Chapter 91

The entire exam room was so quiet that the slight hum of the magic crystal lamps could be heard, and everyone held their breath waiting for the final result.

"There were twenty-seven candidates participating in this Alchemist certification exam, after a comprehensive assessment of the three links..."

Magnus paused for a moment, scanning the nervous faces of the crowd: "Only two candidates passed the certification standard."

Low sighs and disappointed murmurs spread through the exam room, and several older candidates even turned pale, clearly this was not the first time they had failed.

"First is... lizardman Bazak, the score meets the standard, obtained the professional Alchemist certification, and the rating is 'Qualified'."

In the corner, an old lizardman whose scales had begun to lose their luster stood up slowly.

His fingers and claws were deformed and bent from years of handling herbs, and his eye sockets were deeply sunken.

The lizardman was stunned in place, seemingly because the joy came too suddenly, so he didn't react for a while.

After being stunned for a while, Bazak bowed deeply to the examiner, his whole body trembling slightly with excitement.

Then, Magnus's gaze fell on Luo En, and the corners of his mouth raised slightly:

"Secondly is... junior apprentice from the Black Mist School, Luo En Ralph."

The eyes of the whole room focused on Luo En in an instant, with surprise, disbelief, and undisguised jealousy.

"The score meets the standard, obtained the professional Alchemist certification, and the rating is—'Excellent'!"

The exam room instantly erupted into a buzz of discussion, like a group of bees that had been disturbed.

"'Excellent' rating?"

"Are you kidding me? This kid looks no more than fifteen or sixteen!"

"'Excellent' rating? I've participated in the exam five times and haven't even received the most basic 'Qualified' rating..."

A white-haired candidate was so surprised that the test tube in his hand almost fell; he maintained a stiff smile, but couldn't suppress the extreme imbalance in his heart.

Magnus waved his hand to signal for quiet:

"The certification results have been determined. Please don't be discouraged by those who failed; there will be opportunities next year. Now the exam is over, please stay for the two successful candidates to receive the certificate, and others can leave on their own."

Most candidates packed their items in frustration and prepared to leave, only Luo En and Bazak remained in the exam room.

Magnus walked to Luo En and personally handed him a certificate badge with a magic anti-counterfeiting seal.

"Young man." The old man stroked his white beard, his tone not containing too much probing, seemingly just a simple compliment:

"I have been an alchemy examiner in the school for decades, and I have rarely seen talent like yours. Especially that bottle of 'sobering' potion, the quality is beyond my expectations."

Luo En respectfully took the certificate badge: "Thank you for your recognition, Master Magnus."

Magnus narrowed his eyes and looked at him with deep meaning: "By the way, I have a question I want to ask you, is Lady Allen your mentor?"

Luo En was slightly stunned: "Yes, how did you see it?"

The old man revealed a kind smile and signaled Luo En to come to the small lounge next to the exam hall with him.

After the two sat down, Magnus spoke:

"Hehe, that silver tree root extract usage technique is very special; this is Lady Allen's signature technique. Not to mention, the precise sense of rhythm you had when refining—that is her unique style."

His gaze became distant, seemingly falling into memories:

"More than a hundred years ago, I had a short period of working with Lady Allen. At that time, she was one of the most dazzling geniuses in the entire Crystal Spire, and at that time, we even thought she had hope of promoting to a Great Wizard..."

Luo En was surprised by this past event: "Sorry, I didn't know the Lady had such a past."

"She rarely mentions those glorious pasts in front of her students."

The old man's voice was low and powerful: "It can be seen that Lady Allen has poured a considerable amount of effort into you."

Luo En lowered his head modestly: "I just try my best not to live up to the Lady's teaching."

"Your modesty is commendable, but sometimes excessive modesty is a kind of arrogance."

Magnus chuckled, looking at him keenly:

"Alright, you should have something else you need my help with, right?"

Luo En was stunned, seeing the old man in front of him showing a look of listening attentively, so he didn't say any polite words of paving the way, and went straight to the point:

"Yes, Master Magnus. Actually, after passing the Alchemist certification this time, I also want to apply to the school for an independent workshop for refining potions."

While speaking, he took out a letter that had been prepared long ago:

"Trouble you, this is Lady Allen's recommendation letter, hoping it will be helpful for the application."

"Since you have become a professional alchemist, you do need an independent workshop now."

Magnus nodded and took the letter, opened it and read it for a moment, the corners of his mouth raised slightly: "And it's also an enthusiastic recommendation from an old friend, I understand."

He closed the envelope, his gaze falling on Luo En again:

"Applying for an independent workshop requires approval from the school's top management, and the process usually takes about two weeks. But for the sake of Lady Allen, plus your outstanding performance today..."

A trace of encouragement for young people flashed in Magnus's eyes:

"I will exert some influence in it, and it should be able to shorten the time to about two days. I think, with the potential you have shown, the school will not refuse such an excellent young man like you."

"Thank you very much for your help, Master Magnus." Luo En said sincerely, which was much smoother than he expected.

"You're welcome, this is also for the future of the school."

Magnus smiled: "After you enter the workshop, the first batch of potions must be evaluated by me."

"Of course, that is my honor."

