After learning what had happened, Frank immediately came over with Otto.
Frank was stunned when he saw how young Xiao Yan was.
At Xiao Yan's age, he himself had at most been an errand boy.
Thinking of Xiao Yan's status, Frank put aside his identity as the guild president.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, Otto told me that you're here to take the alchemist rank examination. Were you an alchemist before this?"
Frank spoke politely.
Xiao Yan rose to reply. "President Frank, hello. I didn't have an alchemist rank before, which is why I've come to take the examination now."
Frank's expression turned somewhat troubled.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, you may not know this. If you wish to test for Tier 1 Alchemist, I can arrange the examination for you right away. However, skipping ranks for the test may be a little troublesome."
Xiao Yan said unhurriedly, "It seems President Frank is indeed in a difficult position. But if we can cut out the intermediate steps, it would save me some time."
Frank nodded, while Otto hurriedly tugged at Frank's sleeve.
Then Otto said with a smile, "We believe young friend Xiao Yan possesses the strength of a Tier 2 Alchemist, so there's no problem with letting him take the test directly."
"Since that's the case, I won't say any more. Please, young friend Xiao Yan!" Frank extended an arm and pointed toward a room in the distance.
Xiao Yan knew that one of them was playing the good cop while the other played the bad cop. On one hand, they were giving him face; on the other, they were upholding the rules.
But Xiao Yan did not care about any of that. As long as he could settle matters here, it would be fine. He could still return in time for the Xiao Clan's coming-of-age ceremony and Jia Nan Academy's entrance examination.
"Then I'll have to thank you both, Masters." Xiao Yan put on a polite front as well.
Thus, Master Otto and President Frank personally supervised him as they entered the room specially designated for testing Tier 2 Alchemists.
Those people in their twenties who had come to test for Tier 1 Alchemist were so ashamed that their faces reddened.
"Could that guy have gotten in through connections? He looks younger than my little sister. How could he possibly be testing for Tier 2 Alchemist?"
"What do you know? I saw two Dou Wang experts guarding him earlier. He must be some young master from a great clan."
"Cut it out. No matter how impressive he is, there's no way he could reach Tier 2 Alchemist at such a young age. A Tier 2 Alchemist means his strength has at least reached the Dou Shi level. How could anyone in this world possess such outrageous talent?"
Upon entering the room, Xiao Yan looked at the empty space.
Spectators were not permitted during the Tier 2 Alchemist examination.
Frank rubbed his hands together and said, "Young friend Xiao Yan, the scroll before you contains the formula. There are three sets of ingredients on the table. As long as you refine the pill before all three sets are used up, you will have passed the examination."
Master Otto said with a smile, "Young friend Xiao Yan, you may begin."
Xiao Yan opened the scroll and saw that it was for a Tier 2 Qi Recovery Pill, which could swiftly replenish Dou Qi depleted during battle.
Xiao Yan was overjoyed, as excited as if he had spent an entire night studying problems during evening self-study, only to find them on the next day's monthly exam.
The Qi Recovery Pill was the pill Xiao Yan had refined most often while cultivating bitterly in the mountains. He already knew it by heart.
Time was precious, and Xiao Yan had no time to think further.
He took out the medicine cauldron and began refining.
An hour later, beneath the astonished gazes of Master Otto and President Frank, Xiao Yan refined a round, plump Qi Recovery Pill.
"Success in a single batch, without the slightest hesitation. Even among Tier 2 Alchemists, this is already the pinnacle." Master Otto could not stop praising him.
Frank lowered his head and said with slight embarrassment, "At his age, the two of us probably couldn't even recognize all the medicinal ingredients, much less refine pills."
"Forget the two of us. Even if Pill King Gu He stood here today, he would not dare claim that he could surpass young friend Xiao Yan at the same age." Otto shook his head as he spoke.
"It is truly the fortune of three lifetimes that I can personally witness what a heaven-blessed genius truly is! Young friend Xiao Yan's future achievements will certainly not stop at Tier 6 Alchemist." Frank was the first to emerge from his melancholy and began praising Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan exchanged pleasantries with them for a while. Feeling that it was about time, he asked, "President Frank, can you give me my alchemist badge now?"
Frank suddenly realized. "I forgot. I've delayed young friend Xiao Yan's time."
Otto took out an alchemist's robe that had long been prepared, along with several precious medicinal ingredients.
Xiao Yan knew at a glance that those medicinal ingredients had been prepared by Frank and Otto. Not every alchemist received such things.
Still, Xiao Yan accepted them. Why refuse something delivered right to his door?
Once everything had been arranged, Frank knew Xiao Yan still had urgent business, so he did not try to keep him.
They escorted Xiao Yan to the entrance of the Alchemist Guild. Frank said, "Young friend Xiao Yan, would you be interested in participating in the Alchemist Tournament at the Imperial Capital two years from now?"
"Oh? A tournament among all alchemists?" Xiao Yan pretended not to understand and asked.
Otto laughed several times before explaining, "Of course not. It is a competition among young people. Only those under thirty are qualified to participate, and young friend Xiao Yan is not yet sixteen. You are truly exceptionally young and promising."
Xiao Yan hurriedly clasped his hands. "You two flatter me. Xiao Yan is merely a little more clever than others. When it comes to experience, you seniors are far more formidable."
As Frank looked at the humble Xiao Yan, he found the young man more pleasing with every glance. He truly wanted to marry his own disciple to him.
But remembering Xiao Yan's status, Frank abandoned that thought.
"Young friend Xiao Yan, then we will not see you off any farther." Otto smiled as he bid Xiao Yan farewell.
Anyone who did not know better would have thought they were seeing off an old friend of many years. There was a saying that rang true: once you became powerful, you discovered that everyone around you was a good person.
"Thank you both. I will consider the tournament two years from now."
After saying that, Xiao Yan spread his Purple Cloud Wings and departed, leaving everyone stunned.
Frank sighed. "We've lived half our lives in vain. Today has truly opened our eyes."
"A flying Dou Technique... He really must be the successor of a great power. Cannot speak of it, cannot speak of it." Otto shook his head as well.
Xiao Yan arrived outside the city and reunited with Hai Bodong and Yun Potian.
After waiting for a while, they finally saw the tardy White Fang arrive.
"Sorry, Boss. There was a female snake around here at the Dou Wang level, and I couldn't hold myself back."
Xiao Yan's face darkened, but he had no time to deal with him.
"Alright, we're heading for Wutan City! I, Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan, am back."
Before you continue