JSCMU-Chapter 38: Social God

Afraid the Pavilion Master might change his mind, Yun Jin immediately chimed in with enthusiasm, “Let’s go, let’s go! We’re heading straight to the Pill Pavilion together!”

The Pavilion Master, curious to see whether this bold little girl was truly as talented as she claimed, agreed without hesitation.

“Sister Lan Cen, you’re coming too!” Yun Jin called out. “I promised I’ll take you along for the glory!”

Lan Cen agreed in a dazed mumble.

But Yun Jin wasn’t finished.

She turned to the rest of the shop, swept her hand dramatically, “Everyone, come along! Witness the birth of the youngest First-Rank Alchemist in history!”

…Excuse you?

You’re just going to declare yourself the youngest first-rank alchemist?

The results aren’t even out yet!

Everyone in the shop was mentally screaming.

The Emotion Points trickled in.

Yun Jin yelled even harder, “It’s fate that brought us all to the same shop today! Let’s go, let’s go, nobody’s allowed to miss this!”

Though this little girl was a bit…too weird, the situation was undeniably entertaining. Everyone followed along.

So…

When Yun Jin walked out the door, she had an entire entourage trailing behind her.

Yue Zhao rubbed his forehead.

He really wanted to pretend he didn’t know Yun Jin.

“Eldest Senior Brother, hurry up!” Yun Jin called cheerily.

Yue Zhao followed with heavy steps.

At that moment, he had only one thought:

Next time, he refuses to come out with Yun Jin even if they beat him to death.

Yue Zhao considered himself pretty socially confident.

But Yun Jin, this type of person is already a social god, how could he compare.

While Yue Zhao trudged along under the weight of despair, Yun Jin waved to passersby as they made their way through the marketplace.

“Big sister, are you busy? No? Then come along! I’m heading to take the alchemist test!”

“Big brother! Let’s go! Witness the rise of the youngest alchemist ever!”

“Grandpa, are you picking up eggs? Join our glorious procession!”

Yun Jin called out to everyone, smiling brightly.

She was small and somewhat endearing in appearance, but more importantly, there was a string of people following behind her.

Onlookers stared.

With so many people following along, there had to be something good going on. 

And so, as Yun Jin called out, the procession only grew longer and longer.

Still not satisfied, Yun Jin glanced around. Spotting Yue Zhao hiding in the crowd, Yun Jin headed straight toward him.

Like a snake slithering toward its prey, the whole crowd followed behind, winding through the street and heading straight for Yue Zhao.

The whole scene looked like a winding, hungry snake with poor Yue Zhao as its target.

Yue Zhao trembled. “Little Junior Sister… wh-what now?”

“Eldest Senior Brother, my voice is getting hoarse from shouting. Do you have any magical tool that can automatically yell for me? Just lend me one!” Yun Jin asked.

Shaking, Yue Zhao produced a voice-recording stone. “This is a Sound Stone. You can record your message, and it’ll play on loop.”

“Thanks!” Yun Jin grinned, then spun back around, and the entire line turned with her once again.

Yue Zhao showed a look of utter dispair.

Dear God, just end me now.

Yun Jin recorded her voice and let it play through the Sound Stone. Moments later, the entire market was ringing with, “Come witness the birth of the youngest alchemist in history!”

The procession also grew larger.

Yue Zhao was fully numb by now.

He used to worry about what would happen if Yun Jin failed the test after all this showmanship.

But now.

Only one thought remained:

Let the world burn. I’m tired.

So what if he died from shame?

Is there anything left in this world worth staying for?

Eventually, Yun Jin’s grand parade finally reached the Pill Pavilion.

The people from the Pill Pavilion had already heard the shameless slogans echoing down the street. All of them were stunned.

In all their years, they had never heard such shameless words before.

Everyone came to the front gates to gawk. 

They wanted to see which legendary figure could be this brazen!

Even Master Ming Heng, the only third rank alchemist currently at the Pill Pavilion, stepped outside to see the commotion.

“Master Ming!” Seeing Ming Heng, the other apprentices quickly made way.

Waving them off, Ming Heng watched the oncoming procession. “No need to fuss. I just want to see for myself who this youngest alchemist is supposed to be.”

“Probably some clown.”

“What’s the point of this?”

“Do they like embarrassing themselves?”

The apprentices whispered among themselves. Those who could become apprentices at the Pill Pavilion usually have some family background.

Even for them, becoming an alchemist took decades of hard work before there was even a sliver of hope. 

Everyone knows that once you become an alchemist, your status skyrockets.

Clearly, this wasn’t something just any random person could pull off.

Yun Jin, however, didn’t care about their opinions. As the head of the procession, she confidently marched up to the doors of the Pill Pavilion.

It was such a spectacle, the apprentices were actually getting nervous.

This really was for the exam?

Not a prank or a protest?

Yun Jin quickly zeroed in on Ming Heng and flashed a sweet smile. “Uncle, are you the one in charge? I’m here to take the First Rank Alchemist assessment!”

Ming Heng looked intrigued. “So you’re the one aiming to become the youngest first rank alchemist?”

Yun Jin squinted. “How old is the youngest first rank alchemist right now?”

Ming Heng thought for a moment. “There’s a prodigy from Xuandan Sect who refined their first Grade 1 pill at the age of six.”

“Oh…” Yun Jin blinked. “What about second rank?”

Ming Heng thought again. “The same genius reached second rank at ten.”

Yun Jin: “…third rank?”

Ming Heng smiled knowingly. “Sill him, at eighteen.”

Yun Jin let out a breath of relief. “I’m fifteen! Don’t worry, I’ll directly jump three ranks in a year and challenge the youngest third rank title instead!”

Ming Heng hadn’t said anything yet, the surrounding apprentices couldn’t continue listening anymore.

“Quit boasting. Jumping three ranks in a year, who do you think you are?”

Yun Jin replied seriously, “My name doesn’t matter right now. One day, you’ll go out of your way to learn it.”

That arrogance!

The apprentices’ expressions became twisted.

Ming Heng, however, chuckled. “So you want to take the first rank exam? Because ingredients are needed during the test, a fee is needed.”

Yun Jin stepped aside, revealing the Pavilion Master behind her.

Ming Heng was surprised. “Master Chen?”

Chen Changrong’s eye twitched. “Don’t worry, Master Ming. I’ll cover the cost this time.”

He handed over ten mid-grade spirit stones.

Ming Heng accepted them nonchalantly, then said, “Very well. I’ll be your proctor today. Come with me.”

“Wait a second,” Yun Jin interrupted abruptly.

“Hmm?” Ming Heng raised an eyebrow. 

Yun Jin quickly said, “Master Ming, there are so many uncles, aunties, brothers, and sisters following me. I promised them that they could witness this with me. If possible, could the alchemy furnace be brought outside? I want to refine the pill in public!”