Another World’s Versatile Crafting Master c1-1074

by Zhuang Bifan

  "…" Lin Li scratched his head. He never knew that these two small fishes from the Pharmacists Guild could make Sarsen so excited. Look at that gaze and that smile—how was it different when Lin Li met the Star Chaser Clan?

  This, this, this… Is this still the proud Sarsen?

  What Lin Li had not expected was that the reaction from these two people from the Pharmacists Guild towards Sarsen's warm-heartedness would be so cold. They merely nodded at him. "Yes, hello."

  Sarsen was not single bit disobedient; his face was still showing respect and passion.

  "Mage Sarsen, we still have things to do. If there's anything, let's have a chat another time, ok?" However, the people from the Pharmacists Guild were getting impatient. After they brushed him off, they turned around and respectfully said to Lin Li, "Mage Felic, the carriage is in front."

  "Oh, ok…" Lin Li's mind was in a muddle. This guy shouldn't be learning how to change his countenance, right? Look at this change in countenance, he just replied with that old saying—his change was faster than flipping a book.

  Chapter 214 - Pharmacists Guild

  Lin Li did not feel anything—those two were very respectful all the while, after all. On the other hand, Sarsen's eyes were wide open. He could not believe his own ears. Did those words just now really come from the people of the Pharmacists Guild?

  Why would the people from the Pharmacists Guild be polite to a mage? Furthermore, it was just a young mage with no status. Even though Sarsen admitted that Felic's power was fathomless and his talent was even more amazing, but this was only among the youngsters. Compared to the real powerhouses, he still had a long way to go.

  After all, he was too young. No matter how fathomless his power was, he could not possibly be stronger than Macklin.

  Such power was still far from enough to deserve the Pharmacists Guild's respect.

  Sarsen distinctively remembered that when he was very young, his mentor had once brought him to Alanna to pay a visit to an acquaintance in the Pharmacists Guild.

  The meeting back then left a deep impression on him.

  At that time, his mentor was already a level-16 archmage, and hence in control of the Nightfall City Guild of Magic. Be it power or position, he was living up to the word "impression" regardless of which aspect one looked at. However, Sarsen quickly realized that his impressive mentor was nothing at all in front of that acquaintance from the Pharmacists Guild. The start of the conversation was filled with cutting remarks. There was absolutely no respect for the mentor. Some of the words were harsh. Even a ten year old Sarsen could not carry on listening; that incident produced a twelve year old Sarsen that broke through to the fifth level.

  Even a person like his mentor received cold treatment at the Pharmacists Guild. On what basis was this Felic receiving their respect? Although he was indeed a genius, but he was miles apart in comparison to his mentor.

  Sarsen could not understand it…

  Whatever had happened just now was too surreal.

  Sarsen believed that he was not mistaken. Those two people were definitely from the Pharmacists Guild. Even though they were wearing black robes and being respectful towards Felic, the thick scent of medicine emitted from their bodies and the cold attitude towards Sarsen were exactly the same as when he had seen them back then at the Pharmacists Guild.

  Sarsen could not understand why they were so respectful towards Felic.

  Was it because he was a young genius? That did not seem possible…

  The Pharmacists Guild was never in need of geniuses, much less formidable magical power.

  There was no need mention others. Just a legendary mage Grimm Burnside would be able to awe anybody from the Pharmacists Guild. Furthermore, they had potions that everybody dreamt of. Sometimes, there would be powerhouses that would be willing to help them do anything even if they just gave a small hint without saying anything.

  There was no need to mention geniuses. The thing that the Pharmacists Guild was lacking the least was geniuses. If it was not a one in ten thousand genius, there was absolutely no chance to become a pharmacist.

  No matter from which perspective, Felic did not have the qualifications.

