The Ye Family's Alchemist Chamber was not small; it was a huge stone room spanning dozens of meters.
The stone room was divided into four areas, each with a large, dark Medicine Cauldron, which were used for Family assessments.
This was also a small test for the clansmen, as if an Alchemist suddenly used a new Medicine Cauldron, the difficulty of Alchemist would naturally increase...
Upon arriving at the Alchemist Chamber, Ye Chen realized that he was not the only one there; there were also many others older than him, the youngest of whom seemed to be around ten years old, while he was the only one under ten.
Among these people were men and women, from both the direct and collateral lines.
Some were of the same generation as Ye Chen, but there were also some from a younger generation...
There was no helping it; in a large Family, sometimes an uncle could be younger than his nephew, and such things were common.
Seeing Ye Chen arrive, Ye Zhong, the Ye Family Head who was presiding, nodded at him sternly and then had him stand at the back of the line.
Ye Chen did not mind this and instead secretly observed his surroundings.
At this time, apart from those waiting in line, the entire Alchemist Chamber was filled with the closest relatives of those present, all nervously watching.
Ye Chen also spotted his mother, who was standing outside with his father. Upon seeing Ye Chen's gaze, she happily waved at her son.
This scene once again left Ye Chen speechless.
His mother was truly a born optimist.
Couldn't she see the nervous atmosphere among the other parents? What was she trying to do with that cheerful look!
"Alright, since everyone is here, let's begin today's test..."
As he spoke, Ye Zhong slowly turned around.
Behind him was something covered by a black cloth...
He reached out and pulled away the black cloth, revealing a stone pillar that only reached his waist.
Ye Chen's eyes lit up as he curiously looked at the strange stone pillar. In its center was a crystal-clear, finger-wide jade belt, and at the very top of the jade belt was a glistening, spherical crystal.
"A test? This doesn't look like a test stele for Qi!"
Perhaps sensing Ye Chen's puzzled expression, Ye Zhong's voice came again.
"I know you are all very curious about what we are testing today. Well, I can tell you that what we are testing today is not Qi, but—Soul Power!"
He glanced at the people present; clearly, many already knew the truth, so they were already full of anticipation.
"You are all members of my Ye Family who are qualified to become Alchemists, but how far you can grow in the future depends entirely on the strength of your own Soul Power..."
Watching the reactions of the crowd below, Ye Zhong's expression remained unchanged. "Now, I will call out names to come up for the test..."
"First, Ye Ling!"
A girl in a green dress nervously stepped onto the stage...
"Ye Ling, Soul Value 32, Level: Advanced."
Ye Zhong's stern voice spread far and wide, causing a small stir in the venue.
Ye Chen stood at the back of the line, straining his neck to look forward, and then saw a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl walk down from the stage with an excited expression, then throw herself into the arms of her parents nearby.
This so-called Soul Value was actually a standard for Soul Power detection that originated from the Dan Tower.
If Ye Chen remembered correctly, a Soul Value of 50 was the standard for a First-Rank Alchemist. This meant that although the girl named Ye Ling was only a two-star Dou Practitioner, she already possessed Soul Power at the level of an Advanced Alchemist apprentice, which was extremely rare.
According to the Ye Family's past experience, this girl could become a true Alchemist as long as she reached around five-star Dou Practitioner...
Moreover, she possessed the potential to become at least a Five-Rank Alchemist. As for whether she could advance to Six-Rank, that would depend on luck.
The first test subject having such talent caused Ye Zhong's previously stiff expression to slightly soften.
"Next, Ye Song!"
...
"Next, Ye Yu!"
...
One by one, young boys and girls stepped onto the testing platform, then walked off either excited or disappointed.
Overall, the Ye Family disciples tested this time had decent talent; ninety percent of their Soul Power met the Alchemist standard.
However, what made Ye Zhong wear a pained expression again was that among these people, none had talent exceeding the seventh rank, which was very serious!
Perhaps for other Families and forces in the Central Plains, it was already very rare to have more than ten potential Alchemists appear at once, even if they were only Six-Rank...
But for the Ye Family, one of the Five Great Clans of the Dan Region, these people might become the foundation of the Family, but they could not become the pillars that the Ye Family most needed!
Taking a deep breath, Ye Zhong's gaze fell upon the last small figure.
To be honest, Ye Chen was originally not old enough to test his Soul Value; after all, he was only five years old, while the youngest of the others were already over twelve.
However, Ye Zhong was truly impatient to know if his grandson, whom everyone called the Qilin, could truly bear the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Family!
"Last one, Ye Chen..."
As soon as the words fell, all eyes immediately fell on the little guy in the center.
This scene startled the originally bored Ye Chen, making him feel as if he had suddenly become a giant panda in a zoo, feeling very uncomfortable...
Moving his short little legs, Ye Chen rushed onto the testing platform at the fastest speed, then very obsequiously called out to his grandfather.
Seeing this, Ye Zhong couldn't help but pat his mischievous grandson's head and gently said, "Ye Chen, put your hand on this crystal and try to sense the crystal..."
For ordinary people, even a Third-Rank Alchemist, it was difficult to accurately and actively mobilize their Soul Power.
This Soul Value testing stele also used the spherical crystal on top to actively absorb the tester's Soul Power to display the value.
Ye Chen followed his grandfather's request, stretched out his fair and plump little hand, and stood on his tiptoes to press it directly onto the crystal.
Instantly, Ye Chen felt his head suddenly spin, and then it immediately returned to normal.
At the same time...
"Beep beep beep."
As Ye Chen's Soul Power was absorbed into the crystal, a beeping sound suddenly came from the smooth jade belt in the center of the stele...
Then, blood-red numbers surged upward, finally settling at 150 after about ten seconds, under the gaze of many eyes.
As soon as this number appeared, the chamber instantly fell silent, and gazes seemed to turn to stone, fixed on that value, unable to move away.
"The Soul Value actually reached 150? Doesn't that mean he has already reached the threshold of a Third-Rank Alchemist? He's even stronger than me! How will I ever face anyone again..."
A Ye Family member who looked to be in his twenties couldn't help but mutter.
This sudden remark broke the frozen atmosphere in the Alchemist Chamber, and many gazes, carrying an undisguised shock, looked at the figure in front of the stele, who was not even as tall as the testing stele itself.
"The Ye Family is saved..."
Ye Zhong's excited hands trembled slightly; all the worries of this period finally vanished completely at this moment...