Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Alchemist Guild

Morning light streamed through the window, revealing the mess from last night. On the luxurious bed, Wei Meilin’s naked voluptuous, seductive body tried to push itself up, legs still trembling and her body aching, every soreness reminding her of the night before.

When she swung her legs over the bed and stood up, a thin stream of translucent liquid ran down her inner thighs, dripping onto the floor. She froze for a moment, cheeks flushed, feeling the heat still full inside her. Every step made her inside shift, and the wet warmth moving around inside her.

*drip*drip*

With each careful step and sway of her shapely peach, she left a faint, wet trail on the floor, her body still overwhelmed by the night’s pleasure.

She bent down to grab her clothes, fingers still shaking. Dressing was almost impossible, the lingering fullness and stickiness between her thighs made every motion a sharp reminder of what had happened.

Wei Meilin hissed softly as she bent slightly, casting a simple cleansing spell she had learned for convenience. A faint glow washed over her body, clearing the external stickiness. The relief was immediate, though the warm essence inside her remained.

She let out a small sigh, still feeling the fullness pooling inside her.

Once the spell finished, she straightened up and grabbed a brush, running it through her damp hair. Strands clung to her skin, but she worked methodically, tying them back neatly. She checked her reflection briefly, smoothing her robe, trying to shake off the lingering haze of desire.

Finally, Wei Meilin stood ready for the day, her pulse still a little faster than usual. But she pushed the thought aside as there are a lot of business to handle and the auction to attend.

Li Feng stirred awake, blinking against the morning light, and turned his head toward the early rustling sounds. Wei Meilin stood across the room, fully dressed, her posture graceful and composed, as if last night’s chaos had never happened. Her hair was neatly tied back, her robes perfectly arranged, every movement measured and elegant.

Yet, despite her outward poise, Li Feng’s sharp eyes caught a subtle tremble in her legs, the faint, almost imperceptible quiver beneath the silk, betraying her outward compose appearance.

“Morning,” he murmured with a low chuckle, eyes lingering on her.

Wei Meilin noticed him staring and greet him begrudgingly, “Young Master Li… you awake?” she then asked. “I’m planning to bring the pills to the auction house now. What about you?”

She tried adjusting her robes to hide the faint flush creeping over her thighs—but Li Feng noticed anyway.

Li Feng stretched lazily, a smirk widening across his face. “Well, I plan to visit that Alchemy Guild you mentioned.”

Having heard this, Wei Meilin quickly tell him about the location and then hurriedly walk toward the door, as if afraid he might jump on her again.

With a polite nod, she turned and close the door, fully back in her elegant posture, though the slightest tremor in her legs betrayed the storm still lingering from the night before.

Li Feng’s gaze followed her legs subtly as she moved, and once the door shut behind her, he chuckled. “That was a good night’s sleep.” He stand up and begin dressing as well.

When Li Feng came downstairs, he saw Goldie standing silently by the stairs and the clerk already moving about, busily opening the hall. Seeing Li Feng, the clerk’s earlier suspicion was confirmed. He had thought Li Feng might still be here, refining all the pill ingredients he’d brought last night and he couldn’t help but admire his dedication.

“Sir Li, good morning. You must be tired after staying all night refining pills,” the clerk said with a innocent smile.

Li Feng paused for a moment, then replied shamelessly, “Hah… since I have a deal with Madam Wei, she’s been putting me to work hard from day one.”

“Oh, don’t blame Madam, it because she currently has a lot of burden on her shoulder.”, the clerk said, trying to appease and defend his boss.

“Don’t worry, I’m not that short-sighted,” Li Feng said with a sly smile. “Since I agreed to work with Madam Wei, I’ll work hard refining pills day and night!”

The clerk opened his eyes wider in admiration at Sir Li’s dedication, unaware of the true meaning behind Li Feng’s “hard work” day and night.

—-

Li Feng adjusted his robes and stepped out into the morning streets, Goldie silently trailing behind him. The city was waking up, merchants calling out their wares and the clatter of carts on cobblestones filling the air. But Li Feng’s mind was focused elsewhere, anticipating the Alchemy Guild he had never visited.

The guild was located in the eastern district, a grand, imposing building of polished stone and engraved banners that fluttered in the breeze. Its tall, arched windows gleamed with sunlight, and the carved wooden doors bore intricate designs of alchemical symbols, some glowing faintly as if imbued with spiritual energy.

Two statues flanked the entrance, each depicting an alchemist mid-experiment, one holding a bubbling cauldron, the other studying a glowing vial. The air carried a faint hum of energy, a subtle vibration that hinted that there are many cultivators inside.

As they approached, Li Feng noticed a steady stream of people entering and leaving: apprentice carrying pouches of rare herbs, young disciples with bright eyes and eager expressions, and wealthy merchants carefully inspecting the guild’s notice boards. The courtyard was spotless, with neatly trimmed hedges and fountains shaped like serpents coiling around pillars, water glimmering like liquid crystal.

Finally, Li Feng reached a desk at the center of the hall where a young woman with her hair in a tight bun and robes neatly pressed stood. She looked to be around twenty, her expression professional and composed.

Clearing his throat softly, Li Feng leaned forward slightly. “Excuse me… I’m looking for information about joining the guild. Could you assist me?”

