“Here, this is your badge. As long as you have this, you can purchase array combinations from any store and treat any Array Masters’ Association as though it’s your second home.”
Senior Huang handed Yuan a green badge.
Ding!
<You have acquired the title ‘Level 1 Array Master’>
<You have acquired the title ‘Level 2 Array Master’>
“There’s an array inside this badge?” Yuan could immediately tell upon touching it.
“That’s right. Without the array, the badge is just a useless piece of metal, and it makes it harder to be replicated by others who want to profit from it.” Senior Huang nodded.
The beautiful woman added, “Being an Array Master is more prestigious than one might think since it’s not an easy profession. Some might argue that it’s even more difficult than being an Alchemist, so there are many people who pretend to be an Array Master to receive benefits that they don’t deserve.”
“Therefore, you need to make sure that you don’t lose that badge. If you happen to lose that badge, you will need to partake in another assessment because we have no proof that you’re an Array Master.”
Yuan nodded, “I will keep the badge safe.”
“Before you leave, Yuan.” Senior Huang suddenly said, “Do you have any intentions of joining the Array Masters’ Association? There are many benefits in joining us, such as free array combinations and being taught by the best of the best Array Masters from around the Nine Heavens.”
“The Nine Heavens?” Yuan raised his eyebrows.
“Yes. Did you think the Array Masters’ Association only existed in this world? The Array Masters’ Association is one of the biggest factions in the Nine Heavens, and we can be found in every single realm.”
“I will keep that in mind. As for joining the Array Masters’ Association, give me some time to think about it.”
“Very well. If you ever decide to join us, just give us a visit— or any Array Masters’ Association for that matter.” Elder Huang nodded.
“Goodbye. Thank you for everything today.” Yuan bowed to them before leaving the room with Xiao Hua.
Once they left, Senior Huang turned to look at Master Zeng and said, “You’ve been awfully quiet since the end of the 2nd test, and the way you acted today is not acceptable for someone of your stature. If that talented young man holds a grudge against the Array Masters’ Association, it will be your fault, and that is what I will be telling the higher-ups if they ask.”
However, Master Zeng remained silent.
“Master Zeng…? Are you okay? You’re sweating awfully a lot…” It was at this moment Senior Huang and the other judge noticed that he was covered in sweat.
The chair he sat on was also starting to creek as his body began trembling.
“M-Master Zeng? What is happening to you? Do you need medical assistance?” They stared at him with frowns on their faces.
“N-No… I-I am fine…” He suddenly muttered in a low voice.
“What happened to you?” Senior Huang asked again.
Master Zeng closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths before speaking, “Someone was threatening me… No, multiple people threatened my life just now.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“You couldn’t sense it probably because it was directly at me, but I felt intense killing intent directed at me, and from multiple people as well. If I dared to move, I would’ve probably been killed on the spot.”
Senior Huang and the beautiful woman exchanged puzzled glances with each other. They couldn’t understand why someone would want to kill him.
The beautiful woman decided to ask, “Why would anybody want to kill you? And we were alone in this room except for Yuan. If he was threatening you with killing intent, we would’ve definitely noticed it.”
“It wasn’t him.” Master Zeng quickly shook his head.
“It was that person standing behind him— that little devil…”
“You mean that little girl? Master Zeng… I think you’re just exhausted. Go home and get some rest. We’ll handle the assessment.” The beautiful woman shook her head.
“You don’t understand! I can’t leave! They are still inside the building! I cannot leave until they leave!” Master Zeng shouted.
Senior Huang was stumped by his reaction. They have never seen him this afraid before. Furthermore, he was a Spirit Lord. Even if the little girl was staring at him with killing intent, it shouldn’t affect him.
“Do whatever you want, but we still have many people waiting to be assessed.” Senior Huang said, and he called in the next examinee a moment later.
Meanwhile, as they walked back downstairs, Xiao Hua said, “Brother Yuan, that man in the room showed a hint of killing intent towards you.”
“Eh? Really? I didn’t notice it, probably because I was so focused on the tests.”
“Don’t worry, Xiao Hua made sure that he couldn’t do anything funny.”
“Is that why you refused to leave the room? Thank you, Xiao Hua.”
“Un.” She nodded with a satisfied face.
Back on the first floor, Yuan returned to the man that he first spoke to when he came to this place.
“I am now an official Array Master. Where can I buy array combinations?”
“Huh…?” The man stared at him with widened eyes.
Yuan retrieved the green badge and showed it to the man.
“L-Level 2 Array Master?! I thought you said you weren’t one!” The man exclaimed.
He has never seen someone skip level 1 and become a level 2 Array Master right after the Array Masters’ Association, so he thought that Yuan was already an Array Master, and he just finished his promotion examination.
Yuan merely shrugged his shoulders.
“…”
After a moment of silence, the man pointed to the ceiling and said, “You can buy array combinations on the third floor.”
“Thank you.”
Yuan and the others began making their way back up the staircase.
A few minutes later, they arrived on the third floor.
“Welcome to the Array Masters’ Association. Are you an Array Master?” A middle-aged woman greeted them.