Chapter 5: Chapter 6: The Alchemist
Chapter 6: The Alchemist
The next day, the morning sunlight shone through the window, warming the young man sitting cross-legged on the bed, meditating. "Ah…" After sitting quietly for a long time, Mo Yu took a deep breath, drawing a red electric current of thunder into his body, nurturing his bones. His eyes suddenly opened, flashing with lightning. Stretching lazily, Mo Yu murmured, "The power of the Xuan Lei isn't enough. It seems my cultivation has hit a bottleneck."
It had been a day since the last test. After casually encouraging Xiao Yan and planting a good impression, Mo Yu had returned to his seclusion for cultivation. However, unlike the rapid growth he experienced earlier, his progress had now slowed down.
"It looks like it's time to find a way to enhance my strength," Mo Yu murmured. He got out of bed slowly, stretched his muscles, and changed into a blue robe. A kind, elderly voice called from outside the door, "Yu'er, are you up yet?" "Grandpa, I'm up." After living with his grandfather for a few days, Mo Yu was starting to get used to it.
In his previous two lives, he had been an orphan with no concept of family. Although his parents were gone in this life, having a grandfather made up for his loss. "Yu'er, some distinguished guests are coming to the family today. I need to attend to them. I've already prepared lunch for you, so you don't need to wait for me," the old man advised him like a teacher. Mo Yu smiled wryly. He wasn't so helpless that he couldn't take care of himself, but the old man didn't stop his instructions.
Still, Mo Yu enjoyed this familial nagging. Suddenly, he remembered the mention of distinguished guests and thought of the famous scene of the engagement annulment that was about to happen. Mo Yu had no interest in getting involved.
First, he didn't have the status to participate in such family affairs, unlike Xun'er. Second, what mattered most to him now was his strength, not gossip. Thinking of this, Mo Yu felt a bit embarrassed and turned to the old man. "Grandpa, do you have any money?" The old man paused. "Money? Yu'er, do you need money?" "Yes, Grandpa. I need to buy some things," Mo Yu said directly, not hiding his needs from the kind old man. The old man chuckled. "Yu'er, you're growing up and know how to use money. Wait a moment; I'll find some for you."
Without waiting for Mo Yu to speak, the old man went to rummage through the house. Soon, he came out with a small box, carefully opening it to reveal a golden glow that made Mo Yu squint slightly. "This is all I have, seven hundred gold coins. Take it all today," the old man said, handing the box to Mo Yu with a firm attitude that brooked no refusal.
Touching the old man's wrinkled, aged hand, Mo Yu felt a pang of guilt. This was the old man's lifetime savings. "Grandpa…" Before Mo Yu could finish, the old man interrupted, "Enough. I was worried you'd think it's not enough. If it weren't for your father's incident a few years ago, I'd have more…" The old man's eyes grew moist, recalling something sad.
Mo Yu frowned deeply. His mother had died in childbirth, and despite his questions, the old man always gave vague answers about his father's death. Mo Yu suspected there was a hidden reason, perhaps involving a powerful force the Xiao family couldn't confront. He resolved to investigate once he had enough strength.
"Grandpa, this is enough. Don't worry. I'll repay you with a thousand gold coins soon," Mo Yu promised confidently. He wasn't making empty promises. A thousand gold coins were nothing to him, and he already had a plan for the seven hundred gold coins. "Yu'er, you don't need to repay me. These coins were always meant for you. Spend them as you need," the old man smiled, giving more advice before leaving.
Mo Yu felt touched by his words. After the old man left, Mo Yu packed the coins and headed out of the family estate. Along the way, he encountered some Xiao family members. After yesterday's test, Mo Yu's name had started to spread among the younger generation, so many greeted him. Mo Yu responded politely but indifferently. Apart from Xun'er and Xiao Yan, there was no one in the Xiao family worth befriending.
He overheard mentions of 'Yun Lan Sect' and 'Nalan Yanran,' piquing his curiosity about the engagement annulment drama. But he quickly dismissed the thought and slowed his pace after leaving the estate, leisurely wandering the bustling streets of Wu Tan City.
Wu Tan City was indeed one of the major cities of the Jia Ma Empire, teeming with people despite the blazing sun. The streets were crowded, with occasional sightings of various exotic races. Mo Yu had a clear goal: to find Thundercloud Crystals, Fire Nitrate Stones, and Fire Mystic Iron.
These items wouldn't directly enhance his strength but could be used to create a hidden weapon called 'Thunderfire Beads.' As the name suggests, Thunderfire Beads combine the elements of thunder and fire. When activated with Dou Qi and thrown, they could severely injure or even kill a Dou Zhe with a single hit. Seven hundred gold coins were insufficient as initial capital, so Mo Yu planned to first expand his funds and then purchase cultivation resources. His solution: Thunderfire Beads.
Unlike the Dou Qi Continent, where alchemists dominated, the Shenxiao Continent valued various professions, including alchemists and blacksmiths. In his previous life, Mo Yu was a master blacksmith, and making Thunderfire Beads was an easy task. Considering their market potential in a mercenary-heavy city like Wu Tan, Mo Yu was confident they would sell well.
With a plan in mind, Mo Yu began his shopping trip. These materials were common on the Dou Qi Continent, and within an hour, he had everything he needed. After spending most of his gold coins, Mo Yu was left with only two hundred, but he wasn't disheartened. Looking at the materials, he felt confident. "Everything is ready. It's time to start making money."
(End of this chapter)