"I'll grant you a day off today. Go back and focus on studying the fundamentals of the Alchemy Dao.
In the next few days, Elder Peak should be arranging the details of your investiture."
The Mountain Goat Spirit said to Xu Chang'an with a pleasant expression.
"Yes, Master."
Xu Chang'an bid his farewell and turned to leave.
He had now been successfully certified as a Low-grade Alchemist, and though he only appeared to have a Qi Refining Second Layer cultivation, his status was already considerably higher than that of an ordinary Little Flag on Langlang Mountain.
To show respect for Alchemists, it was customary on Langlang Mountain to grant him the position of Little Flag.
On Langlang Mountain, only Demons at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer were typically qualified to serve as a Little Flag.
Being appointed as a Little Flag meant he would become part of Langlang Mountain's core strength.
No longer just an expendable Little Demon.
With his status and Skills, even if the situation at the front lines grew dire, he wouldn't be sent to fight unless it was a last resort.
After all, with only a Qi Refining Second Layer cultivation, his usefulness in battle would be limited.
In the rear, however, he could continuously refine Lower-grade Elixirs, providing a steady supply of lifeblood for the front.
For the Elders of Langlang Mountain, the choice was obvious.
Xu Chang'an waited for several days in a row, but no notice of his appointment as Little Flag arrived.
'It seems the situation at the front is even worse than I imagined!'
Xu Chang'an sighed to himself.
Although the fighting at the front was intense, it did not affect Xu Chang'an's life on the mountain.
He refined Magical Artifacts, practiced Magic, and studied Alchemy...
A few more days passed, and Xiong Da came looking for him specifically.
He was being sent to the mines as reinforcements!
As a regional power, Langlang Mountain naturally had its own supply of resources.
The mines were one such place.
The mines produced Tier One Xuan Iron Stone, which could be used as a Forging material for Low-grade Magical Artifacts.
This was the very place Black Crow Mountain had attacked some days ago.
As the heart of the conflict, the mines were naturally fraught with danger.
Because of this, Xu Chang'an gave Xiong Da a serious reminder to be careful.
But Xiong Da, that big lunk, seemed completely carefree.
He thumped his chest noisily.
"Grey Rat, I'm Instructor Xiong, a guardian of Langlang Mountain's passes."
"It's not that easy to kill me. You just wait for me to get back."
Watching the grinning, confident Xiong Da, Xu Chang'an was momentarily lost in thought.
Vaguely, Xiong Da's figure seemed to overlap with an image of himself from his past life.
After Xiong Da left, Xu Chang'an returned to his previous rhythm of life.
The Alchemy Hall grew even busier.
Xu Chang'an was fine, possessing Alchemy Skill that bordered on the Middle Grade; he only refined Lower-grade Elixirs intermittently.
His main task was still refining large quantities of Beginner Elixirs.
His nominal master, the Mountain Goat Spirit, on the other hand, was so busy he barely touched the ground.
The number of Little Demons on Langlang Mountain seemed to have dwindled significantly.
The Little Flags and Standard-Bearers who usually loitered around the Alchemy Hall, begging for or buying Elixirs, were now a rare sight.
It wasn't just the Alchemy Hall; the entirety of Hundred Arts Peak was the same.
Only the artisan Demons bustled in and out, their work never-ending.
Seeing the hurried figures of the other Demons, Xu Chang'an actually found it a bit desolate.
'A quiet, stable life is truly the best!'
Xu Chang'an let out a long sigh.
Unfortunately, with his Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivation, the role he could play in a war of this scale was still limited!
...
Another month passed.
The news of Xu Chang'an's appointment as a Little Flag finally arrived, long overdue.
As part of Langlang Mountain's core strength, a Little Flag was naturally afforded a certain degree of importance.
Elder Peak would dispatch an Elder to invest any Demon promoted to Little Flag.
What Xu Chang'an didn't expect was that the Elder sent from Elder Peak this time was none other than Langlang Mountain's own young mistress, Jin Ling'Er.
Jin Ling'Er was dressed as a human woman in a long, pale dress that accentuated her graceful figure.
"Grey Rat, in my capacity as an Elder of Langlang Mountain, I hereby invest you as a Little Flag of the Alchemy Hall.
