Chapter 76: The Long-Distance Flight Station

Lu Zhe swiftly descended from the top floor. After a quick glance around the first-floor hall, he made his way toward the private room where the old healer was staying.

Pushing open the door, Lu Zhe saw the old healer sprawled across the sofa, snoring loudly in deep slumber. Shaking his head in exasperation, Lu Zhe walked over and looked down at the old man, then reached out and pinched the healer’s nose.

“Agh!”

Finally, after a moment, the old healer was forced awake by Lu Zhe’s antics. He sat up quickly, gasping for air.

“What are you doing?” he roared angrily as he sat up. Before he could finish his sentence, his eyes caught sight of the emblem on Lu Zhe’s chest, the badge of a two-cauldron alchemist. He was taken aback. “Well, what do you know, you really got it!”

Lu Zhe gave a wry smile. “If you keep napping, I’ll probably become a nine-cauldron gold-ranked alchemist before you wake up.”

The old healer burst out laughing, waving his hand dismissively. “It’s not that easy, you know.”

He chuckled, but then noticed Lu Zhe had fallen silent. “What’s on your mind?”

The question snapped Lu Zhe back to himself. Embarrassed, he smiled. “Nothing.”

The old healer frowned faintly, but soon relaxed and let out another hearty laugh. “Good, that’s fine. Let’s go. We have to travel tomorrow.”

Lu Zhe raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Travel? Where to?”

The old healer was already on his feet. “Tomorrow, we’re heading to the Boundless Desert. Get some good rest tonight.”

Lu Zhe shot up in shock. “So soon?”

The old man looked at him. “Or do you want Shangguan Yijing to surpass you? Remember, the path of cultivation is like sailing against the current—if you don’t advance, you fall behind. Don’t think that breaking through to Spirit Master in ten months is something to be proud of. You saw it yourself—there are plenty of people your age in that hall, and many of them are Spirit Masters too. The beginning is always easy; only those who laugh at the end are true winners. Understand?” The old healer’s tone turned grave, shedding his earlier playfulness.

Lu Zhe nodded thoughtfully. “I understand.”

The old healer nodded in approval. “Good. Let’s go.”

As they left the private room, the young woman who had previously guided Lu Zhe appeared again, intending to speak, but the old healer waved her off. “No need to trouble yourself. We’re leaving now.”

She hesitated, but could only bow in farewell as Lu Zhe and the old healer departed.

Crossing the main hall, Lu Zhe cast a strange glance up at the top floor, then hurried to catch up with the old healer, leaving the Alchemist Guild behind.

Once outside, they found a nearby inn to stay for the night. The moment the innkeeper saw two alchemists arrive, he quickly summoned his staff to prepare two of the best rooms, then ushered Lu Zhe and the old healer upstairs with utmost respect.

Climbing the stairs, Lu Zhe gave a wry smile and muttered to himself, “Alchemists really do get special treatment.”

On the second floor, a servant led the two to their respective rooms. The old healer handed the servant two copper coins to send him away, then turned to Lu Zhe. “Get some rest. We leave tomorrow.”

Lu Zhe nodded, pushed open his door, and entered.

...

Lu Zhe gently exhaled a breath of stale air, stood, stretched a little, then walked to the bedside and pushed open the window. Immediately, a soft silver moonlight poured in from outside. Raising his head, Lu Zhe gazed skyward—the bright moon hung high, and the sky glittered with countless stars, winking like playful children and bathing the world in their light.

Turning and climbing up to the rooftop, Lu Zhe sat gazing at the horizon. The heavens above were as black as ink, deep and boundless, with a jade-like moon suspended far away, shedding a gentle radiance upon the endless darkness. The silver-white moonlight spilled softly onto the streets below. By now, it was already the middle of the night, and save for the night watchmen and the occasional traveler, the streets were deserted—gone was the bustling prosperity of daytime, replaced by a desolate emptiness.

He wondered, when had he last seen such a beautiful moon? It was on the hillside behind Old Six You’s house, back when Xue Ling’er was still by his side.

At the thought of Xue Ling’er, her cold yet peerlessly beautiful face surfaced in Lu Zhe’s mind. The more he thought, the more a blush crept onto his cheeks—a shy flush of youthful first love, softening his maturing features with a gentle charm reminiscent of a maiden.

He gave himself a self-mocking pat on the head and laughed at himself. Suddenly, another thought struck him: the events at the Alchemist Guild today.

Lu Zhe’s expression turned serious, his brow furrowing as he recalled the events at the guild that afternoon.

It had happened when he left the study of President Bai Wenbo. As he was leaving, he had caught sight of a painting on the wall. The man in the painting looked familiar—he looked like... like the old healer!

