Chapter 325: Cao Family Demon Girl, Xuan Kongzi
However, the guards still had to perform their duties. A guard stepped forward and said politely, "My dear brother, you need a certain level to enter the Danta headquarters. Can you tell us your identity?"
"Hello, big brother. I'm Xiao Ling. I'm here today to take part in the alchemist level assessment. Is it convenient for you?" Xiao Ling asked with a smile on his face and a calm tone.
The guard heard this and was surprised. He looked Xiao Ling up and down. This young man had a handsome face and was no more than 20 years old. He exuded a youthful aura. His face was not fake, and he was indeed full of youth. Generally speaking, it would be a bit redundant for someone of this age to come to Danta headquarters to take the alchemist level assessment.
"Little brother, if you want to take the assessment to become an alchemist, you can do it at the Danta branch outside Shengdan City. The assessment at the headquarters is for masters who aspire to become eighth-grade alchemists." The guard shook his head slightly, his tone serious and solemn.
"Indeed, you are right. I came to the Danta headquarters to take the assessment for the eighth-grade alchemist." There was a subtle impatience in Xiao Ling's tone, but he remained calm.
Despite the rejection, Xiao Ling did not show much emotion. He was used to being looked down upon because of his youth, and this situation was not unfamiliar to him.
As long as the other party's attitude is not too extreme, Xiao Ling usually doesn't care too much.
With a slight smile, Xiao Ling calmly took out an exquisite porcelain bottle from his arms.
Through the bottle, one can clearly see a pill lying quietly inside. "I have used up my eighth-grade pills. This seventh-grade life-saving pill was made by me earlier."
Xiao Ling handed the porcelain bottle to the guard, with a hint of relief in his tone. "Do you think I am qualified to take part in this assessment?"
The conversation between Xiao Ling and the guard was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing people passing by to stop and look at Xiao Ling.
Those curious eyes stared at him, trying to see through Xiao Ling inside and out.
Such a young face actually claimed to be an eighth-grade alchemist. This sounded like a fantasy. If such a young alchemist could reach such a level, then those alchemists who had been hovering at the sixth and seventh grades all their lives would have worked in vain.
Even Cao Ying, the "witch girl" of the Cao family who was considered to have the highest talent in alchemy among the younger generation, had only reached the seventh rank. Now a young man suddenly appeared, claiming to be an eighth-rank alchemist, and the first thought that came to their minds was suspicion.
"Hey, did you hear that clearly? He said he wants to take the exam to become an eighth-grade alchemist. This can't be a joke, right?" A passerby poked the person next to him, but his eyes never left Xiao Ling.
"I'm not deaf, of course I heard it. But this matter is indeed a bit mysterious. An eighth-grade alchemist, that is a big shot in the alchemy world. He looks to be only in his twenties, is it true?" The person next to him touched his chin with a look of doubt.
"You two stop whispering there. Didn't you see the pills that guy took out? Maybe he really has some skills." Another alchemist who looked experienced interrupted. Although he didn't quite believe it, the porcelain bottle in Xiao Ling's hand made him somewhat shaken.
"Hmph, can he prove that he is an eighth-grade alchemist by taking out a seventh-grade pill? Who knows if he made it himself? Then who would believe me when I say I can make a ninth-grade pill?" A straightforward alchemist curled his lips in disdain, obviously sneering at Xiao Ling's self-proclaimed name.
"Okay, okay, don't jump to conclusions. Let's see what the guard says. If he really has that ability, we will be witnessing history. Besides, I always feel that this little brother looks familiar, as if I have seen him somewhere." A calm voice persuaded, which made everyone's attention focus on Xiao Ling and the guard again.
The guard took the porcelain bottle from Xiao Ling and paused for a moment on the pill in the bottle. With his experience, it was not difficult to tell that this was indeed an authentic seventh-grade pill.
However, just as the people around him suspected, even if it was a seventh-grade elixir, it could not prove that it was made by Xiao Ling himself.
"Young man, a pill alone is not enough to prove anything," the guard returned the porcelain bottle to Xiao Ling with a hint of weirdness in his tone.
"However, if you can produce the badge of a seventh-grade alchemist, I can personally take you to see the elders of Danta and let them assess you."
Although he said so, there was a hint of disapproval in his words, and it was obvious that he didn't really believe that Xiao Ling had that ability.
Seeing the guard's attitude, Xiao Ling also understood that if he didn't show his strength, it would be difficult to get the badge of the eighth-grade alchemist easily.
He smiled helplessly, put the pill away, and was about to show off his soul power a little to prove that he was not in vain.
"Hehe~ Young guard, you are not someone who can entertain Mr. Xiao Ling. Let me make the arrangements~" But at this moment, a delicate female voice interrupted, the voice was so sweet that people could not help but look sideways.
Xiao Ling paused for a moment, and out of curiosity, he looked in the direction where the sound came from.
The crowd seemed to be pushed by an invisible force and automatically made way for a woman. A woman walked over gracefully and everyone's attention was drawn to her.
