All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 101: Soaring Over Rosy Valley (2)

This was the first time Zhanyue had seen such a standard Daoist attire. Just that this person sought him out for no apparent reason, making him somewhat alert.

“May I ask who you are?” Zhanyue asked politely.

“This poor Daoist has no name. You can call me Alchemy Daoist.” That young Daoist replied, his face always carrying a hint of an affable smile.

“Alchemy Daoist?” Zhanyue’s heart thudded. Could this person have some relation to Golden Pill Elder?

“Naturally, you don’t know me, but it knows me.” The Daoist pointed to that string of beads on Zhanyue’s wrist. Those beads instantly lit up, emitting a scorching aura.

Zhanyue’s eyes widened. He had nearly forgotten about this matter. After all, that old monk only gave him a string of Buddha beads and didn’t say where to go or who to find. It was completely up to fate. From the initial anticipation to now, he had almost forgotten about it.

“You… you are the person mentioned by that senior monk? An eighth… eighth-grade alchemy grandmaster?” Zhanyue was a bit excited. If what that ascetic monk said was true, then the Daoist standing before him was an eighth-grade alchemist! You should know, even the four great families of alchemy who had fame throughout the world only had seventh-grade alchemists holding the fort. The heads of the four major business associations that controlled the world’s commerce had to be very polite when seeing an eighth-grade alchemist.

“Mm, I’m an eighth-grade alchemist. What are you excited for?” Alchemy Daoist pouted. The eighth grade was an extremely high achievement for outsiders, but for him, it wasn’t worth much because he could already refine ninth-grade pills. He was the only ninth-grade alchemist in the world. It was just that no one knew about this. Even that ascetic monk still thought he was at the eighth grade.

“Um…” Zhanyue didn’t expect Alchemy Daoist to react this way. “I also study the Alchemy Daoist, but I’m only a fourth-grade alchemist. Seeing a senior naturally makes me excited.”

“No guts.” Alchemy Daoist said, “Just an eighth-grade alchemist. Being able to refine eighth-grade pills isn’t much skill. What, not inviting me in to sit? Just chatting at the door?”

Only then did Zhanyue notice his lack of manners and hurriedly invited Alchemy Daoist into the room.

Alchemy Daoist sat on the stool, his eyes once again sizing up Zhanyue. He asked, “So, what request do you have? According to my agreement with that old baldy, you can make one request, but whether I agree or not depends on my mood. You can ask me to refine an eighth-grade pill for you, or give you an eighth-grade pill formula, or teach you some alchemy techniques. All of that is no problem.”

Zhanyue calmed his excitement a bit and pondered what request he should make. Then his eyes lit up. Perhaps this Alchemy Daoist could solve his current predicament.

“Senior, I want to ask senior to take in a disciple.” Zhanyue said.

“Take in a disciple?” Alchemy Daoist furrowed his brows. “If you have talent in alchemy, I might consider it. But taking in a disciple involves too much karmic entanglement. I’m used to being carefree. Don’t have too high expectations.”

“No no no.” Zhanyue explained, “I don’t hope for senior to take me as a disciple, but to take… take a friend of mine as a disciple.”

“Hm?” Alchemy Daoist looked at Zhanyue in puzzlement. Wasn’t he a fourth-grade alchemist himself? Why have him go take someone else as a disciple?

“A friend of mine has alchemy talent far surpassing mine. A few years younger than me and already a fifth-grade alchemist. Senior, take a look at these two things.” Zhanyue took out a fifth-grade pill refined by Baizhi and a self-developed fourth-grade pill.

Alchemy Daoist glanced at them and nodded. “That’s right. Your friend is indeed an alchemy genius seen once in a thousand years.” His spiritual sense swept over the pills and he already made a judgment. “But, I don’t take in disciples.”

“Huh?” Zhanyue furrowed his brows. He originally wanted to find a backer for Baizhi. Her problem would naturally be easily solved. But this senior seemed not to be so easily dealt with. “Didn’t senior say you could consider it before?”

Alchemy Daoist explained, “If that person was you, I could consider it. If it’s someone else, no matter what kind of genius they are, I won’t consider it. You obtained the Buddha beads, so you naturally have a fated connection with me. The karmic ties already exist, so I don’t mind taking you as a disciple. But for others, forget it. Taking in a disciple involves too much karmic entanglement. You don’t understand this matter.”

Zhanyue was pondering. If he appeared with the identity of Alchemy Daoist’s disciple, could he solve Baizhi’s problem? However, he shook his head. At a glance, Alchemy Daoist was a secluded expert. He didn’t even want to get involved in karmic entanglements, so how would he meddle in these matters?

“What? Very disappointed? Who is that friend of yours?” Alchemy Daoist asked curiously.

“Oh, just a friend.” Zhanyue replied.

“A woman?” Alchemy Daoist asked again.

“Mm.” Zhanyue nodded truthfully.

Alchemy Daoist showed an expression of ‘as expected’. Then he asked again, “Why do you want me to take her as a disciple so much? With her talent, she doesn’t need to rely on an eighth-grade alchemist like me and will still have extraordinary accomplishments. She already likes to develop pills herself, so naturally she will have her own path.”

Zhanyue thought for a bit. Perhaps there was no need to conceal this matter from this senior, so he laid out Baizhi’s situation in full.

Alchemy Daoist laughed loudly, “Using such a genius to exchange for an eighth-grade pill formula? Looks like poverty has limited their imagination. Kid, you want to borrow my prestige to let your little lover get rid of that so-called Golden Pill Elder, right? Do you know why there are only three eighth-grade alchemy grandmasters in the world and not four? Because outsiders don’t know about my existence at all. You wouldn’t be wanting me to expose myself for your little lover, right? Don’t even think about it. The more people who know me, the more likely I might be noticed by ‘it’.”

“This…” Zhanyue knew this expert in front of him probably really wouldn’t meddle in this matter.

“But since you took the old monk’s Buddha beads and made a request, I naturally won’t ignore it. Right, do you have any eighth-grade pill formulas on you?” Alchemy Daoist asked.

“Eighth-grade pill formulas? I indeed have one.” Zhanyue nodded.

Alchemy Daoist smiled and said, “That’s good. This eighth-grade pill formula plus my reputation should be enough. I’ll take you to see someone. To solve your little lover’s matter, her stepping forward is much more useful than me.”

“This?” Zhanyue’s eyes lit up. Since Alchemy Daoist had said so, he also felt at ease. Letting Baizhi be free through other methods was best. Having the illumination Goddess take action was ultimately the worst choice. After all, Zhanyue also didn’t want Baizhi to leave her hometown.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you there. This airship is too slow. Who knows what year or month it would take to reach the Thousand Charms Empire.” Alchemy Daoist said.

“That senior is also in the Thousand Charms Empire?” Zhanyue asked.

“Exactly. I was also just thinking of going to the Thousand Charms Empire. Perhaps I should bid farewell to some old friends… sigh…” Alchemy Daoist’s tone was a bit melancholic.

Then Alchemy Daoist was seen grabbing Zhanyue and leaving the room. Finding a place with no one around, Alchemy Daoist summoned a flying sword. That flying sword enlarged, like a small flying boat. Then he carried Zhanyue and stepped on the sword, instantly flying across Sunset Rosy Valley.

“Flying on a sword!” Zhanyue widened his eyes.