“Young friend, please stop joking. Our Demon City branch of the Alchemists’ Association is only authorised to issue certificates up to high-rank Yellow-grade. If you really want a certificate above that, you would have to go to the Five Immortals Island or the White Tiger Continent.”
Tiemu gave a wry smile.
Ling Xiao genuinely had not known this. He shrugged helplessly and said, “Fine. If that’s not possible, then let me just take the high-rank Yellow-grade alchemist examination.”
“…”
“…”
When Ling Xiao had first said he wanted the full Yellow-grade examination, everyone assumed it was a joke, so they had not taken it seriously and there had been little reaction.
Yet now, hearing these words, every single person froze.
“Are you certain you want to take the high-rank Yellow-grade alchemist examination?”
“Why not? Is that not allowed?”
Ling Xiao said helplessly, “Didn’t you just say the Demon City branch has the authority? Why is it suddenly not allowed again?”
“Ling Xiao, what kind of joke is this? High-rank Yellow-grade alchemist is an extremely sacred certification. The two men standing before you spent over a hundred years each to reach that level. How can you treat it so lightly?”
Sikong Yue snapped angrily.
“Look, Miss Sikong, whether I take the high-rank examination really has nothing to do with you. Why are you getting so worked up?”
Ling Xiao was puzzled. Sikong Yue should not know that he had killed her father, Sikong Zun, so why was she opposing him at every turn?
“Enough, stop arguing.”
Lin waved his hand. “Ling Xiao, I am asking you very seriously. Were those words just now a joke? You must understand that a single high-rank certification costs an enormous amount of money. It is a heavy burden on our branch, so we cannot treat it as casually as the lower-rank tests.”
“President, I am also answering very seriously. I do indeed wish to take the high-rank alchemist certification.”
Ling Xiao’s expression turned solemn.
With this confirmation, everyone present fell into a daze, their minds almost refusing to function.
A sixteen-year-old low-rank Yellow-grade alchemist was impressive, but still within the realm of acceptance. Someone like Sikong Yue could achieve it.
She had simply been delayed a few years, succeeding only at seventeen, yet people could still accept that.
But a sixteen-year-old high-rank Yellow-grade alchemist? What kind of concept was that?
Although Sikong Yue kept claiming she could pass it, in reality she had less than a thirty percent chance.
Yet Ling Xiao’s attitude was one of absolute certainty.
“If this boy isn’t a monster, then he’s definitely an idiot. Does he really think the high-rank Yellow-grade certification is a game?”
“I think he’s just trying his luck. To become a high-rank Yellow-grade alchemist, you must refine a high-rank Yellow-grade pill with at least sixty percent perfection. Can he do that?”
“Don’t get too full of yourself. I do admire you, but the alchemist examination is a sacred matter. You must not treat it lightly,” Tie Yunshan said to Ling Xiao. “If you fail, you will not only have to pay a huge penalty fee, you will also be punished by the Alchemists’ Association. Are you sure you can handle that?”
“I should be able to.”
Ling Xiao replied calmly.
“Let me put it this way. How confident are you?”
Even Tiemu was growing nervous. Could they really have encountered a once-in-a-generation genius in the alchemy world today?
“Being modest, I’d say one hundred percent.”
Ling Xiao said casually.
Modest?
One hundred percent?
Was this modesty or sheer boasting?
Ling Xiao was not boasting at all. He could even refine full Yellow-grade pills. Mere high-rank Yellow-grade pills posed no problem whatsoever.
The only limitation was his cultivation level, which might prevent him from refining large quantities in a short time.
After all, pill refining consumed internal energy, soul force, stamina, and many other things. The toll on a warrior was enormous.
If one’s cultivation was insufficient, one simply could not endure the strain.
Nobody believed him.
Nobody dared to believe him.
“One hundred percent confidence? Keep bragging. I’ve seen plenty of arrogant youngsters who claimed to be invincible in their field, yet in reality they amounted to nothing.”
Sikong Yue glared at Ling Xiao. “You’re just as arrogant and ignorant as they were.”
Ling Xiao gave a faint smile and turned to Lin. “You are the president here. If you are unwilling to let me take the high-rank Yellow-grade certification, I can leave right now. There are Alchemists’ Association branches on the Divine Phoenix Continent as well. I’m not desperate enough to hang myself on one tree.”
“Someone! Prepare the high-rank Yellow-grade alchemist examination at once!”
Lin gritted his teeth and made the decision.
Losing a bit of money was nothing. If the boy actually succeeded, Lin would earn enormous merit. He might even be transferred back from the Heavenly Dragon Continent to headquarters.
He had long grown tired of this backwater place.
How could he let such a massive achievement slip into someone else’s hands?
“What are you all standing around for? Move!”
Seeing his subordinates still frozen, Lin roared again.
“Ling Xiao, rest assured. We will let you take the high-rank Yellow-grade alchemist certification.”
“Thank you.”
Ling Xiao nodded.
Although the Divine Phoenix Continent had similar branches, travelling back and forth would be a hassle. It was far better to complete the certification here.
A high-rank alchemist certificate commanded absolute respect on both the Heavenly Dragon and Divine Phoenix Continents, and even on the Five Immortals Island. Many things would become much simpler.
The staff of the Alchemists’ Association went off to prepare the examination area.
Lin had not lied. High-rank certification required major arrangements, possibly involving rare and precious ingredients that were genuinely difficult to obtain. Under normal circumstances, they would never allow anyone with less than seventy or eighty percent confidence to attempt it.
The waste would simply be too great.
“Young friend, we have already agreed to let you take the examination, but the two of us old men are taking a big risk here. You must not toy with us. If you fail, we will become the laughing stock of our peers.”
Tiemu said with a smile.
“Don’t worry. The two of you will only be envied by your peers, never ridiculed. What I’m more interested in right now is what benefits I will receive once I become an official member of your Alchemists’ Association.”
Ling Xiao had heard some things before, but those were only hearsay. It was far better to ask the branch president directly for accurate information.
“Of course there are benefits, and plenty of them.”
Tiemu smiled. “First, with regard to ingredients. Think about it. If you tried to obtain a rare herb on your own, it would be extremely difficult, wouldn’t it?
Once you join the Alchemists’ Association, however, you can share resources with every single member. You should know that our association has branches across all thirteen continents of the Mysterious Realm as well as on many islands.
Our members are spread throughout the entire Mysterious Realm. Some ingredients grow only in very specific locations. Even if you know where they are, travelling thousands of miles to get them is no easy task. Through our special channels, we can have those ingredients delivered to you.
You can trade with other alchemists, or purchase them at a comparatively low price.”
