CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 78: MUTATION

"Really? That’s great!"

Li An’s face also showed excitement and joy.

"Yes, I asked my master three times, and only then did he agree..."

"Brother Luo, you’ve worked hard!"

"Brother Wei, my master is very busy, have you prepared all the materials? If so, we can start the alchemy process soon."

Luo Yong asked.

Li An hesitated and said, "Well... we might need to ask Master Zhang to wait a bit longer, some ingredients are probably still missing."

Luo Yong said, "The rest are easy to buy, mainly the Purple Soul Herbs and Fire Spirit Fruit, or their substitutes, have you gathered them?"

"That... I’m not too sure, Brother Luo, as you know, the herbs aren’t with me. I’ll have to ask a friend. But don’t worry, I’ll find out right away."

Brother Luo’s heart turned cold; Wei Ming was truly as slick as a ghost, giving away nothing...

"It’s fine, Brother Wei, I have some good news for you: in half a month, the Treasure Pavilion is holding an auction. You can buy any missing herbs there..."

The news he gave was consistent with what Manman said.

However, he didn’t tell Li An that someone was collecting Purple Soul Herbs.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, and then Luo Yong stood up to leave.

Li An took out two pieces of parchment to give him.

Luo Yong still took them but noticed that today he seemed much less excited than usual.

...

After sending him off, Li An began to ponder.

Luo Yong was acting very unusual today!

Previously, Luo Yong and Li An’s interactions mostly revolved around the cultivation of alchemy, with his desires almost entirely focused on Li An’s Second Grade alchemy inheritance.

But today, he asked little about Li An’s Second Grade inheritance and was more concerned about the herbs Li An was preparing.

When leaving, his reaction to the parchment Li An gave him was too indifferent!

Someone originally craving the Second Grade alchemy inheritance so badly suddenly loses interest, why?

There are only two possibilities.

First, he already got it, so he doesn’t care.

Second, he knows that Li An can’t give him what he wants and already knows Li An’s cards!

After all, although Li An had been teasing him, the Second Grade alchemy inheritance Li An possessed was actually incomplete.

Li An figured that it was unlikely Luo Yong suddenly obtained the Second Grade inheritance.

So it must be the latter!

Luo Yong wouldn’t have the insight to see this; the only possibility is... Luo Yong showed Li An’s stuff to Zhang Deyi, and that’s how Zhang Deyi saw through it?

Li An frowned slightly.

He had considered this possibility before.

However, based on his past life’s experience, unless it’s a Third Grade Alchemist, it’s impossible to discern such things from the part he gave...

According to previous information, Zhang Deyi was taught by Gusongxi, so Li An estimated him to be just a Second Grade Alchemist!

It seems that this person must have had other fortuitous encounters.

No wonder Gu Hong and Gusongxi are far from living as well as he is.

Li An couldn’t help but sigh; man’s plans can never match up to destiny. How could he have predicted that Zhang Deyi had a more profound knowledge than a Second Grade Alchemist?

However, getting caught on the Second Grade alchemy inheritance issue is not the main worry.

Li An’s concern was that Luo Yong was interested in his herbs...

Taking into account Manman’s hint...

"Luo Yong and his master are unreliable!"

He came to a direct conclusion.

Given Zhang Deyi’s suspected Third Grade alchemist knowledge and skills, just based on this, Li An couldn’t approach him anymore.

"If my assumption is correct, then Luo Yong’s target should be the Purple Soul Herbs in my possession?"

He pondered and suddenly took advantage of the night to slip out.

Ensuring that no one was following, he sneaked into a small mountain peak beside his residence.

The woods on this small peak are quite dense, and in recent years Li An had found a safe spot to hide his treasures here.

He placed a storage bag into a very concealed tree hole.

On him, he kept a Primordial Soul Beast Crystal Core and an extra Thousand Spirit Vine.

The Primordial Soul Beast Crystal Core can replace Purple Soul Herbs as the main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, while the Thousand Spirit Vine is auxiliary.

Li An himself has already been exposed; Luo Yong would surely guess that he has the ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, and these two items are what he intentionally left in plain sight.

Even if he loses them, it wouldn’t matter much.

...

At this moment.

Inside Luo Yong’s residence.

"Damn it, trying to fool me with an incomplete inheritance..."

Luo Yong tossed the parchment Li An gave him onto the desk, his eyes icy.

