Chapter 451
451 Apprentice
Wang Lan brought Li Yuanqing to the South City Branch. After handing him over to Zhao Wuming, he staggered away with the wine gourd.
Li Yuanqing originally thought that Wang Lan would personally bring him to participate in the test of the Alchemy Pavilion until he obtained the qualifications to be an alchemist.
However, who knew that this old man, Wang Lan, would still slack off in the middle and handed Li Yuanqing over. He himself did not know what to do.
Zhao Wuming was a very enthusiastic person. Although Li Yuanqing was only a junior, his cultivation level was so high and his alchemy skills were so superb. Naturally, he was impressed.
He was already a Supremacy at such a young age, and his alchemy foundation was so good. He would definitely improve greatly in alchemy in the future.
“Young friend, I wonder which sect you’re from. It’s really rare. Even the core disciples of those large sects might not have your talent.”
After Wang Lan left, Zhao Wuming prepared spiritual tea for Li Yuanqing. He greeted Li Yuanqing very warmly and even asked about his well-being.
Li Yuanqing took out his old trick again.
He said that he had some opportunities, and his previous master had left him a legacy before he died, so his cultivation speed was a little faster. However, after using more medicine, his foundation was still unstable, and he did not dare to compare with the disciples of large sects.
Zhao Wuming didn’t care about this and said, “That’s because you don’t know. There are also many disciples of those sects whose cultivation are made of medicine. Their spiritual energy isn’t as stable as yours. I see that your spiritual energy is very stable, and your divine sense is strong enough. No wonder your alchemy skills are so outstanding. I believe the old senior has taken a fancy to you.”
The more Zhao Wuming looked at Li Yuanqing, the happier he was.
Not only was Li Yuanqing’s spiritual energy superb, but most importantly, his divine sense was also very, very condensed.
Especially after advancing to the Supremacy realm, his divine sense power had been greatly improved, and it was even much stronger than cultivators of the same level.
However, ever since Li Yuanqing advanced to the Supremacy realm, he did not have the time to refine pills. Zhao Wuming was being wishful.
“Senior, you flatter me. It’s all because Master taught me well. I just learned some skills from Master.”
“Hahaha.” Zhao Wuming was delighted to see that Li Yuanqing was so talented and humble.
“Good, good, good. Since the old senior has handed you over to me, I will do my best to help you with the alchemist evaluation. However, I have to make this clear. Alchemy is the first evaluation. It’s important to you, so you have to seize this opportunity, understand?”
“Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I understand.”
“Since you’re here, you can be an apprentice first and sort the materials here. I’ll teach you some knowledge about materials in the next few days. It’ll be useful for the assessment.”
Zhao Wuming led Li Yuanqing towards the backyard. After passing through this hall, there was a small dark door at the back. Behind the small door was a very vast botanical garden.
This place was filled with greenery and countless bright flowers. There was a strong medicinal fragrance everywhere. As soon as he walked in, he was surrounded by a strange fragrance and felt like his entire body was covered in a layer of medicinal fragrance.
Most of those plants that grew on the shelves in the sky grew very quickly. The light at the top was very bright. Li Yuanqing looked up and found that it was very difficult to distinguish the highest point.
But it had to be at least a hundred feet tall.
Zhao Wuming led Li Yuanqing to the dense botanical garden and walked along the deep and winding path. After making a few turns, the path suddenly opened up.
The open area held a table made of boulders. There were several stone blocks beside the table.
At this moment, a young man in his twenties walked out from another intersection with a bundle of herbs. He was wrapped in a snake-scaled apron and a pair of silver-threaded gloves. In his arms was a bundle of vine branches that looked very messy. That vine had many spikes on it that were shining brightly. It looked very terrifying.
When the man saw Zhao Wuming, he immediately bowed slightly and greeted, “President.”
“Qing He, this is Li Yuanqing, a new disciple. He will be participating in the alchemist assessment in a few days. Take care of him first. If he doesn’t understand anything, help him answer his questions.”
