“Three to five years? Definitely a Fifth-Rank Alchemist?”
Ai Linna was conflicted.
But looking at Chen Zheng’s sincere face, she didn’t doubt anything.
She had searched for over a decade with no results, so waiting a few more years didn’t seem unacceptable, did it?
“Exactly! But it’s not definite. Maybe my Master will have an Epiphany one day and return early. If that happens, I’ll definitely have him help you!”
Chen Zheng promised again.
Although he was painting a grand picture for Ai Linna, it was a grand picture that could be realized!
So it wasn’t a lie!
“Alright! Then this elder sister will believe you this one time…” Ai Linna sighed, then reverted to her charming and alluring self.
Chen Zheng repeated his initial question: “So, Miss Ai, are you willing to come to the Imperial City with me?”
Ai Linna stared into Chen Zheng’s eyes, chuckling, “If I don’t agree, will you still help me?”
Chen Zheng didn’t hesitate, saying cheerfully, “Of course I’ll help! Helping you is to repay a life-saving favor. Inviting you, Miss Ai, to the Imperial City is for cooperation! These are two different matters!”
Looking at Chen Zheng’s sincere gaze, Ai Linna’s eyes softened a bit, and she asked, “I have one more question. Currently, in Yan City, without the protection of an Alchemist, my Qingge Auction House is almost unable to continue operating. How can we gain a foothold in a place like the Imperial City, where tigers and wolves gather?”
Chen Zheng smiled, “I have my ways!”
Saying that, he pulled out a porcelain bottle from his embrace and placed it in front of Ai Linna: “Miss Ai, please take a look at this first.”
“This is?” Ai Linna picked up the porcelain bottle, opened the stopper, and a rich medicinal Qi immediately assailed her nostrils, making her eyes light up.
Chen Zheng introduced with a smile, “This is a medicinal liquid refined from hundred-year-old Fiery Sun Grass. If a Martial Artist who Cultivates Yang-attribute Cultivation Technique consumes it, their Cultivation speed can be increased by at least double in a short period!”
“Good stuff!” Ai Linna affirmed.
Although this medicinal liquid was not as precious as Body Tempering Liquid, it would definitely be eagerly snatched up if released!
This bottle of Fiery Sun Grass medicinal liquid, though an unranked Spirit Medicine, was also a top-grade Spirit Medicine below the First-Rank!
One must know, not everyone could afford ranked Spirit Medicine!
Chen Zheng smiled, “I refined it!”
Ai Linna looked surprised: “You refined it?”
“Exactly!” Chen Zheng said calmly, “If given time, I can actually refine First-Rank Spirit Medicine as well. Miss Ai, you just said that you can’t gain a foothold without an Alchemist? No problem, there’s an Alchemist Guild in the Imperial Capital. I will go there to take the entrance examination and obtain Alchemist qualifications!”
Ai Linna was speechless for a moment. Chen Zheng spoke so casually, as if passing the Alchemist examination was as simple as drinking water.
But looking at the Spirit Medicine in her hand, Ai Linna had to admit that Chen Zheng seemed to have the right to be “arrogant.”
“When did you start learning alchemy?” Ai Linna couldn’t help but ask.
One must know, just a month ago, Chen Zheng was a well-known good-for-nothing, almost beaten to death in the arena.
Chen Zheng smiled, “Miss Ai, why ask the obvious? A month ago, thanks to Master, I was lucky enough to survive and resolve my Meridians issue, embarking on the path of Cultivation!”
This also served as an explanation for his strength!
Anyway, he could just push everything onto that non-existent Master!
As long as enough people believed it, his bluff would work!
“So, in just over a month, not only did your Martial Dao Cultivation advance by leaps and bounds, but you also became a First-Rank Alchemist?”
Ai Linna looked at Chen Zheng as if he were a monster.
Chen Zheng rubbed his nose: “Something like that!”
Hearing it like this, even he felt it was a bit outrageous!
However… it was also the truth!
“Good! I will bring all my assets and go to the Imperial City with you!” Ai Linna no longer hesitated and readily agreed.
In her opinion, Chen Zheng’s ability to achieve such a Prodigy-level “feat” was certainly inseparable from his own talent, but the role of that Great Alchemist absolutely could not be ignored!
That Fourth-Rank Alchemist was definitely no ordinary Alchemist!
Once he achieved Fifth-Rank, her Family might truly be saved!
At this moment!
Ai Linna’s confidence in the Great Alchemist behind Chen Zheng surged!
And even without considering that Great Alchemist!
Chen Zheng’s Prodigy-level talent alone was completely worth her gambling on!
If Chen Zheng could achieve First-Rank in a month, perhaps he could achieve Fifth-Rank within ten years?
Anything was possible!
The future was promising!
She leaned against Chen Zheng with a charming expression, cooing, “Good brother, I’ve entrusted everything to you, so you can’t abandon me halfway, can you? Or, perhaps, I should just give myself to you?”
“Farewell!”
Chen Zheng quickly broke free from Ai Linna’s embrace and ran off, his face flushed.
This vixen, he really found her hard to resist!
Watching Chen Zheng flee in disarray, Ai Linna broke into a happy smile, seemingly finding it extremely amusing!
“Oh right! Please keep my becoming a First-Rank Alchemist a secret, Miss Ai, lest those Tian Family fellows cause more trouble. Everything can wait until we reach the Imperial City.”
Chen Zheng returned, said with a serious face, then immediately slipped away.
A moment later, He Lan walked in, looking puzzled: “Young Miss, I saw Young Marquis leave in a hurry. Did the negotiations not go well?”
Ai Linna reined in her smile, shaking her head: “They went well!”
She leaned languidly on her seat, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from her, her entire being seemingly radiating bright light, captivating He Lan.
Ai Linna looked at He Lan: “I remember we still have some businesses in the Imperial City?”
He Lan snapped back to attention, nodding: “We do, but there are too many unsavory characters in a place like the Imperial City, and business couldn’t get off the ground. I’m afraid it’s already been abandoned.”
Ai Linna smiled: “No matter! Send word for the people there to clean up the place, and here in Yan City, those who are willing to come along, bring them. Those who aren’t, give them a severance package. Let’s part on good terms.”
He Lan asked in surprise: “Young Miss is going to the Imperial City?”
Ai Linna nodded: “Hurry and handle it; we’ll depart as soon as possible!”
Given Chen Zheng’s identity, this trip to the Imperial City was bound to be difficult, but it ultimately gave her hope!
…After leaving the Qingge Auction House, Chen Zheng hurried home.
Along the way, he heard passersby on the street discussing the Hunting Competition and knew that he had topped the rankings. He wasn’t surprised by this at all.
In the Hunting Ground, he had killed Demonic Beasts until his Physical Body reached Great Perfection. If he hadn’t been first, that would have been strange!
Entering the Chen Residence, Chen Zheng was about to tell Yang Su the news of his first place in the hunt, to make his mother happy, when he heard an arrogant voice from inside the main hall: “Aunt, Grandfather sent me to visit my cousin. What do you mean by hiding him?”
“What, just because he got first place in the hunt, he’s become arrogant?”
Hearing this voice, Chen Zheng’s figure paused, a hint of Evil Qi entering his eyes, and he quickly picked up his pace.
In the main hall, a young man looked at Yang Su with an impatient expression, his tone very impolite.
“Aunt, that good-for-nothing becoming first in the hunt and joining Xuanlin Academy is nothing special! Our Yang Family doesn’t lack people in Xuanlin Academy, does it?”
“Hurry up and make him come out to see me! When he gets to Xuanlin Academy, perhaps our Yang Family Prodigies can even look out for him a bit.”