Chapter 54: Rank 2 Alchemist (Part Two)

Chapter 54: Tier 2 Alchemist (Part Two)

"Two Masters, it is done." Slowly withdrawing the medicinal pill from the cauldron, he held it flat on his palm and presented it before the two men.

Upon hearing this, Otto and Fraklan crowded forward. Their pupils suddenly constricted once again, and they cried out in unison, "The Bone-Marrow Melting Pill... flawless!"

"Xiao Se, are you interested in joining the Alchemist Guild of Heiyan City? The moment you advance to a Tier 4 Alchemist, I will immediately cede the position of Guild President to you," Fraklan said rather excitedly as he grabbed Xiao Se's palm and urged him hastily.

"That's right, that's right! Xiao Se, joining our Heiyan City Guild comes with countless perks. Whether it's medicinal herbs, monster cores, or pill formulas, we have everything you could possibly want." Otto chuckled good-naturedly. Pondering for a moment as if feeling his bargaining chips were still insufficient, he walked over to Lin Fei, pushed her forward in front of Xiao Se, and smiled, "If you're looking to find a girlfriend, we have those too. How about my disciple Lin Fei? With your exceptional talent, it wouldn't be a problem for you to win her over with a little effort. However, once you two are together, you mustn't go straying—ah, it's best to hold the wedding quickly to avoid any complications arising from prolonged delays."

"Teacher, what are you talking about?!" Lin Fei's pretty face flushed red as she glared at her unreliable teacher. Though she chided him, her tone carried a hint of bashfulness and secret delight. Casting another glance at Xiao Se, her gaze revealed a trace of lingering anticipation.

"Uh..." Observing the two old men's overzealous enthusiasm, Xiao Se twitched the corner of his mouth, a dark line forming across his cheek. He waved his hand in a polite refusal and said, "Two Masters, it is not that Xiao Se is unwilling to join Heiyan City, but I have a pact with my teacher to complete the trial training missions he set for me, therefore..."

"Your teacher?"

Otto and Fraklan's eyes lit up once again. They both knew of Xiao Se's teacher, an individual referred to as Elder Luo. No such figure existed among the currently registered alchemists in the Jia Ma Empire, but being capable of mentoring such an outstanding disciple meant his own alchemy skills must be unfathomably profound, instantly arousing their curiosity.

"I wonder where your esteemed master, Elder Luo, is currently residing? Our Heiyan City Alchemist Guild would like to extend the hospitality of the hosts," Fraklan said with a rather reverent tone.

"Heh, to be able to cultivate such an extraordinary disciple, Elder Luo must be an immensely powerful alchemist. Perhaps he is even on par with the Pill King Gu He," Otto chimed in with a low chuckle.

"You could say that. However, his old majesty dislikes worldly affairs, and we agreed to rendezvous in the Tager Desert, so he is not present here," Xiao Se said with a sheepish smile. Naturally, he could not tell them that Luosong had already perished.

Hearing that Elder Luo was not in Heiyan City, Fraklan and Otto both revealed looks of regret, yet they did not press the matter further.

***

Returning to the main hall from earlier, those who had failed the examination had not yet departed; they all wished to see whether this mere sixteen-year-old youth could create a miracle.

When they saw Fraklan and Otto beaming with smiles, alongside Lin Fei gazing with absolute adoration and continuously casting sideways glances at Xiao Se, they knew that Xiao Se had succeeded.

Upon entering the hall, Fraklan beckoned to an attendant standing outside the doors. The attendant hurried inside, and moments later, re-entered bearing a delicate black robe upon a jade tray.

Fraklan accepted the jade tray and introduced it with considerable pride, "This is the uniform of a Tier 2 Alchemist. It possesses the functions of clearing the mind, enhancing the alchemist's precise control over heat, and granting immunity to certain low-level toxins. Beyond that, it also possesses remarkable defensive capabilities, proving far sturdier than ordinary armor..."

