Five minutes later, they stepped through the alchemy union’s open doors.
Thick dicinal scents rged in the air, creating an olfactory experience that sent their minds wandering into unexplored territories. The soft crackling of fires added to the sense of wonder as their wide eyes scanned the scene.
Displays rose from the white ground. Inside their protective glasses case, Adam saw neatly arranged plants sparkle with vitality.
He tucked his fingers around his chin. More than vitality, he felt through his bones that their ti had stopped a second before their death.
’Is this the cultivators’ conservation thod?’
His eyes darted to the circular reception in the middle, where a young lady was rolling her eyes and sighing behind her counter, and the two discussing n.
But before he went to them, he smiled at Misha and hugged her.
"You don’t have to accompany , big sis. Have so fun exploring the place while I register." He pulled back, gazing into her sparkling gold eyes. "I won’t leave until you return."
Misha fidgeted with her fingers, whispering her answer.
"Are you sure? I don’t want to have fun when you’re stuck with boring matters."
He chuckled and gestured to the door. "I bet you’ll return before I feel ti has passed." His smile broadened to reach his eyes. "After all, I love alchemy."
He had tried to share his passion for crafting with her over the past few years.
However, she always rolled her eyes at him and pointed to the forest with an adventurous smile.
anwhile, Misha nodded, retrieved her jade card, and handed it to him.
"Use my sect points to buy materials, at least." Her eyes narrowed, and she raised a finger to cut him off. "I’m not leaving if you refuse!"
His shoulders slumped in defeat as he took the card and sighed.
Before he could thank her, she waved her hand and rushed out, leaving a final sentence behind.
"I’ll see Elder Xu Fei to find a decent mission we can carry together. See you later, Adam."
A warm sensation spread around his chest as his eyes darted between her small back and her smooth card.
His lips curled up, and his heart raced against his chest as he rembered all her kind intentions, how she always shared everything with him, and the boundless affection she showered him with.
"Thank you, Misha." He turned to the counter, his eyes narrowing as he branded a vow that overtook any other in importance into his soul. "We’ll always stay together."
Then, he took determined steps toward the young lady behind the counter. No older than twenty, she wore a rough robe adorned with a bronze star on her chest.
As he approached, her dull, dark eyes lit up and the palm supporting her cheek rose in a welcoming gesture. She leaned forward, a bright smile enlivening her bored face before her eager voice echoed.
"Hello, young disciple! Did you co to buy our union’s pills, or does your master need materials?" She clapped her hands loud enough to overpower the two n’s discussion. "Big sister i i will do her best to help such a handso little brother."
He scratched his head at her warm and playful welco before he placed his jade card on the counter.
"I ca to register as an alchemist. Here is my inner disciple’s card."
"Tsk."
One of the n clicked his tongue, interrupting the lady before she could answer.
Without warning, he picked the card up. "You’re still wet behind the ears but want to beco an alchemist?" He threw it towards the entrance and sneered in ridicule. "Try cooking first. Maybe you’ll discover a passion for it."
Adam’s eyes narrowed into fiery slits as his card clanged with the ground. His knuckles whitened, and his jaw clenched for a second.
Yet, he sighed and went to pick it up.
’It’s not worth it, and my age makes things harder,’ he reminded himself as he clenched his trembling hand to dissolve his anger.
After returning and without gazing at the man, he pushed his card into the lady’s hand.
"What must I do to register?"
However, i i stepped back and sighed, her sparkling eyes dimming.
"You’re too young, little brother. You must concoct a tier-one pill under a three-star alchemist’s supervision. He’ll assess your technique and the final result." Her voice hardened and echoed louder. "Alchemy isn’t a ga! We study for years to ensure our products are as perfect as possible to avoid poisoning our custors!"
The sa man stepped up and pointed at the three silver stars adorning his immaculate robes.
"Want to supervise your test?" He placed his palm over his mouth, his voice resounding with fake care. "She didn’t ntion it yet, but to avoid wasting ti on arrogant fools, each participant must pay ten sect points to take the test."
The last man nodded and joined the conversation.
"There is indeed such a rule, but we implented it to cover the material costs and damage inexperienced disciples will create." He picked up his jade card from i i’s hands and returned it to him with a smile. "Save your points to buy books and materials. Train and co back after a few years. I’m sure we’ll welco a new alchemist by then."
Adam’s lips twitched at the situation’s ridiculousness as he noticed the five stars on this middle-aged man’s chest.
’I can teach alchemy to all of you, bunch of amateurs.’
Despite his confidence and the first man’s mocking laughter granting at his ears, he remained calm and clasped his fists to thank them.
"I’ll take the test now. Thank you for supervising it, seniors."
The second man frowned while the first slapped the counter in amusent and pointed to a side room.
"Co on, Zhong Fei. We warned him enough. Now I only want to see his desperate face after he loses his hard-earned points."
Zhong Fei nodded, his gentle expression tensing and his ponytail fluttering with the movent.
"I guess so only learn through pain and losses." He walked towards the room, continuing. "We used gentleness and force to dissuade you, but you remained deaf. Don’t bla us after you fail."
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