Chapter 99: Excellence is an Art

Everyone’s gaze was filled with jealousy and envy, and the Advanced assessment proctor was so excited that his shock was difficult to describe in words. At this moment, Ye Wenxin already surpassed their realm of imagination, and to say she was a Grandmaster Alchemist also did not suffice.

But such a small place could only issue an Advanced Alchemist token, so that proctor had no other choice but to take one out from a fine box.

The token was primarily golden in tone, with more and grander weaving patterns; Ye Wenxin held it in her hand, she could feel the weight of the Advanced token, seemingly crafted from pure gold, indicating its luxury.

“This miss, please drip a drop of blood onto the token to complete the Advanced Alchemist verification,” the Advanced assessment proctor prompted. Ye Wenxin hesitated slightly before compliantly pulling out a dagger and made a cut on her finger.

Fresh blood dripped onto the Advanced token, and it seemed to detect the blood’s presence as it quickly absorbed it. Immediately after, the gold token turned a silver color in a speed visible to the naked eye, puzzling Ye Wenxin.

“Rest assured, Miss Ye, this token’s worth hasn’t changed. If you personally hold this token in your hand, it will naturally turn back to a golden color. But if it’s someone else, this token won’t have any reaction, and this can prevent the appearance of counterfeit tokens,” the Advanced assessment proctor briefly explained the token’s usage. Ye Wenxin had a moment of clarity as she listened.

“Then besides being a symbol of one’s rank, does this token have other functions?” Ye Wenxin held it in hand, and the token really turned gold, but once it went to other people’s hands it would transform to silver.

Luo Miaoyi failed the assessment, yet seemed to take pleasure playing with Ye Wenxin’s token instead. Ling Jue and Qian Bingxue silently stood nearby, unwilling to attract too much attention from others.

“Of course, it has many uses. You can purchase herbs at the pharmacy, participate in auctions or trade at the chamber of commerce, all with certain discounts. The higher the level of the token, the better the treatment you receive,” the Advanced assessment proctor patiently explained the function of the token, emphasizing that compared to the Beginner token, the Advanced one had many more benefits.

“This truly is convenient. Thank you for your advice, sir.” Ye Wenxin was in a better mood after hearing this, she turned to put the token away, and then suddenly recalled something. She approached the Advanced assessment proctor, secretively saying, “By the way, I have a lot of pills, can I sell them directly through the Alchemist Association?”

The proctor narrowed his eyes, “Certainly you can, however, what pills does the miss wants to sell?”

Ye Wenxin wanted to take the pills out right away, but taking into account that some pills were too precious, doing so would create a stir, so she thought for bit, and continued, “Can we discuss this in the back room?”

Ye Wenxin’s mysterious attitude interested the Advanced assessment proctor even more, he made an inviting gesture, and the two went into the drawing room.

“Head Senior Sister, Miss Ye is an Advanced Alchemist, won’t it be too wasteful to bring her back as a human furnace?” Luo Miaoyi took this chance to negotiate with her Head Senior Sister, Qian Bingxue.

Ling Jue just sat down over there with her eyes closed to recuperate, not the slightest bit worried Qian Bingxue would take Ye Wenxin away after this was over.

With the token of an Advanced Alchemist, not only was she affiliated with the Alchemist Association, but also, if Shura Hall were to harbor any evil intentions, they would not just be facing Ling Jue’s Medicine King Valley or the Azure Wings Sect where Ye Wenxin currently resided, but also organizations like the Alchemist Association. The significance of this would become even more profound.

If news of this were to spread, a thirteen-year-old Advanced Alchemist, regardless of whether it was the demonic sects or the immortal sects, as long as Ye Wenxin gave a nod, she would be treated as an honored guest wherever she went.

While Qian Bingxue could eliminate Ye Wenxin or even Ling Jue, the Junior Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, the consequences would be more than she could handle.

“I’m just taking her to see Master,” Qian Bingxue naturally realized the impact of the change in status, and her intention was not to make things difficult for Ye Wenxin.

Because of Ye Wenxin’s unique constitution, Qian Bingxue simply wanted to take her back to see her master. If not for this, when Luo Miaoyi suggested “participating in the exam before returning,” she would have taken Ye Wenxin away without hesitation, without waiting for Ye Wenxin’s status to change and cause more trouble.

However, because of the change in status, Ye Wenxin was not in any danger in Shura Hall. Qian Bingxue could even use this favor to establish a connection with Ye Wenxin.

“But if we go up, what happens to Young Master Ling? Shura Hall don’t receive male guests.” Luo Miaoyi had mixed feelings, happy that Ye Wenxin would not be made into a human furnace, and worried that Ling Jue was unable to go up the mountain.

“Isn’t he the dual cultivation Dao partner you found?” Qian Bingxue subtle glanced over. Luo Miaoyi shivered, unnaturally shifting her gaze, she hurriedly said, “Ye…yes.”

While Luo Miaoyi did entertain this idea, she absolutely dared not scheme against Ling Jue. She was the true Peerless Gentleman, far beyond the reach of someone as insignificant as her.

“Just keep him by your side,” Qian Bingxue added, observing Luo Miaoyi’s timid demeanor.

