“Glacial Spirit Cold Spring?” Hearing the name that Xiao Yan had just mentioned, Frank and Otto were obviously taken aback, then they said in astonishment, “Young man, this Glacial Spirit Cold Spring is an extremely rare treasure. With your current strength, it doesn’t seem like you need such a thing, right?”
Xiao Yan smiled, somewhat vaguely, and said, “I really do need it. Masters, do you know if anyone in the Alchemists’ Guild has it? If anyone does, I am willing to pay a high price to trade for it.”
“High price? Xiao Yan, you should know that the Glacial Spirit Cold Spring is not something that can be valued simply by gold. Even if someone has it, it would be very hard for them to part with it,” Frank shook his head as he spoke.
“Hehe, of course I know that. I still hope the two masters could help me look into it. If there is indeed someone who owns it, I may have something that will satisfy them,” Xiao Yan nodded with a smile, speaking rather politely.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s persistence, Frank frowned, glanced at Otto, and then helplessly nodded. “Wait here for a moment.”
Otto got up and told Xiao Yan, then turned and walked into the inner room of the study. “This old chap is the vice president of the Black Rock City Alchemists’ Guild. Although he is usually very lazy and rarely manages guild affairs, he usually handles transactions himself,” Frank watched Otto leave and smiled at Xiao Yan.
Nodding with a smile, Xiao Yan lightly placed his hand on the back of the chair, and his fingers involuntarily tapped, a barely visible eagerness on his seemingly calm face. Slowly, Frank took a sip of tea, casually glanced over, and looked at Xiao Yan’s feigned composure, inwardly puzzled, “Is the Glacial Spirit Cold Spring really that important to him?”
After a long wait, Otto finally came out of the inner room, carrying a thick, ancient book. Placing it gently on the table, he shook his head at Xiao Yan, saying with some regret, “Sorry, I checked the latest records of transactions in the Jia Ma Empire, but found no one who owned the Glacial Spirit Cold Spring… That item is truly very rare, and the conditions for preserving it are extremely strict. I remember once, a Grade 4 Alchemist found some Glacial Spirit Cold Spring in a frigid place by sheer luck. But due to poor storage, it evaporated into a white mist…”
Hearing this, Xiao Yan sighed, his face filled with disappointment. Shaking his head, he looked up and forced a smile, “If there isn’t any, then I’ll give up. Thank you, both of you, for your trouble.”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s disappointed expression, Frank also shrugged helplessly, and turned to Otto, whispering, “Really none?”
Patting the thick book, Otto shook his head, “Indeed, none!”
“If you can’t find it here, I suggest you check the auction houses. If you’re lucky, you might come across it there,” Frank comforted him.
Nodding with a bitter smile, Xiao Yan knew in his heart that if even the Alchemists’ Guild didn’t have it, then even with the best of luck, it would be hard to find such a treasure in the auction house. “Sigh, since there isn’t what I need, I’ll take my leave then.” Getting up dispiritedly, Xiao Yan bowed to the two and was about to turn and leave the study.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s dejected appearance, Otto shook his head helplessly, pondered for a moment, and suddenly spoke, “Wait.”
“Hmm?” Xiao Yan paused, turning around curiously, looking at the pensive Otto.
“Do you really need the Glacial Spirit Cold Spring?” Otto asked, frowning.
“Yes, I really need it!” Xiao Yan nodded firmly. Seeing Otto’s thoughtful expression, Xiao Yan’s heart stirred, and a hint of joy crept into his voice, “Master Otto, do you have the Glacial Spirit Cold Spring?”
Beside him, Frank also stared at Otto in surprise, clearly unaware of the situation. “Hehe, of course I don’t have it,” Otto smiled and shook his head. Seeing Xiao Yan’s face turn disappointed again, he chuckled, “But I think I saw this thing at a strange old man’s place.”
“Oh?” Xiao Yan’s eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, “Who is he? Where is he?”
“Well, I have to warn you first. To get what you need from that guy, you’d better be prepared to pay a lot, or it’s unlikely you’ll succeed,” Otto smiled.
“Hmm… I’ll try my best…” Xiao Yan hesitated, not daring to make any promises before knowing the other party’s conditions.