He knew the implication of the old potion master; this was to accept him into the alchemy circle within the school, and naturally, he would not be so ignorant as to refuse.

Bidding farewell to Magnus politely, Luo En was just stepping to the door and preparing to leave...

Those candidates saw this young alchemist coming out from Magnus, and their eyes lit up one after another, returning one by one, surrounding him.

"Apprentice Luo En, I am Conrad, and I own a fief of my own in Snow Pine City."

An old man with gray hair stepped forward first, his face full of smiles, but his eyes flashed with complex light:

"Your refining technique is truly breathtaking! There is a special mineral vein in the area near the Black Mist Forest in Snow Pine City, producing a rare mineral called 'Star Crystal', which is of great help to alchemy. If you are interested, we can establish a long-term cooperative relationship."

He said while taking out a small bag of sparkling crystals, the enthusiasm in his eyes difficult to hide the jealousy in his heart.

This boy, less than one-third of his age, actually obtained the Alchemist certification he had dreamed of but could never reach.

"Master Luo En." Another blue-skinned subspecies snake-man man squeezed forward, he pushed Conrad aside forcefully:

"I am the Shaman-Mist Shadow of the Hydra Tribe. Our tribe has lived in the Moon Lake in the east for generations, and there are many rare aquatic plants there, especially 'Dream Spirit Flower', which is said to enhance the mental amplification effect of potions."

"Don't listen to this blue-skinned monster, their tribe's plants are all poisonous!"

A female alchemist with a graceful figure took the opportunity to interject. She had a charming face, but the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes revealed her actual age:

"I am Grace, an independent alchemist on the southern edge of the Black Mist Forest. I have cooperation with many nomadic tribes and can obtain the freshest animal materials. Especially the heart of the 'Blood Moon Wolf', which is a top-notch material for refining body strengthening potions!"

Luo En responded politely to these sudden enthusiasms, but he saw clearly in his heart that the real thoughts of these people were nothing more than wanting to take the opportunity to establish a connection with a promising alchemist and seek benefits for themselves.

But he didn't refuse; in a place like the Black Mist Forest, the network of contacts and resource channels are equally precious.

These alchemists who are jealous but have to be superficially flattering can just become windows for him to understand external information.

"I appreciate everyone's kindness." Luo En said warmly:

"I am very happy to establish contact with everyone and exchange alchemy insights. But now that I have just passed the certification, there are still many things to deal with, and I hope there will be opportunities for in-depth exchanges in the future."

Just then, the lizardman Bazak, who obtained the "Qualified" rating, walked over slowly, and the crowd automatically made a path for him.

Unlike the affectation of others, the sincerity and admiration revealed in the eyes of this weathered old lizardman.

"Alchemist Luo En." Bazak's voice was low and hoarse:

"I come from the Snake Scale Swamp in the southeast, which is the ancestral settlement of us lizardmen. I have studied alchemy for more than forty years, but I have never seen a young man with such talent as you."

He paused, the eyes under the scaly eyelids slightly red with excitement:

"If you don't mind, I can provide you with some materials unique to the swamp in the future, such as 'Abra Life-Taking Vine' and 'Blue Lamp Heart Grass'. They grow deep in the swamp, and only we lizardmen know the exact location."

Luo En could feel the sincerity in the old lizardman's words and bowed slightly to him: "It is my honor to associate with an experienced alchemist like Mr. Bazak, and I look forward to future cooperation."

Bazak nodded with relief, a certain relief flashing in his eyes:

"Forty years of persistence has finally been rewarded. Being able to obtain the Alchemist certification in my lifetime, I am satisfied. And you, a young man with talent like a brilliant morning star, your future achievements will surely far exceed us."

As more candidates joined the conversation, Luo En gradually learned about the distribution of forces around the Black Mist Forest:

The orcs and goblins wandering around are the most numerous among the aliens, and they are also the invasive species from outside this region.

They have strong enough reproductive ability, and they don't have their own systematic extraordinary profession, so they are let go by the Black Mist School at will, and they will be directly caught as experimental materials and slaves when needed.

Snow Pine City in the north of the Black Mist Forest is one of the important towns in human territory, bordering the dwarf city-state, so it can obtain many excellent mineral materials;

Moon Lake in the east is the territory of snake people and other aquatic races, where there are many types of aquatic plants, but most of them have some degree of toxicity;

The south is a loose nomadic alliance composed of multiple beast tribes. They worship the blood moon and conduct hunting rituals regularly, and are extremely obsessed with various extraordinary organs of magical beasts;

The Snake Scale Swamp in the southwest is the settlement of lizardmen, which is hot and humid, but has many rare materials that only grow in specific environments;

It's just that, coincidentally, everyone avoids talking about the Black Water Bay side in the west of the Black Mist Forest, as if some taboos are hidden there...

In a short exchange, Luo En not only obtained a large amount of geographical and material information but also established an initial network of contacts.

When the crowd finally dispersed, he already had several notes with contact information in his hand, as well as several small bags of material samples sent to him as "meeting gifts."

Magnus watched all this from not far away, he stroked his beard:

"Hehe, in some occasions, reputation can indeed exert more effect than strength, but it is also easier to attract danger. But this child's words... should not need me to remind him too much."