Chapter 613: Elder Jiu Jin
When it came to the Wisteria Cache, Yuan Ci and Jiu Jin were very meticulous.
After receiving Zi Di’s response, Yuan Ci immediately used a secret channel to convey Jiu Jin the latest news.
When Yuan Ci told Jiu Jin he had found another bearer of a wisteria level zero order, the latter felt pleasantly surprised.
Jiu Jin wanted to inquire about Zi Di.
Yuan Ci didn’t hide anything and told him how he had saved Zi Di.
When he heard Zi Di was a necromancer, Elder Jiu Jin couldn’t help but be apprehensive, “Are you certain you can rule out this being a ploy of then imperial secret spies?”
Elder Yuan Ci coldly snorted, “He personally refined a level zero order in front of me.”
Elder Jiu Jin shook his head, “The level zero secret orders are maintained by a formidable contract related to a Demon God. But since it is a contract, it is possible they can be broken. You also know the imperial secret spies have never given up their search for the Wisteria Cache.”
“They are also a necromancer…”
“Alas, at the time, I was nearly taken away by the Sheng Ming Empire. I relied on the Alchemist Guild’s power and proved that I didn’t have a deep relationship with the merchant alliance, so I was able to avoid disaster.”
“If this is a trap from the Sheng Ming Empire secret spies, a meeting alone with that necromancer is the best incriminating evidence. Without reasonable grounds for the Alchemist Guild to protect me, this concrete evidence put me in big trouble!”
Elder Yuan Ci coldly snorted again, “Jiu Jin, you are still the same, excessively worrying over everything.”
“You don’t think I considered this possibility?”
“But so what?”
“You should understand the current circumstances more that me. You were the one who gave me the information.”
“The royal family will completely take charge of the Ten Millenia Ice Lake. Perhaps the lake bottom won’t be supervised, but I explicitly told you that the Wisteria Cache is on the same layer as the Ice Skate!”
“By then, even if we collect a full set of 5 Wisteria secret orders, we won’t be able to open the Wisteria Cache, won’t that be regrettable?”
Elder Jiu Jin sank into silence.
Elder Yuan Ci looked at the communication device before him, but it seemed like he could see into Elder Jiu Jin’s heart, and the corner of his mouth twitched, “Magician Gui Teng could or could not be a spy.”
“For now, we can thank him for appearing. After all, with him, we finally collected 5 Wisteria secret orders, right?”
“His appearance really is a fortuitous opportunity, so what?!”
“The area where the Wisteria Cache is, is where our Wister Merchant Alliance’s secret cam pit, it is our home ground. And around it is the Ten Millenia Ice Lake.”
“How many people can the imperial secret spies dispatch into it?”
“Based on the risks and profits, I have decided to gamble on it!”
Jiu Jin clenched his teeth and couldn’t refrain from silently cursing, “You have become a fugitive, Yuan Ci, detested by all. Hiding all these years in the Ten Millenia Ice Lake and the capital. I am different, I have a normal life, I am still a highly important Alchemist Guild elder…”
Jiu Jin hesitated for a good while, but in the end, the allure of the Wisteria Cache was too much, so he grinded his teeth and said, “Fine, if I win this gamble, I won’t need to struggle so hard anymore.”
“I will personally meet with Gui Teng, I will personally examine him!”
Yuan Ci cackled, “What a coincidence, Gui Teng also wants to personally speak with you.”
An in person meeting had risks, but it was absolutely necessary.
With regards to it, both Zi Di and Jiu Jin understood why. Yuan Ci had an even greater understanding of it: this was a crucial step to gain tentative trust in each other; it could not be omitted.
Thus, very quickly, from the abandoned alchemy laboratory, Yuan Ci personally arranged a meeting between Zi Di and Jiu Jin.
Jiu Jin was an old snow elf with a goatee and circle framed glasses.
His face was wrinkled and had a cold complexion, revealing his diligence and that the main theme of his life was enduring and struggling.
Before Zi Di came, she had purchased some information on Jiu Jin and learned that although Jiu Jin’s bloodline was gold level, it was not outstanding. If it wasn’t for the Wisteria Merchant Alliance’s backing, he couldn’t have become an Alchemist Guild elder.
His alchemy attainment wasn’t that deep, and he only researched alchemy runes.
That field required the least amount of alchemy attainment.
While Zi Di sized him up, Jiu Jin looked surprised, “I have taken a risk in meeting you, Magician Gui Teng. Will you not take off your hood? Will you have at least that bit of sincerity?”
Zi Di chuckled, “Sorry, I just didn’t want to do more than was required. You also know that as a necromancer, I won’t expose my true features lightly for my own safety.”
Despite saying that, Zi Di still took off her hood, exposing her “real appearance”.
Her exterior features was that of an ordinary, middle aged human male.
Deceptive Disguise and the Anti-prophecy and Investigation spell gave her no flaws in her appearance.
Jiu Jin narrowed his eyes, quietly using an alchemy device. Then after a moment, he frustratedly gave up his efforts.
His investigation results all showed Zi Di’s displayed human appearance.
This was obviously impossible.
Elder Jiu Jin was well aware of that.
He shrugged his shoulders, “At least your disguise abilities have been shown off.”
“Perhaps you can directly infiltrate the prison and effortlessly carry away Shi Liu.”
Zi Di shook her head, “Although I am a necromancer, I am still a magician. I cannot recklessly run in and put myself into danger.”
