16: Application Assessment

Blackrock City, one of the most prosperous cities in the Jia Ma Empire, makes Wutan City seem like a backward, impoverished place in comparison.

The mere fact that Alchemists, who are rare in Wutan City, include even Fourth Rank Alchemists here, is enough to show its prosperity.

Furthermore, Blackrock City also has a flying transport team... Of course, this was not Xiao Lei's main reason for coming here.

Leaving Qingshan Town, Xiao Lei and Xiao Yi Xian rode her Blue Eagle directly towards Blackrock City, finally reaching this magnificent city after several days of rapid flight.

"Xiao Lei, you said before that you came to take the alchemist badge assessment. Aren't you already a Second Rank Alchemist? Why don't you even have a First Rank alchemist badge yet?"

Everything about Xiao Lei seemed strange in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes. He had the Cultivation of a Great Dou Master, yet he used a Yellow Rank low-grade Cultivation Technique.

If you say he was poor, then he possessed a Profound Rank Dou Technique, and Alchemists are never poor.

Now, it was discovered that Xiao Lei could already refine Second Rank Medicinal Pills extremely smoothly, yet he still didn't even have an alchemist badge.

"The city I was in before didn't have a place to assess alchemist badges, so I never took it. That's not the point; passing it is. By then, at my current age, I should be invited by the Blackrock City Alchemist Guild to become an honorary Elder. At that time, I can use their help to get you a poison-attribute Cultivation Technique."

After staying in Qingshan Town for so long, Xiao Yi Xian had long since condensed a Qi vortex and become a Dou Practitioner. The unique nature of her Calamity Poison Body allowed Xiao Yi Xian to continue increasing her Cultivation even without starting to Cultivate a Cultivation Technique.

However, a Cultivation Technique was still necessary, and poison Dou Techniques couldn't be lacking either, otherwise, she would have a body full of poison Dou Qi but wouldn't be able to exert her full strength.

Keeping Xiao Yi Xian by his side could reduce many variables. Xiao Lei wasn't sure how Xiao Yi Xian grew up in the Izumo Empire in the original story. What if, because of him, Xiao Yi Xian died prematurely in the Izumo Empire? Wouldn't Xiao Lei directly lose an assistant?

After much thought, Xiao Lei still decided to keep her by his side.

"To save time, I'll go directly to the Alchemist Guild. You can wander around Blackrock City as you please!"

Xiao Lei was already impatient to witness the esteemed presence of two Great Masters for a long time!

Xiao Yi Xian didn't say much. This was her first time leaving Qingshan Town, and many things were new. Her attention was focused on these things, and after receiving Xiao Lei's instruction, she ventured into the alleys.

Soon, guided by passersby, Xiao Lei arrived in front of a Medicine Cauldron-shaped building.

Without much fuss, Xiao Lei was allowed entry after giving the two guards standing at the gate a tip of the most common Medicinal Pill.

After all, whether Xiao Lei was an Alchemist or not, being able to tip with a Medicinal Pill already indicated extraordinary strength.

Seeing Xiao Lei enter, a maid quickly came forward in the hall.

"Sir, may I ask what business brings you here?"

The maid saw that Xiao Lei wasn't wearing an alchemist badge, so she assumed he had other matters at the Alchemist Guild.

"I would like to apply for the Second Rank Alchemist assessment. Please report it!"

Unlike the unified examination for First Rank, due to the drastically reduced number of applicants for Second Rank Alchemists, the Alchemist Guild did not conduct unified assessments. Instead, Alchemists applied independently.

Upon hearing this, a strange expression appeared on the maid's face.

"Has the Great Master ever participated in the First Rank Alchemist assessment?"

The maid saw that Xiao Lei didn't even have the lowest First Rank alchemist badge, so she really didn't dare to directly report it for Xiao Lei!

"If I remember correctly, your Guild doesn't seem to have a rule that one must first participate in the First Rank Alchemist assessment before applying for the Second Rank Alchemist assessment, does it?"

The maid was speechless. The Blackrock City Alchemist Guild really didn't have such a rule. After all, according to a normal person's thought process, one would first take the First Rank and then the Second Rank!

"Sir, why don't you please go back for now? Wait a few more days for the First Rank Alchemist assessment to begin, then take the First Rank alchemist badge and then apply for the Second Rank Alchemist assessment?"

