Chapter Thirty-Four: Selecting Alchemy Apprentices

For the past few days, a rumor has been circulating among the disciples of the Cultivation Academy: it is said that Feng Qingcheng has taken a fancy to Nalan Meidai, a disciple of the Shushan Cultivation Academy, and has been meeting her secretly in the garden behind the mountain on multiple occasions. Even more sensational is the claim that Nalan Meidai only joined the Shushan Immortal Sect to seek out her fiancé, Feng Qingcheng, and that the two are destined to become cultivation partners.

Mingyue, having heard these rumors and recalling the times she had chanced upon the two of them together, knew in her heart that they were not as intimate as the gossip suggested. As for whether they were truly engaged, she had no way of knowing.

However, what did that have to do with her? Although it was none of her business, she felt a strange sensation in her heart. Perhaps it was because she had participated in the entrance exam for the Alchemy Pavilion's acolytes, only to find that the Pavilion did not accept female disciples. Finding this reason to justify her feelings, Mingyue let out a silent sigh of relief.

The once desolate and silent Great Hall of the Alchemy Pavilion was bustling with activity today. Nearly all alchemists of the second rank and above had gathered there to await the results of the assistant acolyte selection. The acolytes recruited by the Alchemy Pavilion were essentially groomed to become inner disciples. Having been dormant for many years, the Pavilion regarded the future of its talent as directly tied to its own rise or fall; thus, they took this selection process very seriously.

Feng Qingcheng, the acting elder of the Alchemy Pavilion, sat high in the seat of honor, with his book boy, Yandan, standing by his side. Everyone looked at him with eager anticipation, waiting for the announcement of the results, after which they would select the best candidates based on their scores.

Yandan unfolded the sealed dossier and read out the results in a loud, clear voice. The rankings of the top ten candidates had been summarized in detail on paper.

The top three scorers based on the comprehensive evaluation of the three rounds were:
First place: Mingyue, 98.7 points.
Second place: Mu Xiaotian, 95.3 points.
Third place: Mu Qingyang, 75 points.

Mingyue had achieved a perfect score in the first round (herbal knowledge), 96 points in the second round (elixir knowledge), and 100 points in the third round (comprehensive exam).

Mu Xiaotian, in second place, had scored 93 in the first round, 100 in the second, and 93 in the third.

The analysis report for the top ten was meticulous, containing not only the individual answers but also the examiners' detailed evaluations and grading criteria—especially for the second round, which included the specific elixirs chosen by the candidates, their responses regarding them, and the reasons for the examiners' scores.

According to past selection results, the rankings were usually finalized based on the comprehensive scores. However, the first-place candidate this year was a woman. Given the Alchemy Pavilion’s long-standing rule against admitting female disciples, the convention would be to recruit only the second and third place. But since the third-place score was not ideal, only the second-place candidate, Mu Xiaotian, could be admitted.

The crowd began to murmur, debating whether or not the first-place female candidate should be admitted.

A young third-rank alchemist remarked, "This is improper. Even if she is a woman, she placed first. Our Pavilion has always valued fairness; we must provide an explanation to the other elders and disciples."

"What explanation is needed? In all these years, have you ever seen a female alchemist?" Wu Buhei huffed, his beard bristling. "The Alchemy Pavilion has always had a rule: no female disciples."

"I, Sun Qinglai, support Brother Wu," chimed in Sun Qinglai, a third-rank alchemist. As the overseer of the herb storehouse, he held considerable power in the Pavilion. "The acolytes we take in today will be our inner disciples in a few years. We must not sacrifice our interests for the sake of so-called face. What kind of explanation is owed for a mere acolyte?"

Another alchemist argued, "Though our Pavilion is in decline and lacks an official elder, that woman, Mingyue, placed first and is truly exceptional. It is said she is a medical prodigy. According to precedent, the results must be published. Skipping the first-place candidate to recruit those below her is unjustifiable by both reason and emotion. I advocate for adding an extra spot to admit her as well. She is only an acolyte, not an official disciple."

Someone strongly objected, "Absolutely not! If the Alchemy Pavilion admits a female acolyte to be trained as an inner disciple, it will be the laughingstock of the cultivation world. Where will the reputation of the Shushan Immortal Sect be then?"

"The Pavilion has already fallen to such a state, yet you cling to outdated rules. Is there any classic text that states only men can become alchemists?" another retorted with a sneer. "I recall that the ancient goddess Nuwa was a high-level alchemist, was she not? She refined the five-colored stones to mend the heavens."

The discussion grew heated, with two clear factions forming: those for and those against admitting the top-ranked female acolyte.

"Brother Feng, there are two distinct opinions now. As the acting elder of the Alchemy Pavilion, what is your stance?" Sun Qinglai asked the young man sitting in the seat of honor, who had yet to offer an opinion.

The man sat tall, his posture graceful and composed. He pressed his thin lips together, his expression solemn as he listened to the heated debate. His long, slender phoenix eyes swept over the group of people arguing until they were red in the face, his gaze carrying a cold, authoritative weight. For some reason, Sun Qinglai felt a chill tighten his chest when that piercing gaze passed over him.

