I alone am the Honoured One!-Chapter 776: Alchemy Examination [4]

After collecting all the pills from the contestants, the female judge stepped to the center of the examination hall once more.

"It will take a while to evaluate your pills... so please remain seated and wait patiently."

"This assessment will not be rushed."

She raised one slender hand and made a brief gesture.

Instantly, several robed assistants stepped forward and began collecting the trays one by one with extreme care.

Each pill was placed into a transparent jade casing, sealed with a strip of spirit paper bearing the contestant's number but not their name... ensuring anonymous, unbiased evaluation.

Qi Nue watched as her pill was gently lifted and sealed.

She had given her all—every shred of knowledge and control, every bit of insight her master had instilled in her.

Whether that would be enough was now in the hands of fate… and the judges.

As the judges retreated to the raised dais where the pill evaluation would take place, the atmosphere within the hall shifted.

A large veil appeared between the judges and the contestants rows.

Examinees began to murmur among themselves in low voices.

Some were discussing their refining process with pride, while others whispered regrets, blaming the cauldron, the flame, or even the quality of ingredients for their failures.

A few had already resigned themselves to the outcome, staring blankly ahead.

Qi Nue, however, remained quiet.

She leaned back in her seat, hands resting lightly on her knees.

Zhao Tian sat atop the elevated viewing platform, his eyes trailing over the judges below who had begun their task.

A formation of evaluation had been drawn... a ring of jade pillars with shifting inscriptions that would assess the pills one by one.

The pills would be floated one by one within this ring, where their true quality could be revealed under the formation.

The first few pills were modestly acceptable, with basic structure and a few cracks here and there. Enough to pass, but not to impress.

The male judge would occasionally nod with mild approval or shake his head with faint disappointment.

The female judge, more observant of balance and creativity, paid close attention to the subtle harmony of ingredients, even noting unexpected stabilizations in a few attempts.

When Qi Nue's pill floated into the array, there was a distinct pause in the air.

The pill hovered, spinning slowly within the evaluation field.

It was a sign of resonant harmony, a phenomenon where all the ingredients had been not only combined successfully but also refined in such a way that they enhanced each other beyond their intended synergy.

This was rare, especially in an examination setting.

The elder judge blinked slowly. "Amazing..."

The female judge stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly.

She didn't speak right away but reached out, drawing a single line through the air with her finger, causing the pill to pause in place.

A delicate web of light extended around it, scanning it for hidden flaws, impurities, or unstable formations.

There were none.

She stepped back and whispered something into the elder judge's ear.

Zhao Tian leaned forward from the platform and he smiled slightly 'She has that Twin flame which she shares with Sister Xue... which increases the purity of the pill.'

'But damn, she is really talented. As of right now, her talent is above mine. She just lacks in some flame purity compared to mine.'

'If only she could get an Emyreal Flame...'

As the judges continued their evaluations, other pills followed—but none elicited quite the same response.

Some pills were promising.

A few contestants had even demonstrated strong potential.

But Qi Nue's stood apart... for clarity, for her precise control, and for her ability to draw out the full potential of each component without overwhelming the rest.

Eventually, the judges finished and sealed the last pill.

The female judge returned to the center and the veil was also removed letting the contestants see the judges.

"We have completed our evaluations,"

"The results have been tallied. There were many promising candidates today… but among you, only one pill stood as an example of not just technical skill, but insight, control, and refinement that borders on art."

The silence deepened.

"The pill refined by contestant number seventy-four… was evaluated to be of the highest quality among all present today. Resonant harmony, stable core compression, and a purity level exceeding ninety percent."

Gasps sounded from the crowd of contestants.

Some turned, looking around to see who number seventy-four was.

Qi Nue blinked in surprise, but then she quietly stood up and bowed slightly.

The female judge continued, "For those who did not reach the passing threshold—do not despair."

"Alchemy is not a path conquered in one trial. It is a life. You may try again when you are ready. For those who passed, you will get your Flame Forger badges right now."

The female judge's words settled over the hall.

A moment later, she raised her hand once more, this time signaling the attendants waiting at the edge of the hall.

One by one, the attendants stepped forward, each carrying a lacquered wooden box—polished black with crimson inlays.

Inside there are the Flame Forger badges... small, oval-shaped insignias forged from rare steel and imbued with a faint fire essence.

Each badge bore the symbol of a stylized lotus in flame.

Just as the attendants began to distribute the boxes to the judges, the female judge turned toward the elevated platform.

"Mister Zhao Tian. You have served as an observer in this examination."

"Would you do us the honor of presenting the Flame Forger badges to the successful examinees?" the female judge asked with a faint smile.

Zhao Tian stood slowly and stepped down from the platform.

"As you wish, Elder,"

The boxes were brought to him and placed neatly on a wide tray.

One by one, the judges began calling the numbers of the successful examinees, starting, of course, with number seventy-four.

"Contestant number seventy-four. Step forward."

Qi Nue stepped forward and looked at Zhao Tian with a smile on her lips.

"Congratulation..." With a soft smile, he extended the badge to her. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Without waiting for further ceremony, Qi Nue reached forward, not just for the badge.. but straight into Zhao Tian's arms, pulling him into a tight warm hug.

The entire hall went silent.

Zhao Tian blinked but then he smiled and patted her back "You did well.."

Qi Nue pulled back a little and gently took the badge from his hand. "Thank you."

She returned to her seat without another word, leaving behind stunned silence and a trail of curious stares.

"Did… she just hug him?"

"Wait, are they close? Like that kind of close?"

"I thought Zhao Tian was cold to everyone…"

The judges exchanged brief looks but said nothing.

The female judge continued calling the next number.

"Contestant number twenty-nine."

A tall, quiet young man stepped forward but as he approached Zhao Tian, his steps slowed.

Their eyes met Zhao Tian offered the badge with a small nod.

The young man hesitated, and then, awkwardly... he leaned in for a brief one-armed hug.

The crowd buzzed.

"Wait, what?"

"Is this… a thing now?"

The next few contestants approached with increasing hesitance and visible confusion.

One girl, upon reaching Zhao Tian, stood frozen for a full three seconds before throwing herself into the hug.

Zhao Tian smiled dryly in his heart as he accepted everyone's hugs.

Qi Nue, watching from her seat, couldn't help but chuckle under her breath as her fingers played idly with the badge.

As the last badge was handed out, the judge stepped forward once more.

"Today, you have proven yourselves worthy of the title 'Flame Forger.' May your fires never dim, and your pursuit of alchemy never waver. Remember, this is only the beginning. The road ahead is long... and full of trials far greater than this hall."

The crowd bowed as one. And as Zhao Tian stepped back onto the platform, he glanced once more at Qi Nue.

She was already looking at him.

And smiling.

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I hope you guys liked this chapter!