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Arriving at the Alchemist Guild, Long Chen headed straight to Great Master Yun Qi's Pill Refining Room, but just as he entered the Inner Courtyard, he was blocked.

The Alchemist Guild is divided into an Inner Courtyard and an Outer Courtyard. The Outer Courtyard is open to the Empire for assistance, including the assessment for Alchemist qualifications.

The Inner Courtyard, however, is the place for the Alchemist Guild's internal activities. The last time Long Chen entered the Inner Courtyard for testing, he was led in by Great Master Yun Qi, so naturally, he was not stopped.

"The Inner Courtyard of the Guild is off-limits to idlers."

Guarding the gate was a youth who looked about the same age as Long Chen, dressed in an apothecary apprentice's uniform, looking at Long Chen with an arrogant expression.

Long Chen smiled slightly, reached out, and flashed his Nameplate. To the shock of that apprentice, he walked into the Inner Courtyard.

Seeing the apprentice's originally arrogant expression turn into shock, Long Chen couldn't help but feel a little smug.

It seemed that he had been suppressed for too long. Now that he had finally achieved a little success, he began to indulge his own private desires. However, he secretly warned himself that he didn't have time to be smug over such trivial matters.

Just as he entered the Inner Courtyard, Long Chen couldn't help but slap his forehead. He had been too busy feeling smug and forgot to ask if Great Master Yun Qi was actually in the Inner Courtyard. If he wasn't here, wouldn't he have come for nothing?

While regretting this, a young girl suddenly walked by. Without thinking, Long Chen blocked her and asked, "Miss, may I ask where Great Master Yun Qi is?"

The girl had been walking with her head down, and when she was suddenly blocked, her expression turned displeased. Looking up to see a frail-looking youth staring at her, she couldn't help but say coldly, "What business do you have with Great Master Yun Qi?"

Long Chen was slightly stunned. The girl was very pretty. Although she couldn't compare to Chu Yao or Meng Qi, she could still be considered a one-in-a-thousand beauty.

However, although she was good-looking, the way she looked at people made one feel somewhat uncomfortable. She had the air of someone who thought everyone was a bad person, and an unhidden pride floated in her eyes.

"I only wish to know the location of Great Master Yun Qi. Please inform me, Miss." Although Long Chen was displeased, out of politeness, he still asked gently.

"Who exactly are you? Why do you want to see Great Master Yun Qi?" the woman asked, looking at Long Chen with vigilance.

Being given an answer that didn't address his question twice in a row, Long Chen shook his head, ignored the woman, and walked straight inside to see if he could find someone else to ask.

"Hey, I'm asking you a question. Why are you so boorish?" Seeing that she had asked Long Chen twice and he hadn't answered, the woman couldn't help but scold him angrily.

Long Chen had only walked a few steps when he looked back at the woman and said, "You're here to see a doctor, right?"

"What?" The woman was stunned.

"If you're sick in the head, don't run around."

Long Chen snorted coldly and was about to leave when a sudden gust of wind struck, heading straight for his back, accompanied by an angry shout.

"You're courting death, brat!"

Long Chen was secretly startled. The girl looked slender, but that palm strike whistled with wind, making his breathing somewhat difficult. He hadn't expected the girl to be a Peak Qi Gathering expert.

Furthermore, her palm was imbued with extremely powerful force. Currently, Long Chen's spiritual energy was hidden within his Fengfu Star, making him look like a weak scholar.

Even an average Qi Gathering expert would be seriously injured if hit by that palm. If he were truly an ordinary person, he might have been killed by that strike. She had acted so ruthlessly for no reason.

"Scram!"

Long Chen was already full of anger. Now, seeing the woman launch a vicious attack, he could no longer suppress it and kicked out.

Bang!

Before the woman's palm could touch Long Chen's body, she was kicked in the lower abdomen by Long Chen's foot and sent flying.

"Clatter!"

The woman flew more than two zhang away and crashed into a rack used for drying medicinal herbs, knocking the two-zhang-tall rack over. The medicinal herbs poured down like water, immediately burying the woman.

"Boom!"

With an explosive sound, medicinal herbs splattered everywhere. The woman rushed out from the pile of herbs, her hair disheveled and covered in fine medicinal powder, looking extremely disheveled.

"Go to hell!"

The woman's eyes were full of fury. With a roar, her aura erupted, her palms condensed, and a golden ripple appeared in her palms as she pounced on Long Chen.

Looking at the woman acting like a shrew, Long Chen cursed his bad luck. He hadn't checked his fortune before going out today; how could he have encountered a lunatic?

This palm strike clearly used a battle skill, and its power was strong. It was obvious she wanted his life. Long Chen's expression turned cold.

He possessed the Soul of a Pill Emperor and also had some rough combat experience. However, this so-called 'rough' was only in comparison to a Pill Emperor.

Now, the people Long Chen encountered were just small fries. For him, this rough experience was no different from a divine skill, and dealing with them was a piece of cake.

Long Chen's kick just now hadn't been infused with spiritual energy, which was why the woman hadn't been injured. Yet, the woman didn't think of gratitude and instead wanted to kill him.

Long Chen's eyes turned cold, and a killing intent slowly condensed. Looking at the woman pouncing towards him, although he wouldn't kill her, if she dared to pounce over, he wouldn't mind giving her a memory she would never forget.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, a cold shout came. The woman, who had been acting like a madwoman, stood still as if she had been acupointed, not daring to move.

