Kai sat in the waiting room as the other disciples around him fidgeted nervously or frantically reviewed notes, but Kai remained outwardly calm. He'd learned long ago that panicking never helped in high-pressure situations.

An hour ticked by slowly. Kai observed as more and more disciples were called in for their oral exams until finally, the door opened and Xie Li emerged. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. As she passed by Kai, she flashed him a quick smile before being led away by one of the proctors. Kai noticed her exam had taken significantly longer than the others.

Interesting. They must have recognized her talent and wanted to test her further.

He watched as Xie Li disappeared through the door, feeling a twinge of disappointment that he couldn't speak with her again. I'll have to find her later. She could be a valuable ally...

"Kai Thorn," a voice called out, breaking through his thoughts.

Kai stood, smoothing out his black robes. He took a deep breath, centering himself. Show time.

As he approached the examination room, he could feel the eyes of the remaining disciples on him. Kai ignored them all as he pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside.

The room was smaller than he expected, with dark wood paneling and shelves lined with ancient-looking tomes and alchemical equipment. A large window let in the afternoon sunlight.

At the center of the room sat a long table. Behind it were three figures: Elder Bin, Elder Xiao, and another elder Kai didn't recognize. Their faces were impassive as they gestured for him to take the seat across from them.

Kai sat down, his posture straight but relaxed. He met each elder's gaze in turn, careful to show respect without appearing intimidated.

Elder Bin cleared his throat. "As you know, this oral examination will test your understanding of alchemical principles, creation processes, and your ability to handle unexpected situations. Elder Po, Elder Xiao, and I will be conducting the examination."

Stay calm. You've prepared for this, Kai reminded himself as he nodded.

Elder Bin began, "Let's start with the basics. Can you explain the principle of Essence Extraction and its importance in pill creation?"

Kai took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. "Essence Extraction is the foundation of alchemy. It's the process of drawing out the purest, most potent aspects of an ingredient. This is crucial because the quality of the extracted essence directly impacts the potency and stability of the final product."

He paused, considering how to elaborate. "For example, when extracting essence from Spirit Grass, the timing and technique used can greatly affect the result. Extracting at dawn after a full moon, using a silver blade, will yield a more potent essence than harvesting at noon with a regular knife."

Elder Po nodded. "Good. Now, can you describe the relationship between Essence Extraction and Qi Infusion?"

Kai's brow furrowed slightly as he considered the question. This is a bit trickier. They're testing how well I understand the interactions between techniques.

"Essence Extraction and Qi Infusion are complementary techniques," Kai began. "The purity and potency of the extracted essence determine how effectively it can be infused with Qi. A poorly extracted essence might resist Qi Infusion or become unstable when infused. On the other hand, a well-extracted essence can accept and amplify the infused Qi, resulting in a more powerful final product."

He paused, then added, "Additionally, the type of Qi used in the infusion should be compatible with the nature of the extracted essence. For instance, using Yang Qi to infuse an essence with strong Yin properties could lead to instability or even negation of effects."

Elder Po's eyebrows rose slightly. "You seem to have a good grasp of the interplay between techniques."

Elder Bin leaned forward. "Let's move on to Elemental Fusion. Can you explain its importance in creating complex pills?"

Kai nodded. "Elemental Fusion is crucial for creating pills with multiple effects or for balancing opposing forces within a single pill. It allows an alchemist to combine ingredients with different elemental properties harmoniously."

He thought for a moment, then continued, "For example, creating a pill that both invigorates and calms would require fusing Yang and Yin elements. Without proper Elemental Fusion, these opposing forces might negate each other or cause the pill to become unstable."

"And how would you go about achieving this fusion?" Elder Po interjected.

"The key is to find a balance point between the elements. This often involves introducing a neutral element as a bridge or using techniques to gradually blend the opposing forces. The exact method would depend on the specific elements involved and the desired outcome of the pill."

Kai paused, then added, "It's also important to consider the order of fusion. Sometimes, fusing the weaker elements first before introducing the stronger ones can lead to a more stable result."

Elder Xiao, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. "Interesting approach. Now, let's consider a more complex scenario."

Kai straightened in his seat, his full attention on Elder Xiao. This is unexpected. What's he planning?

Elder Xiao's eyes gleamed as he presented the scenario. "Imagine you're tasked with creating a pill that enhances a cultivator's affinity with both fire and water elements simultaneously. This pill must not only boost these opposing elements but also ensure they don't conflict within the cultivator's body. How would you approach this challenge?"

Kai blinked, momentarily taken aback. This is far beyond novice level, possibly Advanced or even Master level theory. He's testing my limits…

The other two elders exchanged surprised glances but remained silent.

Kai took a deep breath before beginning, "This is a complex problem that would require careful application of multiple techniques," he began slowly. "The first challenge would be selecting appropriate ingredients that embody fire and water essences without being mutually destructive."

