by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
The life and death battles were all protected by the imperial capital. No one was allowed to secretly take revenge. Li Hao was only a low-born noble whose status was not especially high. If he died, then he died; there would not be any waves following his death. This was one of the unbreakable rules of the imperial capital.
Long Chen walked off the stage, receiving a heroic welcome from fatty Yu and the others. Shi Feng tightly hugged him.
“You brat, when did you become so strong? And you didn’t even tell anyone about it! My heart almost leaped out watching you,” grumbled Shi Feng.
“Brother Long - no wait, elder brother Long, in the future, we’ll all be muddling along with you; you have to cover for us,” said fatty Yu and the others with bright eyes.
Long Chen laughed, “Of course. Come on, let’s go to the betting place.”
In front of countless admiring stares and everyone’s cheers, Long Chen received no less than three million gold coins.
At the moment when the crystal card with three million gold coins landed in his hand, Long Chen was actually even more excited than when he had been beating Li Hao.
He had known that Li Hao was nothing more than a little dog. But the words that he had said right before he had died caused Long Chen to become even more cautious than before.
Originally, he had thought that all the bullying had been because of enmities with his parents’ generation, but that didn’t match with what Li Hao had said. It seemed that it was not such a simple affair as he had thought; most likely, he was just a single pawn.
He was just a trashy teen, and his family was completely impoverished now. There was no need for someone to actively plot against him in such a deliberate and methodical manner. The clear reason would be due to someone clashing with his father who was stuck guarding the barbarian border.
“It seems like it’s very complicated…”
But staring at the three million gold coins in his hand, Long Chen was filled with endless confidence. Was that the confidence that came with being rich?
Leaving with the huge crowd, Long Chen found a teahouse and invited his friends to eat whatever they wanted and returned them their money.
However, the money that had been earned was kept with him. Long Chen gave his friends a promise that caused them to be endlessly excited:
Everyone’s future cultivation would all be taken care of by him.
This caused fatty Yu and the others to go mad with joy. They were all completely incapable of cultivating, and if someone else promised this to them, then they wouldn’t believe it.
However, Long Chen was originally the same as them. Now that he had managed to dispatch Li Hao in such a quick way, how could they not believe him?
Hearing Long Chen promise this, everyone was overjoyed. However, Long Chen told them to keep this secret, and they all frantically nodded.
Their future cultivation was something that was basically just as important as their lives, and adding on to how solemn Long Chen’s words were, they would not dare to treat it unimportantly.
After fatty Yu and the others left, Long Chen stayed behind to chat a bit with Shi Feng. Shi Feng was a genius whose aptitude was the greatest amongst all the noble heirs. He was already at the eighth Heavenstage of Qi Condensation and could enter into the ninth Heavenstage at any time. Entering the Blood Condensation stage before twenty should not be that difficult for him.
Through how Shi Feng had acted during these last two matters, Long Chen knew that he was definitely a person deserving his trust. After asking about Shi Feng’s current stage of cultivation, Long Chen split up with him and went directly to the alchemist guild.
The alchemist guild was in the south part of the imperial capital. It was the most sacred part of the entire imperial capital. Not even members of the royal family would dare to be rude towards the members of the alchemist guild.
Alchemist guilds were said to be spread throughout the entire world, and as for the guild in the imperial capital, it was nothing more than one of their branches.
What Long Chen needed to get this time was an alchemist’s official identification. Having that status would mean that in the future, it would be extremely easy and convenient for him to do what he wanted.
No matter where you went, alchemists were an extremely scarce occupation. With this identification, Long Chen’s status would no longer be the same. Even the Phoenix Cry Empire would have to think carefully before acting against him.
The most important thing was that he could use an extremely favorable price and get preferential treatment when buying the alchemist guild’s rare ingredients, letting him save the maximum amount of money.
Although the alchemist guild only took up a few tens of acres of ground, it rose dozens of meters into the air, making it extremely imposing and causing people to revere it.
