Inside the First Hall, in the ground floor, it was already packed with people like ants if they were viewed above. These people were not here to take the exam, but to watch the show between 4-star Master Alchemist Ma Han and an unknown young man. After all, the bets at stake were tremendous that not all of them would dare to accept!
"Who do you think will win?"
"It really needed to be asked? Of course, it is Master Alchemist Ma Han! She would be obviously the victor. You know, she made the exams so she holds the young man in his neck."
"That's true. But I still hope the young man will win. He is still young to be just a lowly servant of Master Alchemist Ma Han. Sigh. I really wanted him to win!"
"The chances are slim, buddy. Don't even think about it."
Inside the Participant's Area, where the examinees gathered, Jin Rou was already there sitting leisurely on a chair. There were only a hundred at most right now inside ranging 15-30 years old, and all of them were looking at Jin Rou. Some with such hostility, some were glaring daggers as if he murdered his clan. And few were looking with expressionless faces.
"It looks like everyone had seen the show." Jin Rou muttered to himself softly. Just by being looked at like this, he could already concluded that these people watched the show a while ago.
Jin Rou decided to sit there silently and not gather attention again. After all, he wanted to maintain a low-profile.
However, to his surprise, a group of people suddenly come over him. They were composed of two girls and two boys, the girls could be said beautiful with their fair texture and slim body. Their ages were ranging from 15-17 years old and the two boys who were exactly look a like with each other, were probably twins. These two boys was not aging more than 18 and also had a handsome faces that Imperial Families had.
One of the boys smiled to Jin Rou and introduced, "Hello Brother, my name is Xuxin Wang.. and this is my younger twin brother, Xi Wang."
He looked at the two girls and said, "These two girls are Jen Mo and Yul Kong."
"No need for introductions, do you want something?" Jin Rou asked directly.
"Ahh.." Xuxin Wang did not expect to jump off the subject suddenly and said, "We saw you a while ago, and the exchanges of you and the high elder. And I found it pretty amazing! I mean, you dared to stand up your way and not became a pushover just because you are inferior in terms of position."
"That's right, Big Brother Xuxin is right. I was amazed to!" Xi Wang joined in.
Xuxin Wang was expecting the two girls to joined in also, but they only stood there expressionless and giving glances to Jin Rou.
"So, what have you come here for?" Jin Rou did not want to circle this conversation without getting to the core point of these guys.
"Ahh.." Xuxin Wang smiled bitterly, it seemed that this Brother wanted to cut the chase and end the conversation, "We just wanted to tell you that you have to be careful with High Elder Ma Han, I mean.. She might make difficult things for you. High Elder Ma Han had a very high position here in the tower and one could not question her outside of the Tower Master himself.
"Thank you for your warning." Jin Rou smiled, "However, you don't have to worry about things."
Seeing the unchanged attitude of Jin Rou, Xuxin Wang sighed, "Okay then. We will be watching outside. Good luck with you exam, Brother...?"
"Jin." Jin Rou said. "You are not participants?"
"Oh, Brother Jin.." Xuxin Wang smiled, "Yes, we are already Apprentice Alchemists. Hehe"
"Oh.. See you then." Jin Rou said.
Xuxin Wang's group also bade farewell and stood outside of the Participants Area, planning to watch the show.
When they already got out, Yul Kong, who was one of the two girls, asked, "Brother Xuxin, why did you talk to that arrogant man?"
"Of course, to warn him. Didn't I warn him?" Xuxin Wang replied.
"Nonsense. You have something in mind, don't you?" Jen Mo stared suspiciously, "Come on, spill!"
Xuxin Wang ignored this and smiled mysteriously, looking at Jin Rou.
---
"Now, Good morning everyone!" Ma Han finally appeared with full of smiles. She had three companions behind her having numerous and countless papers carrying.
"I will not let this prolong anymore. But let me tell you aspiring Master Alchemists first something.." Ma Han's expression shifted to someone who was experiencing sadness.
"You see, since there were only hundred of you here, I planned to give an easy test since some of you here already took the examination numerous times."
"But an arrogant fellow dared to mock me right in front of the crowd and infuriated me. And so, I made the examination the most difficult one! The most difficult exam I had ever created. If you wanted to blame someone, blame it to the person who offended me."
Every gazed fell down to Jin Rou with an utmost hostility, some were even bulging veins in anger. And some wished him to die already. Even Ma Han was very unreasonable at this moment, Since it was the high elder, although they wanted to complain why they were included also in their fight, they did not have the guts to do so and just put all their blames and hatred to Jin Rou.
However, Jin Rou just rolled his eyes.
THIS.. MAN!
Ma Han snorted in her heart upon seeing this and explained, "Alright. The examination has three stages. The other two stages would be introduced if ever you pass this first stage."
Ma Han gestured her companions and they understood it immediately and gave each person
bulk of papers. When the examinees looked at the paper, their expressions turned sour and pale.
She grinned devilishly and continued, "Now you all have the papers. I will explain now the details."
"The first stage would test your knowledge about the Path Of Alchemy, that papers you guys were holding has 999 questions and 1 formula solving. The Alchemy Tower call it The Thousand Questions of Alchemy!"
"You are not allowed to make any mistake, make even one mistake and poof, you failed. Just come back next year."
"Alright. You have 30 minutes to answer the questions completely. Time's ticking. You may start now! I wish you all good luck!"
"Oh, of course no cheating!"
After which, Ma Han sit at the upper level which could view everyone. Smiling devilishly ears to ears.
"What?! We only have 30 minutes?!"
"Impossible. Pretty impossible!"
"What can you do? Just do it!"
"This is because of that man! If he had not offended the high elder, would we be here in this dire situation!?"
"I will make sure to teach him a lesson later!"
The examinees went into an uproar and most were pretty enraged by Jin Rou. In fact, even some of the watcher outside were also enraged, but not by Jin Rou, but by Ma Han. After all, this was pretty unfair.
Xuxin Wang shook his head helplessly, it seemed that Ma Han was not planning on prolonging things. He lamented on the fate that Jin Rou would face.
However, contradicting it, Jin Rou only smiled and chuckled.