Joe Di saw clearly that the Alchemist Badge Jude Yan received was an orange jade token.
Jude Yan clearly hadn’t considered that Joe Di would pass the assessment. He received the Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist Badge, bowed respectfully to the two chief examiners, then turned and smiled at Joe Di before leaving the grand hall.
Joe Di paid no mind to the ridicule. He was certain he could pass as a Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist.
"Joe Di, you did well. In just half a stick of incense’s time, you managed to score ninety-nine points on the medicinal theory exam. That’s already quite impressive..."
Ninety-nine points? When Joe Di heard his score, he immediately wondered which question he’d gotten wrong.
The examiner on the left continued, "If you pay a bit more attention, scoring over a hundred points is no problem at all."
Over a hundred points? While Joe Di was still puzzled, the examiner continued, "For the last question, the combination pill formula for breaking the array, you had to use a Detonation Stone. Since you didn’t use one, regardless of your pill formula, your combination was considered a failure. That question was worth eleven points, and you didn’t get any. It’s a bit of a pity."
Joe Di understood now—the full score was actually a hundred and eleven points.
Scoring ninety-nine points was good enough; after all, it meant passing. As for the eleven points he lost, Joe Di knew exactly why. It wasn’t that he’d truly gotten it wrong, but that this examiner’s array mastery was inferior to his own. Unable to understand the purpose of his pill formula, the examiner simply dismissed it.
Who said the combination pill for breaking arrays had to use a Detonation Stone?
Knowing the examiner was wrong, Joe Di had no intention of correcting him. He didn’t care about the score; what mattered was obtaining the Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist badge from the Alchemist Guild.
The examiner nodded, "Your theoretical foundation in medicinal ingredients is solid. Plus, with the Profound Origin Pill you refined, I can confidently say that among the four Immortal Alchemists in this assessment, your alchemy skills are the strongest."
As he spoke, the examiner poured the ten Profound Origin Pills Joe Di had refined into a white jade bottle and said, "Of the ten pills you made, three are top-grade Immortal Pills, and the rest are mid-grade Profound Origin Pills. The pill’s Dao aura is quite distinct. Look... eh..."
The examiner paused in surprise, then exclaimed with delight, "One of your pills has faintly formed a Dan Stripe. This should barely count as a special-grade Profound Origin Pill... Excellent, excellent."
After finishing, the examiner packed away all the pills Joe Di had refined, took out a jade token, engraved some information on it, and handed it to Joe Di, saying, "Your assessment result is excellent. I am Lynn King, steward of the Alchemist Guild. If you ever need anything, feel free to come to me."
He recognized Joe Di’s potential and wanted to build rapport. For an Immortal King steward of the Alchemist Guild to reach out, it showed just how remarkable Joe Di’s alchemy talent was.
Joe Di hurriedly accepted the Alchemist Guild badge and bowed. "Thank you both for your kindness."
Lynn King nodded, "You may step down."
"Yes." Joe Di put away his Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist badge and left the assessment hall.
...
Returning once again to Skyrest Lodge, Joe Di felt much more at ease. He’d learned at the Alchemist Guild that as a Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist, he could live quite comfortably in Cauldron Haven. Plus, as an Alchemist Guild member, he could post internal quests for rare immortal herbs.
Now that he’d just become a Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist, he wouldn’t immediately post a quest for the Trueglass Elixir. He’d wait until he’d worked at Starspire Apothecary for a while and gained a deeper understanding of the immortal herbs here before making the request.
Although the Trueglass Elixir was beyond his current cultivation, Joe Di was determined to obtain it.
After another night’s rest at Skyrest Lodge, Joe Di returned to Starspire Apothecary early the next morning.
For some reason, many apothecaries in Cauldron Haven were recruiting alchemists now. Joe Di didn’t have to apply at Starspire Apothecary, but since he’d already visited once, he didn’t plan to go to another.
Unlike yesterday, Starspire Apothecary was much livelier this time. Joe Di saw many Immortal Alchemists registering—most with white or yellow badges, while orange badges like his were rare.
White badges were for First-Rank Immortal Alchemists, yellow for Second-Rank, and Joe Di’s orange badge marked him as Third-Rank.
“Senior, our apothecary requires Alchemist Guild-certified badges for employment.” Just as Joe Di was about to queue up, the same attendant—Simon Wake—who’d greeted him yesterday recognized him and quickly stopped him from joining the line.
