Whereabouts of the Cold Spring

"The guild's Beast Flame is public property of the guild. Though this old man is a Fourth-grade Alchemist, I cannot make decisions on my own. I'm afraid this matter will have to wait until that old fellow Frank returns before it can be decided."

"Go tell Gu He that although this old man wishes to help, rules cannot be discarded. Have him... seek another method."

Otto shook his head, a troubled look appearing on his face as he spoke in a rather helpless tone.

As an elder of Blackrock City's Alchemist Guild, he usually concerned himself only with studying the Pill Dao. All matters great and small within the guild were handled by President Frank alone. Unfortunately, Frank had been summoned to the Imperial Capital headquarters these past few days to discuss matters regarding the Alchemist Convention, and was not in the city at the moment.

The attendant bowed and acknowledged the order, then turned and left.

After that, Otto waved at everyone in the hall and said loudly, "Disperse, all of you. Go about your own business."

He turned to Lu Yu, an amiable smile appearing on his face. "Do you have some free time, young friend? This old man would like to speak with you alone."

Lu Yu smiled apologetically and cupped his hands. "I'm truly sorry, Master Otto. This junior still has friends waiting outside, so I'm afraid I must take my leave first. If there's an opportunity another day, I will certainly come to seek your guidance."

A trace of disappointment flashed through Otto's eyes, but he still maintained his gentle smile. "No matter. Go and handle your matters, young friend. We have plenty of time ahead of us."

Watching Lu Yu's departing figure, Lin Fei pouted and muttered, "He didn't even say thank you to me. I was the one who brought him to register, after all!"

"Is it really a thank you that you care about? With those thoughts of yours, do you truly think he couldn't see through them?"

Otto stroked his beard and shook his head with a laugh. "Silly girl, someone like that is not someone you can reach for. Concentrating on refining medicine is the proper path."

"Teacher!" Lin Fei stomped her foot angrily. "How can you belittle your own disciple like that?"

Otto laughed heartily and deliberately teased her. "Then shall your teacher put it another way? A beautiful toad wanting to eat swan meat?"

"Teacher! If you keep this up, I won't brew tea for you anymore!" Lin Fei turned and ran off in embarrassment and annoyance, drawing another burst of hearty laughter from Otto.

Not long after, Lu Yu walked out of the Alchemist Guild, his black alchemist robe fluttering lightly in the wind, perfectly outlining his tall, straight figure.

The Third-grade badge on his chest shone brilliantly beneath the sunlight, its three silver ripples flowing like mercury, attracting sidelong glances from passersby.

"Old Zhou! Look!" The guard at the entrance suddenly jabbed his companion with his elbow. Both men widened their eyes and stared in disbelief at the badge on Lu Yu's chest.

The guard called Old Zhou froze, then seemed to think of something and hurried forward, bowing so low his waist nearly touched the ground. "My lord, please wait!"

Lu Yu paused slightly and raised a brow at him. "What is it?"

Old Zhou held up a White Jade Bottle with both hands, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead. "My lord, these are the pills you bestowed just now. This lowly one failed to recognize your greatness. I truly dare not accept such a precious reward..."

His voice grew quieter and quieter, and the hands holding the medicine bottle trembled slightly.

Lu Yu smiled calmly and said, "Keep it. Since I gave it to you, there is no reason to take it back. Consider this bottle of Qi Recovery Pills a gesture of goodwill."

Old Zhou's entire body shook. Then he cupped his hands in a bow and said gratefully, "Many thanks for your reward, my lord. Zhou will never forget this kindness as long as he lives! If there is ever anything you can use me for in the future..."

Lu Yu raised a hand in a light supporting motion, and a gentle stream of Dou Qi lifted Old Zhou up. "There's no need for that."

After saying this, he seemed to ask casually, "I seemed to hear news about Master Gu He just now?"

Old Zhou immediately understood and lowered his voice. "In reply to my lord, Master Gu He has been staying at Qing Nang Zhai in the south of the city these past few days. It's said he is suppressing the poison for that poisoned sect master of the Cloud Mist Sect."

"The day before yesterday, he even issued a reward throughout the city, inviting experts who possess a Beast Flame above the fifth rank or who are proficient in sealing techniques to lend aid. It's said the payment is quite generous, including pills like the Spirit Dou Pill and Imperial Pill..."

