339: Cloud-patterned Azure Fungus

She looked up, her eyes filled with determination: "I know you won't abandon me, but I can't get past it in my own heart. I want to become stronger, enter the Xuan Tian Division, possess the confidence to stand by your side, and be someone who can help you, not just a burden you have to protect from behind."

"I've already decided, Feng Ming." She looked at him, enunciating each word, "I will take good care of myself and won't cause you trouble. You don't need to worry about me."

Feng Ming looked at the stubbornness and determination in the young girl's eyes, and finally let out a helpless sigh.

A strange feeling of "my daughter has grown up and is beyond my control" inexplicably arose in his heart. He secretly muttered, "I spoiled her too much in the past, didn't discipline her properly," but more than that, there was a surging warmth and emotion.

He knew that the young girl before him was no longer the little lass he needed to protect. She had her own thoughts, her own persistence, and even more, the determination to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

This sentiment was heavier than a thousand catties.

Feng Ming finally nodded gently, his tone a mix of compromise and instruction: "Since you've decided, I'll agree. Just remember, be careful in everything. The Xuan Tian Division is not like other places. If you encounter trouble, don't act recklessly. Tell me immediately."

Upon receiving his consent, Lu Qianqian's eyes instantly lit up. The solemnity and stubbornness from before completely dissipated, and she regained some of her usual playfulness, nodding heavily: "I know! Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to myself!"

After returning to the Inn, Feng Ming went straight upstairs to meditate behind closed doors. Lu Qianqian instantly shed her restraint, hugging the packed food and feasting in the lobby. Her ungraceful eating style made the Inn owner's face turn ashen, but he dared not comment due to their aura.

Feng Ming didn't leave his room all afternoon. After nightfall, he didn't eat a single grain of rice, sitting by the window, deducing a way to break the situation.

When Feng Da returned and saw him in such a state, he didn't even dare to breathe loudly, just stood quietly to the side, not daring to disturb him in the slightest.

Feng Ming repeatedly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, his thoughts churning: First, his position—although Gan Lei didn't specify what it was, from his description, it was definitely a hot potato. After taking office, every step would be difficult. Only by quickly improving his strength and cultivating his influence could he gain a foothold. This time, helping the princess out of her predicament was an excellent opportunity.

Second, even if he decided to help the princess, he had to remain calm and absolutely not let the schemers realize that they had seen through the plot. Otherwise, it would only increase their vigilance. He needed to persuade the princess to cooperate fully, outwardly following the opponent's rhythm and turning their scheme against them.

Most importantly, since he was going to play along with them, he had to play it well. Of course, since these people dared to scheme against him, he couldn't just let it go. If he didn't show them some color, they would all think he was a soft persimmon that could be easily squeezed. Feng Ming pondered for an entire night, until the sun was high in the sky the next day and the sunlight shone on his shoulders, when he suddenly slammed the table and stood up, his eyes bursting with sharp light: "Turning their scheme against them! That's it!"

The sudden movement startled Feng Da, who quickly stepped forward and asked, "Young Master, are you alright? Have you figured out a countermeasure?"

Feng Ming shook his head, took out the cooling pill Gan Lei had given him yesterday, and said urgently, "Quickly, get paper and brush!"

Feng Da dared not delay and immediately brought the Four Treasures of the Study and laid them out.

"Every Spiritual Plant I name, you must write down without a single mistake, absolutely no omissions!" Feng Ming said solemnly.

"Young Master, don't worry, I guarantee no errors." Feng Da held the brush and concentrated.

Feng Ming immediately activated his ability of "Discern Pill, Recognize Formula," a talent that was his trump card.

Gan Lei regarded the cooling pill as a rare item, yet he could deduce the complete Pill Formula from a single Medicinal Pill. This was also the root cause of his dilemma about whether to save the princess.

Since he had the opportunity and the ability, he couldn't just ignore it. This was the countermeasure he had come up with after a night of hard thinking.

