While they were talking, two people began arguing at the entrance of the Alchemists’ Guild. One was dressed in simple cloth robes, adorned with the insignia of the Alchemists’ Guild, though of low rank, likely just an apprentice. He was young, not yet twenty. The other was better equipped, an Elemental Mage in his thirties, tall and imposing. In comparison, the alchemy apprentice looked like a child.
“This time the potion failure wasn’t my fault!”
“Not your fault, was it? Or mine then?”
“They sabotaged me while I was brewing!”
“Our guildmaster gave you so many herbs, and all you produced were these useless things—you couldn’t even recoup the cost! What a joke, claiming you learned some hidden skill. Go eat shit and die.” The Elemental Mage cursed loudly and mercilessly slapped the apprentice, throwing some of his potion-making tools onto the ground.
The apprentice stepped back down the stairs, glaring at the Elemental Mage with hatred in his eyes.
“What the hell are you staring at? Keep looking and I’ll slap you again!” The Elemental Mage, with eyes like copper bells, glared at the apprentice.
The apprentice gave the mage a long, deep stare before silently picking up the scattered tools.
“You damn piece of trash!” The mage kicked the apprentice, who staggered slightly but remained silent, continuing to gather his scattered belongings.
“That guy’s too weak—he doesn’t even dare say a word after being kicked,” Shenfawangxi muttered, clearly disapproving.
“What he’s doing isn’t wrong. When you can’t fight back, you have to endure. Wait until you’re strong enough, and then strike back. There’s still time.” Nieyan’s eyes gleamed slightly. This apprentice was quite patient. The more patient a person was, the more dangerous they could become.
Shenfawangxi looked at Nieyan thoughtfully. Nieyan’s words sent a chill through him. Nieyan was clearly the kind of person who never let himself be wronged. Anyone who crossed Nieyan would surely face retaliation. Suddenly, Nieyan’s eyes lit up with excitement, as if he had discovered a treasure.
“It’s actually him. What a narrow world we live in.” Nieyan murmured. He recognized the apprentice ahead. They weren’t friends, but enemies. In his previous life, this alchemist had been a loyal henchman of the Triumph Guild, supplying nearly one-tenth of their high-grade potions, including several unique formulas. Nieyan had often suffered at the hands of the wealthy Triumph Guild members, partly due to those annoying potions. Once, Nieyan had encountered a group from the Triumph Guild in the wild. At the time, they were escorting this alchemist on a mission. Nieyan and his companions had originally thought they wouldn’t lose, but unexpectedly, the Triumph Guild members had used various tricky potions, leading to a crushing defeat for Nieyan and his friends.
The apprentice’s name was Niao Busheng Dan (Bird, No Eggs Left). Since this name sounded unflattering, the subordinates of the Triumph Guild avoided calling him directly and instead nicknamed him “Potion King,” a fitting title. Indeed, Niao Busheng Dan’s potions had brought great success to the Triumph Guild.
However, at this moment, Niao Busheng Dan was still just an apprentice, recently expelled from the Dark Ranger Guild. It would be at least a month before he was taken in by the Triumph Guild and gained recognition from its leadership. Because the guildmaster of the Triumph Guild had shown him kindness and support, Niao Busheng Dan had remained loyal and dedicated to the guild. Overall, Niao Busheng Dan wasn’t a bad person.
“Hmm, a so-called ‘Potion King’ who’s still just an apprentice—how valuable could he really be?” Nieyan pondered. Niao Busheng Dan’s success had been inseparable from the Triumph Guild’s strong support. Only with the guild’s generous supply of herbs had Niao Busheng Dan gradually developed into a true “Potion King.” Back then, the title of “Potion King” had been quite renowned.
With Nieyan’s financial resources, nurturing a “Potion King” shouldn’t be too difficult. Nieyan intended to gradually build his own power base—pharmacies, equipment shops, auction houses, none of them could be missing. Most importantly, he needed to gather talent, and now was undoubtedly the best time to recruit Niao Busheng Dan.
After cursing Niao Busheng Dan for a while, the Elemental Mage finally turned and left, still muttering curses.
Niao Busheng Dan silently picked up his scattered belongings, casting a cold glance at the mage’s retreating figure.
“What’s that Elemental Mage’s name?” Nieyan approached Niao Busheng Dan and looked down at him as he gathered his things.
“Razorfang. What’s it to you?” Niao Busheng Dan glanced at Nieyan.
“Feeling humiliated? Those without power are always looked down upon. Come with me, and I can make them see you in a new light and regret what they’ve done today.”
“Why should I believe you?” Niao Busheng Dan looked up at Nieyan, puzzled by his sudden appearance. A complete stranger approached him with a single sentence, expecting him to follow—this seemed too simple.
“Based on my instinct. I believe you’re not a useless nobody. You must feel resentful after being expelled from the guild. The question is whether you have the courage to change that. You’ve got nothing to lose. I have no reason to deceive you, do I?” Nieyan finished speaking and turned to walk away.
Nieyan waited for Niao Busheng Dan to chase after him. If he were Niao Busheng Dan, and an opportunity like this presented itself, he wouldn’t possibly let it slip away.
“Wait.”
Nieyan smiled slightly as Niao Busheng Dan’s voice came from behind.
Looking at Nieyan’s retreating figure, Niao Busheng Dan’s expression shifted. Being expelled from the Dark Ranger Guild was the greatest humiliation of his life. He didn’t fully understand Nieyan’s intentions, as Nieyan’s sudden appearance seemed strange. Niao Busheng Dan was deeply suspicious of Nieyan. However, one thing was certain—he was currently penniless, with barely enough money to survive for two or three months. A man with nothing to lose had nothing to fear—even if he were deceived, what was the worst that could happen?
Niao Busheng Dan was a cockroach, surviving at the very bottom of society. As long as there was the slightest chance of survival, he would fight to live.
He stood up and followed Nieyan.
Beside them, Shenfawangxi watched Nieyan and Niao Busheng Dan walk away in deep thought. Nieyan’s ambitions were clearly not limited to forming a simple team. But perhaps that was a good thing—under a big tree, the shade is cool.
“What do you want me to do?” Niao Busheng Dan asked as he followed Nieyan. It seemed that besides brewing potions, he was good at nothing. Even the simplest potion-making often ended in failure, wasting countless materials—this was why he had been expelled from the Dark Ranger Guild.
“Of course, it’s still potion-making. What’s your hidden skill?” Nieyan asked as they walked.
“When successfully crafting a potion, there’s a 2% chance to enhance the effects of that potion.” Niao Busheng Dan quickened his pace to keep up with Nieyan. For some reason, he had a strong premonition—since the moment he decided to follow Nieyan, his fate had begun to change. Whether this change would bring good or bad fortune, he didn’t know, but he had to keep moving forward.
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