"Master!"

The woman hurriedly said respectfully.

The person who came was none other than Great Master Yun Qi. Long Chen was also startled. No way, this crazy woman was actually his Disciple?

Great Master Yun Qi shook his head and said, "I have said that I, Yun Qi, will not take on any Disciples in my life. It is useless for you to pester me here."

"Master, as a weak woman, I have traveled thousands of miles just to learn Alchemy from you. I have been in the Guild for three months. Is my sincerity not enough?" the woman said with some grievance.

"Go back to where you came from," Great Master Yun Qi said indifferently, unmoved.

"No, I won't leave. If you don't accept me for a day, I will guard this place every day until you accept me," the woman said stubbornly.

"As you wish. However, remember, the use of force is not allowed in my Guild. If there is a next time, I will expel you," Yun Qi said coldly.

After speaking, he said to Long Chen, "Follow me."

Long Chen was momentarily stunned. This crazy woman actually wanted to learn Alchemy from Yun Qi, but Yun Qi was completely unmoved.

Looking at the woman's venomous gaze, Long Chen suddenly realized that this woman must have mistakenly thought that he was also someone trying to become Yun Qi's Disciple, which was why she had interrogated him like that.

Glancing at the woman, Long Chen shook his head. Who would dare to accept such a Disciple? He slowly followed behind Great Master Yun Qi into a small house in the Inner Courtyard.

Entering the house, Long Chen hurriedly bowed and said, "I am sorry, I was reckless today."

Yun Qi smiled slightly and said, "It does not matter. This matter is not your fault; I saw the whole thing."

"However, you have truly shocked me. You were able to kick a Peak Qi Gathering expert flying without using any spiritual energy."

"And I can see that you didn't even use half of your strength; otherwise, that girl would definitely have been seriously injured. Kid, you are hiding very deeply."

Long Chen felt a jolt in his heart. It seemed he had underestimated Great Master Yun Qi. Indeed, an old fox is still a fox. For a moment, he didn't know how to answer.

"Child, everyone has their own secrets. That is nothing. However, one cannot be distracted. Otherwise, it is a pity to waste such good talent," Great Master Yun Qi said meaningfully.

Long Chen's heart stirred. Great Master Yun Qi was giving him advice, hoping that he would focus on practicing the Dao of Alchemy.

"Thank you for your guidance, Great Master. Long Chen understands."

Regardless of anything else, Great Master Yun Qi had good intentions. Whether he listened or not, he accepted this kindness.

"I heard that yesterday, you killed a half-step Blood Condensation expert with three strikes. Is that true?" Great Master Yun Qi asked.

"Yes, that is true," Long Chen could only nod and say, while feeling some doubt in his heart. At the time, the surroundings were sealed off by soldiers; logically, others shouldn't have known about this.

As if seeing Long Chen's doubt, Great Master Yun Qi smiled and said, "Yesterday, people from the Imperial family probed me, asking if the Guild had an Alchemist named Long Chen. I answered yes. I also said that you are my student, and then they had no more news."

Long Chen couldn't help but be stunned. Great Master Yun Qi, who had always refused to accept him as a Disciple, actually acknowledged it at this moment. He couldn't help but feel moved: "Thank you, Teacher."

"Hehe, actually it is nothing. While my reputation still has some value, let's make good use of it. Besides, a student is different from a Disciple," Great Master Yun Qi smiled indifferently.

Although it was just a small effort for Great Master Yun Qi, it was a huge favor for Long Chen.

With Great Master Yun Qi as his backer, he effectively had a huge trump card, and his spine would be much stiffer.

"Child, I have learned a little about your situation. The Guild has its rules and cannot interfere in worldly disputes. This is all I can do to help you," Great Master Yun Qi sighed and said.

"Great Master, you have done so much for me, I am already deeply grateful. As for worldly matters, leave them to a worldly person like me," Long Chen smiled.

Now that he had Great Master Yun Qi's reputation, his actions would be much more convenient, and the safety of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion would also be much improved.

Although the Alchemist Guild would not interfere in worldly disputes, as long as Long Chen did not truly get involved, he would still be protected by the Alchemist Guild.

When Long Chen had his own strength and no longer needed the protection of the Alchemist Guild, he could unravel those layers of mist himself.

Although he already had some clues, he didn't dare to act now. Maintaining the status quo was the best choice.

"What is your purpose for coming this time?" Yun Qi asked.

Long Chen then remembered his real business: "It is like this: I would like to purchase some medicinal herbs from the Guild on credit, and I will return them after I finish Alchemy."

It is common for Alchemists to draw a portion of medicinal herbs from the Guild and pay them back with Medicinal Pills in the future. For both the Alchemist and the Guild, this is a very good choice.

And since Long Chen possessed the Alchemist Guild's Nameplate, while enjoying the discount on medicinal herbs, he also had the obligation to prioritize selling the Medicinal Pills he refined to the Guild. When the Nameplate was issued, both parties had signed an agreement.

"You can start Alchemy?" Yun Qi asked, somewhat surprised.

"I would also like to ask for your guidance, Teacher," Long Chen smiled slightly, but his smile was full of confidence.