Ning Fa watched Ning Shaohong leave.
He then looked at Ning Ruiming, a smile on his face.
Ning Ruiming's expression was extremely unpleasant. As if unwilling to give Ning Fa the chance to humiliate him, he abruptly waved his sleeve and hastily left the alchemy room.
"Ning Fa, truly, one should look at someone with new eyes after three days apart. I, this old man, congratulate you on joining the Alchemy Hall. If you need anything in the future, you can find me."
Wei Chengzong congratulated Ning Fa with a beaming face.
It was a sure thing that Ning Fa would become an official alchemist in the family. Furthermore, the fact that Ning Fa could refine Dao-patterned pills in the refining area meant he was definitely no ordinary low-grade first-tier alchemist.
Even if he could only refine Essence Replenishing Pills in the future, as long as he could maintain this terrifying pill completion rate, he would absolutely hold an important position in the family.
Therefore, he also wanted to build a good relationship with Ning Fa. Especially since he had previously been instructed by Ning Ruiming to obstruct Ning Fa's assessment, he now wanted to extend an olive branch to mend their relationship.
Although Ning Fa was also annoyed to the point of grinding his teeth at this old fox, he knew that Wei Chengzong was acting under pressure and didn't harbor any ill will towards him. In fact, he had even guided Ning Fa's predecessor in alchemy.
So, Ning Fa also put on a fake smile and exchanged a few words with Wei Chengzong before taking his leave.
After all, he had been continuously refining pills for nearly seven to eight hours. With the overall situation settled, he felt extremely exhausted, and his magical power and spiritual sense had been greatly depleted.
At this moment, Ning Fa noticed Liu Qinghui's body move slightly. She took a small step forward, as if she had something to say to him.
Ning Fa, however, did not want to engage in pleasantries with this "green tea" and turned to leave directly.
"Ning Fa, congratulations."
Liu Qinghui's gentle congratulatory voice came from behind him.
Ning Fa's body stiffened. He couldn't help but wonder what this "green tea" was plotting. If she was genuinely congratulating him, he would be the last to believe it.
But he was too lazy to ponder her intentions and left as if he hadn't heard anything.
Ning Fa returned to his home on Pingchang Island. He did nothing and thought of nothing, simply collapsing into bed to sleep.
The high-intensity alchemy for the past month had left him like a tightly strung bow. Now that he could finally relax, he felt incredibly weary.
The next morning, Ning Fa was awakened by a knock on the door.
As soon as Ning Fa opened the door, he saw Ning Chuanwei, dressed in a blue robe with a shifty look, grinning sinisterly at Ning Xiuying, who was clad in dazzling fiery red battle armor. Ning Chuanwei said, "Esteemed lady, you must be here to escort Ning Fa to the Fifth Elder's residence, right? Don't worry, this brat is at home. I saw him return yesterday evening with my own eyes."
Ning Xiuying, on the other hand, looked as if she couldn't be bothered to acknowledge him. Seeing Ning Fa emerge, the corner of her mouth curved into a smile.
Ning Fa's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the ample bosom displayed by her chest. He wondered if it was his imagination, but did it seem even more magnificent than yesterday?
As if noticing Ning Fa's gaze, Ning Xiuying deliberately or inadvertently puffed out her chest.
Ning Fa almost stared blankly. Only then did he notice Ning Xiuying's amused expression. He quickly greeted her, "Sister Xiuying."
Ning Xiuying first shot him a sideways glance, then said seriously, "I am here on the orders of the Ninth Elder to inform you that yesterday, the family elders' council passed a resolution. You have officially passed the family alchemist assessment and can join the family Alchemy Hall. Here is your Alchemy Hall token. You can move to Lingchang Island tomorrow. Alchemist Wei will explain the specific details to you."
After speaking, Ning Xiuying handed a small, green, circular token to Ning Fa.
Ning Fa subconsciously took the token.
Although he had known for a long time that he would definitely pass the assessment, hearing the result truly lifted a heavy burden from his heart, as if a thousand pounds had been removed.
This meant he had won his bet with Ning Huarong and would no longer have to be her dual cultivation cauldron.
Although Ning Huarong had a domineering personality, she always kept her promises. She wouldn't be so petty as to come looking for trouble with him again after losing.
Ning Chuanwei, standing nearby, was already dumbfounded.
What? This good-for-nothing actually passed the family alchemist assessment and would become a respected alchemist in the future?
How was this possible!?
At this moment, Ning Xiuying continued, "However, the family hopes that you can successfully refine two low-grade first-tier pills, the Qi Replenishing Pill and the Essence Supplementing Pill, within a year. You must achieve at least a 30% completion rate, as this is the requirement for a normal low-grade first-tier alchemist."
Hearing this, Ning Fa frowned. Was refining Dao-patterned Essence Replenishing Pills not convincing enough? Did he still need to refine other pills?
Noticing Ning Fa's expression, Ning Xiuying quickly explained, "Don't misunderstand. It's not that the family is being harsh on you. With your skill in refining Essence Replenishing Pills, even if you couldn't refine other pills, you would still be qualified to enter the Alchemy Hall and would undoubtedly hold an important position. It's just that the family wants to see your potential in refining other pills."
Ning Fa nodded. That made sense. For the Ning family to have developed to its current momentum, the family elders could not be incompetent individuals.
He clasped his hands in a salute to Ning Xiuying and said, "Thank you for coming to deliver the message, Sister Xiuying. Also, please help me convey to the Ninth Elder that once I've settled in, I will go to Yun Chang Island to thank her in person."
Ning Shaohong was now his powerful backer, and he had to maintain this relationship.
Although she had said she would only help Ning Fa once, Ning Fa felt that this Ninth Elder was someone who appeared cold on the outside but had a warm heart.
"Alright, I will definitely pass it on."
Ning Xiuying smiled at him, her attitude much more sincere than yesterday.
Although she was already at the seventh level of Qi Condensation and Ning Fa was only at the third level, she was merely Ning Shaohong's attendant. Ning Fa had now entered the family Alchemy Hall, and in terms of family status, Ning Fa was not inferior to her.
After all, there were fifty to sixty cultivators in the late Qi Condensation stage in the Ning family, and including Ning Fa, there were only six alchemists in the family, not counting alchemy apprentices.
Moreover, having witnessed Ning Fa's alchemy firsthand yesterday, she knew very well that Ning Fa was no ordinary alchemist, as he had even managed to refine Dao-patterned pills.
If he could advance to the middle stage of Qi Condensation, become a mid-grade first-tier alchemist, and still maintain such a terrifying completion rate, his family status would rise dramatically. At that point, unless she successfully reached Foundation Establishment, she would only be able to look up to Ning Fa.
What's more, the benefit of befriending an alchemist was immense. Perhaps she could obtain some precious pills from the Alchemy Hall through Ning Fa.
After Ning Xiuying turned and left, Ning Fa looked at the still stunned Ning Chuanwei and said with a half-smile, "Why aren't you leaving? Do you want me to invite you in for a couple of drinks?"
"Ning Fa… ah no, respected family alchemist…"
Ning Chuanwei finally snapped back to reality. He immediately looked at Ning Fa with a fawning expression, his face full of pleasant surprise. "Does this humble brother truly have such honor? That would truly be my good fortune for three lifetimes."