"You mean to tell me this girl is better than you at formations?" an elder asked, incredulous.
Tian Hongkai gave a bitter smile. "Far better. She's only barely out of her teens and already at this level. Her future achievements will eclipse mine."
At the thought that Feng Yuqin also practiced alchemy, Tian hesitated a beat before adding, "Someone like her likely isn't bad at pillcraft either."
"Even if she has aptitude for pills, she's obviously poured all her energy into formations," Jiang Chengyun sneered. "Otherwise her arrays wouldn't be this strong."
If she hadn't paid much attention to alchemy, Jiang thought, then victory was practically guaranteed. The idea of himself eventually holding double-elder status made his excitement hard to contain.
"We must try to keep a talent like this at the academy," Tian said, recovering.
Though Tian was one of the academy's stronger array elders, it was rare to see someone under twenty reach such heights.
Elder Fan said coolly, "Talents like that rarely stay put."
Jiang snorted. "Our academy has always recruited students. Elder positions were earned step by step. Allowing her to take the elder assessments is already charity."
Another elder, seeing Feng Yuqin's youth and prowess, couldn't hide a flash of envy. "Elder Jiang's right. We've never had someone this young sit an elder exam."
Elder Fan laughed. "That's because no one ever passed two disciplines at such a young age. You didn't pay it any mind. Besides, the academy has no age limit for exams."
"Look—she's into the second round now," someone pointed out.
Elder tests were orders of magnitude harder than student ones. The formation trials, too, progressed through three stages: simple, medium, and difficult.
Feng had finished the simple array in less than a single stick of incense. Now that she had moved into the medium tier, Elder Tian couldn't help but ask, "How long do you think she'll take this time?"
Jiang's tone turned acidic. "You should be asking whether she'll even pass. The medium arrays are far tougher than the simple ones."
Many of the elders and instructors doubted her as much as Jiang did. To make Fan's humiliation all the sweeter, Jiang had used a comm-stone to call people in—dozens arrived, even instructors who weren't teaching or in seclusion.
The vice-director frowned at the growing crowd. He looked to Elder Fan for guidance; when Fan gave no sign, he let it go.
With more people came more chatter and more contempt. Some shook their heads at Feng's slow progress. "Elder Jiang, really? Dragging us out for this?"
"She's so young—letting her try for an elder place is ridiculous," a senior instructor said indignantly. Many of the teaching staff felt the same. They had climbed the ranks arduous step by step; they'd never become elders, so why should a newcomer barely out of her teens be allowed to sit the elder exam?
They all assumed she would fail and had come to watch Fan be proven right. Fan had a reputation for strictness; many families relied on his fairness to ensure their candidates passed only on merit. Some in the crowd had hoped to slip relatives through, but Fan's rigor had blocked them. Frustration toward him simmered.
"I always thought Elder Fan was strict with admissions, exams, and instructors. Turns out it's only with students," said Zhang Hongwen, an instructor in the alchemy hall and Jiang Chengyun's brother-in-law.
Fan glanced coldly at Zhang. "Your brother-in-law already wagered with me. Care to join him?"
Zhang hadn't known about the wager; his eyes landed on Jiang. Jiang was only too happy to recount the bet, and the rest of the onlookers went silent, stunned. Fan and Jiang had thrown elder seats into the gamble—positions coveted by many in the academy. The crowd's interest sharpened into appetite.
"Fan's seat is mine," Jiang declared. "If you want to bet, wager your own treasures against him."
That lit a fuse. Several people, thinking Fan bound to lose, produced precious artifacts. Many of those with ties to Jiang eagerly laid out their best items. The vice-director opened his mouth to stop it, but Fan gave him a discreet sign to stay out.
Within minutes half the crowd had made wagers, piling gleaming relics and rare implements on the stone benches. Everyone was eager to snatch a little of the spoils should Fan be defeated.
Inside the trial chamber, the array shifted as the medium round began. From where they were Feng and the others could faintly hear the murmurs and see the faces watching beyond the formation barrier.
Little Jin grew excited, greed sparkling in his eyes. "Xiao Ying, some of those treasures look really tempting."
Xiao Ying, ever practical, glanced at Feng standing motionless at the front of the array and said, "Master will get through this fine. If you want something, ask Master afterward—Elder Fan seems friendly toward Master. He might help you procure a bit."
Little Jin blinked happily. "Good plan."
At that same moment Feng Yuqin stepped fully into the second round.
Jiang's voice cut through the murmurs, dripping sarcasm. "Took her that long to reach the next stage? Elder Fan should prepare to lose."
Fan smiled faintly. "We'll see who loses."
Jiang jabbed a finger toward Feng. "Look how long she took to solve the first array. Are you sure she'll finish within the allotted time?"
Zhang chimed in, his tone triumphant. "Yes—the arrays are time-limited. She used half the time for the first stage. Elder Fan, I think this round goes to Jiang."