Chapter 724
Alchemist Huo Ran, Pure Lotus Pill! A Ruthless Fool
"Yes."
Zhang Lingshan and Gu Nanxiang immediately responded and followed closely behind Zhao Chuanying, walking downstairs step by step and leaving the weapon refining pavilion.
This was the first time Zhang Lingshan had come out since entering the Weapon Refining Pavilion, and he couldn't help but look around.
Patrolling soldiers were seen walking around on the road, all of them looking very energetic. Any glance from any of them made Zhang Lingshan feel a sense of unease.
It is clear that even these ordinary soldiers are all extraordinary in strength, at least True Immortal experts, far beyond what a lowly Void Immortal like myself can compare to.
When he first arrived, Zhang Lingshan followed behind Yi Chen and saw many soldiers along the way, but he did not feel any fierce aura released by them.
Looking back now, it wasn't that the other person wasn't sharp enough, but rather that my perception was too weak at the time.
Now, he eats spirit rice every day in the weapon refining pavilion, and he also receives Song Yi's mental tempering method for daily tempering, as well as the divine sense crystals he obtained by helping Pei Daoming refine weapons.
After several rounds of improvement, he finally gained the ability to sense the presence of these soldiers.
'I never imagined the gap between me and these ordinary soldiers would be so vast. Right now, I can only sense it, but there's absolutely no way I can fight my way through them.'
Zhang Lingshan thought to himself.
In other words, if he rashly left the weapon-refining pavilion, he would probably die at the hands of these soldiers after only a few steps.
"Don't look around."
Zhao Chuanying suddenly said in a deep voice, "If we encounter someone with a bad temper who catches you, my face won't matter."
"Yes."
Zhang Lingshan and Gu Nanxiang nodded in agreement, no longer daring to look around.
Whether Zhao Chuanying's words are true or false, it's best to listen to him honestly, lest something really happens and Zhao Chuanying uses this as an excuse to ignore you, then who can you complain to?
"Where to?"
After following Zhao Chuanying for an unknown amount of time, a deep voice suddenly shouted.
Zhao Chuanying took out his identity token and said, "Huo Ran, a gold-level alchemist from the Alchemy Pavilion, has applied to borrow two bronze-level fireworkers from our Weapon Forging Pavilion. This is his borrowing letter, and this is my identity token. You two, also take out your bronze identity tokens and let the two soldiers see them."
Zhang Lingshan and Gu Nanxiang quickly took out their identity tokens as instructed.
The soldier inspected them carefully and said, "The two of them can go through; you can go back now."
"Thank you for your trouble, sir."
Zhao Chuanying cupped his hands in greeting, then said to Zhang Lingshan and Gu Nanxiang, "You two just listen to what the soldier says and keep walking along this road. The Alchemy Pavilion is just ahead."
After saying that, he left in a hurry without looking back, seemingly disliking dealing with these soldiers.
"You two go inside, and don't wander off. If you take the wrong path, you'll be courting death."
The soldier said coldly.
Zhang Lingshan and Gu Nanxiang hurriedly cupped their hands in greeting, and then quickly followed the path that Zhao Chuanying had pointed out earlier. Soon they saw a towering building that seemed to reach into the clouds.
This is the Alchemy Pavilion.
Three large, gilded characters were displayed on the high-rise building, shining brightly. Just by looking at the magnificent and imposing architecture, one could tell that the Alchemy Pavilion was of a much higher status than their Weapon Refining Pavilion; they were simply not in the same league at all.
No wonder the Alchemy Pavilion could so easily transfer two bronze-level fire workers, and even a mere gold-level spirit alchemist, to them, issuing a transfer order that made even a manager like Zhao Chuanying obediently cooperate.
Therefore, alchemy is the ace profession among all professions here. Although weapon crafting is also good, it is inferior to alchemy.
"I feel a little panicked."
Before Gu Nanxiang even stepped into the alchemy pavilion, she couldn't help but feel flustered and involuntarily uttered a sound.
"Since we're here, let's make the best of it."
Zhang Lingshan said calmly, then quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands to the two guards at the door, and said, "Brothers, my name is Zhang Lingshan, and this is Gu Nanxiang. We are both bronze-level fire workers in the Refining Pavilion. We were seconded by the gold-level alchemist Huo Ran to help him with the fire and refine pills."
"Master Huo Ran?"
Upon hearing the name, the two guards exchanged a glance, then gave Zhang Lingshan and Gu Nanxiang a deep look before saying, "Understood. You may go in. Go directly to the fifth floor and explain your purpose to the manager there."
"Yes, thank you both."
Zhang Lingshan quickly cupped his hands in greeting.
Gu Nanxiang followed and bowed as she entered the alchemy pavilion. Her expression was even more unpleasant. She whispered, "Zhang Huogong, did you see their eyes? I feel that this alchemist Huo Ran might be difficult to serve. He's not as easy to talk to as Pei Qishi, whom we served before. You can't say anything reckless later."
"Ok, I know."
Zhang Lingshan nodded.
