Above The Sky
Chapter 529 - 529 498 Really Fragrant 24

529: Chapter 498: Really Fragrant (2/4) 529: Chapter 498: Really Fragrant (2/4) It turned out that the Alchemy Association didn’t mind administering an additional examination today for a young alchemist introduced by the Ellen Family, who was also favored by Master Gossay, currently enjoying great popularity within the Association.

The Royal Alchemy Association, located on the fourth level, has a history that is quite ancient.

It was fortunate not to have been damaged during the Dark Moon upheaval and thus leapfrogged to become one of the ten oldest buildings in the Imperial Capital.

It is not as towering and magnificent as the Observing Star Tower of Solitary Mountain, in fact, it’s somewhat cramped.

The corridors that could only accommodate three people walking side by side, the passages about two meters four in height, and each intricately designed space clearly reflected a maximization of use within the limits of architecture.

All of it was a miniature of the architectural style from the era of the Ancient Setar City-State seven hundred years ago.

In that era, the Imperial Capital had not yet been fully developed and rebuilt, and even within the many levels, numerous wild Labyrinth Species Magical Beasts roamed unchecked—yes, at that time, the Imperial Capital had only just been transformed from a labyrinth into a city for Humans, with the Sethariel people driving out the Magical Beasts while building their homeland.

The warm, orange glow of the lights shone with a hint of warmth.

As a participant in the examination, Ian temporarily parted ways with Yisen Gard and followed a middle-aged alchemist to his own separate examination room.

“The examination lasts for seven days, with a limit of one hundred participants per day.

Today is the sixth day.”

This alchemist knew Yisen Gard and therefore showed great attentiveness to Ian, who had been brought by the blond youth.

He was now answering Ian’s question, “You’re asking about the rewards for ranking?

If it were someone else, I would tempt them properly, urging them to give their all.”

“But if it’s a friend of the Ellen Family, then I’ll just be honest with you—nothing more than a few collector’s edition alchemical devices and some rare alchemy materials… perhaps also the favor of the masters?

But for you, these probably don’t hold much allure.

You only need to perform normally, and I estimate you’ll earn an ‘excellent’ grade.”

The middle-aged alchemist couldn’t hide his envy when mentioning these rewards.

Obviously, for an ordinary alchemist, just the chance to get so many good things for an examination ranking was well worth the effort of trying one’s best…

After all, the examination materials don’t cost anything out of pocket, making it an exceptional opportunity for freeloaders.

But for Ian, all of this indeed seemed rather mundane.

“Not very attractive rewards.”

That’s what Ian thought.

It seemed that the complete set of collectors’ edition alchemical devices that Yisen Gard had given him was probably worth more than the first to third place rewards from the Alchemy Association’s examination combined.

With that in mind, there was no need to draw too much attention…

it would suffice to do reasonably well.

“In addition,”

the middle-aged alchemist continued to reminisce, saying somewhat uncertainly, “there seems to be a reading permit that allows entrance to The Grand Library… It’s mainly a proof of honor, as it’s not a borrowing permit, but it certifies that the holder is qualified to visit the supreme palace of knowledge.

If the timing is right, perhaps one could even get a glimpse of the Precious Solitary Tome Collection Room!”

“These are honors that have greater symbolic significance than practical value.”

“Very well.”

Ian nodded slightly, resolutely deciding in his heart, “I’m set on taking first place.”

Reading?

To him, what was the difference between reading and permanent borrowing?

What others may dismiss, he could not afford to miss!

Master Gossay’s business card might also grant him reading access, but it wouldn’t get him into the Precious Solitary Tome Collection Room.

Combined with both, who’s to say he couldn’t stay a little longer in that area?

Moreover, he might also be able to check on the commission from the Dragon Worship Cult…

The Book of Silver Radiance and the Precious Solitary Tome Collection Room…

Although he probably shouldn’t get too close, with his Spirit Energy Clairvoyance and the aid of the Silver Chip, he could consider it a way to account for his task from Elder Mantle.

