Refusing to Take a Master

Chen Guan could hardly fail to understand Fama's meaning after things had been spelled out so clearly.

He truly envied those with poor talent. They never had to suffer through such troubles. Unlike him, who was so conflicted.

"I understand what you mean, Senior. I do indeed possess a trace of the Wood Attribute and meet the conditions to become an alchemist."

Chen Guan had learned this from Teacher Shu Tianhe while at the bottom of the lake. He had never tested for it before.

Seeing the increasingly frightening heat in Fama's eyes, Chen Guan felt he could no longer bear it.

Before Fama could say those words, he hurriedly began explaining.

"I hope Senior understands. Although I am somewhat curious about alchemists and will learn alchemy, for certain special reasons, I cannot devote most of my energy to it. I probably cannot even spare one day a month to study it, so regarding Senior's kind offer..."

His words were naturally somewhat exaggerated, but they also made Chen Guan's intentions clear.

Cultivation would always come first in his heart.

Besides that, he would absolutely not abandon the Puppet Mastery passed down by Teacher Shu Tianhe.

Alchemy was highly practical, and he would certainly make time to learn it.

However, with his formidable Spiritual Power as a foundation, and with alchemy being so widespread nowadays, alchemy was much easier for him than Puppet Mastery. Thus, in the future, he would inevitably spend far more time on Puppet Mastery than on alchemy. To others, that would inevitably seem like neglecting the proper path.

Fama naturally did not know what Chen Guan was thinking. Hearing that he placed so little importance on his talent for alchemy, Fama felt his liver ache with anger.

Such powerful Soul Perception, yet he refused to devote his energy to alchemy. What a waste of heaven's gifts! Taking a deep breath, Fama stated his minimum requirement.

"Set aside ten days every month to study alchemy, and this old man will take you as his disciple. I guarantee that before you turn twenty, you will at least reach the level of a Fourth Grade alchemist."

"You had better think this through. Look at Gu He to see how useful an alchemist's status can be. This old man is also the guild president. As long as you agree, you may take the Alchemist Guild's medicinal ingredients and use them for practice as you please. And I am a Dou Huang Expert as well. As my disciple, you could walk sideways through the Jia Ma Empire without any trouble."

Unwilling to let such an outstanding seedling slip away, Fama had begun tempting him with benefits. He had never done such a thing before.

Chen Guan silently thought, I can already walk sideways.

"Thank you very much for thinking so highly of me, Senior, but I truly cannot spare that much energy. Having even one free day a month is already exceedingly rare for me. I can only disappoint Senior's kind intentions."

"Do you think you're haggling at a market? One day? Why not just learn it in your dreams?" Fama fiercely flung his beard aside, utterly enraged.

With his status, he had already lowered himself so much, yet he had still been rejected.

If word of this got out, probably no one in the Jia Ma Empire would dare believe it.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He completely lost the bearing of a Dou Huang Expert and instead resembled an exasperated parent, pointing at the Young Man and berating him without end.

"What a waste of heaven's gifts, what utter stupidity! If you were one of my blood descendants, I would beat you to death today!"

He rambled on like beans spilling from a jar for half the day before finally venting his frustration.

Rather than anger, what he felt more deeply was disappointment at Chen Guan's failure to live up to his potential, along with regret at seeing the Young Man waste his talent for nothing. It was like a fanatical collector suddenly discovering that a masterpiece he adored beyond measure, one he had sought but could not obtain, was being used by someone as a tablecloth.

At a time like this, restraining himself from hitting him was already an act of self-control.

Chen Guan listened awkwardly from the side, not daring to interrupt. This was also why he had explained things clearly in advance.

Of course he understood the benefits of taking Fama as his master, and he was tempted as well. But what would happen after becoming his disciple? Rather than making Fama angry every day and leaving both of them resentful, it was better to be straightforward from the beginning.

Fama berated him until his mouth was dry, and Chen Guan timely handed him a cup of tea.

Fama drained it in one gulp, finally calming down and recovering his usual image as an expert.

"Let's talk business. You did not come to my Alchemist Guild today merely to visit this old man, did you? Picking up Yue'er was probably just incidental as well."

Fama did not wish to delay any longer. He wanted to send the Young Man away sooner, lest the sight of him provoke more anger.

Chen Guan nodded awkwardly and took an item from his storage ring.

"By a fortunate coincidence, I once obtained less than half a jar of Ice Spirit Cold Spring. However, because its original owner failed to preserve it properly, it became contaminated. So I would like to ask Senior to help purify it, or simply remove its corrosiveness."

"Ice Spirit Cold Spring? It really is. But the preservation was far too careless. I'll take care of it, though you must make Psychological Preparation. Once it has been properly treated, the remaining quantity will certainly be greatly reduced. It will probably only be enough to fill two or three bottles."

Fama glanced at the jar before him and shook his head regretfully.

If he had seen such a fine thing contaminated under ordinary circumstances, he would probably have been unable to stop himself from cursing at the waste.

But after what had happened with Chen Guan today, he suddenly felt that even Ice Spirit Cold Spring was nothing worth mentioning.

"I understand. Also, an alchemist's rules must be followed. This grain of Spirit Nourishing Dust shall serve as payment. I hope it can lend Senior a helping hand and allow you to advance to the Sixth Grade soon."

Fama's expression remained unchanged. He did not even want the so-called payment; he only wanted the Young Man to disappear from his sight as quickly as possible. Looking at him was irritating.

However, after Chen Guan finished explaining the wondrous effects of Spirit Nourishing Dust, Fama was moved.

He was already a Fifth Grade Peak alchemist, only One Step Away from breaking through. As long as he used this grain of dust, he was one hundred percent certain that he could advance to the Sixth Grade and fulfill his long-cherished wish of many years! This payment was far, far too valuable.

Forget purifying one portion of Ice Spirit Cold Spring—adding another ten or even a hundred portions would not match the value of Spirit Nourishing Dust.

Fama was deeply tempted. Below the Eighth Grade, not a single alchemist could remain calm before Spirit Nourishing Dust!

Yet even so, he did not lose his reason. Taking a long breath, he asked, "Is this your intention, or the imperial family's?"

If it was the latter, he could only painfully give it up.

Fortunately, the Young Man who had made his teeth itch with hatred today finally gave him an answer he wanted.

"Mine. It has nothing to do with the imperial family."

Hearing this, Fama let out a breath of relief.

He only knew that Chen Guan had ties to the imperial family, but he did not know how deep those ties were. Still, judging from the Young Man's relationship with the two Princesses, they were undoubtedly good friends.

Good friends were ultimately still only friends. At most, in consideration of the Young Man's favor in the future, he could lean slightly toward the imperial family. That would not count as violating his principles.

Unfortunately, he had still underestimated the twists and turns involved.

After giving the Young Man a deep look, Fama followed his heart.

"I'll accept this Spirit Nourishing Dust. Come collect the Ice Spirit Cold Spring tomorrow afternoon." It was enough to remember this favor in his heart; there was no need to speak of it aloud.