Assistant Examination

Super God Potion Shop, Alchemy Department.

Bai Xiaowen meticulously wiped the glass display case, but his gaze scanned the herbs beneath it. A faint red glow shone from his left eye as streams of information about the medicinal ingredients flowed into his mind.

[Silverleaf Herb]

[Grade: 1]

[Age: 3 years and 7 months]

[Components: Energy component (Life Particles) 12.7%, plant fiber 85.1%, impurities (phloem tissue, phosphorus, moisture, etc.) 2.2%]

"Silverleaf Herb is one of the most basic medicinal ingredients. It grows in dark, damp places, and because its leaves contain phosphorus, it emits a faint silver glow."

Bai Xiaowen recalled the knowledge he had learned in his "Common Sense" class, then used the information obtained through his Insight Talent to verify it.

"Silverleaf Herb contains Life Particles and is one of the ingredients for Silverlight Potion. Silverlight Potion restores a certain amount of health, but it is only Grade 1, so it is of little use to Awakened..."

Bai Xiaowen had already been working part-time in the Alchemy Department of the Super God Potion Shop for a week. With his Insight Talent and Super Brain, he had memorized the components of several hundred medicinal ingredients, as well as the formulas for dozens of potions.

However, brewing potions was not as simple as mixing several medicinal ingredients together. The order in which they were added, how long they were left standing, temperature control, and other details all required extensive experience and a discerning eye. Bai Xiaowen was merely a lowest-ranking part-time apprentice. He was not qualified to become an Alchemist's assistant and could not enter the brewing room, so naturally he had no chance to observe the potion-making process.

Now, an opportunity had arrived.

Sun Hecheng, an Advanced Alchemist in the Alchemy Department, had an assistant named Zheng Li who had successfully passed his assessment and advanced to junior Alchemist.

As a newly promoted Alchemist, Zheng Li needed an assistant, while Sun Hecheng also had an assistant position open up. This meant the Alchemy Department now had two assistant openings.

Over the past few days, the apprentice circle in the Alchemy Department had been restless. Unlike Bai Xiaowen, most of the other apprentices were university graduates and could easily find proper jobs. Why had they come here to do menial work if not to learn alchemy?

Becoming an assistant was the first step toward learning alchemy, and also the most crucial one.

However, becoming an assistant was not so easy. According to the rules, applicants first had to take a rigorous written test. The top third would proceed to interviews, and the Alchemists themselves would then choose their assistants. The competition was even fiercer than the civil service examinations in another world.

The written test would begin at eight tonight. Aside from a few apprentices who knew they had no hope, the vast majority had already signed up. No one wanted to miss this opportunity.

Not far from Bai Xiaowen, a group of senior apprentices gathered around a table and spoke in low voices.

"For this assistant selection, I'm just here to make up the numbers. I basically have no hope."

"Yeah. More than a hundred people competing for two positions—the competition is too intense. We don't stand much of a chance."

"If anyone has the best chance, it's Boss Fan Renjie," someone said.

Fan Renjie sat in the middle of the apprentices. He had some connections in the Super God Potion Shop and normally threw his weight around among the apprentices. He formed cliques and small factions, acting like the unquestioned apprentice leader of the Alchemy Department hall.

Hearing their discussion, Fan Renjie waved a hand. "You've all got it wrong. It looks like there are two openings, but there's really only one."

"Huh?"

"Why is that?"

Bai Xiaowen perked up his ears as well.

Fan Renjie drawled, "Do you know Zheng Sen, who came here two months ago? He's Zheng Li's cousin, and Zheng Li was the one who got him into our potion shop. Now that Zheng Li has become an Alchemist, do you think he won't choose his own cousin as his assistant?"

The people around him sighed. When the Alchemy Department selected assistants, the Alchemist's own opinion was extremely important. If Zheng Li insisted on having a particular apprentice as his assistant, the shop would not object. Given the close relationship between the Zheng cousins, Zheng Sen had basically locked in Zheng Li's spot.

Fan Renjie said with a trace of disdain, "I never thought much of Zheng Li's opening anyway. He's just a newly promoted Alchemist. How much can he possibly know? Master Sun is an Advanced Alchemist, with profound knowledge, and his potion success rate ranks in the top three of our department. A great teacher produces outstanding students. Only under Master Sun will there be a chance to rise."