Entering the lobby, two maids received Long Chen. They were surprised when they heard that he wanted to take the examination for an alchemist identification.
After all, Long Chen appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, and he didn’t have any fluctuations of a cultivation base. However, the two of them still brought him into the refining hall.
At this time, the refining hall only had a dozen or so men inside. They were currently urging on their Pill Flames, appearing to be refining medicines.
“Huh? Why are you here?”
Just as Long Chen entered, an old man asked with an astonished expression.
When he saw that person, Long Chen’s heart erupted with concealed anger. That old man was precisely the one who had treated his wounds. This person had clearly known that his injury had been no big deal, but by saying that he could possibly lose his memory, he managed to con his mother into selling her jewelry.
“I came here to take the alchemist exam.” Long Chen calmed the anger in his heart. He’d pay back the bill to this old man later.
“Alchemist exam?” The old man examined Long Chen from top to bottom. “Looks like your wounds from last time still aren’t healed. You should go back and heal them.”
Long Chen frowned slightly and insisted, “I really am here to take the alchemist exam.”
The old man’s expression sunk. “I don’t have time to waste on a little kid! Hurry up and beat it! Otherwise, I’ll get the guards to throw you out!”
Long Chen’s anger once again exploded. Glaring at the old man he shouted, “If your ears aren’t completely deaf yet, then I’ll repeat myself one more time: I am here to take the alchemist exam!”
By the end, Long Chen’s shout was already a roar that reverberated through the entire alchemist guild.
“What person is making such a loud ruckus?”
Suddenly, a thin old man walked over with a displeased expression. When Long Chen turned his eyes and saw him, a naughty grin appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Chapter 10 Disciplining the Brat
Long Chen recognized the old man, and it wasn’t just Long Chen who would recognize him. In the imperial capital, there were only a few people who wouldn’t recognize him as the alchemist guild’s chairman, grandmaster Yun Qi.
“Senior Yun Qi, this brat suddenly ran over to make trouble. I was just about to expel him,” the old man hurriedly explained when he saw grandmaster Yun Qi.
Long Chen rolled his eyes. Feigning an extremely grateful expression, he said, “You are grandmaster Yun Qi? Wonderful, Long Chen thanks you for the favor of saving his life.”
Originally Yun Qi’s expression was displeased, but hearing Long Chen say this, he couldn’t help but become distracted, asking, “Child, are you misrecognizing me as someone else?
“Misrecognizing? No, definitely not.” Long Chen shook his head. Pointing towards the old man, he said, “Through this grandmaster, my mom paid several thousand gold coins to buy a Tiger Bone Pill from you. Only through this was I able to recover from my wounds. This little one truly cannot thank you enough.”
Hearing Long Chen recount this affair, the
old man’s expression immediately changed and Yun Qi’s expression turned cold. Looking at the old man he said, “Guan Cheng, what is this about?”
“Senior chairman, don’t listen to his rubbish-” Guan Cheng hurriedly tried to explain.
“Huh, why aren’t you acknowledging it? To think that the people of our alchemist guild are of such a noble character that they don’t even put their names on the good deeds they do. Only, the matter of you selling my mother a defective grade Tiger Bone Pill is very well known.” Long Chen coldly smiled.
Although Guan Cheng was continuously shooting Long Chen meaningful glances, Long Chen continued to act as if he hadn’t noticed. Did you really think my Long family’s money was so easy to swindle?
Guan Cheng was currently a senior member of the alchemist guild. He was taught a bit by grandmaster Yun Qi, but he wasn’t someone extremely talented.
However, after Guan Cheng had carefully and attentively followed Yun Qi for a few decades, Yun Qi had felt some pity for him and given him the position of an attendant with some low-grade random jobs to do in the alchemist guild.
Occasionally, when he refined a garbage pill, he would hand it over to Guan Cheng to handle. Normally, these garbage pills would have their useful portion extracted out for some medicinal liquids; they definitely would not be allowed to be sold on the market.
