Several days later, at the Grand Parade Ground within Shuangyue City.
Ten cauldrons were set up on the training ground. Rows of people, clad in long robes and exuding a scholarly aura, stood behind them. Chu Chen sat at the head of the table, observing them.
These were the cultivators who had received the news and come to participate in the Medical Department's alchemy assessment over the past three days. Their martial arts cultivation might not be impressive, generally on the weaker side, but their knowledge of alchemy was incomparable to ordinary martial artists.
"I never imagined that the Yunyue Kingdom would have so many alchemists!" Princess Xin Yue exclaimed, sitting beside him, a hint of excitement in her voice.
She was curious about the alchemy process, having never witnessed it before. She wondered how the pills she usually consumed were refined and if they were as effective as the ones Chu Chen had given her. With such excitement and doubt, Princess Xin Yue watched them intently.
Chu Chen smiled and said, "The Yunyue Kingdom's system for selecting talent has some issues. Everyone possesses their own unique talents, not necessarily in officialdom or on the battlefield, but in other areas."
"There, they can also shine with astonishing brilliance."
"Mhm, let's start quickly."
"Alright."
Chu Chen nodded to the Thousand-Household Commander beside him. The commander immediately stepped forward and announced loudly, "The selection officially begins! We invite the first batch of alchemists to step forward!"
Soon, ten alchemists approached the alchemy cauldrons.
"This assessment is to select for the position of Physician-in-Chief of the Medical Department's Three Divisions. The task is to independently refine a Qi and Blood Pill of the Martial Apprentice realm! The time limit is one stick of incense plus a quarter of an hour! Begin now!"
The time of one stick of incense was for the actual pill formation, while the quarter of an hour was for preparation.
As the announcement concluded, the ten alchemists nervously selected the appropriate ingredients from a vast array of materials and then added them into the cauldrons in sequence.
The Qi and Blood Pill was a medicinal pill required by martial artists for body cultivation. Whether in the Body Tempering, Martial Apprentice, or Ancient Martial realms, this pill was needed to replenish the Qi and blood lost during cultivation.
This was considered a fundamental recipe that any aspiring alchemist must master. Assessing this pill was also a way to filter out those who might be merely pretending.
"Huh~"
Princess Xin Yue frowned, showing a hint of disdain. "Why do these first batch of alchemists need others to help them start the fire when refining pills? Can't they control the flames themselves?"
"Uh~ Perhaps they are just ordinary alchemists?" Chu Chen replied awkwardly.
Damn it, he had been deceived! These alchemists were a disgrace! They even needed the Brocade-Clad Guards to fan the bellows for them, heating and raising the temperature. This was no different from blacksmithing.
If this was how they refined the Qi and Blood Pill, he could have done it with his rice cooker from his past life. Damn it!
Chu Chen had anticipated that alchemists might be rather mediocre before the spiritual energy revival, but he never expected them to be this incompetent. It was unbearable to watch.
The first batch of alchemists finished their refining. Chu Chen and Princess Xin Yue had dozed off throughout the entire process, finding it utterly uninteresting.
The Imperial Physician-in-Chief beside the Thousand-Household Commander quickly directed his subordinates to inspect the refined pills.
They first scraped off a bit of powder, then tasted it themselves, and finally delivered their verdict.
All ten were deemed qualified and eligible for the next round.
"Ah, this, did I set the bar too low for this position?"
Chu Chen stroked his chin, feeling a slight regret. The position of Physician-in-Chief of a Division was planned for those who could independently refine Qi and Blood Pills. Below that, the position of Director required medical skills, not necessarily high-level, but at least a clear understanding of the medicinal properties of various herbs.
This was the original plan, but seeing how easily these ten refined the Qi and Blood Pills, Chu Chen began to feel uncertain.
Fortunately, in the second batch of alchemists, one of them was Zhou Yunshen.
"Xin Yue, look at that person."
"Hmm? Is there anything different?"
Following Chu Chen's gaze, Princess Xin Yue looked on with some confusion.
"It is said that he is the eldest son of the Zhou family, a prominent alchemy family in the country. I expect his refining process might be somewhat different from others."
Chu Chen said with a lack of confidence.
"Oh? Is that so?" Princess Xin Yue's eyes lit up, a hint of anticipation in her gaze.
After the Brocade-Clad Guards made their announcement, Zhou Yunshen stepped forward with the other alchemists.
"Ginseng tendrils, deer antler slices, goji berries, reishi mushroom cubes, Angelica sinensis, prepared rehmannia root, white peony root, donkey-hide gelatin, processed fleeceflower root slices, millettia root, mulberries, longan pulp."
Zhou Yunshen merely glanced at the large pile of medicinal ingredients and selected those suitable for refining the Qi and Blood Pill. He then quickly sorted them and, with a palm strike, sent them towards the alchemy cauldron.
The lid of the cauldron immediately shot upwards.
This sudden development startled the other nine alchemists.
"Hey? It really is a bit different?" Princess Xin Yue exclaimed happily.
"Phew~ Finally, a normal-looking alchemist has appeared."
Chu Chen breathed a sigh of relief, almost fearing that all alchemists were like the previous ones.
With the cauldron lid flying upwards, Zhou Yunshen sent another palm strike. The medicinal ingredients, contained in an iron plate, fell in sequence like dumplings, leaving the other alchemists dumbfounded.
"This, this, all the medicinal ingredients were added at once? Can this even form a pill?"
Some alchemists looked skeptical and muttered to themselves.
However, Zhou Yunshen paid them no mind. With the released spiritual energy, he controlled the cauldron lid to descend and seal it accurately.
He then quickly moved to the front of the cauldron, assumed a horse stance, and placed his palms towards the bottom of the cauldron. The charcoal piled beneath immediately ignited.
A fierce fire soon blazed, heating the medicinal ingredients within the cauldron.
Zhou Yunshen closed his eyes, using his mental energy to sense the situation inside the cauldron. One hand continued to supply spiritual energy for heating, while the other was slightly raised towards the cauldron, channeling a small amount of spiritual energy into it from the heat dissipation vents.
Soon, the medicinal ingredients inside melted. Zhou Yunshen, unhurriedly, opened the lid again and poured in a spoonful of water.
"...This, Qi and Blood Pills can have water added? This is outrageous!"
Among the alchemists yet to be assessed, an old alchemist frowned and reprimanded.
However, this did not shake Zhou Yunshen's composure in the slightest. He continued his actions at a steady pace.
Ordinarily, refining a batch of pills would take at least one stick of incense. Yet, in just a quarter of an hour, Zhou Yunshen had stopped the heating.
The Brocade-Clad Guards standing by were startled and were about to call for charcoal to be brought, but Zhou Yunshen stopped them.
"Brother, no need for charcoal. My pill has already been successfully refined."
"...It's done already?"
A group of alchemists expressed deep doubt, looking at him with disbelief.
Zhou Yunshen opened the lid and took out the Qi and Blood Pills.
One pill, two pills, a total of nine perfectly round and plump Qi and Blood Pills were laid out on the tray.
The Imperial Physician-in-Chief personally stepped forward, took a pill, gently scraped off some powder, and tasted it.
Immediately, his aged face turned extremely red. "You, you, this pill!"