Alchemist Convention

"Smack"

A crisp slap rang out in the hall, followed by a voice. "Damn, that actually hurt. So I really wasn't dreaming. A freakish monster really did appear."

President Frank and Otto were also jolted awake by the slap. "You really want to take the Third Grade Alchemist exam? You're not joking?"

"Really," Xiao Tian said firmly.

Otto and Frank exchanged horrified looks. If Xiao Tian truly passed the Third Grade Alchemist assessment, it would bring Black Rock City tremendous glory, and might even earn them greater support in medicinal herbs and rewards from headquarters. The two trembled with excitement. "Quick, hurry up and prepare the Third Grade Alchemist assessment procedure for me. Forget it, we'll go prepare it ourselves."

The two old men circulated their Dou Qi, leaving afterimages as they rushed to the Third Grade Alchemist Assessment Hut to make preparations.

Lin Fei walked over to Xiao Tian and reached out to poke his arm. "Are you even human? I'm starting to suspect you're some old monster in disguise."

"A genuine young man, guaranteed," Xiao Tian said, patting his chest.

"Then how did you manage to qualify for Third Grade at this age?" Lin Fei pinched Xiao Tian's arm again.

"I just kept refining, and my grade went up. It wasn't hard." Xiao Tian spread his hands.

When Lin Fei heard that, she couldn't help grinding her teeth. That sentence was infuriating.

"Young Friend Xiao Tian, please come over. The Assessment Room is ready," Frank's voice called over.

Xiao Tian walked to the entrance of the Third Grade Assessment Room and stepped inside.

Otto closed the door.

About two hours later, Otto and Frank walked out with contradictory expressions of excitement and desolation on their faces.

"He's simply a monster. There's no comparing with him. We're old, we're old. Even if we refuse to accept it, we have to." Frank sighed.

They were excited because Xiao Tian's successful assessment would bring the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild enormous benefits.

They were desolate because they had been struck a blow—one that had left them utterly battered.

After Xiao Tian finished putting his things away, he walked out. Seeing Xiao Tian come out, Frank beckoned, and a subordinate came over carrying a black robe on a tray.

Frank said, "I imagine you should know the functions of an alchemist's robe."

Xiao Tian nodded.

Frank continued, "There are also some hidden effects. You'll only experience those after wearing it outside."

At first, Xiao Tian was completely confused, but when he thought of an alchemist's status, he understood.

Xiao Tian took the alchemist's robe. On the chest of the robe was a Medicine Cauldron Badge, and inside the badge were three ripples.

Xiao Tian took off the robe he was wearing and put on the alchemist's robe. A cool sensation spread over him, making him feel a little more refreshed.

After he put on the alchemist's robe, his originally otherworldly aura seemed even more noble and luxurious, like a Fallen Immortal, beyond price.

When Xue Mei and Lin Fei saw Xiao Tian enhanced by the luxurious robe, they couldn't help staring blankly at his face.

Frank said to the others, "Those of you who passed the assessment can go to the front to register, then collect your own alchemist robes."

Watching the others leave, Frank led Xiao Tian outside and said, "Young Friend Xiao Tian, in half a year, the capital will hold an Alchemist Convention. Not only will alchemists from the entire Jia Ma Empire gather there, even alchemists from other empires will come to participate. If you have time then, you can take part. With your strength and age, you'll not only accumulate experience, you might even astonish everyone with a single feat. It would benefit you greatly."

"All right. If I have time, I'll go take a look." Xiao Tian nodded, accepting the invitation.

He had originally planned to attend this Alchemist Convention half a year later anyway, because after the convention would be Xiao Yan's Three-Year Agreement.

"Good, good, good. When the time comes, we'll wait for you at the capital's Alchemist Guild." Seeing that Xiao Tian had agreed, Frank and Otto laughed heartily as they walked, clapping their hands and praising him.

Seeing Xiao Tian walk out of the assessment hall, Xiao Yi Xian stood and came up to him. "How was it?"

"I lived up to expectations." Xiao Tian pointed at the badge on his body.

"So this is an alchemist's robe? It looks really nice, and it feels so comfortable too. What grade is yours?" Xiao Yi Xian froze for a moment, then smiled and nodded, reaching out to touch Xiao Tian's clothes.

"Third Grade. How is it, not bad, right? Wearing this outfit, don't I look even more handsome?" Xiao Tian smiled smugly and grabbed the hand Xiao Yi Xian was using to touch his clothes.

"Ahem, mind yourselves. There are old people present," Otto said from the side, unable to keep watching, and could not help coughing.

"Couldn't help it, couldn't help it," Xiao Tian said without blushing or his heart skipping a beat.

Beside him, Xiao Yi Xian's face flushed rosy as she lowered her head and looked at the tops of her feet. As the saying went, when one lowered one's head and could not see one's toes, that was the ultimate beauty of the mortal world. Mm, fine, that had nothing to do with Xiao Yi Xian. Her toes were clearly visible.

"Masters, may I ask where I can obtain poisonous herbs and poison-attribute Dou Techniques?" Xiao Tian asked the two of them.

"Why do you want those? Do you want to become a Poison Master too? Poison Masters aren't welcome, and it would also waste your talent," Frank said with a frown, advising him.

"I just purely want to collect some. I won't use them," Xiao Tian said.

"As long as you know what you're doing. Our guild doesn't have those two kinds of things, but I know where they can be found." After looking seriously at Xiao Tian, Frank spoke.

Xiao Tian cupped his hands. "President, please tell me."

"Those two kinds of things can only be bought on the black market. As it happens, Black Rock City has an Underground Black Market, but you need a token to enter."

"Where is the Underground Black Market? And how do I obtain a token?" Xiao Tian asked in confusion.

"The Underground Black Market is in the west of the city. I have a Gold Token here. A Gold Token can also bring three people inside. I can give it to you, but once you go in, you must keep your identity secret and be careful." Frank took out a Gold Token from his Storage Ring. A black skull was drawn on it.

Xiao Tian accepted the Gold Token. "Thank you, President Frank."

After bidding farewell to Frank and Otto, Xiao Tian and Xiao Yi Xian bought two masks and two black cloaks on the road. Wrapped up tightly from head to toe, the two followed the route Frank had given them and arrived at a remote street in the west of the city, then walked into a shop called Zhi Zhen Building.

Xiao Tian and Xiao Yi Xian entered the shop and came before the shopkeeper. Xiao Tian took out the Gold Token, and when the shopkeeper saw it, his eyes widened. In all of Black Rock City, the number of Gold Tokens could be counted on one hand.

The shopkeeper carefully led the two of them into the rear hall, then to a hidden little door there. After they walked through, they saw two burly men standing by the main door.

"Please show your token," one of the burly men said sharply.

Xiao Tian took out the Gold Token again and held it toward the two of them.

When the two Gatekeepers saw Xiao Tian's token, they hurriedly opened the door, bowed slightly, and made an inviting gesture. "My lords, please come inside."

Xiao Tian led Xiao Yi Xian through the door. Inside was a staircase leading underground, with Moonstones on both sides lighting the way.