Alchemy Master, Liu Yishou

"Yes! They're waiting in the side hall!"

Otmu quickly replied, "As you instructed, boss, I invited all the alchemists with some reputation I could find in the city, six in total. However... there's one old man who's particularly stubborn, and he seems to be quite influential. He keeps insisting on seeing the city lord, saying we're illegally detaining him..."

Lin Mo didn't say much, just gestured to Shi Xuan and Shi Qin, then turned and walked towards the side hall.

The atmosphere in the side hall was somewhat tense.

Six alchemists of varying ages and attire sat or stood, each with a different degree of anger and unease on their faces.

Five of them remained relatively restrained, simply waiting in silence.

Only an elderly man with white hair and beard sat in the head chair, his face ashen.

He was leaning on an ebony cane, resting with his eyes closed.

Wearing a white robe embroidered with plant and flower patterns, anyone in the know would recognize this outfit at a glance.

This is a special outfit given by the Holy Ancient Empire to the Alchemy Association and the Academy of Life.

Hearing footsteps, the old man slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze first swept over Shi Xuan and Shi Qin, and finally landed on Lin Mo, who was in the lead.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes, which quickly turned into a faint disdain.

"So you're the one who used the city lord's name to forcibly kidnap us?"

The old man spoke, his voice aged yet full of energy, carrying the questioning tone of someone long accustomed to a position of power.

Lin Mo was taken aback: "You know Liu Sanguan is an imposter?"

"Hmph! I am Liu Yishou, a senior alchemist certified by the Imperial Alchemists Association! I've seen more city lords than you've eaten meals! Does a normal person act like this?! Kid, you kidnapped us just to make you concoct medicine? Let me tell you! Wishful thinking!"

The other alchemists also showed expressions of agreement.

Being forcibly brought here was indeed a great humiliation for these proud alchemists.

Lin Mo looked at the proud and unyielding Master Liu, his face expressionless.

He simply said, "Help me refine medicine, and I can give you everything you want—rare materials, ancient recipes, and the resources of this city for you to study."

He did not resort to his usual tactic of threatening them, demanding that the medicine they were making was for saving his mother.

If they add something to it, it will be a net loss, so we must be very careful.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yishou chuckled, his mustache standing on end.

"You ignorant brat, how dare you speak so arrogantly! I have studied alchemy for over sixty years. What rare materials haven't I seen? Ancient formulas? Do you even know what an ancient formula is? You think you can make me bow down with empty words? Absolutely not!"

His attitude was firm and unwavering, leaving no room for negotiation.

Lin Mo didn't argue with him anymore, but turned to the side and nodded slightly to Shi Qin behind him.

Shi Qin understood, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

She first bowed to Liu Yishou and the other alchemists, and then said nothing more.

He walked straight to a small alchemy table that had been temporarily moved to one side of the side hall.

He took out several stone-cloth grass plants, a small crucible, and a silver knife from his bag.

He began refining the stone-cloth herb in front of a group of alchemy masters.

Her movements were not fancy, and she was even a little clumsy because she was not familiar with the tools.

Seeing this, Liu Yishou and the others looked even more disdainful.

But Shi Qin's next steps gradually made Liu Yishou's initially disdainful gaze freeze.

Wash, chop, portion, put into a pot...

Every movement looked so familiar yet different.

When Shi Qin began to infuse a small amount of magic power, manipulating the temperature of the flames under the crucible to remove impurities from the stone-cloth herbs, everyone was shocked.

They never considered that refining medicine required removing impurities from the medicine.

It's not that they didn't want to do it, but rather that the underlying logic of alchemy in this world is to use magic circles to concentrate and fuse the medicinal properties.

In other words, although they are called alchemists, they actually focus on studying magic arrays.

The group's attitude changed from initial disdain to focus.

They kept a close eye on Shi Qin's technique.

No expensive catalysts were used.

There are no complicated magic circles to assist in this.

It's just the most basic herbs.

The most ordinary flame.

However, as she manipulated it, the impurities in the stonewort inside the crucible were peeled away bit by bit.

The herbs slowly transform into a medicinal liquid, their medicinal properties being gently activated and blended...

The whole process was smooth and natural, exuding a sense of harmony.

Finally, Shi Qin turned off the engine.

Scoop out a small amount of clear, transparent, light green liquid with a silver spoon.

Drop it onto the prepared test strip.

Liu Yishou and the others stared intently at the test strip.

"How can this be?! The test strip hasn't changed at all!"

"This means—no known harmful alchemical side effects have been detected!"

"This is...this is unbelievable!? Medicine can be made like this!?"

……

A younger alchemist exclaimed in surprise.

This completely contradicts their previous common sense about alchemy!

Liu Yishou's eyes were already wide open.

He suddenly stood up and rushed to the alchemy platform.

He snatched the drop of medicine and the test strip, and personally felt and tested it.

The more he looked, the more shocked he became, and his fingers even trembled slightly.

"Perfect fusion...natural activation...returning to simplicity...this...this is the alchemy technique created by the God of Medicine! It's a long-lost school of alchemy!"

Liu Yishou's voice trembled with excitement.

He suddenly looked up, his burning gaze fixed on Shi Qin.

"Girl! Who taught you this technique?!"

Shi Qin was startled by his reaction and subconsciously looked at Lin Mo.

Lin Mo then slowly spoke: "As long as you agree to refine medicine, you can study it with her later."

Liu Yishou looked at Shi Qin, then at Lin Mo, his old face slightly reddening as he held back for a long time.

"Refine! I will refine!"

The other alchemists also gathered around, their eyes filled with amazement and longing as they looked at Shi Qin.

The alchemist's arrogance is insignificant in the face of more profound skills.

Lin Mo nodded and said to Shi Qin, "You communicate with them and make sure to maximize the medicinal effects of the stone-cloth herb as quickly as possible. If you need any materials, just ask Aotemu."

"Yes, Mr. Lin!"

Shi Qin's eyes also shone; she hadn't expected Lin Mo to be so generous.

Even Shi Xuan expressed his gratitude to Lin Mo.

As a mercenary, he knew all too well the benefits of becoming an alchemist!

Let alone in Mingbei City, even in the imperial capital, alchemists are highly sought after by various families.

If my younger sister, Shi Qin, could become an alchemist...

Seemingly sensing Shi Xuan's thoughts, Lin Mo said to him calmly, "You should also level up as soon as possible. After reaching level 40, you can choose any essence you want."

Lin Mo cannot stay in Mingbei City forever.

We need a capable person to keep things in order here.

"Yes! Thank you so much, Mr. Lin! I... I have no way to repay you!"

Shi Xuan was extremely grateful for this.

After finishing these matters, Lin Mo walked to the desk in the side hall.

Otmu had already placed the compiled intelligence files about the whereabouts of the Beast Kings around Mingbei City on it.

Lin Mo picked up the top document and quickly scanned it.

[A level 35 "Gale Wolf King" event is suspected to be occurring in Black Wind Ridge in the northeast direction]

A level 33 "Venomous Python King" inhabits the putrid swamp to the west.

[South...]

The information varies in detail, and some is even just hearsay.

As he looked around, he instructed Otem, who was following closely beside him, "It's almost time."

Ultraman tilted his head: "Huh? When?"

Lin Mo put down the file and looked out the window.

"Go to the homes of those nobles and collect the taxes."

His voice was calm and even.

"We'll levy 30% of the assets they report, including gold coins, magical materials, and valuable goods, to save them from having to make another trip."

Otmu paused for a moment, then grinned comically and mumbled, "Understood! I'll take some men to collect money... no, I mean, taxes!"