Li Yuanqing nodded slightly at the man, and the young man smiled back at him.
Although this person looked ordinary, he looked very honest and Li Yuanqing had a good impression of him.
“Fellow Daoist Li.”
He originally wanted to call him Junior Brother, but on closer look, he realized that although Li Yuanqing looked young, he was actually a Supremacy. He did not call him Junior Brother.
Although Qing He’s talent was not bad, he was only at the second-stage Formation Arrangement Realm. He was on a different level from Li Yuanqing.
Zhao Wuming smiled and introduced him to Li Yuanqing, “Qing He is very knowledgeable about medicinal herbs. If you have any questions, just ask him. There are still three days until the next assessment. In these three days, you have to learn more and try your best to get a high score.”
Li Yuanqing looked up at Qing He. There was a red epaulet on his shoulder. There was a small black cauldron embroidered on the epaulet. It was the symbol of the Alchemy Pavilion.
In the Alchemy Pavilion, there were a total of nine grades. Alchemists of each grade had their own colors, making it very easy to distinguish them.
For example, the red epaulet on Qinghe’s shoulder represented a second-grade alchemist.
At his age, a second-grade alchemist was already a good result.
“Brother Qing He, just call me Li Yuanqing. There’s no need to be so polite.”
“Fellow Daoist, you look very young. I didn’t expect you to have such a high cultivation level. You’ve really broadened my horizons.”
Qing He was very envious. He glanced at Li Yuanqing and placed the vines in his arms on the table. He asked Zhao Wuming, “President, these Iron Thorn Vines are growing very well.”
“Yes, it does look good. Prepare some samples for Mr. Wenshan later. If he feels that there’s no problem, pluck this batch and hand them all to him. Then, collect the remaining spirit stones. Don’t forget.”
“President, don’t worry. I’ve already discussed it with Mr. Wenshan. The spirit stones are ready at any time. However, Mr. Wenshan said that he still needs some Soul Essence Stones. I wonder if you want to give them to him?”
“Didn’t we prepare so much for him last time? Why isn’t it enough again?”
Zhao Wuming frowned and thought for a while. He waved his hand and said to Qinghe, “Although there are leftovers of Soul Essence Stone in the warehouse, the Dao Discussion will be held in the next few days. The Soul Essence Stone is an important thing, so we naturally have to raise the price.”
Qing He nodded slightly and immediately said, “Mr. Wenshan also said that if there’s any stock, we can leave more for him. The price is negotiable.”
“Then go over there and tell him the shipment is extremely small. It won’t be easy to fight for. Drag it for now. We’ll talk in a few days.”
“Understood.”
As soon as Zhao Wuming finished distributing, something suddenly flickered at his waist. He raised his hand, and an old man’s bust immediately appeared in front of everyone.
“Zhao Wuming, why aren’t you here yet? Everyone has been waiting here for so long. Don’t delay any longer.”
After the old man finished speaking, his figure dissipated into the air.
Zhao Wuming slapped his head and suddenly remembered that there was such an important matter today.
“Look at how I forgot such an important thing.” Zhao Wuming turned to look at Li Yuanqing and said to him guiltily, “Little guy, I still have a very important meeting to attend. Follow Qinghe later and walk in the warehouse at the back. You can come and go as you please here for the next few days. Don’t worry.”
“It’s fine. Senior, if you have something urgent to do, go ahead.”
“But don’t worry. Since I’ve already promised Senior Wang, I’ll definitely take your matter to heart. You just have to remember to stay here and learn.”
With that, Zhao Wuming left in a hurry.
Only Li Yunqing and Qing He were left in the courtyard.
Qing He smiled and nodded at Li Yuanqing. “Fellow Daoist, how many years have you cultivated for? You look so young. You probably used some secret technique, right?”
Li Yuanqing looked at Qing He’s curious expression and wasn’t angry. He just smiled and shook his head. “It’s not a secret technique. It’s just that there are more coincidences, so it’s not worth mentioning.”