The examination was divided into sessions, with twenty candidates each time, limited to one hour.

Ian was scheduled for the fifth batch, which happened to be the last one in the afternoon.

Other alchemists were entering their respective sealed examination rooms, and the murmurs of their conversations could faintly be heard.

“I hope the materials for the last examination this afternoon won’t be of poor quality,”

“The association isn’t that destitute.

Don’t scare yourself.

Just do your best.”

“This time, almost all the eligible alchemists from around the plains have come.

The competition is quite fierce.”

“But those who are really skilled wouldn’t bother with this test.

It’s mostly young people like us…

Overall, it’s also an opportunity to prove ourselves.

If we can achieve good rankings, it’ll be easier to find work in the large workshops later.”

A few people chatted as they said their goodbyes and entered their respective examination rooms.

Ian saw that inside the room was a complete set of alchemy equipment.

Although it was just ordinary standardized equipment, it was very comprehensive.

The Alchemy Association had truly made a significant effort to calm the storm caused by an alchemy master being stripped of their title.

Ian also entered one of the spare examination rooms.

Although the competition was theoretically fierce, in reality, most people did not believe they could rank among the top few.

Therefore, the atmosphere among them was relatively harmonious.

Upon entering the compartment, it was a small room no larger than fifteen square meters with a clean iron table, on which a row of commonly used alchemy apparatus was placed, and another row of cabinets held other equipment and tools.

The materials had not yet arrived, and naturally, the exam questions had not either.

Looking at the equipment, Ian couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about his workshop back in Harrison Port…

He still had many experimental materials and notes left there.

He looked around and used Foresight View to observe these alchemists who were also being evaluated in the same batch.

Most of them were in their twenties or thirties and seemed already to be working in some workshops.

Not a single one was ‘apprentice’…

That’s right, apprentices didn’t need to come to the Imperial Capital for official alchemist assessments.

Graduates from the alchemy colleges could directly advance to official status, and only from official to elite status required examination in a large city.

Someone like him, moving from apprentice directly to elite, was probably extremely rare.

Ian was not blindly arrogant, thinking his level of alchemy far surpassed that of these seemingly ordinary, seasoned alchemists.

He would certainly give his all to compete with these alchemists from around the Imperial Capital, who might well represent the new generation of young alchemists from the Setar Empire.

“Silver Chip, ready for deduction!”

While that was the plan, Ian wasn’t going to refrain from using any means necessary to get the reading pass for the Royal Grand Library.

The Silver Chip and the Prophet were also part of his strength.

He would use them when necessary, for all of this was the result of his hard work and struggle!

Soon enough, the materials and exam questions arrived.

Meanwhile,

In a medium-sized meeting room on the second floor, led by two elders wearing gold-trimmed alchemist robes, eight alchemists sat in their respective seats, observing every move of the candidates on twenty-one screens around them.

When they saw Ian, two of them showed a slight change in expression and reported upwards.

“Hm?

The kid that Gossay is fond of has also come?”

The elder with gray hair raised his eyes to the screen.

His eyes were much younger than his appearance, sparkling with a wise orange glow, “Ha, let me see…

Isn’t he too young?

I thought from his words he must be at least seventeen or eighteen.

Isn’t he still a child?”

“The trick that Bawar played, was it discovered by him?”

Another elder, a woman with a mix of black and white hair and a very serious demeanor, narrowed her eyes.

Her purple-red pupils flickered once, then she mused, “Although I am annoyed with Bawar, even at his age, he still gets his hands dirty for money.

But his combination of inscriptions and alchemy is very good.

Without a thorough examination, Gossay himself wouldn’t have noticed it either.”

“As a result, the hidden mechanism in the bracelet was spotted by this kid—If that’s Spirit Energy, how strong would his clairvoyance Spirit Energy have to be?”