Chapter 28: Chapter 28: A Scornful Glance

Chapter 28

Nobody had anticipated Lei Yin’s presence at this assessment.

To most, the assessment was merely a formality—a convenient pretext for the guild to dismiss Lei Yin.

His attendance, or lack thereof, made little difference in their eyes.

Having squandered three months, his progress was undeniably insufficient.

Even Risdo, seated at the head examiner’s position, shared this sentiment, believing Lei Yin’s appearance would only invite further ridicule.

“Cough, cough…” Risdo cleared his throat before speaking in a clear voice. “This session is for this year’s core alchemist qualification review.

Following tradition and upholding principles of fairness and impartiality, all core alchemist assessments are conducted publicly. Currently, our Northern Branch has seventeen registered core alchemists.”

“These seventeen exceptional alchemists are the pillars of our guild.” After subtly glaring at Lu Yuan with his aged eyes, Risdo continued.

“However, this time, in addition to these seventeen core alchemists, seven other outstanding alchemists will also participate in the core assessment. Should any of these newcomers prove more proficient, the positions of our seventeen pillars will be adjusted accordingly.”

The assembled crowd offered no objections. This competitive mechanism was a consistent feature of the Northern Branch.

While core alchemists held esteemed positions and possessed profound skills, their roles were not entirely secure. The indolent or the merely mediocre could be ousted from their posts at any moment.

This rule had been established by the first guild master when the Northern Branch was founded, intended to foster a healthy internal cycle.

In practice, however, it was exceedingly rare for a newcomer to surpass a core alchemist. Even Lei Yin, in his time, had only secured his position when an aging core alchemist retired, yielding their spot.

Tragically, Lei Yin’s tenure was brief, soon overshadowed by the Corroding Bone Potion incident.

Following that debacle, a disheartened Lei Yin had wasted another three months, achieving absolutely nothing.

Thus, it was widely believed that his removal from the core alchemist position was a foregone conclusion, with the newly transferred beautiful alchemist, Ruolin, destined to take his place.

Given Lei Yin’s previous alchemy error, which had severely damaged the guild’s reputation, merely not expelling him was considered an act of immense mercy. It was inconceivable that he would retain his core alchemist role.

This explained the crowd’s reaction when Lei Yin first stepped into the hall.

Yet, Lei Yin himself, the man at the center of it all, maintained an air of serene composure. He exuded a tranquility that suggested he had seen through the world’s illusions, his senses purified.

It was as if none of this had anything to do with him.

“Now! I declare the core alchemist qualification review open. First, I invite all our promising new alchemists to begin their demonstrations!”

The assessment for new alchemists differed from that of core alchemists. Core alchemists were judged on their achievements and performance, while new alchemists merely needed to showcase their abilities.

And for an alchemist, the most effective way to demonstrate one’s skill was, naturally, through live potion crafting!

Consequently, as soon as Risdo announced the commencement of the demonstrations, several new alchemists immediately sprang into action.

The murmuring within the grand hall subsided completely, replaced by an attentive silence. Everyone present fixated on the alchemists’ movements in the center of the hall.

Occasionally, an observer would glean a new insight, nodding subtly in understanding.

After casting a sharp, withering glance at Lu Yuan, who sat on the platform with an air of complete detachment, Ruolin began her own demonstration.

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan was far from idle. Though he had perused numerous alchemical texts, this was his first time witnessing the practical process of potion crafting.

Naturally, he observed with keen interest.

As fate would have it, Ruolin’s demonstration area was the closest to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan watched the live potion crafting, murmuring exclamations of praise. Observing the process firsthand proved immensely beneficial to him.

This cheerful demeanor, however, did not escape Ruolin’s notice.

‘That man!’ Ruolin was once again infuriated by Lu Yuan’s gleeful, spectating expression.

Here they were, toiling diligently and nervously below, crafting their potions, while Lu Yuan sat above, happily gesticulating as if he were at a circus performance. ‘Did he think they were all mere clowns?’

Her anger caused a momentary lapse in her meticulous handling of the ingredients. Unaware of her error, the alchemical crucible before her began to gurgle and crackle ominously.

Ruolin instantly broke out in a cold sweat. She frantically worked to stabilize the potion within the crucible.

Upon careful inspection, she discovered that while the potion’s efficacy had been slightly compromised, the damage was not critical. Only then did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Instinctively, she glanced towards Lu Yuan, her gaze meeting his across the hall.

Lu Yuan looked at her, a hint of ‘hopeless case’ coloring his gaze. He shook his head with a touch of resignation, then shifted his attention elsewhere.

Ruolin’s heart twitched. It felt as though something inside her had shattered.

‘She… she was actually scorned by Lu Yuan! Scorned by that idiotic alchemist who only read basic alchemical texts in the laboratory?!’