Chapter 58: Is It Okay to Stand on the Right?

"Good, good. My worthy nephew truly has a deep family tradition; at such a young age you already have the strength of a senior alchemy apprentice. Brother Wan has a worthy successor! Truly, the waves behind drive on those before, and I am indeed old and decrepit." President Wang said with some self-mockery.

"President Wang is in the prime of your life, why speak of being old? All the elders here are the pillars of our Qin Kingdom's alchemists, and you and President Sun are titans. We juniors still have a long way to go." Wan Yuan's flattery rang loud and clear, including everyone in his praise.

"Haha, old, old, not like in my youth. Miss Feng, Old Sun and I have brought two juniors today. We hope you don't mind if they cut in line?" President Wang turned to Feng Ruoqing.

Feng Ruoqing nodded lightly. "It would be good for them to witness the strength of your two disciples and learn that there are always those better than themselves."

"Not at all, not at all. This is my closed-door disciple, Xu Feng'er; beside Old Sun is his granddaughter and proud successor, Sun Keyun. These two juniors are not accomplished; Miss Feng, please don't laugh at them later. You two, come and meet Teacher Feng. She is only a few years older than you but is already a mid-level alchemist. You should learn from her."

President Wang kept belittling the two girls, but the satisfaction in his eyes was unmistakable.

It seemed that if not for these two girls, given their status as grand alchemists, President Wang and President Sun would not have come to personally preside over the examination.

"Feng'er (Keyun) pays respects to Teacher Feng." The two girls bowed gracefully to Feng Ruoqing, their eyes full of admiration.

To become a mid-level alchemist at such an age was definitely an object of worship for all young people.

Ye Yuan secretly observed the two girls. Their soul power was indeed very strong, and he thought that once they entered the Liquid Realm, becoming alchemists should be no problem.

"Alright, everyone here is an outstanding student of the Danwu Academy. Some of you have already taken the examination at the guild several times, so I won't go over the rules. First, the alchemy apprentice examination, then the alchemist examination. Five people per group enter the alchemy room. Now, those taking the alchemy apprentice examination, stand on the left; those taking the alchemist examination, stand on the right." President Wang presided.

Only about twenty people from the Danwu Academy came for the examination this time, plus Xu Feng'er and Sun Keyun, making twenty-two. The vast majority were taking the alchemy apprentice examination, with only two taking the alchemist examination: one was Feng Zhirou, and the other was Cao Yu, who was second only to Feng Zhirou on the Alchemy Ranking.

As President Wang finished speaking, a large group moved to the left. Feng Zhirou and Cao Yu stood on the right, leaving only Ye Yuan standing still in place.

Seeing this, President Wang frowned and said somewhat displeased, "Young friend, didn't you hear me?"

Everyone looked at Ye Yuan in surprise. Wan Yuan wore a look of schadenfreude—this kid really liked to be different. In front of a titan like President Wang, wasn't that asking for trouble?

Seeing Ye Yuan still not moving, Feng Ruoqing grew anxious and called out, "Ye Yuan, what are you standing there for? Hurry and stand on the left!"

"Uh, actually, I wanted to ask if it's okay to stand on the right?" Ye Yuan said helplessly.

He didn't mean to be different, but since he had promised Feng Ruoqing to give his all, Ye Yuan didn't intend to hide his strength anymore.

When he agreed to Feng Ruoqing, Ye Yuan had thought it over.

In the future, as his strength increased, the Alchemist Guild was an obstacle he couldn't avoid. If his alchemy skills were outstanding but he never took the alchemist examination, that would truly be being different.

If word reached that traitor or the Alchemist Guild headquarters, it wouldn't be good and would easily arouse their suspicion.

"Hahaha..." A burst of laughter erupted.

"A Qi Realm fourth layer wanting to take the alchemist examination? Are you here to be funny, or to mock Presidents Wang and Sun?" Wan Yuan scolded, maliciously trying to provoke the two presidents' dislike for Ye Yuan.

Sure enough, upon hearing Wan Yuan's words, the two presidents' expressions turned sour.

"Young friend, didn't you hear clearly? The right side is for the alchemist examination!" President Wang said with a dark face, emphasizing his words, clearly very displeased.

"Ye Yuan! Apologize to the two presidents immediately! This is the Alchemist Guild, no place for nonsense!" Feng Ruoqing anxiously signaled Ye Yuan with her eyes. Offending two major figures of the Alchemist Guild at once was no joke.

The Alchemist Guild had always been aloof, beyond even the royal family's control. No one had ever dared to trifle with the guild president.

But now, Ye Yuan was setting a precedent—at least in others' eyes.

However, Ye Yuan acted as if he hadn't noticed and instead said to President Wang with a smile, "I heard clearly, junior. I want to stand on the right and take the alchemist examination."

"You, a Qi Realm fourth layer, want to take the alchemist examination?" President Wang was clearly truly angry.

"That's right." Ye Yuan showed no fear.

"Whose child are you, to be so rude! Did you come here today to mock me?" President Wang was on the verge of fury. If not for Feng Ruoqing's sake, he would have thrown Ye Yuan out long ago.

At this moment, Wan Yuan naturally stepped forward and said, "President Wang, please calm down. This person has always been arrogant and never respects his elders. But speaking of his family background, President Wang must know his father."

"Oh? Tell me, who is his father?" President Wang asked curiously.

"His father is Ye Hang, the major owner of the Medicine Fragrance Pavilion." Wan Yuan said respectfully.

Hearing this, President Wang frowned. "So he is Brother Ye's son! Brother Ye is a tiger of a father, but how did he produce such a shallow and frivolous son?"

Ye Yuan and Wan Yuan were about the same age, yet Ye Yuan was only at the Qi Realm fourth layer, clearly someone who didn't strive for improvement.

Being at the Qi Realm fourth layer was bad enough, but he also had the audacity to want to take the alchemist examination. Did he think alchemists were as common as cabbages?

In all his years immersed in alchemy, President Wang had never heard of anyone becoming an alchemist at the Qi Realm fourth layer, let alone at the Qi Realm ninth layer.

Countless Liquid Realm cultivators were barred from the alchemist's door. A Qi Realm fourth layer brazenly wanting to take the alchemist examination—what else could it be but deliberate disruption?

"I'm not so bored as to mock you. I just think taking the examination level by level is too time-consuming, so it's better to go straight for the alchemist examination." Ye Yuan's words were shocking.

"Hmph! For the sake of Ye Hang's son, I'll let this disrespect slide. But I think this examination is out of the question. Miss Feng, it's not that I'm not giving you face, but this kid is too reckless. Guards, throw this person out!" President Wang finally lost his temper.

Wan Yuan was overjoyed inside, thinking this was self-inflicted doom.

"Wait!" Just then, Feng Ruoqing finally spoke up to stop them.