Chapter 95: 113 Guest Lodge Elder!

As the tribulation lightning vanished, the dark clouds above dispersed at speed. Below, some of the onlookers stayed behind out of curiosity, while others, knowing full well they had no hope of understanding what had happened, quietly slipped away.

Qian Mo descended from the sky back into the examination chamber. In his hand, the Soul-Clearing Pill gave off a faint pale-gold glow.

Seeing that things had settled down, Frank, who had been hiding in a corner of the room, immediately crept over on tiptoe and stared at the pill in Qian Mo's hand. "I-it really succeeded!"

Qian Mo tossed the pill to him. "Ah!" Startled by the sudden gesture, Frank hurriedly caught the flying pill and said, "Careful! This is a sixth-rank pill!" He quickly held it close to his chest.

When he examined it again, the pill's luster, color, and shape were all of the highest quality among sixth-rank pills. Frank's eyes widened slightly. "This is sixth-rank... no, it's the fragrance of a pill approaching the seventh rank? A half-step seventh-rank pill!"

"Ha! Hahaha!" Frank burst into laughter, already thinking that this pill would be more than enough to serve as the guild's greatest treasure. When the time came to take it out, he would finally have something proper to show for his pride. In his mind, he could already see the others admiring the pill in their hands, their expressions full of envy and jealousy, while he stood nearby stroking his white beard with a hearty laugh.

"Did I pass?" Qian Mo asked, looking at Frank's exuberant expression.

"Ah! Passed, passed, of course you passed, and not just barely, either. You passed in the best possible way." Frank paused, then nodded and continued, "Young master, please wait a moment. I will fetch your sixth-rank alchemist badge at once."

"While you wait, you may take a seat in my study."

With that, he turned his head away again.

"All right, go ahead. I'll wait for you in your study," I replied.

Once more, the familiar surroundings and familiar scent greeted him. At the study door, Qian Mo pushed it open with a creak, and the wooden door issued a soft groan as it swung inward.

He stepped inside, clasped his hands behind his back, found the seat where he had been drinking tea earlier, and sat down.

Looking at the tea set on the table before him, Qian Mo reached out, lifted the pot, and opened it. Inside was the remaining tea from before. He gently poured it into a cup, stopping when it was half full, then set the pot down.

He lifted the cup with his right hand and brought it to his lips. Hmm. As the tea rolled across his tongue, its fragrance deepened all the more, a fresh and delicate green-leaf aroma.

"A sixth-rank pill is so precious here. Well, this is only a novice village, after all. Once I leave it, my horizons will naturally broaden." I murmured under my breath, then turned to look out the window. Beyond it lay a courtyard, ringed by all kinds of green plants. Looking back at the cup in my hand, I thought that they all ought to be tea leaves.

While Qian Mo was gazing out the window and savoring the moment, a set of footsteps echoed down the corridor. No need to guess whose they were: it was Frank, returning with the sixth-rank badge.

"Guild Master Frank," Qian Mo said with a faint smile as he watched the figure enter.

"Young master, I have kept you waiting," Frank said respectfully. Then, holding the black box with both hands, he presented the sixth-rank badge to Qian Mo.

Qian Mo looked at the badge resting on the cloth and reached out to take it, studying its design. So this was the sixth-rank alchemist badge. Six stars were arranged around a central emblem.

I gently pinned the badge onto my left chest.

Frank rubbed his hands together and said somewhat sheepishly, "Young master, please be seated."

Here it comes, Qian Mo thought to himself. He sat down and looked at Frank's face, which seemed as crafty as that of a profiteer, and immediately knew there must be something behind it.

Seeing that I had sat down, Frank followed suit. He looked as though he found it difficult to begin.

I took the initiative and gave him an opening. "Guild Master Frank, if you have something to say, then say it. As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse."

Hearing how straightforward I was, Frank felt far less constrained than before. Since the other party had already opened the conversation, why keep hiding it? He said, "Well... I would like to invite you to serve as the alchemist guild's guild master."

When I heard that, I gave a slight nod inwardly. Just as I expected. However, "I don't like being tied down. I prefer freedom." I voiced my thoughts aloud, then continued, "I won't take the position of guild master. How about I serve as a guest elder instead?"

Seeing that I had said it so plainly, Frank naturally would not refuse. With such a powerful guest elder in the guild, it would count as having a great figure to safeguard the place. After thinking it over, he nodded and laughed. "Very well. As long as you do not mind, young master, you may do whatever you wish."

"That... Elder Qian Mo..." Frank said.

I raised a hand to stop him. "Just call me Elder Mo."

"Oh, all right, Elder Mo. If it is convenient, I would like to take you out to introduce you to everyone. I wonder if..." Frank said.

"Guild Master Frank, since we are family now, don't speak so haltingly. Be more direct. Let's go, of course we can." I laughed, rising to my feet first.

"Haha, good!"

Frank laughed as well.

The two of us left the room and came to the main hall at the front desk.

Frank shouted, "Everyone assemble! Your guild master has something to announce!" Having said that, he clasped his hands behind his back and put on an air of superiority, exuding the bearing of one long accustomed to command.

"Guild Master, you called us all together. Is something the matter?"

Soon, the alchemists gathered in response, and the crowd asked the question.

Ahem. "Now I will introduce someone to you," Frank said, making a respectful gesture toward Qian Mo. "This is our alchemist guild's Elder Mo. From now on, when you see him, you must treat him with the same respect as you would me."

Some in the crowd looked unwilling, but when they carefully swept their eyes over me, their objections died on their lips. Their eyes widened as they shouted, "S-sixth-rank alchemist!" Several men pointed at the badge on Qian Mo's chest, drawing the attention of everyone present.

"Re-really passed the sixth rank?" In the crowd, a clear female voice rang out. It was naturally the woman who had received Qian Mo at the front desk. At first she had not believed it, but now, seeing the sixth-rank badge on Qian Mo's chest, she finally believed it. A sixth-rank alchemist at such a young age? The more she thought about it, the wider her eyes opened. Had she been dreaming? Not only had he attained sixth-rank alchemist status, he had even become an elder of the alchemist guild?!

"What? Do any of you have objections?" Frank said sternly, his brows knitting slightly.

"Th-no, none at all!" The crowd hurriedly shook their heads and fell silent. One was the guild master, the other a sixth-rank alchemist. Neither was someone small fries like them could afford to offend. If they carelessly crossed them, the one who would suffer in the end would be themselves.

"Mm. And you?" Frank then turned to the three people who had supervised Qian Mo's examination with him.

"No, no, we have no objections either." The three were quick-witted and immediately shook their heads, waving their hands in denial.

Seeing that no one objected and no one had anything to say, Frank nodded in satisfaction. The furrow in his brow smoothed away, and with a slight lift of his eyes, he continued, "Very good. Since none of you have any objections, I now formally announce that Young Master Qian Mo shall become our youngest guest elder!"