Chapter 16

Luo Yunshang's eyes sparkled, though her face showed signs of unusual fatigue, she could hardly hide her excitement. She immediately moved her hands, forming several seals at her fingertips, which transformed into streams of true fire and flew into the battle axe. The somewhat frenzied battle axe suddenly generated a suction force, swallowing the scattered golden dust.

For a moment, the bright red axe body was dotted with flickering golden light, emitting a steady and heavy aura, giving people a sense of being pressed by a mountain.

"Condense!"

"Fall!"

Luo Yunshang lightly shouted twice, and two beams of light flew from her fingertips into the battle axe. Instantly, the scorching heat and the feeling of weight disappeared. The body of the battle axe rapidly shrank, eventually turning into a miniature axe that fell into Luo Yunshang's hands.

Luo Yunshang carefully examined the small axe in her hand, then walked over to the several men with great joy, holding the battle axe in both hands and presenting it to the white-bearded old man in the middle, respectfully saying, "Master Xu, please take a look."

Xu Han's gaze lightly swept over the battle axe, and he smiled, "No need to look, this Honyang Axe has already reached the level of a first-grade superior mystic weapon. Yunshang, you have passed the examination."

"Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!~"

The other men all clapped, looking at Luo Yunshang with smiles and full of admiration.

Luo Yunshang was overjoyed, almost unable to contain her excitement, "Thank you, Master Xu, and all the other masters."

Xu Han shook his head and smiled, "This is all due to your own efforts, it has nothing to do with us. I am just very curious, how did you manage to integrate the Radiant Gold into the Chalcopyrite? You failed at this step in the previous examinations."

The other men also fell silent, all looking at Luo Yunshang with confusion.

Luo Yunshang's mind instantly flashed with Li Yunxiao's innocent face and his elegant, leisurely voice:

"Because although Chalcopyrite belongs to the Metal element, it is biased towards Fire. Southern Fire overcomes Western Metal, so Radiant Gold has a strong solubility. Therefore, many alchemists prefer to use Radiant Gold when upgrading Chalcopyrite mystic weapons. However, if it contains Heavenly Crystal Sand, it's a different story."

"Because Heavenly Crystal Sand has the Water attribute, which can neutralize the Fire attribute of Chalcopyrite. The more there is, the weaker the solubility of Radiant Gold becomes."

"It's very simple, treat Heavenly Crystal Sand as impurities and remove it using the refining technique."

"Ah, I see!" Xu Han suddenly understood, "It's so simple. Yunshang, your ability to discover this secret shows your exceptional intelligence. Our Tian Shui Kingdom has gained another true alchemist. Tomorrow, I will report to the king, and I believe His Majesty will be very pleased. At that time, we will hold a banquet for all the ministers to celebrate for you."

Luo Yunshang's face turned slightly red, but her soul power and essence had been greatly consumed, and her cheeks were already covered in sweat, making her look even more beautiful and charming, "Please inform His Majesty, but let's skip the banquet. I don't like being too ostentatious."

Xu Han's attendant, Yan Lei, laughed, "This is a great event, how can we skip the banquet? Yunshang, you are the top talent of our Tian Shui Kingdom. In just three years, His Majesty has held two banquets for you. In the past few hundred years, I can only recall that Minister Yang Di had such an honor."

In the Tian Shui Kingdom, as long as one advances to the rank of a first-grade alchemist or reaches the Third Division Great Warrior realm, the king will hold a banquet in the palace, inviting important ministers to celebrate. Sealing titles and bestowing rewards are naturally not to be overlooked.

Luo Yunshang had a banquet held for her when she broke through to the Third Division Great Warrior realm three years ago.

Hearing Yan Lei's words, Luo Yunshang hurriedly said, "Master Yan, you are too kind. I am insignificant, how can I be compared to Minister Yang Di?"

Xu Han, stroking his beard, smiled lightly, "You don't need to be too modest. Although Minister Yang Di was a genius, he also benefited greatly from being a disciple of the Ninth Rank Imperial Alchemist, Gu Feiyang. What a great fortune! If you have the opportunity in the future, your achievements may not be inferior to Minister Yang Di. You just lack a good teacher."

Seeing that Luo Yunshang wanted to argue, he waved his hand slightly to stop her and smiled, "Today, our Alchemists' Guild also needs to celebrate. This year, we have added two first-grade alchemists, you and Jia Rong, both of whom are new stars of our Tian Shui Kingdom branch!"

Another alchemist, Su Yuanqiao, suddenly sneered, "President Xu, if you say Yunshang is a new star, I agree. But as for Jia Rong, if I'm not mistaken, he is already deeply poisoned!"

Everyone was shocked, all looking puzzled. Xu Han's face also changed slightly, "Su Yuanqiao, what do you mean by that?"

A hint of surprise also flashed in Luo Yunshang's eyes, "Master Xu, I will take my leave first." She was very smart; seeing Su Yuanqiao's expression, she knew it involved some secret, so she took the initiative to leave.

