As I stood there in the Rejuvenating Hall all alone, I decided that I should go out and collect as much medicinal materials as I could, Alchemy was quite the troublesome subject, unless you were a genius seen once in a decade .
You will unable to succeed in your first try to make a pill, this was the same result to be expected for your 2nd and 3rd and maybe even your 20th try, the Records in my hands spoke volumes about how difficult it was for somone to become an alchemy apprentice .
Nothing much to say about how difficult was the process of becoming an official alchemist, not only there will be a need to have insights on alchemy, but you will also need to successfully concoct a pill of the highest grade and quality and through successfully doing this you will be able to get a rank according to the grade and tier of your pill .
The record also mentioned that there had been people throughout the history that had to understand and Master the path of alchemy, but their Path was cut short and some of them were cursed by heavens, lightening even came down to struck those guys .
Some others could die of wasting their entire life without them managing to even glimpse at the door leading to the very first steps needed for alchemy, the seal on my mind kept giving me these kind of insights, even though I had no interest before about Alchemy, now things had become quite different .
Not only do I need to become a proficient in alchemy, I need to have some huge amount of insights in the shortest period of time possible, in 4 months I need to get started on the path of alchemy and defeat Gu Xing .
If I were to say this out loud, most alchemist would most likely laugh at me, but what they thought is completely irrelevant to me, I need to only focus on improving myself and strive to keep pushing forward no matter the challenges up ahead .
Another reason for my sudden growing interest in alchemy was that I had finally understand that I had made a mistake about how influential the position of alchemist is and how much respected this profession was, deciding life and death on a whim was merely one part of it .
An Alchemy Master was worthy of respect and awe and everyone will try to win him over no matter how hefty the price required, Pills were a crucial thing to have after all, I'm now fully aware of this .
After I spent more than enough time strolling across the street and the market, I understood one thing clearly, it seem that I have not only being blacklisted by the Alchemy Sacred Hall . every vendor and shop in the city didn't dare to sell me even a one stalk of medicine materials .
Even when I wanted to buy seeds and cultivate them myself, I was told that all the seeds have either being pre-ordered or they were not for sale .
Coning others like this was against the imperial laws, but I was able to understand from the dismissal looks the guards and officials were giving me that this was already witnessed by them and they had no intention of upholding justice .
I could get the Medicinal materials I need from the Dojo, but I was afraid that it might raise suspicions about my identity, I wasn't the one who will be making those pills after all, but my fictional Master, asking for Medicinal Materials from the Dojo might indeed raise suspicions .
But now what, what exactly should I do, there is nowhere to get those Medicinal materials from other than the Trading Merchant's Pavilion or the Alchemy Sacred Hall, both were suitable for finding what I need, but one was impossible to sell me anything, while the other situation is still unclear to me .
In the end, I decisively decided to head for the Trading Merchant's Pavilion to test the water first, I will see if they have what I need and whether will they agree to trade with me or not, as for the Alchemy Sacred Hall, I still had the intention on going there, but a bit of preparation is still very much needed .
Dismissing the weird looks I kept on getting, even though there was not that many people were aware of the bet between me and Gu Xing, I found people whispering about it to one another while pointing at me with their eyes, either they spread this on purpose or news like these spread around here quite quickly .
The rumors were being spread with a little bit of the personal opinions of those who spreads them, some of them were neutral, some were leaning towards the Sacred Hall and on and on .
As I walked towards the Trading Pavilion, I couldn't help but twitch my eyebrows slightly as I heard curses, false claims, people badmouthing me and using all kinds of insults, after I finally managed to arrive at the core area of the city, where the Trading Hall was located, I found that a checkpoint of some kind had appeared on the road ahead .
7 guards were standing in my path and blocking me from taking even a step forward, I stared at this scene unfolding and couldn't help but wonder what was this even about, it didn't take long for me to cross paths with them .
Stop right there .
Just as I wanted to get past them, they suddenly drawn out their weapons and directly stood in a formation, seeing them like this, I felt that there might be some problems here and so I asked coldly about what exactly they wanted from me, so I stood in place and waited for anyone to step forward and explain what happened .
