After the news reached the head of the Alchemy Association, he couldn't contain himself.
He immediately announced the three as fourth-level alchemists and honorary elders of the association.
Because Zhang Yong's clothes had burned, he was forced to buy new ones, this time finer and more dignified.
But his face still bore traces of the burns—at least his eyebrows and cheeks were scorched, along with his hands wrapped in bandages.
It wasn't too painful.
He could have healed these injuries instantly using the Tree of Life, but since he didn't want to spend the ten remaining years of its power, he let the tree work slowly, which meant it would take time.
Aboard Kuro, the three soared high in the sky.
"So, what should I do once we arrive?" Ku Linan asked calmly.
"It's something Zhang Yong calls a quality certificate. I still can't believe he convinced you to come," Su Ming replied softly.
Ku Linan shrugged indifferently. "I agreed to this in exchange for something , I'm only fulfilling my side of the bargain—I swore to serve."
Still, Zhang Yong smiled inwardly 'I wasn't sure I'd be able to lure him, but I have to thank the 'I'll surpass and kill the protagonist at all costs' setting in his personality like in any novel , How wonderful—I got rid of a Son of Fortune and gained a talent at the same time. Two birds with one stone. But let's finish this once and for all so I can get the reward'
Zhang Yong cleared his throat slightly. "We still have some time before we arrive. I'll train a little until then."
He closed his eyes and quietly entered his spiritual sea. The atmosphere was unexpectedly calm.
"Hah, I wonder where everyone is." Zhang Yong's gaze swept across the place until he saw something.
Three orbs floated in the void without any fixed direction.
Zhang Yong walked toward them and grabbed one of the orbs. Information imprinted into his mind—"Record of the Great Sun Flames."
It was like a book containing techniques of the Great Sun Essence Flames. It was composed of levels, and the later levels required using Moon Flames in addition. There was no specific cultivation level required for these techniques; anyone with enough talent could use them.
He grabbed the second orb—it contained the "Desolate Moon Flame," with the same conditions as the first.
Then he turned to the last orb, already having an idea of what it might be—the "Record of the Demonic Devouring Flame."
He reached out and touched the orb. The record appeared in his mind. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them—
The scenery around him had completely changed.
Rain poured down, and the ground was muddy, dotted with puddles of water.
"Burn her! Burn the witch!"
"She killed the innocents—she must pay!"
"We must take our revenge!"
Cries rose all around. When Zhang Yong turned his head, the place was filled with villagers, people wielding torches and farming tools instead of weapons.
They pressed forward. In front of them stood a platform that looked like an execution stage—for that's what it was.
On that pillar, a girl was bound, dressed in red and white robes, her black hair flowing behind her.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Yong couldn't help but be surprised.
'So, I touched the Demonic Devouring Flame's orb. Could this be the memory of its former owner? Or the memory of the flame itself? If it's the latter, then that means the flame was once a living being…'
He walked closer and touched one of the villagers, but his hand passed right through. It was confirmed—this wasn't real.
He quietly walked up the execution platform and looked at the girl. She didn't look back at him 'She resembles the form I saw the flame take before…'
The girl muttered in a trembling voice, "No… I didn't do it… I wasn't the cause… please… believe me…"
Zhang Yong chuckled lightly. "Heh, looks like she still wants to live."
"Silence, witch!" one of the villagers shouted as they threw torches onto the girl. Flames spread, devouring the platform, while the girl cried in fear. "No, please! Someone, anyone, save me!"
Zhang Yong stood beside her, smiling faintly as he listened. "No one will save you. You know that, don't you? Begging is useless."
At once, the flames on the girl's body grew fiercer. Zhang Yong, intangible as he was, wasn't affected.
Through her screams, her voice rang out, "I hate… this… world… Ahh… God of Despair, please… I want to burn the world instead of being burned!"
With those words, the flames around her turned into black-violet fire that swallowed the platform. Zhang Yong leapt back in haste to avoid the flames.
The villagers turned to flee in terror. "Run! Run quickly!"
Suddenly, the flames surged toward the entire village. For a moment, the fire rushed toward Zhang Yong himself, and he couldn't escape.
When he opened his eyes again, he was lying on the ground, others staring down at him.
"What happened to you?" Ling Xi asked in confusion.
Zhang Yong sat up and touched his forehead slightly. "Nothing. I touched the orb of the Demonic Devouring Flame."
"Are you alright?" the Empress asked unexpectedly.
Zhang Yong shook his head. "I honestly don't know."
Murassama advised, "It might be better if you don't use that flame for now. Who knows, you might get controlled like the other day"
Zhang Yong shrugged with a wry smile. "That's something I already knew. But first, there's something I need to do."
