The association was not open to the public today, admitting only those with close ties to the organization. Having noticed the members of the Zhou family who had arrived with Shi Yu, Wen Wen had naturally accommodated them properly, leading them inside through a side entrance.
President Song was over a hundred and fifty years old, with a cultivation level at the Foundation Establishment Realm Great Perfection. He showed few signs of age, save for the touch of gray at his temples. A long beard draped over his chest, and his high cheekbones lent him a stern appearance, making him look rather intimidating whenever his expression darkened.
Noticing Shi Yu behind Master Ji, he asked, “And this is...?”
Now inside the association with no outsiders present, Master Ji said, “Let us discuss the exchange conference first.”
Surveying the dispirited group, he sighed. “This trip...”
The several elders shook their heads and sighed, reluctant to elaborate, while the juniors following behind them hung their heads in dejection.
President Song said in a deep voice, “Those people from Hengze Prefecture go too far! Why must they humiliate others so?”
Several juniors felt thoroughly ashamed. “It is simply that our skills were inferior...”
From their conversation, Shi Yu gradually pieced together what had happened.
As it turned out, the regional alchemy exchange competition was held once every three years. The associations from all seventy-nine prefectural cities in Changyuan Prefecture would lead their alchemists to participate.
The original purpose of the exchange conference was to discover and nurture the younger generation of alchemists, which was why there was an age restriction—only those under fifty could enter.
Lingtai Prefecture was remotely located and lacked abundant spiritual energy or outstanding talent. Most of its alchemists possessed mediocre talent, with extraordinary geniuses being a rare sight.
As a result, President Song could only choose the best from among a mediocre pool. Those selected to participate were all alchemists hovering right around the fifty-year age cap who possessed relatively seasoned experience.
Little did they expect that the Alchemist Association of Hengze Prefecture—the central prefectural city—would seize upon this to mock them relentlessly.
As the central prefectural city of Changyuan Prefecture, Hengze Prefecture surpassed all other prefectures in both environmental spiritual energy and local resources.
Consequently, whether in terms of cultivator power or alchemist standards, it had always stood far ahead of the rest.
For this exchange conference, every alchemist sent by Hengze Prefecture possessed outstanding skill.
“Especially a fellow named Yin. He is only thirty-nine this year, yet he has already reached Tier-3. He took top honors with a furnace of low-grade Heart-Clearing Pills.”
Heart-Clearing Pills helped cultivators dispel distracting thoughts and better comprehend cultivation methods, making them quite popular among Tier-3 pills.
President Song's eyes grew cold as he said furiously, “That fellow named Yin brought up our ages, claiming that—”
His voice cut off abruptly, unable to bring himself to repeat the words.
Instead, several of the juniors let out bitter smiles, self-deprecation in their tones. “He said that we are nearly half a century old, yet can only refine such mediocre Tier-2 pills, and that we should be ashamed to even show our faces at the exchange conference.”
Hearing this, Shi Yu could not help but frown.
Taking pride in oneself merely because of superior talent, while mocking others for being mediocre and accomplishing little, was truly distasteful.
How could such a person fail to realize that others had also endured countless hardships and trials to reach what he dismissed as 'nearly half a century old and only able to refine mediocre pills'?
It was no different from asking, “Why don't they eat meat?”
A heavy silence hung over the room for a long while before President Song broke it. “This time... we returned empty-handed. No one secured a spot to enter the Yanyang Spiritual Realm.”
He shook his head. “In my view, there is no need to attend the decade-long grand tournament next year either. It would only save us a wasted trip.”
Master Ji's brow had been tightly furrowed throughout the entire account.
Yet upon hearing this, he shook his head and looked up at Shi Yu. “Girl Yu, come over and greet the president.”
Shi Yu stepped forward obediently and bowed respectfully to President Song and the elders.
President Song studied her closely, forcing a faint smile. “Is this... a junior who recently joined the association?”
The others looked at Shi Yu with curiosity as well.
This girl looked no older than fifteen or sixteen. Since Master Ji was introducing her to everyone, he clearly held her in some regard.
Could she already successfully refine pills? For her age, that would indeed be quite impressive.
With proper nurturing, she might bring a pleasant surprise in ten or twenty years.
Yet to their surprise, Master Ji said, “Send Girl Yu to next year's grand tournament.”
He sneered. “Those people from Hengze Prefecture laugh at our participants for being old? Then let us send a young one to open their eyes, so they stop harping on age every single day.”
President Song looked astonished, assuming Master Ji was joking or speaking nonsense out of anger, leaving him temporarily speechless.
After a pause, he said, “This... Old Ji, do not speak nonsense. You will frighten the young lady.”
Glancing helplessly at Shi Yu, President Song sighed. “Taking her along next year to watch the competition would be fine. Observing more will allow her to gain insights and experience.”
“Not at all, not at all.” Master Ji snorted. “What fun is there in being a spectator? Girl Yu needs to take the stage.”
Seeing the confusion and bewilderment in everyone's eyes, Master Ji finally explained, “A while back, Girl Yu came to take the alchemist certification exam.”
President Song asked, “She passed?”
Observing Master Ji's barely suppressed smug expression, he hazarded a guess and asked tentatively, “Could it be... that she not only succeeded in forming pills, but even produced a medium-grade pill in the batch?”
The others murmured among themselves, “If she truly produced a medium-grade pill, that would be remarkable indeed.”
Master Ji did not answer directly. He merely retrieved a small jade bottle with casual indifference and tossed it into President Song's hands. “This is what Girl Yu refined that day.”
Just as President Song reached to pull the jade stopper to inspect the quality of the pills, he heard Master Ji speak up casually: “Ah, it was nothing much—just a full furnace of high-grade pills.”
President Song's hand trembled, almost dropping the jade bottle. He stared wide-eyed at Master Ji.
The words froze in the throats of the others. Their lips twitched in astonishment, and their gazes converged in unison on President Song's hands.
What had they just heard?
With trembling hands, President Song slowly uncorked the stopper and tilted the bottle.
A round, green pill rolled smoothly into his palm. A rich pill fragrance wafted up, accompanied by a hazy halo that dazzled the mind.
Staring at the pill, President Song spoke with difficulty: “It really is... a high-grade pill.”
Promptly, he emptied the remaining pills from the jade bottle.
Eight pills in total, every single one of flawless quality—all high-grade!
A whole furnace... of high-grade pills.
Calling it shocking beyond belief was no exaggeration.
“Hss—” Such a scene was beyond their imagination. Their minds went entirely blank, unsure of what expression to even wear.
That was not all. Master Ji did not mind giving them a little more shock.
“As luck would have it, since the president and all the elders are here today, let us take this opportunity to conduct our Little Yu'er's Tier-2 alchemist certification exam.”
President Song's eyelids twitched violently. “What did you say...?!”
Master Ji feigned distress. “The Tier-2 certification exam requires at least three association elders present to evaluate together. This wretched rule prevented Little Yu'er from taking the exam, forcing her to wait until you returned.”
“It has kept her waiting so impatiently, right, Little Yu'er?” He turned his head to look at Shi Yu.
“...” Shi Yu nodded silently. “Right.”
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