Chapter 155: Assessment

The bright lights illuminated the hall as if it were daytime. At this moment, the hall was crowded with people, and bursts of whispered laughter occasionally echoed inside.

Looking over at them, from their attire and the badges on their chests, it could be seen that most of these people were true alchemists. Among them, there were even two fourth-tier alchemists, surrounded by the crowd like stars surrounding the moon.

In the center of the hall, a dozen separately arranged stone platforms were set up meticulously. These platforms were filled with various alchemical instruments.

At this moment, six young individuals stood on these platforms. The expressions on their faces showed eagerness, including both men and women.

"These young ones are lucky. For this assessment, two fourth-tier alchemy masters have come to observe. Getting any pointers from these masters would be a blessing," whispered a person in the crowd with a tone full of envy.

"Haha, isn't that true? Normally, at most a third-tier alchemist would host the assessment. But if I were them, standing on the platform now, I would surely feel quite nervous, wouldn't you say?" replied another person, their tone somewhat teasing.

"Ha, that's right."

"Hehe, it's about to begin," said a young man with a second-tier badge on his chest, glancing at the hourglass on the table with a faint smile. "Ten more minutes. I hope these six young ones can pass the assessment smoothly this time. A fourth-tier alchemist's standards are quite high."

As he spoke, he turned his head inadvertently and casually glanced around the hall, finally pausing slightly as he looked at a pair of young men and women who had entered at some point.

"Oh, are there newcomers again?" He glanced at the armbands on their arms, couldn't help but smile, and asked softly, "Are you two here for the alchemist assessment as well?"

The man's words attracted many gazes in the hall.

"Yes, we are here for the assessment," Wei Yang said, pulling Xian'er forward as he nodded.

Xian'er, on the other hand, looked somewhat bright-eyed. For her, this was the first time she had gathered with so many peers, which made her feel very novel and a little excited.

On stage, the six young people about to be assessed also turned their attention to Wei Yang and Xian'er, scrutinizing them closely. Good looks; the man was handsome, and the woman was pure and beautiful.

However, so what? Their gazes became somewhat unfriendly, with an obvious hint of provocation. As the saying goes, fellow practitioners are not necessarily enemies, but those taking the exam together certainly are!

It's fine if you are not good, as long as everyone else taking the assessment is worse than you. Excellence is mainly highlighted by peers.

Wei Yang couldn't be bothered to look at those provocative gazes, and Xian'er also paid no attention. They remained calm. After all, for them, participating in such an assessment was like a dimensional reduction blow, presenting no challenge whatsoever; it was merely a formality.

"Not bad, young ones, with a stable mindset," nodded a fourth-tier alchemist with gray hair and beard as he stroked his beard and smiled, "Your ages?"

"Twenty-one," Wei Yang.

"Nineteen," Xian'er.

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing their ages. So young! It was explainable for Wei Yang, being twenty-one, but Xian'er being nineteen was almost too young.

After all, to become a true alchemist, aside from having the right soul attributes, one must also become a Dou practitioner. Furthermore, after becoming a practitioner, to become an alchemist, one would need to undergo at least a year of basic alchemical training under a mentor, even as a genius.

Therefore, for someone to aim to become a first-tier alchemist by nineteen, they would have had to become a practitioner at eighteen or even seventeen. Such talent is rarer than the number of alchemists.

Remember when Xiao Yan became a practitioner at twelve years old and it caused a stir? That was precisely why. Thus, many alchemists present thought that the beautiful girl with an ethereal aura and long snow-white hair would find it hard to pass the assessment and might just be there to accompany someone.

"Um?" The elderly fourth-tier alchemist suddenly furrowed his brows slightly and murmured, "Strange, why can't I sense your cultivation levels?"

"Huh?" Another fourth-tier alchemist, a middle-aged man, was also surprised upon hearing this. After carefully sensing, he remarked with astonishment, "It indeed seems that way. It shouldn't be; by logic, someone below my level shouldn't be able to hide their cultivation from me."

Others also carefully sensed and eventually found that none present could discern Wei Yang's and Xian'er's specific cultivation levels, as if they were facing two ordinary people with no cultivation at all. It was very peculiar.

Everyone curiously watched Wei Yang and Xian'er, hoping for answers. Wei Yang merely frowned slightly, showing a trace of impatience on his face. Taking a deep breath, he glanced at the hourglass on the table that had already run out and asked, "Can we start the assessment now?"

Upon this, everyone in the room frowned slightly, feeling Wei Yang's attitude somewhat arrogant and lacking in junior humility.

"You can start anytime, go up there," the elderly fourth-tier alchemist flicked his sleeves and snorted lightly. Youngsters think a bit of talent allows them to be arrogant and disrespect elders? They'll soon learn what it means to be nitpicking, scrutinizing everything.

Others also showed some displeasure on their faces, looking at Wei Yang with teasing eyes, ready for action. To be so arrogant, daring to offend so many alchemists present—you've got guts, kid. If the pills you refine today have the slightest flaw, don't even think about passing.