Chapter 33

After coming out of the treasury, Nie Li didn't waste his time looking around anymore, There are various dangerous Demon Beasts around and he doesn't want to play hide and seek with them again. Although with his current strength and unique ability he can do what he want, Nie Li isn't ignorant enough to not know that there is a limit to his void form and since he has gained a lot already he just wanted to go back. There is much he wanted to do back in Glory City.

Nie Li ignored all the commotion and people around him and started his journey back to Glory City.

"Although all this treasure is amazing and everything, but i have to find a way to turn them into funds and more importantly without leaving any clues behind leading upto me. I can ask Ninger for help but I wonder if she would agree after the episode with her aide? No matter I can think worry about it later, I don't need funds urgently. I can take my time, I can even sell some bronze rank items now, and think about higher ranks one later when I become stronger. My first order of business should be visiting the Alchemist Association, There are many books stored there as well for me to read, and my practical knowledge is nil so I can probably get my hands on some experimental notes left by some experts along with a better spectrum of more concise knowledge in the field." Nie Li decided after thinking for awhile.

Nie Li has obtained many resources as of now and currently Elixir are extremely important for his growth and he needs to enhance his expertise in the area of alchemy. He already has elixir reward from the hidden mission, so he can take a break and craft his skills, with the help of A. I. Chip he can soar at an amazing speed.

Nie Li continued his journey for around a week and finally reached Glory City. He decided to go back to his secret base and rest for the day.

The Next day, Nie Li roamed the streets and bazar of Glory city. He was just looking around and suddenly his eyes fall on the ravishing beauty Xiao Ninger. She wore plain snow white clothes which complemented her Ice Queen persona, she was also looking for some things and eventually her gaze met with Nie Li.

For a second Nie Li was melted by her beautiful eyes but he recomposed himself instantly.

"Hello! it's good to meet you Miss Ninger, How have you been? " Nie Li asked with a pleasant smile and with his deceptively mature decorum.

Xiao Ninger felt a weird feeling flush in her hearts as she looked at Nie Li, for a moment she was stunned but immediately after she smiled and answered, "It's good to meet you too, I have been fine. I haven't seen you for quite some time, Did something happen? "

Since the scene at the school training field, for about half a month both Nie Li and Xiao Ninger had no interaction whatsoever. Things were a bit tensed between them but they collectively decided to give each other a bit of space. Xiao Ninger actually felt uncomfortable not seeing Nie Li for around two weeks.

"No, I was just cultivating and had to deal with some stuff. I am fine, thanks for asking." Nie Li answered with a strangely polite manner.

Looking at how polite Nie Li was, Ninger oddly didn't liked it, " Oh, Are you going somewhere? "

"Yes, I was going towards Alchemist Association. "

"I was also thinking about going there to buy some elixir too." Xiao Ninger answered hinting at them going together.

"Well I am not really going to buy Elixir. " Nie Li explained.

Ninger tilted her head in confusion and she felt that Nie Li was trying to put some distance between them.

Nie Li saw that she misunderstood and immediately tried to explain, "I am going to take a look at the library there, open to the public. I thought it would be good to broaden my horizon. Every Cultivator should not only focus on mindlessly cultivating nonstop, it's not actually good. One should take at least a little intrest in a discipline outside there realm of normal activities. It's good and could turn out to be very helpful. In Snow Wind Empire era, it was mandatory for each Noble family descendent to take intrest in at least one other work. You don't need to be an expert or anything. Anyway since we are going in the same direction, will you mind if I accompany you? " Nie Li suddenly asked as he was internally flustered after noticing how much he was talking needlessly, for a strange reason he felt like showing off before her and subconsciously he continued to talk.

Xiao Ninger giggled as she looked at the slightly bothered Nie Li, "Sure, Let's go together. I am quite interested in Alchemy too, I wonder if Student Nie Li could give me some pointers. "

Nie Li nodded and both of them started to walk towards Alchemist Association.

In Glory City the Alchemist Association's position has slightly declined. However, it's still a monster-like existence. It is only slightly lower than the three major families.

Within Nie Li's database, there is all sorts of knowledge regarding alchemy. If they are used properly, he might be able to strengthen his ability at alchemy at a great pace but Nie Li found out that the books in Holy Orchid Institute Library is just the screened out one, which was left by the Alchemist Association. Many books left there are just the untranslated ones and there were even many such books taken by the association as a references and The fundamental and basic books are all under their grasp. Although all Major families and some Noble families has some knowledge about basic and fundamental stuff themselves, they cannot compare to the bank of knowledge stored by the Association.

The Alchemist Association is a vast construct. The courtyard pavilion alone took up a huge amount of space. The hall in front had lots of alchemists wearing different coloured robes walking in and out.

Although the Alchemist Association has slightly declined, one can see how glorious the Alchemist Association used to be based on the magnificent construct.

