31 Assessment

As she approached him, Alex's body started warming up when she said,

"Welcome, little brother. Did you come for the assessment exam ?"

" Yes senior sister, I am here to take the assessment for the Alchemy Apprentice," Alex replied, lightly bowing his head as a form of respect since she is an Inner disciple.

Stella smiled, nodding as she took the academy jade card and murmured,

"Hmm, you've already reached Foundation Establishment 9th level, attempting the test for the first time, and you're below 20 years! So, you are indeed eligible to participate in the assessment," Stella said, secretly noting his ID details and contemplating sending a friend request later.

Stella wasn't able to identify that he had already reached Golden Core 1st stage because of the new skill he awakened from his celestial eyes after breaking through to the 7th level in Foundation six months ago, called Celestial Cloak, which allows him to hide his cultivation, soul, and other aspects from scrutiny.

After that, Stella personally guided him under some envious gazes. When Alex entered the assessment hall, he saw hundreds of disciples already lined up.

The assessment is divided into two parts.

The first part consisted of disciples below 21 years, with a cultivation level equal to or above the 7th level of Foundation, possessing some knowledge of medicines and herbs.

The second part included disciples below 24 years, with a cultivation level above the 9th level of Foundation, capable of refining at least one Low-grade Mortal Rank Pill out of three pills.

"Okay, little brother, good luck for your assessment," said Stella as she started walking towards the other side and engaged in conversation with an Elder.

While Alex stood in an isolated spot, he observed dozens of people in groups, chatting quietly, and some individuals standing alone, waiting cross-legged in meditation.

Glancing around, he spotted Mia, who became an outer disciple six months ago. Walking over, Mia greeted him with clasped hands, and the two began to chat.

"Senior brother Alex," she said, "Did you hear that about half a year ago, Peter and his friends were mysteriously beaten into bloody pulps when they entered the Mountain forest? They've been bed-ridden ever since, and for some reason, won't talk at all about what happened." As she spoke, Mia looked at Alex carefully to gauge his reaction.

Alex yawned, showing no abnormal reaction. He even asked if she knew anything about what had happened when suddenly, a buzz of conversation rose in the crowd.

Simultaneously, Alex felt as if someone had suddenly looked in his direction. When he turned his head, he saw Peter walking toward him.

Witnessing this, Mia immediately hid behind Alex and grabbed his sleeves in fear, as she had been bullied by Peter and his gang when she worked as a handyman disciple.

Noticing the fear in her eyes, Alex took a moment to think and reassured her, "Don't worry, he wouldn't be able to do anything."

Meanwhile Alex simply watched as Peter got closer, his eyes flickering in fear, which was ten times higher than Mia's fear when she saw Peter.

Peter immediately bowed his head, almost touching Alex's legs, and said in a stuttering tone, "Please forgive this tr..ash for behaving rudely against you in the past, Senior br..other."

This statement made many gasp around them, and Mia, trembling in fear behind Alex, stood blank, as if witnessing something unbelievable.

Alex placed his hand on Peter's shoulder, who was practically shivering in fear, and said, "There is no need to show me such respect when we're both at the same cultivation level, so you can talk to me informally, Peter."

However, the grip of Alex's hand on his shoulder increased, causing Peter's pupils to shrink in pain. Despite the pain, he didn't dare to scream and slowly lifted his head.

"Thanks for forgiving me, senior brother," said Peter, showing a smile that was almost crying.

Alex slightly laughed and casually said, "I am happy that you have changed your ways, brother Peter. I don't know who was so cruel to beat you like that, but at least it made you change your wrong ways."

When Peter heard the soft tone of Alex, a frightening feeling arose deep inside his innermost feelings, and he became scared.

Terrified, Peter looked at Alex, who was smiling at him, and for a second, he remembered that day when he vowed never to forget Alex's two eyes.

Those pairs of eyes had not a single gleam of sentiment and were pitch black, as deep as an ancient black hole hiding a terrifying giant beast.

'My god! Why was I so foolish to mess with such a demon?!'

Regret filled Peter's heart. With a face as pale as a sheet of paper, he immediately ran away.

Alex turned his head back, where Mia was still hiding behind him.

"Didn't I tell you that you don't have to fear him anymore," said Alex in a calm tone while pinching Mia's cheeks.

Mia, dumbstruck, obediently nodded her head and looked at him with an almost infatuated gaze.

' cough '

Alex coughed and turned his head when he saw the look she was giving to him.

Eventually, more and more people began to appear, and a good-sized crowd built up.

Before too much time passed, the main door of the Assessment Hall creaked open, and an old woman walked out. She had purple hair and piercing eyes, and as soon as she appeared, everyone quieted down.

Behind her, Senior Stella was walking respectfully.

The middle-aged woman's expression was calm as she strode forward with hands clasped behind her back.

She came to a stop at the front of the square, looked around at all the Outer courtyard disciples, then nodded her head, satisfied, and began to speak.

"I am Inner Courtyard Elder Agnes, and I shall preside over this test."

"The first test will consist of you identifying all the plants and vegetation useful for refining Mortal and spiritual Rank Pills.

To pass the test, you simply have to walk to the passageway at the end of the hall, which leads you to an Alchemy garden, and write the names and properties of the plants and vegetation.

To get selected, you have to correctly identify at least 100 plants and vegetation within three hours of time." Elder Agnes didn't seem to want to offer any further explanations. After speaking her part, she simply closed her eyes and ignored everyone.

As Alex blinked in response, a long-faced young man walked out from the crowd. After clasping hands and bowing to Elder Agnes, he strode toward the underground passageway.

Following him, everyone started entering the doorway of the passage, and at the end, a beam of light appeared, teleporting everyone to a giant garden where thousands of herbs and plants were present.