"Welcome to the Alchemy Division," greeted the receptionist.

"How may I help you today?"

"I am Silver, I was told to come a few days later to obtain my tier for the Alchemy Division," answered Silver.

"Ahh, you're Silver? Yes, Yes! I just got the notice this morning for whenever you come in! I need to see your temporary badge and then notify the grandmasters."

"En. Here you go."

"Thank you, I will notify the grandma-"

"Ah, Alchemist Silver! I didn't expect to see you already," exclaimed an old male voice from behind.

Silver turned around to see the person behind him was Grandmaster Guiying accompanied by Grandmaster Rain and a middle-aged woman wearing red clothing and a silky black robe, a gold medallion hung on her side, "Yen" embossed onto it.

"Hello Grandmaster Guiying and Rain," greeted Silver.

"I hope both have been doing well?"

"Yes, yes. It's been quite busy for us but let's head to our office, it'd be easier to speak there," answered Grandmaster Rain, smiling amiably at Silver. He felt more respect for Silver as he chose to ignore the presumptuous attitude of his fellow

"Oh, I forgot to introduce the grandmaster of the Yen Clan, Fen Hua."

"Greetings, Grandmaster Fen Hua."

"Hmph,” grunted Fen Hua glaring at Silver with her eyes showed undisguised ill intent. Without any other words, she turned her head to the side in disdain.

"I forgotten, you're now an esteemed guest of the Kiu Clan. She's cold to them due to some past conflicts, but don't worry, she'll warm up to you soon," assured Grandmaster Guiying patting Silver's shoulder

"Let's head to our office," insisted Grandmaster Rain walking on ahead of them.

Both Shui Guiying and Silver, nodding their head in agreement, Fen Hua already behind Rain, they headed towards Gu Rain's main office within the Alchemy Division.

Sitting at a medium-sized tea table, all three grand masters and Silver sat, sipping on a fragrant and soothing tea.

"All of the Alchemy Division important members, including us three, have unanimously decided to include you into our ranks," spoke Grandmaster Guiying handing Silver a similar badge he had before.

"Thank you," smiled Silver taking the badge, it was shaped like a cauldron, a dragon-like decorative design with eight golden sphere and a translucent ninth one embedded into it.

Turning the badge around a simple array was fixed into the back, adding his qi, his name popped up [Silver] [Alchemy Division] [Tier 8].

"I'm a Tier 8?"

"Yes, after going through the tedious process of testing the two formula you have given us, we all decided you definitely worth a Tier 8. Despite being the most basic, it is quite hard to create and improve any existing formulas at hand. If you feel like you deserve a higher tier, you can continue on to take exams to move up in our Alchemy Division. Not only that, you’re also qualified to take the grandmaster exam too," answered Grandmaster Rain.

"En. Thank you," smiled Silver in acknowledgement.

"Is there any other information pertaining the Alchemist Division?"

"Yes, there is," answered Fen Hua stunning the other two grandmaster's as they didn't expect her to speak to Silver, a guest of her clan's nemesis.

"Although you are a guest of . . . that clan, as a fellow alchemist, I wish you will follow the rules. We do not want to see our fellow alchemists in our division be harmed due to small grudges and warped pride. I've seen many become deranged on the alchemist path . . . even I was once close to falling out and becoming a 'Lost One'. Although we are competitive, no matter where we go, sharing our experiences and finding new ways to our path is what truly make alchemy very exciting. We are enemies due to our status but in here, we're just any obsessed cultivators on our path of alchemy, especially since the war. We need to hold each other up and build a stronger new generation."

"Thank you for your kind explanation,"smiled Silver genuinely happy. He would have never thought Fen Hua to throw her status as a Yen Clan to say some encouraging words. She indeed deserved her status as a grandmaster.

Stolen story; please report.

"Hmph."

". . ."

"Err . . . continuing on from Fen Hua, those from Tier 8, 9, and Grandmaster will hold a meeting on the last day of every four months. The next one is in a week, so I hope you're able to attend. The meeting is a way to meet new alchemists and create connections. We share our thoughts, experiences and find solutions to present failures," added Grandmaster Guiying.

"You are an official that represents the Alchemy Division now, please do not tarnish the Alchemy Division reputation. If you have a grudge to settle, we do duels using our knowledge or pill making within our field. Those that break our rules will become stripped from their status, labelled as a Tainted."

"What's the difference between as Tainted or Lost One?" asked Silver as he had never heard such a term before.

"Lost One are those who have drowned themselves down the spiral of failure, unable to destroy their heart demon. They become extremely deranged, usually keeping themself in solitary confinement. It's a very hard to remove the heart demon too. Some alchemists are killed by their very own heart demon while others lose their sanity and become Tainted," replied Fen Hua with a gloomy expression.

"The first are Lost Ones, as I explained before. However, Tainted are those who have become obsessed with their own insanity, slaughtering and turning anything and anyone into a pill. There are not many of them, but they are still dangerous nonetheless."

"Yes, I remember a time when there was actually four of us, another known grandmaster. We were never always this strict until . . . that fateful day. We had some suspicion as many alchemists kept disappearing while on their missions. After losing so many alchemists, we finally tracked the perpetrator attacking our alchemists. However, we weren’t able to detain him and he escaped our grasp successfully," added Grandmaster Guiying taking a sullen glimpse at Fen Hua.

