As Lin Yun walked through the manor's corridors and courtyards, he noticed a subtle but distinct change. The servants and guards he passed no longer simply bowed out of routine duty. Their bows were deeper, their greetings more heartfelt.
"Good morning, Third Young Master!"
"May your journey to the academy be smooth, Third Young Master!"
Their eyes, which had once held a hint of pity or indifference for the "untalented" young master, now held genuine respect.
They had witnessed his courage on the stage. They had seen him, against all odds, defend the clan's honor and injure a cultivator far above his level.
He was no longer just the old patriarch's grandson; he was a young master who had proven his worth.
Lin Yun acknowledged them with a slight nod, his heart feeling a quiet warmth. This respect, earned through his own actions, felt far more substantial than any privilege granted by birth.
He found his parents, Lin Canghai and Mu Qiuxue, in the main hall, already expecting him.
"Yun'er," Lin Canghai said, his stern features softened by a father's concern. "Remember, the situation at the academy may be different now. Your performance has undoubtedly drawn attention. Be cautious. Do not seek trouble, but do not shy away from it either. You represent the Lin Clan."
His words were a leader's advice, but his eyes held a father's worry.
Mu Qiuxue stepped forward, straightening the collar of his robe with gentle hands. "Listen to your father, my son. And take care of yourself. Eat properly, and don't push yourself too hard in your training." Her eyes were slightly red-rimmed, always anxious when her children left home.
"I understand, Father, Mother," Lin Yun replied, bowing respectfully. "I will be careful. I will not bring shame to our family."
With their blessings and a pouch of spirit stones from his father, Lin Yun turned and left the hall. The farewell was simple, but the weight of their expectations and care settled on his shoulders, not as a burden, but as a motivation.
He and Yu Tao'er boarded the simple but sturdy Lin Clan carriage. The driver flicked the reins, and the carriage began its journey away from the manor, rolling through the bustling streets of Fortune City towards the academy on its outskirts.
The carriage rolled steadily through the bustling streets of Fortune City. Lin Yun watched the familiar shops and stalls pass by, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts about the upcoming academy assessment and his long-term cultivation plans. He was so engrossed that he almost missed it.
As the carriage turned a corner onto a wider, more prestigious avenue, his eyes caught a magnificent building on his left. It was constructed from a unique, pale blue stone that seemed to shimmer in the morning light.
The architecture was elegant and grand, yet not ostentatious. But what truly drew his eye was the sign hanging above the imposing double doors.
It was a circular emblem made of polished white jade, bordered in gold. In the center, elegantly carved, were three intertwined characters:
Azure Alchemy Association.
Lin Yun blinked. "The Azure Alchemy Association?" he murmured aloud, the name sparking a cascade of memories from the original owner of his body.
Yu Tao'er, sitting opposite him, noticed his surprise. "Yes, Young Master. This is the Fortune City branch. The Lin Clan has a good cooperative relationship with them."
But Lin Yun was no longer listening to her. He was diving deep into the fragmented knowledge left behind by the previous Lin Yun.
The Azure Alchemy Association... it wasn't just a business. It was a legend.
The memories came in flashes. The association was said to have been founded millennia ago by a mythical figure known only as the Azure Alchemy Emperor. He was a peerless genius in the art of alchemy, a legend of the entire Profound Sky Continent.
His skills were said to have reached a level where he could refine pills that defied the heavens themselves, pills that could bring the dead back to life or grant immortality.
The most famous legend was that the Azure Alchemy Emperor had successfully refined a Divine Ascension Pill and had ascended to the Immortal World, leaving the mortal realm behind.
He had never returned.
But the association he founded lived on. The one who had taken over his mantle was his eldest disciple, and under that leadership, the Azure Alchemy Association had expanded its influence to every corner of the Profound Sky Continent.
What was most remarkable, and what the original Lin Yun's memories highlighted with a sense of awe, was the AAA's business model. Despite its immense power and reach, it did not act like a hegemon.
They did not compete with local alchemy forces. They did not try to monopolize markets or crush local clans. Instead, they offered generous cooperation.
They acted as a neutral platform, a guild, and a high-end supplier. They purchased raw materials from local clans at fair prices.
They sold rare and high-grade ingredients, pill recipes, and even alchemy techniques that were otherwise impossible to obtain. They provided certification for alchemists, with their certification carrying weight across the entire continent.
Most importantly for a clan like the Lin Clan, they purchased finished pills in bulk, offering stable and lucrative contracts. It was a symbiotic relationship. The local clans gained access to a vast network and a reliable buyer, while the AAA secured a steady supply of goods and strengthened its influence through cooperation rather than conquest.
The Lin Clan, along with the other six major clans of Fortune City, all maintained good cooperative relations with the local branch. It was a cornerstone of the city's economy.
A sudden, powerful impulse seized Lin Yun. This was it. This was the perfect, neutral ground to test his abilities and his system without immediately dragging his clan into the spotlight.
"Stop the carriage!" Lin Yun said, his voice firm.
The coachman, surprised, pulled on the reins, bringing the horses to a halt. "Young Master? We are not yet at the academy."
"I know. I wish to visit the Association," Lin Yun stated, already moving to open the carriage door.
Yu Tao'er was momentarily flustered. "Young Master? But the academy assessment..."
"It will only take a moment," Lin Yun said, stepping down onto the cobblestone street. "I have a matter I need to inquire about."
Seeing his determination, Yu Tao'er quickly scrambled out after him. "Then... then I will accompany you."