For a Moment, Lu Ping Thought They Really Were All NPCs
The leader of the Azure Dragon Merchant Association's Guards was struck by Shen Yuerong's palm, spitting blood, but dared not argue.
The tenants fell completely silent.
The other cultivators from the Wang Family dared not move.
[Only then did they realize that the Golden Core True Person was indeed the Golden Core True Person.]
[Shen Yuerong addressed the crowd,]
"Distinguished guests, I apologize for the intrusion."
"This was a mistake by the Chamber of Commerce. The rental period for the cave abode dwellings of all VIPs in Zone A will be extended by seven days."
She paused for a moment, then added.
"Those who were frightened today will receive an additional dose of Calming Spirit Pills."
[And you received a message from Shen Yuerong.]
"I will remember Sect Master Lu's favor."
[Outside the cave abode, Wang Family were dragged away by members of the merchant guild.]
You still haven't left the house.
[You put away Shen Yuerong's message and rekindle the fire.]
[That batch of inferior herbs in the Pill Furnace, you pressed it down until your very last breath before putting it away.]
[Four pills were formed.]
[Moderate condition.]
[Just barely passed.]
[On the day of the assessment, you took your examination token to the Heavenly Certification Alliance Qingyang Branch Hall.]
The main hall was packed with people.
[Registered Alchemist, Registered Formation Master, Registered Artifact Refiner, Registered Beast Tamer.]
[You can understand these few.]
[Further away, there was even a window for assessing Spirit Boat Pilot.]
[A boy is holding an application form.]
"Does the personal Flying Boat also require a test?"
The window Deacon raised his hand and tapped the sign.
"Passenger spirit boats, cargo spirit boats, and spirit boats used for sect official business all require certification."
"Personal Flying Boats are not currently subject to management."
You paused for a moment.
[Isn't this a driver's license?]
Fortunately, personal Flying Boat are not currently under control.
[Otherwise, if you fly from the Greenwood Sect to Qingyang City, you'll have to worry about being caught driving without a license along the way.]
[Looking at the rows of payment windows, you're momentarily transported back to the mixed space of a government service hall and a vocational training institution from your past life.]
[Options pop up.]
[A: Queue quietly and enter the examination room according to the procedure.]
[B: Produce the Second-Class Distinguished Guest Token and proceed through the Azure Dragon Merchant Association's guarantor channel.]
[C: It is suggested that Heavenly Certification Alliance establish an "Anti-Loan Qualification Certificate" to specifically combat various vocational training loans.]
Lu Ping chose B.
It's foolish not to use privileges.
He's not stupid.
[You chose B.]
[You take out your examination token and hand it to the guiding Deacon of the Heavenly Certification Alliance.]
After checking you, they immediately led you to the side door.
"Azure Dragon Merchant Association -sponsored candidates, waiting area for Second-Grade Alchemist exam."
You walked through the long queue to pay.
Several Rogue Cultivators in the group looked up at you.
[Someone muttered a curse under their breath.]
"They have connections again."
[You used to be one of those who stood in the crowd and criticized those with connections.]
Now, you're the one being scolded.
[This feeling isn't bad at all.]
You found pleasure in the corrupting influence of capital.
[You have entered the waiting area.]
Nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators sat in the waiting area.
You found a seat towards the back.
[Just as I settled into my seat, a sneer came from beside me.]
"From the Border Regions?"
[Look up.]
Several golden-robed cultivators stood not far away.
They all wore gold-lettered jade pendants around their waists.
[The young man in the lead scanned your exam card.]
"Qingling Border Region, Greenwood Sect."
"Are there Level 2 candidates there too?"
[A monk behind him chimed in.]
"Young Master Jin, even mid-grade Pill Furnaces might not exist in Border Regions."
"Maybe they're just here to broaden their horizons."
In the waiting area, some people lowered their heads, while others stepped aside to avoid them.
[Someone is also secretly glancing in your direction.]