Inwardly sighing, Silver waited for the three to speak. He could tell by the story this person was a close colleague of theirs.

"That is all, Silver. We're glad to have met a genius like you. I hope that your insights in your path can enlighten us in the upcoming meeting," continued Grandmaster Rain breaking the awkward and disheartening atmosphere.

"En. Thank you for your time," replied Silver turning around, about to leave.

“Oh yes, Silver!” exclaimed Grandmaster Rain.

“Yes?”

There’s an auction going on in a few hours for our Gold Spring Merchant Association, you should go by and check it out.”

“Alright, I will check it out today then.”

“En.”

As Silver left, the trio grandmasters entered a half lit room. Once Shui Guiying closed the door behind, he activated an array besides the door. This array blocked sound, no matter how loud, from exiting the room.

"Since that's over with . . . Fen Hua, any news about him?" asked a mysterious voice.

The trio grandmasters turned their heads to the voice as an individual clothed in all black stepped out of the shadows from a corner of the room. Their physique appeared slim as their face was hidden behind a half black, half orange mask with only a single eye hole on the orange side.

"He is still missing . . . but his marking has been found in a few spots out in the slums. It’s been reported that someone noticed a hooded figure entering and exiting that deceased Tier 9 alchemist home," answered Fen Hua curling her hands into a fist.

"I don't want to use this new alchemist as a bait as he's a monstrous genius at such a young age" mumbled Grandmaster Guiying scrunching his eyebrows in distress. He really wanted Silver to become his disciple or at best, a fellow grandmaster.

"Can't be helped, the manager has given the orders," sighed Grandmaster Rain staring at the now empty corner.

…

Silver sat in front of a small shop, casually eating his noodles in delight, pondering if he should head to the auction. After slurping a few strands of noodles, he decided to check it out. At best, he could find something decent. Finally finished with his noodles, Silver strolled back to the Gold Spring Merchant Association for the auction.

The shop wasn’t far but it still took ten minutes to get there. Once he reached the front of the shop's doors, Silver entered and headed towards the reception desk.

"Hello, how may I help you?" asked the old receptionist as he looked at Silver, professionally smiling.

"There's an auction beginning soon, I hope I'm not too late in having a private room?" answered Silver getting to point.

"Ah, we do not have anymore private rooms except for a few, which is reserved for VVIP members of our association."

"I will take that room," responded Silver taking his VVIP card out, handing it to the receptionist.

"I'm very sorry for being rude to our important guests! An attendant of ours will show you to your room," the receptionist apologized while bowing a few times.

"It's alright. Thank you."

Few minutes later, a young female attendant came downstairs to greet and lead Silver to his private room. The attendant explained the functions of the room, ensuring nobody could see his face. His room also had an array where he could silently place his bid.

Not only that, only those that are invited were able to join his room during the auction. If they weren’t, there were many strong experts that guarded the VVIP rooms. This was to ensure their guest could be safe and comfortable.

Silver thanked the attendant, tipping her generously, as she bowed heavily and left the room. Without much to do, but wait, he sat on a luxurious and comfortable chair that overlooked the whole auction area. His room was the highest of four private rooms, including his, that oversaw the auction.

As Silver got comfortable, a strong divine sense entered his room, bypassing the arrays, as they tried to inspect Silver. There were more and more people filling up the seats before the auction started, so one of them tried to snoop around. Silver’s eyes lazily fixated at a room parallel to his and sent a powerful killing intent towards the peeping tom.

At the same time, an old man fell over his chair in fear and awe. His eyes stared at the room he tried peeking into as cold sweat ran down his back.

"Grandfather, what's wrong!?" shouted a middle-aged man as he stared at his grandfather in shock. He quickly got over and helped his grandfather back onto his chair. He had never seen his grandfather showing a fearful expression before. To him, the strongest existence he has ever known throughout his entire life was his grandfather. Who could make him fall over in fear?

"Wang Qiang, whatever you do, try not to bid against the room across us," answered the old man finally calming himself down.

"This person… He's even more fearsome than I, Wang Bo! At some point, send him something of value as a form of apology."

"Yes, Grandfather!" answered Wang Qiang struck with fear.

This was the first time these foreign words came out of his grandfather's mouth. Only someone that could eradicate the whole Wang Clan, including the city, could make his grandfather respectful with his head kept low.

'Who was this person?'

**BANG

**BANG

**BANG

(sound of a small mallet slamming on a table)

"I welcome everyone to our Gold Spring's monthly auction!" shouted a short, pudgy middle-aged man standing behind a podium on a large stage in the auction room.

"As always for newcomers, I am Cui Pang! If you bid, you must have the funds and if not, well you'll be banned from all of Gold Spring Merchant Association's shops for trying to sabotage! Think before you want to avenge yourself or spite others! If anyone attempts to cause a commotion, you will be kicked out and banned. Don't think our association is easy to bully. Now let's begin the auction!"

Two physically alluring young woman, respectively wearing a bunny and a fox mask, came onto the stage while pushing a cart with a large wooden chest on top. They placed the pushing cart, with chest on top, in front of the audience. The young woman wearing the bunny mask slowly strutted to the front of the chest, swinging her hips in a hypnotic manner, opening it and strutted back to the left side of the chest in the same manner.

"Our first item to be auctioned is . . ."