The exam hall buzzed with nervous energy as the participants filed in. This test might bring them closer to their dreams—or their doom. Joo-won, dwarfed by the older students, marched to his seat with the confidence of a seasoned warrior.

"Alright, you little alchemists," the proctor's voice boomed, silencing the whispers. "Three sections, three chances to prove you're not just playing with fancy bathwater. Theory, ingredients, and process. Mess up, and you might as well pack your bags now."

As the exam papers hit the desks, the room collectively held its breath. Then, like a dam breaking, the scribbling began.

Joo-won's pencil danced across the page. Next to him, a burly student from the Iron Cauldron Academy was sweating bullets, his quill trembling as he tackled the theory section.

At the front, Mystic Baek Yunsan prowled like a tiger, her piercing gaze making more than a few students squirm. Legend had it she could smell cheating from a mile away.

"Time's half gone!" the proctor bellowed, causing a panicked flurry of page-turning.

In the corner, a girl with fiery red hair muttered incantations under her breath, desperately trying to remember the difference between wolfsbane and wolf's bane.

As the minutes ticked by, the tension in the room thickened like an over-brewed potion. This exam was a battle of wits, knowledge, and nerves. And only the strongest would survive to brew another day.

The clock's merciless ticking filled the exam hall. The students can hear every second like a thunderclap in their ears. Sweat glistened on furrowed brows, quills scratched furiously against parchment, and more than a few silent prayers were offered to the Alchemy Gods.

"Time's up, alchemists!" The proctor's voice cracked like a whip, sending a jolt through the room. Groans and sighs of relief mingled as she snatched up the exam scrolls, grinning like a cat that just found the cream.

The wait for results was torture. Some paced, others engaged in frantic post-mortem discussions, and a few looked like they might be sick.

Finally, the proctor returned, a stack of papers in hand and a wicked gleam in her eye. "Alright, listen up! If I call your name, congratulations – you've earned the right to embarrass yourself in the next round. If not, well... there's always next year."

"Alright, alchemists and onlookers!" The announcer's voice boomed across the courtyard. "Time to separate the real brewers from the bubble-blowers!"

The crowd held its breath as she unrolled a long scroll.

"From Autumn Maple Retreat, Lee Myeong with 91%!"

Cheers erupted from one corner, Myeong's friends hoisting him onto their shoulders.

"Lunar Cauldron's Gwak Wi, 96%!"

The Lunar Cauldron section exploded, their silver robes shimmering as they jumped for joy.

"Alacrion U, Yoon Bong, 92%!"

Bong's supporters let out a war cry that would've made their barbarian ancestors proud.

"Hold onto your cauldrons, folks! Lunar Cauldron's Sohee... 98%!"

The entire courtyard went wild. Sohee's headmistress looked ready to burst with pride, her usually stern face split by a rare grin.

"Autumn Maple's Jin Seo, sliding in with 90%!"

Jin Seo's friends tackled him in a group hug, nearly knocking over a nearby refreshment table.

"And from the Crimson Mermaids, Noh Yu with a solid 95%!"

The Mermaid supporters let out a series of melodic whoops that sounded suspiciously like whale song.

As the names rolled on, there were signs of excitement and rivalry. Each announcement was met with cheers, groans, or the occasional dramatic faint.

But a group in the crowd was waiting for one name in particular. The pint-sized prodigy who'd they believe will dominate this contest. Where would Joo-won land in this alchemical showdown?

The announcer's eyes widened as he beheld the next name on the scroll. His hands trembled slightly as he sought confirmation from the stern-faced proctor, who nodded gravely.

"Esteemed cultivators and honored guests," the announcer's voice rang out, tinged with awe. "This disciple stands humbled before you, for I must announce an unprecedented occurrence in the illustrious history of the Hundred Poisons Assembly."

A hush fell over the gathered crowd, anticipation hanging heavy in the air.

"From the hallowed halls of Autumn Maple Retreat of Esoteric Potions, young cultivator Joo-won has achieved... 105%."

Gasps rippled through the assembly like wind through autumn leaves.

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"The venerable judges have bestowed an additional five percent for a truly revolutionary answer that may reshape our understanding of the alchemical arts."

For a moment, silence reigned. Then, like a dam bursting, voices erupted in a cacophony of wonder and disbelief.

"Inconceivable!" cried an elder from the Crimson Mermaid School.

"What manner of prodigy is this?" whispered a wide-eyed disciple from Lunar Cauldron.

Amidst the tumult, Joo-won stood serene, his small frame belying the immense talent within. His eyes, filled with ancient wisdom, surveyed the chaos he had unwittingly unleashed.

As the announcement echoed through the hall, a ripple of murmurs swept across the podium where the esteemed masters sat. Alchemist Lee Dok-Hwa, his weathered face a map of curiosity, leaned forward.

"Well, well," he mused, a glimmer in his eyes. "It seems our little competition has unearthed a rare gem."

With a gesture that spoke of decades of authority, he beckoned the proctor. "The young prodigy's scroll, if you please."

The proctor scurried over, scroll in hand, bowing deeply as she presented it to the renowned alchemist.

Lee Dok-Hwa's eyes danced across the parchment, his bushy eyebrows rising higher with each line. The other masters craned their necks, trying to catch a glimpse of the miraculous answers.

