The assessment for the second-tier Alchemist only requires a Pill Success Rate of at least twenty percent to be considered qualified. This minimum success rate ensures that Alchemy won't result in losses.
The assessments for first-tier and second-tier Alchemists are conducted simultaneously in the grand hall.
About a hundred people stand on the east side of the hall, while only two are on the west side.
Now, in front of each person, an Alchemy Furnace is placed. These furnaces are uniformly provided by the Pill Hall, and their quality is roughly the same.
"The Pill Hall assessment begins now. Each person has three chances, and the final average Pill Success Rate will determine the outcome."
In charge of the assessment, apart from the middle-aged scholar, there are also two cultivators in the later stages of Foundation Building.
At the command of the middle-aged scholar, everyone focuses solely on Alchemy, neglecting everything else.
Wang Hong takes out the materials and sets them up, preparing for Alchemy.
"Junior Brother Wang, want to make a bet?" Tang Wan'er says to Wang Hong.
"No bet! Wait, do I know you?" Wang Hong is puzzled. He has no recollection of Tang Wan'er, so how does she know him?
While talking, he has already ignited spirit charcoal to start heating the furnace for Alchemy.
"Of course, I know you! Someone is always talking about you around me. How could I not know you?" Tang Wan'er reveals a cunning smile.
While speaking, Tang Wan'er's hands continue to move without stopping, also beginning the furnace heating process.
Wang Hong is even more confused. He can't recall anyone talking about him in front of her.
"Hint: she's a beautiful female cultivator!" Tang Wan'er, seeing Wang Hong's confusion, offers a reminder.
"Please enlighten me, Senior Sister Tang," Wang Hong still can't remember, and he doesn't recall having a particularly good relationship with any female cultivator.
"Oh! Another forgetful and ungrateful person. My cousin has been talking about you all the time, and you've already forgotten her. Since you can't remember, I won't say more. Let's talk about our bet instead."
"When did I agree to bet with you?" Wang Hong asks.
Through continuous practice, his current second-tier Pill Success Rate is close to twenty percent, which is quite good among second-tier Alchemists. He doesn't plan to stand out too much; his intention is to pass the assessment with a twenty percent Pill Success Rate and gradually improve later.
"Oh dear! Junior Brother Wang, don't be afraid. My skills are quite lousy, so you should easily win," Tang Wan'er reassures.
Wang Hong thinks it's probably because he doesn't want to win against her.
"I have a second-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushroom. If you can beat me, I'll give you this Lionhead Spirit Mushroom. How about it?"
In the first-tier Alchemist examination area to the east, several people are Alchemizing while surreptitiously listening to Wang Hong and Tang Wan'er's gossip.
Upon hearing Tang Wan'er wagering a second-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushroom, one person's heart skips a beat. In their distraction, a mistake is made, and a furnace of Spirit Herb is burnt, emitting black smoke from the Alchemy Furnace.
Having failed an entire furnace, it seems they've missed another opportunity.
It's not that their focus is lacking; rather, they've been preparing to refine a second-tier Pill through someone for the past two years. The Lionhead Spirit Mushroom is one of the main herbs they've been searching for.
The Lionhead Spirit Mushroom needs to grow on spirit wood, requiring at least second-tier spirit wood to cultivate. Growing on second-tier spirit wood makes it a second-tier Spiritual Herb.
If cultivated on third-tier spirit wood, it becomes a third-tier Spiritual Herb.
Moreover, the Lionhead Spirit Mushroom has an exceptionally delicious taste, making it a favorite among many cultivators.
"So, what do I have to give if I lose?" Wang Hong speculates that she must want something from him in return.
Similarly, Wang Hong is intrigued by the Lionhead Spirit Mushroom that Tang Wan'er mentioned.
"If you lose, just give me a pound of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly."
"At most, half a pound!" Wang Hong, after a moment of consideration, suggests. Half a pound of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly is equivalent in value to a second-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushroom.
At this point, Tang Wan'er has already purified the impurities in the Spiritual Herb.
Confident about this bet, she has been recognized for her Alchemy talent since childhood and received significant cultivation in Pill Recipe within the clan, earning her the reputation of an Alchemy genius.
Wang Hong, too, has finished purifying the impurities and begins the process of blending the medicinal power.
He decides to control the Pill Success Rate to within thirty percent. If Tang Wan'er surpasses thirty percent, he is willing to admit defeat. He believes in not pursuing small gains at the expense of greater harm.
During the pill formation process, he deliberately slows down his Technique by a small fraction, allowing some medicinal power to dissipate.
Soon, his first furnace of pills is ready, producing three Nourishing Essence Pills.
This unexpected success catches the attention of many. Initially unknown, they thought he was just practicing with a few second-tier Spiritual Herbs, not expecting him to have a decent chance of success.
This situation is not uncommon in the annual Pill Hall assessments. Some individuals use second-tier materials to practice, and since they are already here, they might as well participate in the assessment. Who knows, they might accidentally succeed.
Despite being elite first-tier Alchemists, some Foundation Building Disciples still hesitate to join the Pill Hall as first-tier Alchemists. The elite status of first-tier Alchemists in the Pill Hall is relatively low.
For this reason, many choose to undergo the assessment only when they reach second-tier Alchemist status.
Even the middle-aged scholar sitting at the top now regards Wang Hong with a bit more attention. There are only a little over a hundred second-tier Alchemists in the Pill Hall, and most of them were cultivated from the first-tier Alchemists in the Pill Hall. Very few joined as second-tier Alchemists based on their own abilities.
After a few moments, Tang Wan'er also successfully refines three Nourishing Essence Pills. To everyone's surprise, she is equally matched.
Tang Wan'er, confident after refining three Nourishing Essence Pills, smiles triumphantly at Wang Hong.
Wang Hong pays little attention and proceeds to refine the second furnace of Nourishing Essence Pills.
In the second furnace, Wang Hong produces three pills, and so does Tang Wan'er. At this point, it's a tie, and the outcome will be determined by the third furnace.
On the eastern side, where the first-tier Alchemist assessment is taking place, some cultivators who had given up on themselves are now participating in the bet's spectators.
"Who is this junior disciple? How come I've never heard of such an Alchemy genius in the sect?"
"I know him. His name is Wang Hong. A few years ago, he came out of a secret realm. Among that batch of disciples, he ranked first in contribution points. Later, he auctioned off three Foundation Establishment Pills. Unfortunately, I was busy with Alchemy at that time and didn't have the time to go."
"You refine a first-tier pill, and it only takes an hour or two. Even without Spirit Stones, you can talk so nicely." A familiar cultivator nearby jokes immediately.
[Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]