Almost there...

After their talk, Raizen accepted banquet gigs and by the end of the second week, he already has fifty-thousand demon spirit coins. He used all the coins to buy Purple Haze grass and was able to buy forty thousand kilos of it in the market. Even if Nie Li did not give the use of Purple Haze Grass to the Alchemist guild, He would just sell his pills. He still remembers that he has the pill from Against the Gods that will make an ordinary person jump to Earth Profound realm in one try. If he used it here then there will be a lot of Legendary Ranks floating in the city. He should probably dilute the formula to just jump from nothing to Gold Rank.

Two days later, the scandal with the inscription pattern that was allegedly been bastardized by the ancestors of Sacred Family and made it their own was spreading around the city.

R: "This Nie Li has guts."

XNing: "I know right. He was not afraid of berating teacher Shen Xiu in front of the class. I felt that some people were watching the class."

R: "Probably to check upon her class if she is doing a good job at teaching the next generation that will protect the Glory City. But from the stories circulating, I say that she failed."

Raizen and Xiao Ning'er were talking about the things happening in Glory City inside the house given to him by Ye Zong near the City Lord mansion. Ning'er then also told him that she is at the Silver Rank already and needed a demon beast to integrate.

R: "Did you tell your father that you are already at Silver rank? Though he might not believe that it only took you three weeks to do that."

XNing: "I didn't tell them yet. You're the only one that I talked to about it."

R: "Oh shucks, you're making me blush. Thank you for trusting."

Xiao Ning'er did blush.

XNing: "I just thought that maybe you want to go with me and look for a suitable demon beast for me."

R: "Are you sure? Because I might not be as strong as you think."

XNing: "Yes I am sure."

R: "Though I have this here. *showing a slightly large marble size bead containing a demon beast* ...this was in the same place as the manual."

Inside the marble, they see a light blue dragon with four legs sleeping.

R: "Try absorbing it"

Xiao Ning'er did as she was told and while she was absorbing it. The dragon woke up and roared while circling then sleep again. The process only lasted for a few seconds then Ning'er broke through again from 1-star to 3-star Silver rank. She then opens her eyes and looks at the pouting Raizen that is looking at her.

R: "That manual is a cheat! A cheat I tell you! You just absorbed a demon spirit but you jump again in cultivation. Such is the life of a genius. While I need years to get to where I am." *being dramatic because it's true*

XNing: "Though with this, I will be closer to your strength."

Raizen just smiled at her.

R: "Anyway, I will be out of the city to practice and I think I hear that young master Chen Linjian will explore the Ancient Orchid City Ruins."

XNing: "So you are going with them?"

R: "Yeah, to be a cook and an extra muscle, even though I'm a cook. I am also stronger than a Silver Rank demon spiritualist."

XNing: "So you're a Gold rank demon Spiritualist?"

R: "Maybe" *poke the nose of Ning'er*

Their relation is getting close but Ning'er is still thirteen years old so until then he will just nurture it.

Then the day of exploration comes. Ning'er wanted to come but Raizen said that she should stay and consolidate her strength in Silver rank so that she will have a smooth breakthrough to Gold rank.

The "demon beast" that Raizen gave to Ning'er is a defeated Divine Master realm dragon from Against the Gods. So when she stepped to Gold rank, the "demon beast" will siphon a portion of the cultivation energy to regain its original strength but by then, it will be loyal to Ning'er.

Raizen now is following the group of Chen Linjian as they go towards the ancient ruins. He wanted to put on a mask so that Huyan Lanrou would not talk to him but because she has been a customer at the shop, he can't hide his face anymore. Then some people from the group were cursing at him getting the attention of Huyan Lanrou for being handsome even for Chen Linjian's standards by far.

R: 'I should have used a fake skin when I entered Glory City' *sigh*

At night while waiting for the group to move out because of the fox bear. Raizen was remembering the time he gave the Purple Haze Grass that he owns to Ning'er to sell when the price is at its peak so that she can buy the pills that Nie Li created. She tried to refuse but Raizen use the "if you don't take it then you don't consider me as a friend" card on Ning'er then she reluctantly agreed.

Now, Chen Linjian and Nie Li were talking about the fox bear and Shen Yue trying to make Nie Li a bad guy. But Chen Linjian decided to take the advice of Nie Li and a few moments later. They heard a sound coming from the direction they have been in.

The next day, Raizen talked to Chen Linjian in private about the three silver ranked that has been following them.

Chen Linjian: "Are you sure about it?"