Listening to Fraklan's exaggerated sales pitch, Xiao Se received the ornate black robe in slight astonishment. He smiled, letting the words drift past him—in his eyes, this was merely a piece of ordinary clothing. Aside from occasionally saving him from unnecessary troubles, everything else was inconsequential.

"Put it on and try it out, Xiao Se. If it doesn't fit, someone can be sent to exchange it for you right now," Lin Fei said with a face full of envy.

Xiao Se nodded slightly, flicked the black robe open, and slipped it on. To his pleasant surprise, it fit impeccably and proved exceptionally comfortable to wear. Matched with his original attire, it accentuated his slender and upright physique to absolute perfection.

"Heh, what a handsome young fellow! It appears there is no need for a replacement. Wouldn't you agree, young Lin Fei?" There was no young woman who did not appreciate an exceptional man, especially one as young, promising, and attractive as Xiao Se. Seeing the shift in Lin Fei's perception of Xiao Se, the shrewd and experienced Fraklan grasped it at a single glance.

Yet what a pity—Xiao Se seemed entirely uninterested in Lin Fei. One could only say the maiden's heart was set, but the youth remained indifferent.

"Yes, it is indeed a very good fit." Gazing at Xiao Se, who looked even more dashing after donning the alchemist robes, Lin Fei nodded with a slightly flushed face, failing to catch the underlying implication in Fraklan's words. As her gaze shifted fluidly, she could not help lingering a few seconds longer on Xiao Se's handsome features.

"Very well, the examination has concluded. Everyone, return and apply yourselves diligently!" Fraklan waved his hand to the crowd in the hall, then turned to Xiao Se and said, "Xiao Se, do you have some time? This old man would like to have a proper chat with you."

Xiao Se nodded slightly and replied, "Coincidentally, I also have a matter I wish to request senior's assistance with."

"Heh, Lin Fei, allowing you to observe the Tier 2 alchemist examination today was a special exception. You are not permitted to act so recklessly in the future." Fraklan smiled at Lin Fei, exchanged a glance with Otto, and the two men led the way out of the hall.

***

Xiao Se shrugged and followed closely behind.

Watching the retreating figures of the three, Lin Fei stomped her foot in exasperation, puffed out her little cheeks, and muttered discontentedly, "Who wants to watch anyway? Big deal."

"Heh, please take a seat." Inside a clean and orderly study, Fraklan said with a welcoming smile to Xiao Se, then poured three cups of fragrant tea.

Xiao Se casually took a seat in a chair, lifted his teacup without drinking, gently blew across the surface, and cut straight to the point, "The two Masters might as well speak your minds openly. Within reasonable limits, I shall tell you everything I know." As he spoke, a trace of cunning flashed imperceptibly through Xiao Se's eyes. His boundaries, after all, had always been very flexible.

"Heh, what a cautious little fellow. Your true age probably isn't sixteen, is it!" Taking a light sip of the fragrant tea, Fraklan said with a chuckle.

Hearing this, Xiao Se froze for a fraction of a second before brazenly spouting nonsense, "Senior truly possesses discerning eyes. In a few months, I will be turning seventeen."

Xiao Se's blatant fabrication caused the expressions of both Fraklan and Otto to twitch. Having lived for so many years, they had seen shameless people, but never someone quite this shameless. Although Xiao Se's height was comparable to that of fifteen or sixteen-year-olds, his youthful face could not deceive them. Forget seventeen; fourteen would probably be a generous estimate.

"Very well, very well. Let's say sixteen then!" Letting out a slight sigh, Fraklan pondered for a moment and sighed, "One final question: what is the origin of that flame of yours? It resembles a monster flame, yet it appears even more formidable than ordinary monster flames. Even the monster flame possessed by the little princess of the Jia Ma Empire's imperial family cannot compare to yours."

*(Translator's note: Second chapter of the update. Requests for recommendation votes and monthly tickets.)*
*(End of Chapter)*