Xiao Lei was only doing this because the First Rank assessment was still a long time away, so he might as well directly take the Second Rank one.

"Without even a First Rank alchemist badge, you dare to apply for the Second Rank Alchemist assessment? Are you here to waste the Guild's Medicinal materials?"

Just as Xiao Lei was arguing with the maid about the rationality of his actions, an arrogant voice sounded from behind Xiao Lei.

Xiao Lei turned his head and saw a girl of about twenty years old standing behind him with her hands on her hips, looking at him.

Xiao Lei first looked into her eyes.

Hmm, she was staring at him.

That's fine!

Xiao Lei shifted his gaze elsewhere. Lin Fei was wearing a purple dress today, but the loose clothing still didn't conceal Lin Fei's formidable "strength."

Her legs are not as good as Xiao Yu's!

Xiao Lei's assessment was.

"Speaking of wasting the Guild's Medicinal materials, I'm afraid I'm not as good as Young Miss Lin Fei. After all, this is my first time participating in an assessment. As for Young Miss Lin Fei... then I, Xiao, wouldn't know!"

Xiao Lei retorted without hesitation. Just because she was pretty didn't mean she could do whatever she wanted. He, Xiao Lei, was so handsome and still so low-key.

"You... you!"

Lin Fei's face immediately flushed red upon hearing this. The last time she insisted on participating in the assessment, she almost caused the Medicine Cauldron to explode during the refining process, completely losing face.

"Since you know this Young Miss, how dare you be so presumptuous! Quickly apologize to this Young Miss!"

He was just stating the facts, so why did he have to apologize!

Xiao Lei couldn't be bothered with her. After all, she was just Otto's disciple, with no strength of her own. Xiao Lei didn't take her seriously at all; instead, he turned back to continue arguing with the maid.

"If you can't make the decision, then report it to Great Master Otto or Great Master Frank for a final decision."

Although Xiao Lei had never met the two, he knew from the original story that they were very fond of Geniuses. If the matter could be brought before them, the assessment could basically proceed.

After all, the Medicinal materials required for a Second Rank Medicinal Pill were not as important in their eyes as a sixteen-year-old Second Rank Alchemist.

"Hmph, report it to my teacher, and I'll make sure your application doesn't go through!"

Lin Fei had already thought about how she would use her limited ability, her 師徒 (master-disciple) relationship with Otto, to obstruct Xiao Lei and then make him apologize to her.

Thinking about it made her a little excited!

"Who is making noise in the hall!"

As Xiao Lei and the others were at a stalemate, Otto's voice suddenly rang out in the hall.

Then, an old man was seen walking with leisurely steps towards Xiao Lei and the others.

On the old man's chest, there was indeed an ancient badge. On the badge was a Medicine Cauldron, and four delicate ripples.

Before Xiao Lei could even speak, Lin Fei instantly rushed to Otto's side, hugged his arm, and then began to complain about Xiao Lei while pouting.

"Teacher, this guy isn't even a First Rank Alchemist, yet he came to apply for the Second Rank Alchemist assessment. I just said one sentence, and he made fun of my previous assessment and even said that your teaching was inadequate!"

Downplaying the important, exaggerating the trivial—these are abilities possessed by everyone who tattles.

Xiao Lei shrugged, too lazy to explain. The truth of such matters often wasn't important; it only depended on what Otto himself chose to believe.

Xiao Lei took out a Qi Recovery Pill from his storage ring and handed it to Otto.

"Great Master Otto, this pill was refined by this Junior. Whether Senior believes it or not is not important. If this Junior does not pass the assessment, how about using this Medicinal Pill to cover the cost of the Medicinal materials?"

Otto took the Qi Recovery Pill, opened the cap, and observed it carefully.

"The pill has a rich fragrance and bright color; it should have been refined not long ago. It is indeed possible that he refined it."

After just a brief examination, Otto knew what was what in his heart, and then he handed the Medicinal Pill back.

"The Alchemist Guild's Second Rank Alchemist assessment does not require self-funded Medicinal materials; the Guild bears the cost. Take it back, lest others say that our Blackrock City Alchemist Guild is stingy."

"As for the assessment... follow me!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lei was not surprised at all, but Lin Fei was...