Zilin Ling's heart stirred, and the lid of the Nine Extremes Qiankun Cauldron opened. Nine perfectly round and full pills lay quietly within.
Zilin Ling hesitated for a moment, then took out two pills and handed them to Nian Youyu. "Elder Nian, have I passed the assessment?"
Nian Youyu finally snapped out of his shock.
He glanced at the pills in his hand, his eyes practically sparkling.
"This is... a Heaven Grade top-tier pill?"
Zilin Ling smiled. "More or less, I suppose!"
Nian Youyu almost swore!
More or less?!
She casually refined a Heaven Grade top-tier pill and called it more or less?
Aside from her technique, which was akin to stirring porridge, where was there anything remotely "more or less" about it?
More or less? If this was considered more or less, then he wished he could be more or less too.
Nian Youyu shot Zilin Ling an exasperated glare and turned to leave the alchemy room.
Zilin Ling was stunned!
Had she passed, or not?
A moment later, Nian Youyu returned.
In his hands were a medal, a set of clothes, and an identification plaque.
The medal was naturally for a high-level alchemist, and the clothes were also for a high-level alchemist.
The identification plaque already bore Zilin Ling's information, along with a special symbol.
Zilin Ling was bewildered. She remembered that Xuan Yuanzhe's identification plaque didn't have this special symbol.
Nian Youyu said irritably, "The Alchemist Guild's identification plaques are recognized across the three dynasties!"
Zilin Ling suddenly understood and smiled. "Thank you, Elder Nian!"
"Alright, alright! If anyone should be thanking, it's me! My eyes have truly been opened today!" Nian Youyu continued in his gruff tone.
Zilin Ling smiled. "My clumsy technique has made Elder Nian laugh!"
Nian Youyu paused, realizing his exasperation was somewhat unfounded.
He said awkwardly, "Let's go, I'll escort you out!"
Zilin Ling chirped, "Don't! Elder Nian, I haven't received my Grandmaster Alchemist certificate yet!"
Nian Youyu was shocked. "You want to take the Grandmaster level assessment too?"
Zilin Ling said sheepishly, "Since I'm here, I might as well get it all done at once, to save myself trips to the Alchemist Guild."
Nian Youyu wore a peculiar expression. "Let's go! I'll take you to the Grandmaster level assessment, but that assessment isn't under my jurisdiction!"
Zilin Ling nodded and followed Nian Youyu out of the alchemy room, heading deeper into the Alchemist Guild.
Soon, a transparent door appeared before them.
As they stood before it, a voice echoed, "Please state today's password!"
Zilin Ling was startled. This place was surprisingly similar to the artificial intelligence from her previous life.
Of course, the voice was aged and lacked a cold, robotic tone.
Nian Youyu stated solemnly, "Ghost Flower!"
"Correct answer! Please authenticate!"
Nian Youyu placed his large palm on the door.
"Authentication successful! Proceed!"
As the voice faded, the transparent door opened.
Nian Youyu said to Zilin Ling, "Stay close to me!"
Zilin Ling nodded and followed closely behind Nian Youyu.
"Old Feng! Someone wants to take the Grandmaster level assessment!"
Nian Youyu led Zilin Ling through the transparent door and directly to the entrance of a room, calling out.
"Boom!"
"Nian Youyu, are you trying to die?"
A booming sound erupted from within the room, followed by an angry voice.
Immediately after, a figure as black as charcoal, with hair standing on end, rushed out of the room. His soot-stained hands directly grabbed Nian Youyu by the neck.
"Nian Youyu, you've made me ruin another batch of Emperor's Breakthrough Pills!"
"Cough cough!"
Caught off guard, Nian Youyu choked.
"Cough cough... Old Feng, what are you doing?!"
He tried to pry off the black hands, his voice hoarse as he cursed.
"What the hell are you talking about?! You couldn't have come earlier or later, but you had to show up when I was at the crucial moment of forming the pill! You made my Emperor's Breakthrough Pills turn into dregs, and you're asking me what I'm doing!"
The "black" man's eyes blazed with fury, and he tightened his grip.
"Ugh... ugh..."
Nian Youyu was struggling to breathe.
His eyeballs bulged, and his face turned pale.
If Old Feng continued to choke him like this, he'd be joining the ten subordinates of Ye Lingyuan.
Zilin Ling was stunned by the sudden turn of events. By the time she reacted, Nian Youyu was already rolling his eyes.
Not good!
Saving him is the priority!
Zilin Ling's mind raced, and a gleaming silver needle appeared in her hand.
With lightning speed, she plunged the needle into Old Feng's wrist.
Old Feng's wrist went numb, his hands involuntarily loosened, and he snapped out of his rage.
"Cough cough cough..."
Nian Youyu gasped for fresh air, and because he inhaled too forcefully, he choked again, coughing even harder.
"Elder Nian, are you alright?"
Zilin Ling helped him catch his breath, asking anxiously.
After all, Nian Youyu had suffered this ordeal because of her. If she didn't show concern, wouldn't that be uncivilized?
"Cough cough cough... I cough cough... I... I'm fine!"
Nian Youyu finally managed to speak a complete sentence.
"Elder Nian, I apologize! It wasn't intentional!"
Old Feng, having sobered up, said apologetically to Nian Youyu.
Nian Youyu finally stopped coughing and said irritably, "If it wasn't intentional, you almost took my life. If it was intentional, would you have dismembered me?"
Old Feng awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "Old Yu, I'm truly sorry. I've been driven almost to the brink by these Emperor's Breakthrough Pills lately. And then the furnace exploded again! My mind was affected, so I got a bit impulsive. My apologies!"
His sincerity made Nian Youyu feel awkward about pursuing the matter further.
"Alright, alright! Isn't this month's Grandmaster level assessment your responsibility? Young Zi wants to be assessed, so bear with it!"
Old Feng chuckled good-naturedly. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten!"
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Zilin Ling, and he asked in confusion, "Elder Nian, you're not joking, are you? This young lady looks no more than thirteen or fourteen. She'd be lucky to assess as a junior alchemist!"
Nian Youyu said exasperatedly, "Who has the time to joke with you? This girl just finished her high-level alchemist assessment with me!"
Old Feng looked incredulous. "How is that possible?"
Nian Youyu retorted, "What's impossible about it? This girl is a monster, you can't measure her by age! Look at this!"
He then produced the Heaven Grade top-tier Three Revolutions Great Return Pill that Zilin Ling had just refined.