Fictional Transcension System - Chapter 31 Official Apothecary

With long strides, Elder Bai exited the examination room and quickly looked around for Lu Fengyi, holding a sheet of results within his hand. Upon spotting the boy, Elder Bai’s face lit up with excitement and incredulity before hurrying over to Lu Fengyi’s side, “Congratulations. I’ve finalised the paperwork and you should be a certified apprentice apothecary now. You may even be the youngest apprentice in the history of our kingdom.”

Lu Fengyi waved away the praise, “I am unworthy of such words. I thank Brother Bai for going through so many troubles just for my sake.”

“How could that be? It was a pleasure, Brother Lu.” Elder Bai handed the sheets of results to Lu Fengyi before preparing to leave, “I still have things to attend to, so if you do not have any issues, I’ll be taking my leave.”

Just as Elder Bai took his first step, he was stopped by Lu Fengyi’s voice, “Uhm, Brother Bai?”

“Yes?” Elder Bai turned around in confusion.

“There is actually one more thing I need help with…” Lu Fengyi twiddled his fingers slightly.

Smiling broadly, Elder Bai did not hesitate to ask, “What’s the matter? Just speak your mind.”

Hesitating for a moment, Lu Fengyi displayed an embarrassed look before answering, “It’s like this. I would like to take the official apothecary test.”

“Haha, that should be no pro…” Elder Bai almost chocked as he processed what Lu Fengyi had just said, “Did you just say you wanted to take the official apothecary test?”

Still keeping up the facade of embarrassment, Lu Fengyi nodded.

Elder Bai’s mind spun, ‘This kid! Not only did he completely ace the apprentice test, he even wants to take on the official apothecary test! Isn’t he only in his teens right now? How could you be so confident about this, not to mention having all the right knowledge! You’re about to smash through the heavens right now!’

Composing his emotions, Elder Bai had to make sure once more, “You’re completely sure you want to take the examination?”

Lu Fengyi nodded, however with an afterthought, he continued, “I am completely ready. However, I wish to obtain the position as soon as possible. Could I try the method other than the conventional examination.”

Confused for several moments, Elder Bai suddenly realised what Lu Fengyi had said, “You want to take the other exam? Could you possibly mean… pill debate?”

If Elder Bai’s head was spinning before, he was on the point of fainting now. What was pill debate? Pill debate required one to debate with ten true apothecaries about the various aspects of pill forging and one could be disqualified with just a single mistake. Furthermore, a huge penalty would be enforced on one if that happened!

“I plead Elder Bai to grant my request.” Lu Fengyi clasped his hands together before bowing formally. If he wanted another to do something for him, the most important would be respect. Using one’s status and power to force another to comply was simply looking to make enemies.

Seeing Lu Fengyi’s conviction, Elder Bai could only sigh before lifting Lu Fengyi from his bow. There was truly too much of a gap between the commoners and the geniuses. And to think that he had considered himself a genius and a dragon among men. Peh! If Lu Fengyi was the genius, everyone else could only be considered the litter on the roadside!

Leading Lu Fengyi away from the examination hall, Elder Bai brought him to the main hall of the apothecary guild. Although usually there would be several processes that one would have to go through, even if one was seeking a pill debate, with Elder Bai’s recommendation, there would be no worries.

Stepping through a set of large doors, Elder Bai quickly keyed in several words before messengers streamed from behind the duo, each heading in their own direction.

“The other nine apothecaries will arrive soon. Let us enter the examination hall first.”

Lu Fengyi nodded at Elder Bai’s words, following the elder into the darkened, circular room. As the two entered, thousands of lights flickered on, causing the room to come to life. As the initial glare of the lights died down, Lu Fengyi was about to see the interior of the room.

At the centre of the room, lay a small seat along with what looked like a pill cauldron while ten taller seats surrounded the centre.

“You should go take a seat in the centre. Once all the other apothecaries are here, we’ll begin the examination.”

Lu Fengyi made his way towards the seat, as did Elder Bai, who sat in one of the more prominent of the ten chairs.

Only several minutes later, the first apothecary other than Elder Bai had arrived. He had high cheekbones and stood up with a distinct pride engraved within it. His voice was raspy and was quite unpleasant to hear.

“Elder Bai, why have we been summoned today? I heard that there was a pill debate.”

Elder Bai nodded, “Indeed. Do you know Lu Fengyi, the newest Elite Student?”

“Of course I do. Everyone has heard about him by now! It’s been thousands of years since the last Elite Student, so his promotion was became a wide spread topic. What about him?”

Gesturing towards Lu Fengyi, Elder Bai continued, “The one taking the pill debate examination today is exactly him.”

“Haha, you’re pulling my leg again aren’t you…” the apothecary narrowed his eyes before realising Lu Fengyi’s identity, “Oh my god! Lu Fengyi?”

“That’s me…”

Lu Fengyi sighed to himself. He finally understood why so many people had a distinct hate for being popular. The fact that each and every person knew them and would praise them, or were jealous pricks that would spit hateful words was simply too inconveniencing for daily life.

After praising Lu Fengyi some more, the elder went and took his seat opposite Elder Bai. Less then ten minutes later, the seats had been completely filled with waiting elders.

Seeing that the appropriate people had gathered, Elder Bai stood up abruptly before announcing, “Today, we will be holding a pill debate for test taker, Lu Fengyi, Elite Student of the Hongtian academy. We have received consent from both the examiners and the participant, so let us begin the pill debate.”

Lu Fengyi sat up straight within his seat, prepared to answer any questions that would be thrown at him. He was almost completely confident that the Cultivation Knowledge Pack had covered everything within the elder’s knowledge, meaning that as long as it was one of those seated upon the seats asking the questions, there would be no problem answering them.

Several minutes had passed, however none of the elders had even made a move to ask Lu Fengyi a question. Confused as to what was going on, Lu Fengyi raised his hand before asking, “Um, elders? Aren’t we currently doing the examination?”

Mutterings broke out among the apothecaries before the one seated the furthest from Elder Bai stood up, “Then I shall be going first.”

Lu Fengyi smiled with a challenge within his eyes, “I’m ready!”