Chapter 413: Alchemists Association
Following the young man’s directions, Kyrian crossed several streets of the Sky Caravan.
The more he walked, the more he realized that this city truly gathered the best of every region. It was not like Red Smoke City, which had a unique style, volcanic, dark, and brutal. It was not like the Cloud Empire, which had an imperial style, white, golden, and grandiose.
The Sky Caravan had every style.
Merchants sold exotic products, fruits that glowed in the dark, metals that changed color according to the light, and fabrics that floated gently in the air.
Cultivators passed by riding rare spiritual beasts, some that Kyrian had never seen before, others that he only knew from illustrations in ancient books.
Some buildings looked like palaces, with jade columns, golden roofs, and hanging gardens.
Others looked like fortresses, with thick walls, watchtowers, and iron gates. Everything was grand. Everything looked expensive.
After nearly twenty minutes of walking, avoiding carts, crossing plazas, and climbing up and down stairways, a building caught his attention.
Kyrian stopped.
Before him stood an enormous pavilion. The Alchemists Association.
Even surrounded by luxurious buildings with marble facades, crystal display windows, and entrances decorated with gold, the structure still stood out. It was simply magnificent.
The building had seven floors, each constructed from a different type of spiritual jade. The first floor, green jade, shining like leaves in spring. The second, blue jade, deep as the ocean. The third, purple jade, intense as a storm. The fourth, white jade, pure as snow. The fifth, red jade, vibrant as fire. The sixth, golden jade, radiant as the sun. The seventh, black jade, dark as space.
The outer walls glowed softly beneath the sunlight, emitting a golden-green radiance that danced as the light shifted.
Gigantic pillars supported the structure, each pillar adorned with dozens of dragons spiraling around it. The carvings were so detailed that they seemed alive, their scales gleaming, their eyes appearing to follow whoever passed by.
Above the main entrance was an enormous symbol. A golden furnace surrounded by nine stars.
The entrance itself was over twenty meters tall.
Cultivators constantly entered and exited, a continuous flow of people, like ants in an anthill.
Some carried boxes of herbs, dark wooden containers sealed with preservation runes.
Others held jade bottles, some small, others large, all glowing with an inner light.
Some wore robes clearly associated with alchemy, garments decorated with symbols of furnaces and bottles, embroidered with gold and silver threads.
The aroma of medicinal herbs filled the air around the building, a complex scent that spread across entire blocks, a mixture of ginseng, mint, cinnamon, and a thousand other herbs that Kyrian could not identify.
Kyrian observed everything for a few seconds. Then, he entered.
The interior was even more impressive. The floor was made of polished white marble, so bright that it reflected the people passing by.
Spiritual crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each one the size of a man, shining with a soft multicolored light.
Various formations glowed discreetly along the walls, runes that Kyrian partially recognized, though he could not decipher their complete purpose.
Hundreds of people moved through the enormous hall.
Some negotiated, discussing prices in low voices, examining products through spiritual magnifying lenses.
Others purchased ingredients, selecting herbs, all neatly organized on jade shelves.
Others sold pills, displaying their products on wooden trays and explaining their properties to potential buyers.
Kyrian had barely taken a few steps when a young attendant approached.
She had brown hair tied into an elegant bun, secured with silver pins, some adorned with small gemstones at their tips.
She wore a light-green uniform, simple but well-made, embroidered with the association’s symbol on the chest. Her professional smile appeared immediately.
But it disappeared for a brief moment when she noticed Kyrian’s eyes. Violet lightning danced within his pupils, tiny bolts of light pulsing in a steady rhythm.
The surprise lasted only a second. Quickly, she regained her composure.
"Has the young master come to buy or sell items?"
Kyrian thought for a moment.
"I came here to sell pills and purchase some materials."
The young woman nodded politely.
"What rank are the pills that the young master wishes to sell?"
"Mostly Rank 3 and Rank 4." Kyrian paused briefly.
"And a few Rank 5 pills."
The young woman’s expression remained calm. But her eyes revealed a hint of surprise.
"Understood. Please follow me."
She bowed slightly. Then she began to walk.
The two crossed the main hall, weaving through groups of cultivators, passing service counters, and moving around product displays.
They headed toward an elegant staircase constructed from white jade, each step polished, each railing carved with flowers and leaves.
A short while later, they arrived on the second floor. The atmosphere was different. Quieter. More private.
There were fewer people moving around, dozens rather than hundreds. Even so, dozens of cultivators were negotiating at the various counters scattered throughout the area.
The young woman led Kyrian to a specific counter. Behind it sat an elderly man. His appearance was simple, his clothes ordinary, dark blue robes without embroidery or ornaments.
Gray hair, with a few dark strands remaining, though most had already turned white. Tired eyes, yet sharp.
But the spiritual pressure emanating from him revealed something completely different. Initial Spiritual Awakening Realm.
It was not an impressive level by the standards of the Sky Caravan. Kyrian had already seen gate guards who were stronger.
But for a counter attendant... it was unusual.
The old man smiled warmly.
"Welcome to the Alchemists Association."
Kyrian merely nodded. The attendant bowed to both of them. Then she returned to the first floor.
Without wasting time, Kyrian removed three jade bottles from his spatial ring.
The first was green, jade the color of fresh leaves. The second was blue. The third was black.
He placed them on the counter.
"What price would these pills fetch?"
The old man nodded, a calm and professional gesture. Accustomed to this kind of negotiation.
He picked up the first bottle. Opened the lid.
Instantly, an intense medicinal aroma spread through the surroundings.
It was not the faint scent of low-quality pills, barely noticeable unless one pressed their nose against them.
It was a penetrating aroma that filled the air, that made the lungs fill with energy. The old man raised an eyebrow. Then he leaned closer.
He inhaled deeply.
"Rank 3 Blood Recovery Pills."
He examined them for a few more seconds, rolling one of the pills between his fingers, inspecting its surface, its color, its luster.
"Purity above ninety-five percent."
"Excellent quality."
Kyrian remained calm.
"You are mistaken."
