Chapter 18: Wait, You Really Can?

“Come on, man, you actually believe that?”
“They’re all probationary outer disciples—there’s no way to offend the outer sect, so the sect just gives them this arrangement as a way to deal with it.”
“Hey, that’s not the whole story. I heard another version: it’s a backdoor the sect provides for certain people.”
“Normally, a cultivator has to put in years of service, but those people just take an assessment—more of a formality—and they’re in.”
“Damn, seriously? How come I never knew about this? Isn’t that totally unfair?”
“Heh, junior brother, you’re still young. There’s a lot you don’t know yet...”
“So did he get in through the backdoor, then?”
His senior replied calmly, “I only said it’s possible, not that he did.”
“If someone gets in through the backdoor, do you really think you’d know? They do the assessment in secret, pass the task, and get registered in the Alchemy Hall just like that.”
“Look at all these alchemy disciples in the hall—do you really think they’re all like us, serving their time and showing a bit of talent with herbs to get in here?”
“Damn, now that you mention it, that old Zhang, and little Chen too—they’re alchemy disciples, but they never actually do any work...”
“Hush! See but don’t speak. If you want to become an alchemist, you’d better keep your mouth shut.”
“Those folks are just coasting along under their seniors’ protection. Once that shelter’s gone, their descendants will fade away sooner or later.”
“And some you can’t even spot—they also got in through the backdoor, but they work hard as alchemy disciples, study diligently, and might even become alchemists before us.”
As his senior spoke, he gestured toward Yang Fan and Ding Qing.
Had he overheard Yang Fan and Cao Xuan’s conversation, he’d know that even with their connections, they’d started from the basic tasks in the probationary outer sect, working diligently.
But in the eyes of common folk, Yang Fan and Ding Qing, so young and already alchemists, must have gotten in through the backdoor.
“Forget it. Let’s just wait and watch the show. This one’s obviously a hothead.”
“He probably broke into the outer sect half a year ago, only just now realizing there’s a future in the Alchemy Peak, thinks he’s got what it takes, and wants to soar in one leap.”
To them, the annual outer sect assessment was akin to a college graduate spending half a year struggling in the real world, finding nothing satisfactory, and then trying to get a stable job at Alchemy Peak.
Of course, there were still differences. In their view, an alchemy disciple had to master far more.
The same herb, used differently depending on its age—sometimes even requiring the use of true essence to process it.

Without several years of hands-on experience, you’d only waste the ingredients, just as Senior Brother Yang Fan said.
Cao Xuan’s arrival instantly livened up the usually busy and solemn Alchemy Hall.
Everyone put down their work to watch the spectacle, seizing any excuse for a brief respite.
When they heard Cao Xuan wanted to take the assessment, Yang Fan’s patience wore thin—he’d originally thought to give this promising-looking newcomer a few pointers.
“Fine, you want the assessment—I’ll arrange it,” Yang Fan said, then called to a female disciple at the center of the hall, “Go notify the Hall Master!”
Ye Hong—Elder Ye—was the grandfather of Ye Caixuan, the eldest sister of Alchemy Peak, and head of the Alchemy Hall, essentially its hall master, with cultivation near the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Rumor had it, he once had a shot at becoming head of Alchemy Peak.
In the cultivation world, strength is everything. The further one advances, the greater the gaps that form between peers. Without special fortune, it’s nearly impossible to overtake those ahead.
His failure in youth led Elder Ye to pursue perfection in all things, demanding especially strict standards in alchemy.
It was precisely this character that, passed down in the family, enabled Ye Caixuan to become the eldest sister of Alchemy Peak.
Talent played a part, of course, but without strict guidance, how could a young person, naturally inclined to play, achieve such heights?
When they heard Senior Brother Yang really had summoned the Hall Master for the assessment, the hall instantly fell silent. They loved a good spectacle, but they all knew how severe the Hall Master could be.
Suppressing their curiosity, they hurried back to their tasks, not wanting a single shout from Elder Ye to ruin their day’s good mood.
...
“What is it?”
Before long, a gentle breeze swept through, and a stern old man in a blue robe appeared in the hall.
He softened slightly when he saw it was Yang Fan; alchemy prodigies were usually given a bit more leniency.
Yang Fan pointed at Cao Xuan, “Elder Ye, this is a new alchemy disciple and needs to be assessed.”
Elder Ye paused, and said reflexively, “Alchemy disciple? Just let him in. What’s there to assess?”
But he quickly caught himself, his face darkening as he turned to Cao Xuan, “You don’t meet the requirements to be an alchemy disciple?”
“Then what are you doing here?”
Waving his hand to dismiss him, he walked forward and patted Yang Fan on the shoulder. “Come, let me see if your alchemy skills have improved lately.”
Seeing the old man ignore him, Cao Xuan stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said in a steady voice, “Elder Ye, I have taken on the task. I heard if I pass the assessment, I can become an alchemy disciple.”

His voice was calm and composed, which made Elder Ye hesitate. He was about to say that this was a privilege reserved for the children of elders and protectors, and no one took it seriously.
But remembering his position, he kept silent; the disciples might gossip, but he could not.
His dislike deepened, and he said impatiently, “Fine, come with us then.”
Hearing Elder Ye’s curt tone, the surrounding alchemy disciples bowed their heads even lower, thinking to themselves that this kid was done for.
Following Elder Ye and Yang Fan, Cao Xuan arrived at Earthfire Alchemy Room Number One.
At the center stood a pill furnace as tall as a person, the floor covered in intricate arrays, with a single meditation mat.
Along the walls, wooden partitions lined with medicinal herbs stood, though the surrounding wards made clear these weren’t for free use—certain conditions had to be met to take them.
At that moment, Elder Ye spoke, “Yang Fan, what pill are you planning to refine today?”
Yang Fan replied respectfully, “The Qi Gathering Pill.”
Elder Ye nodded, “Then you’ll need Yellow—”
Suddenly he halted, his eyes lighting up. Normally, the assessment for an alchemy disciple required them to select and process ten different herbs.
Most children of elders and protectors were trained in advance—even if they had no real task experience, they could handle it, and even those just coasting had practiced beforehand.
But since this boy didn’t know his place, Elder Ye decided to make things difficult for him. He said to Cao Xuan, “Go and fetch the ingredients for a Qi Gathering Pill and process them.”
“Remember, each set of ingredients costs one spirit stone. If you fail, you pay for it yourself!”
He waited for Cao Xuan to ask, “What are the ingredients for a Qi Gathering Pill?”
But to his surprise, Cao Xuan simply nodded and walked over to the wooden racks of herbs.
“How do I unlock this ward?” he asked.
Elder Ye saw him standing beneath the rack of yellow ganoderma, and was momentarily stunned.
Wait—does he actually know?