"An r an wu xiang" (safe and sound), he emphasized the four characters with a heavy tone.
He did not want to lose his right hand, although at their level of cultivation, severed limbs could be regenerated after some time.
Firstly, everything was best in its original state, especially the human body, and for cultivators, the original form was closer to the Heavenly Dao.
Secondly, during the period before regeneration, he would be in a crippled state, which was unacceptable to him.
Zi Linling's eyes sparkled as she asked, "Can you make decisions for the Giant Flame Sect?"
After all, she had no use for so many severed hands. If she could exchange them for spirit stones, it wasn't an option she couldn't consider.
Yan Long nodded and replied, "My father is the Sect Master of the Giant Flame Sect. I can make decisions!"
Zi Linling was taken aback for a moment and said, "So it's Young Sect Master Yan! Forgive my rudeness!"
"Since Young Sect Master Yan has spoken, I am not an unreasonable person. How about this: a lump sum of fifty million high-grade spirit stones!"
Yan Long thought for a moment and said, "Deal!" Su Dan Novel Network
Of course, fifty million high-grade spirit stones was not a small sum, and even he felt a twinge of pain.
But then again, fifty million high-grade spirit stones for one hand each for himself and Zi Yuling wasn't too expensive, so he ultimately agreed.
Zi Linling chuckled, "Young Sect Master Yan is so forthright. I also enjoy doing business with straightforward people. However, may I ask if Young Sect Master Yan plans to pay in full now, or..."
Yan Long said with a wry smile, "I don't have that many spirit stones on me. How about this, I'll write an IOU first, and then have someone deliver the spirit stones later?"
"Alright! I trust Young Sect Master Yan!"
Zi Linling readily agreed, as she had no fear of Yan Long and the Giant Flame Sect reneging on their debt. Unless they were prepared to face her wrath.
Yan Long was also forthright. He quickly wrote the IOU and then, with the people from the Giant Flame Sect, he left in a dejected manner.
Of course, as they left, they also took away their severed right hands.
Ye Lingyuan and Zi Linling turned and returned to the courtyard. The bloodstains left outside would naturally be cleaned up by someone.
The next morning, the Alchemy Convention commenced as scheduled.
The entire Central City was crowded with people, bustling with activity.
The Alchemist Guild Headquarters had also gone to great lengths to decorate the entire Central City.
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan quickly weaved through the crowds and headed towards the registration area.
"Registration!"
Zi Linling presented her alchemist badge and the letter of introduction from the Linxian City Alchemist Guild, placing them before the person in charge of registration.
The registration officer quickly processed the paperwork and handed her a plaque, saying, "The registration fee is one thousand high-grade spirit stones!"
Zi Linling heard this and took out a storage bag, handing it to the person.
The officer took the storage bag, scanned it with his divine sense, confirmed it was correct, and then said to Zi Linling, "Your registration number is seven hundred and forty-eight."
As he spoke, he used an inscription pen to write the characters "seven four eight" on the plaque and handed it to Zi Linling.
The reason for using an inscription pen was to prevent impersonation.
Zi Linling looked at the characters "seven four eight" and her mouth twitched.
Seven four eight! Go to hell!
This number was truly an ill omen.
After registering, Zi Linling pulled Ye Lingyuan along and found Feng Mo and Nian Youyu, sitting down in the seats beside them.
The two men saw Zi Linling and breathed a sigh of relief.
Nian Youyu hurriedly asked, "Girl Zi, why are you only arriving now!"
Feng Mo added, "We were afraid you'd miss the opening ceremony!"
Zi Linling smiled and said, "Elder Nian, Elder Feng, I've already been here for three days!"
"Three days?"
Nian Youyu and Feng Mo exclaimed in surprise at the same time.
Zi Linling nodded and said, "Yes, I just didn't stay at the place arranged by the Alchemist Guild."
"Then where did you stay?" Nian Youyu quickly asked.
Zi Linling took the opportunity to pull Ye Lingyuan and introduce him, "Elder Nian, Elder Feng, this is my fiancé, Ye Lingyuan. We rented a courtyard outside."
Nian Youyu and Feng Mo finally understood; they had been enjoying a private getaway.
"Excellent! Talented man and beautiful woman, a perfect match! Much better than being with us two old fogeys!" Feng Mo said with a smile.
Nian Youyu chimed in, "Indeed, a match made in heaven! But why didn't you send a message, leaving us two old men worrying for nothing."
A blush crept onto Zi Linling's cheeks. She glanced at Ye Lingyuan and smiled, "Yes, yes! It was my fault. I apologize to you both here!"
As she spoke, she prepared to cup her fists in a bow.
"Alright, alright! Stop pretending! You're making it seem like we bullied you!" Nian Youyu said with a scolding laugh.
Feng Mo also chuckled, "It's good that you're here, it's good that you're here!"
Zi Linling sat down comfortably and asked, "Elder Feng, what's so good about this opening ceremony?"
Feng Mo smiled and said, "Girl Zi, the opening ceremony isn't that exciting, and it doesn't take long. But immediately following it is the first session of the Alchemy Convention, the Dao Discussion."
"Dao Discussion? What is that?" Zi Linling asked in surprise.
"Dao Discussion is a forum for discussing the Dao. However, the difference this time is that it's limited to the Dao of Alchemy," Nian Youyu interjected.
"Limited to the Dao of Alchemy? What's there to discuss? Why not just compete in alchemy directly?" Zi Linling asked, puzzled.
Feng Mo smiled and said, "Girl Zi, you might not know this. The discussion of the Dao of Alchemy is actually a process of exchanging pill formulas."
"The Dao of Alchemy originated from Pill Sovereign Dan Wudi. The pill formulas we use now are all the result of countless experiments and conclusions by senior Pill Sovereigns."
"However, due to the passage of time, some pill formulas have been lost, and only about ten percent of the existing formulas remain. And among this ten percent, complete formulas are rare."
"The remaining incomplete ones require many people to supplement and verify. But this supplementation and verification is not simple, so everyone needs to exchange ideas, summarize, and jointly perfect the pill formulas."
"The perfected pill formulas are then treated as public resources, accessible to every alchemist. It's also a way to revive the Dao of Alchemy."
Zi Linling finally understood. The so-called Dao Discussion of Alchemy was about pooling the strengths of many to complete incomplete pill formulas.
However, this was somewhat redundant for Zi Linling. All her pill formulas came from the "Human Emperor's Medical Canon," so there was no such thing as incomplete formulas for her.
Therefore, she said with little interest, "Since that's the case, I won't participate in the Dao Discussion. I'll come for the subsequent alchemy competition."
After she finished speaking, she prepared to pull Ye Lingyuan away.
Instead of wasting time here, she might as well go back to the courtyard to cultivate.
Feng Mo quickly stopped her, "Girl Zi, you can't! If you don't participate in the Dao Discussion of Alchemy, you won't be able to participate in the subsequent alchemy competition!"