Xu Chang’an and Black and White Mountain’s conversation went smoothly, and they were now formally acquainted.
Before parting, Xu Chang’an added that if Black and White Mountain ever needed anything, he could come find him at the Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop to have elixirs refined.
’Demon relationships are all about give and take!’
’As a humble Gray Rat Demon, a mere Tier Two Alchemist, I have to conduct business amicably.’
’It’s just business!’
’Cooperation benefits both parties, while conflict harms them both!’
’As for all that fighting and killing, I’ll just leave it to the Golden Lion.’
’What does that have to do with me, a Gray Rat Demon!?’
...
After leaving the brokerage, Xu Chang’an returned to the Gray Mouse Elixir Shop.
The lease wouldn’t officially end until tomorrow, so for today, he still had the right to use and live in the Elixir Shop.
Speaking of which, the demons at the brokerage gave him a grand send-off when he left—a world of difference from the treatment he’d received on his way in.
The look in the Antelope Spirit’s eyes was one of pure shock and disbelief.
The spirit clearly couldn’t fathom how Xu Chang’an had gotten involved with such a Great Demon.
He had unintentionally reaped such a great opportunity!
Xu Chang’an once again felt a profound understanding of the status a Tier Two Alchemist commanded.
However, this sort of treatment was something one could only experience so clearly in recent times.
In ancient times, the world was a vast and desolate place with an extremely harsh environment. It was natural selection—survival of the fittest.
Among the Ancient Demon Race, the strong were revered.
On the surface, a mere Gray Rat Demon at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer like him would never have received such reverence back in the era of the Ancient Demon Race.
But the Demon Race had learned from the ways of the Human Race, expanding their own intellect.
They established rules and created order. Now, whoever could mobilize the most resources and authority within the confines of those rules was the strong one.
’The word "strong" no longer refers only to the level of one’s Cultivation Realm!’
’It refers to the total amount of resources one can command!’
’Even a Demon at the Qi Refining First Layer would be considered strong by the vast majority of Great Demons, if he were the son of a Demon King.’
’But...’
’This is all predicated on the existence of rules and order.’
’If one day, that order collapses and the rules cease to exist, then...’
Xu Chang’an closed his eyes, his mind drifting to some unknown place.
’Might makes right! Whoever is strongest is the ruler! Whoever has the hardest fist, makes the rules!’
’After several hundred years of struggle in my past life, my Demon Path in this one has only just begun!’
’Perhaps one day, I will be the heaven of the Demon Race!’
’The sovereign of this world!’
...
「Early the next morning」
Xu Chang’an officially departed from Pear Blossom Lane.
Before he left, he bid farewell to the Cyan Bull Demon and the Wart Hog Spirit.
He had also wanted to say goodbye to the Butterfly Spirit, to bring that connection to a close, but the Hundred Treasures Pavilion across the way hadn’t opened for business yet, so he let the matter drop.
That day, Pear Blossom Lane lost a Gray Mouse Elixir Shop, and the Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop gained a Gray Rat Alchemist.
Pill Master Ye held a special banquet in Xu Chang’an’s honor to celebrate him joining the workshop.
All of Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop’s Tier Two Alchemists and a number of its important core demons were in attendance.
Over the course of the banquet, everyone exchanged pleasantries and became acquainted.
With the exception of Xu Chang’an, all the other demons present were Foundation Establishment Great Demons. His ability to associate with them as a peer was entirely due to his Alchemy Skill.
Xu Chang’an adapted to life in the Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop very well.
He started by refining the most basic Tier Two Low Grade Nourishing Essence Pills, gradually moving on to attempt Detoxification Elixirs, Healing Elixirs, and Barrier Avoidance Pills.
「In the blink of an eye, a year had passed.」
Thanks to the platform provided by the Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop, his fame gradually began to spread.
Many Foundation Establishment Great Demons within the Demon City now knew that a Gray Rat Alchemist of exceptional talent had joined the Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop.
Although his Cultivation was low, his potential in the art of alchemy had won him Pill Master Ye’s high regard.
On several public occasions, the pill master had openly praised him, stating that with enough time, the Gray Rat Alchemist was extremely likely to become a Tier Two High-grade Alchemist.
While refining elixirs, Xu Chang’an would take advantage of discrepancies in the success rate to occasionally consume some of the Spiritual Herbs and Plants himself, accumulating Energy for his panel.
He had thought life at the Elixir Workshop would continue on just like this.
Xu Chang’an never expected to run into the Black Sheep Spirit, Sheep Horn, and the Butterfly Spirit again.
And of all places, it was here in the Inner City of Peacock Demon City, inside the very Elixir Workshop where he was stationed.
That day, Xu Chang’an had just finished refining a cauldron of elixirs and gained some valuable insights. He was thinking of heading to the courtyard to rest and process his thoughts when he happened upon the Black Sheep Spirit and the Butterfly Spirit as he passed through the main hall.
The two demons were speaking with one of the ordinary Managerial Demons from the Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop.
It seemed they were discussing some sort of elixir deal.
"Sheep Horn Daoist, it’s not that I don’t want to help you. It’s just that Steward Li has... some reservations about this supply of elixirs."
"Steward Tie, this batch of elixirs is incredibly important to me. I can pay the full amount upfront. And as for the price, that’s completely negotiable. Please, I’m counting on your help."
"Well... alright. We’ve known each other for years, after all. I can introduce you to Steward Li. But whether or not you succeed is up to you. I can’t make any promises."
"Okay, thank you, Steward Tie. I appreciate the trouble."
The Black Sheep Spirit, Sheep Horn, spoke with a respectful tone and a humble demeanor, a far cry from the arrogance he’d displayed at their last small gathering.
The Butterfly Spirit stood to the side, an obsequious smile on her face.
The demons were still talking when Steward Tie, with his sharp eyes, spotted Xu Chang’an walking past. He immediately cut off his conversation with Sheep Horn.
"Gray Rat Alchemist."
Steward Tie bowed, an ingratiating smile plastered on his face.
"Mm."
Xu Chang’an acknowledged him with a faint grunt.
Seeing the utterly shocked expressions on the faces of Sheep Horn and the Butterfly Spirit, Xu Chang’an gave them a slight nod before walking past, his shoulder nearly brushing theirs.
Faintly, he heard the somewhat excited voice of the Elixir Workshop’s Steward Tie from behind him.
"Sheep Horn Daoist, you know the Gray Rat Alchemist?!"