  Could it be that he himself is a pharmacist? Sarsen looked at the leaving carriage and his mind suddenly had this thought. However, when this thought appeared, he started smiling. How could it be possible to be a pharmacist below twenty years old. It's such a joke…

  No matter how talented or hard-working Felic was or if he started learning about the pharmaceuticals from birth, there was absolutely no way he would be able to understand the principles of pharmaceuticals at twenty years old. Furthermore, to be a pharmacist, one had to memorize all sorts of complicated recipes. These recipes were much more detailed and complicated than magical curses, and also carried all sorts of traps. Two herbs might seem fitting to be concocted into a potion, but in fact, they would severely clash. Such things would not be able to be mastered if not for repeated failures.

  A long time ago, Sarsen had once asked his mentor the following: since mages relied on potions so much, why didn't he himself try learning about pharmaceuticals?

  Sarsen clearly remembered that his mentor had had a really serious look; he'd also sternly warned him to never, ever have such a thought. It was because mage was a profession that required time. The more knowledge and experience one had, the more powerful they would become. As for pharmaceuticals, all the more it could exhaust a person's energy for a lifetime.

  Trying to master both would only end in not reaching the peak of either.

  Sarsen remembered that his mentor had even used Grimm Burnside as an example back then.

  "Grimm Burnside is truly a genius. A genius that only appears once every hundred or thousand of years. Unfortunately, he took the wrong path. He shouldn't have learned magic and pharmaceutics at the same time. Don't look at him now, being a legendary-mage and master pharmacist. In truth, he could've accomplished more than this. If he were to specialize in one, I'm afraid he would have surpassed Aldwin in magic long ago, or surpassed Balbo in pharmaceutics. He would not be pressured by both of them in both domains like now."

  If it was true for Grimm Burnside, what about Felic, who was younger than him by decades?

  Sarsen thought about it for a long while, and could not make head nor tail of it. He finally shook his head and turned around to walk into the guild hall.

  Yet at this time, Lin Li's face was full of emotions while sitting in the carriage.

  All the while, he knew that pharmacists were arrogant, but he did not imagine that they would be so arrogant that they looked down on others. Just now, he had spoken to them in the carriage. Both of them were just disciples of the Pharmacists Guild. To put in a blunt manner, they were no different from men doing odd jobs. One of them was even a driver…

  However, these two disciples did not even give Sarsen a single shred of respect.

  Sarsen was not even twenty-five years old this year, and he already had the power of a level-14. Additionally, he was the only disciple of the guild master of Nightfall City's Guild of Magic. His future was bright. Even becoming the new guild master of Nightfall City's Guild of Magic was not impossible.

  Such a person would be respected wherever he went. Even if he came to Alanna to participate in the trials, his trial mentor never saw him as a disciple. Yet, he did not think that a warm-hearted face would be greeted by cold shoulders by these two disciples of the Pharmacists Guild…

  "Too arrogant…" Lin Li shook his head and his expression was filled with emotions.

  Back at Jarrosus, he would frequently hear people talk about pharmacists and the Pharmacists Guild. Back then, he did not feel anything until he saw it with his own eyes today. Lin Li immediately realized how important his grasp on pharmaceutical knowledge was in this world.

  F*ck, seems like I also have to be more arrogant lest there be trash like Matthias coming to pick on me. It's such a bother! Lin Li shamlessly thought of it as he re
marked in the carriage.

  "Mage Felic, we have arrived." Yet it was at this time that the carriage stopped.

  "Oh, ok…" When Lin Li got off the carriage, his expression was filled with curiosity. The tower in front of him was nothing special. Be it the stature or the size, it was lacking in comparison to the Guild of Magic's. It was just that when he walked closer, he could smell a pungent scent of medicine drifting out from the tower.

  About 100 hundred metres in front the tower, there was a magnificent and grand structure. It was surrounded by fully geared soldiers. It could be said that they were armed to their teeth. They were patrolling the structure in teams of tens. There were even squadrons of Gryphon Riders flying past occasionally. Looking from the tower, it felt like the whole structure was covered in a solemn and respectful aura.

  "What is that?" When Lin Li looked at the tight security, he was surprised. He had never imagined that Alanna was so powerful. Not only did it station so many fully equipped soldiers, it could even afford so many Gryphon Riders. This was simply stronger than all of the great ten mercenary corps combined.

