Chapter 98: Flame Leaf Alchemy Workshop
"Grey Rat, Pill Master Ye and I go back many years.
As for learning Alchemy, you can rest assured. Leave it to me."
Inside the Gray Mouse Elixir Shop, a Beijing Spirit thumped his chest and guaranteed.
"In that case, I’ll be counting on you."
Xu Chang’an said with a beaming smile.
"Rest assured, Grey Rat. Just wait patiently. Once I’ve sorted things out with Pill Master Ye, I’ll come find you here."
"Thank you for your trouble."
Xu Chang’an saw the Beijing Spirit out of the Elixir Shop.
After seeing the Beijing Spirit off, Xu Chang’an didn’t go back inside. Instead, he squinted, watching the demon’s retreating figure.
’I hope I get something out of this!’
Over the past few months, Xu Chang’an had been looking for connections within Peacock Demon City.
He wanted to seek instruction from a Tier Two Alchemist to refine his Pill Art.
In Peacock Demon City, a Tier Two Alchemist’s status was extremely high, even a cut above that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Great Demon.
After searching for a way in several times, Xu Chang’an had run into a few dead ends.
He had spent the Demon Stones and even met with a Tier Two Alchemist, but in the end, he had gained nothing.
The demons who acted as middlemen never guaranteed that his quest to refine his Pill Art would succeed.
The Demon Stones he had spent before couldn’t be refunded.
However, Xu Chang’an wasn’t too concerned about such a minor loss.
It just made him reflect on how troublesome it was to get things done without a Demon Vein backing him.
If he revealed his identity as a Foundation Establishment Great Demon, he wouldn’t have to go through so much trouble to contact a Tier Two Alchemist.
Even if he went through those middlemen, they wouldn’t dare refuse to refund his Demon Stones if the job wasn’t done.
Speaking of which, Xu Chang’an had actually met this Beijing Spirit once before.
When he was giving up his rented cave residence in Peacock Demon City, this very Beijing Spirit had been there with a White Wolf Demon, discussing the refining of a Foundation Establishment Pill.
At the time, Xu Chang’an had used an Illusory Transformation to take on the form of another demon, so this Beijing Spirit didn’t recognize him.
Xu Chang’an had also done some research on the Pill Master Ye this Beijing Spirit mentioned.
A Second-Order High-grade Alchemist who also possessed unique refining techniques, placing him among the very best of Tier Two Alchemists.
He was based in the Inner City, at the Flame Leaf Alchemy Workshop.
His status within Peacock Demon City was sublime.
If Xu Chang’an could successfully secure this connection, his promotion to Tier Two Alchemist would be a matter of course.
However, he didn’t dare get his hopes up too high.
The Beijing Spirit talked a big game, acting as if he and Pill Master Ye were incredibly close.
He boasted of their years-long friendship and insisted Xu Chang’an could leave everything to him.
But anyone with half a brain could figure it out: with Pill Master Ye’s status, he couldn’t possibly have much to do with the likes of the Beijing Spirit.
If what the Beijing Spirit said were true, he wouldn’t need to be in the business of being a middleman.
He could just use his connection to Pill Master Ye to sell some Elixirs. Wouldn’t that be much more profitable?
But even so, the Beijing Spirit specialized in this line of work, so he naturally had his own channels.
This attempt might just yield some results.
「More than twenty days passed in a flash.」
The Beijing Spirit actually brought Xu Chang’an a pleasant surprise.
"Grey Rat, good news! Pill Master Ye happens to be free in two days and can meet with you."
"Oh!?"
Xu Chang’an’s heart skipped a beat.
’This Beijing Spirit actually has some skills,’ he thought. ’He really managed to contact Pill Master Ye and arrange a meeting.’
"I wonder, did you happen to mention my request to refine my Pill Art to Pill Master Ye?"
Xu Chang’an’s real goal wasn’t just to meet Pill Master Ye.
The main point was to have Pill Master Ye teach him Alchemy Skills and endorse his promotion to a Tier Two Alchemist.