R: "Definitely, I was tasked by the City Lord to not put Ye Ziyun's life in danger in this exploration"

CL: "Can you handle them?"

R: "Yes, I will be going now"

Raizen then leaves the group without anyone noticing, especially Nie Li. He left an aura similar to his so even if Raizen was not there physically, Nie Li wouldn't notice a thing.

While he was gone, Nie Li notice that the three Silver rank people that were following them were flaring up their aura but it seems that no one notice it besides him. Then the next second, the aura of the three disappears suddenly. He then walks towards Chen Linjian and told about the three Silver ranks following them. Chen Linjian then orders his subordinates to check it out. After a minute, they returned from the direction where Nie Li sense them.

BG1: "There were no signs of battle"

CL: "See Nie Li. It must be your imagination or the stress from last night."

Nie Li: "I guess so" *still could not believe that there were no signs of battle*

When Nie Li was far enough, Raizen walk up behind Chen Linjian and the boy noticed him.

CL: "So?"

R: "After I dragged them away and torture them. They told me that they were sent by Sacred Family to deal with Nie Li when he is alone. When there is no more information to be said, I disposed of the bodies and burned them to ash."

CL: *gulps* "Thank you for your support"

R: "Just trying to keep the miss safe"

While the journey continues, Huyan Lanrou was not getting any reaction from Raizen so she decided to go for Nie Li.

R: 'Thank god she changed target. Good thing I learned poker face'

While Nie Li was getting the attention of Huyan Lanrou, Chu Yuan came to them and asked what they were talking about. The conversation leads to Chu Yuan challenging Nie Li and giving the kid three free moves. After Nie Li dish out the first move, Chen Linjian talks about Nie Li's potential to his subordinates.

CL: "Interesting"

R: "Not really"

CL: "Do you want to test his strength?"

R: "...maybe I will"

After the fight between Chu Yuan and Nie Li. Chen Linjian walks up to Nie Li.

CL: "Can you continue to fight Nie Li?"

Nie Li: "Yes, Why?

CL: "I want to see where your strength lies while still not at 1-star Bronze rank"

Nie Li: "Who am I going to fight?"

CL: "The cook from Snow Wind Family. Don't worry, you guys will be fighting in pure skills and no soul force"

R: "If you're still hesitating then I will lower my cultivation to 1-star Bronze rank"

Nie Li contemplated but still agree because Chen Linjian ask personally. Even the cook who was in Silver rank will lower his cultivation to 1-star Bronze rank, the same as him. Is it a coincidence?

Raizen gave time to Nie Li to recuperate.

Chen Linjian then started the fight when the two were both ready. Raizen was in a horse stance when the fight starts. For a minute, no one made a move then Raizen taunt Nie Li with the "come here" gesture which he accepts and charge to him. Nie Li was kicking and punching in different directions and angles for the next three minutes and he was not able to land a single blow on Raizen who keep moving the attacks of Nie Li to the side. Nie Li then tried to use assassin type of attacks with fast and accurate strikes to vital organs and use faints to distract Raizen from the real attacks. But all the attacks of Nie Li failed.

R: "Let us end this..."

Raizen punches the chest of Nie Li which sends him flying for three meters. For the people watching the fight. Raizen didn't move when he attacked Nie Li and was stationary on his spot. Now that they think about it. Raizen never move from his spot when he was deflecting the attacks of Nie Li. This must be the difference between an elite Silver rank to a person that is not yet cultivating.

But one person has a different opinion about the fight.

NL: 'His only attack. How did he punch me?! I didn't even see his hand move. No soul force either. This guy is very mysterious'

After Nie Li got back his strength, the journey of the group continues.

The journey took a few days more before getting close to the ruins.

When the people got to the ruin's site, the underlings of Chen Linjian started talking about where they should go.

CL: "What do you think?" *looking at Raizen*

R: "I have been here once but I only got books from the Library here. I didn't look for any treasures so I don't have any idea about that."

mn1: "So that is why the Snow Wind Family donated new books to the library in Glory City."

CL: "Anyway, Nie Li, what is your take on it?"

When Chen Linjian asked Nie Li, the other people got curious that the young master of the Divine Family wanted the opinion of someone like him. Nie Li tells them about the positions of noble's houses and the possible vault for treasure. Shen Yue tried to undermine Nie Li but was told not to butt into their conversation.

Raizen then pulls out a sword from his space ring and gets ready to fight. Chen Linjian notice this and ordered his people to do the same.

While they were doing that. A group of people was following them.