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He paused, thinking through the process step by step. "I would start by using Essence Extraction on fire-attributed and water-attributed ingredients separately. The key would be to extract essences that are pure but not overly potent, to avoid immediate conflict."

"Next, I would use Elemental Fusion to create a neutral 'bridge' element, perhaps using earth-attributed ingredients. This bridge would serve as a buffer between the fire and water essences. The fusion process would be delicate. I'd gradually introduce the fire and water essences into the neutral base, using Stability Control techniques to prevent any violent reactions. The goal would be to create a harmonious blend where fire and water coexist without neutralizing each other."

He continued, "Once the fusion is stable, I'd use Qi Infusion to imbue the mixture with balanced Qi, reinforcing the harmony between the elements. This step would be crucial in ensuring the pill doesn't cause internal conflict when consumed."

"Finally," Kai concluded, "I would use Spiritual Resonance techniques to attune the pill to the general spiritual frequency of human cultivators. This would help the body accept and utilize the dual-nature pill without rejection. But this whole process is easier said than done..."

Elder Xiao listened intently, his expression unreadable. When Kai finished, the elder nodded. "An interesting approach," he mused. "Not precisely what I would do and likely unrealistic, but for a novice, it's a remarkably insightful attempt."

Elder Bin cleared his throat. "I agree, that was certainly a thorough explanation. Now, let's move back on to-"

"If I may," Elder Xiao interrupted again, leaning forward with a glint in his eye. Elder Bin slightly frowned but nodded, gesturing for Elder Xiao to continue.

“Let me pose another scenario to you. Imagine you're in the field, far from your usual supplies. A fellow cultivator has been gravely injured and needs a powerful healing pill immediately. You have access to local herbs, but they're not the standard ingredients you're used to working with. How would you approach this situation?"

Real-world problem-solving, not just regurgitating facts…

Kai took a deep breath, centering himself before responding. "That's certainly a challenging scenario, Elder Xiao. The first step would be to quickly assess the available herbs and the nature of the cultivator's injury."

He continued, "I'd focus on identifying herbs with strong healing properties, even if they're not the standard ingredients for healing pills. Plants with high vitality or regenerative properties would be key."

Kai leaned forward, "Given the time constraint, I'd have to simplify the pill-making process. Instead of a fully-formed pill, I might opt for a potent elixir or even a raw paste that could be applied directly to the wound."

He then paused, considering the potential complications. "The main challenge would be ensuring the stability and safety of the concoction without access to my usual tools and stabilizing agents. I'd likely use a combination of Qi manipulation and natural balancing ingredients to prevent adverse reactions."

Kai looked directly at Elder Xiao. "It wouldn't be as refined or potent as a properly prepared healing pill, but in an emergency situation, the goal would be to create something effective enough to stabilize the injured cultivator until proper medical attention could be obtained."

Elder Xiao nodded slowly, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "And how would you test the safety of this improvised remedy? You wouldn't want to further endanger your injured comrade."

Kai's brow furrowed slightly as he considered the question. This is the real test, he thought. Balancing urgency with caution whilst also being an ethical dilemma.

"Testing would indeed be crucial, Elder," Kai began carefully. "Given the emergency nature of the situation, we couldn't afford a lengthy testing process, but we also can't risk making the situation worse."

He paused, organizing his thoughts. "I would start by using my Qi sense to analyze the energy of the concoction, looking for any obvious signs of instability or harmful interactions."

Kai's voice took on a more decisive tone as he continued. "Then, I would test a small amount on myself. As the creator of the remedy, I would have the best chance of recognizing and counteracting any negative effects quickly."

He saw Elder Bin's eyebrows raise at this, but pressed on. "I would apply a tiny amount to a small cut or scrape on my own body. This would allow me to observe both topical reactions and any internal effects from absorption."

Kai leaned back slightly, his expression serious. "It's not a perfect solution, and it does carry some personal risk. But in an emergency situation where a fellow cultivator's life is at stake, I believe it's a necessary precaution."

Elder Xiao's smile widened slightly. "A bold approach, young Kai. Many would hesitate to put themselves at risk in such a manner."

"In critical situations, hesitation can be more dangerous than calculated risk, Elder,” Kai met the elder's gaze steadily as he prayed the elder doesn’t have some technique that could detect lies. “As an alchemist, I believe it's our responsibility to ensure the safety of our creations, even in less-than-ideal circumstances."

He turned to the other elders. "I believe we've seen enough. Disciple Kai, you may proceed to the room where successful examinees are receiving their Novice Alchemist tokens."

Elder Bin and Elder Po looked surprised by the quick decision but didn't object.

"Thank you, Elders," Kai said, bowing. "I'm honored by your guidance and assessment."

As Kai left, he heard Elder Xiao address the other elders. "Continue with the remaining examinations. I need to speak with the Sect Master immediately."