Chapter : 25 : Asking The Second Elder For A Favour :
Location : Xiao Clan Estate : Xiao Ming's Home :
At this moment Xiao Ming was standing in front of the mirror watching The Alchemist robe he was wearing .
The robe just arrived today as it was dilivered by a senior brother from the Alchemy division along with some other important things .
The alchemist robe was light grey colour with the symbol of a small golden medicinal cauldron .
This symbol is considered by most around the cultivation world as the official symbol of the Alchemist association .
Along with that there was also a small insignia of the Xiao clan on the robe symbolising his affiliation .
According to what he understood from the seniors every time he proceeds in the ranking the dress will remain the same but the badge will change .
For example the badge he has right now has no marking on it and was marked by just a simple letter symbolising that he was still a student .
And on the other hand the senior sister who helped him other day had a badge consisting of 2 stars in it representing her as a second tier alchemist .
Every time he gets upper in the rank he will get one star added to his Alchemist badge .
And as for how he can advance to the rank of first tier Alchemist that's quite simple but at the same time it's quite difficult as well .
Two months after the classes begins in the Alchemy division there will be a unified test for all the newcomers like him .
Here if they can successfully pass the theoretical exam then they will go to the second test .
The practical exam involves arround creating a proper first tier Alchemist pill .
And only after completing the second exam can anyone advance to the rank of a first tier Alchemist .
But one thing that one must understand is that while this sounded very easy just like any normal exam but in reality it was not like that .
This was a lot harder than normal exams because here even one mistake will mean failure .
Even if you do get a high score in the theory exam and then fail at making The Alchemist pill even by a slight difference would mean failure .
The job of an alchemist is taken very seriously in the cultivation world as such this standard set for even the average alchemist is very high .
But for now Xiao Ming didn't have much to worry about that because the exam was still 2 months away and now that he had become an alchemist student the benefits he received had also increased .
For example now he can enter the second floor of the clan library after showing his Alchemy student badge .
This was a huge upgrade because now he had more allowance over knowledge in the library .
Secondly his status within the clan has also increased .
Now his newly discovered possible talent in alchemy coupled with his earlier recognition as a prodigy his monthly allowance has increased by four times .
After all if we can truly become an alchemist on the level of genius he had shown then it would be a great benefit for the clan in the future .
Hence the resource allocation given to Xiao Ming must also be increased accordingly .
However this also had a particular down side that Xiao Ming had anticipated from before .
Attention ! Now the attention on him has also increased by a lot .
If previously he was just a prodigy of the new generation who had defeated the 4th elder's grandson then now the things were even deeper .
Now he was no longer just a cultivation genius he was a genius in Alchemy who had just broken the record of the fifth elder .
To be honest he had expected this after all the news from the Alchemy division was bound to spread around the clan especially such a big news .
But still the reaction had been far more overwhelming then he had anticipated .
Because at first when he went outside at least he was given some space to walk and only a few people actually came to him to ask about questions regarding cultivation .
However now literally a small followers base started to form around him just like with Xiao Yun and Xiao Zhan .
And this was becoming an headache .
He did not want any followers nor did he want to be some kind of a leader .
But no matter how much he tried to control the situation he failed .
Fortunately once again he was saved by the second elder who somehow managed to calm the situation down .
" Huh ! The second elder is really too good to me . " - this was the second time the second elder help him in this kind of situation .
To be honest he was already grateful to the second elder for his help in the matter because if he hadn't not intervened then perhaps he had to deal with this situation for the next few months .
This also significantly brightened his opinion on the second elder Xiao Peng .
He felt more and more that he could rely on him when he would be in trouble .
And today he was going to meet the second elder because he had a particular favour to ask .
What favour you ask ? What he needs is a ...
" I need a strong and more powerful sword technique . " - Xiao Ming said to himself as he looked at the high earth grade sword in his hands .
For the past few days he had been practicing the basics of the sword technique that was available in the lower sections of the library .
But as the time passed by it became more and more insufficient and is was not that the technique was bad .
The basic technique taught in the Xiao clan comprised of all the basic movements and teachings needed for a newcomer like him .
And exactly that was the problem .
This technique was basic and now with his increased talent he was no longer satisfied with it .
At this rate he had already learned most of the basics and at best it would take him a few more days and maybe this month he would learn it completely .
And then he would need a better sword technique for himself .
He could have gone to tge library and looked for some sword technique especially in the second floor of the library where they are must be some good yellow grade techniques kept .
