Bai Fanxian shook her head wearily. She closed the laptop screen, not caring about those foolish people. It was the same time Fang Niang opened the door into the reception room with a group of people.
They all wore similar formal robes with golden cauldron emblems adorned on their chests.
The person leading was a serious-looking old man. He was the one acting as chairman in recent meetings. Besides his position as vice president of the Alchemists' Association, he was currently also serving as acting president for Grandmaster Lu Qing who had traveled and not yet returned.
"Greetings, Grandmaster Bai, Grandmaster Xie. It's the association's honor that you visit today."
He bowed in greeting without pretension. His positions as acting president and vice president meant nothing compared to the two "Grandmasters" sitting in this room.
So it wasn't strange for him to act with courtesy and consideration.
"My name is Chen Deming. Pleased to meet you."
"Mm..."
Bai Fanxian nodded lightly. Those who followed came to introduce themselves one by one. They were all "elder"-level beings of this Alchemists' Association. Aside from those with business or supervising the seminar currently, they'd all gathered here.
One of them was someone Bai Fanxian knew well—"Master Sun," or Sun Mingchuan, whose face she'd thoroughly torn apart in the middle of his own thread.
Except neither remembered each other. Sun Mingchuan himself didn't think that "Alchemy Empress," who made him nearly choke out his anger as blood, would be a being like Bai Fanxian.
So he looked at Bai Fanxian with respectful admiration like the other elders.
"What business do you have?"
Bai Fanxian got to the point, because originally Fang Niang only invited her as a guest during this period when going to read in the library was inconvenient.
"It's that we learned Grandmaster Bai is not a Tier 4 alchemist..." Elder Chen sat down across from her and spoke hesitantly.
"Mm... I'm not." Bai Fanxian nodded without lying.
She truly wasn't a Tier 4 alchemist.
"Then would Grandmaster Bai like to become a Tier 4 alchemist?" The old man asked hopefully.
"...Not interested."
Her answer made the elders in the room turn sharply with shocked faces. They looked at her in confusion, because becoming a Tier 4 alchemist was the dream of every alchemist in the current era.
Tier 4 alchemists differed greatly from Tier 3.
At Tier 3, they still had to fear and respect Grandmaster-level beings. But if they could achieve Tier 4, it became the Grandmasters who had to turn and respect Tier 4 alchemists!
Because don't forget—Tier 4 alchemists were also Grandmaster-level beings! Combined with being alchemists sought after by cultivators, they'd stand at nearly the peak of the pyramid.
"Wh-why!? If you became a Tier 4 alchemist, many benefits would follow!" Elder Chen tried to persuade.
Elder Fang with the kindest face observed Bai Fanxian's manner and suddenly thought of something.
"If Grandmaster Bai became a Tier 4 alchemist, you could read all high-level books and association documents."
This sentence made Bai Fanxian pause. She turned to ask Fang Niang in surprise.
"Also, if you agree to register as an association alchemist, you can freely use all resources within your authority." Fang Niang offered.
"Right, and if you worry we'll take advantage of you, we can appoint you as a special elder. You don't need to do any work for the association. Just occasionally help share knowledge and research with the association." Chen Deming offered terms anyone would find hard to refuse.
Because it nearly meant she'd receive benefits entirely one-sided!
But thinking about it carefully, if the Alchemists' Association announced they had another Tier 4 alchemist in the association, how much reputation and credibility would that create!
The name of a Tier 4 alchemist had that much bargaining power!
"My lady... there's no downside to this." Huang Zihan, who was standing listening behind Bai Fanxian, walked over and whispered his opinion.
Because actually, even his master Tang Tianjie had his name in the Alchemists' Association as well.
"Mm... then alright." Bai Fanxian nodded after consideration.
Actually, since she'd crossed to this era, having a powerful authority on her side would probably make many things easier.
Perhaps she might get clues about her Alchemy Palace, or the reason cultivation in this era had declined so much through the association's connections and information sources.
"Then we'll arrange a public test. I heard about it from Elder Fang. In the meantime, if Grandmaster Bai wants to read any books, just tell Elder Fang. Or you can wait until the seminar period ends and go see the library yourself." Elder Chen spoke at length with joyful feelings.
"You can choose whatever time you're ready, then I'll announce it to the public later."
"I must test publicly?" Bai Fanxian asked in surprise.
"Yes. Tier 4 alchemists differ from Tiers 1 through 3. Because currently only Grandmaster Lu Qing alone has reached that level, there's no other Tier 4 alchemist to certify you." Elder Chen sighed.
Even if she'd initially said she was a Tier 4 alchemist, testing would still be necessary.
Otherwise, many people would falsely claim to be Tier 4 alchemists. Some highest Tier 3 alchemists who could refine low Tier 4 elixirs might be praised as Tier 4 alchemists too.
