After seeing Mu Xiaoxiao and Su Yu's response, Han Dapeng let out a smirk and was confident of succeeding in his schemes. He was now planning on how to punish Mu Xiaoxiao after the exam ended.
Elder Zhao was leaning back in the chair and seemed like he didn't care about the result at all.
"This is a Rosea Flower…"
In just a few breaths of time, Mu Xiaoxiao gave her answer.
Elder Zhao, who was originally calm, suddenly widened his eyes. "How did you know?"
This means… It is correct?
Su Yu looked at Mu Xiaoxiao in astonishment.
Mu Xiaoxiao's eyes were now filled with innocence as she said in an uncertain tone, "I just feel that it should be the Rosea Flower and simply said it…"
Han Dapeng's eyes nearly popped out. He had been a guard here for over a dozen years and had witnessed plenty of people taking the exam here. No one had even been able to answer correctly for the first stalk of herb, and there were rumors that an Elixir Concoction Master of the Spirit Medicine Pavilion had once taken the exam here when he was young. He, too, hadn't gotten the answer correct for the first stalk of herb.
Luck, this is definitely luck!
"Try this one." Elder Zhao's voice turned a little hoarse as he switched out the herb in the box.
"This is the Cold Heart Herb."
This time, it was even faster than the previous time as Mu Xiaoxiao answered almost immediately.
"Good, good, good!" Elder Zhao's face was turning red as he said 'good' three consecutive times. "Try this herb…"
Han Dapeng's mouth had turned into an 'O' shape, and he was looking at Mu Xiaoxiao as though he was looking at an alien.
"This is the Crane Crest Flower…"
"This herb…"
"This is the Union Heart Herb…"
"This herb…"
"This is the Purple Radish Vine…"
…
Han Dapeng's face turned darker with every correct identification. He couldn't believe what was happening in front of his eyes.
There was no more suspense now as Mu Xiaoxiao called out all ten herbs' names with ease. She had a happy smile as she looked at Su Yu excitedly. "Yay! I passed the exam!"
"Hahaha, not bad. Not bad, indeed!" Elder Zhao was so excited that his face was flushed red. He stroked his beard and revealed an amiable smile while looking at Mu Xiaoxiao. "Do you wish to become my disciple?"
This question made the entire atmosphere feel frozen. Han Dapeng, who was standing by the side, had started to shake intensively and was terrified.
Elder Zhao might only be responsible for the exam, but everyone there knew that he had a special status. Even the Spirit Medicine Pavilion's Pavilion Master would need to be extremely polite to him. In addition, the Pavilion Master would come to visit Elder Zhao now and then. If Elder Zhao was someone ordinary, why would the Pavilion Master spare out time from his busy schedule to visit?
If this young lady was a person that would bear a grudge, a single statement of hers would be enough to consign Han Dapeng into eternal damnation. His forehead was now filled with cold beads of sweat, but he didn't even wipe them.
However, it might be due to the fact that Elder Zhao hadn't smiled for a long time that his smile was rather rigid. The amiable smile now looked rather intimidating, and Mu Xiaoxiao was so afraid that she hid behind Su Yu and shook her head without hesitation.
Refused, she actually refused…
Elder Zhao's smile froze as he never expected that anyone would decline his offer. He immediately thought of something and stood up to speak in a prideful tone. "I forgot to introduce myself. I am Elixir Shroud."
Plop!
Han Dapeng's legs turned soft as he immediately knelt down. Beads of sweat started to roll off his forehead, and his lips were shaking, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Elixir Shroud was a name that was resounding and famous throughout the entire Five Deltas Continent. He was the publicly recognized Elixir Concoction Saint and even held the records of the successful concoction of saint-class elixirs. However, he was a mysterious person that seldom appeared in public. Not many people had met him, and he enjoyed hiding in various places of the Five Deltas Continent. There would be many occasions when he would be by your side, but you would never guess his status. Therefore, he had been given the title of Elixir Shroud.
"I, I swear I will never leak out Elder Zhao's identity…" Han Dapeng had been holding back for a long time before making this promise.
It was imaginable that once the news of Elixir Shroud being here was spread out, a horrific number of people would come to visit him. By then, even the entire East Delta County might not have space.
"Hehe, it doesn't matter if you divulge this. I am not planning to stay in the Spirit Medicine Pavilion after today, anyway." Elder Zhao was very satisfied with Han Dapeng's response and straightened his back further. He was just waiting to take Mu Xiaoxiao as his disciple.