“Old chap, you’re not talking about that crazy old man Gu He, who treasures his collection more than his life, are you?” Frank, his brow furrowed, suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
“Yes, it’s that crazy old man. The last time I went to see him, he mentioned the Glacial Spirit Cold Spring, but he’s so stingy that he wouldn’t even let me take a look…” Otto said with a grin.
“If he really has the Glacial Spirit Cold Spring, I don’t think Xiao Yan can get it from him,” Frank shook his head helplessly, his gaze on Xiao Yan full of sympathy.
“Who is Gu He?” Xiao Yan asked, somewhat anxious under Frank’s gaze.
“That guy is also an alchemist, only a Grade 3, but his rich collection is enough to make any alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire green with envy,” Otto praised, shaking his head.
“He’s not a member of the Alchemists’ Guild?” Xiao Yan asked in surprise.
“No, that guy is too eccentric. Despite having a good talent for alchemy, he’s obsessed with collecting all kinds of treasures, which has kept him stuck at Grade 3. His obsession is almost pathological. Once he finds out someone has something good, he’ll hound them relentlessly, making them sick and tired,” Frank sighed, looking as if he had experienced this before.
“Hehe, who made you show off the Purple Blood Lingzhi you got so easily years ago. Tsk tsk, but that old man Gu He is really patient, pestering you for a whole year, haha…” Otto said, his old face relishing in schadenfreude, recalling the amusing incident.
“Ah.” Frank shook his head helplessly, his face gloomy.
“Uh… Your ranks are higher than his, and he dares to be so audacious?” Looking at their helpless expressions, Xiao Yan asked in confusion.
“True, our ranks are higher, but that old man has a powerful brother in the Jia Ma Empire. No one dares to provoke him,” Frank said with a bitter smile.
“Brother? Who is he?” Xiao Yan asked, feeling very curious about who in the Jia Ma Empire had such power to make even Grade 4 alchemists fear.
“Who else… Danwang Gu He,” Otto rolled his eyes. “If not for his brother’s protection, that guy’s treasure room would have been ransacked many times already.”
“Uh… Gu He? No wonder,” Xiao Yan nodded in realization. In the Jia Ma Empire, Danwang Gu He indeed had tremendous power.
“But fortunately, although that old man is annoying, he isn’t a bad person. Just a bit stubborn and conservative. And he hates it when people mention Gu He in front of him. Though he knows he wouldn’t be where he is without Gu He’s help, if anyone mentions Gu He, he’ll immediately fly into a rage and chase them away. So, be careful, or you’ll anger him, and even with the best treasure, you won’t get the Glacial Spirit Cold Spring,” Frank reminded.
“Is he in Black Rock City?” Xiao Yan asked nervously.
“Yes, he is,” Otto nodded with a smile, glancing at Xiao Yan, “Do you really want to go see him?”
“There’s no other way. I really need the Glacial Spirit Cold Spring. Even if he demands a lot, if I can afford it, I’ll have to comply,” Xiao Yan sighed.
“Poor kid, others avoid him, but you’re walking right into the lion’s den,” Otto patted Xiao Yan’s shoulder sympathetically, then turned to Frank, “I’ll take Xiao Yan to see that old guy. And I’m sure you don’t want to see him either.”
“Go, go. When you see him, tell him it’s best he doesn’t come to our Alchemists’ Guild. I don’t want my branch to be deserted, even if Gu He is protecting it, I’ll have to cause him trouble,” Frank waved his hand, clearly wary of the troublesome old man.
“Hehe,” Otto chuckled, then said to Xiao Yan, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to see that old guy, but whether you can succeed in the end depends on you.”
Nodding gratefully, Xiao Yan followed Otto out of the Alchemists’ Guild. Along the way, many people respectfully greeted Master Otto, but when they saw Xiao Yan, a young Grade 2 Alchemist, they were shocked. Ignoring the astonished looks, Xiao Yan followed Otto through the winding streets of Black Rock City, eventually stopping in front of a strange building in a secluded corner near the southern part of the city. Looking up at the peculiar building, Otto sighed in relief, turned to Xiao Yan, and said with a smile, “This is Gu He’s place. Before we go in, I’ll remind you again, be ready to pay a lot!” Hearing this, Xiao Yan could only nod with a wry smile.
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