Hidden genius: Black belly snake

Tang Yue was confused. Her emerald eyes darted here and there, looking around in worry.

Almost everyone had their name called and still, her name was missing.

"Hmm… I thought I had done quite well?" A nagging feeling crept up in her heart.

Standing next to her, the annoying fatty kept obnoxiously leering at her and chatting with her.

At first, she was happy that the elf did not hold onto their past enmities, but now it was getting rather aggravating.

Tang Yue was definitely not in a mood to chat. She had worked very hard for this and wanted to see some results.

Unfortunately, the chubby elf didn't get the memo and kept pestering her and trying to console her.

"Princess, don't worry. These exams are typically very difficult. How about I train you in private for the next round?"

Tang Yue rolled her eyes in disgust. Yes, I am sure that's why you want to meet with me in private.

She took a deep breath and curtly nodded, not bothering to reply to him any longer.

"Aye! Stop worrying. Cheer up. Cheer up. They are going to announce the first place now. How about I treat you to a meal after this?"

"We will have a feast tonight celebrating the exam results." He chuckled and prepared to walk up to the examiner to receive the commendations.

And just like he had expected, the master alchemist's voice boomed with the final result.

"This cycle disciple Marvin has achieved the first place in the disciple exams." The middle-aged elf calmly announced.

Loud gasps echoed in the crowd and everyone eyed the elf in the golden robe with visible jealousy.

Marvin smiled slightly and nodded before walking forward towards the examiner. He had a very humble and scholarly aura around him.

But the next instant, he almost stumbled and fell. Because the examiner was not yet finished with his announcement.

"This cycle disciple Tang Yue has also achieved the first place in the disciple exams."

WHAT THE HECK???

Dranuk spat out the tea in his mouth in shock. He opened and closed his mouth without any words daring to come out. He was completely speechless.

He even tried to mentally recollect if he had mistakenly leaked out the questions to the snake as well!

Similar to his frozen face, his partner in crime Marvin also stood rooted to the spot.

Marvin gnashed his teeth in anger.

The soft corner he had for Tang Yue had long since disappeared and now he was begrudgingly glaring at her!

Damn it! He almost cursed out loud.

Marvin had badly wanted to stand alone in this spotlight. And now he had to share the first place? This won't do!

Luckily for him, the examiner as well had the same opinion.

After announcing Tang Yue's name, the master alchemist then calmly continued.

"Since we can have only one first place in the disciple exam, the two disciples will now be tested on their concocting abilities."

The crowd immediately broke out into a loud uproar.

"Hey, wasn't young master Marvin a cripple?"

"Oh yes, yes. The grandmaster's son did not have the fire element affinity when he tested a few years ago!"

"I heard he recently achieved a breakthrough."

"I heard the royal consort was also a cripple!"

"Even if she was not, why would a snake beast have fire element affinity?"

"Yes, what is she even doing trying to be an alchemy practitioner! She is just wasting the spot!"

"Why are even spirit beasts allowed inside the association gates? Ptui."

"Hey, you there! Calm down. Saying something like that is a punishable offense."

"I don't care! This is too much."

"Hmph. So what if she placed first on the exams, she is now going to crash and burn! How could even a beast concoct anything?"

"Only young master Marvin deserves the first place!"

Many of the disciples were discontented with the results.

Save for a couple of orcs, most of the alchemy disciples were elves and naturally, they looked down on the spirit beasts.

No matter how hard a spirit beast tried, it's potential would always be lower than higher intelligent beings.

They were merely trying to be respectful because of Tang Yue's status as a royal consort.

But now that she had actually managed to get the first place, they couldn't stand it any longer.

It was a loud slap on their faces.

How could a mere beast perform better than them?

The crowd started getting unrulier by the second and the examiner had to signal for another gong to quiet things down.

The examiner then walked over to an equally stunned Marvin and Tang Yue and handed another set of jade slips.

It contained the recipe and procedure for a simple low-grade pill concoction.