This was related to the profession’s integrity. If it was leaked that grandmaster Yun Qi had actually sold a garbage pill, then he would become a joke amongst his fellow alchemists.
Grandmaster Yun Qi sighed. Looking at Guan Cheng he said, “You’ve followed me for several decades, so you already understand my character. Leave and don’t ever come back.”
Guan Chen’s old face became deathly pale. His eyes holding a trace of unwillingness, he begged, “Senior, I…”
“Go.” Yun Qi indifferently responded, waving his hand.
Guan Cheng nearly became paralyzed and fell to the floor. Yun Qi’s declaration was equivalent to expelling him from the alchemist guild.
An originally high and aloof attendant in a flash became someone completely lacking anything. Guan Cheng appeared to age several decades.
“Hey, I’m talking to you; stop faking. You’ve cheated and swindled people for so many years outside this guild. Right now, you’ve already earned so much evil money that you won’t even be able to spend it all before dying. Why are you acting like you’re so deserving of pity?” Long Chen disdainfully said.
As an attendant of the alchemist guild, this old man had become extremely close to quite a few noble families. After muddling along for so many years, he had definitely obtained many benefits. Looking at his face caused Long Chen to feel sick and disgusted.
Guan Cheng’s expression became furious; his eyes filled with bitter resentment. However, he didn’t say anything and merely slowly walked out with his head down.
Watching Guan Cheng go away, grandmaster Yun Qi shook his head. Towards Long Chen, he said, “Thank you young man. Otherwise, this old man would still be completely in the dark.”
“Hehe, that old man was someone who cheated my family of one of our fortunes. I purposely came for revenge; there’s no need to be so courteous.” Long Chen laughed.
Contrary to one’s expectations, grandmaster Yun Qi replied, “Haha, not bad. A young fellow who is so straightforward is clearly not suited for a treacherous and deceitful life.”
“Haha, how could this youngster’s intentions and manner be concealed for a whole lifetime? Since it’s impossible to conceal them, I might as well act like a good person.” Long Chen spread out his arms candidly as he replied.
Grandmaster Yun Qi couldn’t help but laugh. Over his last few years, everyone would treat him with reverence. This was the first time someone would speak to him in such a joking manner, so now it was quite an enjoyable experience.
“Little fellow, surely you didn’t come to my alchemist guild just to report this complaint.”
“Of course not. I came here to take the alchemist exam.” After saying this, Long Chen held out his right hand.
Puff…
A tiny flame leaped out of his fingertips. In order to leave a deep impression onto the grandmaster, Long Chen’s hand trembled, and the flame started to act like a wild monkey, playfully leaping around.
“Not bad.”
Originally, when he saw the flame, Yun Qi had only faintly nodded his head. Being able to agglomerate a Pill Flame at that age could be considered not bad. But Long Chen’s following actions caused him to actually be somewhat moved.
The ability to control the flame relied mostly on the amount of Spiritual Strength one had. Long Chen’s ability to control it in such a lively manner demonstrated that his Spiritual Strength had surpassed an ordinary person by quite a bit.
What he didn’t know was that Long Chen was still holding back. If he were to bring out the secret arts from his memories, then he might completely terrify this grandmaster.
“Very good. Your Spiritual Strength is at least twice as strong as an ordinary person, making you a good sapling to learn pill refining.” Yun Qi nodded.
Hearing Yun Qi said this, Long Chen felt a weight fall off his shoulders. Being able to hold as much hidden strength as possible was still the best.
“Come, I’ll bring you to do the test.” Saying this, grandmaster Yun Qi brought Long Chen away.
Looking at the two people leaving, everyone who had previously been in the hall refining medicines with their Pill Flames couldn’t help being stunned.
“What? He didn’t need to be appraised before directly going to do the test?”
“How is this possible? Is he a relative of grandmaster Yun Qi?”
“Nonsense, he’s not a relative. Isn’t that kid the imperial capital’s famous trash, Long Chen?”
