Chapter 9 - Alchemist Guild

"Bang!" A loud explosion echoed through the air, leaving everyone dumbfounded. No one noticed when Long Chen had appeared right in front of Li Hao, moving like a specter. That was the effect of the Wind-Chasing Steps, a sudden burst of speed that left no room for defense. Li Hao's claws were frozen in mid-air as Long Chen's foot struck brutally between his legs with tremendous force, sending Li Hao soaring into the air. With a blaring explosion, something round slipped down Li Hao's trousers and was flung right into the crowd. Wang Mang, who was daydreaming about how Li Hao would torture Long Chen until he'd wish for death, was left speechless by the scene that unfolded before his eyes. He didn't notice the grape-sized object flying straight into his open mouth until it was already lodged there. Before he could react, the slick thing slipped down his throat into his stomach, leaving behind a strange, pungent odor. "Ah!" Wang Mang finally reacted, desperately trying to gag himself, hacking and retching until he finally expelled the round object. Zhou Yaoyang and the others near Wang Mang looked at the spherical object and felt their stomachs churn, quickly scattering in all directions. "Ah... my... my egg..." On the platform, Li Hao clutched his groin fiercely as his face contorted in pain. If he hadn't been protecting himself with his qi, he would have fainted from the agony. An eerie silence enveloped the arena. Everyone glanced between the writhing Li Hao on the stage and the distant small, round object with strange expressions on their faces. "Well, now you won't walk crooked anymore," Long Chen nodded approvingly. "You..." Li Hao's eyes burned with rage, yet despair washed over him as he realized his one precious jewel was not only severed but ingested by Wang Mang. Even if he retrieved it, stomach acids would have rendered it useless. The first one had been snatched by a stray dog; now this one was gone too. Li Hao was destined to be an infertile wastrel. "You bastard, die—Shattering Stone Fist!" Li Hao screamed hysterically, forcibly channeling his qi to halt the pain, and hurled a fist at Long Chen with all his strength, the air whistling as it cut through. His full power at Qi Condensation Realm's third level erupted wildly as he lost all sanity, disregarding Zhou Yaoyang's orders. All he wanted was Long Chen's death. Watching the frantic Li Hao, a glacial flame flickered in Long Chen's eyes. He roared, like a thunderclap shocking the world and vibrating through the surroundings till everyone's eardrums buzzed. An invisible aura surged forth. Long Chen didn't dodge. Instead, he swung a fist as well. "Wild Ox Strength!" "Boom!" Another deafening explosion accompanied by the crack of shattering bones echoed through the air. Li Hao screamed in agony as blood sprayed out, his arm brutally shattered under astonished gazes. Standing frozen, Long Chen's expressionless face and cold eyes radiated a chilling, murderous intent that made hearts tremble. At this moment, Long Chen seemed like a cold-blooded god of death, exuding an icily murderous aura that was bone-chilling. The audience was utterly silent. Just moments ago, Long Chen had released terrifying power that even Zhou Yaoyang, at Qi Condensation's seventh level, found fearsome. "How can this be? He's using combat skills?" "Wasn't he unable to cultivate? What is happening?" "His gaze is terrifying." Hearts trembled as fear washed over those who had jeered at Long Chen. Staring at the fallen Li Hao on the stage, they couldn't help but feel like they were seeing their own fate, shivering involuntarily. Li Hao's shattered arm lay in a pool of blood. Long Chen's punch not only broke his arm but also injured his organs. Even Long Chen felt a twinge of surprise. He had underestimated the Nine Star Hegemon Body Art's power. A basic Low Grade combat skill, when utilized, had unleashed such formidable force. Slowly striding towards Li Hao in the pin-drop silence of the platform, each step of Long Chen resonated like the rhythm of death in everyone's hearts. "Step... step... step..." Li Hao's earlier rage had vanished, leaving only terror on his face. As Long Chen approached, he stammered in fear, "Don't... don't come closer." Even as he attempted to retreat, his terrified form discovered he was powerless to move. Long Chen, drawing ever nearer, became an inescapable nightmare. "Don't... don't kill me. It was all Zhou Yaoyang's doing," Li Hao pleaded tearfully. Zhou Yaoyang's face changed beneath the platform, shouting angrily, "Li Hao, what nonsense are you spouting?" "I'm not lying—it was you who ordered us to deal with Long Chen, promising us benefits after. You're the one who ruined me," Li Hao accused Zhou Yaoyang frantically, his fear of death obliterating all rationality. "Li Hao, you're courting death!" Zhou Yaoyang hissed, his eyes filled with deadly intent. "Zhou Yaoyang, you bastard! You used me! Long Chen, let me tell you, Zhou Yaoyang is just a lackey. Actually..." Suddenly a cold sensation crept over Long Chen, a deathly feeling washing over him. Without hesitation, he darted backward. However, nothing happened after Long Chen's retreat. Glancing back at Li Hao, he saw the man's lifeless gaze, dead where he lay. Long Chen's expression shifted subtly as he scanned the crowd, spotting a figure hastily making their way out, donning a broad-brimmed hat to conceal their identity, vanishing after a few agile movements. The unexpected turn of events stirred the