It had to be said, this unwritten rule was extremely stringent.
But Zi Linling understood it all. After all, there were too many people in this world who overestimated themselves, lacking strength yet aiming for instant success.
In the end, not only did they waste their own time, but they also took others' lives, not to mention some precious resources.
Each pill refined required anywhere from dozens to over a thousand medicinal ingredients.
The medicinal ingredients required for the Alchemist Guild's assessment were provided by the Alchemist Guild itself.
If everyone had unlimited assessment attempts, and wasted medicinal ingredients time and time again, then even the Alchemist Guild could not withstand such consumption.
Therefore, this rule, while seemingly harsh, was actually about making everyone responsible for their own actions.
It was about doing things step by step, and not always fantasizing about reaching the heavens in a single bound.
Seeing that Zi Linling had been silent for a long time, Director Cai thought she was scared by this rule.
Just as he was about to offer some comfort, he heard Zi Linling say, "Director Cai, you just said these are the rules for assessments below the Grandmaster Alchemist level. What about the assessment for Grandmaster Alchemists?"
Director Cai frowned. In his opinion, Zi Linling was being overly ambitious and unfocused.
Zi Linling, without even having assessed for Junior, Intermediate, or Senior Alchemist, was inquiring about Grandmaster level assessments. Was she not afraid of being too boastful?
A cold sneer flashed in Director Cai's eyes as he thought to himself, "Be arrogant! If you're not arrogant now, how painful will it be when you're proven wrong?"
Although he had been polite and answered every question, he was actually quite dissatisfied with Zi Linling's previous behavior.
No matter how wrong that guard was, he was still a member of the Alchemist Guild. Zi Linling had cornered him in front of so many people, which was essentially slapping the Alchemist Guild in the face.
But as the director of the Alchemist Guild, he could not appear ungracious. Not only did he have to deal with the guard, but he also had to courteously welcome Zi Linling in.
Therefore, Director Cai desperately wished to see Zi Linling embarrass herself.
So, he smiled and said, "To be assessed as a Grandmaster Alchemist, you must first possess a Senior Alchemist certificate!"
Zi Linling nodded, casually saying, "Alright then, let's go with the Senior Alchemist assessment!"
"Alright! Please wait a moment... What did you say?" Director Cai exclaimed in shock.
He had initially assumed that given Zi Linling's age, even assessing for Junior Alchemist would be extremely difficult.
Therefore, he was preparing to watch Zi Linling make a fool of herself, but he was stunned by her words.
Zi Linling said calmly, "I said, assess as a Senior Alchemist. What's wrong?"
Director Cai was shocked. "Senior Alchemist? Are you sure you're not messing around? You should know that deliberately disrupting an assessment will not only require compensation for the wasted medicinal ingredients but will also be considered a provocation to the Alchemist Guild, and you will forfeit your remaining two assessment opportunities!"
He wasn't trying to warn Zi Linling, but rather, he felt sorry for the high-grade medicinal ingredients.
Zi Linling said sternly, "When it comes to alchemy, every decision I make is serious!"
Of course, this good habit of hers was not limited to alchemy.
Director Cai nodded and said, "Since that is the case, I will go and prepare. I hope you can bear the consequences!"
He then turned and left.
Although he was a director, he was not in charge of the assessment, as the assessment for Senior Alchemist required the presence of a Grandmaster Alchemist.
Seeing Director Cai leave with displeasure, Xuanyuan Zhe became anxious. "Miss Zi, the Senior Alchemist assessment is no trifling matter!"
Zi Linling rolled her eyes. "Who told you I was messing around?"
"But your age is only..." Xuanyuan Zhe said worriedly.
Zi Linling casually sat down on a nearby stool. "What about my age? Didn't I just say, obtaining an alchemist certificate relies on strength, and has nothing to do with age!"
Xuanyuan Zhe gave a wry smile. "But even if you started refining pills from the womb, at your age, it's impossible to have reached Senior Alchemist!"
After all, if Zi Linling offended the Alchemist Guild, let alone him, even the entire Xuanyuan Divine Clan would be powerless to change anything.
Zi Linling nodded, quite seriously. "You are right!"
Xuanyuan Zhe thought Zi Linling had heeded his advice and was about to persuade her further to give up, when he heard Zi Linling say, "I indeed didn't start refining pills from the womb!
Not only that, but before I was twelve, I was a notorious weakling."
"Then you even more cannot..."
Just as Xuanyuan Zhe was about to speak, Zi Linling interrupted him with a gesture.
"Xuanyuan Zhe, I know you mean well, but there is something called talent. This kind of thing is innate, you can't hide it even if you wanted to!"
"..."
Xuanyuan Zhe was speechless.
These words sounded like a vendor praising their own wares.
Of course, Zi Linling was not boasting. She genuinely possessed the ability.
If an Imperial Alchemist couldn't even pass a Senior Alchemist assessment, they might as well go and smash their head against a wall.
As the two spoke, the news of Zi Linling's attempt to assess for Senior Alchemist had already spread.
A young girl of thirteen or fourteen years old attempting to assess for Senior Alchemist not only caused an uproar within the Alchemist Guild but also sparked discussions among cultivators outside.
However, almost everyone was not optimistic about Zi Linling.
"Is this certain not a rumor? A thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl assessing for Senior Alchemist, isn't that absurd?"
"Could this be a gimmick by the Alchemist Guild itself?"
"What gimmick? I think this young lady is just here to toy with the Alchemist Guild."
"There's actually a possibility. She just dealt with the guards at the entrance, and now she's going for a Senior Alchemist assessment. Isn't she trying to make a monkey out of the Alchemist Guild?"
"Anyway, if she can pass the Senior Alchemist assessment, I'll eat my sword."
"Don't be so absolute, or you'll look foolish later. Since the young lady dares to assess, perhaps she really has the ability!"
"Hmph! Has the ability? Who would believe that? At thirteen or fourteen years old, even if one started learning alchemy from the womb, they couldn't have reached Senior Alchemist!"
"Tsk! Perhaps she's an alchemy prodigy? But this young lady is indeed being a bit reckless. Even if she can refine pills, why not start from Junior Alchemist and assess step by step?"
"Right, aren't those young men with the girl surnamed Xuanyuan? Could it be that this young lady has the Xuanyuan Dynasty as her backing, which is why she dares to make a fool of the Alchemist Guild?"
"Nonsense! Many people are surnamed Xuanyuan. Stop attributing your dirty thoughts to our Xuanyuan Dynasty!"
"Enough, enough! Stop arguing. Why bother yourself? Isn't it better to just watch the show?"