Chapter 528: Shuang Lian – Cough Cough Cough

Mian Li Zang set down his teacup, abandoning the minor spell of the mage hand. Instead, he gripped the documents with both hands and examined them closely.

After flipping through several more pages, he sat up straight, instinctively straightening his back and no longer leaning against the chair's backrest.

His eyes gleamed with intensity as he scrutinized the documents, seemingly discovering hidden meanings within them.

After reviewing most of the materials, Mian Li Zang could no longer remain seated. He lifted his gaze toward Zong Ge and Zi Di, his expression shifting between surprise and uncertainty.

Zi Di smiled serenely, sitting upright. “This is our sincerity.”

Mian Li Zang nodded slightly, his expression grave. “Our side requires immediate experimental verification.”

“Go ahead!” Zi Di raised her hand.

Mian Li Zang rose instantly, spatial ripples erupting as he vanished from his spot.

Zong Ge witnessed this moment, the most confident he'd felt throughout the entire business negotiation.

He knew the data Zi Di had provided came from War Merchant's alchemy database.

This had been the bargaining chip they'd agreed upon before the operation began.

War Merchant's database contained an overwhelming formation of alchemy techniques, intricate as the stars. Zi Di had deliberately selected three of them.

“It seems our chances of partnering with the Li Jian Clan are quite high this time,” Zong Ge murmured. “This information has completely swayed the Li Jian Clan Leader, so much so that he insists on personally witnessing the experiment's success.”

Zi Di smiled faintly. “Commander, you mustn't underestimate that certain individual.”

The “certain individual” she referred to was, of course, War Merchant!

Zi Di turned her gaze toward the window.

Outside, the blizzard raged fiercely, mirroring the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps' current bleak predicament. Yet Zi Di brimmed with confidence, certain they could bluff their way through this storm, using profit to leverage the Li Jian Clan's power and emerge from the tempest!

“This blizzard just won't end!” The gold level Yi Jiu rolled through the snow.

He charged left and right, racing at top speed, yet remained perpetually shrouded in the blizzard, unable to break free.

“I must be trapped within Magician Shuang Lian's ice-and-snow demi-plane.”

“She couldn't possibly blanket the entire demi-plane with this blizzard disaster; this is where she produces her honey snow.”

“Therefore, this blizzard disaster is actually following me, constantly shifting!”

“Damn it, I must break through this blizzard first, then find a weak spot in the space barrier and attempt a breakthrough back to the Main Plane.”

While Yi Jiu fought for his life, within the mage tower, Shuang Lian was concerned about her student Bu Quan's romantic troubles.

Ten thousand meters above the ground, the Honey Snow Tower soared through the sky at breakneck speed.

Inside the tower, everything remained perfectly still, with not a hint of turbulence.

Yet Bu Quan's mind was in turmoil, all because she'd heard her mentor's inquiry - “Have you fallen for Long Fu?”

Bu Quan shook her head frantically at once: “No, no, I—I haven't...”

After a stammering denial, she lowered her head, her hands fidgeting nervously like a young girl caught in a parental discovery of early romance.

Though she could be quite bold around the dragonman youngster at times, standing before Shuang Lian made her blush fiercely.

Her face turned as crimson as a ripe apple, and her eyes, fixed on the soles of her feet, grew large and watery.

Seeing this, what could Shuang Lian possibly fail to understand? What could remain uncertain?

“Ah, you silly child,” Shuang Lian sighed inwardly, a flicker of nostalgia crossing her eyes. “You really remind me of myself when I was young.”

“Back then, I too was deeply infatuated with someone...”

At that thought, an imposing, towering figure inevitably surfaced in Shuang Lian's mind.

That figure standing before her, defying every attack, then tearing through the blizzard, that image remained etched deep within Shuang Lian's heart.

"Wait, wait a moment. Teacher, now is not the time for this." Bu Quan suddenly realized her predicament.

Shuang Lian's recollections interrupted, she looked helplessly at her beloved disciple, hearing her say: “Teacher, thank you for rescuing me. You even brought the mage tower with you.”

“But... but I can't leave.”

“I joined the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. They need me!”

“You won't leave?” Shuang Lian's expression darkened. “Stay there and die?”

"But Master, you've already captured the strongest enemy. If I return, I should be safe." Bu Quan argued.

“Hmph. Return only to continue being nothing but a potion-making tool?” Shuang Lian reached out, pressing a finger to Bu Quan's forehead. “That little thief Long Fu clearly harbors ill intent. His motives are impure...”

“No.” Hearing the teacher disparage the dragonman youngster once more, Bu Quan couldn't hold back any longer and retorted, "Commander Long Fu is an upright gentleman. He worships the Justice God and is a good person, truly trustworthy. He invited me to join the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. He never forced me! I did it willingly."

