Page 73: Something in the alchemy test

The people have already dispersed and went back to the city bringing news to others who wasn't able to watch the event. Some celebrated but most didn't since majority have lost a significant amount. Members of the major households did not even seen often in the city fearing that people might ridicule them.

Since the martial competition will resume by the next day, the alchemy results that was posted on that same afternoon has garnered attention . Minority groups or should be said, the contestants without discipleship were the first to check the post.

About the alchemy test, there are four major groups who are competing with the top ten. They are the apprentices of senior alchemists Ling, alchemist Cai, and alchemist Wei of the sect together with the apprentices of the merchant union. With three participants from each of them, they would compete for the top positions as they represent their masters.

On that afternoon while the martial grounds became empty, the stadium on the other hand was filled with all sorts just to see the names of the top ten semi-finalist who will be competing the next day. Unlike eventful martial grounds, the stadium was filled with silent murmurs and whispers. The noice difference was like that of the market compared to a shrine.

While everyone was checking and commenting on the names posted, they heard a disturbance from the entrance of the stadium. There, they saw the disciples who own six of the names on the board. All the disciples of senior alchemist Ling and Cai passed the preliminary while there were two alchemists from the merchant union.

Everyone in front of them all the way to the notice board scudded and made a way for these high profiled individuals. Though they appear to be amenable on the outside, everyone knows the fate of someone wanting to go against their way. These youths were feared for their demands when something wrong happens with them. Because of their strong background, they can do much things as they want in the sect.

As these youths gets closer and closer to the board, some on the sides are listening to their conversation.

"Haha! Yusheng look! We both have the same scores but I'm placed as first. How you like that huh?"

"Shut it Cuifen. Look at the list. The 3rd and 4th place was taken by my side while your companions are on the 6th and 7th."

"What? Who's the sh*t who took the 5th? Huh? Zhang Li of senior alchemist Wei? Ha! That b*tch is really something. She scored 110/120. I can't believe the 2nd apprentice of senior Wei is this much capable. Our plan to cripple senior Wei's 1st disciple worked but the next one is even more feisty."

"Shut your trap, Cuifen, if someone will be able to hear this..."

"Then what?... They can't do anything to us. If something of such sort happens, I'll just kill anyone who would dare."

The people who heard him flinched but did not run away. Instead, they remained acting like they have not heard anything. If they reacted in a way that they would have fled the area, it would just prove that they heard their conversation which is the same as admitting that they were listening to their conversation.

"Looking at the results, it seems like only 9 should have been on the list. They just added the 10th name to complete the entry. This Long Bai, have you heard of him? He was able to score 100/120 even though there were 25 pages meant for a grade 3 alchemist."

"It doesn't matter. We have already reviewed the herbs to be identified on tomorrow's test. No matter what they do, the six places would definitely be ours. That's why you two juniors of mine, don't slack off and memorize the notes master gave us this night."

The two junior disciples behind Cuifen silently replied to their senior. On the other hand, the two junior disciples on Yusheng's side also understood that the message was also for them. These 2nd and 3rd disciples under senior alchemist Ling and Cai were actually just these two senior disciple's henchmens since all they could do is to follow their words. Being the 2nd and 3rd disciple of the two elders bring a lot of advantage in terms of having resources but it also comes with a price since they need to comply with their standards and excessive requests. Since Yusheng and Cuifen are grade 3 alchemist, they forced them to memorize the whole content of the herbarium volume 3 in just a few night even though such information can't just be learned in a day. These 2nd and 3rd disciples from both sides understood what was going on during the time of the exam since all the things they were asked to memorize were all in the test. The two elders might have bribed someone from the testing committee to leak the test content. In this manner the two seniors would definitely take the 1st and 2nd place to receive the prize. Knowing that their seniors are cheating, they can't do anything since they are on the same team. Now that they are riding on the same boat, there's no going back.

After checking everything on the board, the two groups walked out of the stadium but upon reaching the entrance, they met a familiar face. It was Zhang Li and Long Bai who just came in to check the results. Cuifen who first noticed the goddess Zhang Li purposely went to block her way.

"Oh my, if its not my goddess Zhang Li? I saw your name on the list. Good job in placing the 5th. You must have studied a lot. I really like that intelligent side of yours. How about we go out and have some dinner?"

