Chapter 7

This young disciple, who was about seventeen or eighteen years old, stopped Wei Changfeng in his path. He had an ordinary appearance but carried himself with a haughty air, his eyes gleaming with ill intent.

The few companions who followed him also looked at Wei Changfeng with mocking and derisive expressions.

Wei Changfeng knew the young man's name was Liang Tian, who had entered Jingyun Alchemy Academy around the same time as him. However, Liang Tian was now a high-ranking alchemy apprentice, holding a slightly higher position in the Lower Academy.

Liang Tian came from a wealthy family and was generous with his money, so he had gathered a group of sycophants within the academy. However, he had a conflict with Wei Changfeng two years ago.

At that time, Wei Changfeng had just left the Martial Academy and still possessed the strength of the third level of Body Tempering. In the conflict, it was naturally Liang Tian who suffered, and he had harbored a grudge ever since, often causing trouble for Wei Changfeng.

This guy had clearly heard about Wei Changfeng's alchemy competition with Wang Hongyan but did not know the outcome. That was why he had stopped him to mock him, hoping to humiliate him once again.

His companions, understanding Liang Tian's intentions, immediately joined in the mockery.

"Right, right, Junior Brother Wei, did you win or lose?"

"For a mid-rank alchemy apprentice to win against a low-rank alchemy master, that's not just a little difficult!"

"Of course he lost. Could he possibly have beaten Senior Brother Wang?"

"Hehe, one must know one's limits, or else one will only make a fool of oneself!"

Faced with the cold ridicule of these Lower Academy disciples, Wei Changfeng merely smiled faintly and said, "I didn't win..."

Liang Tian immediately burst into laughter, "So you lost, Wei Changfeng, you really..."

Wei Changfeng calmly interrupted him, "I didn't lose either!"

"Didn't lose, cough, cough!"

Liang Tian was about to continue his mockery when his words were cut off by Wei Changfeng. He almost choked on his own saliva, his face turning red from coughing.

He rubbed his throat, widened his eyes, and shouted hoarsely, "How is that possible?"

"What's so impossible about it?"

Wei Changfeng frowned, clearly impatient, and said, "Move aside, I have things to do!"

He had countless tasks to complete and had no time to waste on these无聊的家伙.

However, this disdainful attitude made Liang Tian so angry that steam seemed to come out of his seven orifices. He wanted to lash out but held back, taking a deep breath and saying coldly, "Neither win nor lose? You're just trying to save face. I think you're..."

"What are you all doing here?"

At that moment, a voice full of authority echoed down the corridor.

Hearing this voice, both Liang Tian and his companions showed signs of respect, bowing in unison and saying, "Disciple greets Master Ye!"

The newcomer was a middle-aged man in his forties, slender and pale-faced, with a pair of sharp, eagle-like eyes. His piercing gaze swept over Liang Tian and Wei Changfeng, carrying a hint of coldness.

Ye Jian, the chief alchemy master of the Lower Academy of Jingyun Alchemy Academy, was also the senior master of hundreds of alchemy apprentices in the Lower Academy.

Ye Jian was known for his upright and strict nature. He was not only a high-ranking alchemy master but also possessed the strength of the ninth level of Body Tempering. He was responsible for the assessment and promotion of all Lower Academy disciples.

Even wealthy young men like Liang Tian had suffered at Ye Jian's hands, so they all feared the chief alchemy master and dared not offend him.

"Scatter..."

Ye Jian said coldly, "You come to the alchemy academy to study, spending your family's money. How can you face your parents and elders if you don't work hard?"

His gaze lingered on Wei Changfeng's face for a moment, a look of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

Wei Changfeng's heart stirred, and he stepped forward, bowing and said, "Master Ye, I wish to take the assessment for a low-rank alchemy master today. Please grant me your permission!"

Ye Jian was taken aback and asked, "You want to take the assessment for a low-rank alchemy master?"

Ye Jian was familiar with Wei Changfeng's situation. He knew that this disciple had very limited talent in alchemy. Despite his hard work, he had only barely passed the mid-rank alchemy apprentice assessment, with a very bleak future.

So when he heard Wei Changfeng say he wanted to take the assessment for a low-rank alchemy master, he was naturally very surprised.

He had no idea that although the person was the same, the current Wei Changfeng was not the same as before!

Liang Tian and the others couldn't help but smirk, but they didn't dare to laugh out loud due to Ye Jian's presence.

In their view, Wei Changfeng was being extremely overconfident, completely unaware of his own limitations. A mere mid-rank alchemy apprentice wanting to take the assessment for a low-rank alchemy master was simply delusional!

Ye Jian had similar thoughts and said disapprovingly, "Young man, don't aim too high. There are no shortcuts in the path of alchemy. One must take steady steps."

He thought he was being patient, but Wei Changfeng remained unmoved and said firmly, "Thank you for your advice, Master Ye, but I still want to try!"