Lu Yu nodded slightly, already having his own thoughts. He casually tossed Old Zhou a bottle of pills. "This is your payment."

Old Zhou hurriedly caught it, moved to tears. "Many thanks, my lord! This lowly one also heard that Master Gu He has been anxious and irritable these past few days. It seems that woman's condition is not optimistic."

"I understand."

Lu Yu nodded thoughtfully, then turned and left, inwardly musing, It seems Yun Yun's condition is more serious than imagined... A fifth-rank Beast Flame or sealing technique? This Five Snake Poison Brake Seal is probably even more complicated than I thought...

"Kid, you tested for Third-grade?"

Hai Bodong looked at the Third-grade Alchemist badge pinned to Lu Yu's chest, a trace of astonishment appearing in his eyes. His face was filled with disbelief.

He had originally thought that for this kid to have cultivated to the level of a Seven-star Great Dou Master at such an age was already a world-shocking achievement.

Add to that his control of a Strange Fire, and passing the test for First-grade Alchemist did not seem unacceptable.

But he had not expected this kid to have actually tested for Third-grade!

One had to know that the highest-ranking alchemist in the entire Jia Ma Empire was only sixth grade. Third grade already counted as having truly stepped into the hall, and there were not many in the entire Jia Ma Empire!

Lu Yu smiled and said, "Old Hai never asked me before. I never said I was going to test for First-grade Alchemist."

"Little Fairy Doctor, Young Master is amazing!"

Qing Lin's eyes were filled with admiration from the side.

"What's so amazing about it? He merely refined a few more cauldrons of pills."

Though Little Fairy Doctor said this, the smile at the corners of her mouth simply could not be suppressed.

It was as if the one who had passed the Third-grade Alchemist test was not Lu Yu, but her instead.

"All right, it's getting late. I made you all wait for a long time today. My treat—let's go to the best restaurant in Blackrock City for a meal."

Lu Yu said with a smile.

"Great! I want Lotus Soup!"

Qing Lin waved her little hands, cheering and jumping for joy.

Not long after, After the group had lunch, Lu Yu arranged for Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin to return to the inn first to rest.

He, meanwhile, went with Hai Bodong through the streets and alleys of Blackrock City. After passing through more than a dozen crisscrossing streets, they stopped before a secluded building in the south of the city.

The building's design was rather peculiar. Vines crawled over its mottled outer walls, giving it an air of mystery.

"Kid, we're here."

"Does this place really have that Ice Spirit Cold Spring you want?"

"Master Gute is Pill King Gu He's elder brother. He's utterly obsessed with collecting all sorts of heavenly treasures. If there's a treasure he doesn't have in the entire Jama Empire, then you won't find it anywhere else either."

"Let's go. We're going in."

Lu Yu straightened his robes and spoke calmly. Before his words had even faded, he had already stepped forward.

Hai Bodong gave a light snort and followed close behind. One in front and one behind, the two of them walked toward the strangely patterned door.

The two pushed the door open and went inside. After walking past several rotten wooden steps, they pushed open the room on the top floor, and a strange smell, a mix of medicinal herbs and metal, rushed toward them.

Inside the dim room, all kinds of bizarre collectibles were piled messily on shelves. A stooped figure was fiddling with something in the corner.

"Who is it?" A hoarse voice came from the shadows. "If you're here to buy ordinary herbs, go out and turn left to Hundred Herbs Hall."

Lu Yu smiled faintly and took a step forward. "Master Gute, this junior has come for the Ice Spirit Cold Spring."

"Ice Spirit Cold Spring?"

The stooped figure suddenly turned around, revealing an old face covered in wrinkles. He split his mouth in a grin, showing a few yellowed teeth. "Interesting... truly interesting. Gu He only just exchanged for it a few days ago. You've come at just the wrong time..."

Lu Yu's brows furrowed slightly. "May I ask, Master, what did Gu He exchange for this item for?"

Gute narrowed his murky eyes and said slowly, "I heard it was to attempt to fuse two Sixth-tier Beast Fires, to purge the poison from that sect master of the Cloud Mist Sect..."

He suddenly lowered his voice. "But, well, fusing Beast Fires is extremely dangerous. That Ice Spirit Cold Spring is only something he prepared to save his life. In this old man's view, the item should still be in his hands..."