Hearing the two guards’ words, Ling Xiao merely gave a faint smile.
Though he could not yet wield the sacred flame for attacks, displaying it or using it for alchemy and pill refining posed no issue.
As he extended his palm, a clump of scarlet flame rose at once.
The scorching heat made the air before the Apothecary Association swelter unbearably. The two guards even stepped back several paces involuntarily.
“Samadhi True Fire! One of the Twelve Divine Flames! How can you control such a blaze? Do you possess a Samadhi True Fire martial soul? Or has your cultivation advanced to the Cave Heaven realm? Otherwise, you must be a Yellow-grade apothecary?”
The guards’ shock was not without cause.
Those who could command the Twelve Divine Flames, or Sacred Flames, either bore such a flame as their martial soul or were Cave Heaven realm powerhouses.
Barring that, only Yellow-grade apothecaries could briefly manage them.
Had the figure before them been a white-haired elder, or at least a forty- or fifty-year-old martial artist, the guards might not have been so stunned.
The key was that Ling Xiao appeared but a boy of sixteen or seventeen. Whichever possibility held, he counted as prime talent the association would value highly.
“Gentlemen, some matters are best left unknown. But do your words just now still stand? May I enter for the association’s assessment?”
Ling Xiao naturally evaded their questions. He had revealed the Samadhi True Fire only to gain entry.
Moreover, with the flame’s draw, a crowd had already gathered nearby. To avoid further hassle, best to slip inside promptly.
“No issue, no issue at all, Apothecary Lord. Please, enter!”
The guards’ attitudes flipped utterly.
Their prior indifference vanished, replaced by utter deference.
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, saying no more.
He had seen such turncoats aplenty.
“Moon Woman Sister, let us go!”
Ling Xiao called to Moon Woman, and the pair stepped into the Apothecary Association.
Inside, the dense medicinal scent grew sharper still. Ling Xiao sniffed, surprise stirring within. From the aromas, he could discern many rare herbs.
Such materials proved hard to obtain ordinarily.
Joining the association greatly raised one’s chances of access.
The association’s staff went about their duties, unconcerned with newcomers.
Troublemakers would never pass the guards.
Yet Moon Woman at Ling Xiao’s side proved too radiant, drawing many glances.
From looks alone, Moon Woman seemed little older than Ling Xiao, perhaps in her twenties, more elder sister than peer.
Thus most likely took her for a sister escorting her brother to the assessment.
“What may I assist you with?”
They had just crossed the courtyard when a woman in a green gauze skirt approached, beaming at them.
“I wish to take the apothecary assessment, but as it is my first time at the association, I know not the way.”
Ling Xiao explained.
The green-clad woman showed no disdain for Ling Xiao.
She had worked at the association for years and seen many young genius apothecaries: eighteen or nineteen and already Yellow-grade juniors.
Like that Miss Tie Yun Shan, just turned eighteen; passing the certification seemed no trouble.
The youth before her appeared a touch younger still, yet that did not rule out a talent surpassing even Tie Yun Shan. Thus the woman stayed cautious and polite.
Offend such folk, and no gain came of it. They might well become future masters.
“This way, please.”
The green-clad woman offered her professional smile, led Ling Xiao and Moon Woman to a desk, and said, “Will both take the assessment?”
“No, only I.”
Ling Xiao replied.
“Ah, then please state your name, age, race, and lineage, young master. We must register. Should you pass, these details enter our association’s archives.”
The green-clad woman said.
“Ling Xiao, sixteen, human. Lineage: Yuan Zun.”
Ling Xiao had several masters, but in apothecary arts, Yuan Zun influenced him most. Listing him as lineage proved apt.
Mentioning Yuan Zun stirred some longing. Long since they had met; he wondered how his master fared.
“Sixteen? Young master, if you succeed this time, you may well become the association’s youngest Yellow-grade junior apothecary in history.”
The green-clad woman said in surprise.
“Why assume junior? Cannot it be advanced, or even superior?”
Ling Xiao asked with a smile.
“You jest, young master.”
The green-clad woman took it as banter.
Ling Xiao offered no further explanation. Jest if she must. When results emerged, she would know if it truly were.
Registration done, Ling Xiao received a number tag. With multiple candidates today, he must queue by tag.
The assessment hall was spacious. Already many filled it.
Some were escorts for candidates, others association staff.
Most crucially, the examinees.
That elder Tie Mu stood there too, chatting amiably with another old man. They seemed fast friends.
The other elder was the demon capital branch’s president, “Lin”, a standard Blue-Eyed clansman.
Rumour held his cultivation and apothecary rank matched Tie Mu’s. Even the True Demon Empire dared not cross him, for he answered to the association.
Among the onlookers lay a roped-off zone: the assessment ground.
Over a dozen waited there, including that Miss Tie Yun Shan.
“Lin, I heard the Lightning Demon King’s daughter, Sikong Yue, takes the assessment too. Where is she?”
Tie Mu asked suddenly.
Hearing this, Ling Xiao paused.
The Lightning Demon King was none other than Sikong Zun.
Thus Sikong Yue was his daughter.
But soon he smiled.
Sikong Yue was Sikong Yue; Sikong Zun, Sikong Zun. Father and daughter they might be, yet Ling Xiao had never crossed her. As long as she stirred no trouble, neither would he.
