Page 84: The deal

"What? The sect leader himself came? That's huge!"

People who saw the sect leader coming began to make a fuss. Ten minutes ago, they were only expecting the runner to bring the volume 4 book back. It was surprising that such test was able to get the leader's attention. It must have been because of the grade 4 herb that was in question. Everyone knows the sect has partnered with the alchemy tower to boost their resources and such discovery would potentially benefit the two large powers in the city.

By the entrance, the sect leader was accompanied hy a servant holding the volume 4 herbarium. Without any much words, the sect leader went straight to the central platform. His strong presence caused everyone to be silent making the whole arena's atmosphere heavy. Everyone from the platform greeted the sect leader.

"I heard everything from this servant. Where's the participant who made a petition?"

The sect leader's eyes followed everyone's sight and his met with Long Bai's eyes. Immediately, the sect leader used his divine sense to scan him. Good thing, Long Bai had the "faked status" to cover up his real value. If they will learn of his real value, they might take advantage of him or it might call for unwanted attention that he can't run away from. The sect leader's brows were keeping on moving until he gave off a surprised look. From his scan, he detected that everything's normal except his cultivation in relation to his bone age.

Long Bai on the other hand, when the sect leader tried to scan him, he felt like he was seen naked. The force that went prying on his body was nothing like any x-ray machine. It was more like there were a pair of eyes that entered his body. From head to toe, it was similar to a military check up that even the butthole would be inspected.

"This is...what is your name?"

The sect leader calmed himself down from being too curious. As much as possible, he tried to be amenable to a such unusual figures. With his experiences from the mainland, he has seen a lot of talented youngsters and most of them were actually related to forces that can't be messed with. With a bone age of less than 10 and yet have reached the middle layers of visceral layers (fake info by the system), he suspects that this young lad could be from the mainland. He heard that there were certain families that leave their young children to spread out and develop on their own. Only when they reach a certain age that they will be recalled back to their own clan. Being a small force on the outskirts, he cannot afford to be reckless with his dicisions. If this would be a lucky thing for the sect, he would prefer having good relations with him.

"This young one is called Long Bai, honored sect leader. I am the one who petitioned this case. I hope the sect leader is not bothered with his busy schedule."

"Hm, nothing to worry. Before we start, how did you know that this herb is a grade 4 class? By any chance, do you know how to make a grade 4 pill?"

Long Bai thought about it for a while. Since he became quite capable already, it should be high time that he take some spotlight. In case that they would try something to him, he had already made some preparations. The only thing that can probably suppress him in terms of strength would be the sect leader and a few select elders. In the sect, there might be no one, even the elders who can match his speed. So in terms of running away, he is confident with his skills.

"If the elder will allow, I can use this herb to make the bloody pill for tomorrow's test. Since a lot of the elders are skeptic about it, I would like to use this in order to pass the test."

Long Bai learned about the bloody pill from elder Kong when he went in to pick the herb inside the tiny world in him. Since the elder knew a lot of recipes, Long Bai had no problem making it. After all, his proficiency in making grade 4 pills have already reached a very high percentage.

"Preposterous! How dare a brat claim such thing? The bloody pill can only be refined by grade 4 alchemists. Even the four grade 4 alchemist here in merchant city doesn't have the recipe for it. You are just a grade 2 alchemist and yet you're so brave to announce you can do it? Ha! Sect leader, we should not waste our time with such nonsense."

The leader of the three elders who claimed that his answer was wrong fumed with anger and contempt. The idea of a young alchemist claiming to refine a grade 4 pill was just too much for them to take. Even the crowd was throwing some forms of mockery.

"Silence!"

The sect leader's voice was too commanding. His deep warning reverberated all throughout the arena. Although he was expressing anger outside, his mind was full of questions.

"I will decide what will take place. Young alchemist Long Bai, if the herb you brought was really a grade 4, then I will grant you to do that tomorrow. However, if proved wrong, then you must bear the consequences. Do you understand your predicament?"