The woman was tall and dressed in a black long dress, exuding a cold and arrogant temperament.
On its chest, there is a badge with seven bright purple-gold stars on it.
This shows his identity as a seventh-grade alchemist.
Her skin was as white as snow, her long black hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and although her cheeks were thin, they were extremely delicate, like a piece of carefully crafted porcelain, making people want to touch it.
Those eyes were long and narrow, slightly lazy, yet revealed a charming allure.
However, Xiao Ling's gaze did not stay on the woman's charm for too long. He quickly turned his head to the guard with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
However, Xiao Ling's small action made the woman's lips slightly rise, revealing a faint smile.
At the moment when the smile appeared, her thin and charming face seemed to be lit up, and instantly full of charm.
Faced with Xiao Ling's puzzled look, the guard did not explain immediately, but nodded slightly in the direction of the woman and saluted politely.
Seeing this, the other guards followed suit in unison.
"Ms. Cao Ying." They greeted in unison, with a hint of respect in their voices.
This woman called Cao Ying obviously had a high status in Danta, enough for these guards to show such respect to her.
When Xiao Ling heard the guards' respectful address to the woman, his eyes immediately lit up and he quickly recognized the girl's identity.
This woman is the enchantress of the Cao family, Cao Ying, a disciple of Xuan Kongzi, one of the three giants of Danta today, and a popular figure vying for the throne of the next one of the three giants of Danta.
This woman had a great talent for alchemy, and her natural soul power was extremely strong. It was rumored that her mother was almost unable to bear the strong soul power she had when she was born, causing her death.
Cao Ying's gaze passed through the bowing guards and locked directly on Xiao Ling.
She thought she was immune to appearance factors, but Xiao Ling's appearance made her heart skip a beat.
She had to admit that the man in front of her did have a charm that was hard to ignore.
Xiao Ling has a handsome face, deep features and sharp edges, as if he is a work of art carefully carved by God.
Those eyes were calm and deep, like a windless ocean. They were eyes so deep that they could almost devour people's hearts, yet they had a magic that made people want to get closer involuntarily.
He exudes a special temperament, with both friendliness and a cleverness that cannot be ignored. A few strands of blue hair brushed across his forehead, like the purest blue in the sky, and the flowing blue hair was like the brightest star in the night sky, flowing with mysterious light.
The golden hair was faintly visible among them, like the golden stars occasionally twinkling in the galaxy, adding a touch of nobility that could not be ignored to his overall image.
Although Cao Ying was used to seeing all kinds of handsome men, she couldn't help but be stunned when she saw Xiao Ling. This kind of demeanor was indeed the only one she had ever seen in her life.
However, she was not a woman who only cared about appearance, and she quickly regained her composure, but her curiosity and interest in Xiao Ling increased a little more.
After coming to her senses, Cao Ying walked lightly and gracefully towards Xiao Ling like a lotus. She stretched out her slender hand as white as mutton-fat jade and said in her sweet and charming voice,
"My humble daughter, Cao Ying, I have long heard of Master Xiao Ling's reputation. Seeing him today, I found him to be truly extraordinary. I heard that he refined an eighth-grade, four-color elixir. Even many elders in the Pill Tower cannot match his elixir-refining skills."
There was a hint of admiration in Cao Ying's words, but more of it was curiosity and interest in Xiao Ling.
She has shown extraordinary talent as an alchemist since she was born. Among the younger generation, except for the girl from the Dan family, almost no one can match her.
Not long ago, she heard that a young eighth-grade alchemist suddenly appeared in Zhongzhou, which made her very interested in the rumored Xiao Ling.
She wanted to know what kind of person could surpass her in talent in alchemy.
Although Danta's information is usually accurate, she still wants to investigate Xiao Ling's situation personally to find out how capable Xiao Ling is and how he has achieved his current achievements at such a young age.
"I've heard of Miss Cao Ying's reputation a long time ago." Xiao Ling smiled slightly, stretched out his hand and gently shook hands with Cao Ying. Her hand felt cool to the touch, like the early spring stream water, soft and delicate, making people want to hold it for a while longer.
"My current achievements are just a coincidence. With Miss Cao Ying's talent, she will reach this level sooner or later."
However, Xiao Ling only gently held Cao Ying's hand and then let go, maintaining the proper politeness and distance without crossing the line at all.
"Hehe, Mr. Xiao Ling is really too modest. I, Ying'er, feel a little embarrassed when you say that." Cao Ying gently withdrew her hand, lightly covered her rosy thin lips, and let out a silver bell-like laugh.
Then, she gracefully made a gesture of invitation and said with a smile: "Since Master Xiao Ling is interested in taking the test for the badge of an eighth-grade alchemist, let Ying'er lead the way. My master happens to be free now and can assess your alchemist rank. If he hears that you have come to Dan Tower, he will definitely be very interested."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Ying took light steps and led Xiao Ling towards the depths of the Dan Tower.
Upon seeing this, Xiao Ling nodded slightly to the gatekeeper, then followed Cao Ying's steps and walked into the Dan Tower.