In their walks, an increasing number of Giant Blue Arm Ape was following them but not yet attacking. Nie Li then fired an arrow in the shadows and Chen Linjian rushed to the ape and killed it. Everyone else took out their bow and tried to hit the apes but they were so agile that they always missed them.

Then something dashed towards the apes and every time it passes one ape, the head falls on the ground. After a few seconds, all the apes were dead and even Nie Li could not believe it. It was so fast that even with all his experience, he wasn't able to follow the shadow's movement. It only took ten seconds from the time the other people stop firing their arrows.

??: "Wow, he finished it within a few seconds, we can't even kill one if not for Nie Li and young master Chen Linjian.

Shen Yue who was listening at this have mixed feelings about the person. On one hand, he is strong and might be useful if his family can rope him in. On the other, he is a threat to the Sacred Family especially since he is one of the people of the Snow Wind Family.

SYue: 'I must report this back to the elder.'

Then suddenly, a new ape came. But this time, Nie Li told the difference to the others.

Nie Li: "It's a Spiritual grade demon beast!"

Even though the demon beast has some similarities to humans from having Bronze to Legend Ranks. There is still a key difference among them. Those categories were divided into normal, spiritual, and emperor demon beast. If the same beast has each category then a Silver rank demon beast that is at the spiritual grade of the same cultivation like 1-star will have a strength equivalent to a 5-Star Silver rank close to gold. And an emperor type while having a cultivation of 1-star Silver rank, will have a strength of Gold rank.

CL: "How strong?"

Nie Li: "5-star Silver rank, almost into Gold rank!"

Chen Linjian looked at the position of Raizen but he was not there then he heard the shout of the spiritual beast. There he looks at it being tossed around by Raizen then he throws the ape in a particular direction.

Raizen then walks back to the group as if nothing happened.

R: "Shall we go?" *looking at the Chen Linjian*

CL: "So you're at Gold rank?"

Raizen did not answer and just started walking. Ye Ziyun and the others could not believe that the City Lord has a Gold-rank practitioner as a cook.

Meanwhile, the group of the Dark guild was facing off with the spirit beast.

Without furthermore interference from the demon beasts, they reached the destination that Nie Li suggested earlier. When they found the treasures, as per the agreement, Nie Li took the first treasure. While they were collecting the treasures, Raizen disappears from the group for a moment and returned quickly without the others noticing.

After the treasures were cleared out, they started their journey back towards Glory City.

Raizen was preventing Nie Li from flirting with Ye Ziyun by touching him and pushing him aside which made both of the two kids confused because he only did it once before returning to the city. In their mind, he could have stopped Nie Li before so doing it now was confusing.

Shen Yue disappears from the group while they were returning but was seen again in Glory City.

Before separating, Raizen gave Ye Ziyun the abstruse gem but when she tried to ask what it is, Raizen was already gone. Nie Li, who is still with Ziyun, told her what the gem is for. He told her that it can increase the cultivation speed of the wearer.

She wanted to return it but Nie Li think that it came from her father and only now that she was in Glory City did Raizen give it to her. Ye Ziyun did not argue because it was most likely what happened. After all, they didn't see Raizen taking any treasure so the gem must have been with him the whole time.

A few days later, Nie Li did the Alchemy test and while he was doing that, Raizen was talking to Ye Zong about the Gold pill that he created.

YZ: "You're telling me that you have a pill that can make anyone jump from not having any cultivation to a Gold rank demon spiritualist?!"

R: "Yes. So instead of starting from the Bronze rank, the person will start with being a Gold rank. Though they need to stay at Gold rank for a year at most depending on how fast they adapt to understand their power."

YZ: "That is acceptable, how many do you have?"

R: "How many do you need? If you're picking an individual then make sure that they are loyal to you. I'll give you something."

Raizen gave Ye Zong an item.

YZ: "What is this for?"

R: "First drop blood on the pen. *waiting for Ye Zong* You will let the people that you think you trust write their names on paper using the pen. Just tell them that you need to know the people working for you.

Later on, the color of the names will change based on their loyalty. If it's white then they are loyal to you to the end. If grey, they are only loyal to you as long as there are benefits. Blue signifies that they are spies from your allies and red were spies from people that have hostile intentions to you."

YZ: "Unbelievable, just by this, I can secure the safety of Glory City."

R: "For now, only do it to your people and do it casually. I will give you five pills then train those people to harmonize with the power that they gain."

Afterward, Raizen goes to the shop to do business again after it was closed due to the exploration of the ruins.