"So, as most of you know, spiritual root talents are divided into five grades: Low Grade, Middle Grade, High Grade, Peak Grade, and the legendary Earth Grade."Your talent grade determines how quickly you cultivate and how far you can potentially go on the path of cultivation, but it is not everything."Hard work remains a cultivator's greatest ally. A diligent cultivator with a Middle Grade spiritual root can surpass someone with a High Grade talent, and even someone with a Peak Grade talent if they are lazy. So don't become arrogant just because your talent is high."Nora paused, calmly sweeping her gaze across the crowd."Now, let's begin. There are three testing tables, so form lines in front of them. Do not fight over your position. If the spot you want has already been taken, simply go to the back of the line. Anyone who causes trouble will be expelled immediately."The one hundred and forty-nine examinees quickly lined up without the slightest disturbance. No one wanted to be t

A deafening dragon's roar echoed from deep within him as countless strands of energy rapidly intertwined, weaving themselves into an artificial spiritual root. The instant it took shape, spiritual energy began flowing through it on its own.Mattimeo's eyes widened in disbelief.How is this possible?His original spiritual root had been shattered, yet now his spiritual energy was circulating through an entirely new one.The first orb on the artifact lit up.Then the second.The third was just about to illuminate when the artificial spiritual root suddenly cracked. An instant later, it exploded into countless strands of energy that scattered in every direction before dissolving into nothingness.The glow of the third orb flickered briefly before fading away, and the artifact fell silent once more.Silence blanketed the area as everyone stared at the artifact in stunned disbelief.Only two orbs had lit up.Mid-grade talent. For the person who had ranked first, such a result was simply un

"Don't worry. Becoming her disciple won't only benefit you, it'll benefit me as well, remember?" she said.That was true. Mattimeo nodded."And don't worry. I won't do anything to your little girlfriend. So it's settled. I'll help you for now. I don't know much about alchemy, and I can't judge your talent, so everything will depend on you. Don't disappoint me."*******"But, Big Sis, you know this isn't proper," a beautiful woman dressed in flowing yellow robes said as she looked at Elizabeth.Mattimeo studied Elizabeth's younger sister, the head of the alchemy department of the outer sect.She looked far too young to hold such a position, appearing no older than twenty-six or twenty-eight.Her figure was graceful and alluring, so well-developed that even her loose, flowing yellow robes struggled to conceal her enticing curves. Unlike her elder sister, however, she carried herself with a calm, gentle demeanor that made her seem approachable."Please do this for me," Elizabeth said. "I

She turned to the new disciples after saying her piece.Twenty out of the hundred from the first batch were here, but she knew there was a very real chance that not even one of them would pass.Even so, the sect allowed anyone with a basic understanding of alchemy to participate.They all recognized Mattimeo by now. His reputation had spread far enough that he was impossible to miss, but no one dared say anything. Aurora had already warned them against causing a disturbance, and Nora had demonstrated the consequences with her own actions.No one wanted to be thrown out.Mattimeo took the opportunity to study the other examinees as well. His gaze swept across the room before suddenly stopping.A fatty on the opposite side was enthusiastically waving at him."Zaki!?" he blurted out.Zaki gave him a playful wink before turning forward as though nothing had happened.The older disciples had already taken up positions throughout the hall, silently watching over the examinees. A moment late

"You have to make an Energy Pill with at least a fifty-five percent purity level. If you can't achieve fifty-five percent, then once your three material sets are finished, you will automatically become an assistant."For those who reach a fifty-five percent purity level... congratulations in advance. Now proceed. You have only two hours."She stepped back afterward and took a seat on a nearby chair while the older disciples spread out to supervise the examinees.Mattimeo smiled to himself.This was what he was talking about. Unlike the outer sect recruitment test, every part of the alchemy test was something he could control.Yet he made no move to begin.He knew that the moment he started, he would be finished almost immediately.The process of refining a low-grade Energy Pill was engraved into his mind. Back in Ravenmoor, he had refined the pill enough times that every step had become second nature.Finishing too quickly would only draw unnecessary attention.Even so, his lack of ac