He clenched his fists, and Xiao Qion's soul appeared inside his spiritual sea.
"H-How did I end up here?" Xiao Qion's soul looked around in shock before locking eyes on Zhang Yong. "You! What did you do to me, you bastard?!"
Zhang Yong sighed, not in the mood to talk. "Doesn't matter. Just die."
He crushed Xiao Qion instantly and began absorbing his soul.
After a while of meditation, Zhang Yong opened his eyes and clenched his fist. "Now I can truly be called a fourth-level alchemist. As expected, when I looked into his memories, I found he once discovered the records of a seventh-level alchemist from a thousand years ago. And now, those records are mine."
Ling Xi rubbed her eyes as everyone else stared in silence. "Am I imagining this, or has Zhang Yong gotten merciless than before?"
Murassama scratched his head. "No, you're not imagining it. I wonder what the future will hold."
The Empress responded coldly, "What's the use of keeping an enemy alive?"
Yami shook his head. "I agree with that point."
Zhang Yong stood. "Alright, that's the end of him. That reminds me…" He walked over and stood before the Empress. "This might be late, but thank you for helping me that time, Your Majesty." He bowed, expressing his gratitude.
The Empress showed an ordinary smile. "Just call me Bing Di. We're not strangers, you know."
Yami, Murassama, and Ling Shi all jumped back in shock, whispering among themselves.
"We're not hallucinating, right? That scorpion actually smiled," Ling Xi said, stunned.
"No doubt about it. What's going on? Did the sun rise from the west?" Murassama muttered in disbelief.
"Calm down. Maybe this is just a dream," Yami replied calmly.
Zhang Yong sneered. "You guys....it doesn't matter. I'll return outside for now—there are things I need to prepare."
With those words, Zhang Yong exited his spiritual sea—only to be greeted by a notification:
*(Mission complete.
The host has received:
Fusion Card
Heaven Source Flask)*
Zhang Yong's eyes widened at the second item. He immediately summoned the flask into his hand.
It was the size of a fist, small enough to wrap one hand around its neck. It seemed made of a material neither glass nor metal, but it was solid and glowed with a faint green light covered in mysterious patterns.
Zhang Yong swallowed hard 'This! Without a doubt—it resembles the Heaven Controlling Vial in appearance, but only the name differs'
The Heaven Controlling Vial was an item from a novel Zhang Yong had read in his original world.
From what he remembered, it contained countless laws and was said to have been created from the very beginning of chaos, capable of carrying the power of any law.
But this one here , it's like a cheap version of it , not all that strong but for Zhang Yong? It was more than enough
Combining this flask with Zhang Yong's exceptional comprehension meant he could grasp any law rapidly.
Looking inside the flask, he found drops of jade-like green liquid 'No doubt about it—it's the same. The amazing part about the flask is that it can produce drops containing the Law of Time, allowing plants to grow faster. Spirit beasts can't consume this liquid, but my body isn't just unique—it's threefold special since i have three physiques , plus with the Heaven-Defying Physique. Without a doubt, I can handle it. Still, best not to risk it yet'
This little flask was a dharma weapon, it can be bound to the soul of the user and grow with him
He sent his spiritual sense into the flask. It immediately pierced his forehead and fused with his soul completely.
As expected of an ancient spiritual artifact—once it bonds with the soul, even if the body is destroyed, as long as the soul remains, the weapon will stay.
'From what I know, the original flask could turn back time. This one doesn't have that ability, but it does have the liquid and comprehension of laws—and that's enough. Hah, just as I thought. If it were the flask I know, maybe I could have gone back in time and… forget it'
Zhang Yong sighed inwardly. The original required a very high cultivation level, but since he couldn't cultivate, it would be pointless. Still, the liquid it produced was already valuable. Not a total loss.
When they finally arrived at Maple Leaf City, the three landed outside before entering. But upon arrival, Zhang Yong and Su Ming were surprised—Old Man Xi's side was empty, with only a few customers. Meanwhile, their own Yong Ming shop was packed with buyers.
Seeing their expressions, Ku Linan couldn't help but ask, "What's going on? Is that empty shop yours?"
Su Ming shook his head. "No, ours is the one on the other side."
Ku Linan frowned in puzzlement. "Then what's the matter? Isn't this better? Come on, let's take a look inside."
The three walked into the shop—it was overflowing with customers.
Orders were being shouted one after another. When they entered, Bu Chi rushed over. "Ah, the presi—… my heavens, President, what happened to your face to make it so disfigured?!"
Zhang Yong cleared his throat slightly. "Nothing. More importantly, what happened here?"
Bu Chi stammered a little, clearly unsettled by Zhang Yong's scarred face. "Um, President, if you go up to the second floor, you'll understand."