Before Joe Di could respond, a young woman in a green dress approached. “Simon Wake, what’s going on?”
Seeing the attendant stop Joe Di from queuing, she hurried over. Every alchemist who came to apply at Starspire Apothecary was an honored guest. Whether they were hired or not, they should be treated with courtesy, not prevented from signing up.
“Steward Holly, here’s the situation—this senior hasn’t yet received Alchemist Guild certification...” The attendant assumed Joe Di couldn’t have certified so quickly—it had only been a day.
The young woman in the green dress didn’t wait for the attendant to finish. She understood immediately and waved her hand, “Step aside.”
“Yes.” The attendant quickly stepped aside.
The young woman apologized to Joe Di, “Fellow Alchemist, the attendant was inflexible in his duties. Please don’t take it to heart. Even without Alchemist Guild certification, you may still apply to be an Immortal Alchemist at Starspire Apothecary, as long as you can...”
Before she finished, Joe Di took out his orange Alchemist Badge and said, “I heard yesterday that certification was required, so I quickly went to get one.”
“Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist...” The young woman saw Joe Di’s badge and repeated the title excitedly.
Although many Immortal Alchemists came to apply at Starspire Apothecary, most were First-Rank or Second-Rank. Third-Rank applicants were rare, and even when they did appear, they were usually at the bottom. The truly skilled alchemists went to the larger apothecaries.
Joe Di had immediately gone for Third-Rank certification upon hearing it was required, clearly not a bottom-tier candidate but a truly capable alchemist. This was exactly the kind of talent Starspire Apothecary needed.
“I’m Holly Chance, steward of Starspire Apothecary. No need to queue, Alchemist Di—please follow me upstairs for the assessment.” The young woman responded quickly.
Starspire Apothecary needed to sign a talent like Joe Di as quickly as possible, or he might be snatched up by a larger apothecary.
Joe Di wasn’t surprised Holly Chance knew his name—it was clearly written on his Alchemist Badge. With her mid-stage Da Luo Immortal cultivation, a quick scan with her divine sense would reveal it easily.
“Please lead the way, Steward Holly.” Naturally, Joe Di preferred to skip the queue.
Starspire Pavilion wasn’t large, but it did have three floors. Holly Chance led Joe Di straight to the third floor.
In the center of the third floor was a large doorway, with “Starspire Alchemy Chamber” written above it. Holly Chance stood at the entrance and said excitedly, “Elder Hugh, a Third-Rank Immortal Alchemist is here for our recruitment assessment.”
“Come in.” An elderly voice sounded, and the restriction at the doorway lifted. Joe Di saw an old man with only a few strands of hair, sitting before a pill furnace with a worried look.
“Please follow me inside, Alchemist Di,” Holly Chance said politely, then transmitted, “Alchemist Di, Elder Hugh used to be our Fourth-Rank Immortal Alchemist, but lost his Dao of Alchemy in a pill duel and can no longer refine pills.”
Though he couldn’t refine pills anymore, Elder Hugh’s judgment remained sharp, which is why he oversaw Joe Di’s assessment.
Joe Di was a bit puzzled—Holly Chance didn’t need to share these details, since he wasn’t yet employed at Starspire Apothecary. Even if he was, such secrets wouldn’t typically be disclosed.
It seemed Holly Chance wanted to build rapport with him.
Joe Di followed Holly Chance into the alchemy chamber. Elder Hugh saw Joe Di and sighed, shaking his head. As a senior alchemist, he could tell at a glance that Joe Di was quite young.
An Immortal Alchemist that young rarely excelled at pill refinement.
“Can you refine Radiant Profound Pill?” Elder Hugh asked as soon as Joe Di entered.
“I can,” Joe Di replied without hesitation.
Elder Hugh didn’t ask further. He simply grabbed a pile of medicinal ingredients and said, “Refine a batch of Radiant Profound Pills here. Once you’re done, we’ll discuss your salary and position at Starspire Apothecary.”
Elder Hugh was blunt in his speech, so Holly Chance quickly added, “Elder Hugh prefers to be direct, Alchemist Di. Please don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” Joe Di waved his hand. He knew he’d have to demonstrate real skill in this pill refinement—it would affect his future earnings and status at Starspire Apothecary.