"By the five elements," he breathed, stroking his beard. "This Joo-won... he speaks of transmutation as if conversing with old friends."

A younger master, unable to contain his curiosity, blurted out, "Is it truly that remarkable, Senior Lee?"

The old alchemist's eyes twinkled. "Remarkable? This boy discusses the Ethereal Convergence Theory as if he invented it himself. And his insights on spirit herb fusion... I daresay even I might learn a thing or two."

Lee Dok-Hwa's eyes widened as he reached Joo-won's answer on Lamia tooth extraction. His fingers traced the elegant brushstrokes, each character a revelation.

"Heavens above," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

The younger master beside him couldn't contain his curiosity. "What is it, Senior Lee? Has the boy made a grave error?"

Lee Dok-Hwa chuckled, a sound like autumn leaves rustling. "Error? This child has turned centuries of tradition on its head!"

He gestured to the scroll, his excitement palpable. "See here? Where we've always ground the tooth to dust, mixed it with a dozen rare herbs, and heated it for days on end, this Joo-won... he proposes a solvent!"

The other masters leaned in, their skepticism evident.

"A solvent?" one scoffed. "Preposterous!"

"Ah, but look closer," Lee Dok-Hwa urged. "This method... it's elegant in its simplicity. A series of filtrations, and voila! The essence, purer than we've ever achieved."

Realization dawned on their faces, followed swiftly by awe.

"But... how?" the younger master stammered. "Such a method exists in no text I've ever encountered."

Lee Dok-Hwa's eyes twinkled with a mix of excitement and something else – a spark of challenge, perhaps?

"Indeed," he mused. "It seems our young friend has a mind that dances beyond the boundaries of our textbook scrolls."

As the masters huddled closer, debating the implications of this revolutionary technique, Lee Dok-Hwa's gaze drifted to the sea of students below. Somewhere in that crowd was a youth who might just reshape the future of alchemy.

Lee Dok-Hwa's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he turned to the proctor. "This method... you've tested it yourself?"

The proctor nodded, her usual stern expression softened by a hint of excitement. "Indeed, Master Lee. The results were... astonishing."

A low whistle escaped the old alchemist's lips. "Well, well. It seems we have a true phoenix among sparrows this year."

Beside him, Alchemist Jeong's face darkened like storm clouds gathering. His fingers tightened around his ornate fan, knuckles white with tension.

"A fluke, surely," Jeong muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "One clever answer doesn't make a master alchemist."

Lee Dok-Hwa raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Come now, old friend. Surely you can appreciate talent when you see it?"

Jeong's scowl deepened. "My Sohee has trained since she could walk. This... this upstart can't possibly—"

"Ah, but that's the beauty of it," Lee Dok-Hwa interrupted gently. "True genius often blooms in unexpected places.

“Mark my words," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "This Hundred Poisons Assembly will be one for the history books. This student is cheating. I am sure of it."

Lee Dok-Hwa's eyes narrowed as he watched Jeong's face contort with rage. The younger alchemist's words dripped with venom, each syllable a thinly veiled threat.

"Careful, Jeong," Lee Dok-Hwa warned, his voice low but sharp. "Throwing around accusations without proof is a dangerous game."

Jeong scoffed, his fan snapping open with a harsh crack. "Proof? The proof is in the absurdity of it all! A backwater bumpkin outscoring my Sohee? Impossible!"

Lee Dok-Hwa stroked his beard, a habit born of years of tempering his temper. "And yet, here we are. Perhaps it's time to consider that talent knows no borders, my friend."

"Talent?" Jeong spat the word like a curse. "This reeks of trickery, and I'll not stand for it. I'll uncover the truth, even if I have to tear this competition apart to do it."

"Calm yourself, old friend," he said, his voice a mix of weariness and warning. "Jumping at shadows will only lead you astray."

Jeong's face flushed, his knuckles white around his fan. "But-"

"No buts," Lee cut him off. "We'll watch and wait. If there's foul play, it'll reveal itself soon enough."

From the other side of the dais, Alchemist Kwon's eyes flashed with barely concealed irritation. He'd seen talents crushed under the weight of politics and jealousy before, and he wasn't about to let it happen again.

"Gentlemen," Kwon's voice rang out, clear and sharp. "Let's not forget why we're here. This isn't about our egos or our students' reputations."

Lee nodded, grateful for the support. "Indeed. We're here to nurture the future of alchemy, not squabble like children over spilled elixir."

Jeong's mouth opened, then snapped shut. He knew he was outnumbered, but the fire in his eyes made it clear this wasn't over.

Alchemist Kwon's eyes narrowed as he watched Jeong storm off, the man's robes billowing dramatically behind him. A sigh escaped Kwon's lips, heavy with the weight of decades of similar conflicts.

"That one's pride will be his downfall," Kwon muttered, shaking his head.

Lee Dok-Hwa nodded grimly. "Indeed. But a cornered tiger is at its most dangerous."

The two masters shared a knowing look. They'd seen promising talents crushed under the weight of petty rivalries before, and neither was keen to let it happen again.

"We'll need to keep an eye on young Joo-won," Kwon said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Jeong won't rest until he's satisfied his bruised ego."

Lee's eyes sparkled with a mix of concern and excitement. "True. But something tells me our little prodigy might just surprise us all."