Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 2587  Grandmaster Status And An Old Acquaintance

Lin Mu gazed at the people who were now left behind. There were some familiar faces among them, as well as a few unfamiliar ones.

The familiar individuals included the Emperor, Crown Prince Feng Shun, Grandmaster Lao, Minister Deng, and Minister Bibon of the Imperial Court.

As for the others present, Lin Mu didn't know them at all. However, judging by the way they stood and carried themselves, Lin Mu could somewhat discern their affiliations.

Two individuals stood near Grandmaster Lao, wearing the robes of alchemy masters, albeit of a lower rank. Both were middle-aged men with cultivation bases at the Fifth Tribulation Stage of the Immortal Realm.

"Lord Imperator, these two are my disciples: Yunye and Yunsan," Grandmaster Lao introduced.

"We greet the Lord Imperator and Grandmaster Alchemist Lin Mu!" The two men cupped their fists and bowed their heads.

Lin Mu had not seen them in the crowd earlier. Their sudden appearance made him think that they had been occupied elsewhere before arriving.

Hearing their greetings, Lin Mu couldn't accept the title entirely.

"I am not a Grandmaster Alchemist," Lin Mu corrected them. "I do not deserve to be called that."

"What!?" The two alchemists were stunned. "But you summoned a Heavenly Phenomenon and created a new method and material," they said, their surprise evident.

Even Grandmaster Lao was slightly taken aback and looked at Lin Mu intently.

"You've done enough to be at the rank of a Grandmaster. You don't need to take a promotion exam at all," Grandmaster Lao stated firmly.

"Ah, the thing is… I've never taken an exam for an alchemist," Lin Mu admitted truthfully. "I've only ever practiced alchemy for personal purposes and never underwent formal evaluations."

"You… what?!" Grandmaster Lao's shock deepened.

Of course, the Grandmaster had checked Lin Mu's credentials before to see what kind of alchemist he might be, but there were no records of him. This wasn't unusual, as some alchemists never registered with the Immortal Court and instead operated through private organizations or informal training.

Sometimes, alchemists learned under hermit masters who preferred to stay hidden, promoting their disciples informally. These disciples would only appear in public during alchemical gatherings or competitions, which served as both a showcase of skill and a platform for formal promotions.

This was the impression Grandmaster Lao had about Lin Mu as well.

It was why he had brought his disciples to meet Lin Mu, hoping they could learn something valuable from him.

"I've never taken any tests," Lin Mu confirmed once more.

Emperor Feng and Crown Prince Feng Shun exchanged a glance, their silent conversation clear to each other.

"It's true, Father. Daoist Lin Mu has never undergone any formal alchemical evaluations. In fact, in our conversations, he admitted he was bad at alchemy," Crown Prince Feng Shun informed the Emperor.

Hearing this, the Emperor raised his brows in surprise.

"If this level of skill is considered 'bad,' then what does that make the rest of our alchemists?" the Emperor wondered, feeling a mix of amazement and concern.

He even speculated that Lin Mu might be feigning humility, though his words were unintentionally undermining such an attempt.

"This… will be a bit complex," Grandmaster Lao muttered. "With my current authority, I can officially grant you the status of a Master Alchemist, but obtaining the rank of Grandmaster would require approval from the Immortal Court."

"Ah, I don't mind that at all. I never aimed to achieve a rank like that anyway," Lin Mu said honestly. "Though I suppose having the title of Master Alchemist wouldn't hurt," he added with a chuckle.

If aspiring alchemists overheard his words, they would likely burst into tears. Many had struggled for centuries or even millennia to reach the rank of Master Alchemist. Yet, Lin Mu seemed indifferent to it, despite his skill level clearly surpassing theirs.

Of course, none of them knew that this was Lin Mu's first serious attempt at alchemy, guided entirely by intuition and sheer determination. Lin Mu had no intention of revealing this either, preferring to let the mystery remain.

"If you're fine with it, I'll officiate your status as a Master Alchemist. Promotion to Grandmaster can be handled later at the Immortal Court, but given the Heavenly Phenomenon you summoned, it will likely be a mere formality," Grandmaster Lao stated.

"That works for me," Lin Mu said with a smile. "I'll look into it when I eventually visit the Immortal Court."

