Xin Ci gave an embarrassed smile and scratched his head, saying, "Sorry, Elder Yan, I've only been a student at the Four Symbols Academy for exactly one year. I'm not a disciple of the Alchemy Hall, so I didn't know who you were."
Only one year?!
That meant this kid could refine three-star pills shortly after joining the Four Symbols Academy!
It seemed the academy truly had received a surprising student during last year's tests!
Bai Cai quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, changing the subject, "Junior Brother Xin Ci, are you here to participate in the Alchemy Competition too?"
Xin Ci nodded.
Bai Cai asked again, "What's your current rank?"
Xin Ci shook his head, "I don't know. I haven't been tested yet."
Xin Ci's words made Bai Cai and Yan Hongde exchange surprised glances.
"You can refine three-star pills, yet you haven't even undergone the Alchemist assessment?! You can't participate in the Alchemy Competition without an Alchemist's certificate."
Yan Hongde couldn't help but scold him.
Xin Ci rubbed his head, awkwardly saying, "I was just about to get assessed."
Hearing this, Yan Hongde was so angry he almost spat blood and said irritably, "Then have you refined any pills in the past year?"
Xin Ci shook his head.
Yan Hongde assumed the kid hadn't improved at all in the past year.
If only he had found him a year ago and brought him into the Alchemy Hall. Such great talent had been wasted.
Thinking this, Yan Hongde felt a pang of regret.
"Since you haven't undergone the Alchemist assessment, you should go do it first."
"As for the Alchemy Competition, you should forget about it. Although your talent is decent, this year's competition is not lacking in four-star, or even five-star alchemists."
"So you should wait for the next one."
Yan Hongde said earnestly.
"Thank you for the reminder, Elder Yan, but I know what I'm doing. I still want to witness this Alchemy Competition."
Yan Hongde helplessly shook his head. He had said all he could and couldn't control the kid anymore.
Xin Ci bid farewell to Yan Hongde and then headed to the Assessment Hall with Xuan Kong.
There were quite a lot of people coming for assessment, around six hundred in just one session.
And three four-star alchemists were overseeing it.
The assessment for a one-star alchemist required knowledge of medicinal principles and the refinement of any pill.
With the powerful memory and soul power from the Myriad Phenomena Astral Wheel Scripture, plus Elder Han's guidance, these were not problems.
Xin Ci quickly finished the medicinal principles test paper and was the first to hand it in to the three supervising four-star alchemists.
The others were shocked. They had barely started, and this kid was already done?
Had he submitted a blank paper out of despair?
However, the three supervisors examined it carefully and nodded.
"Hmm, you passed!"
"Thank you." Xin Ci nodded, then turned his gaze to the second part, refining a pill.
The second part was also very simple. Xin Ci did it with ease, casually refining a first-tier detoxification pill, which he succeeded in a short time.
When he submitted it to the three four-star alchemists for inspection, they were also greatly surprised.
This kid hadn't been down there for long, how did he come back up so soon?
The refining speed was too fast!
Seeing that others were still on the medicinal principles section while this kid had already completed his pill, the three four-star alchemists were even more astonished.
After inspection, they found it to be a top-grade detoxification pill.
Furthermore, its medicinal properties were very pure, with no impurities at all.
It was difficult even for a three-star alchemist to refine such a detoxification pill.
It was evident that this kid's alchemy level far surpassed that of a three-star alchemist!
"Excellent! You have passed this assessment! Congratulations on passing the one-star Alchemist assessment."
"Next, you have two options: whether you choose to collect your one-star Alchemist badge and leave, or continue to assess for a two-star Alchemist."
"Continue."
Xin Ci chose to accept the two-star Alchemist assessment without hesitation.
"Alright, since you choose to be a two-star Alchemist, then now, follow me!"
One of the four-star alchemists, under the astonished gaze of the others, led Xin Ci to another assessment room for his evaluation.
Everyone else looked at Xin Ci with envious and jealous eyes. This kid was too lucky, passing the assessment so quickly.
Mu Qingqing, in the consciousness space, couldn't help but show a faint smile upon seeing this.
"As expected of the male lead, he didn't disappoint."
Subsequently, the four-star alchemist who guided Xin Ci through the subsequent assessments became increasingly surprised.
This kid had successively passed the assessments for two-star and three-star Alchemists.
And now, in less than half an hour.
Xin Ci had passed the four-star Alchemist assessment.
Such performance was beyond his imagination.
In such a short time, this kid was now an alchemist on the same level as him.
Passing four levels of assessment in a single day had already set a record for the Alchemist Guild!
Moreover, seeing the young man's ease, would he dare to attempt the five-star Alchemist assessment next?
Assessing for a five-star Alchemist was no trivial matter. He did not have the qualifications to supervise this level of assessment.
It would require the Vice President of the Alchemist Guild and numerous elders to act as examiners.
Xin Ci glanced calmly at the four-star alchemist and said indifferently, "Let's leave it at that for now. When can I receive my four-star Alchemist certificate?"
The four-star alchemist inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had been overthinking.
Even with the boy's exceptional talent, he couldn't possibly challenge a five-star Alchemist assessment all at once.
So, the four-star alchemist smiled slightly and said, "You can receive it in three days."
"That's good then."
Xin Ci nodded, then turned and left.
After Xin Ci departed, the four-star alchemist looked at his retreating figure and thought, "This person is not simple. He looks less than eighteen years old, but his alchemy talent definitely surpasses his peers. Perhaps he will achieve great things in the future?"
Normally, with Xin Ci's six-star soul power, combined with Elder Han's teachings,
Xin Ci should have been able to refine five-star pills long ago, and even six-star pills were not impossible.
It was just a pity that Mu Qingqing's soul had been severely damaged, and much of her soul power had been lost.
The main personality, Xin Ci, and the second personality, Mu Qingqing, shared the same origin of soul.
This resulted in the current main personality, Xin Ci, being able to wield at most four-star soul power.
"Given the current situation, it's unlikely for Xin Ci to win first place in the Alchemy Competition. I wonder what he will do?"
Mu Qingqing, in the consciousness space, was unaware of Xin Ci's plan. She was quietly recuperating, restoring the soul power within her.
After Xin Ci completed his Alchemist assessment and returned to the front hall of the Alchemist Guild, Elder Yan and Xuan Kong were already sitting there waiting for him.
"Xin Ci, how was the assessment?" Elder Yan asked, looking at Xin Ci.
Xin Ci gave a faint smile, "The assessment went smoothly, and I've passed."
Hearing this, Elder Yan's expression faltered.
Assuming Xin Ci had passed the three-star Alchemist assessment, he then laughed heartily, "It's good that you passed. It seems our Four Symbols Academy has gained another young three-star alchemist!"