The Jin Household, one of the Four Great Lineage in Qingyang City.
[You wiped out an entire Zhao Household team in the secret realm.]
[The Wang Family was slapped by Shen Yuerong yesterday.]
[The Han Household hasn't officially clashed yet.]
[The Jin Household is now filling in.]
[Even the dialogue comes with a template.]
[From the Border Region?]
[How dare you lay a hand on me?]
Do you know who I am?
[You might even suspect that on the day they were born, the Lineage elders engraved these three sentences into their Sea of Consciousness.]
[For a moment, you felt like they really were all NPCs.]
[You suddenly have an urge to flip the table.]
[Options pop up.]
[A: Ignore everything, exams come first.]
[B: A sarcastic remark about the Jin Household, intended to disrupt their composure.]
[C: Did the Jin Household take the "Sarcastic Certification" exam? Satirizing without a certificate is considered illegal cultivation.]
Lu Ping felt mentally exhausted and felt like he was being destroyed.
[You chose A.]
You did not respond.
[You open the "Summary of Deviations in the Properties of Inferior Herbal Medicines".]
[The young man from the Jin Household, seeing that you didn't answer, took half a step forward.]
"I'm talking to you."
[You turned a page.]
"No loud noises before the exam."
[The young man from the Jin Household stopped.]
[A candidate from the Wang Family standing nearby chuckled softly.]
"Jin Yutang, forget it."
"This is the first time the junior Sect Master from the Border Region has entered the Heavenly Certification Alliance. Don't scare him away."
Jin Yutang turned and glanced at the Wang Family examinee.
"Wang Qinian, you dare to advise me?"
Wang Qinian put the examination certificate back into his sleeve.
"I was just worried you'd disrupt the exam proceedings."
[Their tempers suddenly flared up.]
[You remain seated and continue reading.]
Lu Ping made a mental note of Wang Qinian's actions.
This person isn't helping him.
This is using him to gain access to the Jin Household.
The Wang Family just suffered a loss at the Chamber of Commerce, yet they still dare to speak up in the waiting area of the Heavenly Certification Alliance. This Wang Family is quite interesting.
At least this Wang Qinian knows how to shift the conflict onto others.
Those who can survive to the Foundation Establishment in a large Lineage and still take the Second-Grade Alchemist exam are not clean.
[A deacon from the Heavenly Certification Alliance Deacon.]
"Disputes are prohibited in the waiting area."
Jin Yutang snorted coldly and sat back down in his seat, which belonged to the Jin Household.
Wang Qinian also remained silent.
[At this moment, five examiners walked out from behind the examination platform.]
The examiner was an elderly monk with a white beard.
He picked up the list.
"This examination for Second-Grade Registered Alchemists comprises seventy-three individuals."
Those who pass will receive their certificates on the spot.
Those who fail will have their retake fee doubled.
Many test-takers stiffened.
[The examiner continues the introduction.]
"There are five examiners for this session."
["Zhou Heng, Director of the Heavenly Certification Alliance Pill Examination Office Bureau."]
"Zhao Danlin of the Zhao Household in Qingyang City."
"Shen Silan of the Shen Household in the Azure Dragon Upper Domain."
[When you heard the name "Shen Household," you paused in your reading.]
[Shen Silan is standing in the second row.]
[He was dressed in a blue and white examiner's uniform, with the Heavenly Certification Alliance External Examiner Badge hanging from his waist.]
He wasn't looking at you.
[But as he flipped through the list, his fingertip paused on your name for a moment.]
[You suddenly realize that spending that thousand Spirit Stone stones was worthwhile.]
Shen Yuerong's favors are also valuable.
[Options pop up.]
[A: He proactively signaled to Shen Silan, implying that he had connections with Shen Yuerong.]
[B: Remain a stranger, don't give anyone any leverage.]
[C: Raise your hand to ask the examiner if having a friend or relative can get extra points, and also to test the limits of the Heavenly Certification Alliance.]