The ten plus people in the hall were all there in order to take the alchemist exam, but according to the usual convention, they had to meet the requirement of refining a certain herbal medicine first to show that they met a certain qualification before advancing to take the exam.
But Long Chen immediately skipped over this step, causing them to be incensed. However, there was no alternative for them. This was the alchemist guild, a supreme existence. No one would dare do a thing; they could only swallow their anger into their stomachs.
In an underground room of the alchemist guild, grandmaster Yun Qi pointed towards a water crystal in front of them. “Use your flame on it.”
Long Chen nodded. Extending a finger, he condensed a flame and placed it on top of the water crystal. Several lines appeared on the water crystal when the flame touched it.
Grandmaster Yun Qi faintly said, “Your Pill Flame has reached the low Huang class, just barely meeting the standard.”
Pill Flames were split into Tian, Di, Xuan, and Huang classes, with each class also having three ranks. Long Chen’s Pill Flame was agglomerated from himself and was not a beast flame or a heaven and earth Spirit Flame. Therefore, being at the low Huang class was very normal.
Grandmaster Yun Qi then brought Long Chen to a shallow water pool. The water pool was only half a foot deep, and the bottom was covered with hundreds of sparkling pearls.
“Circulate your Spiritual Strength and see if you can cause the pearls to float up.”
Obviously, this pond wasn’t really a water pond. Closer examination revealed that the water was clearly spiritual mercury water. When Long Chen carefully touched it, he discovered that the water magnified his Spiritual Strength by greater than ten times.
This immediately relieved him as his current Spiritual Strength was not strong enough to move objects without touching them. Apparently, he had been worrying too much.
Circulating his Spiritual Strength, he immediately found a dozen or so pearls being influenced by his Spiritual Strength as they slowly floated up.
Suddenly, Long Chen noticed that grandmaster Yun Qi’s expression was completely bewildered and shocked as he looked at those pearls.
Damn, I’m about to be exposed!
Long Chen hurriedly released his Spiritual Strength. He used spiritual energy to make his face extremely pale like he was about to collapse, faking that his Spiritual Strength was overdrawn.
“Grandmaster… what rank do I count as?” Long Chen gasped for breaths as he asked.
“Xuan class...” Grandmaster Yun Qi murmured. It was as if he hadn’t even noticed Long Chen’s current overdrawn state.
Only a while later did Yun Qi notice that Long Chen was already weakly lying on the ground. If one had to give Long Chen’s acting skills a rank, he would be ‘God of Acting’.
Not only was his face as white as paper, but his eyes seemed weak and listless, giving him the appearance of someone who had excessively overexerted himself.
“Excellent, your Spiritual Strength is exceptionally strong. Your talent is definitely moldable; I’ve definitely found a good sapling this time.” Yun Qi smiled.
Long Chen’s eyes brightened when he heard this. “Grandmaster Yun Qi, this little one very much wishes to study the Dao of the Pill. Is it possible for me to become your official disciple?”
Yun Qi shook his head, “I can’t. Go train carefully and later, I will present an opportunity for you that will let you jump to the peak of the pill path.”
Hearing Yun Qi’s refusal, Long Chen laughed with embarrassment, “Actually, the main thing is I want a higher reputation so that no one will dare to bully me again when I go out.”
Yun Qi stared blankly before bursting into laughter. Someone like Long Chen, who spoke so directly, caused him to not know whether to laugh or cry. How many years had it been since he had met such an interesting youngster? However, Long Chen’s abnormal Spiritual Strength did cause him to have an excellent opinion of him.
“Don’t worry. Later, I’ll give you a Pill Apprentice identification plate; who would dare continue to bully you?” Yun Qi laughed.
Long Chen became excited. Normally, if a person wanted to join the alchemist guild, they had to first pass the exam to become a medicinal expert, and after that, they had to wait another year before they could obtain the qualifications to take the test to become a Pill Apprentice.