"So a testing ceremony arose. You must answer questions from the attending public until they accept you. You must display Grandmaster-level power. And refine a Tier 4 pill in front of the public."
"Therefore, don't rush. Whenever you're ready, just have the Tang Clan come tell me." Chen Deming explained for Bai Fanxian to understand.
He even gave Bai Fanxian time at her leisure, because he understood well that the test would definitely be difficult.
So he wanted Bai Fanxian to prepare herself properly before starting the test, because tests like this couldn't be held often. And if any mistakes occurred, it would affect Grandmaster Bai Fanxian's reputation too.
"Questions about what?" Bai Fanxian asked calmly.
"The questions will be about alchemy within the scope of early Tier 4 alchemists." Elder Fang Niang answered instead.
"Not about history?" Bai Fanxian narrowed her eyes thoughtfully while asking this question.
"Correct." Fang Niang nodded confirmation in confusion. Elder Chen himself also looked at Bai Fanxian without understanding.
Because history questions should be easiest, right?
What should be worried about were analytical questions or questions with unknown answers.
"Then just test it today..."
WHOOSH!
Bai Fanxian spoke calmly while several elders in the room choked on drinks in their hands unintentionally.
"Uh... are you sure, Grandmaster Bai?" Chen Deming tried to persuade.
"...I don't have much time. Hurry and finish it."
That noon, unbelievable news was announced from the Alchemists' Association. It was news that truly shocked people who heard. Even cultivators in Village Beneath the Clouds or from outside tried to push their way to the Alchemists' Association today.
Bai Fanxian would conduct a public test to become a Tier 4 alchemist!
Bai Fanxian's name was one they'd heard extremely often recently, as if she could create shocking events every day. But for cultivators like them, they didn't mind such fun and interesting matters!
Director Wang was one of them. He prepared cameras and microphones to broadcast this historic event online, letting cultivators who weren't here today experience the same thing.
The test was scheduled to start at exactly 1 PM in the association's grand hall. Any seminars or exhibitions in this hall were temporarily moved outside.
Because this test was many times more interesting than those seminars!
As time approached, people gathered until filling the hall. Tang Tianjie, who learned later, quickly brought both little ones to the front of the stage, which was easily allowed by the words of Grandmaster Xie sitting nearby, and Bai Fanxian was also sitting calmly on the sofa there.
The audience who came to watch the fun chattered noisily. They were extremely excited about this test, especially young alchemists hungry for knowledge and seeing such a test for the first time.
When the clock reached one, the stage lights brightened. People turned attention to one old man walking to center stage with dignified manner.
"Welcome everyone... the public test to become a Tier 4 alchemist will now begin!"
The speaker was Chen Deming himself. As soon as he finished, the stage format changed. A luxurious raised wooden platform appeared from the floor, just large enough for one person to stand. In the middle, an empty space and a not-too-large podium also appeared.
"Please invite Grandmaster Bai to center stage."
Elder Chen bowed politely. Suddenly Bai Fanxian stood. She walked gracefully straight to the raised stage, but instead of going around to climb stairs like normal people, her figure floated slightly with each step.
As if she was walking on air stairs!
Her sublime manner impressed everyone in the room. It was also the best confirmation before the public that she'd truly crossed into Grandmaster level!
Walking on air was a Grandmaster's privilege!
No one in the hall dared doubt her power level anymore. Chen Deming himself sighed with relief. Grandmaster Bai using this method to prove herself reduced his burden greatly.
"Then, we'll test knowledge. Please invite Elder Fang on stage."
As soon as he finished, the small middle-aged woman walked onto the stage. She smiled politely, then turned to bow once to Bai Fanxian before walking up onto that tall platform.
"Grandmaster Bai, I'll begin opening for public questions. Are you ready?"
Seeing Bai Fanxian nod simply, Fang Niang turned toward the audience. The microphone in her hand lifted up before speaking.
"Everyone can ask Grandmaster Bai one question each about alchemy science. And all questions today won't exceed ten questions."
When she finished, cheering immediately arose. Many people, especially lower-level alchemists, rushed to raise hands immediately.
The microphone was sent to one audience member randomly.
It was sent to an ordinary-looking teenager in white alchemy robes making an embarrassed face. He only came to watch the situation while waiting for his idol. He had to turn to look at his hot-blooded senior brother sitting reading threads on his phone beside him with a pleading manner.
They didn't expect the microphone would be sent to them like this.
And because of excitement or whatever came over him, and perhaps because the entire hall's gazes were pressuring him, the young man's mind suddenly went blank and he asked:
"Uh... does Grandmaster Bai know Alchemy Empress?"
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