"Of course. Once Boss becomes Master Sun's assistant, he'll probably finish his training within a year. Don't forget to look after us brothers when that happens." The apprentices around him showered him with flattery, as though Fan Renjie had already secured the promotion.

Fan Renjie's face was full of smugness. He looked around, then abruptly spotted Bai Xiaowen wiping the display case. His brows furrowed slightly.

A few days earlier, Fan Jianwei, the supervisor who had just left the potion shop, had specifically mentioned Bai Xiaowen during a private meeting.

Although Fan Jianwei had been vague, Fan Renjie could roughly guess that Fan Jianwei's departure was related to Bai Xiaowen.

The Fan family had considerable connections in the Super God Guild, which was why Fan Jianwei had not been severely punished by the Enforcement Department. As a distant relative, Fan Renjie naturally fawned over Fan Jianwei in every possible way.

After hearing Fan Jianwei's "grievance," Fan Renjie had promised to teach Bai Xiaowen a lesson and even drive him out of the Super God Potion Shop.

Over the past week, Fan Renjie and his little clique had caused Bai Xiaowen plenty of trouble. Yet Bai Xiaowen had taken it all without complaint, and his work had been flawless—better than even some of the senior apprentices. This gave Fan Renjie no opportunity to make a move.

A fat apprentice followed Fan Renjie's gaze and saw Bai Xiaowen. His eyes shifted as he quickly came up with an idea to curry favor with his boss. He beckoned. "Bai Xiaowen, come here! Clean out all the medicine cabinets on this side."

The medicine cabinets stored medicinal ingredients by category. There were thousands of compartments, and cleaning them all was no easy task.

Bai Xiaowen slowly straightened up, tossed aside the rag in his hand, and glanced at the fat apprentice.

"What are you standing around for? Get to it, hurry up!" the fat apprentice shouted. As a member of Fan Renjie's clique, he had long grown used to ordering around newly arrived apprentices.

"Why don't you do it?" Bai Xiaowen said flatly.

The fat apprentice's face darkened.

"Oh? Got some backbone now?" The people around them immediately began to jeer.

The fat apprentice's face flushed red as he snapped, "Who do you think you are? How can you compare to us? I've been in this trade for five years. You little rookie, do you even understand the rules?"

Bai Xiaowen curled his lip and gave a mocking sneer. "You've been in the trade for five years, and it would be one thing if you hadn't become an Alchemist. But you're not even an assistant. I really don't know how you've managed to get by."

When it came to mocking a crowd and drawing aggro, Bai Xiaowen was a professional keyboard warrior. Today was an opportunity. He had prepared thoroughly, so there was no need to put up with these apprentices' crap any longer.

"You!" The fat apprentice had his sore spot exposed and was furious.

Fan Renjie stood up and fixed Bai Xiaowen with a cold stare. "Bai Xiaowen, go wipe the medicine cabinets. I said so."

Bai Xiaowen did not move an inch.

Fan Renjie's authority had been challenged, and his tone turned rude. "We all have to take the assistant selection test tonight, so we don't have time. If you don't do these chores, who will? Even if this goes to the supervisor, you won't have a leg to stand on!"

"Is that so?" Bai Xiaowen wore an amused smile. "Sorry, but I'm taking the test too. I don't have time."

"What?"

"Did I hear that right?"

The senior apprentices beside Fan Renjie all let out strange cries.

"Bai Xiaowen, do you really think you're something special? You've only been in the trade for one week, and you want to become an assistant? Keep dreaming!" Fan Renjie mocked him without restraint. "Apprentices who have been here half a year don't even dare to sign up, but you do? Why don't you take a look in the mirror?"

"I did look in the mirror." Bai Xiaowen curled his lip. "I'm more handsome than you. Much more handsome."

"You pretty-boy..." Fan Renjie looked at Bai Xiaowen's handsome face and felt a wave of discouragement, followed by even greater anger. "Just you wait!"

The clock struck eight.

Sun Hecheng appeared in the Alchemy Department hall, with a square face, thick brows, bright eyes, and an upright bearing. The apprentices had already taken their places.

"All apprentices who signed up are here, right? We'll begin the test," Sun Hecheng said briefly, then added, "Alchemist Zheng Li has already chosen his assistant, so he won't be coming to oversee the assessment. There is only one assistant opening this time. I will take the top three according to a three-to-one ratio for interviews. Do your best."

After a brief murmur of discussion, the apprentices fell silent and stopped making noise.