"Zihao! You are leaving already? Chief guard Han asked Zihao immediately after he saw him leaving.
"No! I want to grab some fresh air, I will be back before you even notice that I am out" Zihao reassured.
"Master Feng won't be happy if he finds out you are not taking your studies seriously but make sure you come back soon" Chief Guard Han advised.
"Chief Han don't worry I won't stay out long" Zihao reassured once more, and he left.
He strolled down to the market, even though the sun had already set. Zihao is determined to make so money or if possible resources to fuel his cultivation. He walks up to a street vendor selling at the entrance of the market.
"Gongzi! Welcome to my shop! I sell the best products in this market. Why don't you take a look around, maybe you will find something that is of interest to you" The Vendor persuaded.
"Where can I make money around here? Zihao asked the vendor.
Seeing how well-dressed the young man before him was, the vendor was confused about how the youth of this generation didn't seem satisfied with the little they had. "Always greedy! The vendor thought to himself.
"Gongzi! There are so many ways to earn money around here, chessboard club, Appraisal, Selling products, and more dangerous fight club" the vendor listed out.
"I will start with a chessboard," Zihao said.
"OK then! The chess club is located on the first floor, a block away from here. You must pay 200 gold coins as a registration fee" the vendor pointed out.
"200 gold! That's daylight robbery! Zihao cried out.
"Gongzi! Are you trying to say that you can't afford 200 gold coins? Who are you? Are you a street thug dressed like a prince looking for someone to steal from? The vendor questioned angrily.
"No! No!! Is not what you think, a group of bandits forcefully made away with my storage ring this evening" Zihao responded."Here is my uncle's identity token, can you lend me gold coins, I will pay you back once I earn more with it" Zihao said as he presented an identity token given to him by Master Feng on their way to the palace.
"I believe this will clear your doubt about my identity," Zihao said as the vendor peeked at the token. He couldn't believe that someone related to an esteemed 1-star Apothecary like Master Feng would be so broke that he couldn't afford 200 gold coins.
"Did you steal it from Master Feng? Because that's what thieves like you do!" the vendor drives his unique battle technique as he prepares to attack Zihao.
Immediately Zihao's consciousness slipped into the Heavenly Qingxi memory box. "What a heck! What's wrong with this fellow? Zihao thought to himself.
Standing at the center of the Qingxi memory box, a profile appeared before him.
Name-Dong Chen
Clan-Dong clan
Battle Technique-Damnation Hand battle technique
Flaws-38
All kinds of flaws are displayed, leaving Zihao more disheveled.
"What's all this nonsense? And who is Dong Chen? Zihao asked. "Ah! Could it be the vendor? Zihao thought to himself.
"Let me give it a try! If I am wrong, I will take the beating wholeheartedly" Zihao decided to take the chance.
On the other hand, the vendor was shocked at how unmoved and composed the young man before him was.
"Could it be that he is related to Apothecary Feng? The vendor asked. "if true, then I must befriend him so that in the future it won't be hard for me to get good pills and also at a discount price" he thought to himself as he withdrew his hands.
"You must be Dong Chen from the Dong clan" Zihao speculated.
"Hmph! There is nothing special about you knowing my name. Even dogs wandering the market know that I am one of the top vendors in the market" Dong Chen dismissed with a wave of his hand.
"How about the blockage at your Tapiang Acupoint? It will incapacitate your cultivation if not treated at any time soon" Zihao advised seeing that the earlier tactics to coax his victim didn't work out, he decided to try out one of the flaws he saw in the Qingxi memory box.
"You!.. How Did you know about my illness?" Dong Chen's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. "Are you are fortune teller or some deity from the upper world?" Dong Chen asked as he trembled intractably. He almost passes out from trepidation.
"Relax! You are thinking too much, how can I be a deity or a fortune teller" Zihao chuckled knowing that he had managed to corner his victim.
"If not a deity! How were you able to tell me about my illness? I have not discussed it with any physician" Dong Chen quivered.
"The blockage prevented you from bringing the full force of the battle technique you displayed. Your execution of the battle technique lacks the disposition of an expert, it's weak " Zihao smiled bitterly as he changed his propensity to that of an expert not concerned with worldly affairs.
Grandmaster! Help me! Dong Chen fell to his knees pleading with the young man before him.
