NABC Chapter 417: Alchemists Association (5)
Chapter 417: Alchemists Association (5)
’Discount.’
’That is the most important thing right now.’
’If I can buy herbs more cheaply, I can refine more pills. If I can refine more pills, I can sell more. If I can sell more, I can buy more techniques. And so on.’
"So registered alchemists buy herbs at lower prices?" he immediately asked, his voice still calm, but his eyes attentive.
Lio Han almost laughed. The change of topic was so abrupt, so practical.
Then he nodded.
"Yes."
"And they also receive better prices when selling pills, reduced commission fees, and preferential rates in negotiations with the association."
Kyrian did not need to think for long.
"That is useful. Very useful."
"Can I take the test here?" he asked directly.
Lio Han nodded, a calm gesture, as though he had already expected the question.
"The Alchemists Association of the Sky Caravan is an independent organization in many aspects. We have our own supply chains, our own evaluators, and our own inventories."
"But we still belong to the Hall of a Thousand Herbs, the parent organization, the one that controls certification throughout the continent."
Kyrian’s eyes narrowed.
"Hall of a Thousand Herbs?"
"A top-tier force present across the five great regions."
Lio Han explained, his voice carrying a respect that Kyrian had not heard before, the respect of someone speaking about his superiors.
"It controls virtually the entire alchemist certification system on the continent. If you want to be recognized as an alchemist, regardless of which region you are in, it is the Hall of a Thousand Herbs that grants that recognition."
"We have branches in every major city. From the Northern Region to the Southern Region, from East to West."
Kyrian was genuinely surprised.
’An organization present in every region.’
’That is impressive. Far beyond what I imagined.’
Alchemists were extremely important. Far more important than ordinary cultivators imagined.
A single pill could save a life during critical moments, when meridians were damaged, when a core was cracked, when death seemed inevitable.
A single pill could change the outcome of a battle, restoring a specialist’s Qi at the decisive moment, allowing them to fight longer and with greater strength.
A single pill could accelerate decades of cultivation, breaking through barriers that would naturally require years to overcome.
Naturally, those who controlled certification also controlled the alchemists.
And those who controlled the alchemists...
Controlled one of the greatest sources of power in the world.
After a few seconds of reflection, processing the information, weighing the advantages and disadvantages, and calculating the long-term benefits, Kyrian made his decision.
"I want to take the test."
Lio Han nodded.
"What rank?"
"Rank 5."
The answer came without hesitation. Without a doubt. Without uncertainty.
Lio Han observed the young man for several moments.
Trying to find signs of arrogance. Or exaggeration. Or madness.
But he found nothing. Kyrian simply seemed... confident.
Like someone stating something he considered obvious, not out of pride, but out of certainty.
’Who is this young man?’ Lio Han wondered.
’And how did someone so young learn to refine pills at this level?’
Finally, after a long silence, during which his eyes searched Kyrian’s face as though looking for answers, Lio Han stood up.
"I will prepare the examination. Today."
His voice carried a determination that had not been there before.
Kyrian nodded, satisfied.
Then he began collecting all the bottles, carefully storing them inside his spatial ring, organizing them by rank and type.
Lio Han raised an eyebrow.
"You are not going to sell them?"
"Later."
Kyrian stored the last bottle, the black jade one containing his Rank 5 pills.
"First I want the badge."
The logic made sense.
If there were discounts and benefits, if registered alchemists received better prices when selling pills and reduced prices when purchasing materials, then it would be more advantageous to sell after certification.
Why sell now as an ordinary visitor if he could sell later as a recognized alchemist?
Lio Han agreed with a brief but sincere nod.
"Wise."
He walked toward the door, his steps slow and contemplative, as though he were already planning the next stages.
"I will arrange everything. It should not take long."
Kyrian nodded.
The door closed behind him.
The sound of the latch echoed through the wood-and-metal mechanism.
And silence returned to the room.
Seated in the comfortable armchair, velvety, soft, perfectly fitted to his body, observing the city through the enormous crystal-clear window...
Kyrian simply waited.
The people below, a constant flow of cultivators, merchants, and families, continued their lives as though nothing extraordinary was happening.
Kyrian took another sip of his spiritual tea while waiting for Lio Han to return.
...
It did not take long. About ten minutes after Lio Han left the room, three soft knocks echoed against the door.
The sound was discreet but firm, enough to break the silence without being abrupt.
Kyrian opened his eyes.
"Come in."
The door opened. Lio Han entered calmly, his hands hidden within the wide sleeves of his robe. His footsteps were silent against the marble floor, his expression as serene as before.
"The examination is ready."
Kyrian rose from the armchair in one fluid motion.
"Let’s go."
Lio Han nodded. Without wasting time, the two left the private room.
The journey was not long.
They were still on the third floor of the Alchemists Association. Kyrian recognized the corridors, the dark wooden walls, the panels decorated with engravings of rare herbs, and the luminous formations spreading a soft and diffuse light.
But as they advanced, Kyrian realized that this area was far more secluded than the previous ones.
There was practically no traffic.
Very few people moved through the area, perhaps one or two servants carrying materials, an elderly man in a hurry who passed them without looking. None of the ordinary visitors who crowded the lower floors.
The walls were covered with polished dark wood panels, so dark that they appeared almost black from certain angles. The panels were decorated with engravings of extremely rare spiritual herbs, some that Kyrian recognized from books and others he had never seen before.
Small luminous formations embedded in the ceiling, circles of white jade emitting a soft and diffuse glow, spread uniform illumination throughout the area, without shadows, without blind spots.
The air carried a pleasant aroma.
A subtle mixture of medicinal herbs, earthy and fresh notes, aged wood, a dry and stable scent, and incense, something sweet and deep, like sandalwood or cedar.