The process of alchemy was simple; it was the process of following a recipe and mixing, purifying, burning, and liquidifying the ingredients in a way that allowed for maximum proficiency.
Most of the time, nothing other than mana is used, so it's possible for a mortal F-rank to make a potion; however, starting from C-rank recipes, it is definitely suggested to use fire affinity if one aims for greater heights on the path of alchemy.
Palkus, however, had no such worries. Nevermind looking at the recipes and making them; he could concoct an entire cauldron with 100% purity.
In no less than 5 minutes, Palkus was done making 3 different potions, an F-Rank health potion, a mana potion, and a stamina potion—the 3 basics.
"Oh, mother Portalia, what was that technique just now?" The elder in the middle exclaimed once he came to. It was not that they skipped the entire process of Palkus making the potions; no, they were just too stunned at the smooth technique he had just used.
The room they were in was like a lab. When Palkus entered the gates that were right in front of him when he entered the building, he could see many doors that he guessed led to similar rooms.
The room was, as stated before, small. It had just enough space for the table where the recipes, tools, and ingredients were placed for Palkus. Right in front of Palkus, just a few meters away, were three seats behind a wooden desk where the supervisors were sitting.
When Palkus heard the instructions he was given, he looked at no recipes, and he used no tools tools.
In one fluid motion, he rotated his hands as if he were performing a kung fu move. The ingredients that were many and all over the table were accurately picked for him to make the 3 basic potions.
Right in front of him, a spherical puddle of water was formed with his mental command. The ingredients rotated around it for a second, just enough for it to split into three and they dove right in.
Right after that...
{Chaotic Fire}
"This isn't the room for this; follow me." He said, as he pointed with his arms for the other two behind him to follow too.
Coming out of the lab, a receptionist was waiting right at the door.
When he saw all the alchemists getting out, he wondered if the lad had failed.
"Elder, did he succeed?" The receptionist asked.
"He did. Announce the start of a grand test; we'll be in the large lab." The elder order.
The receptionist raised an eyebrow as he tried to look behind the elder to catch a glimpse at Palkus. Once he saw him coming out behind the two elders, he came running to the entry hall.
Palkus, the elder, and the two high-ranking alchemists walked along the long corridor of labs till they reached another gate at the end that the elder opened for a massive room to appear.
"This room is spacially expanded to be able to accommodate up to 5,000 guests." The elder pridefully explained.
"This is where we hold our grand tests." The elder added as he walked in.
"Grand tests?" Palkus, who entered the room, asked, not knowing what the elder was talking about.
"Yes, the grand test; it is simply a series of tests we give to alchemists who want to skip many ranks at once. You see, we have a strict rule to not skip ranks and have our participants take every test one by one." The elder looked back with a smile. He was expecting a lot from Palkus.
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