The second time Xuanyuan Zhe saw Zi Linling, he was naturally very happy.
He had originally wanted to take Zi Linling directly to live in the Xuanyuan Imperial Palace, but Zi Linling refused.
The imperial palace was full of eyes and ears, and had many rules. Zi Linling disliked it immensely.
Even when she was in the Tianyuan Empire, she disliked staying in the imperial palace.
Because in her impression, the imperial palace was a place of trouble.
In the imperial palace, if you don't cause trouble, it doesn't mean trouble won't find you.
Although Zi Linling was not afraid of trouble, she found it bothersome.
Therefore, despite Xuanyuan Zhe's earnest invitation, Zi Linling ultimately chose to stay at the largest inn in Xuanyuan City – Hongsheng Inn.
Helpless, Xuanyuan Zhe also moved into Hongsheng Inn to accompany Zi Linling, under the guise of "hosting her as a guest."
However, the peculiar emotion in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.
"One glance at Linling spells a lifetime of regret!"
Their brief acquaintance in Linxian City had already made him lose his heart.
But some words were destined to remain unspoken, or else it wouldn't be just him who would feel awkward.
After settling Zi Linling, Xuanyuan Zhe hurried back to the imperial palace.
Before leaving, he said to Zi Linling, "Wait for me to return. I'll host a welcome banquet for you."
Zi Linling smiled and nodded.
Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Zhe returned to the imperial palace and directly met the emperor of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, Xuanyuan Yu.
"Imperial Uncle, the friend I mentioned to you last time has arrived in Xuanyuan City!"
Xuanyuan Yu put down the scroll in his hand and smiled gently, "Oh? Is it the alchemist you told me about?"
Xuanyuan Zhe nodded and said, "That's her! I wonder if Imperial Uncle has considered the matter I mentioned to you last time?"
Xuanyuan Yu smiled and said, "Zhe'er, you should know that to cooperate with our Xuanyuan Divine Clan, one must have sufficient capital?"
Xuanyuan Zhe asked, puzzled, "Isn't an alchemist sufficient capital?"
Xuanyuan Yu shook his head and said unhurriedly, "If she were alone, I could make the decision to have her join our Xuanyuan Divine Clan."
"But as you said, since she has already joined the Alchemist Guild. Once one joins the Alchemist Guild, they belong to the Alchemist Guild. Even we of the Xuanyuan Divine Clan cannot openly snatch people from the Alchemist Guild. Do you understand?"
Xuanyuan Zhe shook his head and said, "Imperial Uncle, you misunderstand my meaning."
"I have no intention of snatching her from the Alchemist Guild. Instead, I hope our Xuanyuan Divine Clan can reach a cooperation agreement with Miss Zi for mutual benefit. She provides us with elixirs, and we pay her compensation. That's all."
"As for having her join the Xuanyuan Divine Clan, let's forget it! Although I haven't known her for long, I understand her personality to some extent."
"She is by no means someone who lives under someone else's roof! Moreover, I can feel a noble aura from her, an aura even stronger than that of our Xuanyuan Divine Clan."
Xuanyuan Yu frowned and said, "Even if what you say is true, cooperation between us is still impossible."
"Why?"
Xuanyuan Zhe pouted, looking displeased.
Xuanyuan Yu smiled helplessly and explained, "Zhe'er, you don't know this. The transactions between our three Divine Clans and the Alchemist Guild are official transactions."
"For example, our elixirs, although seemingly provided by the Xuanyuan City Alchemist Guild, are actually supervised by the Central City Alchemist Association. This supervision includes the source of the elixirs."
"In fact, our three Divine Clans have agreements with the Central City Alchemist Association. The agreements stipulate that all elixirs must be purchased through the official channels of the Alchemist Guild, and private transactions are prohibited, even by alchemists within the Alchemist Guild."
"And if we violate the agreement, the Alchemist Guild has the right to cut off our elixir supply and blacklist our entire Xuanyuan Divine Clan."
"Zhe'er, think about it, how many people are in our Xuanyuan Divine Clan? What a terrifying amount of elixirs do we consume monthly?"
"Once our supply is cut off by the Alchemist Guild, which individual can bear such a massive supply of elixirs?"
Xuanyuan Zhe finally understood.
In the end, it was the Alchemist Guild's overbearing terms.
You can choose not to go through the guild's official accounts, but once we find out you're dealing privately, then we're sorry, you'll be blacklisted by the Alchemist Guild.
"The Alchemist Guild is too overbearing!" Xuanyuan Zhe said indignantly.
Xuanyuan Yu said with a wry smile, "Who says they aren't? But who among us, including the three Divine Clans, can afford to gamble?"
Xuanyuan Zhe said with regret, "What a pity! The Grade Heaven Ultimate Nine Revolutions Great Revival Elixir, that's something that's priceless!"
...
Xuanyuan Zhe returned to Hongsheng Inn, somewhat weary, and hosted a welcome banquet for Zi Linling in a private room on the top floor.
"Miss Zi, our acquaintance is fate. I'll toast you with this cup!"
Xuanyuan Zhe said, raising his wine cup, draining the wine within, and drinking down all the pent-up frustration with it.
Zi Linling could sense Xuanyuan Zhe's emotions, but being a wise person, she did not inquire.
"Miss Zi, welcome to Xuanyuan City. I toast you!"
After speaking, Xuanyuan Zhe drank another cup of wine.
Zi Linling frowned and said, "Xuanyuan Zhe, are you sure you're hosting a welcome banquet for me?"
Xuanyuan Zhe was taken aback and said with a wry smile, "I apologize, Miss Zi. I originally prepared a grand gift for you, but now, it's all fallen through!"
Zi Linling smiled faintly, "Oh? Since it's fallen through, it means that this grand gift and I have no destiny. Why should you be so troubled?"
"As the saying goes, 'Isn't it a joy to have friends from afar?' Since we are already friends, what does the gift matter?" Su Dan Novel Network
Xuanyuan Zhe was stunned, and half of his melancholy vanished. "Miss Zi, for your words alone, if you ever need my help in the future, don't hesitate to ask!"
Zi Linling smiled, "Don't worry! If I really need you, I won't be polite."
They drank a few more cups of wine, and Xuanyuan Zhe instantly became talkative.
He recounted everything Xuanyuan Yu had told him, word for word, and said, "What do you think, is the Alchemist Guild really something?"
Zi Linling shook her head and said, "Based on what you've said, the Alchemist Guild is indeed going too far."
"Trade, trade, should fundamentally be a voluntary choice. As for which channel to purchase through, that is one's right. The Alchemist Guild doing this is clearly forcing people to buy and sell."
Xuanyuan Zhe said, reeking of alcohol, "Isn't that so! But who can they blame when they have a monopoly on elixirs?"
Zi Linling's eyes gleamed and she said, "It seems the Alchemist Guild has strayed from its original purpose and has become a place of corruption."
Xuanyuan Zhe said, "They've accumulated too much wealth, they've become vulgar!"