Departure

After entering the courtyard, the group followed Lin Qi into the pavilion's main hall.

Since Lin Qi did not conceal her aura, the three Dou Wangs present all sensed the powerful presence emanating from her.

Along the way, everyone secretly marveled at Lin Qi's appearance. A Sixth-Grade Alchemist truly had it good—he even had such a beautiful Dou Emperor expert following him.

"These people are insane!" Otto wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered.

Frank nodded slightly and glanced at the crowd. "Normally, Fourth- and Fifth-Grade Alchemists are already treated as honored guests by these people. Let alone a Sixth-Grade Alchemist with an Eighth-Grade master and a Dou Emperor subordinate. Just a little leaking through his fingers would be enough to drive them mad. I heard that someone from the Imperial Family has been asking about Master Lin as well!"

On the second floor, Lin Qing changed into his Alchemist robe, pinned on his Emblem, and walked out of his room.

"Quite handsome."

Li Qingchan, seated in the living room, gave Lin Qing a careful look and commented.

Lin Qing smiled at her words. The most beautiful woman of the Cangxuan Sect, usually cold in nature and highly principled, with an exceptionally strong sense of superiority—yet she could actually praise someone.

"This gathering isn't particularly important. Why waste your time on it?"

Ling Qingzhu suddenly spoke from the side. She no longer had her usual cold exterior and warm interior, looking utterly calm and still, as though her heart were tranquil water.

He felt that this was their true selves, without any pretense.

"I'm idle anyway. Besides, I still have to support my family!"

Lin Qing was not lying. Xiao Yi Xian and Lin Qi needed Medicinal Pills to advance, while Little Marten needed to repair his Demon Spirit and revive.

In truth, Lin Qing neither particularly liked nor disliked these gatherings. To him, they were merely an exchange of interests. They sought Medicinal Pills and wanted to establish ties with him.

He could certainly refuse, and he had both the right and strength to do so, because this was solely their one-sided need.

However, they had sent Visiting Cards in advance and eagerly brought gifts for him. Since he was not busy now, it would be unreasonable not to meet them.

He did not mind murder or arson, but that depended on the target. If they were enemies, or people from the Soul Hall, Soul Clan, or Black-Corner Region, then robbing them was no issue.

Still, Lin Qing preferred trading for resources. A few local Dou Wang overlords could still be squeezed for some profit.

Upon hearing this, Li Qingchan and Ling Qingzhu said nothing further.

"I'll head down first!"

The moment Lin Qing appeared in the main hall, the previously noisy room fell silent.

The quiet atmosphere did not last long.

"Master Lin!"

Upon seeing Lin Qing arrive, the three Dou Wangs seated on the sofas, along with Frank and Otto, all rose to greet him.

"Hehe, everyone, please sit." Lin Qing waved his hand.

Since Lin Qing did not drink alcohol, he served tea to all who came to visit.

"Excellent tea!"

The Black Rock City Lord was also a man who understood tea.

"If the City Lord likes it, you can take some with you later."

"Then I shall gladly accept!"

This spiritual tea had been given by the system, and drinking it could calm one's mind.

For a time, the smiles on everyone's faces became increasingly genuine and sincere.

An hour later, both host and guests were thoroughly satisfied. The Hao Clan exchanged Medicinal Herbs for a Dou Spirit Pill and a King-Breaking Pill, then left contentedly with the Alchemist Guild.

Meanwhile, the people from the City Lord's Manor and the Xue Clan remained behind.

After seeing the Alchemist Guild members leave, Feiteng, the Black Rock City Lord, spoke bluntly.

"Master, may I ask whether my daughter's talent is worthy of catching your eye? Do you have any intention of accepting disciples?"

"Hmm?"

Lin Qi widened her eyes and looked at the City Lord's daughter, Feilin. Was another one coming?

"Master, my Granddaughter also wishes to take you as her master!"

Xue Tian hurriedly said.

No! There were two of them!

Lin Qing looked at the two men apologetically.

"My apologies, you two. I have no plans to accept disciples for now. Before you, Jia Xing Tian already came to see me. He wanted me to accept his Granddaughter as a disciple, but I refused him as well."

Lin Qing glanced at Feilin and Xue Mei. It had to be said that female supporting characters who had received focused descriptions were indeed beautiful. Xue Mei in particular, with her white hair and abstinent aura, perfectly hit his preferences.

The two girls' talent was fairly decent as well. At sixteen, they were already Dou Zhes, far stronger than Qing Ye. In the Xiao Clan, they could have compared with Xiao Yu, only slightly inferior to the Yaoye and Yaoyue whom he had met today.

Xue Tian gritted his teeth and pulled Xue Mei to kneel before Lin Qing.

"Master! My Xue Clan is willing to offer all our family's assets! From this day onward, the Xue Clan will obey Master's every command!"

His body had already reached the point of exhaustion. Without a Dou Wang, the Xue Clan would become a massive piece of fat meat. By then, every force in Black Rock City with a Dou Ling would come take a bite. Originally, he had wanted Xue Mei to take Frank as her master, but now that there was a better choice, he wanted to gamble on this hope.

"So will I!"

Feiteng also pulled Feilin down to kneel.

He was a Dou Wang of a different surname in the Jia Ma Empire. The Mu Clan and Nalan Clan could become part of the Three Major Families, so why could he not? Was it not because of suppression from the Imperial Family and other clans? They did not want another family competing for a share. They had always guarded against him. Once he died, the Fei Clan would be finished.

Lin Qing rose to his feet and looked at the four kneeling before him.

"To put it bluntly, your entire family fortunes are indeed worth something, but they are not enough to make me accept your juniors as disciples. How about this? I will give each of your juniors a Fifth-Grade Alchemist's Manual written by me. The two of them can go to Jia Nan Academy, where they will receive proper instruction. If they can become Fifth-Grade Alchemists before graduation, I am willing to accept them as registered disciples."

Perhaps seeing the two parents reminded Lin Qing of his former two sets of parents, so he decided to give their children a glimmer of hope. As for whether they could turn that hope into reality, it would depend on Xue Mei and Feilin themselves.

Yet that hope was as illusory and fragile as a bubble. In the future, they would likely have little chance to cross paths, just as with Qing Ye in the past. It could not be helped. He was not a savior or saint; those without talent or background were not worth making him stop in his tracks.

If Jia Xing Tian had acted like this back then, Lin Qing might have accepted Yaoyue as his disciple.

It seemed that some parents who truly loved their children were indeed willing to give everything for their children's future.

Of course, if they could meet the standard, he would grant them an opportunity and good fortune, because those who worked hard deserved praise.

The City Lord's Manor and the Xue Clan left with spiritual tea and the Fifth-Grade Alchemist's Manual.

The next day, the two families sent over all the gold coins and Medicinal Herbs they could afford. Lin Qing accepted them directly and gave each family a King-Breaking Pill and a Dou Spirit Pill in return.

Over the next three days, Lin Qing gave daily lectures to the Alchemists of the guild.

The Medicinal Herbs promised by the Alchemist Guild were also delivered to him on schedule. With the help of the Xue Clan and City Lord's Manor, the ingredients for one batch of Soul-Nourishing Saliva had been gathered as well.

After settling matters in Black Rock City, Lin Qing took the people by his side and flew toward Desert City.