I bestow upon you the Little Banner Cloak!
For the next six months, your stipend will be twelve Demon Stones and three bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills!"
"Thank you, Elder."
Xu Chang'an bowed slightly as a sign of respect.
Then, another Demon came forward and draped the specially tailored Little Banner Cloak over Xu Chang'an's shoulders.
Though Xu Chang'an was small in stature, the black cloak surprisingly gave him an imposing air.
Although the Little Banner Cloak wasn't quite a Magical Artifact, it was no ordinary item either.
It possessed a certain degree of defensive capability.
After the ceremony, Jin Ling'Er offered a few words of encouragement to Xu Chang'an before gracefully departing.
"Congratulations, Grey Rat Banner!"
Several Demons from the Alchemy Hall came forward to offer their congratulations.
Xu Chang'an responded with a smile.
His gaze followed the direction of Jin Ling'Er's departure, a thoughtful look on his face.
There had been a faint trace of worry in Jin Ling'Er's expression.
'The war on the front lines isn't going well!'
Ever since the war with Black Crow Mountain began, Langlang Mountain's Foundation Establishment Great Demon had yet to make an appearance!
On the other hand, the Foundation Establishment Great Demon from Black Crow Mountain, a Black Crow Spirit, had reportedly appeared on the battlefield several times, displaying immense power.
If not for the Array protecting the mines, they would have likely fallen long ago!
Over the past few days, injured Little Demons were occasionally sent back from the front.
Xu Chang'an tried to ask about Xiong Da, but there was no news of him.
In the following days, another batch of Demons was sent as reinforcements to the mines and other locations.
Now, the number of Demons on Langlang Mountain dwindled even further.
Even the ranks of Little Demons assigned to daily pass-guarding and mountain patrols were drastically reduced.
From time to time, an Elder could be seen flying overhead on a Magical Artifact.
「One day, at the Hundred Arts Peak's Alchemy Hall.」
"You want me to go with you to guard the Spirit Plant Garden!?"
Xu Chang'an was slightly taken aback.
The Mountain Goat Spirit from the Alchemy Hall had been assigned by Elder Peak to go guard the Spirit Plant Garden.
The Spirit Plant Garden was home to numerous Spirit Plants, and guarding it was more about coordinating the care of the plants within.
As a veteran Alchemist familiar with Spirit Plants and medicinal herbs, the Mountain Goat Spirit was a perfect fit.
The Mountain Goat Spirit was old, and his energy might not be sufficient to handle it all by himself.
Therefore, he was allowed to choose another Demon to go with him, and so he had sought out Xu Chang'an.
"The Spirit Plant Garden is filled with countless Spirit Plants, which require a nourishing environment. Thus, the Spiritual Qi within is naturally dense. Cultivating there will be of great benefit.
Grey Rat, I see your cultivation has already reached the Peak of Qi Refining Second Layer.
You might be able to break through to the Qi Refining Third Layer."
The Mountain Goat Spirit explained to Xu Chang'an.
With the current situation growing worse by the day, any improvement in one's cultivation would greatly increase their chances of survival.
This showed just how much the Mountain Goat Spirit cared for Xu Chang'an.
Although the Spirit Plant Garden was also on Langlang Mountain, it was quite far from the Alchemy Hall.
The Spirit Plant Garden was managed by the Fourth Elder from Elder Peak.
This involved numerous tasks, such as the daily care of the Spirit Plants, guarding the grounds, harvesting and transport, sorting and classifying, and keeping detailed records.
Normally, the Spirit Plant Garden was staffed with two Vanguards, four Standard-Bearers, ten Little Flags, and numerous attendant Little Demons.
But with the war effort demanding more bodies, a large number of Demons had been transferred to the front lines, so the Spirit Plant Garden no longer had such a roster.
The Mountain Goat Spirit would be responsible for coordinating the overall care within the Spirit Plant Garden.
Another Vanguard from Langlang Mountain would be in charge of transport, security, and general defense.
During wartime, the two Demons would temporarily be in charge of the Spirit Plant Garden, acting as a check and balance on each other to prevent any mistakes or oversights.