But he had another plan which was bold and if successful would be far more beneficial than going to the library .
He wanted to ask the second elder personally for a favour to help him get a good sword technique .
At this point some may even think that he had gone crazy .
After all the second elder had no relevant ties with him and just because he helped him twice with crowed management did not mean that he could just go and ask for favours .
And obviously Xiao Ming knew about it .
But there was another side to the story .
" Now that I am a clan genius , I should take full advantage of it . " - a comically villian like like smile appeared on Xiao Ming's face .
Yes ! that was his plan .
He intended to use his now new found reputation in the clan to his advantage .
If it were before he was sure that the second elder wouldn't even take notice of him let alone grant him a favour .
But now things were different as he had proven his worth .
So today if he asked for a favour , the second elder most likely he will not turn him away .
If it was there force elder the situation would have been different .
But from what he understood about the second elder he was known for having a good nature and caring for young talents like him .
So thinking he could take the opportunity to ask him for a favour from the second elder .
After all the techniques in the library are still inferior to anything that the second elder Xiao Peng can grant.
And even if the second elder did not help him or turn him away it would not be a problem either because then he can simply take one of the sword techniques from the library.
After all he is not doing anything bad so there is no need worry about leaving a bad impression with the second elder .
" Alright ! Let's go . " - with that Xiao Ming left his house going towards the inner area of the estate were most of the elders and important members of the clan lived .
Location Change : Xiao Clan Inner Estate : Xiao Peng's Office :
This moment the second elder was in his office busy with some paper work related to the first elder's upcoming visit to the Zhao clan .
" Knock ! Knock ! Knock ! Knock ! " - at this moment is sound of knocking came from the door .
" Come in ! " - Xiao Peng said not looking up from his work .
When the door opened an old butler came inside the room .
" Lord second elder you have a visitor would you like to meet him . " - the old butler said politely as he waited for his masters answer .
" Visitor? Who could it be ? " - Xiao Peng finally looked up p from his work and asked in mild confusion .
He didn't remember making any appointments to meet anyone today and the rest of the elders were also quite busy to come and meet him right now .
And he knew very well that this old butler who had followed him for so many years wouldn't disturb him in his work if he didn't consider the person outside to be importence .
' Is it first elder ? Does she need any thing from me ? ' - Xiao Peng thought to himself .
" My lord it's a young cultivator from our clan named Xiao Ming who had come to meet you . " the old butler replied saying the second elders confusion .
" Although Xiao Ming had not made any appointment to meet you right now , seeing his recent growth in talent I thought it would be best if I ask your permission first . " - the old butler said .
In truth if it had been Xiao Ming from two or three months ago the old butler would have turned have turned him away without informing the second elder .
But Xiao Ming's the recently rise in talent keep him a better position .
Xiao Ming now was a rising genius of the clan not some ordinary member .
So even if it was somewhat rude to come and try to meet the second elder of the clan without prior appointment it was still acceptable .
And knowing that the second elder would not mind this disturbance the
butler decided to ask him directly .
" Xiao Ming ! What's he doing here ? - hearing Xiao Ming's name the second elder really looked confused as he finally put away his writing brush .
" Alright allow him to come inside I would like to see what he has to say to me . " - after thinking for a few seconds the second elder finally gave him permission .
Afterall this was the first time Xiao Ming had personally come to someone's house and he wanted to know the reason .
Hearing Xiao Peng's words , the old butler left the room .
After sometime the door opened again and this time a young man came inside the room .
He was obviously non other than Xiao Ming .
" Good morning ! second elder and thankyou for allowing this meeting . " - Xiao Ming said as he gave a bow to the second elder .
" And please forgive my rudeness as I have not made any appointment beforehand . " - Xiao Ming said a little embarrassed himself after all this was his fault from the beginning .
In his excitement he had totally forgotten about making an appointment .
This was troublesome especially now when the second elder was so busy .
" Hahaha ... No need to apologize young Xiao Ming I am not offended at all . " - however much to Xiao Ming's relief the second elder did not take the matter too much significance and laughed it off .
" Thank you for your generosity second elder . " - Xiao Ming said .
" Alright ! alright ! now sit down no need to stand there like that . " - Xiao Peng said .
With that Xiao Ming finally sat across the room and now faced the second elder right infront of him .
After some more normal conversation and laughter did the second elders spoke up his voice a mix between seriousness and curiosity .
" So ! What brings you here young Xiao Ming ! "
To Be Continued .