Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Law Enforcement Hall
Any Fourth Grade Alchemist was considered an elite figure in the kingdom. Their emergence had to be reported to the king, who would personally bestow a reward to mark the grand occasion.
"In that case, my thanks to Chairman He."
"Hahaha, Hua Luoxuan, there’s no need for such formalities." He Zhen stroked his beard and laughed. "Do you have any plans today? If not, the Alchemist Association simply must hold a celebration tonight. Gaining a new Fourth Grade Alchemist is a major event for us!"
Hua Luoxuan smiled. "I am at Chairman He’s disposal. However, I must make a trip to the royal palace later to register. After all, I am a member of the court alchemists."
"Of course, of course." He Zhen smiled and nodded. "But let me be blunt: you absolutely must attend the banquet tonight. Don’t let Yang An whisk you away, or this old man will truly be cross."
Seeing that Hua Luoxuan was about to speak again, he cut him off with a wave of his hand and a smile. "Say no more. It’s settled. It’s not every day we welcome a new Fourth Grade Alchemist. We can’t let the Court Alchemist Association steal all the glory this time."
Since Chairman He had put it that way, Hua Luoxuan said no more.
The Liuyun Kingdom’s Alchemist Association was, in fact, a branch of the continent-wide Alchemist Association. Any alchemist in the Liuyun Kingdom who achieved a breakthrough had to be assessed and registered here.
However, the Alchemist Association held no real authority over its members. In contrast, the Court Alchemist Association was an organization established by the Liuyun Kingdom itself. It recruited powerful alchemists, offering them immense rewards and superior conditions, primarily to serve the royal family.
Acknowledging that most alchemists cherished their freedom, the Court Alchemist Association’s restrictions were not too strict. Someone like Hua Luoxuan could even hold a position in a remote city like Blue Moon City; they were only required to return when the kingdom summoned them.
While there was no overt conflict between the two major associations, the inherent pride of alchemists led to a subtle, unspoken rivalry.
If the Chief Court Alchemist were to learn that their ranks had grown with another Fourth Grade Alchemist, he would undoubtedly organize a banquet of his own. This was precisely the reason behind He Zhen’s earlier words.
"Alright, everyone, let’s disperse. Hua Luoxuan, make sure you come back soon!" He Zhen said with a slight smile before leaving the alchemy lab to make arrangements for the banquet.
"Congratulations, congratulations." The remaining masters offered their felicitations one by one before departing.
After putting away his new Fourth Grade Alchemist badge, Hua Luoxuan gathered his things. He was just about to head for the royal palace when a steward from the Alchemist Association stopped him.
"Hua Luoxuan, come with me."
The steward eyed Hua Luoxuan with a strange, passive-aggressive air, a faint sneer playing on his lips. Behind him stood several guards from the Alchemist Association.
"Oh, it’s Steward Xuu." Hua Luoxuan frowned. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
This Steward Xuu, whose full name was Xuu Ji, was a Third Grade Alchemist, just as Hua Luoxuan had been. The difference was that Hua Luoxuan had served as the chairman of the local association in Blue Moon City, whereas Xuu Ji was a steward in the Law Enforcement Hall at the Royal City’s Alchemist Association.
On the Celestial Profound Continent, alchemists held an esteemed status. Most factions wouldn’t dare offend or apprehend them, which led to many alchemists becoming arrogant, domineering, and lawless.
The Law Enforcement Hall was the very institution within the Alchemist Association tasked with punishing such alchemists.
There was once a case of an evil alchemist who poisoned the populace of an entire town to refine a certain pill. After the matter came to light, he was struck down on the spot by the Alchemist Association’s headquarters for the Thirteen Nations Alliance, his head put on public display as a warning.
Of course, disciplining an alchemist required a highly complex procedure, the first step of which was being taken in by the Law Enforcement Hall for investigation.
"Heh, ’to what do I owe the pleasure’?" Xuu Ji sneered. "You’ll find out once you come with me. What? Are you planning to defy a direct order from the Law Enforcement Hall?"
Hua Luoxuan glanced at Xuu Ji and didn’t argue. "Let’s go."
’I have no history with this Xuu Ji,’ he thought. ’I’m curious to see what he’s planning.’
"My Prince, that’s him!"
The moment Hua Luoxuan stepped into the Law Enforcement Hall, a low, cold voice cried out. He looked up, and everything instantly became clear.
Standing in the Law Enforcement Hall were several men and a woman. The leader of the group, a man with a dignified and imposing bearing, was none other than Prince He, Zhao Xun. Behind him, Meng Yi stared at Hua Luoxuan with a cold, detached expression.
"Father," the arrogant young woman, Zhao Jing, called out sharply, a vicious smile twisting her lips.
The mark of the slap on her face had vanished.
Evidently, with the resources of Prince He’s estate, finding a pill to clear up a bruise was an effortless task.
"And here I was, wondering who it could be. So it’s you lot," Hua Luoxuan said dismissively.
"You’re the one who humiliated my daughter at the tavern today?" Zhao Xun strode forward. The might of a Celestial Martial Artist radiated from him, his gaze as sharp as a lightning strike. His icy tone caused the very air in the Law Enforcement Hall to grow heavy.
