Demon Slayer Instance Card

A Second-Rank Alchemist so young was naturally no ordinary alchemist without powerful backing. He was none other than Pill King Gu He's personal disciple-Liu Ling!

As the saying went, like master, like disciple.

Just as Gu He had always pursued Yun Yun, Liu Ling had always pursued Nalan Yanran. He could be called the foremost of her suitors.

The figure to Nalan Yanran's right was a girl in a purple dress, with skin like jade and exquisitely delicate features.

She looked about the same age as Nalan Yanran, and a faint air of innate nobility surrounded her. She was none other than the Jia Ma Imperial Family's little princess-Yao Yue!

Although Yao Yue's cultivation talent fell short of Nalan Yanran's, the gap was not great. She was already a Two-Star Dou Zhe.

Yao Yue was also an alchemist. She had passed the first-rank alchemist examination before Nalan Sheng, and her teacher was Master Chemir, the Alchemist Guild's Vice President.

With Nalan Yanran leading the way, the three walked straight toward Nalan Sheng.

"Brother, long time no see."

Nalan Yanran first greeted Nalan Sheng with a smile, then turned her gaze to Xiao Yi Xian. "This beauty must be my future sister-in-law, right? Hello, sister-in-law!"

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Xiao Yi Xian's pretty face flushed slightly. A little embarrassed, she nodded and said, "Hello."

"Sister-in-law, tell me all about how you met my brother!"

Before the blush on Xiao Yi Xian's face could fade, Nalan Yanran familiarly linked arms with her and asked with curiosity written all over her face.

Given Nalan Yanran's usual temperament, she would never have been so close to Xiao Yi Xian at their first meeting.

She did so partly because she was grateful to Xiao Yi Xian for saving her grandfather's life, and partly because Nalan Su had written her a letter.

The letter's contents were simple: Nalan Jie was extremely fond of Xiao Yi Xian, his granddaughter-in-law.

Nalan Su had also stated in the letter that if Nalan Yanran wanted Nalan Jie to forgive her for going to the Xiao Clan to break off her engagement, she would have to build a good relationship with Xiao Yi Xian, her future sister-in-law.

Truly, the hearts of parents everywhere deserved compassion.

Since Nalan Su could not tell Nalan Yanran outright that Xiao Yi Xian had awakened her woeful poison body, he could only use this roundabout approach to encourage her to get along with Xiao Yi Xian.

Otherwise, if Nalan Yanran fell out with Xiao Yi Xian without knowing the truth, Nalan Jie would probably throw his unfilial granddaughter straight out of the family.

"Well, Nalan Sheng! You really kept that hidden!"

While Nalan Yanran pestered Xiao Yi Xian for gossip, Yao Yue suddenly raised her small, jade-white fist and lightly punched Nalan Sheng's shoulder. "When did you learn alchemy? Speak! Who's your teacher? Confess to this princess at once!"

Hearing this, Liu Ling also tore his gaze away from Nalan Yanran and gave Nalan Sheng a questioning look.

To be honest, Liu Ling was also very curious about who had taught Nalan Sheng alchemy. Had he known earlier that Nalan Sheng possessed such outstanding talent for it, he would have found a way to persuade Gu He to take him as a disciple.

Then Liu Ling would only have needed to get along with Nalan Sheng, his junior fellow disciple, and have him act as his wingman. Wouldn't taming the spirited, beautiful mare that was Nalan Yanran have been only a matter of time?

"I wasn't trying to hide it from you. My teacher told me to."

Faced with their questions, Nalan Sheng spun his tale with a perfectly straight face. "My teacher is a powerful expert who likes living in seclusion. More than anything, he hates being disturbed by outsiders, so he forbids me from telling anyone about him. Otherwise, he'll expel me from his tutelage.

"Never mind you-even my father and grandfather only learned that I knew alchemy after I passed the first-rank alchemist examination."

"So that's how it is."

Hearing Nalan Sheng's explanation, Yao Yue and Liu Ling showed no suspicion. Instead, understanding dawned on their faces.

After all, most alchemists had eccentric temperaments. A teacher who merely preferred seclusion already counted as relatively amiable among them.

Once they learned that Nalan Sheng's teacher was an alchemist who preferred seclusion, they stopped pressing the matter and began discussing alchemy with Nalan Sheng instead.

Soon, to their surprise, they discovered that Nalan Sheng's alchemy skills far surpassed those of an ordinary first-rank alchemist and were already very close to the second rank.

Along with their surprise, they inevitably felt a hint of pressure.

Yao Yue and Liu Ling had always believed that the most talented young alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire had to be one of them. Neither had expected Nalan Sheng to suddenly burst onto the scene.

Yao Yue secretly resolved to work twice as hard at her cultivation once she returned. She had to pass the second-rank alchemist examination before Nalan Sheng.

Liu Ling also unconsciously clenched his fists, silently vowing to pass the Third-Grade Alchemist examination as soon as possible so that Nalan Sheng and Yao Yue would not catch up to him. Otherwise, he would be letting down his teacher's painstaking guidance.

Several days later.

The Market District in the South of the City, Jia Ma Holy City.

Dressed in a moon-white gown, Nalan Yanran linked arms with Xiao Yi Xian as they strolled through the Market District, chatting and laughing.

Nalan Sheng, dressed in a black alchemist's robe, followed the two women at an unhurried pace, responsible for paying their bills and carrying their bags.

"Hm?"

Just as Nalan Sheng was wearing a helpless expression, his sword-like brows suddenly lifted slightly, and he hurriedly shifted part of his attention to the System Shop.

The System Shop had refreshed again, putting ten new items up for sale.

Nalan Sheng quickly scanned the new merchandise before fixing his gaze on two of the items.

[Name: Demon Slayer Instance Card]

[Effect: Allows the user to temporarily travel to the world of Demon Slayer and remain there for three months.]

[Price: 3,000 villain points]

[Name: Treasure Snake Blood]

[Effect: Blood from a viper raised on various rare medicinal substances for twenty years. Drinking it greatly increases the drinker's power.]

[Price: 500 villain points]

Since the Market District was crowded and full of prying eyes, Nalan Sheng did not rush to purchase these two treasures. Instead, he planned to wait until he had finished accompanying Xiao Yi Xian and Nalan Yanran on their shopping trip and returned to the Separate Courtyard where he lived.

Time slowly passed. Only when night fell did Nalan Yanran and

the others finally follow Nalan Sheng home, their faces showing that they still had not had their fill.

After returning to his bedroom, Nalan Sheng hurriedly spent 3,500 villain points to purchase the [Demon Slayer Instance Card] and [Treasure Snake Blood].

Whoosh!

With a flash of white light, a black card and a wine jar the size of a washbasin appeared out of thin air before Nalan Sheng.