Alchemists are differentiated into Apprentice, Master, and Grandmaster. Every rank is then further split into Primary, Intermediate, and Senior levels. Apprentices would wear grey robe, Masters would wear white robe and Grandmasters would wear silver robes. Most of the alchemists that walked in and out were apprentice ranks. As for the master rank, they are rarely seen. Only one or two of them are normally seen.

Because of the decline of the Alchemist Association, geniuses are reluctant to spend their time in alchemy. They would focus more on cultivation instead, hence, the amount of alchemists and younger generation upstarts is getting less and less.

After entering the Alchemist Association, Xiao Ning'er and Nie Li looked around.

On the way Nie Li asked Xiao Ninger about the Alchemist Association and found out that, there is a six-man elder group that has the most power of speech. They are all a bunch of old men with the lowest of them being an Intermediate Alchemy Master, followed by two Senior Alchemy Masters. As for the Grandmaster level, as of now, the Alchemist Association doesn't have any. Aside from this six-man elder group, there is the director that manages the various matters of the Alchemist Association.

"Nice to have you here, what can I do for you?" A lady wearing a grey robe walked over and asked. She's the receptionist of the Alchemist Association Hall.

"I'm here to take a look at the Library," Nie Li stated as he looked at the tall lady, and spoke in a indifferent manner, neither polite nor aggressive. He didn't even bother with asking her name, Nie Li has discovered that for some reason he felt that talking to others and interacting with them was too tiresome and boring, obviously there are some exception to this rule. Nie Li slightly looked at Ninger with his peripheral vision.

"Okay, My name is Xiao Lan. You're here for the library, that is great. The association welcomes those with thirst for knowledge. I hope you don't quit like most people. If you study with diligence, you can even become a Apprentices Alchemist, to become an apprentices, one must be familiar with over ten books of alchemy foundations," Xiao Lan said, lightly smiled. Those books have more than hundreds of thousands of words about the alchemy foundation, and that alone made countless people flinch. However, that can't be helped. In order to become an alchemist, if they do not even know the foundation and principles of alchemy, that could cause deaths.

"Miss Xiao Lan, Thank you for your advice. Can you lead you to the library." Nie Li asked, looking towards Xiao Ninger, asking if she wants to go inside with him, Ninger nodded and choose to go with him.

Hearing Nie Li's words, Xiao Lan smiled and she secretly thought that maybe Nie Li was here to only impress the lady and not study. She was pissed knowing this but looking at them, they looked like Noble children so, she decided to not bother with it and said, "Sure."

Xiao Lan swept her eyes across Nie Li and Ninger and lead them to the public Library area.

The Library was located in a long passage that stretched a far distance away. On the each side of the passage are small rooms.

"Here we are, You will find different books all at level of apprentices and explaining fundamentals of different herbs and simple refining procedure. You can read all of them without any charge but if you want to read book at higher level you have to pass the test or either just pay the appropriate fees to gain access to them." Xiao Lan explained and immediately went away. She thought they weren't here to study in the first place so she didn't explained things in details like she normally would. The library was quite huge and Nie Li could see some aspirants roaming around scratching their head, trying to memorize all the contents.

Nie Li just went to a random shelf and picked out 10 odd books and selected a secluded corner to study, Ninger also found some simple books mainly about various technique used by Alchemist to control their inner self and gain proper mental fortitude to perform refining procedure. These were all books recommended by Nie Li, it can help a cultivator too into concentrating.

Nie Li didn't go full psycho in recording all of the contents, he acted like a true student and opened various books writing down some words here and there on his own parchment.

Previously, Nie Li has advanced at a very rapid speed which is a huge problem if he doesn't solidify his strength, thankfully his cultivation technique is very high class and it can remedy this situation with time, all he needs to do is properly get accosted to these changes.

Nie Li decided to build his alchemist skills, which is something he gives great importance to. As he was studying he was simultaneously also using A.I.Chip to perform various task trying to modify, combine and create new theories.

Nie Li and Xiao Ninger both silently sat at the same table opposite to each other and read their books, even though they weren't talking they was a odd synergy between them and they both enjoyed this peaceful moment.

Soon studying in the Library together become a vital part of their daily activity. Nie Li kept increasing the level of his book to a higher difficulty, eventually choosing to buy access to higher tier of the library. He could have given the test but he wasn't really in the mood. Nie Li also helped Xiao Ninger in her studying as well and solved her doubts about cultivation.

After some time, Nie Li found out that he cannot gain access to anything above Primary Master Level because you would need either a recommendations or at least a senior apprentice rank in alchemy. Left with no option he gave the test deliberately achieving the bare minimum to gain greater access. Xiao Ninger was very happy for him and at this time Xiao Lan was flabbergasted and couldn't decide what to feel.

Nie Li wasn't fond of attention so he didn't want to show off, even with that some people started to take intrest in him. He got some offers to join some sort of a certain group of an elder in the association but he didn't accept, he didn't reject them either. After a thorough check up everyone found that he merely has red soul realm so he was later ignored. This is what Nie Li appreciated as well and he continued to study and refine elixir in peace.