The End, an Honorary Elder

At Fa Ma's words, shock flashed through everyone's eyes, followed by flickers of varying emotions.

That old fellow Fa Ma really went all in. He even offered up his position as president.

Jia Xingtian frowned, uncertain what to do for the moment.

He had originally wanted to recruit Xiao Yu into the Imperial Family as well. After all, any faction would be tempted by a Sixth-Rank Alchemist.

The Misty Cloud Sect already had Gu He. If the Jia Ma Imperial Family also had an alchemist who was no weaker than Gu He, it would greatly help them keep the Misty Cloud Sect in check.

But Fa Ma's words had completely upset his plans.

He had no better bargaining chip than Fa Ma to entice Xiao Yu. Surely he could not make Xiao Yu emperor of the Jia Ma Empire.

Yet short of that, anything else paled beside the position of Alchemist Guild president.

Ah, that old fellow Fa Ma really is decisive. Forget it. Even if I can't recruit him, it'll be enough as long as he doesn't join the Misty Cloud Sect.

Jia Xingtian sighed inwardly and abandoned the thought of recruiting him.

Yun Yun and Gu He were frowning as well. After all, the only factions strong enough to compete with them now were the Imperial Family and the Alchemist Guild.

As for the Mu Family, Nalan Family, and Mittel Family, they were nowhere near qualified.

Fa Ma's sudden bombshell had truly thrown the two of them into a flurry.

They had come, first, to see whether the news that someone was taking the sixth-rank examination was true.

Second, if someone really could refine a Sixth-Grade Pill, they would do everything they could to win him over.

Now that Fa Ma had pulled this move, their hopes of winning Xiao Yu over had dwindled to almost nothing.

It looks like the Alchemist Guild will have another Sixth-Rank Alchemist holding the fort today.

Everyone thought so, because they simply could not imagine anyone refusing such an invitation. The Alchemist Guild was a top-tier faction on equal footing with the Imperial Family and the Misty Cloud Sect. Becoming its president meant wielding power at the very pinnacle of the Jia Ma Empire.

To their surprise, however, Xiao Yu shook his head.

After hearing Fa Ma out, Xiao Yu firmly shook his head in refusal and said apologetically, "Thank you for your kindness, Elder Fa, but I've wandered freely for so many years that I've grown used to my freedom. I don't want to join any faction."

"Especially not as its president. Just thinking about becoming president and being tied down by all those trivial matters gives me a headache."

"I can only disappoint your kind intentions, Elder Fa."

Xiao Yu politely declined Fa Ma's offer. Everyone looked at him in astonishment, and even Fa Ma froze for a moment.

He had never imagined that Xiao Yu would reject his goodwill. The temptation of becoming the Alchemist Guild's president was not something an ordinary person could resist.

But on second thought, someone who could hold off on taking the examination until he had the ability to refine Sixth-Grade Pills was naturally no ordinary person.

"Ah, since that's the case, I won't press you."

Fa Ma sighed and spoke with regret.

Then he changed tack. "Since you don't wish to serve as president, Brother Zhou, how about becoming an honorary elder of the guild?"

Perhaps afraid that Xiao Yu would refuse again, Fa Ma hurried on. "Hear me out, Brother Zhou. An honorary elder is different from other positions. It's merely a nominal post in the guild and won't restrict your freedom. Elder Gu He is also an honorary elder of the guild, and didn't he become an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect all the same?"

"Moreover, as a nominal honorary elder of the guild, you can have the guild help you find medicinal ingredients. When you purchase ingredients from the guild, you'll also receive a twenty-percent discount."

"You've already refused me once, Brother Zhou. You mustn't turn me down again this time."

Looking at the smile on Fa Ma's aged face, Xiao Yu fell silent for a while, then nodded his agreement.

There was nothing wrong with becoming an honorary elder. It would make finding medicinal ingredients easier in the future, and it would not restrict his freedom.

"In that case, you have my thanks, Elder Fa."

Seeing that Xiao Yu had agreed, the smile on Fa Ma's aged face grew even broader.

"Good, good, good! I'll issue your Alchemist Badge and robes right away, Elder Zhou."

When everyone saw Xiao Yu agree to become a nominal honorary elder of the Alchemist Guild, their eyes flickered. Clearly, his refusal of the presidency had rekindled their thoughts of recruiting him.

Fa Ma took out the sixth-rank badge and alchemist robes he had prepared beforehand and handed them to Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu accepted the badge and robe, but he had no intention of changing clothes.

After all, the white outfit he wore was a fine treasure. It was impervious to water and fire, hardly gathered dust, kept him warm in winter and cool in summer, offered considerable protection, and could even repair itself. It was far better than those alchemist robes.

