Is It Wrong to Bully the Novice Village for System Rewards?

Chapter 201: I Wasn’t Forced, They Just Gave Too Much

After obtaining the information he wanted from Xu Qingquan, Qi Yuan took his leave. However, as he arrived at the front hall, he saw a familiar figure standing at the counter selecting medicinal herbs.

“Millennium Snow Ganoderma, Jiaye Flower, Xiuxian Grass… and wrap up all of these materials.”

“Also, didn’t I order a full 100 pounds of Nine Nether Soul-Cleansing Sand last month? Why does it look so little?”

The speaker was a middle-aged alchemist who appeared to be in his thirties or forties, with a weaselly face and shifty eyes, looking somewhat unimpressive and even sleazy upon closer inspection. But his attire commanded respect.

Embroidered on his collar were nine pale golden patterns—the unique insignia of the Alchemist Association, proving he was a genuine Heaven-rank Alchemist.

At that moment, the middle-aged alchemist was directing a group of servant-like attendants to sort and pack large quantities of materials, sealing them one by one into specially made jade boxes.

The shop assistant bowed and scraped, explaining nervously: “Senior Linghu, please understand. Nine Nether Soul-Cleansing Sand is an extremely rare material, very difficult to acquire.”

“And the amount you requested is quite large. Our shop has limited capabilities and couldn’t gather it all at once. We’ve only prepared about four or five pounds for now…”

Hearing this, the middle-aged alchemist frowned, displeased: “This amount isn’t even enough to start a single furnace! How do you run your business? Don’t you want to earn Spirit Stones?”

The shop assistant wore a bitter expression, forcing a smile: “Our shopkeeper said next time, when you come again, we’ll definitely have the full order ready.”

Seeing this, the middle-aged alchemist didn’t bother wasting more words, snorted coldly, and turned to inspect the goods.

Why is he here?

After confirming the other’s identity, Qi Yuan was inwardly shocked.

This man was named Linghu Gao, formerly an Alchemist Patron of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary.

At that time, the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary had five Heaven-rank Alchemist Patrons, and Linghu Gao was one of them.

About two years ago, Linghu Gao voluntarily resigned from his patron position to Headmaster Hengzhen of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary, claiming he wanted to return to the Alchemist Association to focus on researching the Dao of Alchemy. Who would have thought he’d appear here in the Demon Sect now?

It seemed this guy had probably already become a member of the Demon Sect.

Thinking of this, Qi Yuan’s expression turned strange.

Who would have thought that after two years apart, this weasel-faced Linghu Gao had betrayed the righteous path and fallen to become a lackey of the demonic path.

For the various factions in the Cultivation world, every alchemist was an extremely precious resource, especially Heaven-rank Alchemists. Even the headmasters of the Seven Great Sanctuaries would treat them with respect and never dare to slight them.

Losing a Heaven-rank Alchemist was undoubtedly a huge blow to the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary.

Qi Yuan still remembered how his master, Hengzhen, had nearly become depressed over this matter, only recovering after recruiting another Heaven-rank Alchemist later.

Now, seeing a former patron of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary openly abandoning the light for darkness, Qi Yuan’s first reaction was to clean up the sect.

Of course, this thought only flashed through his mind subconsciously; he couldn’t actually hold a grudge over it.

For a Heaven-rank Alchemist like Linghu Gao, even if he left the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary to serve the Demon Sect, it couldn’t really be considered a crime.

High-rank alchemists, backed by the massive Alchemist Association, could act entirely autonomously. Their relationship with their affiliated factions was purely contractual, based on treatment rather than sentiment.

If they were comfortable, they stayed; if not, they could leave at any time.

The Alchemist Association upheld neutrality, never participating in conflicts between good and evil. Both sides tacitly accepted this neutrality and rarely troubled the Alchemist Association, lest the other side rejoice in their dreams.

After pondering for a moment, Qi Yuan decided to approach Linghu Gao.

If the other was forced, he might try to help. Even if he couldn’t win him back to the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary, he at least needed to understand his motivation for joining the Demon Sect to prevent similar incidents in the future.

With this in mind, Qi Yuan cleared his throat and walked toward the busy Linghu Gao, putting on a look of pleasant surprise: “Master Linghu! I never expected to run into you here! What a coincidence!”

Hearing someone call him, Linghu Gao paused his work, looked up, and found he didn’t recognize the person. His expression immediately turned cold as he asked indifferently: “Who are you?”

If not for the respectful “Master” sounding quite pleasing, he would have waved this person away already.

Qi Yuan didn’t mind, instead smiling and clasping his hands: “Forgive this Junior’s intrusion. This Junior is named Big Qi, currently an Outer Sect disciple of the Saint Sect. My family runs a medicinal herb business and is also one of the suppliers for this shop.”

“You’re a material supplier?”

Hearing this, Linghu Gao’s eyes lit up slightly, then he cast an inquiring glance at the shopkeeper beside him.

The middle-aged shopkeeper’s expression remained unchanged, seamlessly covering for Qi Yuan: “Young Master Qi is indeed this shop’s largest material supplier. His family specializes in selling various rare treasures. If you have any needs, you can discuss them with him.”

Upon hearing this, Linghu Gao immediately dropped his guard, smiling warmly at Qi Yuan: “So it’s Young Master Qi! I happen to have some urgently needed alchemy materials. I wonder if you can acquire them?”

As an alchemist, he naturally felt affinity toward suppliers who could provide alchemy materials.

Moreover, Qi Yuan was clearly the shop’s upstream channel; sourcing directly from him would surely be much cheaper.

Although Linghu Gao didn’t lack Spirit Stones, savings meant profit, and who would turn down extra Spirit Stones?

Qi Yuan smiled slightly, agreeing readily: “Since Master Linghu trusts this Junior, I will do my best. Price and such are all negotiable.”

“It’s noisy and crowded here. Why don’t we find a place to discuss in detail?”

Linghu Gao was pleased to hear this, nodding: “No problem. There’s a Gathering Immortals Pavilion over there. Let’s talk there.”

“Good.”

Qi Yuan agreed happily. After Linghu Gao assigned tasks to his attendants, they went together to an elegantly decorated restaurant within the market.

Once seated, Qi Yuan didn’t waste words, asking directly: “I heard Senior was previously a patron at the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary. May I ask why you suddenly chose to join the Saint Sect?”

But Linghu Gao shook his head, saying nonchalantly: “Young Master Qi is mistaken. I haven’t joined the Nether Fiend Sect. I was invited by the Head of the Ji Family to serve as a Guest Elder for their clan. I have no affiliation with the Nether Fiend Sect.”

What?

Qi Yuan was shocked by these words. So it wasn’t the Demon Sect that poached from the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary, but the Ji Family!

To get a Heaven-rank Alchemist as a Guest Elder—what a huge investment that must have been…

Coming back to his senses, he probed: “Senior is a dignified Heaven-rank Alchemist, revered and free at the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary. Why would you stoop to serving under a single family clan?”

“Could it be… you were forced?”

But Linghu Gao picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and said with a completely serious expression: “No, I wasn’t forced.”

He set the cup down.

“They just gave too much.”

Qi Yuan: “…”