"And why would you say that, Your Excellency?" Hua Luoxuan gave a faint smile. "I, Hua Luoxuan, always act with a clear conscience. I wouldn’t call it humiliation. If you were to say I was righting a wrong and punishing evil, however, then you might have a point."
"Insolence!" Zhao Xun roared. Hua Luoxuan’s words had painted his daughter as the villain.
"Hua Luoxuan, you’d better show some respect," Xuu Ji snapped, his eyes narrowing like a viper’s.
"Hahaha!" Hua Luoxuan couldn’t help but burst out laughing. "We alchemists hold a revered status. A mere prince—what does that make him? And he dares to put on airs before me and demand my respect? And you, Xuu Ji, if you want to be someone’s lapdog, be my guest. But don’t you dare lump me in with you."
"You..." A cold glint flashed in Xuu Ji’s eyes. "Hua Luoxuan, you abuse your status as an alchemist to act lawlessly and bully others. Now that you’re in the Law Enforcement Hall, you’d best confess everything."
"’Confess everything’?" Hua Luoxuan’s gaze was frigid. "A fine sentiment, Xuu Ji. But if you want to convict me, I’m afraid a mere steward like yourself doesn’t have the authority. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave."
With that said, Hua Luoxuan turned to leave.
Honestly, now that he knew why Xuu Ji had summoned him, he had lost all interest in staying.
SWOOSH!
In a flash, Zhao Xun moved to block Hua Luoxuan’s path.
Hua Luoxuan’s eyes narrowed. "Prince He, is it? This is the Alchemist Association. What, do you intend to stop me here? Laying a hand on an alchemist within the Alchemist Association’s walls... Prince, have you truly considered the consequences?"
Hua Luoxuan’s voice wasn’t loud, but the confident, domineering aura it carried grated on Zhao Xun, whose gaze turned icy.
He turned to look at Xuu Ji, who let out a cold laugh. "Hua Luoxuan, you and I are both Third Grade Alchemists. I naturally don’t have the authority to convict you. However, given your lawless behavior, I have already joined with two other stewards to request a formal investigation. Therefore, no matter what other business you may have, you will remain here in the Law Enforcement Hall and cooperate until this matter is resolved."
As his words faded, two other alchemists in the robes of the Law Enforcement Hall emerged from an adjacent room. They immediately fixed Hua Luoxuan with arrogant glares, their haughty intentions plain to see.
According to the rules of the Law Enforcement Hall, every alchemist was a treasure. They could not be convicted lightly on mere accusation.
To convict an alchemist required a joint order from two or three alchemists of a higher grade. Even a simple investigation required the approval of three alchemists of the same grade.
Thus, upon receiving the request from Prince He, Xuu Ji had immediately found two stewards with whom he was on good terms, and together, they had approved the investigation into Hua Luoxuan.
Hua Luoxuan’s expression remained placid, showing not a ripple of emotion. He couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh. "I’ve often heard that the Alchemist Association’s Law Enforcement Hall is a den of corruption, where power is abused for personal gain. I never quite believed it before, but seeing it now... It’s truly disappointing."
"Insolence!" Steward Xuu barked, waving his hand. "Guards! Seize this Hua Luoxuan and hold him for judgment!"
RATTLE!
The Alchemist Association guards behind Steward Xuu surged forward, surrounding Hua Luoxuan.
They were all guards of the Law Enforcement Hall, typically deployed only for making arrests.
"Steward Xuu, I’m in your debt," Prince He, Zhao Xun, said with a cold smirk.
Steward Xuu’s expression was indifferent. "You’re too kind, Prince He. Apprehending law-breaking alchemists is my duty as Xuu Ji. It is no trouble at all."
"Hahaha! A fine sense of ’duty’ indeed." Hua Luoxuan’s eyes narrowed, his gaze turning glacial. "Let me ask you, Xuu Ji: is your duty to be a lapdog for the nobility, or to uphold the dignity of the Alchemist Association?"
"That is none of your concern," Steward Xuu said coldly, waving his hand. "What are you standing around for? Seize him!"
The group of guards lunged at Hua Luoxuan. Apparently taking a cue from Steward Xuu, they moved with rough, vicious intent. This was clearly not a simple arrest; they intended to teach Hua Luoxuan a harsh lesson.
The anger in Hua Luoxuan’s heart finally erupted.
BOOM!
He unleashed the power of a Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist. The guards lunging at him were sent flying back the way they had come, each one crashing to the ground and crying out in pain.
"Hua Luoxuan, how dare you! You dare to resist arrest by the Law Enforcement Hall?!"
Steward Xuu’s eyes widened in disbelief. He had clearly not expected Hua Luoxuan to be so brazen, and rage surged within him.
"Hua Luoxuan, what do you think you’re doing? Surrender at once!"
"Attacking the guards of the Law Enforcement Hall... Hua Luoxuan, is this a rebellion?"
The other two stewards from the Law Enforcement Hall also roared in angry disbelief.
Right or wrong, no alchemist would ever dare to attack the arresting guards of the Law Enforcement Hall.
Moments before, Steward Xuu and the others had only requested that Hua Luoxuan submit to an investigation. If nothing was found, they would have had no choice but to release him.
But now, Hua Luoxuan had actually attacked the Law Enforcement Hall’s guards. The nature of the situation had changed completely.