As Xiao Ling and Cao Ying left, the guards and onlookers outside the Dan Tower began to whisper, and the discussion gradually grew louder.
"I really didn't expect that this young man is actually an eighth-grade alchemist!" exclaimed an alchemist watching, with a hint of disbelief in his tone.
"Yes, Miss Cao Ying has come forward in person, so it seems that this is true." Another alchemist nodded in agreement, his eyes full of admiration, "Such a genius is rare in a century. It is unbelievable that he has achieved such success at such a young age."
"No wonder he looks familiar to me. I seem to have heard of the name Xiao Ling before." A middle-aged alchemist stroked his chin and recalled, "It is said that he was in the Northern Territory when he was refining the eighth-grade elixir. I didn't expect to see him in person today."
"There are always people who are better than you." An old alchemist said with emotion, his eyes were filled with envy and self-mockery, "The rest of us have been hovering around the sixth and seventh ranks our whole lives, but he has reached the eighth rank at such a young age. It's really admirable."
"It seems that Zhongzhou will have another young master of alchemy. Xiao Ling's name will surely spread quickly." Someone said enviously, "Miss Cao Ying is personally leading the way. This treatment is not available to ordinary people. If he can join the single tower, he will be another candidate for a giant..."
……
Walking in the corridor inside the Dan Tower, Cao Ying took the initiative to bring up topics and asked Xiao Ling some basic information.
Xiao Ling was also happy to answer. After all, Cao Ying's questions were just common ones that did not touch on any privacy. This made Xiao Ling feel that the chat was very easy and there was no need to beat around the bush.
"Mr. Xiao Ling, do you have any other hobbies besides refining medicine?" Cao Ying asked curiously, with a gleam of exploration in her eyes.
Xiao Ling smiled and replied, "In addition to practicing fighting spirit and alchemy, I also like to travel around and look for adventures. My achievements today are largely due to the various experiences I had during those years."
"Hehe, it sounds like Master Xiao Ling is very experienced. I wonder if I will have the chance to go out with him in the future?" Cao Ying said with a smile, gently fiddling with a strand of hair.
"Ahem, well, let's talk about this later." Xiao Ling coughed twice and said awkwardly, "The world outside is dangerous. It's better for talents like Miss Cao Ying to stay in a safe place."
Cao Ying blinked mischievously and retorted, "Mr. Xiao Ling, you are wrong. You are much better than me in alchemy. I should protect you."
The conversation between the two was relaxed and humorous, and the first impression between them was quite good. As they traveled along the way, they met many elders and alchemists of Danta, who all took the initiative to greet Cao Ying. Cao Ying behaved very appropriately in communication, always responding to everyone with a smile.
However, while the elders were greeting Cao Ying, they couldn't help but look at Xiao Ling curiously. Some of them didn't recognize Xiao Ling's identity, so they just looked at him curiously;
There were a few people who recognized Xiao Ling's identity. When they saw Cao Ying bringing him along, although they were very curious about such a young eighth-grade alchemist, they just smiled and greeted him without disturbing him any further.
The two walked side by side, chatting as they walked, and finally stopped in front of the upper floors of this magnificent tower. They stood outside a hall that was a little too spacious, and the atmosphere here seemed a little solemn.
The two guards standing nearby bowed respectfully when they saw Cao Ying come in, and then tactfully stepped aside.
"This is the office of my teacher, President Xuankong," Cao Ying said with a slight smile, "He should have received the news that you are coming. I think he should be waiting for us inside now."
Xiao Ling nodded and restrained the expression on his face. He thought to himself, the three giants of Danta are all at the peak level of Nine Revolutions Dou Zun. This is the first time he has met a master of this level.
Seeing that Xiao Ling was ready, Cao Ying nodded slightly, straightened her clothes, took two steps forward, respectfully pushed open the door of the hall, and was the first to step into the hall.
Xiao Ling followed closely behind Cao Ying and also walked in...
Walking into the hall, you will see a sea of bookshelves in front of you, which looks a bit messy. In the hall, flames of various colors are intertwined, and under the colorful firelight, the whole space seems to be shrouded in a dream.
Xiao Ling stepped lightly onto the stone slab and glanced around. After a while, his eyes were fixed on a bookshelf. There, an old man in a white robe was wiping the dust off the bookshelf slowly.
This old man in white looked ordinary, without any aura emanating from him, and was no different from an ordinary person.
But when Xiao Ling used his soul perception slightly, he could sense that the old man contained enormous power. This power was so strong that it even surpassed any strong man Xiao Ling had ever seen, and even the resurrected Skyfire Venerable could hardly match it.
As expected of a top Dou Zun expert, he is indeed so terrifying!
The appearance of Xiao Ling and Cao Ying naturally caused quite a stir. How could the white-haired old man not feel it?
But he seemed to be deliberately trying to act like a master in front of Xiao Ling. He pretended to be calm, didn't even raise his head, and just continued with the work in his hands. Xiao Ling's mouth twitched when he saw this...
(End of this chapter)