Zhou Xun took out a bag from his bosom and extracted the Spirit Grain Seedlings inside.
He then operated the Spring Condensation Scripture, extracting essence one by one, and merged it into the nine failed inferior Grain Avoidance Pills.
Visibly, the Grain Avoidance Pills, infused with the essence of the Spirit Grain Seedlings, continuously improved in quality, reaching the genuine stage.
In this way, Zhou Xun elevated six Grain Avoidance Pills to the genuine level.
The other three remained at inferior pill quality.
According to Zhou Xun's understanding of the others, six genuine pills were already enough to rank him in the upper tier.
He tidied up the Alchemy Room and waited for a while, ensuring someone had already left before he took the Grain Avoidance Pills and opened the door.
As Zhou Xun stepped out, a steward immediately greeted him.
"Zhou Xun, right? Hand me your refined elixirs, and after Elder Lin personally appraises them, they will be ranked according to their quality. You can wait to the side!"
"Yes, Steward Liu!" Zhou Xun bowed and then handed the bottle containing the Grain Avoidance Pills to the middle-aged steward.
Afterward, he glanced around.
He wasn't the first to come out; there were already over a dozen people waiting after completing their refining.
"Brother Zhou, you finally came out! How many pills did you refine this time?"
Upon seeing Zhou Xun, Wang Erniu enthusiastically approached.
"Six genuine, and three inferior!" Zhou Xun laid it out plainly.
"Brother, with this result, the top fifteen is surely secure!" Wang Erniu exclaimed joyfully, clapping his hands.
Zhou Xun nodded, chatting idly with Wang Erniu.
His gaze, however, drifted towards Wei Shangyi's position, now belonging to him in Room B17 of the Alchemy Studio.
...
Wei Shangyi patiently waited for half an Hour before beginning the refinement of Grain Avoidance Pills.
Warming the pill furnace, condensing the medicinal liquid.
Everything proceeded smoothly.
Wei Shangyi was full of confidence.
"This time, as long as I successfully refine the Grain Avoidance Pills and with Steward Lin's mediation, the apprentice position is within reach!"
To ensure the smooth development of Wei Shangyi as the future family alchemist, Wei Shangli once again sought Lin Ruochang.
Promised substantial gifts.
Ultimately obtaining Lin Ruochang's promise that as long as the Grain Avoidance Pills were successfully refined, he would expend his apprentice recommendation quota.
With certain alchemy talent, middle-grade and above Spirit Root talent, coupled with full support, an alchemy apprentice role could still be maneuvered.
Of course, it was outside the fifteen slots available this time.
Wei Shangyi methodically continued refining.
At the same moment, Lin Hongjiu also bid farewell to Lin Ruochang.
Produced the Earth Fire Token, pinpointing the earth fire spark in Wei Shangyi's Alchemy Room.
A spell was cast.
Almost without delay, the earth fire beneath Wei Shangyi's pill furnace suddenly surged.
Wei Shangyi's yet-to-be-blended Grain Avoidance Pills liquid couldn't withstand the intense firepower, instantly burning, emitting a charred odor.
And Wei Shangyi, in the instant the earth fire surged, realized what had happened.
Then, he watched helplessly as the medicinal liquid inside the pill furnace was destroyed.
"Lin Hongjiu, I... damn you!"
Clearly, he had calculated everything accurately, yet this is the result.
He failed the refinement!
Failed at the third step!
With his skill, he could have succeeded!
"I hate this!"
Wei Shangyi gritted his teeth, his face turning white with anger.
This outcome meant he was no longer eligible for the alchemy apprentice role.
Even with Steward Lin's full recommendation, Lin Zhishan and Master Yun Ku would not consent.
Someone who couldn't even refine a basic elixir had no qualification to serve as an alchemy apprentice in the Pill Treasure Pavilion.
"Could it be that I, Wei Shangyi, really have to become a Spiritual Energy Servant?"
At the thought of being a servant, Wei Shangyi could not accept this fate.
His exceptional talent meant he was destined to rise above others, to become a noble alchemist, to establish a foundation, and even achieve True Pill!
"I am unwilling!"
...
The refinement of Grain Avoidance Pills is extremely simple; typically, half an Hour suffices to refine a batch.
Even for those unfamiliar, one Hour should be enough.
Thus, shortly after Zhou Xun left, the remaining dozen individuals completed their refinement successively.
Finally, only Room B17 of the Alchemy Studio remained tightly closed.
A quarter Hour later, the person inside still hadn't emerged.
Lin Zhishan came over and asked the steward in charge of drawing number plates:
"Who is inside, and why haven't they come out yet?"
"Reporting to Elder, it's Wei Shangyi inside. We have no idea why he hasn't come out!" The middle-aged steward respectfully replied with a hint of reverence.
"Tell him to come out! If he hasn't refined it in over an Hour now, waiting longer won't change the outcome!" Lin Zhishan frowned.
"Yes, I'm on it!" The middle-aged steward acknowledged and then rudely knocked on the door of the Alchemy Room.
"Wei Shangyi, hurry up and come out, the assessment is over!"
Wei Shangyi, now sitting dejectedly on the floor of the Alchemy Room, wore a defeated expression.
Upon hearing the call, he rose abruptly, muttering to himself:
"No, there's still a chance. Steward Lin is my brother-in-law. I'll return to my brother; there must be a way!"
Saying this, a glimmer of hopeful light appeared in his eyes.
Seeing the door finally open after some delay, the middle-aged steward showed slight dissatisfaction, impatiently saying:
"Why so slow? Hand over your elixirs."
"Failed the refinement!" Wei Shangyi said bitterly.
"Got it!" The middle-aged steward gave him a glance, understanding instantly that not a single Grain Avoidance Pill was refined.
Then he headed straight towards Lin Zhishan to report.
Thus, all thirty quasi-apprentices involved in the assessment had completed their refining.
...
In about a quarter Hour, Lin Zhishan finished appraising all elixirs.
Then ranked them according to the number refined and the quality of each elixir.
In the yard, Lin Zhishan stood at the front.
Zhou Xun and the other quasi-apprentices lined up, waiting for Lin Zhishan to announce the results.
"The six-month training assessment ends today."
"Each of your elixirs has been personally appraised by me. The rankings are directly arranged by me and cannot be falsified."
"Now, announcing the list of those who passed the alchemy apprentice assessment."
"First place, Wang Erniu, nine pills refined, all nine are genuine!"
"Second place...."
Up to seventh place, Zhou Xun finally heard his name.
This ranking, which rose four places from the initially displayed eleventh, was well within the normal range.
Wang Erniu looked excitedly at Zhou Xun; this means he could work alongside Brother Zhou.
Zhou Xun slightly smiled and met Wei Shangyi's incredulous gaze.
"Impossible!" Wei Shangyi felt his mind faltering.
He had clearly seen Zhou Xun enter Room B5 of the Alchemy Studio, which should belong to him, designated by his brother Lin Hongjiu.
Yet now, Zhou Xun had successfully refined nine pills and smoothly became an alchemy apprentice.
And he, who intentionally avoided the earth fire surge time, still fell victim to its violent outbreak.
"Could it be Lin Hongjiu and Zhou Xun conspired together!"
Thinking of Zhou Xun's meaningful smile earlier, he suddenly felt an overwhelming conspiracy engulfing him.