From the eyes of those two guards, he could tell that they seemed to be showing a hint of sympathy.
Clearly, this Master Huo Ran is no pushover.
As Zhang Lingshan climbed the stairs step by step, he deliberately slowed his pace. The alchemy pavilion was filled with a rich and complex aroma of pills. If an ordinary person were to inhale the mixed fragrance rashly, they would be overwhelmed and suffer more harm than good.
However, Zhang Lingshan is no ordinary person.
He insisted on absorbing everything he could here.
If you've come all this way and don't take the opportunity to get something out of it, then you've wasted your trip.
"Zhang Huogong, why are you walking so slowly?"
Gu Nanxiang couldn't help but ask.
Zhang Lingshan said, "Isn't it because we're scared? If we go up too early, we'll probably be in trouble sooner. It's better to walk slowly so we can catch our breath a few more times."
"This……"
Gu Nanxiang was speechless for a moment.
Even if it's slow, we still have to get up there. What's the point of panting for breath? It's better to hurry up and get up there. Whether we live or die, it's all the same, so it's more satisfying to just get a quick cut.
You're walking so slowly, it's making me anxious.
However, to be fair, you, Zhang Lingshan, are incredibly audacious. You dared to ask all sorts of questions to Master Pei and Steward Zhao Chuanying, so why are your legs trembling here?
So you're scared too.
I really thought you were fearless.
Gu Nanxiang thought to herself, "You, Zhang Lingshan, are just like me in the end."
Thinking this way, she felt more at ease and was no longer so bothered or jealous of the fact that Zhang Lingshan had received more credit points from Pei Daoming.
Right now, they're in the same boat and should help each other out; all other thoughts should be put aside.
So Gu Nanxiang slowed down and walked slowly with Zhang Lingshan, encouraging him not to be afraid as they walked.
"Gu Huogong is such a good person."
Zhang Lingshan said with a moved expression.
at last.
The two of them walked step by step up to the fifth floor and met the manager of the fifth floor.
"Greetings, this steward. My name is Zhang Lingshan, and she is..."
Zhang Lingshan was about to introduce himself when he was immediately interrupted by the manager, who said, "Were the bronze-level firework craftsmen from the Weapon Forging Pavilion borrowed by Huo Ran?"
"Yes." "Follow this path to the very end, and you'll find Huo Ran's alchemy room. Just knock on the door and go in; Huo Ran is waiting for you inside."
The manager quickly pointed in a direction and sent Zhang Lingshan and Gu Nanxiang there. He seemed too lazy to say another word to the two low-ranking bronze-level pyreans. After speaking, he closed his eyes, not even bothering to look at them.
"Thank you, steward."
Although the other party looked down on them, Zhang Lingshan and Gu Nanxiang still had to be polite, cupping their hands in greeting before walking along the road.
When she arrived at the door of the innermost alchemy room, Gu Nanxiang raised her right hand, wanting to knock, but hesitated to do so, her expression revealing a hint of fear.
dong dong dong.
Seeing this, Zhang Lingshan took the initiative to knock on the door and said, "Master Huo, we are the fire-tending boys borrowed from the Weapon Refining Pavilion."
crunch.
The door opened immediately.
Zhang Lingshan went in first, and his nose twitched as he smelled a bloody odor. His eyes quickly scanned the ground and he saw that there seemed to be bloodstains that had not been cleaned up.
dead?
Zhang Lingshan was secretly alarmed.
It's just alchemy, how can it cause deaths? What kind of nonsense is this?
Fortunately, no body was found, so it might not be a dead person, but just someone who was injured and coughing up blood.
But the alchemy room has been used for alchemy for many years, and the flame temperature is so high that the smell of blood should be evaporated quickly. How can we still smell it now?
And those bloodstains, in such an environment, would surely have turned black on the ground, so why are they still so bright red?
Could it be that he was just injured and vomited blood?
Zhang Lingshan couldn't help but think to himself.
Gu Nanxiang also noticed these things, and her heart became even more terrified. She felt that this was not an alchemy room, but some kind of man-eating demon cave. She couldn't help but tremble and break out in a cold sweat.
Wow!
A powerful aura of divine sense immediately rushed towards them, making Zhang Lingshan and Gu Nanxiang feel as if they had been seen through instantly, with no part of their bodies left unseen.
"Humph."
Master Huo Ran snorted coldly. His divine sense came quickly and went even faster, disappearing in the blink of an eye, as if everything just now was an illusion.
"What I'm trying to refine now is the Pure Lotus Pill. This pill requires a balance of water and fire, a state of equilibrium and harmony. However, my fire element is too strong, and I keep failing. So I borrowed two of your water-elemental fire-starting boys from your weapon-refining pavilion to help me neutralize my fire element."
"That's what Master Huo Ran said."
Although he looked down on Zhang Lingshan and his companion, his contempt was so obvious that even a fool could see it, and he made no attempt to hide it.
However, despite his disdain, he still revealed the reason why the two had been borrowed.