The receptionist’s smile was polite but practiced. “Welcome, Sir. Is this your first time here? ”

Li Feng nodded his head, voice calm. “Yes. I would like to understand the requirements and procedure before deciding to join.”

The receptionist nodded before replying with a practiced smile. “Sir, to become a member of the guild, you must at least be a rank 1 alchemist and you will also need to pass an assessment test. Here is a summary of the benefits of joining our guild.” She handed Li Feng a neatly rolled scroll.

Li Feng took the parchment and unrolled it. Most of it was just what Wei Meilin had already told him, but a few extra details caught his eye.

There was something called the Alchemy Billboard, a place where alchemists could post questions or problems, leave their contact information, and offer exchanges or paid assistance. More interestingly, he could even hire an apprentice alchemist to help with his work.

The guild also held classes on alchemy. These apprentices were students still learning the craft, not yet capable of refining even a true Rank 1 pill.

Seeing all of this, He had already decided to join, as the guild imposed very few restrictions on freedom, which suited him perfectly but he asked one final question. “Can a sect disciple join the guild?”

The receptionist smiled, as if she’d answered this question countless times before.

“Sir, anyone can join our guild, even sect disciples, as long as they meet the qualifications.”

Her tone was patient, almost instructional.

“Most sects don’t mind their disciples becoming members, as it can even benefit that disciple alchemy path. Because most sect disciples usually focus on cultivation and strengthening their dao, and not many have enough talent and perseverance to become an alchemist, so most sects rarely invest heavily in alchemy or other specialized fields. At most, they provide just enough for convenience. And joining the guild doesn’t impose any restrictions on their freedom.”

Li Feng nodded his head slightly, absorbing her words. “I see. That makes sense,” he murmured, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He handed the scroll back with a casual motion, though his mind was already calculating the advantages of joining. Freedom, access to rare herbs, the alchemy billboard… this guild could prove useful for more than just credibility.

Goldie remained silent behind him, his presence quiet yet imposing, subtly reminding anyone nearby that Li Feng wasn’t alone. A few passersby glanced their way, curiosity flickering in their eyes for a brief moment before they looked away. In a city full of cultivators, scenes like this barely warranted more than a passing glance, people here had long since grown accustomed to see many more strange encounters.

“All right,” Li Feng said evenly. “I’d like to join. Sign me up.”

“The sign-up assessment will cost one hundred spirit stones,” the receptionist replied with a professional smile.

Li Feng’s brows lifted slightly. The price wasn’t impossible for him to pay, but it was still far from cheap.

Seeing his reaction, she leaned forward slightly and explained, “The fee covers having a Master Alchemist personally judge your assessment, as well as preparing all the ingredients you’ll need.” She didn’t mention the other truth that the guild didn’t bother verifying whether a participant was truly Rank 1 beforehand. The assessment itself would reveal that soon enough. And even if the participant turned out to be a fraud, the guild still profited.

Many overconfident dabblers who barely understood the basics of alchemy believed they could pass as Rank 1… and most of them failed miserably. The guild had turned that overconfidence into a reliable income stream.

“Master Alchemist?” Li Feng tilted his head slightly, curious. He had never heard that title before.

Seeing the faint confusion in his eyes, she patiently explained, “A Master Alchemist is the title given to those who’ve reached Rank 2. Our Master Alchemist is not only highly skilled, but also holds a reputation renowned across the region,” she added, a trace of pride lifting her voice.

Li Feng’s expression grew serious. At first, he had assumed the assessment would be overseen by a Rank 1 alchemist, but a Rank 2… that was another matter entirely. From Wei Meilin’s explanation, he learned that in all of Cloudveil City, there were only two such figures, one belonging to a major family, and the other, most likely, this so-called Master Alchemist.

To be honest, Li Feng is still hesitant about whether to upgrade his alchemy to Rank 2. Firstly, he still doesn’t have the need or ingredients to refine a second-rank pill yet. Secondly, he is afraid that he would stand out too much. He plans to learn a bit more before deciding whether to upgrade now or later.

Li Feng considered this for a moment, then casually give her the spirit stones. “When will the assessment start?”

“You’re in luck, sir,” she said, her smile widening. “We’re just about to begin. Please follow me.” She handed him a small bronze badge engraved with a faint pill-shaped mark, identifying him as a participant.

Li Feng followed her through the guild’s corridors toward an open hall. The faint swish of her robe and the shapely curve of her hips caught his eye, though he still judged her figure as inferior to Wei Meilin’s.

They emerged into a wide open area with a series of tables neatly arranged. At the far end, rows of elevated seats had been set up, already half-filled with spectators.

“Your assessment will be conducted here,” the receptionist explained.

Li Feng glanced toward the crowd. “And who are they?”

“Oh, those are just spectators, some merchants, some influential families hoping to recruit, and a few apprentices looking to gain insight,” she said lightly.

Li Feng chuckled. “The Alchemist Guild is quite generous, letting others watch their assessments.” But her next sentence made him change his mind.

Her lips curled into a sly smile. “Of course we allow them to watch… but they must pay an entrance fee.”

“….” Li Feng’s mouth twitched. So much for generosity, this guild was a business through and through.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep