When I nod to her affirmation, she gives another hard look.
As if trying to figure out who I am and if it would be worth pushing it through now.
When I see her eyes squint, I fidget, as it feels like she’s starting to put the pieces together. As expected, this makes her stop.
Even if she figures it out, I’ve stated my intention to stay anonymous. That’s enough to make her cease pursuing my identity.
After all, this policy is one of the great things about the Healer’s Association. This policy allows those normally ostracized or marginalized to prove their skills in a neutral setting.
But whatever she figured out has finally convinced her, causing her to look in the distance. Likely communicating with the other Masters in the city. Assembling those who would judge .
Within monts, I feel four other presences shoot toward this area. Each between low to high Core Formation.
They appear before us, each intimidating in their own ways. But to my surprise, there is sothing that I haven’t seen much of yet. That most of them are females.
Four older, powerful won stand before , including Mada Qian, with one elderly male. All of whom look like, at least physically, are between their late 30s and 50s.
Ah, I see why. A couple of them were cultivators originally from Jingjiao Temple, a top-level female sect. One that is quite a distance away, but has a far reach across the Chia Continuum, even within our Heavenly Light sect. That they would have such a powerful influence in the Healer’s Association isn’t unreasonable.
Breaking through my thoughts is Mada Qian. Her voice is lodic, though still daunting in its depth.
“Sorry to disturb you all, but as previously ntioned, we have an applicant for Master-level accreditation.”
Mada Qian combs a hand through her brown hair nonchalantly, but squares her broad shoulders toward the group, as if preparing to discuss this in-depth. This doesn’t go unnoticed by most of them.
One of the other won, a white-haired woman flowing with finesse and poise, speaks up.
“Where are they? I only see this…”
She looks around, seeking soone older than I, but I can tell there’s a growing suspicion as her eyes return to .
One of the others seed to have grasped the situation.
A small woman, whose qi aura shines behind her, the power of her cultivation strong enough to not be fully hidden, shakes her head in disappointnt as she speaks.
“Lia… it’s obvious, isn’t it? We all could tell there was no one else here, even before we got here. As much as we might hope, it’s just this young one.”
She turns toward Mada Qian.
“My question is why you seem ready to just let him take it, with little vetting?”
At her words, the rest of the Masters look at her. She says nothing for a while before speaking out.
“This applicant has chosen to stay anonymous. You can make your own assumptions from that.”
From that, I see four sets of eyes turn toward .
I can’t help but focus my attention on the last two who haven’t spoken, curious about their reaction to my appearance.
The two, an antsy, old man with gray hair and a grim-looking older gothic woman, fix their gaze on . Hiding away their reactions and opinions, for what may be different reasons. From the little I can sense, the man may be cautious from taking a side from previous experiences.
The woman, on the other hand, gives off the feeling of a war veteran. She has experienced everything and beyond, yet remains silent because it's just another typical day for her. Doing whatever is necessary to get back to her life.
It looks to like none of the others expected them to say anything, so are just looking between the three of themselves.
The small woman gives a sigh, as she seems to co to a conclusion, nudging Mada Lia and whispering sothing in her ear.
…Couldn’t she just have just used telepathy?
This seems this is sothing commonly done between them.
Lucky for though, I can hear it with my senses because of it.
“Do you think it’s that guy everyone has been talking about?”
Mada Lia’s eyes shoot to , squinting before she nods.
“Yeah, I’m thinking so, Liqin…”
Both of them straighten up, stopping their whispering to turn toward . Ready to proceed. Mada Qian is rubbing her forehead, since she definitely heard everything with her enhanced senses.
So, I’m pretty sure they know who I am. Or at least have an idea.
…I probably should have expected this. Especially considering how rumors travel around in the cultivation world. I’ve been doing so crazy things with healing lately, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable that healers in other parts of the Chia Continuum would catch word of a young, dark-skinned healer with low cultivation healing everyone and their mother using new techniques and alchemy.
Though it was probably the ti at the Fortress of Healing that would have really gotten my description out there.
Seeing that everyone is mostly in agreent to begin the accreditation process, Mada Qian continues speaking, turning to .
“With that settled, let’s begin. Do you know the steps to accreditation?”
I nod, making everyone more assured. After all, it wouldn’t be good if the applicant ca in blind to a well-known testing procedure.
My scan has already laid out the process.
The first test is one of practicality. Healing 50 random people, both generally and within my specialty. Each person can have varying difficulties to heal them, determined by the other Masters. Ones with the highest difficulties should mostly be within the specialty I choose.
After all, different masters have various cultivation thods and specializations. The only shared marker of being a master of healing is whether they can heal most people well, with their best work being within their specialty.
The second and final test is one of the mark of a true Master. Solving or putting forth a potential reasonable solution to any one problem that other Masters in your specialty struggle with. Each of them will put forward a problem. If I can solve any of their problems or put forward a reasonable solution, then they’ll approve it.
The next to speak is the grim-looking, old, gothic woman, drawing surprise from the group. Reaffirming my thoughts that she rarely speaks or interacts if necessary. Her eyes pierce through , feeling as if they can see everything.
“Kid. What will you choose as your specialty?”
I take a breath, wording this as best I can, using with my conversation scan.
“I can do it all.”
…
…
Silence.
A raspy male voice breaks through it.
“…Are you fucking kidding ?”
Everyone’s eyes turn to the antsy old man who imdiately goes quiet, realizing he said that out loud. Even though, it was definitely what everyone was thinking.
Soon after the old woman stands up a bit higher. Which is when she unleashes her cultivation in force, in waves. Causing half the weight of her cultivation to fall on .
With her being a peak core formation, that equals the spiritual pressure of a mid-core formation expert.
There’s only one thing that cos to mind before I feel it descend on .
…not again.
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