The Excluded One

Lin Ming's casual remark was like a drop of ice water poured into a scalding pan of oil, instantly making the entire testing room eerily quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes first stared in astonishment at the calm-faced Black-robed Youth, as if trying to find even the slightest trace of a joke on his face.

A moment later, after confirming that Lin Ming was not joking, the astonishment quickly dissipated, gradually transforming into undisguised sneer and mocking amusement.

Hehehe...

The Grey-robed Old Woman, Cao Ying, was the first to regain her senses, letting out a series of sharp, piercing sneers. She turned her gaze to Ye Zhong, whose face was also somewhat stiff, Ye Zhong said in a sarcastic tone.

"Ye Zhong, I really didn't expect this! When did your Ye Family learn to play such attention-seeking and arrogant tricks? This is the official testing site of the Pill Tower, with strict rules. It's not some dilapidated courtyard of your Ye Family where your juniors can spout nonsense at will!"

Upon hearing her sneer, the three young men and women from the Cao Family beside her immediately turned their mocking and gloating gazes toward Lin Ming, looking as if they were waiting to see a good show.

They simply couldn't believe that this wild kid, who didn't even know which way the gate to the Pill Tower testing site faced, was actually qualified to take the exam for Seventh Grade Intermediate Alchemist Badge.

You should know that even in their Cao Family, only the most outstanding genius, Miss Cao Ying, could reach such a height at that age!

"Young man, there's no room for jokes here!" Elder Han Li looked at Lin Ming with surprise and doubt, then said in a serious voice, "Are you sure you're going to be tested on a Seventh Grade Intermediate Grade Badge?"

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted to Ye Zhong beside Lin Ming. What surprised him even more was that while Ye Zhong's face also showed tension, it also displayed a kind of... calmness mixed with anticipation? There was even a faint, inexplicable smile playing at the corners of his lips?

Could it be... that this kid truly possesses such astonishing abilities? Rank 7 Intermediate Alchemist at such a young age? If that's true, then he's truly remarkable! Looking across the entire Pill Region, perhaps only the few prodigies nurtured by the core of the Pill Tower can compare!

"Hmm." Lin Ming remained calm and composed in response to Elder Han Li's deep confirmation. He nodded, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Elder Han. What are the specific steps involved in assessing Rank 7 Intermediate Alchemist?"

Seeing that Lin Ming persisted and even began to inquire about the specific steps, Elder Han Li's expression grew increasingly solemn.

In such a solemn setting, and faced with repeated confirmation from this Pill Tower deacon, unless the former was a complete idiot, he wouldn't have humiliated himself with such a matter. But even so, to immediately believe that such a young stranger possessed Seventh Grade Intermediate alchemy skills was truly hard to accept, and filled with a sense of absurdity.

"Since you insist, then... so be it." Elder Han Li nodded slowly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and a final warning. "I hope you're not joking; otherwise, you'll have to bear the consequences yourself. Also, just call me Steward Han. The title of 'Elder' has strict definitions within the Pill Tower, and I'm not yet worthy of it..."

"Whispering sound..."

Lin Ming had just smiled and nodded when a sneer rang out from the side. He shifted his gaze slightly and saw Cao Xue, the cold and beautiful woman from the Cao Family, her red lips curled into an extremely sarcastic smile. Clearly, she felt utterly contemptuous and disgusted by Lin Ming's actions, which she considered utterly suicidal.

Normally, her Sixth Grade High-level- level assessment would have been the highest among everyone present, making her the most eye-catching and dazzling presence in this special testing room.

But now, the spotlight and glory that should have belonged to her were completely interrupted and stolen by Lin Ming's sudden and almost unreasonable "Seventh Grade Intermediate" achievement! This made her extremely unhappy! Moreover, in her deeply ingrained belief, how could the Ye Family, which was already in such a state of decline, possibly cultivate Yao Tian even their Cao Family could hardly match? This was definitely just a publicity stunt!

Lin Ming merely smiled at the woman's almost tangible contempt and sneer, his heart remaining completely undisturbed. His composure was such that this childish hostility, born of ignorance and arrogance, would not cause him any ripples.

"Since the decision has been made, let's begin..."

Deacon Han Li waved his hand, said no more, and pointed to the four ancient doors on the wall behind him. Above the doors were four powerful and ancient characters: "Heaven", "Earth", "Mysterious", and "Yellow".

"Those taking the Sixth Grade Intermediate will enter the 'Profound' level room. Those taking the Sixth Grade High-level will enter the 'Earth' level room..." As soon as he finished speaking, he turned his gaze to Lin Ming and said, "As for you, the Seventh Grade Intermediate requires the use of a special formation and supervision by a high-level Alchemist. So let's wait for them to finish their assessments first, and then I will personally take you to the 'Heaven' level room to test you."

Lin Ming nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

"Everyone else, please go to your respective rooms..." Seeing that no one had any objections, Deacon Han Li nodded and announced the start.