A bolt of lightning seemed to strike Shuang Lian's heart.

Well, well.

For the sake of an outsider, Little Quan Quan had even learned to interrupt her teacher!

Shuang Lian suppressed the bitterness welling up inside and said gently, “Silly child... Listen to your teacher. I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice in your life.”

“Though Long Fu doesn't say it outright, they're using his looks to lure you in!”

“You're pure-hearted and inexperienced, you fell for it instantly.”

"As your teacher, I can't stand by and watch you ruin your future. I won't let you go down the wrong path. You clearly have better options!"

“Teacher, I deliberated long and hard before choosing the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps,” Bu Quan replied. "But I trust myself, I weighed every consideration thoroughly! The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps is my choice. It's a decision I made with every ounce of courage I possess. I know I've let you down..."

Her voice trailed off once more.

Shuang Lian sighed deeply. "You've wronged yourself! I read your letter, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps paid you a mere gold coin!"

“That's outrageous! They're taking advantage of you!”

Bu Quan hurriedly explained, "No, I actually prefer their payment method. The point isn't the gold coin, but the alchemy knowledge they entrusted to me. "

Shuang Lian laughed in exasperation, reaching out to ruffle Bu Quan's hair. “You silly girl, you're still a bit young, even though you've already shown your talent in alchemy.”

“The Alchemy Guild holds oceans of knowledge, enough to keep you striving for most of your life.”

“You haven't seen truly advanced knowledge yet. They give you a few novel little trinkets, and you...”

Before Shuang Lian could finish, Bu Quan interrupted again.

“Teacher, it's not like that.”

“While I rarely exchange knowledge from the Alchemy Guild, please trust me, I have discernment.”

"Oh, right. This request for your assistance has Commander Long Fu's approval."

“He's authorized me to offer the alchemy knowledge I previously acquired as payment to express my gratitude to you.”

“Here it is. Please take a look.”

Shuang Lian snorted dismissively as she took it.

She glanced through it and remarked, "Bu Quan, you must understand the scale and global standing of our nation's Alchemy Guild. You must know that some of our nation's alchemy techniques are truly unique, surpassing the major powers of the Main Plane. In fact, there are certain methods even the Sheng Ming Empire covets."

“I admit you possess discerning taste, but how much of the Alchemy Guild's advanced knowledge have you truly encountered?”

“I can assure you, the alchemy materials they gave you... our guild would already... Hmm?”

As Shuang Lian spoke, her voice grew faint, punctuated by a gasp of astonishment.

Then, her eyes widened as she flipped through the pages with increasing speed.

"Huh?" She gasped again, her face betraying palpable shock.

“Hmm...” As she delved deeper into the text, Shuang Lian became subconsciously absorbed, pondering its intricacies.

Bu Quan inwardly groaned. She knew all too well that once Shuang Lian entered this research trance, it would last for ages. If interrupted early on, by the middle or later stages, even a battle erupting outside wouldn't snap her out of her contemplative state.

“Teacher! Teacher! Teacher!” Bu Quan practically yelled right into Shuang Lian's ear, finally jolting her awake.

Shuang Lian gasped, staring in shock at the documents in her hands before turning to Bu Quan with equal astonishment.

Bu Quan flashed a triumphant smile. “Teacher, now you must believe in me, right?”

Shuang Lian cleared her throat, attempting to recover from her momentary lapse. “I must admit...”

Just then, she heard Bu Quan add, "Oh, right. Commander Long Fu also mentioned in his letter that if you're interested, you might become an honorary elder of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. The reward would be alchemy knowledge of the same level as this document. Would you be interested, Teacher?"

Shuang Lian coughed twice more, this time far more violently than before.

She set down the documents: “This alchemy knowledge... never mind.”

“The thing is, I thought about it. Since you've joined the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, just taking you away like this without a word, that wouldn't be very gentlemanly.”

“Even though that thief Long Fu... that kid played tricks on you, he did help you avenge your grievances after all.”

“As your teacher, it's only proper etiquette to thank him in person.”

Bu Quan interrupted for the third time: "Oh, Master, please stop talking. Hurry back, enemies are attacking the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps!"

“Hmph, mere petty thieves... Come! I'll bring you back at once!”

The mage tower abruptly changed course, accelerating to three times its previous speed as it charged straight toward Snow Bird Harbor.

In Snow Bird Harbor.

The big guy was frantically chasing a group of enemies.

“Why is he still after us?”

“Ugh, what a pain!”

The sacrificial warriors attempted to shoot the big guy, but all their attacks were rendered ineffective by his thick defenses.

"What do we do now? I was supposed to reinforce the small workshop!"

"This giant's not right, he's lost his mind. Then... let's lure him to Snow Bird Arena. That's where the biggest crowd gathers."