"Are you going to leave? Is it because the Spirit Medicine Pavilion didn't take care of you enough…" Han Dapeng was shocked at the news. It was fine if he didn't know of Elder Zhao's identity, but now he knew. This person had an elevated status—one of the continent's top powerhouses—and if the Pavilion Master put the blame on Han Dapeng…
"My purpose for becoming an examiner in the Spirit Medicine Pavilion was to find a disciple. Since I have achieved my objective, I am naturally going to leave."
Tok, tok, tok…
Han Dapeng was considered a rather intelligent person, and he knew that it was better to apologize to Mu Xiaoxiao now than to do it later on, as the effects would be different. He didn't hesitate and gave three resounding kowtows to Mu Xiaoxiao. "I have offended the young lady earlier. Will the young lady please forgive me!?"
Elder Zhao frowned and asked, "Offended?" He looked at Han Dapeng with sharp eyes. He had just accepted this disciple and wouldn't tolerate anyone bullying her.
Han Dapeng's heart made a loud thud while he perspired profusely. As expected, Elder Zhao viewed his disciple with great significance and wanted to stick out for her here. In his heart, Han Dapeng was constantly praying that Mu Xiaoxiao was a person that wouldn't bear grudges.
Han Dapeng braced himself and said, "This young lady was selling herbs at the market earlier. I saw that she wasn't a Spirit Medicine Master and brought her here to conduct the Spirit Medicine Master exam…"
"Hmph! You knew that I have never passed anyone here. That's why you intentionally brought her here, right?" Elder Zhao snorted.
"This one deserves to die. Actually, this young lady is already competent enough to be a Spirit Medicine Master. This one has failed to recognize an incredible person!" Han Dapeng spoke while constantly kowtowing to Mu Xiaoxiao. He was very straightforward.
Su Yu was sighing with emotions while watching by the side. It is better to have strength in this world. The high and mighty Han Dapeng has now turned into someone's grandson.
"My disciple is naturally extraordinary!" This kind of bootlicking satisfied Elder Zhao. He turned to look at Mu Xiaoxiao and said, "My good disciple, how are you preparing to punish him?"
"I am not your disciple!" Mu Xiaoxiao turned away and looked hesitantly at the kneeling Han Dapeng. Her heart went soft as she said, "He didn't do anything much. Just… Forget it then…"
"Mm, my disciple has a kind heart and is not going to pursue this." Elder Zhao was getting increasingly satisfied with Mu Xiaoxiao. He said to Han Dapeng, "You might not have a good intention but somehow delivered a disciple to me. I shall consider your contribution to be your compensation."
"Thank you, Elder Zhao. Thank you, Young Lady Mu." Han Dapeng heaved a big sigh of relief. Before Elder Zhao, he was just like an insect that was afraid of getting smashed.
Elder Zhao looked at Mu Xiaoxiao with amiable eyes and smiled as he asked, "Can you show me what kind of medicinal ingredients you are selling?"
Mu Xiaoxiao looked at Elder Zhao and carefully opened up the cloth bag.
"Hahaha, not bad. You are so young, yet you are able to harvest class-2 medicinal ingredients."
Elder Zhao took a quick glance and immediately identified the 20+ types of medicinal ingredients. These herbs were either for strengthening the body, stopping bleeding, or clearing blood clots. All of them were beneficial to the human body, and it was enough to see that Mu Xiaoxiao had a kind nature.
Elder Zhao looked at the holes in Mu Xiaoxiao's clothes and said with a little heartache, "Now that you are my disciple, you do not have to harvest any more herbs in the mountain. I will even teach you how to concoct elixirs, making you a respected Elixir Concoction Master."
"But your pavilion even wanted to confiscate my herbs." Mu Xiaoxiao looked at Elder Zhao warily.
Han Dapeng nearly cried. The anguish that had just been relieved had caused all his hair to stand on end.
Elder Zhao let out a slight smile and said, "Don't worry. With me around, they will not dare to do anything to you."
"Big Brother Su, what should I do?" Mu Xiaoxiao didn't know what to do. She didn't know much about Elixir Concoction Masters, nor what kind of status this Elixir Shroud had.
Su Yu finally awakened after getting tugged by Mu Xiaoxiao. Ever since Elder Zhao had said that he was the so-called Elixir Shroud, Su Yu had been in a trance state.
That was because a notification had appeared in his mind…