  "…" When Lin Li said this, both of the members from the Pharmacists Guild froze. It was as if they turned around and looked at Lin Li simultaneously. The strange gazes they gave made Lin Li feel like he was some sort of rare animal.

  "What's wrong…" Lin Li touched his face and realized that he seemed to have asked a stupid question.

  "Mage Felic…" One of them slowed his saliva with difficulty: "That is Felan Palace…"

  "…" Lin Li almost killed himself.

  After making such a huge blunder, Lin Li did not have the face to stand at the entrance of the tower. He thickened his skin and dismissed the two with a few words before rushing into the Pharmacists Guild. Following the directions of the two disciples, he could see a spacious hall, on whose right side there was a spiral staircase creeping up. Judging from its structure, it had not much of a difference from Jarrosus' Emerald Tower.

  When Lin Li walked, there were quite a few people inside the hall.

  There was even someone familiar among them…

  "Felic!" Before Lin Li could speak, Andoine welcomed him with a face radiant with vigor. The old man seemed to be in a good mood. He walked over to the main entrance while greeting acquaintances triumphantly.

  "What are you doing here?" Lin Li scratched his head and he looked confused. Didn't the invitation letter already mention this gathering would invite all of the pharmacists in the Felan Kingdom? Even though Andoine had a passion towards pharmaceuticals as a hobby, in essence, he was just a hobbyist. He was far from the level to discuss with pharmacists…

  "What do you mean I'm here as well?" The old man gave up. His expression was filled with humiliation. "I came in here with an invitation letter. Would that old man Burnside dare not to invite me to such a grand gathering?"

  "He really is brave…" Lin Li softly mumbled.

  Chapter 215 - Andoine's Status

  Old Grimm's had quite the courage. He even dared to invite Andoine. What if he suddenly became overzealous and wanted to concoct something on the spot? Wouldn't it cause an explosion and blast the whole Pharmacists Guild?

  He'd never guess that although Andoine was old, his hearing was not worse than a youngster's. Lin Li's mumble had actually been heard by him. "What really brave?"

  "No… Nothing."

  "Come, sit with me over here." Since returning from the Nightmare Mountains, Andoine had not seen Lin Li for quite a while. After seeing him today, he wanted to ask about his recent developments. After all, it could be said that this young man was brought into the world of magic by him alone. Yet, at the same time, he had helped Andoine a lot in pharmaceuticals. Their relationship was like that of master and disciple, but it was like a friendship as well—it was much closer than an average master and disciple relationship.

  "Oh, yes… that Crystal of Eternity of yours, has it been sculpted already?" Both of them sat in a quiet corner and chatted for a bit before Lin Li suddenly thought of the Crystal of Eternity.

  "Of course." Andoine had a mysterious smile on his face and took out a purple crystal bottle from his pocket. "Look at it, how's it?"

  "It really is the Crystal of Eternity…" Just when he took the crystal bottle, Lin Li could feel what made the Crystal of Eternity so special. It was cold to the touch, but it was not uncomfortable. Using his fingers to run through the fine and smooth striations on the crystal bottle, it felt like stroking a piece of high quality silk.

  Lin Li released trace of mana, carefully penetrating the bottle slowly from the opening.

  The moment this trace mana had entered, Lin Li could feel that crystal bottle in his hand started to heat up. A warm aura gushed slowly out of the crystal like spring water. It gently and slowly surrounded the trace of mana that he'd released, which was then moistened using that gentle aura. It was a very peculiar feeling; it was as if someone was singing a lullaby beside his ear.

  Indeed, this was the power of the Crystal of Eternity…

  He played with it till he could not tear himself away from it. Just as he was about to return it to Andoine, the old man generously waved his hand. "I brought this here just to give it to you. I still have a full set in my pharmaceutical lab…"

  "Then…" Lin Li hesitated for a moment. He then thought those few black lotuses in his pocket required a potion bottle made from the Crystal of Eternity. Instantly, he did not stand on ceremony with Andoine. He just nodded and placed the crystal bottle in his pocket. "Then I will not be courteous."

