A faint warm current flowed through him.
Lin Xuan felt his alchemy talent improve slightly.
Then, he waited in place for a while.
Before long, two elderly men in alchemist robes walked out from a large door ahead—one in black, the other in gray. Both wore gray cauldrons and three five-pointed stars on their chests, marking them as high-grade spiritual alchemists.
The black-robed elder held a register, scanned the crowd, and announced in a clear voice:
"I am Sun Jingyun, a high-grade spiritual alchemist of the Alchemist Guild, in charge of the mortal-grade alchemist examinations.
Those of you taking the mortal-grade alchemist exam, follow me."
With that, Sun Jingyun glanced at the register in his hand and was about to turn and enter the door.
But he suddenly stopped, frowned, and turned back with a hint of irritation, barking coldly:
"Who is Lin Xuan? Step forward!
A sixteen-year-old coming to test for high-grade mortal alchemist—isn't this nonsense?
The Alchemist Guild is no place for your games!"
At his words, everyone's gaze converged on Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan stepped out from the crowd, approached Sun Jingyun, and cupped his hands:
"Senior Sun, I am Lin Xuan.
But I'm not here to fool around.
I truly am here to take the exam. Please rest assured, Elder Sun."
At the same time, Sun Jingyun's attribute panel appeared before him.
Aside from his cultivation level, he had a supreme-grade alchemy talent, but the rest didn't even match up to Zhang Chen, the alchemy prodigy of Flowing Cloud Sect.
Still, this alchemy talent was exactly what Lin Xuan needed.
Immediately, he focused his mind.
"Ding, consuming 30,000 energy points. Copy successful. Obtained [Supreme-Grade Alchemy Talent]."
Hearing this, Sun Jingyun's expression softened slightly.
But his brow remained furrowed, and he was about to speak again when the gray-robed elder beside him intervened.
The gray-robed elder chuckled lightly:
"Brother Sun, why not give this young Lin a chance? He doesn't seem to be joking.
A few alchemy materials are nothing—our Alchemist Guild can afford it."
This gray-robed elder was named Zhang Qun, and Lin Xuan had already checked his attribute panel.
It was similar to Sun Jingyun's, and Lin Xuan had also copied his supreme-grade alchemy talent.
"Fine."
Hearing Zhang Qun's words, Sun Jingyun said no more and waved his hand:
"All of you, follow me."
Then, Sun Jingyun led Lin Xuan and the other examinees through the door.
Li Yue, Xiao Lü, and the other basic staff were left outside.
They weren't qualified to enter.
Once inside, they saw a much larger space.
Behind them were over a dozen antique, meter-tall cauldrons.
On the tables nearby were various herbs and a piece of white paper.
"Pick any spot, check the materials, cauldron, and pill formula. If there are any issues, speak up."
Sun Jingyun instructed.
Lin Xuan and the dozen or so others stepped forward, each choosing a cauldron.
Lin Xuan stood behind one on the right, picked up the white paper from the table, and scanned it.
This was the pill formula.
"Third-grade high-grade pill, Qi Recovery Pill."
Lin Xuan murmured softly.
His eyes swept over the formula.
Instantly, his mind began analyzing it at lightning speed.
A sense of familiarity, as if he had practiced it millions of times, surged through him.
"Is this the benefit of high-level alchemy talent?"
Lin Xuan thought to himself, a glint of surprise in his eyes.
He had never personally refined a pill before—not once.
But now, holding the formula for a third-grade high-grade Qi Recovery Pill, he felt this indescribable familiarity.
Other alchemists would need to spend a vast amount of time and countless attempts to achieve this.
The gap was staggering.
"It seems my idea was right—talent comes first. Copying talents is the most important thing."
Lin Xuan mused inwardly.
"A Qi Recovery Pill? Bad luck!"
"Yeah, even among third-grade high-grade pills, the Qi Recovery Pill is notoriously hard to refine."
"Sigh, I guess I'll fail again this time."
"..."
Muffled complaints came from around him.
Lin Xuan smiled faintly.
Then, relying on the alchemy basics he had memorized, absorbed, and mastered, he began his checks.
The cauldron, materials, and formula.
Soon, he finished. All three were fine.
Usually, there were no issues; the checks were just a precaution.
After a while, seeing no one raise any problems, Sun Jingyun said:
"Since there are no issues, begin.
You're all refining Qi Recovery Pills. There are three sets of materials here.
Each of you has three chances. Succeed once with three pills formed, and you pass.
No requirements on pill quality."
Hearing this, everyone started refining.
Those below the Spirit Origin realm, or without the potential to become earth-grade alchemists, had no alchemy flame.
They needed to use fire-element charcoal and other materials to ignite a flame for refining.
Soon, everyone lit the fire-element charcoal, warmed the cauldrons, roasted the herbs, and extracted the essence...
Step by step, they proceeded.
Only Lin Xuan remained standing still, making no move to start.
"Why hasn't that Lin Xuan started yet?"
"Probably doesn't know how. He's only sixteen—too young to refine a third-grade high-grade pill."
"Yeah, likely."
"..."
A few experienced middle-aged alchemists, while refining, glanced at Lin Xuan and whispered with faint sneers.
Not far away, Sun Jingyun frowned.
Was he really just here to play?
After the exam, he'd punish him and throw him out.
The Alchemist Guild wasn't a place for jokes.
Soon, over ten minutes passed.
The fastest among them had reached the final step—condensing the pill.
"Just as I thought."
Lin Xuan watched quietly, nodded slightly, and a smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
This was his first time refining, so he naturally wanted to observe others first.
Having seen it, it matched his expectations.
He could start now.
With that, Lin Xuan opened his right hand.
Buzz...
A ball of faint golden flame appeared in his palm.
This was the alchemy flame.
It had appeared in his dantian after copying and absorbing the spiritual-grade alchemy talent.
This flame was truly suited for alchemists to refine pills.
It could also grow in power as the alchemist's cultivation advanced.
The moment the alchemy flame appeared, a wave of heat spread in all directions.
The temperature in the entire space soared.
"Is that an alchemy flame?"
"Wasn't it said that only earth-grade alchemists or those with earth-grade potential could have an alchemy flame?"
"Is this guy really an alchemy prodigy?"
"A top-tier alchemy prodigy!"
"..."
The crowd buzzed with chatter.
Their gazes at Lin Xuan were filled with shock and disbelief.