Previously, examiners relied on experience and powdered elixirs to determine their authenticity and quality, which was how Qin Han Chu was processed for his Purple Gold Alchemist identity.
Did the abilities of these two Honor Alchemists fall short of the previous examiners?
They were well aware that Qin Han Chu’s Qi Refining Pill had been successful, but they simply could not accept their own failure.
Admitting defeat would not only bring them shame but also force them to take Qin Han Chu as their master.
If they reneged on their word, they would become a laughingstock throughout the Black Tower.
As Honor Alchemists, they valued their reputation immensely.
Compared to manual inspection, machine testing provided more accurate readings.
They hoped that Qin Han Chu’s elixir’s numerical values would deviate from the required ones, giving them a basis to defend themselves.
“We are being thorough and responsible!” Master Zhou said, his face flushed.
Master Lu quickly chimed in, “Indeed, the status of an Honor Alchemist is extremely noble, and thus requires utmost caution.”
Qin Han Chu first put away three of the Qi Refining Pills and then said with a smile, “Then let the testing commence.”
Under Master Zhou’s arrangement, the staff member responsible for the inspection entered the adjacent testing room with a pill.
The glass of the testing room was transparent, allowing Qin Han Chu to observe every action of the testing personnel.
From this perspective, the Alchemist Association’s system was quite transparent.
Masters Zhou and Lu wore extremely grim expressions. Once the test results reached the level of a high-grade Qi Refining Pill, they would have lost their wager.
Qin Han Chu was brimming with confidence. If he couldn’t even refine a basic elixir like the Qi Refining Pill, then Qin Han Chu, the progenitor, would be utterly disgraced.
In less than ten minutes, the test results were out.
The staff member conducting the test stared at the results in shock. He hadn’t expected Qin Han Chu’s Qi Refining Pill to achieve the quality of perfection.
“How were the inspection results?” Master Zhou asked, somewhat nervously.
The staff member in charge of inspection appeared troubled. Once the results were announced, Masters Zhou and Lu would be utterly defeated.
“This…” The staff member handed the inspection sheet to Master Lu. “Masters, please examine it yourselves.”
Upon seeing the results on the inspection sheet, Master Lu’s expression instantly turned to surprise.
Not only was Qin Han Chu’s Qi Refining Pill successful, but its efficacy had also reached the threshold of perfection.
Even they couldn’t consistently refine such an elixir, yet Qin Han Chu had managed to refine a perfect Qi Refining Pill during the assessment.
Master Zhou had also seen the inspection sheet, and his face instantly turned ashen.
If Qin Han Chu had been an alchemist with no background, they could have stubbornly refused to acknowledge the results.
However, Qin Han Chu was an Honorary Deacon, which implied that Qin Han Chu was a Grandmaster-level martial artist.
Although alchemists held a noble status, they were unwilling to make an enemy of a Grandmaster.
“Masters, have I passed the assessment?” Qin Han Chu asked with a smile.
Masters Zhou and Lu remained silent, their faces sullen and finding it difficult to speak.
“I heard that the Black Tower has a supervisory department. If someone doesn’t follow the regulations, won’t they be punished?” Qin Han Chu’s words carried a hint of threat.
Masters Zhou and Lu’s expressions became even more grim. With sullen faces, they stated, “You have passed.”
“I also don’t want to take such foolish disciples as you. As long as each of you gives me a few precious medicinal ingredients, I won’t require you to become my disciples.”
Qin Han Chu was now considered an Honor Alchemist himself, so he no longer felt the need to show these two any respect.
“Someone will deliver them to you later.”
Master Zhou, despite his anger, was helpless. Who else could they blame but themselves for losing?
Since they could avoid becoming disciples by simply giving some medicinal ingredients, they naturally wouldn’t refuse.
If they were truly forced to become Qin Han Chu’s disciples, that would be the ultimate disgrace.
Master Lu said to the staff member of the Alchemist Association, “Process his paperwork.”
“Yes.” The staff member of the Alchemist Association nodded in agreement.
Masters Zhou and Lu glanced at Qin Han Chu once more before leaving together.
As they exited the Alchemist Association, Master Zhou lamented, “I never expected this kid’s alchemy skills to be so high. We were actually tricked by him.”
“How could this kid possess such high alchemical attainment at such a young age? And he’s also reached the Grandmaster realm,” Master Lu mused. “Could he have been taught by a renowned master?”
“We all know each other’s backgrounds, and none of us have such a disciple,” Master Zhou pondered and asked, “Could he be a mole sent by the Martial Arts Administration?”
“That shouldn’t be the case either. If he were a mole, he shouldn’t be so high-profile,” Master Lu shook his head.
Master Zhou sighed, “Forget it, we’ve conceded. He is now on equal footing with both of us.”
“Issue a gag order to the people at the Alchemist Association, don’t let them speak of what just happened.”
…
Half an hour later, Qin Han Chu’s Purple Gold Medal officially became an Honor Medal.
At the same time, the Alchemist Association’s official website was updated.
Qin Han Chu’s name also appeared at the forefront of the alchemist rankings.
“What the hell, who is this Ye Chang Qing? How did he become an Honor Alchemist before the age of thirty?”
“Who is this person? I’ve never heard of him! How did he suddenly become an Honor Alchemist!”
“Could this be the true disciple of some master?”
“This is too incredible! Becoming an Honor Alchemist at such a young age!”
“Damn it, he only became a Purple Gold Alchemist last week, and now an Honor Alchemist this week? Isn’t this promotion speed too fast?”
“This Ye Chang Qing must be the personal disciple of some Honor Alchemist, otherwise, how could he have become an Honor Alchemist so quickly?”
“If I had known he was this powerful, I would have waited for him to refine elixirs for me.”
Qin Han Chu’s immediate ascension to Honor Alchemist status caused a stir in the Black Tower region of the underground city.
Becoming an Honor Alchemist before the age of thirty was truly extraordinary.
The next morning, Qin Han Chu emerged from his room.
As soon as he reached the lobby, the front desk attendant handed him two suitcases. “Master Ye, these are items from Masters Zhou and Lu.”
“Thank you.”
Qin Han Chu didn’t look inside the suitcases. He took them and walked out of the Alchemist Association.
Upon returning home, Qin Han Chu opened the door.
Just then, Lai Cai Yun rushed to open the door. “Hello.”
Qin Han Chu turned to look at her. “Hello, is there something you need?”
“Are… are you a Purple Gold Alchemist?” Lai Cai Yun asked somewhat hesitantly.
Qin Han Chu smiled. “You could say that.”
“Can… can I ask you to refine an elixir for me?” Lai Cai Yun asked.
Qin Han Chu replied, “What elixir?”
“A low-grade elixir for the ninth rank.”
Lai Cai Yun felt even more embarrassed. Asking a Purple Gold Alchemist to refine a low-grade elixir was like using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.
“Yes, I can. I’ll ask for the medicinal ingredients when I go to the Alchemist Association. Just tell me the name of the elixir then.”
“You agreed?” Lai Cai Yun asked, surprised by how smoothly it went. “How will the payment be calculated? Do I need to place an order on the Alchemist Association’s official website?”