Chapter 346: Chapter 346: Gold Testing Stone
Directly to the south of the Pill Array, a vast square stretched out. Standing in the centre of the square was a gigantic crystal stone, as tall as two people. Its form was uneven, yet it broadly took the shape of a column.
This crystal was guarded by four stewards of the Pill Alliance. They did not prevent onlookers from approaching, but touching the stone was strictly prohibited.
This stone was known as the Gold Testing Stone. As the name suggests, it could test to see who was true gold.
Of course, by “gold” it didn’t refer to the ordinary metals in the secular world, but talented pill refiners.
This Gold Testing Stone could accurately assess a pill refiner’s talent, so it was often used by the Pill Alliance to evaluate talents in pill refining.
This stone, however, was extremely rare. Within the entire span of the Lower Three Kingdoms, only Black Cauldron City possessed one. Even in the capitals of the three kingdoms, there was none.
At this moment, a group of people had arrived at the square. They were all young men and women.
To be precise, this was three groups of people – each maintained some distance from the others, seemingly on guard against each other.
These three groups, naturally, consisted of young pill refiners from the three kingdoms.
“Here we are – this is the place I was talking about.” Zhao Shenkong pointed at the Gold Testing Stone not far ahead, addressing the young pill refiners from Meng Kingdom and Qian Country. A playful smirk played on his lips.
Upon hearing this was the Gold Testing Stone, some people seemed taken aback, while many others appeared confused.
Fang Lin didn’t show any signs of confusion. The moment he saw the Gold Testing Stone, he figured out what Zhao Shenkong intended to do.
In fact, Fang Lin recognized the Gold Testing Stone. Such stones were a common sight back in his previous life at the Pill Saint Palace, repeated to the point of being mere decorations.
“This is the Gold Testing Stone, which can detect the level of a pill refiner’s gift. Apart from Black Cauldron City, it only exists in the Middle Three Kingdoms,” said Zhao Shenkong.
Upon hearing this, everyone understood. This was the legendary Gold Testing Stone.
“Zhao Shenkong, are you suggesting that we use this stone to test each one of our pill refining talents?” a youth from Meng Kingdom asked.
Zhao Shenkong nodded, smiling: “Since we’ve all come here for the Alchemist Conference, I assume none of us will lack talent. However, we might not be clear about the extent of our individual abilities. Now that the Gold Testing Stone is here, we should absolutely test ourselves.”
The people from Meng Kingdom and Qian country exchanged glances. These people knew Zhao Shenkong’s gimmick wasn’t as simple as merely testing individual talent.
At this moment, Li Jianlong spoke calmly: “Is that necessary?”
Zhao Shenkong glanced at the crowd from Qian Country: “Don’t you want to know the extent of your talent? Or are you afraid to know?”
At these words, everyone in Qian Country frowned. Zhao Shenkong’s veiled mockery was unmistakable – he was clearly making fun of them.
“Exactly, those from Qian Country, if you’re afraid, you can just watch from the side.”
“Hehe, if you can’t even face your own talents, go back home and farm.”
“They likely know their talent is too low and merely don’t wish to embarrass themselves.”
A few people from Yun Country immediately began to mock loudly, revealing their scorn openly. Every word stung, making the people from Qian Country extremely angry.
Su Xiaotong stood there innocently, not seeming angry at all. Instead, she seemed to be struggling to remember the names of the people around her.
Zhao Shenkong, ignoring the angry expressions of the Qian countrymen, turned to Meng Kingdom, his gaze resting particularly on the silver-haired youth.
“The people from Qian Country dare not, but none of you from Meng Kingdom would be so cowardly, right?” Zhao Shenkong asked with a faint smile.
The silver-haired youth snorted coldly: “What is there to fear?”
Upon saying this, he promptly walked over to the Gold Testing Stone.
Zhao Shenkong chuckled and beckoned for the people of Yun Country to follow him.
As for Fang Lin and the others, they stood there, looking incredibly awkward. Meng Kingdom had the courage to test their talent, so how could Qian Country afford to back down and be belittled?
So, with their pride on the line, the group walked towards the Gold Testing Stone.
The four stewards guarding the Gold Testing Stone halted the silver-haired youth, saying: “If you wish to use the Gold Testing Stone, it has to be reported to the elders.”
The silver-haired youth coldly replied: “Then you can report it now.”
The four stewards were visibly angered by his audacity. Despite his youth, his manners were lacking.
Nonetheless, the four stewards understood that these youths were talents from the Lower Three Kingdoms, and thus might naturally carry some arrogance. Besides, the Gold Testing Stone was not some taboo object. The so-called reporting was merely a formality.
One of the stewards drew out his Message Transmitting Jade Slip and quickly muttered a few words. Immediately after, they all retired to the side, implying the silver-haired youth could now use the Gold Testing Stone.
The silver-haired youth said nothing. Walking up to the Gold Testing Stone, his reflection appeared on the crystal-clear surface of the stone.
“Place your hand on it and wait for a while,” said Zhao Shenkong from a short distance away.
The silver-haired youth did as he said, putting one hand on the Gold Testing Stone.
At this point, quite a few people had gathered around. This included many pill refiners already present in Black Cauldron City, who were all staring at the stone with curiosity.
Humm!!!
After a while, a luminescent glow suddenly burst forth from the Gold Testing Stone. It was blindingly bright.
The light was so strong that it was hard for those standing close to open their eyes, but the silver-haired youth standing in front of the Gold Testing Stone seemed unaffected.
“Such a strong light, a real alchemy genius!”
“And this is not any ordinary talent, it’s one in a million!”
“Who’s the prodigy?”
The light shone brightly, piercing the sky. Anyone within Black Cauldron City could see it just by looking up.
Such a grand spectacle naturally alerted the likes of Zhuge Cang, who did not appear but observed silently from a pavilion not far from the square.
“This boy, though a Poison Pill Master, has an astonishing talent,” Chen Mu, standing next to Zhuge Cang, praised.
Lu Wuwei snorted, wanting to retort, but seeing the glow of the Gold Testing Stone, he couldn’t argue.
Such a light, even someone as biased against Poison Pill Masters as he was, couldn’t dispute.
The bald elder and Old Woman Gu were both present in the pavilion too. At this moment, a clear look of smugness could be seen on Old Woman Gu’s somber face.
“Heh, didn’t expect that brat to be a genius,” the bald elder commented in a strange tone.
Elder Su refrained from speaking, his expression somewhat solemn.
“Nevertheless, compared to our Yun Nation’s Zhao Shenkong, he’s still slightly inferior,” the bald elder added.