Seeing Wei Changfeng's stubbornness, Ye Jian's eyebrows furrowed, and he shouted, "As you wish, follow me!"

Liang Tian almost burst out laughing. In his view, Wei Changfeng was courting his own doom by angering Ye Jian. How could he possibly survive in the alchemy academy after this?

He gave his companions a meaningful look and followed Wei Changfeng and Ye Jian to the alchemy room.

The Lower Academy of Jingyun Alchemy Academy had over two hundred disciples, but there were only fifty earth fire alchemy rooms. Therefore, they were usually used in rotation. Some disciples would come early to secure a good position.

Thanks to Liang Tian's deliberate spreading of the news, many disciples waiting for their turn in the alchemy rooms knew that Wei Changfeng was taking the assessment for a low-rank alchemy master and gathered to watch the spectacle.

The Lower Academy held an alchemy master assessment once a year, and any disciple could apply for a separate assessment from the chief alchemy master or the head elder at any time. The former was free, while the latter required a fee.

For a disciple like Wei Changfeng to apply for a low-rank alchemy master assessment, it would cost two hundred taels of silver, which was beyond the means of ordinary disciples. Therefore, it was extremely rare for anyone to do so.

"Can't be, this waste of space, Wei Changfeng, is applying for a low-rank alchemy master assessment?"

"Isn't he only a mid-rank alchemy apprentice?"

"He barely passed the mid-rank assessment. Among those who entered the academy with him, few are worse than him!"

The surrounding disciples whispered among themselves, and no one had any faith in Wei Changfeng. His reputation had always been poor, and he had always been at the bottom of his peers.

Wei Changfeng ignored the comments and stood quietly at the door of the alchemy room, waiting.

In his previous life, Wei Changfeng had never been so patient. But it was precisely because of his arrogance and recklessness that he had suffered a devastating blow. Now, reborn, he would not repeat the same mistakes.

How could sparrows understand the aspirations of a swan? These mediocre people were not worth his attention!

After a moment, Ye Jian brought a young alchemy assistant over.

The assistant held a silver tray in his hands, on which were several round wax pills that rolled back and forth as he walked.

Ye Jian walked in front of Wei Changfeng and asked solemnly, "Wei Changfeng, are you really going to take the assessment for a low-rank alchemy master? If you fail, the fees will not be refunded."

Wei Changfeng said firmly, "I will not regret it!"

Ye Jian looked at him deeply and nodded, "Very well, choose your pill!"

The "pill selection" was an important part of the alchemy master assessment. On the silver tray, there were twenty-seven wax pills, each containing a slip of paper with the name of a different second-rank alchemy pill. Wei Changfeng had to choose one.

All the wax pills were identical in size and color, but the names of the alchemy pills written on the slips of paper inside were different.

"Wait!"

Just as Wei Changfeng was about to pick a wax pill, Liang Tian suddenly stepped forward and bowed to Ye Jian, "Master Ye, I also want to try. Please grant me your permission!"

Ye Jian was a bit surprised but nodded without showing any emotion.

According to the academy's rules, any disciple could apply for an alchemy master assessment as long as they could pay the required fee. Ye Jian had no reason to refuse, especially since Liang Tian was already a high-rank alchemy apprentice.

Everyone's attention immediately focused on Liang Tian.

He wore a smug smile and looked provocatively at Wei Changfeng, "Junior Brother Wei, a private assessment is no fun. Why don't we have a pill competition? What do you think?"

A pill competition was a common gambling game among academy disciples. The two competitors would refine alchemy pills in the same room, and the one who refined the pills faster and of higher quality would win all the bets.

The academy supported such competitions and had dedicated alchemy rooms for them. However, it was extremely rare for a pill competition to take place during an alchemy master assessment.

This was because refining pills in the same room would cause mutual interference, testing the mental fortitude of the alchemy masters and greatly increasing the risk of failure.

Liang Tian's intentions were malicious. On one hand, he did not believe Wei Changfeng had the ability to pass the alchemy master assessment. On the other hand, he was worried that Wei Changfeng might get lucky. The pill competition would ensure that Wei Changfeng would not surpass him.

Moreover, by humiliating Wei Changfeng at this moment, he could take revenge and curry favor with Wang Hongyan from the Upper Academy.

Most importantly, this opportunity might allow Liang Tian to break through and become an alchemy master, gaining a significant amount of prestige in front of Ye Jian and his fellow disciples.

After all, he was already a high-rank alchemy apprentice!

The more Liang Tian thought about it, the more self-satisfied he became, stepping forward and staring intently at Wei Changfeng.

"Pill competition!"

His companions shouted loudly, the noise growing louder and louder. Even the onlookers who didn't know the full story joined in, fueling the excitement. They just wanted to see a good show!

"Pill competition, pill competition! Pill competition!!"

Everyone's attention turned to Wei Changfeng, and the无形 pressure immediately swept over him!

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