Above The Sky
Chapter 167 - 167 156 What are you happy about

167: Chapter 156 What are you happy about?

(1/3) 167: Chapter 156 What are you happy about?

(1/3) “There are no overly distinct features, distinguishing the Prolonging Life Spiritual Plant from the Regeneration Magic Medicine is very difficult.”

Although it was only a guess, Ian felt that it was highly possible.

Soon after, city guards on patrol and guards from the Viscount’s Mansion one after another arrived at the scene.

They didn’t drive away the surrounding crowd, but they secured the pharmacy thoroughly.

While waiting for Viscount Grant, the trio in the corner wall seemed to be surprised, and then looked at each other in some disbelief.

“There are Longevity Magic Plants in South Ridge too?”

Pat had trouble believing it and frowned deeply, “This is just too preposterous.

Could it be Ailes is putting on a show for us?”

“He’s deliberately making his young apprentice stand out to join our mission and get a share from His Majesty…

If it’s Ailes, that shameless country bumpkin, he’s definitely capable of such a thing!”

Although his suspicions were indeed correct, they differed substantially from the reality.

“Prolonging Life Spiritual Plant?”

Because not long after, Viscount Grant, having heard the news, made haste to the scene as if flying.

He landed at the entrance and swiftly entered the pharmacy, then turned his gaze toward the center of the hall, where Ian, who had covered the spiritual plant with a Crystal Cover, stood.

The young man nodded at him and gestured a two followed by a five, and the nobleman with brown hair and blue eyes immediately understood.

“More intriguing than my own scripts… What an unexpected delight!”

He murmured to himself and without hesitation stepped forward, lifted the Crystal Cover, and then carefully cut off a strand of Long-Beard Grass to taste it.

After savoring the sensation, Viscount Grant opened his eyes, revealing extreme joy, “Correct, although it’s still difficult to distinguish…

Indeed, an ordinary Regeneration Potion wouldn’t have this subtle sense of moisturizing…”

“If there weren’t any pre-existing evidence, one would at most think that the potion is unusually gentle and powerful—this is the genuine Longevity Magic Plant!”

In that moment, Viscount Grant thought of many things, such as using the fame of the Longevity Magic Plant to attract adventurers from The Empire, then using the gathered plants to create Longevity Elixirs, making a fortune to develop his territory, and then using the corresponding resources to bribe the local Governor and high officials in the Imperial Capital for various policy subsidies…

So many, so many things; with enough money, there would be no need for concern.

But soon, he collected his thoughts and returned to normal.

Seeing a stone and thinking of building a castle, I’m truly getting ahead of myself—who knows whether this is just an isolated case?

Taking a deep breath, Viscount Grant waved at the trio in the corner and then signaled the apprentice to close the curtains while instructing the guards outside to be vigilant, “Hand out some fruit to the spectators outside so they clear out faster.”

“That’s no fun at all!”

“At least tell us what the effect actually is!”

“Really, not even able to see the excitement to the end, what’s the meaning of this!”

The onlooking crowd outside responded with a chorus of boos, but they knew that such circumstances actually signified the reality—after all, with something like the Longevity Magic Plant, how could it be their turn to buy it?

Promotion was completely unnecessary, hence there was no need to let them continue to be entertained.

Only after advising other ordinary customers inside and outside to leave did Viscount Grant turn to the trio with a smile and open arms, “My dear friends, Patrick, Master Gossay, and young Yisen…

Your presence is a tremendous honor to me.”

“No, no, we were also truly enlightened by an unexpectedly delightful scene.”

Patrick and Viscount Grant exchanged ceremonial handshakes and embraced, while a watching Ian narrowed his eyes, perceiving that they practically wanted to crush and knock each other down.

Even without Spirit Energy, Ian could tell that although their relationship might seem ‘good’, this ‘good’ probably had little to do with ‘friendly’.

It was more like the ‘good’ between ‘frenemies’ and ‘rivals’.

It was only because they were in front of others that they had to maintain appearances in front of the younger generation.

“Let’s not talk too much about that, Ailes.”

Compared to the visibly delighted Viscount Grant, the golden-haired noble with furrowed brows turned his head to look in Ian’s direction, his eyes displaying the Bloodline Nobility’s classic condescension along with the disdain of an Imperial local for a country bumpkin, “Is this real or fake?

Is this country kid…

hmm.”

“Now that I look at him closely, he doesn’t seem like the type that would come from your place…”

He choked up a bit, as evidently, even the arrogant Imperial Capital local couldn’t bring himself to utter hollow pleasantries in Ian’s presence, “Ah, a remnant from that family.

After all, he’s an Imperial Capital local, not surprising.”

He waved his hand to dismiss the previous awkwardness and said directly, “The ability to appraise isn’t related to one’s appearance, is that really a Longevity Magic Potion?

I’m afraid you don’t know, even a formal Alchemist needs specialized equipment to confirm that, and you just believe whatever others say!”

“Your Ellen Family’s ancestral home isn’t in the Imperial Capital, is it?”

