There Goes Pill Exam
In a loud and clear voice, Alchemist Yao reminded, “This exam is for those looking to be certified as a level four alchemist. The exam will run for ten hours. You will need to prepare your own ingredients and tools. You must concoct your pill at the venue. Substitute examinees are unaccepted. Should you be found cheating, you will automatically fail.
“The compulsory pills you must concoct are a Rank Four qi concealment pill, speedy recovery pill and energy conversation pill. All level four alchemists are required to be able to produce those three pills and will be proof of your qualification. For the optional section, you need to choose two of the following four: rank four glazed pill, restoration pill, tranquillity pill and ancient dragon six deities pill.
“Show us everything you have. We will be judging you on your methodology, proficiency and herb selections. Do not try to be smart in the presence of the judges. We can tell if you produced the pill at the venue or not.”
Alchemist Yao scattered yellow sheets of pill paper into each cubicle, one sheet per cubicle. The sheet of paper was the written form of what he just repeated.
Various emotions flitted across faces of the Primordial Infant Realm cultivators. Cai Lie was an outlier at the venue since he was the only Golden Core Realm cultivator. For that reason and his background as Alchemist Yao’s disciple, he was the centre of attention. He lazily took out a purple pill cauldron after he read the sheet. He set down the cauldron and, with a flick of his hand, summoned an assortment of herbs onto the table. His biggest advantage was his infinite supply of ingredients.
The flames seen in the cauldrons were called pill flame stones. Spiritual energy was the catalyst, while the stones were the mediums used to start fires. Accordingly, the form and intensity of the flame was dependent on the owner’s spiritual energy. By the same account, mastery of spiritual energy was paramount. If a flame’s intensity was off, the pill would fail. Every herb required different types of flames, thereby requiring alchemists to figure it out for themselves. In summary, meticulous attention was compulsory for an alchemist to get anywhere.
Those in the know-how were there to pick up pointers or critique the examinees. Those who weren’t erudite on the topic were there for entertainment.
Every pill cauldron was unique, each carrying their own sets of pros and cons. Possessing a good cauldron was half of the job done because quality cauldrons prevented leakages, increasing one’s rate of success.
“While Senior Brother Cai Lie looks slothful, he has what it takes,” stated Tian Ran.
Cai Lie was amidst preparing his materials. He didn’t need the blade specific for alchemy to separate his herbs. He, instead, pressed his index and fingers together then imbued them with his qi and then cut away. He used his spiritual energy to crush a berry into powder. He scattered said powder, then grabbed a green rhizome and split it to pour a liquid onto it. To handle herbs solely using spiritual energy as he did demanded mastery of multitasking, which every alchemist needed to get the hang of.
Boom! A pillar of fire rising from the ground broke the silence. They quickly spotted the participant who lost control of his pill flame stone, causing collateral damage to neighbouring participants. That was unexpected and unheard of for level three alchemists.
An exam proctor headed over to check on the situation. The examinee lying on the ground had his face smothered with back residue from the explosion. His clothes were also burnt. Other staff members soon arrived on the scene. Many examinees had paused what they were doing, baffled as to what transpired. It was extremely rare for fire explosions to happen at pill exams. Before they could determine the status quo of the examinee, several more desks exploded, bloodying several more examinees.
“Hehe, I love places where there are fires.” A figure enveloped in fire emerged from the huge fire pillar. Behind it were several similar others.
“El-Elemental demons?!”
Many cultivators weren’t even born a hundred years ago, so they had never seen elemental demons before in their lives. Nobody had time to make heads and tails of the situation before the exam venue went up in flames. Flammables around cultivators burst into flames before they knew it.
“Run!”
Shrieks, cries, hasty footsteps, flesh crashing into flesh, people falling into the inferno, cauldrons exploding and a spreading inferno plunged the venue into chaos.
“You humans are using our flames for alchemy? What a joke.”
Dozens of fire elemental demons emerged in the sky and relished the scene of a riot.
Alchemist Yao: Elemental demons? At Third Heaven Continent?
Alchemist Yao launched a big hand at the elemental demons in the sky, smashing one to smithereens. Nevertheless, that didn’t deter them. More emerged, laughing hysterically. The flames assumed the forms of fiend beasts and charged towards buildings. Weak cultivators were easy prey. Ordinary folks and more cultivators trapped in the inferno frantically cried. The majority of them had no idea how to combat elemental demons.
From the sky, Alchemist Yao directed, “Everyone below Primordial Infant Realm is to escape. Anyone at Primordial Infant Realm and above listen in. In the name of Third Heaven Palace, work together to annihilate the fire demons!”
Alchemist Yao launched another hand at the fire demons. Body Severing Realm cultivators soared up and mounted an attack, leaving nothing in the tank and thereby making quick work of two fire demons.
“Bring it on, Old Man,” goaded one of the fire demons, running into the crowd of ordinary folks. Its flames burnt the people in its vicinity. As it watched people desperately search for non-existent water, it jibed, “Burn! Ashes smell fantastic.”
Fire demons who identified their opponents were Body Severing Realm cultivators copied the other fire demon, fleeing into the crowds. Soon enough, buildings combusted.
Only one person present was happy: Mu Yu. He was happy because the elemental demons’ appearance was proof they had escaped Celestial Prison. He no longer had any need to prove they had escaped to Third Heaven Palace. Howbeit, that all changed when he realised the devastation the fire demons had caused within moments.
“Brother Mu Yu, run!” Tian Ran cried.
Pushed away, Mu Yu turned back and asked Tian Ran, “What about you?”
“I’m a Primordial Infant Realm cultivator. Only we can combat elemental demons. I can’t run away when Mr. Yao called for me in the name of Third Heaven Palace.”
Mu Yu helplessly watched Tian Ran take to the sky with other Primordial Infant Realm cultivators. Catching sight of Cai Lie with a burnt arm, he flew over to help the latter escape.
“What the hell?! What the hell?! What are fire elemental demons doing here?!” thundered Cai Lie.
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