The Refining House seemed different from the previous day. The building, which normally stirred only with the movement of disciples, was now strangely lively from the earliest hours of the morning.
The large wooden doors were completely open, allowing disciples to enter and leave through the corridors.
Some carried books, while others simply discussed things in low voices.
There were those reviewing recipes as they walked, moving their lips silently as if trying to recall every detail before the assessment.
A circular platform had been set up in the central square, made of polished white stone and surrounded by small pillars engraved with spiritual formations.
At the center of the platform was a long dark wooden table, and behind it were three chairs. Qin Ruolan occupied the middle seat.
To her right sat a middle-aged man named He Zhong, one of those responsible for evaluating the disciples who would be taking the assessment today.
He was a thin man with a short beard and gray hair carefully tied behind his head. He wore a dark green robe, much simpler than the disciples’ clothing, but his presence conveyed an authority that was difficult to ignore.
On the left was a woman named Elder Fang Mei, who appeared to be a little over forty years old, although her high cultivation made it impossible to determine her true age.
Her black hair was tied into an elaborate hairstyle adorned with a small jade hairpin. She wore a long light-green robe embroidered with spiritual flowers along the sleeves.
Her face was serene, but her eyes were extremely attentive. She observed every disciple as if she could see directly through their words.
Dozens of disciples had gathered before the platform, both men and women.
The men mainly wore white or dark-blue robes, while the female disciples wore similar garments, although some had colored sashes indicating their position within the Refining House.
Among them was Su Meilin, who remained slightly apart from the others. Her long black hair fell down her back, held only at the top by a green ribbon.
Her white robe fit elegantly around her body, with green embroidery along the edges of the sleeves and a sash of the same color around her waist.
Beside her stood Luo Xin, who had dark-brown hair and lively eyes. She wore a light-blue robe and held a small book against her chest.
"It seems Yun Che hasn’t arrived yet."
Luo Xin looked toward the entrance. Su Meilin did not answer, but her eyes also turned in that direction.
Then someone spoke from behind them.
"He will show up." Chen Ruyue spoke as she calmly approached.
"After all the confidence he showed yesterday, it would be strange if he ran away."
Luo Xin smiled.
"Perhaps he’s somewhere buried in books, preparing for the theoretical assessment."
Chen Ruyue let out a small laugh.
"After yesterday? He spent the entire day pretending he wasn’t worried, and now he hasn’t even shown his face."
Su Meilin simply remained silent. She remembered Yun Che’s expression perfectly. He had shown neither nervousness nor embarrassment. It was almost as if he knew something the others did not.
Before she could say anything, a deep sound echoed through the square.
Dong!
The spiritual bell had been struck. The side conversations immediately ceased, and everyone looked toward the platform.
He Zhong stood up.
"The assessment will begin in fifteen minutes. Prepare yourselves properly for the theoretical assessment." His voice was not loud, but it reached every corner of the square.
"Participants must remain within the designated area. Consulting books, using memory talismans, or receiving outside assistance will not be permitted."
Several disciples nodded as He Zhong continued:
"The assessment will be divided into three parts."
"The first part will consist of identifying properties. The second will be refining theory, and finally, the third will consist of analyzing alchemical problems."
The announcement caused murmurs among the disciples.
It would not be enough to simply know a memorized answer. They would also need to understand why a particular solution worked.
He Zhong raised a small jade tablet.
"Each correct answer will be worth points."
He paused.
"An incomplete answer will receive a proportional score."
The atmosphere became even quieter, and then he added:
"In the event of a tie, there will be an additional question to determine the winner."
Zhao Ming was among the participants. The young man kept his arms crossed as he listened to the rules, and a smile slowly appeared on his face. He had already participated in similar assessments.
He knew the difficulties, the questions, the other competitors, and, above all, he knew his own ability.
He was not afraid of any competitor, except perhaps a few older disciples, but certainly not Yun Che. He then looked toward the entrance.
"He will be put in his proper place, if he has the courage to show up, of course."
At that moment, footsteps echoed from the entrance. Several heads turned as Yun Che entered the square, wearing a simple black robe.
His hair was tied behind his head. He carried no books or scrolls, and his expression remained calm, causing several people to frown.
Luo Xin’s eyes widened slightly.
"What a surprise. He actually came."
Chen Ruyue smiled.
"Naturally."
Su Meilin merely watched Yun Che slowly walk toward the participants’ area. When he passed Zhao Ming, the latter cast him a glance.
"Hmph, did you manage to study anything? You won’t be so lucky as you were yesterday."
Yun Che stopped and looked at him.
"Thank you for your concern. And yes, I studied."
Zhao Ming laughed.
"How much?"
"Enough."
The answer made Zhao Ming frown.
Yun Che continued walking, while Zhao Ming simply stared at his back. Irritation slowly appeared on his face. He did not like that attitude.
There was no obvious arrogance. Yun Che simply did not seem to consider him a threat.
The participants began taking their positions.
There were twenty-four participants in total, and among them, Yun Che was clearly the least known. Most of them possessed some degree of reputation.
Zhao Ming was known for his speed of learning, Chen Ruyue was recognized for her knowledge of herbs, and Su Meilin possessed an excellent analytical ability.
There was also a disciple named Guo Han, considered by many to be the best theorist among the younger generation of disciples. He was tall and thin, with his black hair carefully combed.
He wore a dark-blue robe with a silver sash. When he took his position, several disciples began murmuring.
"Guo Han is participating too."
"Then Zhao Ming will have trouble."
"He hasn’t lost a theoretical assessment in the past two years."
Qin Ruolan silently observed everything. When Yun Che reached his position, her eyes met his. Apparently, neither of them said a word.
The bell rang again.
Dong!
He Zhong raised his hand.
"The assessment begins now."
A spiritual formation appeared on the ground, and twenty-four small jade tablets appeared before the participants. Each one contained the first question.
Yun Che lowered his eyes.