Seeing that the other party wasn’t giving him any face, Viscount Grant’s expression darkened, and then he let out a cold chuckle, “If we have to calculate by place of birth, then I’m also a person from the Imperial Capital, we were delivered by the same physician, raised in the same academy…

Quit this nonsense.

Always questioning back and forth, if you don’t believe it, go test it yourself.”

Patrick snorted with a jeer, making a gesture as if about to walk forward, “To test it just…”

“Forget it.”

As the tension between the two men thickened, the hunchbacked old man paused with his cane, “You’re both over sixty years old, why are you still so out of tune just like back then!”

The elder known as Master Gossay stepped forward, using his cane to separate the two men as if parting two snarling and threatening cats and dogs.

He looked at the blond noble and said calmly, “Pat, you scored only sixty-five in Alchemy back in the day, not even half as much as your nephew—the exam was out of one hundred fifty.

With your level, you can appraise a Longevity Magical Plant?

You can’t even differentiate the powders of Hemostatic Grass and Blood-Producing Vine!”

Just as Viscount Grant’s face showed a ‘happy’ expression, even wanting to laugh out aloud, Master Gossay also glared at him, “Proud of what?

You rascal, you skipped class and didn’t take the exam, zero points.

No wonder your lands have stayed so poor for so many years!”

He paused with his cane and scolded sternly, “If you had learned my Alchemy lessons seriously, you would at least have a few potion-making skills to rely on, how could you be entangled with the natives for decades?”

Master Gossay’s cane seemed to pause over his own head, and Viscount Grant was no longer amused.

Back when Old Viscount Grant was still an Inspector Knight, the current viscount and a branch of the Ellen Family that stayed in the Imperial Capital, including Patrick, were educated together in the Capital’s academy.

The relationship between the two couldn’t be said to be affectionate; it was more like mutual enmity.

But as they say, one’s memories of enemies from childhood are always clearer than those of ‘acquaintances and friends’ with ordinary relations.

As they grew older, they both gave up competing for the family headship, instead choosing to support their elder brothers—Patrick became the Southern Region Steward for the Platinum Iridium Workshop.

Furthermore, upon the request of his childhood ‘playmate,’ he benevolently opened a branch of the Platinum Iridium Workshop in Harrison Port, shipping many crucial potions to help the port, which was still facing native attacks at the time, survive its toughest years.

Viscount Grant certainly owed him a big favor.

And Master Gossay at that time was still an ordinary member of the Association, just happened to be the Alchemy instructor for these two.

Now, this hunchbacked elder who had become a master slowly approached Ian, and asked the white-haired youth amiably, “May I inspect the Origin Quality of that magical plant again?”

Theoretically, this was a quite impolite request, as it equaled not trusting the appraisal result of the previous appraiser.

But Ian clearly didn’t care about such a trivial matter.

He just glanced at Viscount Grant and, receiving a nod of approval from him, he handed over the plant to the elder with a smile.

As for the true owner of the magical plant, Mr.

Silver Workshop…

even though he seemed to have completely lost control over his own property.

Yet, he was the happiest person in the room.

—Anyway, he wasn’t going to keep it for himself, and whoever took it would owe him a favor.

Whether it was Viscount Grant, the Ellen Family, or that Master Gossay, which of them could he easily call upon such a level of a ‘favor’ usually?

Master Gossay’s left eye was a crystal prosthesis, and after taking the Longevity Magical Plant, he closed his right eye seriously while inscriptions began to emerge in layers on the pale blue crystal of his left.

A visible blue beam shot out of his left eye, illuminating the seemingly translucent Long-Beard Grass magical plant.

“I see…

yes, they are indeed very similar, but there is a fundamental difference in the seventh Origin Structure, which determines whether it stimulates regeneration or provides gentle repair…

But this is too easily overlooked; if it hadn’t been confirmed beforehand, one would need to be very careful to notice…”

“I understand now.

If you say the Mushroom-type Longevity Fungus from Holy Mountain extends life by replacing its own life essence consumption with alien vitality, then the Magical Plant from South Ridge relies on the pure Life Essence…

This is a kind of attribute-less Pure Origin, with rich purity and spirit glow.

Could this be influenced by the Totem Tree Sea worshipped by the local natives?

An interesting subject…”

About five minutes later, Master Gossay thoughtfully handed back the Longevity Magical Plant to Ian.

With his level in Alchemy, such a level of Longevity Magic Medicine wouldn’t cause much impact on him.

By contrast, he was rather interested in the youth who was smiling in front of him.

“You…

are nearly at the standard of a formal Alchemist…your age…

about fourteen or fifteen?”

Looking Ian up and down, Master Gossay’s expression became solemn as he stroked his beard and said slowly, “It must be because Ailes regretted not learning Alchemy properly back in his days that he found you, this fine prospect, and nurtured you attentively.”

After pondering for a while, the old man broke the silence and spoke again with a serious tone, “Child.”

“Have you ever considered, studying further at the Royal Alchemy Association?”