  "When were you even courteous…" The old man pouted his mouth and glared at him with disdain.

  "Heh heh…" Lin Li started to feel embarrassed. He thought about it carefully, and it was true. Ever since he'd come to know Andoine, he had never really been courteous with him before.

  "Oh, yes, kid, I heard from people that recently, you don't really know your place in the Guild of Magic…"

  Lin Li was a little guilty. "Who spread this rumor?"

  "Don't you care who. Just answer me honestly, have you been causing trouble recently?"

  "This…" Lin Li swallowed his saliva. His gaze was rather guilty. Actually, even if Andoine did not say it, he already knew that it was Macklin who told him of it. When that old man saw Andoine, he was like a mouse seeing a cat. As long as Andoine asked, why wouldn't he just sell Lin Li out?

  "What this and that…"

  "OK, I admit I did cause some small trouble." Lin Li saw that he could not deny it, so he could only honestly nod.

  "I knew that you were dishonest…" Andoine pouted. He had an "I know what you have done" expression. "But it's ok, it's nothing much. I've already spoken to the Marathon Family. As long as you don't provoke them anymore, Wilhelm will not take actions against you anymore."

  "You already spoke to them?" Lin Li instantly understood. No wonder after he beat up Marathon Family, from Macklin to Azalez, all of them looked like they were anxiety-ridden. They described the Marathon Family as a dreadful monster, especially Azalez. The only thing they did not do was to point at him and tell him to clean his neck because the men of Wilhelm would come over to kill him in the next few days.

  Yet, he had not run into any trouble after so long.

  That incident with Argus did not count, as that was definitely Matthias' arbitrary actions.

  One should not belittle this difference. Although Matthias was Wilhelm's son, he did not hold much power within the Marathon Family. Didn't Argus already say so—the family business was mostly handled by Gaud. As for Matthias, he could only command people closer to him like Argus…

  Although the assassination at the Fire Plume Ridge was alarmingly dangerous, for Lin Li, it was only just dangerous. It did not reach the state where it would take his life. Even if there was no Salamander to wreak havoc, Lin Li could also rely on the black lotus sap to escape. With something like the black lotus in the hands of a pharmaceutics guru, there were many tricks that could be used. A single Argus
would not be able see through all of it.

  But if it was Wilhelm who personally took action, then Lin Li would not be so optimistic.

  With the prowess of the Marathon Family, if they really wanted somebody's life, it would not be as simple as sending just a single level-16 archmage. Without mentioning other methods, just taking out a sum of money and hiring one to two hundred assassins to go through assassinations everyday could even drive a person crazy.

  Honestly, even Lin Li had to admit that if the person that wanted his life was not Matthias but Wilhelm instead, the only thing he could would be to escape from Alanna…

  Andoine's words made Lin Li heave a sigh of relief and feel touched at the same time.

  "Thanks."

  "I'll consider that you still have a bit of a conscience. There's nothing to thank me about. The key is that can you save me from worries. Stop stirring up trouble every time…" After Andoine nagged at him, he changed into a serious expression. "Oh, yes. I also heard that the reward this time was pretty good…"

  "What pretty good…" Lin Li answered with a lack of interest. "It's nothing more than the winner being able to establish a new guild at Breezy Plains, are you interested? If you're interested, I'll let you be the guild leader if I win the finals…"

  "Fool!" Andoine glared, his face was filled with distress. "How could not I see that you're such a fool!"

  Lin Li looked around and discovered that a few people were shocked by Andoine's tone. They were looking over with curiosity. Lin Li had to smile at them without embarrassment and carefully reminded Andoine, "Manners, Mage Andoine, mind your manners…"

  "Manners my…" The old man almost spewed out vulgarities. He contained his temper with difficulty, but his face was deep with rage. "Do you know what sort of place is Breezy Plains?"

  "I've heard a little…"

  Lin Li nodded his head, then regurgitated the information he had heard from Macklin.

  "Anyway, it was a place where dog eats dog." At the end, Lin Li concluded with these words.