As he spoke, Xu Chang’an took a bag of Demon Stones from his robes and handed it to the Beijing Spirit.
The Beijing Spirit took the Demon Stones, his smile growing even wider.
"I naturally took your request to heart, Grey Rat.
I already mentioned to Pill Master Ye that you wish to study Alchemy.
However, Pill Master Ye didn’t give a clear answer; he must have his own considerations.
But rest assured, with your level of skill, you should have an excellent chance."
"That’s excellent."
Xu Chang’an smiled and saw the Beijing Spirit out of the Elixir Shop.
They agreed to go to the Flame Leaf Alchemy Workshop in the Inner City together early in the morning two days later.
The fact that Pill Master Ye was willing to see him was partly because the Beijing Spirit had greased the wheels and done some legwork.
The other major reason was that he had revealed he possessed Quasi-Second Tier Alchemy Skill.
He figured Pill Master Ye hadn’t committed because he still had his doubts and wanted to test him in person.
「Two days passed in the blink of an eye.」
Early in the morning, the Beijing Spirit took Xu Chang’an to the Inner City of Peacock Demon City.
Trade and commerce were even more prosperous in the Inner City. The demons coming and going had high Cultivation Realms, and Foundation Establishment Great Demons were a common sight.
Foundation Establishment Great Demons, a rare sight in places like Langlang Mountain and Lujiao Mountain, were nothing special in Peacock Demon City.
To securely establish a power base in Peacock Demon City, one had to be at least a Top-tier Great Demon.
Only those whose Cultivation had reached the Late-stage Foundation Establishment could be called a Top-tier Great Demon!
"Grey Rat, this is the Flame Leaf Alchemy Workshop."
The Beijing Spirit said, pointing to a shop in front of them that spanned several storefronts.
The location in the Inner City was better, so prices were naturally far more expensive than in the Outer City.
The fact that the Flame Leaf Alchemy Workshop could occupy such a large storefront was a clear testament to its strength and foundation.
Perhaps he had already sent word, for as soon as the Beijing Spirit led Xu Chang’an into the Elixir Workshop, a Little Demon greeted them and led them toward the back.
"Grey Rat, Pill Master Ye and I are very close. I come here often, so all the Little Demons in the shop know me."
The Beijing Spirit said with a laugh, clearly feeling very proud of himself.
Xu Chang’an played along and offered a few compliments.
The Flame Leaf Alchemy Workshop had a storefront in the front, but behind it lay an entirely different world.
An expansive garden courtyard opened up, flanked by dedicated plots where numerous Spirit Medicines were planted.
The Spiritual Qi in the courtyard was dense; a special Spirit Gathering Array had clearly been set up.
The misty essence breathed out by the Spirit Plants drifted about, complementing the vibrant reds and purples of the surroundings to create a scene of extreme beauty.
"I don’t know how many times I’ve been here, but every time I come, I can’t help but sigh in admiration. It’s truly a beautiful Blessed Land."
A look of envy appeared on the Beijing Spirit’s face.
Land in Peacock Demon City was expensive; it was hard enough just to put down roots in the Demon City, let alone own such a Blessed Land!
Everything he had struggled his whole life to accumulate probably wouldn’t even cover one or two-tenths of this place’s value.
Past the garden courtyard stood a three-story pavilion.
The Little Demon leading the way asked them to wait for a moment and went inside to announce their arrival.
"Grey Rat, I won’t be going in. I’ll wait for you out here.
Don’t worry, Pill Master Ye has a gentle temperament. Your request to study Alchemy should go smoothly."
Perhaps because he’d been given the cold shoulder a few times before, the Beijing Spirit volunteered this information.
"If I succeed, I will reward you handsomely!"
Xu Chang’an replied, cupping his fists.
After a short wait, the Little Demon emerged from the pavilion and invited Xu Chang’an inside.
Xu Chang’an’s Mental Realm was calm and serene.
On the surface, however, he took a long, deep breath before walking into the pavilion with a look of slight nervousness.