“What do you mean by ‘not worth mentioning’? If you’re not worth mentioning, then wouldn’t we mortals be committing suicide?”
After saying that, Qing He became a little more friendly with Li Yuanqing. He smiled and nodded at Li Yuanqing. “The president is always busy with many things. I’m afraid you’ll have to follow me for the next few days. But don’t worry, as long as I’m free, I’ll tell you everything I know.”
“I heard the president mention the Dao Discussion just now. I wonder what kind of meeting it is. It sounds like a very big event?”
When Li Yuanqing heard the name of the Dao Discussion just now, he immediately remembered it carefully in his heart. Only then could he finally not hold back and ask.
Qing He didn’t hide anything and replied directly, “This Dao Discussion is a once-in-a-decade event in Tianyun City. The Dao Discussion involves various fields of cultivators. As long as there’s a Dao to discuss, there will be a branch arena. The most important ones are naturally the arena matches that compete in martial strength, the alchemy competition, and the weapon refinement competition. The other small ones are not worth mentioning.”
“When will this event be held?”
“Seven days from now.”
“It still sounds interesting.”
Qing He also smiled very happily and said, “This Dao Discussion is a once-in-a-decade event. Of course it’s interesting. Fellow Daoist, you can follow me to that venue and take a good look. There are many strange things there.”
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
“What’s so troublesome about that? Anyway, everyone will be going to Tianyun City. It will be much more lively with one more person.” When Qi He talked about the Dao Discussion, he became much more talkative. He looked at Li Yuanqing curiously and asked, “Fellow Daoist, where do you cultivate? Have you never been to Tianyun City before? Why haven’t you heard about the Dao Discussion?”
Li Yuanqing shook his head helplessly and said, “In the past, I stayed in the wilderness. Later on, Master passed away, and I didn’t have the chance to go elsewhere to cultivate, so I cultivated by myself. As a result, I didn’t come into contact with much of the outside world. I’m quite ignorant.”
“I see. I’ve never seen anyone like you.” Qing He looked at Li Yuanqing in admiration. “To be able to cultivate for so many years, your temperament is definitely not something ordinary people can compare to. Brother, you’re really a talented person.”
“It’s just a coincidence. By the way, didn’t the president say that there’s a warehouse at the back to observe? Then let’s go take a look now.”
“Look at me, I was so engrossed in chatting with you that I forgot about the important matters. When the president comes back later, you can’t complain about me.”
Qing He made a face at Li Yuanqing, then called him and walked towards the stone door at the back.
He took out his token and waved it casually in front of the stone door. It opened.
If the medicinal herbs outside had a strong fragrance, then after the stone door was opened, the medicinal herbs in the warehouse were filled with a very strong dry fragrance.
The dry fragrance was very restrained because most of them were sealed in boxes. However, the smell was still attractive enough.
The warehouse at the back was also very wide. At a glance, there were a few rows of very wide shelves in front of them. Those shelves were filled with all kinds of medicinal herbs. They were placed in a dazzling array that was too much for the eyes to take in.
Each medicinal herb was controlled by a very small area. These areas were small formations.
These array formations protected the medicinal herbs below very well, preventing their fragrance from escaping.
Every shelf was long and extended to the very back. Once they entered, it was difficult to see where the end of the shelf disappeared.
There were at least sixty or seventy floors from the bottom up.
“Fellow Daoist Li… I’ll call you Brother Li,” Qing He said. “This warehouse is an important place. Ordinary apprentices are not allowed to come here easily. The president has high hopes for you.”
Li Yuanqing also answered, “The president is indeed a very good person. It can be seen that he is quite concerned about the apprentices below.”
“Of course. If not for the president’s kindness, he wouldn’t have stayed in the South City Branch for so many years.”
Qing He waved his hand as if he was saying something he shouldn’t and smiled self-deprecatingly.
“Let’s not talk about this anymore. I have a book here. Take a good look at it.”
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