audience into an uproar. Clearly, the mysterious person had assassinated Li Hao. "Victory for Ye Yang!" After a brief moment of chaos, the ring announcer finally declared the result. Even though Long Chen hadn't killed Li Hao, he had defeated him, and killing him would have been easy. Thus, Long Chen was rightfully declared the victor. With Long Chen's win, countless spectators sighed in defeat, realizing they had lost their stakes completely. However, several dozen individuals erupted in jubilant cheers, having wagered on Long Chen. Fatty Yu and the others howled like wolves, overwhelmed with excitement. No one cared about Li Hao's lifeless body. The arena would notify his family to retrieve him. The Life-and-Death Arena's duels are protected under imperial law, forbidding any private vengeance. Li Hao, merely a concubine's son, lacked significant status. His death would stir little else, illustrating the Phoenix Song Empire's brutal nature. Long Chen left the platform to a hero's welcome from Fatty Yu and his group, Shi Feng hugging him tightly. "You're a tough cookie. Had you informed me earlier, my heart wouldn’t have been leaping out of my chest watching you," Shi Feng scolded a bit. "Brother Long—no, Brother Dragon, we're following you from now on. Take care of us, okay?" Fatty Yu and the others said, their eyes sparkling. Long Chen laughed heartily, "Sure, let’s go collect our winnings." With a cheer, the group departed, under envious gazes, as Long Chen cashed out a full three million gold coins. Holding the three-million gold coin card, Long Chen was even more exhilarated than after defeating Li Hao. He understood Li Hao was just a minor pawn, and the truths Li Hao revealed before dying heightened his caution. Initially, he thought the bullying stemmed merely from parental conflicts, yet it seemed there were deeper schemes, positioning him as merely a pawn. Merely a young wastrel, his family impoverished, it became obvious the scheme was aiming at his father. "Complicated indeed." Still, the sight of the three million gold coins in his hands rekindled a surge of confidence. Was this the legendary power of wealth? After parting with his comrades, Long Chen took them to a teahouse for a lavish celebration, after which he returned everyone's original investments. However, he kept the profits, promising something that thrilled everyone: Long Chen pledged to sponsor their future cultivation. Fatty Yu and the others were ecstatic. Their inability to cultivate had always been a source of despair, but with Long Chen—once like them and now capable of defeating Li Hao in a single move—they found hope. Long Chen implored them to keep the news secret, to which everyone fervently agreed, understanding the critical nature of such a promise. After they had left, Long Chen had a chat with Shi Feng. A genius among the junior lords, Shi Feng was exceptional, on the verge of breaking into the ninth level of Qi Condensation. Before twenty, he was likely to reach the Blood Condensation Realm without much hindrance. Following careful observations, Long Chen confirmed Shi Feng as a trustworthy ally. After discussing Shi Feng's cultivation state, Long Chen parted ways, headed straight for the Alchemist Guild. Situated in the southern part of the imperial capital, the Alchemist Guild is a sacred ground for the entire city, a place revered even by royalty. The guild reportedly has branches worldwide, and the imperial capital's branch is just one among many. Long Chen needed an alchemist qualification certificate. With it, purchasing herbs and traveling the wanjiang (jianghu) would be significantly more convenient. Alchemists are exceedingly scarce everywhere, so obtaining such a certificate would elevate Long Chen's status, requiring the Phoenix Song Empire to think twice before challenging him. Most importantly, with this certificate, he could purchase rare herbs from the Alchemist Guild at preferential prices, saving him a considerable amount of money. Covering merely a dozen acres, the guild’s structure soared several hundred yards skyward, imposing an aura of reverence. Upon entering the grand hall, two maidservants greeted Long Chen. Surprised by his intention to sit for the alchemist test—given his youthful appearance and lack of spiritual energy—nonetheless, they led him into the alchemy hall. Inside, a dozen men were stirring their Pill Flames, appearing engrossed in refining herbs. "Well, if it isn't you?" A moment after arrival, an elderly man's surprise caught Long Chen's attention. Seeing the man, Long Chen felt a surge of anger. This was the black-hearted old man who had diagnosed him, wrongly claiming he might lose his memory, deceiving his mother into giving up her jewelry. "I'm here for the alchemist test," Long Chen replied, suppressing his fury, reserving his score for later. "Test? As an alchemist?" The old man scrutinized Long Chen. "You still haven't healed fully. Go home and rest up." Long Chen frowned slightly, "I am here for the test." The old man’s face darkened, "I have no time for nonsense with a child. Get lost, or I'll have the guards throw you out." Suppressing his anger, Long Chen confronted the old man, "If you've got grass stuffed in your ears, I'll tell you again—the old man is here for the alchemist test!" Long Chen's voice crescendoed into a roar, reverberating throughout the Alchemist Guild. "What kind of person makes such noise here?" A senior, his face gaunt, scowled as he approached. Long Chen's eyes gleamed with mischief. ...