He had tried many physicians in the kingdom but none was able to detect what was wrong with him. How can he let this opportunity slip out of his fingers? "No way! I must do all it takes" Dong Chen thought to himself knowing that his clan would kick him out if he was unable to cultivate.
Grandmaster? Zihao was amazed at how fast his standing transformed from that of a street thug to a Grandmaster in the blink of an eye but decided to remain well-composed.
"I will give you 2 million gold coins if you can cure me," Dong Chen said still kneeling.
"2 million gold coins? Zihao's eyes almost fell out of their sockets. He had not seen or touched such an amount ever since he transcended into this world.
The former owner of the body seems to be a poor lad, he wanted to scream but since he was pretending to be an expert, so he decided against it.
"if this is not enough, I will double it once I am free from my affliction" Dong Chen reassured Zihao as he passed a storage ring over to him.
"Dong Chen is indeed generous," Zihao said as he almost leaped in joy. He immersed his consciousness inside the ring, only to discover a heap of gold coins in a vault-like room, well arranged in 200,000 gold coins per stack, a total of 10 stacks.
"Does it mean that Grandmaster has agreed to my request? Dong Chen questioned agitatedly.
"Of course, I will help you, get me ink and paper so that I can list out the medicine" Zihao instructed. Dong Chen gave him ink and paper.
" A hundred-year sandalwood grass, Red willow bark, and grade 2 vitality pills," Zihao wrote out the requirements on a paper and handed it over to Dong Chen.
"A hundred years sandalwood grass? it will cost half of my fortune, that will be courting poverty" Dong Chen cried out.
"Half of your fortune? How much does it cost? Zihao was shocked to hear that the hundred-year-old grass cost this much.
"100 million gold coins! Dong Chen stuttered.
"This is daylight robbery! Zihao shouted.
"GrandMaster Zihao! We can get a discount if only you become an official Herb Master" Dong Chen said, knowing that it's the only way out.
"Where can I take the examination? Zihao asked.
"Grandmaster Zihao! The examination is not as easy as you think. You must study hard to be able to pass the apprentice level, the examination is no joke" Dong Chen cautioned.
"Why can't you take me there first, I want to give it a try" Zihao urged.
"Grandmaster Zihao since you insisted on giving it a try, I will take you there now" Dong Chen gave up, knowing fully well that he couldn't convince Zihao to give up. He closed his store and they both left.
On this way to Herb Guild, a tavern-looking building appears before them. A well-painted inscription "DEMON ALE GUILD" gleams steadily on the wall of the building.
"Demon Ale Guild? Zihao was shocked to hear the word demon. Are the people inside possessed by demons? He asked again.
"Possessed? Don't tell me you knew nothing about Demon Ale? Dong Chen was stunned. Where did this fellow pop out from, of all things he doesn't have a clue about Demon Ale" Dong Chen thought to himself as he sneaked a peek at the ignorant fellow before him.
Yes, I don't" Zihao answered. We don't have such a thing in my hometown, perhaps you can tell about it" Zihao asked.
"Grandmaster! it's a special brewed wine that aids cultivators on their journey. The Emperor's cultivation stagnated once but with the help of a 2-Star Demon Ale Master from high high-ranked kingdom, the Emperor was able to reach new heights in his cultivation.
"The Ale must be very effective for the Emperor to be able to reach new heights. Zihao asked.
" Oh yes! More than you can ever imagine" Dong Chen replied with a smile on his face.
" I want to give it a shot," Zihao said. He became agitated to give the Demon Ale a try.
"Grandmaster it's very expensive! Why don't we try it out another time" Dong Chen urges Zihao. But before he could say another word Zihao had already walked into the building.
" Reckless!, so reckless!! What did he think he was doing? He is planning to have a good Demon Ale with my hard-earned money. "No way! Dong Chen screamed and ran after him.
The entrance was filled with people, Dong Chen walked up to a female receptionist at the entrance to find out why the guild was having such congestion of people but suddenly a voice sounded in the hall.
"How could you consider this trash of an Ale the best in the kingdom, even a savage beast will die of regret if it tastes this poison of yours.
"Grandmaster Zihao! Dong Chen was shocked as his eyes almost fell out of his sockets.
Arrogant! The crowd mumbles.
"This young man is truly reckless" Dong Chen felt the urge to cry out blood.