A guy with a sliver armor and seem to be the leader of this small legion stepped forward, he had broad shoulders and his body frame seem quite imposing as he said :
Are you Tian Long ? .
He didn't respond to my question about what they were standing in my path for and instead asked me a question of his own, one that should have already been answered, otherwise he wouldn't have been standing here in front of me like this .
Nodding my head, I saw that they directly surrounded me and their supposedly leader said :
We are from the City Guards and there had been a robbery in the Alchemy Sacred Hall and it's believed that you are the one in possession of the stolen items currently, we were asked to retrieve the items and arrest the culprit .
Looking at them ready to take actions at any second, I raised an eyebrow and wondered how exactly did this have to do with me, but then as if a spark of realization finally hit me, I recalled an incident that happened earlier today, that incident happened during the time I was heading towards the Sacred Hall .
I happened to encounter a few guards that were in pursuit of a thief who stole something and was trying to shift the blame to me instead by throwing the stolen item towards me .
Once I recalled that incident, I couldn't help but sigh at how I had completely forgotten about checking that package out, I had thought that it was some kind of play they partake in to give themselves a valid reason to intercept me at that time, but from how things looked, it seem that there was indeed a robbery .
After realizing this, I couldn't help but rejoice this unexpected windfall, could the items in that package be of some value, otherwise why would they still want it back, I need to find a chance to check that package content out later, as for now...
" Well, you can go ahead and do whatever you like, why are you blocking my path, are you all looking for a fight ? .
The leader frowned slightly and said with a booming voice that made everyone around turn his eyes to our direction :
We were informed that the stolen items are now in your possession, so of course we would be stopping you and ask you to hand over the stolen items, else you would also be suspected as an accomplice, what are you going to do .
" Well, you said that I have the stolen items in my possession and I'm going to tell you clearly that everything in my possession is mine and I have no stolen items on me, so I would like you to step aside and let me on my way now .
My tone was mild since I didn't intend to make things difficult for them, as long as they don't make things difficult for me, but even though I had shown this much consideration, the other party seemed to not be willing to accept my courtesy and said :
If you don't want to cooperate, then don't blame us for your suffering later, in position .
He ordered his underlings to stand in position, they surrounded me from 4 direction and each one of them had a sword in one hand and a chain in the other, the chain looked quite rusty, but it made my heart palpitate .
Last chance, give in or we will arrest you as the main culprit .
Not willing to bother myself with answering these guys, I told them to do whatever they wanted to do, they instantly throw the chains at my hands and legs the second they were given the order to attack .
Using Charging Tiger, all the chains found in place of its target was empty space and soon the sound of steel clashing was heard, the second these chains clashed with one another, a booming sound and shockwave sounded, then a weird fluctuations appeared from them and I was finally enlightened about what that chain capable of doing .
The fluctuations they released, disturbed my Blood Qi circulation for a little bit, it seem to be some item that obstructed Martial Arts Practitioner from circulating their Blood Qi, I couldn't help but stare at the chains with deep interest wondering whether will it have any effect on me or not .
But even though this was merely a thought, I didn't find an urge to try and experience it with my body, forsaken my life to test something like this was a no go for me .
But since these guys attacked, then I must retaliate, I could also be able to test whether what I have in mind was true or not, appearing before one of the guards who still hadn't woken up from his shock, I caught the chains in hand and pulled the part that was extended out just now and swirled it around the guard in front of me .
It didn't take a second before he was trapped inside the chains he was holding just now, then I evaded the attack of the leader in the fifth Layer of Organ Quenching Realm,his weapon was a Great Sword that he was moving like a shovel .
The sword fell on where I stood before and the earth beneath it completely cracked, before he can attack again, I gave him a Solid Thunderclap punch to the back that forced him to collapse on the cracked floor and through the power of that punch, the earth beneath had completely shattered .
Squinting my eyes at the other 5 people who were present, I saw that their faces become pale and one after another, they dropped the chains and the swords in their hands and looked at me with terrified expressions on all of their faces and collapsed in unison on the floor .
Blowing my hand as to clear the debris accumulated on it, I sensed someone gaze at me and instantly become alarmed and reactivated my enhanced senses and True Eyes and started to examine my surroundings, I heard the fluttering buzz of flies and understood that these things might be linked to that strange hornet .
