alchemy masters looked at each other in astonishment.
They initially thought Nie Li must be cheating—a boy of thirteen or fourteen knowing these processes so precisely? Each question individually seemed simple, but amid thousands of herbs and pills, who could possess such expansive knowledge to answer them all fluently?
Yet the scrolls were selected by them, eliminating the possibility of Nie Li cheating.
Even if he'd begun reading alchemy texts from the womb, it would be impossible to have read so much at his age!
The masters exchanged wry smiles.
Was there truly an extraordinary person born gifted beyond ordinary understanding? "Born omniscient" referred to someone who possessed rare wisdom from birth.
Typically, it took a quarter-hour to finish one sheet, and few could complete ten in the allotted time, often stumped by complex questions.
Nie Li, however, breezed through the problems entirely, completing three sheets every quarter-hour.
In under an hour, ten sheets brimmed with answers.
As Nie Li finished each sheet, the two alchemy masters graded them, astonished to find that none contained errors.
Some answers offered intricacies beyond typical records, amazing them to no end.
A genius! A true genius!
The two alchemy masters marveled, overwhelmed with excitement.
This had to be reported to the guild elders and the head! If Nie Li possessed such knowledge at a young age, imagine his prowess in a few years!
Nie Li might become the key to reviving the Alchemists' Guild, stirring excitement at the prospect.
As his examiners, they too would gain recognition.
"I wonder which family this young man belongs to?" an elder mused with a smile.
"I'm Hu Yanming, and he's Mu Yang. We're beginner alchemy masters."
"Masters, you can call me Nie Li, from the Sky Mark Family!" Nie Li replied deferentially, considering it odd yet again encountering someone named Hu Yan, possibly connected to the Huyan Family.
Hearing Nie Li's response, Hu Yanming and Mu Yang beamed with pleasure.
Being addressed as "Master" by Nie Li filled them with pride.
With such talent, if Nie Li secured a significant role in the Alchemists' Guild, those words would elevate their status considerably.
(End of Chapter)