“This prison break needs to be schemed well.”
Next, the two people talked with each other, leaving behind their initial impression.
Elder Jiu Jin naturally maintained his strong doubts about Zi Di, but he didn’t reveal it to her face.
Zi Di indirectly verified Yuan Ci’s words from Jiu Jin, but she didn’t believe them fully.
She still tried an indirect approach with the alchemy elder to learn some information.
But Jiu Jin kept his mouth guarded in many areas, and he explicitly stated, “I am an Alchemist Guild elder, I signed a contract and cannot divulge high level secrets at will.”
“If in the future, an enemy exploits the kingdom’s secrets I accidentally leaked, the latter half of my life is finished! The gains I worked half my life for will vanish into nothing.”
Zi Di could only focus on inquiring about the Wisteria Cache.
Concerning this, Jiu Jin actually gave as much as he could, after all, it concerned their success or failure in it.
“Don’t have such wishful thinking.”
“The super magic formation is extremely powerful. It uses all sorts of alchemy rooms, magician towers, temples, and other locations around the ice lake as its formation bases, it is nearly perfectly integrated with the frozen lake and is not disturbed by the laws of time.”
“This gigantic engineering project was started the year His Majesty the King took the throne. Our Alchemist Guild was the primary builder, and every year, we dispatched large quantities of magicians to work on it. I have done so many times.”
“But now that those formation points are connected with each other, people can make out clues.”
“Since someone has seen through it, the royal family has officially disclosed this grand project. However, at this time, it is only limited to higherups like me.”
“His Majesty the King truly is a man of grand planning; I feel ashamed of my scorn of you.”
“This truly is an unprecedented undertaking. The most crucial thing is that the royal family actually endured silently until now, only revealing it when it could no longer be hidden.”
When that was said, Elder Jiu Jin shook his head and sighed, full of admiration for the current Ice Sculpture King.
Then a moment later, Elder Yuan Ci relentlessly pulled the rug out, “Ok, stop acting. Even if you show off your patriotism, if you are arrested now, it will be impossible for the kingdom to make allowances for meeting a necromancer in secret.”
Jiu Jin’s expression suddenly stiffened.
Zi Di was expressionless. She shifted the topic to dilute the awkward mood, asking, “About rescuing Shi Liu, Elder Jiu Jin, what can you contribute?”
Elder Jiu Jin promptly waved his hand, “How can I get involved with this? When an investigation comes, I won’t be able to keep my position as an Alchemist Guild elder!”
Zi Di coldly snorted, “You are an Alchemist Guild elder, a high position, it will be far easier for you to act than us. Rescuing Shi Liu will benefit us all. Without that level zero secret order, all of our efforts will be wasted.”
Elder Jiu Jin shook his head, his attitude firm, but his tone more moderate, “I am really powerless to do anything. Shi Liu is locked up in Ice Prison, it is the capital’s most important prison, and it has tight defenses. Ice Prison’s large formation can draw power from the Ten Millenia Ice Lake and possesses both the power of ice and time.
“I am only an Alchemy Guild elder; how can I influence Ice Prison’s guards?”
“But don’t worry, since I have chosen not to get involved, you two will get more contribution, and when the time comes to divide up the cache, you will take a larger share, isn’t that enough?”
“I won’t say anything else on the matter!”
“Of course, if you think that acting now is too uncertain, I can suggest that there is no harm in waiting for Cong Mang to arrive.”
Zi Di looked at Yuan Ci, “Do you have a plan for this jail break?”
Yuan Ci smiled, “I have one, perhaps we won’t need to wait for Cong Mang to converge with us.”
“Are you sure?” Elder Jiu Jin’s brows pursed, of course he was hoping the success rate of this operation would be higher.
Yuan Ci nodded to him, “I am certain.”
Not long after, the three left in different directions from this secret room.
As soon as Jiu Jin returned to the Alchemy Guild, he was summoned by the guild president.
When he saw the president, he noticed there was another in the room.
Jiu Jin smiled, and he bowed and saluted first, “Lord President, Great Master Hua Ni.”
Hua Ni was a female snow elf, and a great master in potions. She faintly glanced at Jiu Jin, but didn’t speak, making visible her haughtiness.
The president smiled, “Elder Jiu Jin, the construction and testing of the magic formation during this period truly was tough for you.”
Jiu Jin promptly stated that although he was tired, it was his duty, and he wanted to contribute to the nation’s strength.
The president continued, “The guild is currently focused on holding the Warm Snow Cup Alchemy Grand Contest. But the repairs and construction of the ice lake formation is finally complete, thus at long last, there is strength available to attend to some other areas.”
“Elder Jiu Jin, do you know what the hottest potion in the kingdom is right now?”
Jiu Jin heard the hearsay and his eyes flashed as he immediately replied, “The dragon rider potion.”
The Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s alchemy guild naturally had been watching the fiery sales of the dragon rider potion. But they were constrained by insufficient manpower and other notions, thus, they didn’t act.
The Alchemy Guild president went on, “I won’t beat about the bush with you, Elder Jiu Jin. The mount potion market is massive, and we cannot allow a foreign mercenary corps into it.”
“Therefore, I appoint you as the leader of a group and the representative of our guild that will occupy the mount potion market share.”
“We have always been a hegemon in the kingdom’s magic potion marketplace. This Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps has gotten a bit out of hand, go teach them a deep lesson.”