Chapter 148 - 148: Alchemist Rank

"I... I'm sorry...I lied…. Please don't kill me...!!!" She let out as she got on her knees. 

"How dare you do such a thing!!! Let alone misbehaving with him but you even falsely accused an Earth Realm cultivator??? If you hadn't worked for the Alchemy Hall for such a long time, I would have personally killed you!!! Keeping your service in mind and because I don't want bloodshed inside Alchemy Hall, I'll give you a different punishment. Kowtow ten times in front of him as you ask for forgiveness and leave this place forever and never return to Alchemy Hall ever again. From this moment onwards, you will be known as the girl who betrayed the trust of Alchemy Hall and almost ruined it's trustworthy reputation!!! " Branch Master Gu said as he gazed at the girl with a furious look on his face. 

"Senior, I hope you are satisfied with my punishment. Although it isn't as grave as the offense she committed, but I hope you don't hurt her further. Although she committed a grave mistake, I don't want to see her killed" Branch Master Gu said in a soft tone. 

"Alright" Long Chen replied with just one word. 

'Bang... bang.... bang.... ' The sound of her head striking the ground came as she began kowtowing in front of Long Chen before he could change his mind. She did that ten times before she stood up with tears in her eyes and a swollen forehead as she hurriedly walked towards the stairs of the ground floor and left. 

"I apologize that you had to face all these problems in our Alchemy Hall. I'll make it up to you later" The old man said with a smile as he tried to lighten the mood. 

"Let's go to the third floor. We can talk in peace there while you tell me the herbs that you need. " Branch Master Gu said as he gazed at Long Chen. Long Chen agreed as he followed Branch Master Gu on the third floor leaving Dong Shu behind.

Long Chen and Great Master Gu of Alchemy Hall faced each other as they sat on the chairs on the third floor of Alchemy Hall. 

"So senior, what materials do you need?" Master Gu asked as he looked at Long Chen.  

"A 10-year-old ginseng, a 20-year-old black hellebore, cassia which is younger than 5 years, ten years old baizhu, spiritual Jiang, a fresh fuling... " Long chen kept naming herbs and plants that he felt like he could use during his initial practice of alchemy. His knowledge about the way of alchemy was already pretty good making it easier for him to decide what herbs to get. 

"....and finally a fifty-year-old gancao" Long Chen finished as he breathed in a mouthful of air. 

" Ahh... I have most of the herbs that you need but not all of them. Some of the herbs that you named are pretty rare and aren't available in our branch. I'll have to call the other branches to get it. 

"It's alright, forget about what you don't have as I don't have long to stay here. I'll get them from other branches of Alchemy Hall during my travels. " Long Chen said with a smile. 

" I'm grateful for the senior's understanding. By the way, is senior an alchemist as well? I get such a feeling? "Branch Master Gu smiled as he asked. 

"I do some Alchemy on my travels when I'm getting bored" Long Chen casually replied with a smile. 

"Aren't most of the herbs you are buying used for low-level Alchemy? Are you buying them for your disciple? " Branch Master Gu asked with a thoughtful look on his face. 

"Oh, you are absolutely right.I was planning to teach alchemy to my grandson when I go back. This thought came into my mind just this morning which made me come here to get the required materials. Although I could buy them from your branch at my place when I go back as well, but I don't want to disturb your elders for basic herbs"Long Chen smiled as he said in a thoughtful tone. 

" Oh, that's really sweet. How old is your grandson?" Branch Master Gu inquired. 

"He will be five years old this year," Long Chen said with a smile. 

*Oh nice! Getting him to learn Alchemy at such a young age. I'm sure he'll be a great alchemist in the future." Branch Master Gu said with a smile. 

"Guanzi!" He called out in a loud voice. Soon after, someone wearing Alchemy Hall's uniform entered the hall. 

"Bring all the herbs written in it. Also, bring me the thing which we just received from the higher branch today. " Branch Master Gu said with a smile as he gave a list to the man. 

That person went back without saying anything. 

Although Long Chen wondered what branch Master Gu was talking about, he decided not to ask. Long Chen and the Branch Master Gu kept talking in the meantime.

"Senior, can I ask you a question? Just out of curiosity, What is your Alchemist Rank? It must be a pretty high level. " Branch Master Gu suddenly asked as he gazed towards Long Chen.

"Me? I would be what you call a 9th rank Spirit grade alchemist."Long Chen replied but he intentionally ignored a word from his sentence, 'theoretically'. Long Chen wasn't a proper alchemist as he only had theoretical knowledge so far.

Branch Master Gu couldn't help but stand up with a stunned look on his face. 

"Although it's not that good, it is what it is" Long Chen replied with a smile as he enjoyed the expression on Branch Master Gu's face. 

Branch Master Gu's expression became strange as he sat down without commenting.

"What is your Rank?" Long Chen asked with a thoughtful look

"Unlike senior, I'm only a 5th rank mortal grade alchemist and I think I'll stay there my whole life. " Branch Master Gu said with a disappointed look on his face. 

"Can senior show me his official alchemist rank badge? I want to see what a high-level badge looks like as I have never been in contact with such a high-level alchemist" Branch Master Gu said with a pleading look on his face.