However, this was not an explanation to the two of them, but rather a statement of their mission: to help him neutralize the fire within his flames.
Zhang Lingshan thought to himself, "The Alchemy Pavilion has so many fire-starting boys, gold, silver, and bronze medalists. You could easily find a water-type fire-starting boy who can neutralize your fiery temper. Why go to such lengths and borrow the two of us?"
The reason is definitely not as simple as you old man make it out to be.
However, although he thought this to himself, Zhang Lingshan dared not ask it aloud.
Knowing how to speak appropriately to different people has always been one of his basic abilities to read people's expressions and moods.
Pei Daoming didn't seem like the kind of person with a bad temper; he was someone you could communicate with normally. Moreover, although Pei Daoming was a weapon refiner, he was only a bronze-level weapon refiner, and his status wasn't much higher than Zhang Lingshan's. That's why Zhang Lingshan dared to bargain with him.
But the old man in front of him was a top-notch alchemist in the Alchemy Pavilion. Not only was he not in the same department as Zhang Lingshan, but he was also much higher in status. His temper seemed a bit abnormal, and his contempt for the two of them was about to burst out. How could Zhang Lingshan dare to talk to him? Did he have a death wish?
Are you two deaf? Didn't you hear what I said?
Suddenly, he shouted.
Gu Nanxiang shuddered and hurriedly called out, "I heard you!"
Zhang Lingshan quickly agreed.
"Since you've heard me, come over and start a fire, releasing the power within your water-based spiritual roots."
"Huo Ran said."
Gu Nanxiang's expression suddenly changed.
Releasing the power within water-based spiritual roots is a short-sighted approach, causing immense depletion of their water-based spiritual roots.
No wonder they needed to borrow a fire-starting boy from their weapon-refining pavilion, and even a low-level one with a bronze medal.
The fire-starting children who can be promoted to silver and gold medals have all spent many years in the third floor of the weapon refining pavilion and have been cultivated by consuming a lot of flame crystals and divine sense crystals. How can they be used as consumables so casually?
Only those with bronze medals, who possess certain skills but haven't yet reached a level worthy of the Refining Pavilion's attention, are directly loaned out and treated as consumables.
As for why Huo Ran didn't use the copper-plated fire-starting boy from the Alchemy Pavilion, one reason might be that he had already used it all, or even used it all up, or that he had overused it and the Alchemy Pavilion wouldn't allow him to continue using it.
The second possibility is that it's because rabbits don't eat the grass near their burrows.
The Alchemy Pavilion is a nest, and we can't just gnaw on anything, so we specifically asked the fire-tending boy from their Weapon Forging Pavilion to be our consumables.
'No wonder only Gu Nanxiang and I succeeded in Pei Daoming's selection, and even then, we weren't truly successful; we were still one step short of 75%.'
"Among so many people in the Refining Pavilion, we water-type are particularly lacking. Pei Daoming even went to great lengths to lend us Flame Crystals and Divine Sense Crystals in advance in order to refine water-type magic treasures."
'This shows the scarcity of water-based fire-based craftsmen in our weapon-refining pavilion.'
'Presumably, there were water-type fire-based workers who were seconded here before, but their water-type spiritual roots were wasted here, which is why there are fewer and fewer water-type fire-based workers, and their abilities are getting worse and worse.'
Zhang Lingshan cursed inwardly.
Although his water-based spiritual root is the Xuanbing Tree in his Root Palace, which covers thousands of acres, he is not afraid of consumption at all.
Even if it's used up, it can be replenished later.
In other words, refining pills here will not have an indelible impact on me.
However, the actions of this old dog Huo Ran are still unforgivable!
This guy doesn't treat them, the fire-starting boys, like human beings at all.
Such depletion of their water-elemental spiritual roots will not only affect their ability to refine water-elemental materials for the Refining Pavilion, but will also impact their future cultivation path.
The Alchemy Pavilion actually let this old dog do this, and the Weapon Forging Pavilion didn't dare to say anything or interfere, so they still allowed him to borrow water-type fire workers.
why?
Even if the Weapon Refining Pavilion is not as prestigious as the Alchemy Pavilion, it shouldn't be this useless.
Unless, of course, this Pure Lotus Pill is not an ordinary pill, but has great uses that benefit the upper echelons of Anning City, which is why they allow Huo Ran to act so recklessly.
"Useless! What use are you if you're so slow?"
Huo Ran suddenly cursed, giving Gu Nanxiang a cold glare.
Gu Nanxiang was terrified and almost stumbled and fell to the ground. She dared not dawdle or hesitate any longer and hurriedly released the power of her water-type spiritual root.
On the other side, Zhang Lingshan had already released his troops. Since he wasn't afraid of losses, he naturally didn't have as many concerns as Gu Nanxiang.
Therefore, he was also fortunate enough not to be glared at by Huo Ran.
But this is not something to be proud of; on the contrary, it is a great humiliation.
Zhang Lingshan vowed that once his cultivation was fully developed, he would freeze Huo Ran to ashes and show him the power of his water-based spiritual root! (End of Chapter)