Xu Han shook his head, "Now that you have passed the examination, you are a formal first-grade alchemist and a core member of our Alchemists' Guild. You have the right to know about any guild matters, no need to avoid them."

Su Yuanqiao's gaze swept over everyone, and he coldly smiled, "I have already found out that Jia Rong cheated in the last examination, using a prohibited item—the Yin Wind Stone!"

Everyone's faces changed drastically, looking at each other in shock. They were all alchemists and naturally knew what the Yin Wind Stone was. Yan Lei's face turned serious, "Su Yuanqiao, don't speak rashly! I know you have always looked at Jia Rong unfavorably and have often made things difficult for him when he was still an alchemy apprentice, but some accusations are not to be made lightly!"

Su Yuanqiao sneered, "I made up the accusation? He is probably already poisoned to the bone! I had people investigate the materials he has purchased since his promotion, all of which are for detoxification. He is also secretly buying Detoxification Pills at a high price. Everyone should know what Detoxification Pills are, right? A fourth-grade alchemy pill that can detoxify a hundred poisons, worth a fortune! Ha, five days ago, he started frantically buying various highly toxic materials, and after returning hastily, he has been in seclusion ever since. It seems he is at a dead end and plans to use the method of fighting poison with poison. However, the poison from the Yin Wind Stone is not easily neutralized, even by Detoxification Pills. I estimate he is already completely ruined!"

Xu Han's face gradually turned grim. Su Yuanqiao took out a list and handed it to everyone, saying, "This list records his actions since he became an alchemist. Everyone can take a look." Each person glanced at it, and their eyes showed concern.

Finally, the list reached Luo Yunshang's hands. She was slightly shocked; the list even recorded Jia Rong's meals in detail, indicating that Su Yuanqiao had been planning this for a long time. Since he had come forward, he must have been very confident. Jia Rong was likely in trouble!

"If anyone still has doubts, we can call Jia Rong here to see for ourselves. He has been in the tower since he returned five days ago and hasn't stepped out once!" Su Yuanqiao, seeing that most people believed him, couldn't help but feel smug.

"Hum, you just know he isn't in seclusion!" Yan Lei's eyes flashed with anger; he and Su Yuanqiao had always been at odds.

Su Yuanqiao sneered, "Since Jia Rong became an alchemist, he has abandoned martial cultivation and focused entirely on alchemy. The cultivation of alchemists mainly involves nurturing soul power, which can only be enhanced through continuous refinement. As a first-grade alchemist, five days is enough for him to refine anything. Yan Lei, are you protecting Jia Rong because you were involved in his use of the Yin Wind Stone?"

Yan Lei was furious, "Nonsense!"

Xu Han said sternly, "Stop arguing! Jiang Cheng, go bring Jia Rong here, no matter what he is doing, he must come!"

Xu Han was the president of the Tian Shui Kingdom Alchemists' Guild and one of the two Third Rank Master Alchemists in the kingdom, his status second only to the king. The other Third Rank Master Alchemist was the royal chief alchemist, Zhang Qingfan, whose strength was on par with Xu Han's!

Alchemists are not only symbols of power but also of noble status, and they are the pride of all alchemists! As the president of the Alchemists' Guild, he would not allow any cheating!

Everyone's faces turned serious, sensing that a small storm was about to break out!

Soon, Jia Rong followed Jiang Cheng to the fourth-floor qualification examination area. After greeting Xu Han, he nodded to everyone, his gaze sweeping over Su Yuanqiao, a barely noticeable smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, and finally landing on Luo Yunshang, he said, "I just heard from Jiang Cheng that Master Yunshang has also advanced to the rank of a first-grade alchemist, truly a genius. Among the five leaders of the National Guard, Master Yunshang is the strongest in overall strength!"

Luo Yunshang nodded, "Master Jia is too kind. The other four leaders are far more powerful than me; I just had better luck."

Jia Rong smiled slightly, not commenting, and said loudly, "President Xu, I was in seclusion refining, what is the urgent matter that you called me for? Is it to celebrate Master Yunshang's advancement?"

A hint of confusion flashed in Su Yuanqiao's eyes. According to his reasoning, Jia Rong's condition should not be so good. He sneered heavily, "Ha, Jia Rong, you are really good at pretending, still acting like nothing is wrong at this time!"

Xu Han threw the list at him, his eyes like sharp beams, and said word by word, "Su Yuanqiao suspects that you used the Yin Wind Stone in the last examination. This is the investigation he has conducted over the past few days. I need you to give everyone an explanation!"

Jia Rong sneered, took the list, and immediately felt a surge of anger. This old bastard actually had people track and investigate me! At the same time, he was secretly relieved, grateful that Young Master Yun had detoxified him and taught him soul refinement techniques, otherwise, he would have been ruined today!

At this moment, his gratitude towards Li Yunxiao welled up like a spring.

"Su Yuanqiao, you old scoundrel! You should be the one to give an explanation!" He threw the list to the ground and was furious, "President, whether I