Getting some pebbles from the ground, I aimed at those flies and directly shot them all down, each and every one of them, Soul Power can be used to mark enemies which could very much make sniping them from a far distance a lot easier .
As if not having witnessed enough amazing scenes already in the last two days, I actually saw that the second the pebbles hit their intended target, the flies didn't react like how living things should have .
No, instead the flies disintegrated into pieces of yellowish paper and the paper itself was lit on fire soon right after, seeing this I couldn't help but squint my eyes once again, no longer having any doubt that these flies and that hornet were connected .
Trying to use True Eyes to see who was peeking on me, I wasn't able to found anyone or anything that could be screened out as abnormal, but to no avail .
I shook my head and started walking past the still terrified guards, not a single one of them dared to move or say anything, most of them were in the Flesh Tempering Realm, with only one other person other than their captain who were in the Organ Quenching Realm, this was the guy I tied him with the chains and had him completely immobilized .
Finally arriving at the Trading Merchant's Pavilion, I happened to see no posters on the walls at the entrance which was already a good sign considering the fact that my wanted posters that should have been removed was still all around the city .
As I approached the opened gate, two gurads suddenly obstructed my path with the two spears they held in hand, these guys looked quite strong and were quite tall as well, like a two small hills towering over everyone present .
I might have felt offended, if not for the fact that their actions weren't directed at only me, everyone who passed the gate paid two Silver Taels, as for the reason, well it acted as a statement of the person coming here intentions, wanting to do business .
This arrangement was made for the sake of profit and to allow only those who had money to step inside, beggars and people who can't afford anything inside the Trading Pavilion can already buzz off when they hear about having to pay such a huge sum just to enter .
As for those who still ignorant about the prices for the items inside, well they will get their eyes opened sooner or later, but at that time there will be no room for regret, paying the two taels as if it costed me nothing at all made a few people look at me with admiration, but a few people's eyes glinted sinisterly with greed .
That guy is Tian Long, that Tian Long .
The second someone had called my identity out like this, the greedy eyes mostly disappeared and sweat formed on their faces, while others were still thinking about the profit, I had no interest in neither of them and just continued my way into the pavilion .
The second I stepped inside the pavilion, I felt all my muscles and body getting tense for a second, almost like a fleeing feeling like an illusion, but I was certain that it was actually real, but I just can't tell what caused it .
Welcome Young Master Tian, our young lady had been waiting for you .
Before I opened my True Eyes and inspect what was going on, a pretty girl with a bit of makeup and wearing a formal attire had come and greeted me passionately before relaying such a message that made me frown slightly .
" I don't believe that I had gotten acquainted with your Young Miss, so how could I accept this invitation so easily ? .
Young Master Tian had a lot of enemies and I understand why you would feel alarmed at accepting invitations from someone you have never met before, but I assure you that I just want to have a small talk with you, if you don't mind .
A soft and melodic voice suddenly sounded from the second floor and soon the whole pavilion was filled with ruckus, some people were asking about her hand in marriage, while other were fighting for her favor, then last but not least there were a few who were bewildered at the fact that my name has been called and she was asking me to even chat with her .
She wasn't present, yet her voice alone stirred this much trouble, which is something quite strange, but seeing that there was no reason to refuse a simple courtesy like this one, I nodded at the maid or the female employee and allowed her to lead me to where her Young Miss was .
The girl face lit brightly for some reason and I saw her enthusiastically leading the way upstairs, I wasn't sure of who exactly was that young miss and her intentions, all I know was that I need to calm my heart down .
Her voice from before kept sounding in my ears as a whisper, it also sounded even more sultry than the girls I met in the Red Light District before, it gave an indescribable feeling of infatuation and a deep sense of closeness, making me doubt whether this was our first meeting with one another .
We reached the second floor and I saw that this was still not our destination, there were numerous people on the second floor and numerous resources for sale, the staff here was also quite busy to care about our presence .
The girl led me to a corridor that had extended quite far in the back, then we finally seemed to reach out destination, the reason I was able to tell was because of the scent I was smelling, a fragrant smell that made me almost drown in it, then finally the door was opened .