Days ago, he finally went to meet Master Zhang Deyi, bringing a gift and mentioning the request to make a Foundation Establishment Pill in passing.

Zhang Deyi glanced at the gift—a Tier One Upper Grade Nourishment Pill—and directly asked if he had obtained a Second Grade alchemy inheritance.

Luo Yong was stunned at being seen through, and could only speak honestly.

Zhang Deyi, however, coldly told him that the Second Grade alchemy inheritance was incomplete, and the inheritance circulating in the world was all just defective.

He then learned the truth.

While he felt some anger at being deceived, Zhang Deyi didn’t think Li An intended to hide anything.

Because Li An’s own alchemy skills were very poor, he likely couldn’t even recognize whether the inheritance was complete or not, possibly just selling it as rare goods to coerce Luo Yong.

On second thought, Luo Yong agreed; considering Li An’s alchemy talent and knowledge, it would be strange if he could be fooled by him!

In fact, even if he found out about the inheritance issue after making the Foundation Establishment Pill, Luo Yong would have had little recourse, as it wasn’t Li An’s intention, he might only ask for some Spirit Stone compensation from Li An.

"Haha, after keeping me busy for years, it’s your turn to contribute..."

He squinted his eyes and snapped a finger, bringing Wang Yue in.

"Prepare the carriage; we’re going to the Xu Mansion!"

...

The next morning.

Having spent the previous night peacefully, Li An was a bit relieved and left his dwelling for Jingyang Avenue.

After confirming he wasn’t being followed, he found a secluded spot to change his appearance into a weathered young man.

Besides changing his looks, he also deliberately used some simple disguise skills, wearing a human skin mask, adding shoe lifts, and broadening his shoulders.

Before long, he entered a pill shop—Songxi Spirit Pill Store.

This shop was jointly opened by Gu Hong and her master, Gusongxi.

For four years, Li An had visited many times unintentionally, having interacted with Gu Hong but never revealing himself.

After the last lesson, he was very patient, observing and assessing from various angles.

First, the Demon Sect didn’t know about his relationship with Gu Hong, so they were unlikely to find him through her.

Second, although Gu Hong and her master were both Second Grade Alchemists, her own pill-making quality wasn’t high, and Gusongxi had stopped crafting, plus there was animosity with Zhang Deyi, making their city life difficult, without Demon Sect backing.

Third, Gu Hong herself had been imprisoned by the Demon Sect, holding deep resentment against them, and she would not collude with them.

Therefore, a year or two ago, Li An confirmed that she’s safe, and probably hadn’t any connection with the Demon Sect.

The only concern was that seeking her might anger Zhang Deyi, causing trouble for himself.

But now it was impossible to ask for Zhang Deyi’s help, and any other alchemists would likely be collecting soul-nurturing items for White Tiger Mountain, so turning to them would also be risky, potentially losing the hard-to-keep Purple Soul Herbs.

Gu Hong and her master were his only choice now.

Originally, he planned to give her the Primordial Soul Beast Crystal Core after reaching the Foundation Establishment, but now he was compelled to move early.

Entering the Spirit Pill Store, he casually glanced around the front hall and said to a young woman handling basic tasks, "Please bring Alchemist Gu out; I have important matters to discuss with her."

The young woman gave Li An a curious look but proceeded to the inner hall.

Soon, a beautiful woman leisurely walked out—it was indeed Gu Hong.

Thanks to her Foundation Establishment level cultivation and a Beauty Pill, she had remained youthful and alluring despite the passing years.

"Honored guest, what can I do for you?"

Gu Hong asked with curiosity.

Li An said, "I want a Youthful Appearance Pill; can Alchemist Gu make it for me?"

The Youthful Appearance Pill, a Second Grade Pill, can maintain the youthfulness of low-level cultivators’ appearance!

Gu Hong was surprised, saying, "Of course."

"However, the guest will need to pay a deposit first, five hundred Spirit Stones."

Li An nodded, then handed her a storage bag, "Please take a look."

Gu Hong glanced inside the storage bag, and surprise flashed across her eyes. She was about to say something, but Li An had already said, "Come pick it up in half a month, can it be done?"

Gu Hong calmly replied, "Yes."

Li An turned to leave.

Gu Hong also turned and returned to the inner hall.

Inside her room, after closing the door, her face was instantly filled with excitement!

She took out a Primordial Soul Beast Crystal Core from the storage bag... and a letter!

...