"Boy, don't try to posture in front of me," Zhu Mingyuan scoffed, his arms folded with arrogance. "When you can reach a seventy percent success rate, then you can talk."
His words dripped with disdain.
Alchemy was an art of precision—success rates were notoriously low.
A first-rank alchemist refining a first-rank pill? Thirty percent was already respectable.
A second-rank alchemist like himself? Refining a first-grade pill with a seventy percent success rate—that was the mark of a true veteran.
In his mind, the boy in front of him couldn't possibly achieve that.
Jiang Chen didn't bother replying. He simply strode to the pill furnace, his expression calm as still water, and began working.
Ding! You start refining the Body Tempering Pill. System triggers: Hundredfold Success Rate!
The furnace flared to life.
His movements were steady, confident—almost casual.
Ding! You refine a first-grade Body Tempering Pill. Gained 1000×100 experience!
Ten minutes later, a perfectly formed pill rolled out of the furnace.
"Gasp… he really refined it?!"
Gasps rippled through the hall.
"This kid's actually a first-rank alchemist?! At his age? That's insane!"
Even the bystanders who mocked him earlier now stared with open mouths, their tones shifting from ridicule to awe.
But Jiang Chen ignored them.
Second pill. Third pill.
Ding! You refine a first-grade Body Tempering Pill. Gained 1000×100 experience!
Ding! You refine a first-grade Body Tempering Pill. Gained 1000×100 experience!
One after another, the pills came out—each one flawless.
An hour later, Jiang Chen stepped back, wiping his hands leisurely.
Ding! You have successfully advanced to a Fourth-Rank Alchemist!
Ten sets of materials.
Ten perfect Body Tempering Pills.
A terrifying 100% success rate.
"...No way."
Someone in the crowd nearly choked.
"Ten for ten?! That's… that's impossible!"
"This kid… he's a monster!"
Even Tang Sheng, who had witnessed Jiang Chen's alchemy before, couldn't suppress a low exclamation."As expected of the genius that even Su Lingxiang admires…"
Zhu Mingyuan's face turned pale."No… impossible! Absolutely impossible!" he roared, his composure cracking.
This brat—this badge-less upstart—had done what even many third-rank alchemists couldn't achieve.
Jiang Chen glanced at him with casual contempt."Nothing in this world is impossible. You can't do it—doesn't mean I can't."
His lips curved into that infuriating, lazy smirk.
"Zhu Mingyuan… sorry. My success rate is 100%. You lost."
"You…!" Zhu Mingyuan's face flushed crimson, his pride crushed. "You just got lucky! All ten pills forming—that was pure luck!"
"Enough!"
Tang Sheng's cold voice cut through the hall.
"Master Zhu, you are a second-rank senior alchemist, yet you can't even admit defeat? How shameless can you be?"
He turned toward Jiang Chen, his voice ringing with finality:
"From today onward… Brother Jiang Chen will be the Chief Alchemist of Baodan Pavilion!"