7 Taking the Alchemy Master exam

The Master Exam was being held in a large corridor. On the sides, one could see a variety of small rooms. Inside, the Exam will take place. Xiao Lan looked at Tian. She saw how Tian looked at the different room. Even if she thought that Tian was quite arrogant and childish, it was her duty.

"The Apprentice exams are done by taking 20 pages of questions from a stack of 360. You must finish every page within 2 hours. Once finished, it will be assessed by a pair of Primary Alchemy Masters. The Master exam is the same that the Apprentice's exam, but you will also have a practical test. Where you will be asked to produce at least 3 out of the 10 possible Elixirs in 2 hours."

Tian looked at the young lady. Thinking about the test, he could only show a small smile on his face.

"Is that the Master exam? Just my Apprentice exam in the Toxic Forest was much more difficult. No wonder the Association is in decline."

Tian reached a group of people waiting to enter the rooms. There were about 10 people, most of them on their 20s, 30s. One could see them wearing their grey robes, marking their status as Alchemy Apprentices.

Seeing one kid, whose age couldn't be more than 15, the group were confused.

One of them, Chu Ning, couldn't help but ask. – "What are you doing here?"

Tian looked at Chu Ning and though – "Aren't you here to take the Master exam or" -Tian looked to Xiao Lan- "are you saying she messed up the place?"

Hearing the tone of Tian, Chu Ning looked at Tian. There was no way he was from a powerful family. He could speak his mind. It was Chu Ning first time attending the Alchemy Master Exam. He spent many years training to advance, this kid here was just mocking Chu Ning, thinking that one could just become an Alchemy Master.

Everyone looked at Xiao Lan for confirmation, she could only give a faint nod. Seeing that, Chu Ning laughed – "This kid here is trying to join the Alchemy Master exam! Haha! You better go to the Alchemy Apprentice"

Tian spoke to Xiao Lan – "Am I doing something that's not allowed? Couldn't anyone join this exam?" -Facing Chu Ning, Tian spoke with a taunting tone- "Or are you saying miss is lying?"

Hearing Tian, Chu Ning couldn't believe he was trying to use the words of Xiao Lan against him. One must know that Chu Ning had a deep love towards Xiao Lan. To not worsen his relationship with Xiao Lan, he couldn't say anything. Chu Ning gaze was filled with rage – "You!!"

Seeing he picked a delicate point, Tian grinned. However, he didn't opt to further the matter. This wasn't a time to gain more enemies. – "Mister, if I'm in the correct place, why can't I take the exam? After all, it's my money"

Hearing Tian, Chu Ning didn't calm. He looked around him, everyone was looking at him. He was having a verbal confrontation with a kid and was losing. He could only get to physical, but that would be to low. Fighting a kid would taint his reputation.

"Hump! Do whatever you want!" -Chu Ning turned around going and went into one of the rooms. He was going to take the exam.

"Good luck!" -Tian spoke. With a smile on his face, none believed in his words.

Tian also entered one of the rooms. Inside he could see the 2 Primary Alchemy Masters seated. Seeing the table and chair, he went toward it but before, he greeted them. It was better to not seem arrogant to give the best impression.

"I greet you, Honourable Elders"

The two looked at Tian, there was only one thing in their heads, and one spoke it out loud – "Are you in the correct place? Shouldn't you be in the Alchemy Apprentice exam?"

"Again? At this point, it would have been better to just have gone to the Apprentice exam, much less trouble" – After cursing a bit in Tian's mind, he spoke to the examiners – "Elders, no I'm not. I'm here to take the Alchemy Master exam"

Both looked at each other a bit surprised. Alchemy Apprentices would spend decades training to advance, this wasn't something one would just pass. Much less someone as young as Tian, who wouldn't even have read half one the necessary books. Still, if he wanted, why would they stop him?

"Very well, sit on the chair. Here I have 360 pages, you must choose 20. Your answer must be written on the page. You have 2 hours. Only if your correct rate is over 90% you will pass to the next round. You may start whenever you want"

Tian sat on the chair. Even if he exceeded their expectations seeing the previous events there was no way they would believe he didn't cheat. His only option was to make it so they would believe his result. – "Elders, I'm afraid my luck isn't great. Why don't you choose for me?"

The examiners looked at Tian thinking what kind of trick he was trying to pull. If he was trying to make it harder than it was, it wasn't their fault. They picked the 20 pages, among them, there was some that even them though were difficult.

Tian went page after page, reading the question on the pages. Only one though surfaced his mind – "Are you kidding me? Is this really the Master exam and not the Apprentice? I'm starting to think I'm in the wrong place"- The more he read the questions, the more doubts started to emerge.

"Elders, I have a question."

Seeing Tian, the examiner's faces wore a small smile. Of course, it was going to be difficult. What did you expect? – "You may speak"

"Are these pages correct? I mean, are these pages for the Alchemy Master exam?"

Hearing Tian question, the examiners were taken aback. What was he asking? The examiners looked at the pages on the table. They were quite familiar with them, after all, they had to correct them. Did he though it was going to be easy? One of the examiners spoke – "Yes, they are. Do you have any problem?"

"No, never mind" -Tian answered, he tried to put a stoic face as he laughed inside- "I'm starting to feel pity toward them. Glory City' Alchemy level is just too low. Shall I help them a bit rather than just profit?"