In the Heavenly Mark Family, the two Junior Alchemist Masters vaguely remembered that it was a small family among the nobles, with no fame and not much strength.
They smiled slightly.
If Nie Li was from a renowned family or even the Three Peaks Families, their kindness wouldn't matter much to him.
But since he was from a small family, that made things easier.
The two Junior Alchemist Masters chatted with Nie Li and discovered that he was not only well-versed in alchemy but also very familiar with the practical process.
A true prodigy!
They had spent decades immersed in alchemy and only achieved the title of Junior Alchemist Master in their forties or fifties.
Thinking about Nie Li's age made them blush in shame.
How infuriating it was to measure oneself against others! Nie Li was only in his teens and already possessed knowledge comparable to theirs!
Indeed, ambition isn't dictated by age!
It was time to extend some goodwill to Nie Li!
The two Junior Alchemist Masters gathered Nie Li's papers, ready to present them to the president for a personal review.
Such a polite and humble genius must not slip away!
"Nie Li, please wait here for a bit. We're going to meet the president to see if we can recruit you into the Alchemist Association!" the two Junior Alchemist Masters smiled and said.
"Then I'll have to trouble my two benefactors!" Nie Li replied with increasing humility, bowing slightly.
Upon seeing Nie Li's gesture, the two Junior Alchemist Masters felt elated, their pores opening in delight as they hurriedly left with the papers.
Meanwhile, in the next room, Chu Ning was doing his best on the papers.
Half the time had passed, and he had only completed three sheets.
This was his third attempt at the Junior Alchemist Master exam.
In his first two tries, his accuracy rate was less than sixty percent, with three blank papers.
He had thoroughly studied everything he didn't know before coming here to take the exam.
Before coming, he had sworn to himself that he would pass this time!
However, the content of this exam was even harder than the previous ones!
Chu Ning was in despair.
He had sneaked many answers into his Spatial Ring, but the two Junior Alchemist Masters watching him intently made cheating impossible.
An hour had passed, yet his sheets bore only a few answers.
Seeing Chu Ning's answers, the two supervising Junior Alchemist Masters shook their heads.
His accuracy rate was, at best, sixty percent.
To become a Junior Alchemist Master, one needed to achieve at least ninety percent accuracy.
After two hours, the clock outside sounded "dong-dong-dong."
Chu Ning didn't need to think about it; he knew he hadn't passed.
Downcast, he stood up and walked out.
With this failure, he would not have another chance to take the Junior Alchemist Master exam for another year!
In the hallway, participants of the Junior Alchemist Master exam walked out one by one, with only one man in his thirties showing joy, while the others were all frowning.
The first round was truly challenging.
In the Alchemist Association's Elders Hall,
"President, please look at these papers!" Hu Yanming handed two papers to Gu Yan.
The Alchemist Association only had two Senior Alchemist Masters, and Gu Yan was one of them.
He was also the president of the Alchemist Association, with a head full of white hair and over sixty years of age.
To think that the two Junior Alchemist Masters urgently wanted him to see a single paper! Gu Yan was in the middle of alchemy and was unhappy about being interrupted.
"President, these are the exam papers of a Junior Alchemist candidate. Please take a look!" Hu Yanming said eagerly, not minding Gu Yan's displeasure.
Gu Yan snorted and picked up the papers.
After looking them over, he said, "This student is quite good, answered all the questions correctly, and some answers are very insightful. Let him proceed to the second round."
Gu Yan slightly relaxed, as it was rare for someone to answer everything correctly in the first test of the Junior Alchemist Master exam.
Hu Yanming and Mu Yang exchanged glances and smiled.
Hu Yanming said, "I implore the President to directly recruit him into our Alchemist Association!"
"Direct recruitment?" Gu Yan raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
"That's impossible. To become a Junior Alchemist Master, one needs extensive alchemical knowledge and practical skills. If he's only passed the first round without any hands-on experience, he cannot become a Junior Alchemist Master!"
"President, what if I told you that this person is a thirteen-year-old child? Even if he lacks practical experience, that can be nurtured! Missing such a genius would surely be a regrettable loss for us!" Mu Yang added.
Gu Yan was taken aback, even his calm demeanor shaken.
"A thirteen-year-old child?" he sharply asked.
"Yes, President!" Mu Yang and Hu Yanming nodded in unison.
"Are you trying to trick me? How could a thirteen-year-old child have read so many alchemical texts and completed a Junior Alchemist Master's paper?" Gu Yan's sharp gaze swept across Mu Yang and Hu Yanming.
