When Otto saw Xiao Yan walk out, the heart he had been holding finally relaxed.
Otherwise, if one of the two people he recommended had failed the preliminary test, he would have lost a great deal of face.
Then, Liu Ling — the self-proclaimed analyst — gave Little Princess Yao Yue a thorough analysis of the situation.
With Xiao Tian's strength, he naturally heard the earlier analysis about himself, and he also heard the current analysis of Xiao Yan.
He could only wonder whether Princess Yao Yue would still believe Liu Ling's analysis after being slapped in the face twice — and so harshly.
"Tian Ge, what's with you?"
Xiao Yan stood beside Xiao Tian and noticed a fleeting look of suppressed laughter on his face.
"Blah blah blah." Xiao Tian used his soul power to briefly explain the entire situation to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan's expression remained calm, but the occasional glint of amusement in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.
"Since everyone is out, let's begin the test."
Mitchell stepped forward a few paces and lifted the black cloth covering a platform, revealing a very precise-looking machine.
"You will individually place the refined medicinal ingredients into the machine's groove. It will automatically detect them, and the results will be displayed directly on the screen. The scale is out of ten, with ten being the highest, one the lowest, and four passing."
A second-rank alchemist standing closest to the machine gritted his teeth and placed a jade bottle into the groove. "Vice President Mitchell, my ability is limited. I only refined it three times."
The light on the screen flickered a few times before finally displaying a large 'five'.
"Five points. Passed."
"Next."
"Three points. Failed."
…
As time passed, those ahead had all been tested. When it was Liu Ling's turn, he gave Xiao Yan a provocative look before stepping forward.
"This junior's ability is limited. I only refined it six times."
With that, Liu Ling carefully placed the jade bottle into the groove.
"Seven points. Congratulations, you passed." Mitchell smiled slightly, looking at him with approval.
"As expected of Gu He's talented disciple. Truly surpassing his master."
Several old men also praised him continuously, giving Gu He face.
Next was the Little Princess. She achieved five refinements — half a point less than Liu Ling.
"Ahem, it's your two's turn." Mitchell looked at the two who were almost falling asleep standing up and coughed a few times to remind them.
Xiao Tian stepped forward first. He would show off a little, and if any danger arose, he would shield Xiao Yan.
"How many times did you refine it?" Mitchell still had a good impression of Xiao Tian and asked with a chuckle.
"I'm not sure exactly how many times, but it should be around ten."
Xiao Tian genuinely wasn't sure. Repeated refining was quite boring and not challenging, so he had simply refined while thinking about other things.
The entire hall instantly fell silent — eerily quiet.
"What a fool. Is that something you can just casually claim? Let's see how you'll deal with this later," Liu Ling thought, recovering from his shock. Remembering how this guy had stolen his thunder earlier, he sneered inwardly.
A third-rank alchemist wanting to refine ten times? Even his own teacher could only achieve ten refinements sometimes.
What a ridiculous fellow.
Xiao Tian ignored him and directly placed the jade bottle into the groove. Immediately, the screen glowed brightly, and finally settled on a golden, shimmering 'ten', emitting dazzling light.
Liu Ling's sneering expression instantly froze on his face. The clown, it turned out, was himself.
"Ten points."
Looking at the golden character, Mitchell felt as if his heart had been squeezed, making him unable to breathe for a moment.
Ten points. To refine the Black Iron Spirit Leaf to this extent at an age under twenty — even Gu He couldn't do it.
"I'm getting old and misjudged. It seems this year's biggest dark horse is you. I truly look forward to your performance later."
Mitchell looked at Xiao Tian with a chuckle.
"Vice President Mitchell is still strong and vigorous. There's no talk of being old at all," Xiao Tian replied with a faint smile.
"Haha… Young friend Xiao Tian is indeed not simple."
Xiao Tian returned to his original position with a calm expression, not even glancing at Liu Ling. Liu Ling's face turned gloomy as he stared at the machine, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves. Although it seemed like a difference of only three points, that three-point gap was like an uncrossable chasm.
When it was Xiao Yan's turn, he ultimately scored nine points.
The entire hall fell very quiet once again. The shock brought by Xiao Yan was no less than that of Xiao Tian, because Yan Xiao's identity was that of a second-rank alchemist.
"How can this guy also hide so well?" The Little Princess first turned to look at Liu Ling. Because of his analysis, she had believed it, causing her to miss a good opportunity to make connections.
"Impossible. I don't believe it. This isn't real."
Xiao Yan's nine points left Liu Ling utterly dejected and lost.
The expressions of the others varied, but most of them looked very displeased.
The surrounding elders couldn't help but shake their heads, thinking that Gu He's disciple didn't seem as legendary as rumored.
Thinking of something, Liu Ling's expression recovered somewhat.
"Old Otto, your eyesight is truly sharp. Two such powerful talents are both from your side."
Mitchell patted Otto's shoulder and praised him.
He then delivered a passionate speech. Under Mitchell's patriotic words about bringing glory to the Jia Ma Empire, the young alchemists around them became highly enthusiastic, their faces flushed with excitement, even wanting to compete with people from other countries right then and there.
Mitchell turned to look at Xiao Tian and Xiao Yan, whose expressions remained calm. His eyes narrowed slightly as he raised their importance in his heart another notch.
"The results of this test: Xiao Tian is first, Yan Xiao is second, Liu Ling is third, and Princess Yao Yue is fourth. All others who scored four points or above have passed."
"Today's test ends here. Tomorrow is the official start of the Alchemist Convention. Do not lose your eligibility to compete by being late, or you will have to wait another eight years."
Liu Ling, as always, launched a barrage of verbal attacks on Xiao Yan, his love rival.
Xiao Yan ignored him and simply followed Xiao Tian as they walked out, leaving Liu Ling there in impotent rage.
"Master Otto, why are you staring at us like that? Is there something you want to say?"
Xiao Tian noticed Otto's gaze constantly shifting between them.
"The Guild wants me to inquire about your esteemed teacher's identity."
"My teacher has retired from the world and once told me not to reveal his identity, so as not to be disturbed," Xiao Tian casually made up an excuse.
Xiao Yan also silently nodded in agreement.
"I'm just going through the motions. Anyway, you two are now the hope of our Blackrock City Guild."
Otto had already planned to casually fob them off. These were the hopes of his guild; he couldn't let such a small matter sour their relationship, and asking for details wouldn't benefit him anyway.
"Master Otto, please help me handle the matter of my identity. If my identity is exposed, I might not be able to continue participating in the competition, and it might even implicate Tian Ge."
Xiao Yan felt that although Xiao Tian's strength was very high, the Cloud Mist Sect had a Dou Emperor. He couldn't let his own matters drag Xiao Tian down.
"That serious?" Master Otto's expression became solemn. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "I will help you hide your identity. You just focus on the competition, and this old man will handle the rest."
"Thank you, Master Otto."
Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief and bowed gratefully.
"You two are the strong seed contestants I finally found with great difficulty, and this might be my peak moment. We are now in a situation where we prosper or suffer together."
Otto waved his hand, indicating that it was his duty.
"Otto, what were the results of the test? Did they pass?"
At a fork in the road, Xiao Tian and the others met Frank and his two companions.
"By chance, we two passed, I suppose."