Kai followed the group of successful examinees into a small chamber adjacent to the examination room. At the front of the room, an elderly disciple sat behind a table, meticulously recording names and handing out small tokens.

As Kai approached, he noticed the token's intricate design - a mortar and pestle surrounded by swirling Chinese symbols. The elderly disciple looked up at him with a tired smile.

"Name?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse from repeating the same question countless times.

"Kai Thorn," Kai replied, keeping his voice steady despite the excitement bubbling within him.

The disciple's eyes widened slightly at the name, his gaze flickering to Kai's black robes. "Ah, the new Legacy Disciple. Congratulations on passing the exam."

He scribbled Kai's name in a large ledger before handing over one of the bronze tokens. "This marks you as a Novice Alchemist of the Azure Sky Sect. Wear it with pride."

Kai accepted the token, feeling its weight in his palm. He turned it over, studying the craftsmanship.

Not bad, he thought. Wonder if it has any special properties beyond just being a fancy ID.

New Item Acquired: Novice Alchemist Token

Description: Proof of your status as a Novice Alchemist in the Azure Sky Sect. Grants access to basic alchemy resources and facilities within the sect.

Ah, there we go. Useful, but nothing too exciting.

New Title Acquired: Novice Alchemist

Description: Increases your chances of success by 5% when crafting Novice-level recipes.

You have gained 100 XP!

Now, that is exciting.

As he turned away from the table, Kai's eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face. He spotted Xie Li near the back, her red Inner Disciple robes standing out among the sea of white-robed Outer Disciples. She was speaking with another young woman, her expression animated as she gestured with her hands.

Kai made his way through the crowd, politely excusing himself as he navigated around excited disciples. As he approached, Xie Li glanced up, her eyes lighting up.

"Senior Brother Kai," she greeted him with a small bow. "Congratulations on passing the exam."

Kai returned the gesture. "Thank you, and congratulations to you as well. Your performance was impressive."

Xie Li's cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment. "You're too kind. I still have much to learn."

The young woman beside Xie Li cleared her throat softly, looking between them with curiosity. Xie Li started, as if suddenly remembering her companion.

"Oh! My apologies," she said quickly. "Senior Brother Kai, this is my friend Li Ting. Li Ting, this is Senior Brother Kai, the new Legacy Disciple."

Li Ting’s eyes widened as she hurriedly bowed. "It's an honor to meet you, Senior Brother Kai. We've heard so much about you."

"Oh? And what have you heard?" Kai raised an eyebrow.

Li Ting hesitated, suddenly looking unsure. "Well... that you're incredibly talented, and that you impressed the elders and even the Sect Master during the entrance exam."

"I see, well, I wouldn't put too much stock in rumors. I'm just here to learn and improve, like everyone else."

Li Ting nodded, a look of understanding crossing her face. "That's admirable, Senior Brother. It's easy to get caught up in competition and forget why we're really here."

Kai turned his attention back to Xie Li, seeing an opportunity. "Speaking of learning and improving, I was wondering if you'd be interested in practicing alchemy together sometime? Your insights during our earlier conversation were fascinating, and I think we could both benefit from collaboration."

Xie Li's eyes widened in surprise, a mix of excitement and hesitation crossing her face. "I... I would be honored, Senior Brother Kai. But are you sure? Surely there are more advanced alchemists you could practice with."

Kai shook his head, offering a small smile. "Advanced doesn't always mean better for learning. Sometimes it's more beneficial to work with someone closer to your own level. Besides, your approach to alchemy is intriguing. I think we could learn a lot from each other."

Li Ting watched the exchange, "Xie Li, you should definitely accept! This is an amazing opportunity!"

Xie Li bit her lip, considering for a moment before nodding. "You're right. Thank you, Senior Brother Kai. I would love to practice alchemy with you."

"Excellent," Kai said, his smile widening slightly. "We can discuss the details later and find a time that works for both of us."

This is perfect. Not only will I have a chance to recruit her for my guild, but I can also gauge her skills more thoroughly.

As Kai opened his mouth to suggest a time, a hush fell over the room. He turned to see Elder Xiao striding through the crowd, his gaze fixed directly on Kai.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

The disciples parted before the elder, whispers of excitement and curiosity rippling through the room. Elder Xiao came to a stop in front of Kai, his expression unreadable.

"Disciple Kai," he said. "Come with me. There are matters we must discuss."

Kai blinked in surprise. "Of course, Elder. But..." he glanced at Xie Li.

Elder Xiao chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to find a dual cultivation partner later. This is important."

Kai held back a sigh, realizing the elder had completely misunderstood the situation. "I'm sorry, we'll have to continue this conversation another time," he said to Xie Li.

Xie Li bowed again. "Of course, Senior Brother. Thank you for the offer. I look forward to our future practice sessions."

"Practice sessions, eh?" Elder Xiao laughed, winking at Kai. "Is that what they're calling it these days?"

Kai felt his face heat up as he gave Xie Li a small, apologetic nod before following Elder Xiao out of the room, acutely aware of the curious stares and barely suppressed giggles boring into his back.

They walked in silence through the corridors of the sect, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Kai noticed they were heading towards a part of the complex he hadn't visited before, the architecture becoming more ornate as they progressed.

Finally, Elder Xiao came to a stop before a plain wooden door. He pressed his palm against it, and Kai felt a pulse of Qi as the door swung open silently.

"Enter," Elder Xiao said, gesturing for Kai to go first.

Kai stepped into the room, his eyes widening slightly as he took in his surroundings. It was a spacious chamber, filled with shelves upon shelves of bottles, jars, and strange implements. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and minerals, and in the center of the room stood a massive stone table, its surface covered in complex alchemical arrays.