"How dare we deceive the President?"
"Bring him to me, and have Steward Yang come as well. Do not share this with anyone else, not even the other elders, understood?" Gu Yan instructed Mu Yang and Hu Yanming.
If such a genius truly existed, he would need to be nurtured as part of his own circle.
"Understood!" Mu Yang and Hu Yanming's eyes gleamed with excitement.
In the Alchemist Association, there were six elders in total, each with their own interests.
Keeping this secret for Gu Yan meant they would become trusted members of the President's inner circle from this day forward.
Mu Yang went to fetch Steward Yang, while Hu Yanming hurried to welcome Nie Li.
In the examination hall corridor,
Chu Ning walked out, dispirited.
Upon seeing Nie Li already outside, his eyebrows twitched immediately.
Some people nearby were teasing Nie Li.
"Little brother, how many questions did you get right?" a young man, the only one who passed, asked with a smile.
Nie Li shrugged, saying, "These questions were too simple, no challenge at all!"
Everyone looked at each other in surprise.
Nie Li's words hit was a sore spot for Chu Ning, who had struggled with the questions.
Chu Ning sneered, "Such arrogance! If your accuracy is over ten percent, I'll strip naked and run three laps around Glory City!"
"You can start running now," Nie Li replied with a calm smile.
Upon hearing Nie Li, everyone was surprised and curious.
Where did he get such confidence from? They were eager to know Nie Li's exam results.
Just then, Hu Yanming hurried over.
Seeing the white robe of a Junior Alchemist Master on Hu Yanming, everyone instantly straightened and stood respectfully.
"Nie Li, you've passed the first round, follow me!" Hu Yanming gave a sideways glance at the others, completely ignoring them.
"Okay," Nie Li nodded slightly.
"Passed the first round?" Everyone was stunned, especially Chu Ning, who felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.
How was it possible? Nie Li was just a thirteen-year-old boy!
Was there a mistake?
Was he dreaming?
A thirteen-year-old passing the first test was unprecedented in hundreds of years; no wonder Hu Yanming wanted to personally take Nie Li away.
Thinking back on their earlier mockery of Nie Li, everyone felt their faces burn with shame.
A thirteen-year-old passed, while they, some in their thirties and even older, couldn't pass the first round.
How could they hold their heads high?
Chu Ning was in a daze.
He never expected Nie Li would actually pass.
Surely they cheated; yes, it must be like that! Chu Ning staggered away.
No matter what, he had not passed, and a beating from his uncle was inevitable when he got home.
"Where's Chu Ning going?"
"Didn't he just say he'd strip naked and run three laps around Glory City?"
Amid everyone's gaze, Chu Ning fled in panic.
Running naked around Glory City would leave him no dignity at all.
Watching Nie Li's figure fade into the distance, Nie Li didn't care about the wager, or perhaps Chu Ning wasn't even worth his attention!
Nie Li and Chu Ning were destined to live in different worlds.
Nie Li's achievements were bound to be heights Chu Ning could only look up to.
Seeing Hu Yanming, a Junior Alchemist Master, showing deference to Nie Li, the others couldn't help but feel envious.
At the Alchemist Association, in the Steward Hall,
"Nie Li, the President and Steward Yang will be here shortly, please wait a moment!" Hu Yanming said, his gaze fervent.
The composure and maturity in Nie Li gave him an illusion that this boy wasn't just a thirteen-year-old, but a peer in alchemy!
"Alright," Nie Li nodded gently.
He looked around; the Steward Hall was quite spacious, with a round table and chairs placed in the center.
One wall was covered with various notes.
"What are those?" Nie Li asked, looking at Hu Yanming.
"This is where Alchemist Masters exchange experiences. They write challenges faced during alchemy on those notes, seeking answers from all alchemists. Sometimes, the President helps solve issues. Anyone who knows the answers can write them down for verification by others," Hu Yanming explained, noting how alchemist expertise was mutually enhanced through this method.
"Oh!" Nie Li nodded as he walked toward the wall.
He needed to demonstrate enough ability to capture President Gu Yan's attention.
It wasn't merely Alchemist Association training he sought; borrowing the Association's influence was his real aim!
It seemed Nie Li had a keen interest in alchemical knowledge, Hu Yanming thought with a smile, following Nie Li.
Of course, he didn't expect Nie Li to solve any of the wall's problems, many of which had stumped alchemists for years.
Some issues were beyond even senior masters like Gu Yan!
(End of Chapter)