The head of the Black Python family had issued an order: every alchemist in Sin City was to be summoned to diagnose the elder from Changle Immortal Island.
The minimum requirement was high-grade Yellow-rank. As long as one met that standard, the guards would let them through.
Of course, even those who fell short were not rudely driven away. They were simply turned back politely.
Who knew which of these alchemists might one day become highly sought after?
The Black Python family could not afford to offend them.
Ling Xiao queued at the back, waiting his turn to be examined.
Besides the Black Python guards, an old man of about fifty was sitting to one side sipping tea. He wore the standard robes of Changle Immortal Island.
The emblem of Changle Immortal Island was the Changle Flower, which made it very easy to recognise.
Ling Xiao guessed this man had been sent by either Feng Ming Piaoxue or the powerful elder himself to screen the alchemists.
After a long wait, it was finally Ling Xiao’s turn.
A guard stepped forward, glanced at Ling Xiao’s chest, saw no badge, and frowned slightly.
Still, his attitude remained civil. “Young sir, today we are only receiving alchemists of high-grade Yellow-rank and above. Are you sure you have the right place?”
Ling Xiao gave a faint smile, casually took out his alchemist certificate, and handed it over. “Here is my certificate. You can check it.”
The certificate was the true proof of an alchemist’s identity.
A badge could be forged, but a certificate almost never. Even if someone tried, the Alchemist Association’s records would expose the fraud.
“You’re actually a high-grade Yellow-rank alchemist?”
The guard was clearly sceptical.
After all, Ling Xiao looked only sixteen or seventeen. How could someone so young possibly be a high-grade Yellow-rank alchemist?
His first thought was that the certificate must be fake and that this youth intended harm towards the elder.
His expression turned icy. He handed the certificate back and said, “Young sir, you had better leave.”
“Leave? Didn’t you say you were accepting high-grade Yellow-rank alchemists and above?”
Ling Xiao frowned at the guard.
“Kid, I’m already showing you respect by speaking politely. Don’t push your luck. Did you really think a forged certificate would let you sneak into the Black Python residence?”
The guard finally revealed a ferocious expression, threatening look.
Slap!
A crisp slap rang out in front of the Black Python residence gates.
Ling Xiao looked coldly at the guard. “Forging an alchemist certificate? Do you know the consequences of falsely accusing an alchemist, especially a high-grade Yellow-rank one?”
“What’s going on here?”
The slap startled the tea-drinking elder, who hurried over to ask.
“Elder Tong, this fellow forged an alchemist certificate and tried to bluff his way in. I stopped him, and he actually struck me.”
The guard declared loudly.
Slap!
Another slap followed. The first had struck the right cheek, this one the left. Now both sides of the guard’s face were swollen. At least it looked symmetrical.
Whoosh!
Dozens of guards standing at the gate instantly rushed forward and surrounded Ling Xiao.
“Hold.”
The elder from Changle Immortal Island raised a hand, then turned to Ling Xiao. “This old man is Tong Gang, servant to the Changle Ancestor. Young friend, are you truly a high-grade Yellow-rank alchemist?”
“Elder Tong, my certificate is right there. Whether it is genuine or not can be verified easily. Would you believe me if I simply told you?”
Ling Xiao replied calmly.
“Verify it.”
Tong Gang was extremely cautious. Ever since the Mountains and Rivers Martial Soul had reappeared in the Profound World, monstrous geniuses had been emerging everywhere. He had no wish to offend someone who might one day rule an entire domain.
Moments later, his subordinate returned and reported respectfully, “Reporting to Elder Tong, this person is indeed a high-grade Yellow-rank alchemist. He passed the examination at the Demon Capital Alchemist Association on the Tianlong Continent only recently.”
“It’s real?”
The slapped guard instantly forgot his pain and stared at Ling Xiao like an idiot.
He truly had not expected Ling Xiao to be genuine.
“Heh heh, this young sir is indeed extraordinarily gifted. To reach such a level at so young an age. Even this old man nearly misjudged you. Please, come in. Someone will escort you to where the Changle Ancestor is resting.”
Tong Gang chuckled and made an inviting gesture.
Though Tong Gang might call himself a mere servant, but his strength was probably that of a domain lord, a Cavern Heaven realm expert far stronger than Man Feng.
“Thank you.”
Ling Xiao nodded and walked inside. As he passed the slapped guard, he said indifferently, “Keep your eyes open in future. Don’t go looking for trouble. Life is hard enough already. Offend the wrong person and you might lose more than your face.”
“Yes, sir.”
Though the Black Python guard had been struck, he felt no resentment. On the contrary, he was grateful.
Today it was only slaps. If this continued, he might one day meet someone truly ruthless and lose his life.
Those two slaps had woken him up and, in a way, saved him.
“Young sir.”
When Tong Gang saw Ling Xiao to the gate, his form of address had already changed. He smiled and said, “If you can heal our Changle Ancestor’s injury, you will be a friend of Changle Immortal Island from this day forward. I cannot speak for other places, but at the very least on the Tianlong Continent and Divine Phoenix Continent, our words carry great weight.”
“I also hope we can become friends.”
Nobody enjoyed making enemies, and Ling Xiao was no exception. However, he wanted friends earned through his own ability, friends who respected and even feared him.
Not friends gained by grovelling and sacrificing dignity.
Once through the gate, a pretty maid came forward to lead the way.
Tong Gang turned and went back outside to continue screening alchemists.
Following the maid, Ling Xiao took in the fragrant flowers and singing birds around him.
He could not help sighing inwardly. The Black Python family truly lived up to its reputation as the foremost clan in Sin City. This residence was almost as luxurious as the imperial palace of the Divine Phoenix Empire.
Truly extravagant.
As he walked, Ling Xiao sensed many pairs of eyes watching him from the shadows.
Soul power also seeped from every corner, locking onto his every movement.
“Interesting. The defences here seem even stricter than at Black Wind Tower. No wonder the Black Python family can rest so easy.”
Ling Xiao gave a slight smile. So the Black Python family was not as fearless as the rumours claimed. Defences like these proved they were afraid of assassination after all.
“Young sir, we have arrived. The building ahead is where the Changle Ancestor is recuperating.”
At the entrance to a quiet, elegant courtyard filled with fresh air, the maid turned and informed him.
Ling Xiao nodded. He could already see many alchemists inside the courtyard.
Every single one was at least high-grade Yellow-rank, and none of them were young.
