Chapter 41: First Encounter with Senior Sister Ye Caixuan, Fiftyfold!

Alchemists are unlike others; a new one does not emerge every year. With good fortune, several may appear in succession, but with poor luck, there might not be a single new alchemist for years. The step from concocting medicines to actually forging pills has blocked countless aspirants. Take a simple Qi Gathering Pill—many can process the three ingredients, Yellow Ganoderma, Ginseng, and Qi-Gathering Orchid, but the final step of forming the pill leaves most stuck.

So, when Cao Xuan announced he was here for the assessment, a protector on the Pill Peak, who had been dozing off in a bamboo chair, was startled awake.

"Hmm... Hm! Who, who’s here for the test? I wasn’t sleeping!"

Only then did Cao Xuan realize the protector was a beautiful woman not much older than himself. Instinctively, he used his system to take a look at her.

[Name: Ye Caixuan]
[Spiritual Root: Ninth-Tier Spiritual Root]
[Multiplier: 50 times]

He was startled—Ye Caixuan, Senior Sister, not a protector elder! Normally, assessments were overseen by the Foundation Establishment protectors of each peak, so Cao Xuan had naturally assumed the same would be true here.

Ye Caixuan, too, was surprised. "You... you know me? Oh, it’s you!"

She remembered her grandfather mentioning that there were no promising candidates this year, so no one would likely advance to alchemist status. Still, out of courtesy for the sect’s traditions, she was asked to fill in for the assessment.

Her grandfather, Protector Ye Hong, managed the Great Pill Hall on Earthfire Peak. He was well aware of the progress of all senior pill disciples and thus knew this year’s alchemist assessment would be a quiet affair.

Earlier, Cao Xuan had noticed the lack of candidates—most were veteran pill disciples taking a chance, hoping their performance might suddenly excel and allow them to become alchemists ahead of schedule. There weren’t many like that, so the assessments concluded quickly. Those who remained discussed their pill-crafting experiences, while Ye Caixuan had dozed off in her bamboo chair.

Realizing he’d misspoken, Cao Xuan quickly tried to cover for himself. "My name is Cao Xuan, a pill disciple on Pill Peak. Senior Brother Yang Fan mentioned you to me."

"Seeing how young and beautiful you are, I guessed you might not be an elder protector, but I didn’t expect it to be true!"

He spoke rapidly but soon paused, suddenly realizing, "Wait, Senior Sister, you know me?"

Ye Caixuan, now fully alert, replied, "Oh, Yang Fan, that arrogant guy. As for you, I saw you at the Qingshan Market a few months ago—your Qi Gathering Pills and Condensing Qi Powder were about the same quality as mine!"

A chill ran through Cao Xuan’s heart—so he had been noticed back then. Instantly, a strong sense of crisis swept over him; his strength was still too weak. No, he hadn’t flattered enough yet.

This senior sister before him had a fiftyfold multiplier—Cao Xuan nearly drooled at the thought.

"If you could already make Qi Gathering Pills months ago, why not take the assessment earlier? Our Pill Peak doesn’t require you to wait for an annual test."

Cao Xuan hurried to think of an excuse. He certainly couldn’t say that back then, as a fourth-level Qi trainee, it would have been too outrageous to attempt the alchemist test. Suddenly, he recalled that he had only intended to make a low-grade pill to get by—the alchemist identity would simply grant him access to the Earthfire Pill Room, making his pill-making more legitimate.

But in front of Ye Caixuan, who had seen him selling a system-refunded top-grade Qi Gathering Pill, he could not be too careless. "So, will you be overseeing the assessment, Senior Sister?"

Ye Caixuan raised an eyebrow at him. "What, am I not up to the task? I’m much more capable than the other protector elders."

Cao Xuan understood—he shouldn’t overact, or it would appear suspicious.

"Enough, let’s get on with the assessment. I still have to sleep... ahem, I mean, I still have work to do."

Cao Xuan quickly clasped his hands in salute. "Senior Sister, I am ready whenever you are."

Ye Caixuan stretched lazily, drawing the eyes of several pill disciples nearby.

"Alright, what pill do you plan to make?"

"The Qi Gathering Pill!"

Ye Caixuan waved her right hand nonchalantly. "Three sets of ingredients. As long as you succeed in one batch, you pass."

Three chances—fair enough. This assessment seemed quite reasonable, Cao Xuan thought.

He skillfully kindled a large flame, surprising Ye Caixuan.

"Hey, do you even know how to make pills?"

She made no effort to hide her thoughts.

"This cauldron is just like the one in the Great Pill Hall. Mind the heat!"

Cao Xuan thought she was kindly reminding him and quickly thanked her, "Thank you, Senior Sister. I’ll be careful!"

Ye Caixuan nodded, then watched as Cao Xuan stabilized the heat at a high flame.

What? Is that how you control the heat?

Before she could voice her doubt, Cao Xuan tossed the ginseng into the cauldron.

Forget it, let him do as he pleases. Perhaps she had misjudged him after all.

Cao Xuan focused intently on the cauldron, more so than usual, as he could typically produce top-grade pills with ease. This time, he focused on preserving some impurities to prevent the pills from becoming too pure and revealing his secret.

To Ye Caixuan’s surprise, the ginseng did not burn to ash as she had expected but was instead refined into medicinal liquid.

Yellow Ganoderma and Qi-Gathering Orchid followed, each rendered into liquid in less than half the usual time.

The veteran pill disciples, who had been discussing or quietly observing, now crowded around.

"No way, you can do it like that?"

"Shh! Quiet—don’t disturb the master at work!"

In that instant, everyone regarded Cao Xuan as a master alchemist.

In the pursuit of alchemy, all were dedicated to their craft, much like scholars in academic research, giving precedence to true skill.

These veteran disciples had long outgrown youthful jealousy and restlessness; they were simply captivated by Cao Xuan’s technique.

"If I’m not mistaken, that’s a high flame, right? Won’t that destroy the medicinal properties?"

"I don’t get it, but I’m amazed! Aren’t alchemists supposed to use a gentle flame?"

"Just watch and learn. It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong—if you can extract the liquid, it works."

Hearing this, even Ye Caixuan nodded in agreement.

Indeed, whatever the method, as long as the medicinal liquid is extracted, it counts.

But she quickly remembered her role and sat upright.

"Combine!"

Cao Xuan pressed his palms together, the liquids merging.

"Separate!"

Ten top-quality Qi Gathering Pills appeared, swiftly collected in a jade bottle.

Cao Xuan wiped his brow. "Just lucky, just lucky!"

He felt his act was natural enough that no one would suspect him of anything unusual.

When he turned to hand the jade bottle to Ye Caixuan, he found everyone staring at him in awe, as if he were a being from another world.

Even Ye Caixuan was looking at him with newfound respect.

"Ah, oh..."

Flustered, she received the bottle with utmost solemnity.

Cao Xuan: ...