“Then he’ll definitely be devoured by the senior sisters and junior sisters! No way, I absolutely cannot let him go back!” Thinking of Ling Jue’s handsome face and her own lonely senior and junior sisters, Luo Miaoyi vigorously shook her head, resisting fiercely. She was unwilling to let Ling Jue, this little lamb, enter the tiger’s mouth.

This conversation was not concealed at all, and Qian Bingxue also intended for Ling Jue to hear it.

The meaning was quite clear: Ye Wenxin must be taken to Shura Hall no matter what.

“Young Master Ling, what do you think?” Qian Bingxue looked at Ling Jue, who was resting with her eyes closed, and asked for her opinion.

Ling Jue slowly opened her eyes. Her already handsome features appeared even more heroic with her eyes open. She gently waved her fan and responded, “You take Wenxin up the mountain, but in return, you must ensure she comes back down safely.”

Luo Miaoyi was incredulous, she assumed Ling Jue would say something like going up to Shura Hall with Ye Wenxin; unexpectedly, Ling Jue actually chose to entrust Ye Wenxin to Qian Bingxue.

Qian Bingxue nodded, “Sure enough, Young Master is as clever as outsiders say.”

This sentence was said vaguely, sounding incomprehensible to Luo Miaoyi, “What does that have to do with anything?!”

Neither Ling Jue nor Qian Bingxue answered; only Ling Jue knew that sending Ye Wenxin to Shura Hall might be the only way to find a way to hide her Iceborn Constitution.

And precisely because of this, Qian Bingxue was confident Ling Jue would agree to let Ye Wenxin go up the mountain.

On this battlefield without smoke, a few casually exchanged words quietly began and ended under Luo Miaoyi’s eyelids.

After about an hour, Ye Wenxin appeared relaxed, while the Advanced assessment proctor was visibly excited, his old eyes bloodshot, as if he had witnessed something incredible during that time.

“Alright, sir, remember to contact me after those pills are sold,” Ye Wenxin added with a smile, without mentioning what pills she had taken out for the proctor to sell.

The Advanced assessment proctor, still very excited, showed even more respect in his eyes. “Lady Ye, I will not disappoint your expectations.”

Ye Wenxin waved her hand with a smile. When she caught Ling Jue’s gaze, she felt a bit uneasy but decided to play dumb until the end. Ling Jue was smart and would not inquire about Ye Wenxin’s secrets. Watching Ye Wenxin preparing to leave, she followed along.

Although both Ling Jue and Qian Bingxue were much more outstanding than Ye Wenxin, everyone was startled by Ye Wenxin’s exposed hand. It was not until they left the room that someone remembered something.

“Come to think of it, wasn’t that young master just now Medicine King Valley’s Junior Valley Master Ling Jue?”

“It can’t be. Ling Jue has become this little miss’s sidekick? Then how amazing is her identity?!”

As the talk that followed continued to improve Ye Wenxin’s mysterious background, the Advanced assessment proctor showed a wry smile, if Ye Wenxin had not personally said she was just an insignificant Azure Wings Sect outer disciple, perhaps he would also be like them now, assuming Ye Wenxin was a genius from some aristocratic family.

But upon hearing these words, the proctor felt that Ye Wenxin was a true genius. Whether it was the Junior Valley Master of Medicine King Valley behind her or the cold and mysterious girl, they all seemed to be trying to curry favor with her.

“This child is not to be underestimated; when faced with adversity, she transforms into a dragon¹.” With these words, the Advanced assessment proctor left in a huff, leaving behind a group of people staring at each other…

On the other side, Ye Wenxin had no idea what had happened in the Alchemist Association after they left. Even if she knew, she would probably just laugh it off.

As an old woman in her fifties, Ye Wenxin did not think she was outstanding in any way. Learning Alchemy in her fifties, she knew she could not compare to younger people in terms of excellence.

But now, wearing a loli appearance, everyone regarded her as a genius. Honestly, Ye Wenxin felt a bit guilty.

She feared that one day this facade would be shattered, and people would discover that beneath the surface of this thirteen-year-old loli was an old woman in her fifties. She knew not what expression they would make then.

Ye Wenxin found the image increasingly amusing. She enjoyed some pastries bought by Ling Jue, savoring the leisure after the exam.

“According to our agreement, you must accompany me back to Shura Hall,” Qian Bingxue’s voice came softly, reminding Ye Wenxin that she was not free.

“Can we do it tomorrow? I want to go out and explore,” Ye Wenxin readily agreed, looking calmly at Qian Bingxue without a trace of emotion.

Qian Bingxue was taken aback by Ye Wenxin’s reaction. She could not reconcile the calm and composed Ye Wenxin before her with a thirteen-year-old girl.

Upon further thought, recalling the attack of those Tower of Unfettered Dreams’ assassins that day, Ye Wenxin even managed to kill two assassins with her Qi Refining stage cultivation. If she and her people had not come, Qian Bingxue even felt that Ye Wenxin could have left with Ling Jue and Luo Miaoyi without any trouble.

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1. Chinese idiom describing someone who stands out or rises to the occasion in times of adversity. ↩︎