11. Alchemy II

Clay woke up the next day and found his breakfast already served on the table. He wanted to step outside but seeing they built him an isolated residence shows just how much how they wanted him to stay inside the house and not a foot outside. At least the food they served him were delectable and entirely different from what he had used to eat back at the orphanage.

Comparing his life now from where he started then forcefully adopted by the gang and be slaved and caged later, it felt like it is no different. But at least he has better chances to freeing himself. He just needed to master what they needed him to accomplish and since it is related to cultivation, he might as well put his heart to it.

Clay took out the book given to him. The daunting thick book is called Encyclopedia of Useful Flora and the ordinary ones are labeled Qi-Sensing and Qi Enhancement Pill Formula, Body Reinforcement Pill Formula, and Advanced Reinforcement Pill Formula respectively.

It may not be easy memorizing all its contents, he has no choice but scrutinize and study its contents.

Clay sat down and began etching each book to his memory.

Two mornings later, his young master Kesh'a came to pick him up.

Upon seeing her again, he was ecstatic to be able to interact with someone even if they treat him a slave. Regardless of their treatment, he would rather be able to see people around him than be isolated in solitary room.

Greeted by a ravishing beauty, he reminded himself that this Kesh’a is only a child despite her adult appearance. He finds incredibly shocking that their bodies develop and start maturing at an early age and still live twice up to five times longer than that of a human lifespan.

Humans in comparison are basically genetic rejects when compared to superior races.

As Clay was enthralled by Kesha’s spotless and white jade skin, he suddenly realized his master was physically looking down at him.

"Remember that you are my slave and you must strive to improve your Alchemy skills. If you do anything that defames me or bring shame to my family, I will not hesitate to kick you out.”

Kesh'a sharp voice stunned Clay. He finds it fascinating and suspects that a devil is probably hiding behind his master’s angelic appearance.

“Follow me.”

Clay nodded maintaining his weak and innocent look and when his master reached the door, he silently followed like a tamed dog.

Later they rode a carriage and after around fifteen minutes, they arrived in front of a magnificent building. The entrance alone showed how powerful and rich this organization is. On the entrance is a huge gateway structure and written is "Bang'et Alchemy Alliance" guarded by at least four Foundation Experts.

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As he followed his master he can’t help but glance sideways and noticed many rounded pills being displayed. One thing that caught his attention was the price for Low Tier Body and Advanced Reinforcement Pill, a pill he read two days ago and it is sold for twenty-five gold coins while Mid-Tier was fifty and High-Tier for one hundred gold coins.

Clay has yet to understand how trading works in this world and while he was distracted, a pale and chubby middle-aged came to greet them.

"Greetings my Elven friends. My name is Alchemist Agda, a Tier-Two Alchemist. I was informed of your arrival.”

For cultivators, it is customary to wear their Alchemy badge and robe to be identified but Agda purposely said his level given his guest is a young inexperienced Elven.

"Great. Then I do not have to explain myself. I will pick him up by the end of the day.” Kesh'a did not even show courtesy and spit her words like fire then turned around preparing to leave.

"I do not mean to be rude, but don't you think you should settle the account first before leaving?"

Kesh'a stopped her tracks.

"I do not recall being informed about making payments, but since you dare say, may I inquire how much it is this senior’s fee?" There was a changed in her tone as she inquired.

"It is fifty gold coins per session and a hundred for starting materials."

"That much for a talentless human? I could exchange him for pills.” Wrinkles formed on Kesh'a’s forehead.

Meanwhile, Clay was listening and since the matter is about him, he kneeled then opened his palm revealing a spatial ring.

"Master, Elder has left some gold coins. I did not dare touch it without your permission." Clay remembered that there was around two thousand gold coins in the spatial ring and recalled that it probably was his tuition. He did not want to intervene in their conversation but the naivety on his master’s face compelled him to speak.

Kesh'a was puzzled and took the ring and injected her Qi. There are indeed some gold coins around two thousand but she felt like the elders should have had given more allowance.

"I will ask elder how much he has given you. If I found out you lied, I will cut-off your feet."

"I dare not lie to young master." Clay acted like loyal slave.

If this was earth, Clay would probably laugh at this girl’s senseless threat but after witnessing countless gruesome deaths, it is difficult not to treat it seriously.

Kesh'a was silent for a moment. Prior to her picking up Clay, she was advised by her parents that the elders had bought her a talentless human as a diversion and that she should be focusing on improving herself. Kesh'a trusts her parents and she is calculating if she could just spend the money to buy pills instead. She then remembered that she will be using her allowance afterwards to nurture the kid which she is not willing to do upon confirming the human is trash.

"I wonder how much would it cost to teach the child everything in one day and some materials he can play on with for an entire year.” After weighing her options, Kesh'a inquired.

Alchemist Agda squinted his eyes. He is a respected Alchemist and the reason he came greeting this young Elven is to show courtesy, but now he is being treated like a nobody by this unruly Elven.

Nevertheless, as a promising Alchemist who will be taking Tier-Three examination soon, he chose to be the bigger man.

"If you mean show, not teach, I can let him watch what he needed to learn all within a day and I can agree to a hundred gold coins. Including Earth Class materials, I can round it off to 500 gold coins total, for Heaven Class materials, a thousand gold coins. I only need your guards to bear witness of this trade. And remember that when I say show, he will not have chance to ask questions." Alchemist Agda exclaimed.

Kesh'a did not one bit hesitate then handed the money.

"I will agree with Earth Class materials. These are two thousand gold coins. Please have the rest of the coins exchanged for High-Tier Body and Advanced Reinforcement Pills. I will have someone pick him up when you are done."