Chapter 328: Examination: Even Dogs Wouldn't Want to Be a Pill Refiner

Master, you want to test me?

When Zhang Nongqian heard those words, she went blank, her mind completely empty; no one had ever told her she would be tested.

Shang Hongxue didn't leak any news; she had no preparation at all, it was too sudden.

Zhang Nongqian sought help from Shang Hongxue, but Shang Hongxue blinked and said she didn't know either; Chuyang gege had never mentioned this to her, and she was too busy enjoying herself to pay attention to anything else.

Chuyang gege, are you going to test Xiaoqian'er?

Yeah, she's been up the mountain for so long; it's time to test her, to see how much knowledge she has mastered and how much she knows about the efficacy of spiritual medicines." Chen Chuyang said lightly.

It was a sudden idea; I myself have gone through plenty of such tests—daily quizzes, weekly exams. Now that I have a disciple, how could I let her breeze through? Back when I endured hardship, I must let this disciple experience what 'three years of training, five years of testing' means.

To be his disciple, one must excel in all aspects; Chen Chuyang has no trash disciples—even if someone is trash, in his hands they can be forged into unpolished jade.

Chen Chuyang had prepared many exam papers, both written and practical; there's no escaping. This exam format adopts his previous style, comprehensively assessing—one cannot be illiterate, nor can one be someone who only knows theory but not practice; becoming a pill refiner is not that easy.

Besides having solid pill-refining skills, one must deeply understand various spiritual medicines—their effects, combinations, etc.; any small mistake must be considered, cannot be wrong, for if pill refining goes wrong, the consequences are unthinkable: lightly, the furnace explodes; severely, it endangers life.

Come, this is the test paper your master prepared for you; write well, you only have one hour, don't rush, don't be nervous.

Chen Chuyang took out a very long test sheet, densely packed with questions about the efficacy of various spiritual medicines, etc.; the questions were written on the spot, truly frightening; Shang Hongxue glanced at it and her scalp went numb.

Her whole body trembled, she quickly stepped back, and never dared to look again.

She thought that growing up and getting married meant she could escape exams, escape all kinds of knowledge; little did she know that upon coming to Chuyang gege's place, it was only just beginning.

She began to pity Zhang Nongqian; Xiaoqian'er's happy life would be over, she would have to undergo hell-mode training, and Chuyang gege started setting his sights on her—no longer the previous laissez-faire stage.

This is just a small trial; I, as your master, believe you can finish it. Alright, no more talk—let's begin.

Zhang Nongqian looked at the questions, feeling as if they knew her, while she did not know these questions.

Clearly she recognized each character, but when strung together she didn't understand.

Chen Chuyang casually pulled Shang Hongxue away, telling her not to disturb Xiaoqian'er while she does the questions.

Chuyang gege, aren't you being a bit too strict? Starting the test already? Xiaoqian'er isn't ready yet—aren't you rushing? Why not give her a day to prepare?

No need, you must believe in her; being able to become my disciple, she can definitely do it.

Shang Hongxue glanced sideways at Xiaoqian'er, who was doing the questions and had gotten into the zone; she still worried, the questions were too many, densely packed, filling the whole sheet; she didn't know where Chuyang gege got so many questions, more terrifying than the pill-refiner exams outside.

Others just want to make pills; they don't care about you, and they don't have this kind of test.

There are only some simple questions; they wouldn't…… be like Chuyang gege, who produced so many questions.

Moreover, this is just a minor test.

What about the real test, then?

Poor Xiaoqian'er.

Good thing I lack talent for pill refining.

At this moment, Shang Hongxue felt glad she hadn't impulsively decided to study pill refining back then.

When Chuyang gege gets ruthless, he'll even pit his own people.

She is no exception.

Chuyang gege, may I ask you a question?

Ask.

Chen Chuyang sat down, began fishing, using his Spiritual Sense to probe the fish in the Yu Tang; these fish grow quickly, each plump, the largest being the small carp, its size doubled, in the Yu Tang it looms like a giant, its silhouette visible at a glance, exceeding one meter in length.

On its mouth, two whiskers longer than its body, extremely imposing.

Its scales shimmered, having shed a layer; the newly grown scales were as hard as a magical artifact.

The spiritual spring water flowed slowly, its speed reduced; Chen Chuyang deliberately did this, setting up a formation to restrain the spring's flow, thereby increasing the spring's lifespan—the spiritual spring beneath the meridian is not endless; sustainable development must be achieved.

If I too wanted to practice pill refining back then, would you agree?

Chen Chuyang tilted his head, smiling: 'Of course I agree.'

Then would I end up like Xiaoqian'er?

Shang Hongxue asked curiously; Chen Chuyang nodded with a smile: 'Naturally the same treatment—your Chuyang gege I am the fairest, I won't give special treatment.'

If you want special treatment, that's fine too—I have another set of questions here; do you want to write them?

Shang Hongxue took a look—it had ten times more questions than Xiaoqian'er's; it was terrifying.

Just a glance, and her forehead heated up.

Doing all these questions, who knows how long it would take—she'd go mad.

No, Chuyang gege, I was just joking earlier; don't take it seriously.

I don't want to become a pill refiner at all.

Shang Hongxue told herself inwardly, absolutely not becoming a pill refiner—whoever wants to be one can be; she certainly won't.

Chen Chuyang narrowed his eyes at Shang Hongxue; this girl pouted.

Two hours later.

The time to check the results arrived.

Xiaoqian'er hadn't finished, not even half; no way, she couldn't write it.

Completely unprepared, her mind is now all dazed.

Seeing Chen Chuyang checking her score, she felt restless, standing aside, breathing rapidly.

Her face turned slightly pale, she clenched her fists tightly, pinching her own flesh.

Her nails dug deep into her flesh, she gritted her teeth, not daring to lift her head.

She knew her performance wasn't good, fearing reprimand.

Shang Hongxue was the same—she didn't dare to breathe loudly, her small eyes occasionally glancing at Chen Chuyang to check his reaction.

She couldn't see anything; Chen Chuyang's expression remained calm, with a glance he scanned all the questions, right or wrong, instantly spotting them.

The accuracy rate was eighty percent; the mistakes were merely minor errors, not counting as mistakes.

Overall, it's still fine; Chen Chuyang had inwardly expected it to be worse, he thought that Xiao Qian'er finishing one‑third would already be excellent, but this girl finished half, surpassing his expectation.

Cough cough.

A cough scared Xiao Qian'er and Shang Hongxue.

Xiao Qian'er raised her head, anxious and uneasy, preparing to accept a scolding.