Ten Thousand Dragons Technique-Chapter 15: Alchemy Master Examination, Success!

The second floor was very quiet, with few people around. When Lin Xuan arrived, he saw several individuals exiting an Alchemy Room. They wore ugly expressions and sighed deeply; clearly, they had all failed their examinations.

Nearby stood a middle-aged man in an Alchemy Robe, likely the elder overseeing the examinations. He also sighed and said, "This recent batch of applicants is terrible. Not a single one has succeeded."

Suddenly, his eyes landed on Lin Xuan, and he asked, surprised, "Are you here for the examination too?"

Lin Xuan nodded. "I’m here to take the examination for a First-Tier Alchemy Master." With that, he handed over his registration form.

The examining elder, Chen Hai, took the registration form and glanced at it. "Follow me," he said, his tone casual and indifferent. He had noticed Lin Xuan’s age was only 16. It’s impossible to pass the examination at that age.

Lin Xuan followed Chen Hai into a room. It was an Alchemy Room, containing an Alchemy Furnace flanked by two stone tables. On the tables were two sets of Medicinal Materials and a Scroll that contained a Pill Recipe.

Chen Hai pointed to the items on the table. "You will be refining the Spirit Gathering Pill," he explained. "If you can successfully refine one Spirit Gathering Pill within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you will pass the examination."

Hearing this, Lin Xuan simply nodded. He walked to the stone table, picked up the Pill Recipe, gave it a quick glance before setting it down, and then gathered one set of Medicinal Materials. The set consisted of twelve different ingredients, all of which he tossed into the Alchemy Furnace one after another with an air of extreme casualness.

Elder Chen Hai hadn’t paid much mind at first. Seeing the boy’s nonchalant manner, he figured there wasn’t much hope. But in the next instant, he froze. He realized that Lin Xuan’s Alchemy Technique was special. His gaze sharpened, and he watched intently.

He saw Lin Xuan’s fingers dance as he sent streams of Spiritual Power into the Alchemy Furnace. Under his control, the twelve ingredients flew into the flames and instantly transformed into medicinal liquids, which then began to rapidly fuse together.

Could this be...?

When Chen Hai saw this, his eyes widened to the size of saucers. "This is Heaven-Burning Fire!" he cried out in shock. He was truly staggered.

The so-called Heaven-Burning Fire was a specific Alchemy Technique. Normally, an Alchemy Master would have to cautiously control the flames when placing Medicinal Materials in the furnace, melting them bit by bit. After all, the slightest misstep would turn the precious ingredients to ash. But Heaven-Burning Fire was different. This technique involved enveloping the ingredients with the full force of the flames from the very beginning, instantly extracting their essence.

Elixirs refined with this technique were of an exceptionally high grade, but it had a major drawback: it was ridiculously difficult. The slightest mistake would reduce the materials to cinders. Only the most extraordinarily skilled Pill Kings would dare to use Heaven-Burning Fire. Yet, unbelievably, this young man had just executed this Ultimate Skill. It was truly incredible.

Inside the Alchemy Furnace, the twelve medicinal liquids rapidly fused, forming the embryonic shape of an elixir. Lin Xuan controlled the flames once more, enveloping the elixir embryo. Gradually, a true elixir began to form within the fire. A moment later, with a wave of his hand, the completed elixir soared out of the furnace and landed gently in his palm.

Success! And even faster than last time! Lin Xuan was overjoyed. He looked up at Chen Hai and said, "Elder, I’m finished. Would you like to inspect the elixir’s grade?"

Finished already? So quickly? Chen Hai was completely stunned. Only half an incense stick’s worth of time has passed! Incredible! This kid’s use of the Heaven-Burning Fire technique is already so proficient. Is he a monster? How old is he? Sixteen? Even if he started training at three, that’s only a little more than a decade of practice. Master Heaven-Burning Fire in a decade? Impossible! As far as I know, it takes at least a hundred years to master a technique like this!

