Chapter 460: Surprising Elder Tao

"Time’s up!"

Elder Tao’s voice rang out as the three-hour time period came to an end.

"Shit! I only needed a few more minutes!"

"Can I get a few more minutes, please... it will be a successful pill... I can feel it!"

"Phew! Just made it in time, lucky me!"

"Losers, if they couldn’t even refine a pill in three hours, why did they even bother coming all the way here?"

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.

.

Several words rang out among the disciples the moment the time limit was up as the invigilators started taking out candidates who had yet to finish their pills.

Many begged, asking for another chance, but wearing an ice-like expression on their faces, the invigilators sent the failed candidates out of the Testing Hall soon, leaving only Fifty-Four of the previous sixty-six in the room.

"54, huh? That’s quite a good number this time." Elder Tao nodded to himself when he saw the remaining numbers and said the next moment, "It’s good to see that so many of you have managed to create your pills on time. Now, it’s time to check whether your pills have successfully crossed the 30% efficacy threshold or not..."

With that said, the storage ring on Elder Tao’s finger glimmered for a moment, and the very next moment, a cylindrical artefact stood vertically on the table.

Its exterior was lined with various runes, and its height was that of a man’s forearm.

’A Pill Efficacy Tester?’ Yi Chen thought the moment his eyes landed on the artefact. It looked extremely similar to the artefact he had bought from the sect’s item shop a few days ago.

However, compared to that, the one in front of him looked more robust and expensive, which naturally prompted Yi Chen to check its status panel.

======= STATUS =========

Name: Pill Efficacy Tester

Type: Mid-Grade Artefact

Usage: Checks the efficacy percentage of the pill within and displays it.

Remark: Can check the efficacy rate of 100,000 pills before becoming useless. [Regenerate: 10,000 EXP]

========================

’A hundred thousand? The one I bought is only accurate until the ten thousandth pill...’ Yi Chen muttered inwardly in realisation, ’No wonder, it looks so different...’

"Take one of your refined pills and line up in front of me,’ Elder Tao instructed. The candidates nodded and assembled in a single line in front of the table.

Seeing that everyone had assembled, Elder Tao gestured for the first person to place his pill inside the very next moment.

"Alright, place your pill inside then."

"Y-Yes..."

The candidate nodded in a confident manner and placed the pill inside the slot that was cut open, thereby placing his pill on top of the cylindrical column’s base.

The moment it was placed inside, the runes that had been engraved not only on the outside but also on the inside of the cylinder began to shine in a distinct golden light, and the very next moment a blue gemstone that had been embedded on top of the cylinder emitted a blue light, opening up a panel for everyone to see.

[Pill Name: Frost Leaf Stomach Curing Pill]

[Mortal Pill (Basic Grade)]

[Efficacy: 32%]

"Yes!" the candidate cheered for himself after confirming the result with his own eyes.

"Good. You’ve passed." Elder Tao nodded after seeing the panel and told the candidate to stand a few meters to his right and wait.

With that said, he focused his attention back on the candidates and directed them to do the same thing again and again.

[Efficacy: 34%]

[Efficacy: 31%]

[Efficacy: 34%]

[Efficacy: 36%]

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One after the other, the successful candidates kept lining up on Elder Tao’s right side. However, despite the large number of candidates who were able to pass this test, when compared to the first test, there were still plenty who failed and were told to leave the hall right away...

Some by a large gap, while a few unfortunate ones failed right at success’s door.

[Efficacy: 30%]

"No! It breached the 30% when I tried it last time, I swear! I can do it again if you let me..."

"Disciple, you have failed. I wish you luck in your next attempt."

Elder Tao said sternly, trying hard to hide the pity in his eyes, before directing one of the invigilators to escort the candidate out of the Testing Hall.

That’s simply how the testing procedure worked. If you didn’t meet the criteria, you couldn’t pass.

Letting out a quiet sigh, Elder Tao resumed checking the other candidates’ pills until it was finally Yi Chen’s turn.

"Place it inside..." he muttered, his heart beating with anticipation as he closely examined the pill in Yi Chen’s hand, which looked neither too dark nor too pale.

’Could it be that he has managed to reach a 40% efficacy rate?’ Elder Tao thought the very next moment. Although something like that was rare, given how in-depth Yi Chen’s answers were in the written test, Elder Tao couldn’t help but harbour high expectations for him.

Little did he know that Yi Chen wasn’t just going to meet his expectations but completely surpass them.

[Pill Name: Sleeping Crane Pill]

[Mortal Pill (Basic Grade)]

[Efficacy: 55%]

"F-Fifty-five!" Elder Tao stood up from his seat in shock the very next moment. For a moment, he couldn’t believe his eyes and ended up blinking a couple of times to confirm that the number in front of him was still the same.

’To think that an unranked pill refiner is capable of reaching such an efficacy rate...’

The next moment, his eyes snapped to Yi Chen, staring at him as if he were looking at a diamond.

"Y-You... you did great!" he exclaimed, then started to ask several questions that had been brewing in his mind, but paused, remembering his obligation as a Test Supervisor.

Clearing his throat the next moment, Elder Tao brought back his previous sternness and said, while gesturing Yi Chen towards the side, "Wait there with the rest. I’ll separately have a chat with you once the test is over."

"Yes, Elder."

Yi Chen nodded with a humble smile before joining the successful candidates while maintaining a nonchalant expression throughout.

However, inwardly he was grinning from ear to ear.

’Since I stood up, won’t I be getting extra benefits from the guild? I just can’t wait to see what it will be!’

He thought, with anticipation rising in his heart.

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