Under the activation of spiritual energy, the Pill Formula's ingredients clearly appeared. Feng Ming spoke very quickly: "One bowl of Green Lotus Spiritual Stamens, one Ring-Patterned Exquisite Fruit, one segment of Icy Cold Marrow, three qian of Jade Dew Spiritual Grass, half an Ice Prism Immortal Flower... and the last ingredient, one cloud pattern azure ganoderma!"

"Did you get all of it?" Feng Ming asked.

"Young Master, I did write it all down." Feng Da held the paper and nodded, then showed a troubled expression: "The first few ingredients might be found, but I've never heard of this cloud pattern azure ganoderma. It's probably extremely difficult to buy on the market."

"You immediately go to the Hua Clan Merchant House, buy all the Spiritual Plants on the list at all costs. If the Hua Clan Merchant House doesn't have them, find out where they can be found!" Feng Ming instructed.

"This subordinate obeys!" Feng Da clutched the list and quickly left.

In less than half an hour, he returned with a storage ring, panting, "Young Master, most of the Spiritual Plants on the list have been acquired and are all in the storage ring. Only the cloud pattern azure ganoderma is unobtainable."

"The Hua Clan Merchant House manager said it's a Ninth-Rank Spiritual Plant, extremely rare. Although there are some in their out-of-town warehouse, it would take at least half a month to transport them, which is too slow to solve the immediate problem. The entire Imperial Capital only has one place that has it, but it's as difficult as ascending to heaven to get it!"

Feng Ming's expression sharpened: "Where?"

"The Alchemist Guild!" Feng Da replied in a deep voice, "That's the main headquarters for Alchemists directly managed by the Bright Moon Dynasty. They control the refining and distribution of all Medicinal Pills in the country, practically the Bright Moon Dynasty's money bag, with immense power!"

Feng Ming was silent for a moment, then a look of resolve flashed in his eyes: "Let's go, follow me to the Alchemist Guild!"

With that, he quickly led Feng Da out of the Inn and headed straight for their destination.

The Alchemist Guild was a Holy Land coveted by Alchemists worldwide.

For Cultivators, entering the imperial court as an official was already an honor. For Alchemists, joining the Guild meant achieving fame and success.

However, its threshold was extremely high. Ordinary small cities had no branches; they were only set up in prefectural capitals. Furthermore, one needed to be at least a Sixth-Grade Alchemist to join, and the Imperial Capital's main headquarters had a far higher standard than the branches in various prefectures, with even stricter selection criteria.

During their journey, Feng Da had already used his intelligence network to ascertain the details and quickly reported: "Young Master, the Imperial Capital Guild has eight honorary presidents who take turns presiding. This year, Grand President Xing Fangsong is in charge."

"The tricky part is that the Guild's Spiritual Plants are never sold externally. To obtain them, one either has to join the Guild, achieve monumental merits, or pass the Ninth-Rank Alchemist assessment to be eligible to apply for the cloud pattern azure ganoderma!"

In front of the Guild's gates.

The vermilion gate was majestic and towering, with the five gilded characters "Alchemist Guild" shining brightly. On either side, stone lions stood solemnly, and the guards, dressed in uniform brocade robes, were all at the Foundation Establishment Peak cultivation level, their eyes sharp as eagles, scanning passersby without the slightest slack.

"Stop!" A guard stepped forward to block them, his tone cold and arrogant, "This is an important area of the Guild. Non-members must present an Alchemist's nameplate, otherwise, entry is absolutely forbidden!"

Feng Ming's expression was calm: "I am not a member of the Guild, but I have an urgent matter to see President Xing Fangsong. Please inform him."

"Presumptuous!" Another guard sharply reprimanded, his eyes disdainful, "President Xing is a Ninth-Rank Alchemist Great Master. How could he possibly see an unknown nobody like you? Retreat immediately, or any further entanglement will be treated as disturbing the Guild!"