But now that so many people from the Jia Ma Empire's factions had seen this outfit, he could no longer wear it when appearing under his own identity.

As it happened, he could wear these alchemist robes instead. Fa Ma had even given him a white robe, clearly having prepared it especially after seeing Xiao Yu dressed in white.

Once he asked Fa Ma for a Third-Rank Alchemist's badge to use under his original identity, everything would be settled.

Given Fa Ma's attitude toward this alchemist surnamed Zhou, obtaining a third-rank badge for his disciple should not be difficult.

"Thank you, Elder Fa."

After putting the items into his Storage Ring, Xiao Yu cupped his hands and thanked Fa Ma.

"Now that Mr. Zhou has become an honorary elder of the Alchemist Guild, surely you won't begrudge him a celebratory banquet, old fellow Fa Ma?"

Standing to one side, Jia Xingtian stroked his beard and smiled.

Fa Ma stroked his own beard and chuckled. "Of course not. Three days from now, I'll hold a grand banquet at the guild to congratulate Elder Zhou. All of you must attend."

Everyone replied, "We'll certainly be there."

Xiao Yu was dumbfounded. A celebration for me? Then at least ask my opinion! Hey, don't just decide that on your own!

Jia Xingtian nodded, then cupped his hands toward Xiao Yu. "Elder Zhou, we'll leave it at that for today. I've been away for quite a while, and there are still many matters to handle, so I won't disturb you any longer. I'll come trouble you again in three days."

"Indeed, Elder Zhou, we won't disturb you further today. We'll come trouble you again at the banquet."

The representatives of the three families cupped their hands and took their leave one after another.

Seeing that things had already come to this, Xiao Yu could only say helplessly, "In that case, I won't keep you any longer. Another day, we must all drink to our hearts' content."

Jia Xingtian and the members of the three families left in turn.

Yun Yun also cupped her hands and gently parted her lips. "Elder Zhou, we won't disturb you any longer either. There are matters at the Misty Cloud Sect that need attending to, so we'll take our leave."

Gu He smiled. "When there's time, I must exchange alchemy insights with you, Elder Zhou. For today, I'll take my leave."

Xiao Yu smiled and nodded. "Of course. It would be a great honor to discuss alchemy with you, Elder Gu He."

After the two left, only Fa Ma and Xiao Yu remained in the spacious Examination Hall.

Once he saw that no one else was around, Xiao Yu said to Fa Ma, "Elder Fa, I wonder if I could ask for an additional Third-Rank Alchemist's badge?"

Fa Ma asked in puzzlement, "You're already a Sixth-Rank Alchemist, Brother Zhou. What would you want a Third-Rank Alchemist's badge for?"

"If you want to conceal your abilities, there's no need. The status of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist is prestigious and brings many benefits. There's no reason to keep it hidden."

Fa Ma thought Xiao Yu wanted a third-rank badge to conceal his abilities. After all, this was someone who had only come to take the examination after reaching the sixth rank. Hiding his talents would hardly be unusual for him.

Xiao Yu shook his head with a smile. "You misunderstand, Elder Fa. I'm asking for my only disciple. He's recently become capable of refining third-grade pills."

"But the boy is used to living alone. He likes peace and quiet and dislikes trouble, just like me, so he hasn't taken the alchemist examination either."

"I thought I'd see whether I could obtain an Alchemist Badge for him. It would make things easier when he travels."

"Of course, I stake my own reputation on the fact that the boy truly has the ability to refine third-grade pills."

"Would that be possible, Elder Fa?"

After hearing the reason, Fa Ma immediately smiled. "Heh heh, of course. With your abilities, Brother Zhou, training a Third-Rank Alchemist would be more than within your means."

"A third-rank badge is no great matter. I'll give you one shortly."

Xiao Yu smiled and thanked him. "Then thank you, Elder Fa. When there's time another day, I'll be sure to have the boy come thank you in person."

Fa Ma waved a hand to show that he did not mind. A third-rank badge was a trivial matter for him as president.

Nor was he worried that Xiao Yu was deceiving him. A Sixth-Rank Alchemist had no reason to lie to him over a mere third-rank badge.

Besides, someone who could become Xiao Yu's only disciple surely had considerable talent. He could probably stand shoulder to shoulder with youngsters like Liu Ling.

Otherwise, Xiao Yu would have had no reason to set aside his pride and ask him for one.

Had Xiao Yu known what Fa Ma was thinking, he would not have known whether to laugh or cry. He truly had no such thoughts.

He was only asking for a third-rank badge to make things easier under his original identity. Besides, he could not be bothered to take the examination again as Xiao Yu.