Huyan Lie stared at the screen for a long time, his expression shifting from anger to suspicion.
"This kid's luck isn't bad; he actually guessed all those ten questions correctly."
As time passed, Huyan Lie's expression turned to shock.
During his observation, the boy had answered over a hundred questions, and unbelievably, he got them all right.
"Who is this kid? His skills are impressive!"
The other apothecaries were equally stunned, a terrifying thought rising in their minds.
Could it be that this kid answered all the previous questions correctly too?
As time went on, the apothecaries became increasingly numb.
How could someone be so freakishly talented?
To get everything right?
As the one-hour countdown ended, the first part of the Senior Apothecary Apprentice assessment concluded. The next hundred or two hundred questions were more challenging, and the young man's answering speed slowed slightly.
In the first section, out of a total of 1,123 questions, he answered 1,118 correctly.
The few mistakes seemed to be due to him clicking too quickly and choosing the wrong answers.
Huyan Lie was ecstatic: "What's this person's name? Whose apprentice is he?"
He looked around, seeing no one claiming him, and loudly declared, "Since no one is claiming him, I'll take him under my wing. If anyone dares to fight me for him later, don't blame me for turning hostile."
"Hall Master Huyan, this person seems to be Hall Master Leng's new apprentice."
"That old man, having such good luck? Impossible, absolutely impossible. He hasn't stepped out of his concoction room in eight hundred years, and the one time he does, he finds such an apprentice? I don't believe it."
Someone pulled up Du Xiu's information, matching the system photo with the boy on the screen.
"It really is Hall Master Leng's apprentice, Du Xiu."
"The second part has started."
"Let's see how Du Xiu performs in the second part."
"Yes, the second part is the true test of the apprentices' abilities; the first part only tests memory and reaction speed."
On the screen.
Entering the second part.
The candidates, including Du Xiu, fell into deep thought.
The second part of the assessment involved virtual potion mixing.
No need to physically concoct potions.
The task was to create a certain potion, given various herbs, and the candidates had to choose different herbs to answer.
For each potion, like concocting an Origin Power Potion, it wasn't as simple as using fixed herbs and steps.
Because the age, growth environment, and other factors of each herb differed, so did their efficacy.
At this point, to concoct a potion, one needed to ensure the chemical reactions between herbs and the interactions among various chemical reactions met the core formula of the potion.
1 isn't a ready-made 1; it needs to be pieced together.
No matter if you use 0.1+0.9, 0.01+0.99, or 99-98, as long as you make up that 1.
Then, similarly, make up 2, 3, 4, and finally make the potion formula hold, that's it.
Of course, this is a simple explanation; in pharmacology, it wouldn't be this simple.
It's often a long string of equations involving various complex calculations.
Therefore, for an apothecary, talent is extremely important.
"Unexpectedly, this Blood-Clotting Potion can be concocted this way?"
"Du Xiu's grasp of potion formulas is impressive!"
"His talent in pharmacology is quite remarkable!"
"The first few questions were answered well, but unfortunately, the later questions seemed beyond his study, and he seemed a bit at a loss."
"Indeed, given his young age, it's normal not to have learned some formulas, but judging by his performance, he's more than qualified to become a Senior Apprentice!"
"The earlier potions were well-matched and done quickly! And several of the matching methods I hadn't even thought of; I wonder how the system will evaluate them."
"Yes, there are a few formulas I don't understand. I don't know if he was just randomly mixing or taking an unconventional approach."
"I wonder how long he's been studying basic formulas; if it's only been two or three years and he's reached this level, then his talent in pharmacology is terrifying."
"Time's up, the assessment scores are about to be released!"
As the candidates exited the room, the scores from each examination hall appeared.
"Li Huiping, A-Rank Rating, passed the assessment."
"Hu Cui, A+-Rank Rating, passed the assessment."
"Chen Yuan, C-Rank Rating, passed the assessment."
"Yang Jianghao, D-Rank Rating, failed the assessment."
......
"Du Xiu, S-Rank Rating, passed the assessment."
......
As the scores were released, the apothecaries stared enviously at Du Xiu's S-Rank Rating.
This rating meant that in the second part, those mixing formulas they couldn't understand were correct!
At least the approach was correct!
They exchanged glances.
Fing hell, how old is he, and he's already innovating and modifying potion formulas?
Even if the exam's potion questions were the simplest.
But how old is Du Xiu, and how long could he have been studying pharmacology?
At most seventeen, maybe even younger.
Considering Du Xiu's age, he's undoubtedly a once-in-a-century genius in pharmacology.
A genius among geniuses. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
At this moment, Huyan Lie's eyes were bloodshot.
Such a precious gem, falling into Old Freak Leng's hands, what a waste!
No, such a promising talent can't be squandered.
As the scores were released, the spectators exclaimed in shock.
"How many years has it been since an S-Rank Rating appeared?"
"It's been decades."
"Truly incredible!"
"Who is Du Xiu? I've never seen him before."
......
At this moment, a handsome young man walked up from downstairs.
It was Ding Yao.
He knew Du Xiu was taking the Senior Apprentice assessment, but since Du Xiu had just started reading and the teacher hadn't given him one-on-one instruction, he thought Du Xiu was just testing the waters, so he didn't pay much attention.
Now, he came over just in time, intending to comfort his junior brother.
"Hey, wait, isn't that Huyan Lie?"
Ding Yao was taken aback.
On the third floor, in the corridor, a small old man was running over, sweating profusely.
Huyan Lie jogged to the exit where the candidates were coming out.
"Du Xiu, right?"
Huyan Lie forced a bright smile, addressing Du Xiu who had just walked out.
Du Xiu was a bit bewildered; he knew Huyan Lie was the Deputy Hall Master, an apothecary of the same level as Master Leng.
He couldn't afford to offend him.
Although he didn't know why the other was looking for him, he replied politely, "Yes, Hall Master Huyan, do you need something from me?"
"Come, come, let's go to my office, I have something to discuss with you."
Huyan Lie grabbed Du Xiu's hand and took off running.
Ding Yao curiously watched them leave.
At this moment, the conversation of a few Senior Apprentices running over reached his ears.
"Who is Du Xiu? Has he come out yet?"
"Let's go, let's make an acquaintance."
"I have to say, an S-Rank Rating is truly terrifying!"
"With such a rating, becoming a Level 3 Apothecary is almost a certainty, and there's a good chance for Level 4 too."
"I'm face-blind, which one is Du Xiu? I want to meet this S-Rank genius!"
"Which Master Apothecary's disciple is Du Xiu?"
"I don't know either, I haven't noticed anyone like that in the Apothecary Hall!"