Chapter 399: The assessment begins

After appearing on the square, a spirited, white-haired old man flashed to the center of the square. His gaze swept across the entire square, then paused slightly on Xiao Yan and Cao Ying before he smiled and said, "Since the people from the five great clans have all arrived, let us begin the assessment directly! I will be presiding over this year's assessment as well; I presume none of you have any objections?"

"Hehe, Sheng Zhanglao holds a lofty position in the Pill Tower; it couldn't be better to have you preside over it," Cao Ying said with a faint smile.

Just as Cao Ying finished speaking, Ye Zhong leaned toward Xiao Yan and introduced, "This person is named Sheng Yao. He is one of the eight great elders of the Pill Tower and holds significant authority within it."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded. To be able to serve as an elder in the Pill Tower, his alchemy skills were likely very formidable—at the very least, no lower than the eighth grade.

"You girl, I cannot bear your flattery!" The white-haired old man smiled slightly, then shifted his gaze toward the five great clans and said, "The time is about right. The examinees from the five great clans may enter the field. I think this year's assessment will be very interesting."

Since the assessment had already begun, Xiao Yan did not linger in his seat any longer; he stood up and went directly before Sheng Zhanglao Yao.

"1566?" Cao Ying looked at the blood-red characters on the stone stele, her heart filled with surprise.

After Bai Ying and Qiu Ji finished their tests, the gazes of Cao Ying and Dan Chen fell upon Xiao Yan. They were very curious to know what Xiao Yan's Soul Value was.

The people from the Bai clan were also confused at this moment, but since even Sheng Zhanglao Yao had given such a high evaluation, they would certainly have to investigate Xiao Yan thoroughly afterward.

The shocking number caused the entire audience's breathing to become somewhat rapid. They had not expected that this girl, who appeared somewhat shy and even sickly, would have such terrifying soul power.

Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the others also stood up from their seats and walked to Sheng Zhanglao Yao, standing next to Xiao Yan.

Qiu Ji slowly opened his eyes and looked at the number on the stone stele. His heart relaxed; this number was not low at all. Most seventh-grade intermediate alchemists had Soul Values in this range.

Dan Chen naturally did not stand on ceremony; she walked directly to the stone stele and pressed her jade hand against it. The soul power within her body surged out rapidly, forming an invisible soul storm around her that squeezed the space until it distorted.

"A Soul Value of over four hundred is a pass. In previous years, the highest assessment score among the five great clans belonged to Cao Ying, reaching 976. However, I am looking forward to seeing what Cao Ying's Soul Value will be in this assessment." Sheng Zhanglao smiled and then continued, "The rules have been stated. Who will begin first?"

Just as Sheng Zhanglao Yao finished speaking, the people from the Qiu clan were the first to stand out, wanting to test first. After all, Qiu Ji knew clearly that among the five, his Soul Value was likely the lowest; starting first would at least be less embarrassing.

Many people knew about the great battle in Ye City, but not many knew that the person involved was Xiao Yan.

As the soul power was injected, numbers began to appear on the stone stele, and they were soaring continuously. Under everyone's gaze, it finally stopped at 708.

Seeing Cao Ying and Dan Chen looking at him, Xiao Yan smiled faintly and said, "Ladies first!"

"Hehe, I look forward to your performance at the Pill Gathering." Sheng Zhanglao Yao smiled, then looked at the five people in front of him and said, "I now announce that the assessment officially begins. The assessment is divided into three parts, and this first part is Soul Testing."

"Truly not simple!" Sheng Zhanglao Yao looked at the motionless Xiao Yan and sighed in his heart. Even he could not remain indifferent to this soul storm, yet Xiao Yan was not affected in the slightest. One could imagine just how powerful Xiao Yan's soul power was—perhaps even above his own.

Qiu Ji extended his hand, lightly pressing it against the stone stele, his eyes slightly closed as soul power flowed through his arm into the stele.

"Bai Ying of the Bai clan, greets Sheng Zhanglao!" Bai Ying cupped his fists toward Sheng Zhanglao and said respectfully.

"Qiu Ji of the Qiu clan..."

"Beep, beep, beep!"

Hearing this, the expressions of Qiu Ji and Bai Ying, who had just finished testing, became incomparably ugly. Dan Chen and Cao Ying were also somewhat stunned.

"Xiao Yan? You have stirred up quite a storm in Zhongzhou recently! I just didn't expect that not only is your strength outstanding, but your alchemy talent is also extraordinary!" Sheng Zhanglao Yao looked at Xiao Yan and praised him without reservation. As a top-tier force on par with the Hall of Souls, the Pill Tower naturally paid close attention to the Hall of Souls' movements. Knowing that even the Hall of Souls had suffered setbacks at Xiao Yan's hands, one could imagine just how terrifying Xiao Yan was.

"Cao Ying of the Cao clan..."

Sheng Zhanglao Yao took a few steps back. Behind him stood an object covered by a black cloth. He pulled the cloth away, revealing a massive crystal over a zhang tall.

The few people in front of the stone stele were shaken by this terrifying soul storm and forced to retreat over ten steps before stopping. Only Xiao Yan did not move at all, his golden brocade robe flapping loudly.

"Dan Chen of the Dan clan..."

Cao Ying's gaze shifted back to Xiao Yan. She had originally thought Xiao Yan was just outstanding in strength and an arrogant person, but now it seemed there was more to him than that.

"Sister Dan Chen, you go first! I also want to see how much you have improved in these two years," Cao Ying said with a faint smile.

Xiao Yan looked at the massive mirror in front of him, feeling eager to try. He also wanted to know what his Soul Value was.

The people in the great hall were stunned upon hearing this. Who exactly was this Xiao Yan? How was it that everything was related to him, and he could even receive praise from Sheng Zhanglao Yao? This was simply too incredible.

"1566!"

After Qiu Ji stepped down, Bai Ying followed and went on stage, pressing his hand against the stone stele. As the numbers on the stele jumped continuously, it finally stopped at 785.

Seeing Xiao Yan standing motionless like a rock, Cao Ying, who had been continuously pushed back by the soul storm, also forcibly steadied herself.

"Xiao Yan, representative of the Ye clan, greets Sheng Zhanglao." Xiao Yan also cupped his hands toward Sheng Zhanglao Yao just like the others.

"I presume everyone knows that for an alchemist, the soul is of the utmost importance. This massive mirror is used for testing the soul. Each of you will inject your soul power into it, and this mirror surface will display your value. We in the Pill Tower call this value the Soul Value."

The soul storm lasted for several dozen seconds before it began to slowly dissipate, and the blood-red characters on the stone stele appeared in everyone's sight.

"Sheng Zhanglao is too kind!" Xiao Yan said with a faint smile.

Cao Ying glanced at Xiao Yan, and seeing that he made no move, she took a deep breath, walked with lotus steps to the stone stele, stretched out her fair palm to touch it lightly, and then closed her eyes.

"Boom!" A massive soul storm formed around Cao Ying once again. This time, the soul storm was not the least bit weaker than Dan Chen's.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 400 =====