Transmigration: The Peerless Immortal Husband

The owner of the shop Gu Yao and his companions had just visited came rushing out in a hurry. If not for an invisible burst of spiritual energy subtly deflecting him, he would have run straight into Gu Yao. Oblivious to this, the shopkeeper hurried over to the two young cultivators wearing alchemist badges, his enthusiasm bordering on flattery.

“Honored alchemists, would you like to take a look at the spiritual herbs in our shop? We just received a rare batch from the Nanmang Mountain Range. Only in the hands of skilled alchemists can these herbs truly shine.”

“Nanmang Mountain Range? Not bad. Should we go check it out?” One of the alchemists sought his companion’s opinion.

“Sure, let’s do it.”

The two young alchemists nodded in agreement, bringing a broad smile to the shopkeeper’s face. The other cultivators accompanying the alchemists crowded around and followed them eagerly into the store. Naturally, this left Gu Yao and his group blocking the path. One person reached out to shove them aside without hesitation.

Chi Changye frowned in displeasure, but Gu Yao remained unperturbed. He gently pulled Chi Changye away. “We are indeed standing in the way. Making space is the polite thing to do.” Gu Yao had no sense of entitlement despite his current status. He harbored no belief that others should clear the path for him wherever he went; his outlook on social hierarchies remained indifferent.

The group bustled past them. The female alchemist in their midst inadvertently glanced sideways, catching a fleeting glimpse of Gu Yao’s retreating figure. That side profile struck her as familiar, but before she could take a closer look, he had already merged into the crowd and disappeared from sight.

“Sister, what are you looking at? Come on, let’s get inside. I remember you’re very interested in herbs from Nanmang,” her companion urged.

The female alchemist withdrew her gaze, a faint sense of regret tugging at her heart as though she had missed something important. “It’s nothing,” she replied softly. Then, after a moment of thought, she asked, “Senior Brother, do you think Alchemist Gu will come to Alchemist’s Cauldron City soon? Will we have a chance to meet him?”

The male alchemist, uncertain, responded, “He probably will come. Senior Chi has already completed his formation and emerged from seclusion. With Senior Chi escorting him, there shouldn’t be any obstacles wherever Alchemist Gu goes. If Alchemist Gu visits Alchemist’s Cauldron City, we should have a chance to meet him.” By the end, he had convinced even himself.

“I really hope to meet Alchemist Gu. It would be wonderful if he decided to stay in Alchemist’s Cauldron City permanently.”

During this brief conversation between the senior and junior disciples, Gu Yao and his group had already walked far away. Gu Yao was not upset by the scene. “This is actually quite good. Alchemist’s Cauldron City was established around the Alchemist Guild and is personally overseen by President Hu. It makes sense for cultivators and merchants here to value alchemists. Without the guild, they wouldn’t have gathered here to expand their businesses.”

The chubby youth added enthusiastically, “If you revealed your identity, Gu Yao, we’d probably be surrounded by crowds. That shopkeeper would have been ecstatic to the point of fainting.”

His grandfather had helped Gu Yao establish the guild, and naturally, he took pride in its success.

“Pfft, more like fainting from shock,” Tian Feirong interjected playfully.

As the two continued their friendly banter, they walked ahead. Chi Changye and Gu Yao strolled side by side, quickly putting the earlier encounter behind them. They relished this rare moment of peaceful leisure amidst the bustling street market after a long period of busyness. Despite the noisy surroundings, their hearts were calm.

—

At the Alchemist Guild, President Hu Ting was listening to several elders report on the progress of alchemist rank assessments. Although alchemy techniques were generally lagging behind, the gathering of numerous alchemists in Alchemist’s Cauldron City had revealed several promising talents. With proper training, these individuals could achieve notable success.

Unlike the Immortal Ascension Conference, which occurred only once every ten years and often left age-restricted cultivators without opportunities, the guild lowered barriers to participation. The doors remained open for alchemists at any time, without restrictions due to age or timing.

“I recently discovered two great prospects,” an elder named Hao shared. “They previously trained under a family-sponsored alchemist. Unfortunately, that alchemist’s lifespan ran out, so the siblings came to seek opportunities here in Alchemist’s Cauldron City.”

“Elder Hao, are you thinking of taking in more disciples?” Hu Ting teased, noticing his delighted expression.

Hao stroked his beard with a chuckle. “I’ll observe them a while longer. Talent is important, but character is just as critical.”

Hu Ting smiled and shook his head. Just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly shifted, and he sprang to his feet, his joy unmistakable.

“We have an esteemed guest! Our guild has an honored visitor! Wait here—I’ll be right back!”

“Hey, hold on, Hu! Who is it?” one of the elders called out urgently. “Could it be Alchemist Gu? With Senior Chi’s protection, Gu Yao wouldn’t need to fear trouble anymore.”