Zhang Yong didn't press further—it was obvious the shop was too busy and Bu Chi would be occupied.
The three went upstairs. That's when a familiar voice rang out. "It's been a while, young friend. I see you've changed quite a bit during this time."
A smile tugged at the corner of Zhang Yong's mouth. "I thought you had vanished. It's been a long time, Mister Duan."
Duan Winly sat at a table, sipping tea calmly.
Zhang Yong stepped forward, sat across from him, and asked, "So, I take it the uproar downstairs—you had something to do with it?"
Duan Winly smiled lightly, setting his cup aside. His eyes gleamed with expertise and confidence. "I can't take all the credit. I only relied on the method you once used me for."
Zhang Yong raised an eyebrow. "You used it? That means you found people to do it."
Duan Winly nodded. "Of course. Otherwise, how could it have any effect?"
But Zhang Yong frowned slightly, pondering. "Still, something's missing. If you sell pills in large numbers, people will grow suspicious. Even if you bribe some to eat them in public, doubts will rise. They're not fools."
Duan tapped the table rhythmically. "Naturally. But who said you need a stage every time? I planted them quietly among the people. They bought the pills, spread the word, and mixed with real customers. Since humans love to imitate, the trend spread like wildfire."
Zhang Yong chuckled. "Heh, you really are a seasoned merchant. But surely Old Man Qi from across the street won't sit idle."
Duan laughed too, but with a trace of mockery. "He's sitting idle not because he doesn't want to act—but because he can't."
An exclamation mark popped into Zhang Yong's mind. He suddenly stood, slamming the table. "Impossible! Don't tell me you…"
Duan smiled. "The supplies have already been monopolized. Without resources, there's nothing he can do."
Su Ming and Ku Linan stared silently, feeling this conversation had drifted into a completely different world. Ku Linan stepped closer. "What are you two talking about?"
Zhang Yong leaned back in his chair, laughing mockingly. "Ha, Ku Linan, as an alchemist, what things must you have?"
Ku Linan answered with confusion. "Of course—the cauldron, fire control, mental strength, and herbs."
"And what if you lack the herbs?" Zhang Yong asked again.
Ku Linan waved dismissively. "Of course, you wouldn't be able to refine—" Suddenly, his eyes widened in realization.
"Exactly. This lunatic monopolized all the herbs in the market. I bet he did the same in the surrounding cities. It'll take a long time before supplies can be restocked. Normally, they'd post collection missions to sects, but the price is high, which leaves only mercenaries. Yet mercenaries prefer hunting beasts for profit over gathering herbs. That means the herb markets are essentially dead. And on top of that, nearby cities can't gather enough and transport it this far. In other words—the king is dead." Zhang Yong sneered coldly.
Duan smiled quietly. "I'm glad to be dealing with smart people. I've already stored the herbs I purchased in your shop."
Zhang Yong sighed. "And here I was, planning to deal with that old man. Seems there's no need now. The war we thought would happen ended before it even began. Well, looks like it's time for the finishing blow. As for the herbs you've collected, I've got an idea."
Duan raised an eyebrow. "What will you do?"
Zhang Yong grinned slyly. "I'll resell the herbs you bought—but at a higher price."
"Hehe, this will be fun," Duan Winly laughed coldly"but that if they were yours , but they're mine"
Su Ming and Ku Linan both felt they were staring at two foxes stripped of fur.
Zhang Yong stood and smiled at Duan Winly. "So, how much do you want? 10% or 15% extra?"
Duan Winly smiled faintly, greed flashing in his eyes. "Hmm, 10% sounds fair for a short-term partnership. But since I've done so much groundwork, I think 20% is only fair. Don't you agree?"
Zhang Yong raised an eyebrow, then burst out laughing. "20%? You greedy bastard. How about 15%?"
"20."
"17."
"20."
"19."
"Deal."
Zhang Yong sighed mockingly. "You really do want to invest in this shop."
Duan Winly shrugged helplessly. "Perhaps you don't realize it yet, but among all the shops in the city, yours has already become the largest—in just four months. That's nothing short of miraculous. If I don't invest now, won't I regret it later?"
"What about the three herbs I requested?"
Duan Winly sighed softly. "I managed to secure the Nine-Life Mushroom and Silver Tail, but the rarest among them—the Buddhist Heart—I haven't found yet. I'll need more time."
"How much is the price?"
"I acquired them before anyone else, so… 75,000."
Zhang Yong stood and looked at him with a smile. "Then I'll send someone to deliver the money later. Thank you again, Mister Duan."
He turned toward Ku Linan. "Ku Linan, you can go rest. Tomorrow, something awaits you."
Su Ming immediately asked, "What about us?"
"We'll go visit the Master. It's been a while since we last saw him."