This must be Elder Xiao's personal alchemy workshop.

Elder Xiao closed the door behind them and moved to stand across from Kai, his eyes studying the young disciple.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I've brought you here," the elder began, his tone now serious.

"Yes, Elder. I admit I'm curious about the reason for this meeting."

Elder Xiao's lips quirked into a small smile. "Direct and honest. Good. I appreciate disciples who don't waste time with unnecessary flattery."

He walked around the stone table, running his fingers along its edge as he spoke. "As you may have guessed, this is about your performance in the alchemy exam. Your theoretical knowledge is... surprisingly advanced for someone who claims to have only started learning alchemy a few days ago."

Kai tensed slightly, wondering if he had somehow given himself away. Elder Xiao continued, seemingly oblivious to Kai's discomfort.

"Normally, I would have taken such a promising student as my personal disciple immediately. However," he paused, a note of frustration entering his voice, "Luo Qiang has... other plans for your training."

Ah, of course. The old 'you're too valuable to be given away' routine.

The Elder Xiao then sighed, shaking his head. "Politics and cultivation should not mix, but alas, that's the reality we live in. However, the Sect Master has agreed to allow you to learn alchemy under my guidance, even if I cannot formally take you as my disciple."

Learning from the sect's top alchemist would be an incredible opportunity, I can’t let this opportunity pass…

"Thank you, Elder Xiao. I'm honored,” Kai bowed.

The elder waved a hand dismissively. "Save your thanks for when you've actually learned something. Your theoretical knowledge may be impressive for a Novice Alchemist, but theory alone does not make a great alchemist. You need practice – a lot of it."

He fixed Kai with a stern gaze. "I've brought you here to assess your practical skills and begin your true training. Are you prepared for that, Disciple Kai?"

Kai straightened his posture, meeting the elder's eyes. "Yes, Elder. I'm ready to learn."

Elder Xiao nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, before we begin, I have some critiques based on your exam performance."

He began pacing slowly around the table, his voice taking on a lecturing tone. "Your understanding of elemental interactions is solid, but you tend to overcomplicate things. In alchemy, simplicity often yields the best results. Remember, we're guiding natural processes, not forcing them."

Kai listened intently, absorbing every word.

"Additionally," Elder Xiao continued, "your ideas about improvisation in the field were creative, but somewhat reckless. While quick thinking is admirable, an alchemist must always prioritize stability and safety. A hastily made remedy can often be worse than no remedy at all."

He stopped pacing and turned to face Kai directly. "That being said, your willingness to take calculated risks shows promise. With proper training, you could become a truly exceptional alchemist."

Kai bowed slightly. "Thank you for your insights, Elder. I'll work hard to improve in these areas."

Elder Xiao nodded, a ghost of a smile playing at his lips. "See that you do. Now, let's put your skills to the test. Which pill would you like to attempt making?"

Kai considered for a moment. He knew he needed to craft the Qi Gathering pills to sell soon. "I'd like to try making a Qi Gathering Pill, if that's acceptable, Elder."

Elder Xiao raised an eyebrow. "An interesting choice. So why have you selected that particular pill?"

"Well, to be honest, Elder, the Qi Gathering Pill and the Qi Replenishing Pill are the only recipes I'm familiar with at the moment."

The elder's eyes narrowed slightly, a knowing look crossing his face. "I see. And I suppose you learned the Qi Gathering Pill recipe to sell its pills for some profit, didn't you?"

Kai's silence and awkward expression were answer enough. Elder Xiao burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the workshop walls.

"Ah, youth," he said, shaking his head in amusement. "Always so focused on immediate gains. A Qi Gathering pill is always a Novice Alchemist’s first venture. But in a few years, you'll realize such profit is nothing compared to the wealth of knowledge and skill you can accumulate. You need to focus on your alchemy skills, young Kai. That's your true future."

That's easy for you to say, Kai thought, careful to keep his face neutral. You've already got wealth and power in the sect. For me, it's a long-term investment.

Aloud, he said, "You're right, Elder. I'll dedicate myself to improving my skills. That's why I'd like to practice making more Qi Gathering Pills. My success rate is only about 60-70% for low-grade pills at the moment."

Elder Xiao's eyebrows shot up. "Only 60-70%? My boy, that's an excellent success rate for a Novice Alchemist. Most struggle to achieve even 50% consistency at your level."

Kai blinked in surprise, the elder was right, Kai was comparing himself to those protagonists he had only read about.

"Now," Elder Xiao continued, "you can do whatever you'd like with the pills you successfully create. Just make sure not to sell any poor-grade ones. They can be toxic if consumed."

Kai nodded solemnly. "I understand, Elder. My instincts warned me about that as well."

Elder Xiao clapped his hands together. "Excellent. Then let's begin. I'll guide you through the process step by step, offering advice along the way."

Kai moved towards the central table, then paused. "Ah, Elder Xiao? I'm afraid I don't have any materials with me."

The elder chuckled. "Of course you don't. What kind of master would I be if I didn't provide materials for my student?"

With a wave of his sleeve, three bundles appeared on the table: Spirit Grass, Yin Berries, and Qi Crystals. Kai's eyes widened as he realized there were enough materials for at least 25 attempts.

This is great, I can use my own materials for more pills later when I’m alone.

Elder Xiao gestured towards the materials. "Now then, Disciple Kai. Shall we begin?"

Kai felt a smile spread across his face as he stepped up to the table. "Yes, Elder. I'm ready."

Elder Xiao watched closely as Kai began to sort through the materials. "Very good," he said. "Now, start by preparing the Spirit Grass. Remember, the key is in how you cut it..."