“Secondly, we have our own dedicated intelligence network. If you need information about herbs or pills, you can go directly to any branch and inquire.
Our data is synchronised and updated in a very short time.”
“That’s excellent. In future I will definitely have to trouble you often.”
Ling Xiao knew far too little about the outside world. Having access to the Alchemists’ Association intelligence network would undoubtedly add a great deal to his knowledge and experience.
It would also save him an enormous amount of time searching for ingredients.
Time is money.
Time is cultivation.
It really must not be wasted carelessly.
“President, the examination venue is ready.”
At this point the green-clothed woman returned to report to Lin.
“Well then, Ling Xiao. Once you step into the venue, there is no turning back. Shall we begin?”
Lin confirmed one final time.
Even now his heart was still uneasy. Something about this felt wrong.
“No problem at all.”
Ling Xiao nodded.
“Very well. Follow me.”
Lin turned and headed towards the examination area.
Tiemu followed as well, leaving the low-rank Yellow-grade examinations in the hands of the green-clothed woman and the others.
“Yunshan, you and Sikong Yue stay here and wait. The high-rank examination is extremely strict. Not the slightest disturbance is permitted, so you cannot enter to watch.”
Tiemu stopped Tie Yunshan and Sikong Yue, who had also wanted to slip in and observe.
“Grandpa, just let me take one peek, just one. I want to learn from the experience. Who knows, I might have to take this examination myself one day.”
Tie Yunshan wheedled.
“No amount of whining will work this time. I am the vice-president of the association and an examiner today. If I let you in and you affect the candidate, what then?”
With that, Tiemu walked straight into the venue and closed the door behind him.
Guards quickly stationed themselves outside.
“What kind of grandfather is he? He won’t even open the back door for me.”
Tie Yunshan pouted, then turned to Sikong Yue. “Sikong Yue, aren’t you going to take the mid-rank Yellow-grade examination? Why aren’t you going?”
“I’ll wait until he’s finished.”
How could Sikong Yue be in any mood for her own examination right now? She only wanted to see whether Ling Xiao could actually pass the high-rank Yellow-grade test.
“Do you think he’ll succeed?”
Tie Yunshan asked.
“Didn’t he say he was one hundred percent confident?”
Sikong Yue no longer knew how to answer. The utterly confident expression on Ling Xiao’s face had dealt her too great a blow.
“If it were you, how confident would you be?”
Tie Yunshan pressed.
“Forty percent.”
Sikong Yue thought about it. Even if she gave absolutely everything she had, she would only have a forty percent chance.
“Tsk tsk. I already thought you were monstrous enough, but today someone even more monstrous showed up. Now I’m actually getting excited.”
Tie Yunshan looked excitedly at the tightly closed door, her eyes filled with anticipation.
She could not beat Sikong Yue herself, but if Ling Xiao could crush Sikong Yue, at least it would knock some of that arrogance out of her.
Sikong Yue opened her mouth to speak, but in the end said nothing.
About half an hour later, the door opened.
“They’re coming out! I wonder what the result is?”
Tie Yunshan clenched her pale fists, staring wide-eyed in that direction.
Tiemu emerged first.
His face wore an expression of utter helplessness, as though he were on the verge of tears.
Then came Lin.
He too was sighing heavily, looking deeply unhappy.
“Grandpa, what’s wrong with you two? You look like frostbitten aubergines. Did that kid fail?”
Tie Yunshan shouted.
That was the question on everyone’s mind.
“Frostbitten aubergines? Heh, that comparison is spot on. The two of us old fellows really do feel like frostbitten aubergines right now. The younger generation is truly fearsome. That boy is an absolute monster!”
Tiemu shook his head with a bitter smile.
“He succeeded?”
Tie Yunshan’s eyes widened.
“Yes, he succeeded. The youngest high-rank Yellow-grade alchemist in history. And from what I saw, he still had energy to spare. Perhaps when he mentioned taking the full Yellow-grade examination earlier, he wasn’t joking at all.”
Lin nodded.
Hearing the words of Tiemu and Lin, everyone present was stunned.
They all looked at one another in shock.
This was the high-rank Yellow-grade examination.
Not mid-rank!
That youth was only sixteen!
“What a terrifying fellow. How on earth did he grow so strong?”
“Exactly. A sixteen-year-old high-rank Yellow-grade alchemist. That has never happened anywhere in the entire Mysterious Realm. Put him on any other continent and he would still be a genius among geniuses.”
“Comparing yourself to others really can drive you mad.”
Sikong Yue felt her heart pounding. A feeling of fear and defeat she had never experienced before welled up from deep inside her.
She had wanted to become the youngest mid-rank Yellow-grade alchemist, yet Ling Xiao had left her far, far behind.
He had completely ignored mid-rank and gone straight for high-rank, perhaps even top-rank or full Yellow-grade.
“Is he even human?”
Tie Yunshan cried out in shock.
That cry truly spoke for everyone present.
“Hang on. It makes sense that the two of us are shaken, but why are you two girls shaken as well?”
Tie Yunshan could not help asking.
Tiemu sighed. “Whether it is utilisation of ingredients, flame control, or the final formation of the pill, he surpassed both of us old men.
If he were an old monster from our generation, we might be jealous, but we could accept it.
But he is only sixteen!
It is simply too demoralising.”
Lin added, “I am now more and more convinced that Yuan Zun is not dead, that he successfully returned from the other side of the Chosen Giant Gate and is living somewhere in the Mysterious Realm, and that he has even visited the Heavenly Dragon Continent.”
At that moment, Ling Xiao stepped out, a faint smile on his face. The examination had clearly been relaxed and effortless for him.
Almost every alchemist present looked at him with admiration.
At sixteen years of age, he already possessed skill superior to both the president and vice-president of the Demon City branch.
Given time, this fellow might very well become a strong candidate for president of the main Alchemists’ Association.
“Is the alchemist certificate not ready yet?”
Lin asked his subordinates.
“President, it should be ready soon. I’ll go hurry them.”
“No rush. Take your time and make sure there are no mistakes.”
The examination was already passed. Ling Xiao was in no hurry now. A few extra minutes made little difference.
Soon, the green-clothed woman brought over an exquisite white jade token.
The certificate was made from thin white jade, convenient to wear or to store inside a storage ring.