His eyes widened as he thought back—yes, it was indeed the old healer’s original appearance; that outline was unmistakable. But the figure in the painting appeared much older, as if in middle age, lacking the current charm and vigor of the old healer.

“What... is going on?” Lu Zhe racked his brain, but couldn’t figure it out. Looking up at the sky, he let out a long sigh. There was still so much he didn’t understand.

...

Dawn arrived quickly. The ink-black sky faded away, and the countless stars, like tired children, quietly retreated. In their place came a bright blue sky, drifting clouds, and a gentle breeze. In such a setting, a sense of leisure and ease welled up in the heart, as if the very air refined one’s spirit.

Creak.

Lu Zhe softly pushed open his door and walked out, making his way to the main hall on the first floor.

The old healer was already seated at a table. Upon seeing him, Lu Zhe hurried over and sat down.

The old healer looked at him. “Are you ready?”

Lu Zhe nodded. “Yes.”

With a smile, the old man summoned a waiter and ordered some breakfast. After eating, they went to settle the bill, but the innkeeper adamantly refused to accept their payment, eager to curry favor with the alchemists. Why would he take mere room fees from them?

The old healer didn’t argue. He strode out, beckoning to Lu Zhe. “Let’s go!”

Lu Zhe could only smile wryly and follow.

Their destination was the flying beast station on the southern edge of the imperial capital, where they would board a long-distance flying beast bound for the so-called “Boundless Desert” in the south of the Divine Xia Continent.

They hurried to the station. Even from a distance, Lu Zhe could hear the piercing cries of the great beast kings within. Entering the hall, he looked around and quickly spotted the ticket counter for southern routes, heading straight for it.

At the end of the short line—thankfully, only five or six people—Lu Zhe leaned against the rail, waiting quietly.

Soon, it was his turn. “Two tickets to the southern Kingdom of Sand and Gravel, please,” he said.

The ticketing clerk didn’t look up. “Sixty silver coins for two.”

Lu Zhe reached into his wallet and produced a gold coin, handing it over.

The clerk took the coin, checked it, then counted out forty silver coins in change and tore off two tickets, offering them to Lu Zhe.

Just as he was about to take them, he noticed her hand pause in midair. Before he could ask, she suddenly exclaimed, “Sir, are you an alchemist?”

Lu Zhe nodded. “Yes.”

She drew a sharp breath, quickly returned his gold coin, and stood up hurriedly. “We have special flying beasts reserved for alchemists. Please, come this way.”

Lu Zhe blinked in surprise. A special flight? The privileges of alchemists were truly remarkable.

Calling another clerk to take her place, the woman stepped out from behind the counter and gestured toward the southern side of the hall. “This way, please.”

Lu Zhe nodded and turned to the old healer. “Master, let’s go.”

The old man strode over. “Got the tickets?”

Lu Zhe shook his head. “She said there’s a special flight for alchemists. It’s free.”

He then glanced at the clerk, only to see her eyes fixed, not on the old healer, but on the five-cauldron golden badge on his chest.

After a long moment, she took a deep breath. “Gentlemen, we have a flying beast reserved exclusively for four-cauldron alchemists and above. This way, please.”

Lu Zhe glanced at the old healer, who wore a look of utter indifference, as if he’d seen it all before. Seeing this, Lu Zhe couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated. The privileges of alchemists were truly extraordinary.

While he was lost in these thoughts, the woman ahead called, “This way, gentlemen.”

Lu Zhe and the old healer quickly followed.

As they walked through a long corridor, Lu Zhe noticed the woman ahead swaying her hips suggestively, clearly trying to entice them.

But this was hardly unusual. Alchemists, owing to their special status, were highly sought after. People from all walks of life would go out of their way to curry favor with them, especially high-ranking alchemists, devising all sorts of means to satisfy their needs.

Long-distance travel was a tedious affair. The space on flying beasts was limited, and to ease the monotony, some merchants even hired beautiful, seductive women to specially attend to alchemists or other powerful individuals during the journey. The woman leading Lu Zhe and the old healer was clearly one of these “special attendants.”

But she had miscalculated—neither Lu Zhe nor the old healer had any interest in such diversions, so no matter how much she swayed her hips, she would get nowhere with them.

They soon emerged from the corridor to find a row of giant flying beasts, each over a dozen yards long, with small cabins built on their broad backs.

The woman bowed slightly. “These are your flying beasts. They’ll take you wherever you wish.”

The old healer nodded, tossed her a gleaming gold coin, and then led Lu Zhe up onto the flying beast.