"Yes, honored sect leader."

Long Bai's request was the right thing to do. Since he already maxed up the proficiency percentage of grade 1,2, and 3 pills, it would be more beneficial to use the competition to improve his skills instead. These opportunities can't be wasted since he would be using the sect's resources. While there are still things he can use aside from his resources, he would live to have them and improve his skills.

"Alright then. Open the 4th herbarium. Presiding elder, I trust your fair judgement. Please check the book."

Everyone agreed with the sect leader. Since they have witnessed how fair was the presiding elder, no fuss was said. After receiving the order, the book was finally opened.

First, the table of contents was opened, and then followed by the search of the page. Everyone saw that the middle pages was flipped. This just meant that the herb which Long Bai identified really existed.

After finding the page, the presiding read the descriptions. As they listened to the words spoken, it was exactly as how Long Bai described. From the physical appearance to the leaf orientation, it was all spot on. Everyone who was throwing shameless batter were now tongue tied while the ones who kept their mouth shut a moment ago were now spouting some praises to the young alchemist.

On the stage, the three elders who went to oppose Long Bai were shaking in anger and regret. They just can't accept that an alchemist of lower grade outsmarted them.

"Sect leader, he must have cheated! There's no way that a grade 2 alchemist can learn about grade 4 contents. Yes, he must have cheated! Sect leader, you must check about this young man. He might have used some tricks to cheat us."

"Then elder, are you saying that this young alchemist entered the sect vault and read the 4th volume without being detected? Are you saying that I failed to detect him while he was rummaging our sect vault? Is that what you meant? "

The sect leader was starting to get angry. The elder just indirectly insulted him in front of many people. Although he was making an angry expression, he too was asking a lot in his mind. Since there's only one book of the 4th volume, he was wondering how he came to such information. Just then, he remembered the unusual skills of his female disciple Yue. He heard from her that the skill came from a mysterious master who helped them at certain point. This must be related with this young alchemist which was able to gain such high level information. He also heard a lot of stories from her stating about a friend whom she described as too awesome. This young lad must be the person Yue was describing knowing that the person she identified was also an alchemist. From his investigation, he also learned that the third placer and 5th placer in the martial competition were her friends. The connection was too apparent. With such thoughts, he decided to investigate later.

"No, no, sect leader. That's not what I mean. The..how..it's just.."

"There is no use, elder. Thia young lad won the petition and he will be moving on with the test tomorrow. Does anyone have something against my decision?"

No one dared to make a sound. They knew that if they receive the sect elder's wrath, they would definitely cease to exist in this world.

"Young alchemist, tomorrow you must go with your own words. Refine the a grade 4 pill using the herb you have. Well then, I'll be watching you. If you really by then manage to make a grade 4 pill, I'll personally reward you."

Everyone heard the sect leader's announcement. A personal reward from the sect leader can't be something small. It must be a huge thing. The sect leader on the other hand was thinking differently. If this young lad will really make the grade 4 pill, he must pull him to the sect no matter what to receive some benefits.

With the sect leader's cue to the presiding elder, the 2nd alchemy test was officially closed. The four participants for tomorrow's test was announced together with the requirements needed to pass the last test.

Just before everyone from the stage stepped out, Long Bai called the three elders and was asking them to give him something using his hand gesture.

"Dear three elders, have you forgotten? Please don't leave yet. You're forgetting something. I haven't collected the fees yet. Hehehe."

--------------

Alchemy Level: Apprentice

*You are have started making pills that enters the heaven's eyes. Beware of heaven's tribulation when making a perfect pill.

Max output per attempt/creation:

+grade 1&2 (10)

+grade 3&4 (8)

+grade 5&6 (6)

Efficiency output:

~grade 1 (100%)

~grade 2 (100%)

~grade 3 (100%)

~grade 4

-low (100%)

-mid (100%)

-high (100%)

-mystic (91%)

~grade 5

-low (85%)

-mid (65%)

-high (45%)

-mystic 20%)