“Let’s go follow him!”

The elders were equally curious about Gu Yao. Although they had corresponded with him through letters and considered him a respected peer, it never felt tangible due to the distance. Hu Ting often praised Gu Yao, claiming his own advancements in alchemy were greatly due to their exchanges. He credited Gu Yao for making the refining of the Tianyuan Pill remarkably smooth.

Both the Red Xuan Pill and the Qingchen Pill formulas were gifts from Gu Yao, now securely held by the guild. After studying the formulas, the elders marveled at the genius of their creator.

Gu Yao and his companions entered the Alchemist Guild, where a receptionist warmly greeted them and asked if they were there to apply for alchemist rank certification. Gu Yao hesitated—did he really need to take an assessment? Starting from the lowest rank might only stir unnecessary attention. So, instead, he and the chubby youth released their auras, searching for Hu Ting’s location.

Sensing their presence, Hu Ting immediately descended from the upper floors. Meanwhile, the receptionist continued diligently explaining the certification process, still treating them as young alchemists seeking recognition.

Though the receptionist failed to see through their subtle disguise, Hu Ting, with his Golden Core cultivation, instantly recognized Gu Yao, his grandson, Chi Changye who had successfully formed his core, and the young Tian family companion.

The receptionist, growing hoarse from his lengthy explanations, noticed the group’s polite smiles but lack of response. No matter how kind their expressions were, it wasn’t helping. “Excuse me, Daoist friends, are you…?”

A voice interrupted, “I’ll personally handle these esteemed guests. This gentleman is one of our guild’s long-unseen elders.”

The receptionist blinked in confusion—Elder? Had he misheard? But when he turned and saw President Hu Ting himself, his shock grew. Watching Hu escort the four upstairs, the receptionist was left reeling as murmurs erupted among guild staff and visiting cultivators alike.

Questions filled the air. “Who were those people? The president himself came down to receive them!” Some doubted they were truly important, given their youthful appearances, but whispers began to circulate rapidly.

Suddenly, someone gasped, “An elder who hasn’t appeared in a long time? Could that be Alchemist Gu Yao and Senior Chi? Weren’t there two younger cultivators with them?”

“It must be them! Oh no, I just passed by Alchemist Gu and Senior Chi without realizing it! Why didn’t I seize the chance to greet them?”

The receptionist, stunned by realization, pinched himself hard, wincing loudly. The pain was real, and so was the encounter. He laughed nervously, but no one thought he was crazy—after all, few were fortunate enough to exchange words with figures like Alchemist Gu and Senior Chi.

Shortly after, a mid-level guild manager appeared at the staircase, urging everyone to remain calm while confirming the visitors’ identities as Gu Yao and his group. News spread like wildfire from the Alchemist Guild in every direction.

“Alchemist Gu Yao has come to the guild!”
“Senior Chi appeared at the guild to escort him!”
“President Hu personally received Alchemist Gu Yao!”

Meanwhile, the young alchemist siblings emerged from the store after purchasing spirit herbs, overhearing these discussions. They quickly grabbed a passerby to confirm the news. Learning it was true, they became excited.

“Junior sister, let’s hurry to the guild! We might actually meet him!” the senior brother urged, his eyes shining with anticipation.

“Alright, let’s head back immediately.”

Shopping for spirit herbs could happen anytime, but the chance to meet Gu Yao was rare. Without hesitation, the siblings sprinted toward the main guild. The cultivators who had been following them earlier abandoned interest in the pair. Some spread the news, others hurried to the guild—seizing a connection with Alchemist Gu was far more valuable than focusing on two junior alchemists.

In no time, invitation letters flooded the guild like a storm. With no direct way to reach Gu Yao, these hopefuls relied on the guild to deliver their messages. Chi Changye also attracted significant attention; as the undisputed top cultivator of Tianlin Continent, many sought to gain his favor.

The simultaneous presence of these two renowned figures in Alchemist’s Cauldron City caused an unprecedented stir.

Upstairs, Gu Yao and his companions removed their concealment technique as Hu Ting led them to a private room. After exchanging greetings, a group of elders quickly gathered around them, eager to engage Gu Yao in discussions about alchemy. Hu Ting eventually had to find a separate space for Gu Yao to host these conversations, as the elders were insistent on seizing every opportunity to talk shop.

Their conversation stretched endlessly, making it impossible for outsiders to gather further information. Still, no one was willing to leave for fear of missing an opportunity to meet Gu Yao. Some alchemists even rushed to the city from outside Alchemist’s Cauldron City just to catch a glimpse of the famed alchemist.

Watching Elder Hao and the others monopolize Gu Yao’s time under the guise of seniority, Hu Ting shook his head in exasperation. When staff reported the growing crowd outside, he had no choice but to interrupt the gathering to inform Gu Yao. If left unchecked, the situation could tarnish his reputation.