Upon hearing this, apart from Lin Ming, the three members of the Cao Family all went to their respective doors in separate groups.

Cao Xue, like a proud white swan, with her full chest held high, walked alone with elegant and confident steps into the room marked "Earth" level. The other two men, on the other hand, walked side by side into the "Mysterious" level room.

As the three entered their respective rooms and closed the doors, the place gradually quieted down. Lin Ming stood casually, his eyes sweeping over his surroundings before slowly closing them to rest, as if all the disturbances of the outside world were irrelevant to him.

Cao Ying, the old woman from the Cao Family, glanced sideways at the composed Lin Ming, then at the silent Ye Zhong, and, not wanting to be left out, spoke up in a shrill, sarcastic voice. "Ye Zhong, it seems that the young people your Ye Family has trained are becoming more and more 'individualistic' and arrogant! No wonder the family has been declining in recent years, with no one of noteworthy talent..."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhong's suppressed anger was reignited. He sneered and retorted without any politeness, "Cao Ying! You're just a marginalized figure within the Cao Family. I don't want to waste my breath on you!"

Ye Zhong's sudden, sharp counterattack struck Cao Ying right where it hurt! Her face instantly turned ashen, her gaze as sinister as a venomous snake, fixed on Ye Zhong as she shrieked, "Yes! No matter how much my family ostracizes me, Cao Ying, I'm still a member of the Cao Family, enjoying Cao Family glory! Unlike your Ye Family, which is about to be removed from the Five Great Families! On that day, I will personally make you regret every word you uttered today!"

Deacon Han Li, standing to the side, also frowned. Although he looked down on the Ye Family somewhat because of their decline, he still had some old acquaintance with Ye Zhong and felt that Cao Ying's kicking them when they were down was really going too far. After all, every aristocratic family has its ups and downs, and even if they are down on their luck today, they may still have a chance to rise again.

"Noisy!"

However, before Ye Zhong could refute again, Lin Ming, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them, glanced coldly at the former, and said indifferently:

"The Cao Family members are not only ill-mannered, the young ones are too, even the old ones are just as despicable, like shrewish women from the marketplace."

Lin Ming's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a cold quality.

"You little bastard! Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?!"

Lin Ming's merciless rebuke caused Cao Ying's face to turn ashen, like a sheet of ice! Ye Zhong was stronger than her, so she could tolerate his sneer to some extent. But Lin Ming, in her eyes, was nothing more than a junior who relied on Ye Zhong's Ye Zhong and was arrogant and ignorant! How dare he insult her like that?!

As soon as she finished speaking, Cao Ying moved, her withered body bursting with speed beyond her years, flashing out like lightning! Her right hand's five fingers curled up, her sharp, black nails like poisoned blades, carrying a sinister force, and mercilessly slashed towards Lin Ming's throat! Judging from her posture, she was planning to use a vicious attack!

Lin Ming's dark eyes narrowed as he watched the gaunt figure flash towards him. His hands, hidden in his sleeves, slowly clenched into fists. The powerful Dou Qi within him, tempered by lightning, began to circulate, a subtle yet potent force coursing through his meridians. He didn't mind giving this noisy, vicious old woman a lesson she would never forget...

"Stop!"

Just as Lin Ming's Dou Qi surged, preparing for a thunderous attack, a figure suddenly appeared before him—it was Deacon Han Li! His expression was solemn, and with a low shout, a formidable aura emanated from him:

"This is Pill Tower Branch! Not your Cao Family's backyard! Behave yourself! If you dare to lay a hand on me again, don't blame me for dealing with you according to the Pill Tower Rules!"

Looking at Han Li, who was blocking Lin Ming's way, Cao Ying's expression changed slightly. She could disregard Ye Zhong, but she dared not openly provoke the authority of the Pill Tower.

She immediately shifted her body, taking two steps back in a huff, but her gaze remained fixed on Lin Ming with a chilling intensity, like a venomous snake ready to devour its prey. She said in a sinister tone, "You little rascal, you're lucky today! Don't let this old woman run into you alone again, or I won't hesitate to make sure your Ye Family loses an unknown junior prematurely..."

As she finished speaking, her cold gaze turned to Ye Zhong, who remained motionless to the side, filled with a threatening intent.

Facing her murderous, sinister gaze, Ye Zhong showed no fear, but instead a strange smile appeared on his face. If this old woman knew that even a powerful force like Ice River Valley had been uprooted because of this young man, and knew that Cao Dan had led his men to the door not long ago, only to be terrified by Lin Ming's few words... would she still dare to spout such nonsense here?

It can only be said that she, being an outsider excluded from the core circle of the Cao Family, was completely out of touch with the world and had no idea what kind of formidable figure was standing before her! That's why she dared to be so arrogant and domineering when she saw her arrive with Lin Ming; she truly didn't know her own mortality!