"Senior Cuifen, I must sincerely decline your offer. Things are quite busy for me. Please let me be."

"Ah, I see. You must be busy taking care of that brother Zian right? By the way, how is he?"

The pestering Cuifen has done to her since the past was tolerable but upon hearing about Zian, her senior disciple brother who wasn't able to join the competition, she felt some rage building up in her chest. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fist trying to hold the urge to break out. The fact that her senior brother wasn't able to join the competition was already heart breaking for her since she knows the hardships her senior went through but add the current situation where he was even in a bad shape, she almost cried just remembering how disheartened her senior was while lying on a bed. 7Just then, she looked back at Cuifen and realized something. Why does she feel like he knows something about what happened to his senior brother.

"How did you know? Why do you know that senior Zian is not well?"

Zhang Li looked at Cuifen seriously while waiting for his response. Her body was literally shaking right now due to anger. ImRight now, she looked like a sensetive bomb that with a slight disturbance would detonate it.

"Hahaha! How should I know that he's already a vegetable? I'm not his nanny you know? Was his both legs became soft that's why he didn't show up?

Ah, Zhang Li, you're asking too much questions. "

Cuifen tried to speak amenably but a hidden ugly smile was still there. Zhang Li picked this up and realized this man might have something to do with it. The rage that just a small flame grew so big then exploded after hearing Cuifen's last words.

"Cuifen! You'll pay for what you've done!"

<Flame serpent strike>!

Zhang Li aimed her burning serpent on Cuifen's chest but only managed to graze him. Cuifen's fast reaction helped him avoid a major damage from the attack. The raging Zhang Li gave another attempt but was blocked by the opposing person. In return, Cuifen directed his middle grade skill <White Tiger Claw> to express his dominance.

"You think you can put me down with that low grade skill? Ha! You make me laugh. Take my skill <White Tiger Claw>!"

A white tiger's claw materialized and was aimed towards Zhang Li. If this hits Zhang Li, she would definitely get hurt considering she has a lower cultivation and her skill is a grade lower compared to his. Cuifen is at the 5th level of visceral tempering while Zhang Li is at the 3rd level of visceral tempering. Add the difference in skill grade, Zhang Li has only a slim chance of beating Cuifen. As the attack was nearing, Zhang Li still tried to counter the attack with her <flame serpent strike>. The two attacks collided but it was obvious that her flame serpent skill was not enough to extinguish the full power of the <white tiger claw>. A second before she would receive the remaining force, she closed her eyes and accepted her fate. There was an explosion, however she didn't feel any pain. She opened her eyes and saw her junior brother Bai standing in front of her. To her panic, she approached him to check his condition.

"Long Bai, are you alright? You shouldn't have done that. What are you trying to prov..."

She became silent after seeing that Long Bai was still unhurt despite receiving the attack from Cuifen.

"How, you're just in the flesh.. What you're already on the visceral layer?"

Zhang Li can't believe what she detected because a few months ago, she detected that the young boy was still at the flesh tempering layer. Little did she know that before he came to this place, he already adjusted some of his fake data. Now that he would be mingling with the sect's members, he thought that it is high time to show some balls to prevent any cases of bullying. Although he could show more, he can't do too much or his method would be questioned greatly as he could only rely on the reason that he had a lucky encounter. They might even label Long Bai a devil practitioner if the speed of his cultivation is out of proportions. This time, he only adjusted his fake status to the level of some seniors he saw in the sect that day.

"Heh? What is this? A junior saving his senior? That sword looks nice. Give that to me and I will spare the both of you. How about that?"

Cuifen was behaving as a typical bully just like how Long Bai expected him to behave. For such people, there's only one thing that can top their interest and that's a challenge. That's what Long Bai plans to do.

"Do you like to bet? How about we take this the alchemy way?"

"Hahaha! Who are you to tell me what to do? But i like that. If I win, you'll give me that sword and ..hehehe.."

Cuifen's eyes switched to Zhang Li's direction filled with lusty look. Long Bai understood what he meant and so he tried to suggest another thing.

"Senior Cuifen, this is between us. How about we bet each other's life? The winner can do anything to the loser. That sounds better, isn't it?"