"Elder? Elder?" Lin Xuan called out again.

Chen Hai finally snapped out of his stupor. He took the elixir and examined it carefully, only to cry out in astonishment again. "This is a top-tier elixir! You actually refined a top-tier, First-Tier Elixir!"

Chen Hai was truly floored. Top-tier elixirs were incredibly difficult to refine. Even for the lowest first tier, producing a top-tier elixir was no small feat. Top-tier elixirs were also known as perfect elixirs. They contained virtually no impurities, and their medicinal effects were maximized to the absolute limit. Honestly, he hadn’t seen a top-tier elixir in many years, and he never expected to see one now, in the hands of a 16-year-old boy.

"Just who in the world are you?" Chen Hai asked, his face a mask of shock.

"My name is Lin Xuan, from the Lin Family of Cloud Sea City."

Cloud Sea City... Chen Hai was surprised. He knew of the place, a nearby city. But as far as I know, Cloud Sea City doesn’t have any remarkable Alchemy Masters. The strongest one there is only a Second-Tier Alchemy Master. How could they possibly produce such a talented disciple?

"So how did you learn alchemy?" he asked. "And also, was that technique you used just now the legendary Heaven-Burning Fire?"

"It was indeed Heaven-Burning Fire," Lin Xuan confirmed without hesitation. "A senior taught me."

It really was Heaven-Burning Fire! Chen Hai grew excited. "Which senior?"

Lin Xuan shook his head. "I’m sorry, I can’t say."

Chen Hai understood. It must be a reclusive master. But this master’s rank must be incredibly high, a Pill King at the very least, maybe even a legendary Pill Emperor. Otherwise, there’s no way they could have taught such an incredible student.

At this thought, Chen Hai’s attitude toward Lin Xuan changed completely, becoming incredibly enthusiastic. "You’ve passed the examination. From now on, you are a true First-Tier Alchemy Master. Young Master Lin, please come with me. I’ll take you to meet my master, who is also the Master of this Pill Tower. He will be the one to issue your certification."

When the Master of the Pill Tower, Zhao Feng, heard the news about Lin Xuan, he was utterly dumbfounded. Lin Xuan can use Heaven-Burning Fire? Is that for real? He was skeptical.

"Could you have been mistaken?" Zhao Feng asked.

"There’s no mistake," Chen Hai insisted. "Three years ago, you took me to the Imperial City for the Pill King’s birthday banquet. I saw the Pill King use Heaven-Burning Fire with my own eyes. I will never forget that scene for as long as I live, and I am certain that the technique Young Master Lin used was Heaven-Burning Fire."

"Young Master Lin, please, have a seat," Zhao Feng said, rushing over to grasp Lin Xuan’s hand excitedly.

Subsequently, Zhao Feng personally awarded Lin Xuan his certification, also giving him an Alchemy Robe and a badge. "This badge is your symbol of status," he explained.

Lin Xuan accepted the badge and saw that it was engraved with a single flame, representing a First-Tier Alchemy Master. Two flames would signify a Second-Tier Alchemy Master, like the examining elder, Chen Hai. The man before him, Zhao Feng, was a Third-Tier Alchemy Master.

Lin Xuan took the badge but put it away instead of pinning it on. He had no desire to be too high-profile.

As Lin Xuan prepared to leave, Zhao Feng gave him a token. "This token is quite useful in Yun Province," he said. "Seeing this token is like seeing me; other Alchemy Masters will give you face. If you run into any trouble, you can also come find me. I will do my best to help."

Lin Xuan accepted the token. "Thank you, senior."

With that, Lin Xuan departed.

Having left the Pill Tower, Lin Xuan had not gone far when he ran into Sun Tian and Clan Leader Sun. Sun Tian was there for his own examination, and he was momentarily stunned to see Lin Xuan.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Suddenly, seeming to recall something, he sneered. "Don’t tell me you actually came to take the Alchemy Master examination? You? You think you’re worthy of being an Alchemy Master? Quit dreaming!"