78: One day I will tear off your mask

Bao Hui's reputation outside was much cleaner than his. Many people said that although both of them belonged to the Axe Gang, Bao Hui was gentle and refined, clearly someone who didn't fight or vie for things, while Xiong Mao was ferocious and evil, committing all sorts of atrocities like burning, killing, and plundering, so people should never get close to him.

Every time Xiong Mao heard such talk, he would get very angry, but if he actually made a move, wouldn't that just confirm his reputation?

"Detestable Bao Hui, hmph! One day I will tear off that mask of yours!"

Xiong Mao uttered a vicious remark to himself, then turned and left... Guild Alchemy Hall.

Zhuang Siwei didn't leave; he saw Zhuang Sanming go to line up.

Did Zhuang Sanming really think he could be chosen?!

Hmph, how could that be?

He would wait right here and see how Zhuang Sanming got kicked out by the people from the Alchemy Hall!

Zhuang Sanming was currently anxiously waiting in line, watching the people in front of him enter the room one by one, then come out.

The staff member at the door kept saying, "Next," so it would probably be his turn very soon.

"Cousin, are you nervous?" Su Duo felt a bit nervous in this atmosphere, so she asked Zhuang Sanming.

"A little." Zhuang Sanming nodded.

The Alchemy Hall was his goal. Now that there was a chance he might enter the Alchemy Hall, it would be false to say he wasn't nervous.

So many people before him had failed, and Zhuang Sanming now felt very unsure, afraid that he too would fail.

"Next, number 92."

"Cousin, it's your turn! Go quickly!" Su Duo seemed even more excited than Zhuang Sanming; she almost wanted to apply for Zhuang Sanming herself.

"Mhm, wait for me outside." Zhuang Sanming told Su Duo.

"Mhm mhm!" Su Duo indicated that she definitely wouldn't wander off.

Seeing Zhuang Sanming enter, Zhuang Siwei, who was observing them from a distance, couldn't help but feel nervous.

Zhuang Sanming went in; he went to apply!

Could he be chosen?

Zhuang Siwei frowned tightly. He thought Zhuang Sanming definitely wouldn't be selected. His strength wasn't great, and he had no other advantages. The Alchemy Hall would be foolish to recruit him.

But what if?

Zhuang Siwei only felt his heart pounding, almost jumping out of his throat.

At the same time, the first thing Zhuang Sanming saw upon entering the main hall of the Alchemy Hall was the Alchemy Hall's Head Steward sitting in front of him, with two people responsible for recording standing on either side of the Steward.

"What's your name, how old are you, are you a Martial Artist, and what level? What is the attribute of the cultivation method you practice?"

The Head Steward asked each question one by one.

After speaking, he picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea, clearly parched from interviewing so many people.

Zhuang Sanming felt a bit flustered at the last question. How could he afford to buy a cultivation method? He had never practiced one.

But since he was here, he still bit the bullet and said, "Hello, my name is Zhuang Sanming, eighteen years old, a Level Three Martial Artist."

"And the cultivation method attribute?" the Head Steward asked.

Zhuang Sanming didn't quite dare to look directly into the Head Steward's eyes, lowering his gaze to his toes, and said, "I, I... haven't practiced a cultivation method."

The Head Steward "tsk"ed: "Another one who hasn't practiced a cultivation method. Go on, next!"

With a "boom," Zhuang Sanming felt as if his head had exploded. He had waited in line for so long, struggled with his thoughts for so long, and all he got in return was "Next"?

No, he couldn't just leave like this!

"Wait, please, among the requirements you mentioned, what attribute of cultivation method is needed to join the Alchemy Hall?"

After learning that he had been eliminated, Zhuang Sanming was no longer nervous; instead, he was composed. All he wanted now was to clarify what the Alchemy Hall's recruitment standards were. Not having a cultivation method now didn't mean he wouldn't have one in the future.

The Head Steward was a bit surprised, seemingly not expecting Zhuang Sanming to ask such a question.

All the previous eliminated candidates had just left directly, without even asking.

"Do not be disrespectful to the Steward!" one of the people next to the Head Steward said to Zhuang Sanming.

"It's alright, he should be told the recruitment standards." The Head Steward waved his hand, looked at Zhuang Sanming, and said, "Our recruitment standard this time, in addition to being a Level Three Martial Artist under thirty-five years old, also has one mandatory standard: the cultivation method practiced must be wood-attribute."

So that's how it is!

No wonder those people before always came out dejected shortly after going in. It turns out the staff the Alchemy Hall wanted to recruit had to practice wood-attribute cultivation methods!

"Thank you."

After getting the answer he wanted, Zhuang Sanming didn't linger and left directly.

"Cousin, Cousin, how was it? Were you selected?" Su Duo had been waiting outside and immediately rushed up when she saw Zhuang Sanming come out.

Zhuang Siwei also saw Zhuang Sanming walk out of the room, and his heart immediately jumped into his throat.

Was he selected or not?

Was he?

"No." Zhuang Sanming shook his head and told Su Duo, "Currently, I don't meet their recruitment conditions."

"Oh, I see. It's alright, we can come again next time." Su Duo nodded and said.

"Haha, I told you it was impossible for you to be selected, but you wouldn't believe it and insisted on asking for trouble. Now look, you got kicked out, didn't you?"

After Zhuang Siwei confirmed that Zhuang Sanming hadn't been hired, he immediately jumped out and ridiculed Zhuang Sanming from all angles.

"Some people, ah, just don't listen to advice. What I said was all for your own good, but you just wouldn't listen, tsk tsk."

"Is the Alchemy Hall a place someone like you can enter?"

"I think, ah, in this life, at most you'll only be able to enter a few other halls as a minor employee, maybe not even that. With your amateur skills, I'm afraid you can't even go to the Mission Hall, can you?"

Zhuang Sanming had no reaction to these words because he had already clarified the Alchemy Hall's recruitment standards. The next step was to obtain a wood-attribute cultivation method to practice.

But Su Duo couldn't stand it. She put her hands on her hips and cursed, "Zhuang Siwei, are you really sick?! Whether my cousin can be selected or not, what does it have to do with you? You're clearly the one who wants to go but doesn't dare to, so what are you being so arrogant about?"

Zhuang Siwei snorted, "I'm not going because I know my place, but he doesn't."

He had already prepared his retort earlier and finally managed to shut Su Duo up.

But Su Duo didn't play by the rules: "So you mean you admit you're a coward and your strength isn't as good as my cousin's, then?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever admit that?"

Zhuang Siwei stomped his foot again.

"You just said it yourself! You know your place and knew you wouldn't be selected, so you didn't go." Su Duo analyzed seriously.

"What does that have to do with me being a coward? What does that have to do with not being as good as Zhuang Sanming?"

"Never mind, you're just sick, plus you're a coward, and your strength is poor." Su Duo's main strategy was to be unreasonable.