It was this acting elder who had proposed the early recruitment of acolytes, citing the need to seize the initiative in talent cultivation while the Pavilion was weak. Sun Qinglai snorted in his heart with disdain: *Just a mere stripling, what could he possibly be capable of?*

The hall fell silent as all eyes turned to Feng Qingcheng. As the acting elder, he held the power of final veto. It was clear that his opinion would be the deciding factor.

Feng Qingcheng looked at everyone calmly and said slowly, "I have checked the old dossiers. Previously, when the Pavilion recruited acolytes for training as inner disciples, it was based on the comprehensive rankings—sometimes the first, sometimes the first two, or the first three. There is no precedent for skipping the first place to recruit those behind."

Feng Qingcheng glanced at the crowd and continued, "No classic or dossier contains a rule against admitting female acolytes or disciples. The Alchemy Pavilion has always been a vital branch of the Shushan Immortal Sect. The conduct of our disciples concerns the reputation of the entire sect and will inevitably have a significant impact on outer disciples. Based on the opinions heard, those who oppose admitting the first-place candidate, please raise your hands for a vote. Yandan, record the names."

Sun Qinglai, Wu Buhei, and two other alchemists raised their hands in opposition. Yandan noted them down.

Feng Qingcheng nodded and asked, "Those who support admitting the first-place candidate, please raise your hands." The remaining four raised their hands in favor. Yandan recorded this as well.

Feng Qingcheng nodded again. "The opinions are essentially split. It is a good thing to have differing views."

He looked at his book boy, Yandan, who was still recording the vote, and said in a slow, clear voice, "The original plan was to recruit one or two assistants for my alchemy work. This time, we shall recruit the top two based on the results. Adding one extra acolyte will have no negative impact, but it will provide an answer to the disciples and other elders, and encourage more people to join our Pavilion. Even if one extra acolyte is admitted, it does not guarantee they will become an inner disciple in the future. Does anyone have any further objections?"

Sun Qinglai was the first to stand up. "Elder Feng, I object."
Wu Buhei also stood up. "I, too, object."

Feng Qingcheng’s sharp eyes swept over them. "Does Overseer Sun have a better suggestion?"

Sun Qinglai paused, then said with dissatisfaction, "The Alchemy Pavilion has never admitted female disciples. Will doing so not cast a negative light on the Pavilion?"

Feng Qingcheng looked at him coldly and asked calmly, "Overseer Sun, please tell me: which specific rule in the Pavilion's archives forbids the admission of female disciples, and what negative impact would it truly cause?"

Sun Qinglai was shaken by that look, standing stunned and speechless.

Feng Qingcheng looked sternly at Sun Qinglai and Wu Buhei. "The Alchemy Pavilion is already in decline. As veteran figures of the Pavilion, do you have any better solutions?"

The two looked at each other, exchanging a complex glance.

Feng Qingcheng said firmly, "To build something new, one must first break the old. Selecting talent without bias is the best solution."

Feng Qingcheng was a fifth-rank alchemist, far higher in standing than these old-timers. In the Shushan Immortal Sect, where the strong are respected, Sun Qinglai and Wu Buhei were left stuttering, unable to retort.

Feng Qingcheng scanned the room. "Yandan, go to the academy early tomorrow morning and announce the results. If there are no further objections, you are dismissed." With that, he stood up and walked away, ignoring the resentful stares of Sun Qinglai and the others.

Once Feng Qingcheng was gone, Wu Buhei stood up angrily. "Our Pavilion used to be so glorious, and now even our style of recruiting disciples has changed. The world is going downhill, truly downhill!"

Sun Qinglai sighed deeply. "Indeed. A female disciple—what can she do besides pour water and run errands? She can only be a femme fatale."

That evening, the study of the acting elder, Feng Qingcheng, was brightly lit. He sat at his desk, working on a painting.

The desk was impeccably tidy, with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone neatly arranged. A piece of high-quality parchment was spread out. The man, with hair as dark as ink and robes as white as snow, possessed a matchless, handsome face and an elegant, lofty demeanor. His long, slender phoenix eyes were cold and sharp, and his every movement exuded an unparalleled grace. His long, slender, well-defined fingers held a brush, painting distant mountains, near waters, and peach blossoms clustered near a primitive wooden cottage. The atmosphere was indescribably elegant and serene. If one looked closely, one could see traces of magical power emanating from the paper; the peach blossoms swayed as if alive, with pink petals drifting down in the breeze, a testament to the painter's profound cultivation and powerful immortal energy.

Since ancient times, there has been a legend of "drawing a prison on the ground." It is said that an ancient immortal god with profound power could infuse his paintings with magical energy, creating deep arrays that could capture an enemy's soul, trapping them within the scene as if they were truly there.

Highly cultivated immortals could indeed trap enemies within a painting—"drawing a prison on the ground" was no mere exaggerated legend. While Feng Qingcheng’s art had not reached such a profound level, it was more than enough to bewitch the minds of ordinary people. It was clear he had every right to be the top inner disciple through his own cultivation and strength.