The Immortal Court was a place Lin Mu would inevitably visit, and he saw no harm in adding another identity to his repertoire. It would grant him further recognition and make certain tasks easier.

With that decided, Grandmaster Lao let out a sigh of relief.

Several thoughts ran through the Grandmaster's mind, primarily centered on how casually Lin Mu treated this significant accomplishment. To Grandmaster Lao, Lin Mu seemed like a 'humble genius' who didn't care much for ranks or titles.

The Grandmaster also attributed this attitude to Lin Mu's other achievements. Compared to those, being an alchemical Grandmaster might indeed seem trivial.

With a composed demeanor, Grandmaster Lao retrieved a blank badge and handed it to Lin Mu.

"This will serve as your official identity token as a Master Alchemist," Grandmaster Lao explained. "It is an unaffiliated badge, so if you join any organization, you will need to update it accordingly. Similarly, if you are promoted to Grandmaster, you will receive a new badge."

"Understood," Lin Mu replied, taking the badge and examining it. The token was a metal plate shaped like an alchemy cauldron, inscribed with intricate formations.

Connecting with the formations, Lin Mu branded the token with his will. Moments later, the badge recognized him as its rightful owner.

SHUA

Lin Mu's name appeared on one side of the badge, while the other displayed his rank: Master Alchemist. The ceremony was simple but witnessed by several influential figures, ensuring its legitimacy.

Grandmaster Lao had specifically requested these individuals to stay behind for this reason. In the absence of Immortal Court officials, credible witnesses such as the Emperor, Crown Prince, and ministers were necessary to formalize the appointment.

Lin Mu's new identity as a Master Alchemist was now official, and with Grandmaster Lao personally verifying it, no one in the Immortal Realm would dare question it.

CREAK

As Lin Mu pocketed the badge, the doors of the Imperial Court opened again.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" a loud voice echoed through the hall. "I got stopped by the new market that just opened outside the—" The man's words trailed off as his eyes scanned the room.

His gaze swept over the influential figures present, his nervousness growing. Finally, his eyes landed on Lin Mu, and he froze in place.

"You… how are you here?" the man asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Lin Mu recognized him instantly.

"Shu Shaoxing… to think I'd meet you here," Lin Mu remarked.

This was the same man who had teleported with Lin Mu to the Holy Topaz Empire and guided him to the Desolate Blood Battlefield. Shu Shaoxing, an ambitious cultivator who aspired to become the world's greatest grass cultivator, now stood before him.

"You… you're Daoist Lin Mu?! The Imperial Imperator and the winner of the Tournament of the Four Guardian Beasts?!" Shu Shaoxing stammered, visibly shaken.

"That's me," Lin Mu confirmed with a nod, a faint smile gracing his lips.

Meeting his old acquaintance Lin Mu couldn't help but surprised. He had not thought of the man for a while either. Though now that he thought of it, it had been over thirty years or more since he had even met the man. Lin Mu took a deeper look at his old acquaintance realizing the man had definitely changed over time. The first difference he saw was the fact that the man's cultivation base had increased and had reached the Fourth Tribulation Stage of the immortal realm. At the same time he was now wearing an official alchemists robe and even ha a badge hanging on his chest.

But looking at the badge, Lin Mu noticed he was just a normal Alchemist.

"How are you here, Shu Shaoxing?" He wondered.

After all, the Imperial Court wasn't a place where one could just stumble in. That combined with the man's earlier words made it seem like he was supposed to come here.

"Junior Brother is acquainted with Lord Imperator?" Alchemist Yunye was surprised.

"How's that possible?" Alchemist Yunsan wondered.

Even Grandmaster Lao had the same thoughts as he looked at them.

"Junior Brother?" Lin Mu turned to look at the old man.

"Ah, yes. This is my newest disciple, Shu Shaoxing." Grandmaster Lao introduced. "I managed to discover him back when I was investigating the matter of the Demon at the Desolate Blood Battlefield as well as the Violet mystic Life tree." He stated.

Hearing that, a few old memories rushed though Lin Mu's mind and he finally realized why the old man felt a bit familiar to him.

'So this was the big shot that had come to investigate my activities there.' Lin Mu thought, finding it quite intriguing.

The thread of fate had gotten intertwined and made him meet people that had been distant from him again.