Eternal Cultivation of Alchemy

"If you are going to start making pills, does that mean you'll join one of the local guilds?" Fang Yuxie asked as she and Alex walked through the streets of the massive Newsky city.

"I would rather not join a guild," Alex said. "I want to keep everything I earn to myself. I'm done with sharing what I earn with other establishments."

Fang Yuxie nodded along with Alex. "Are you going to open your own shop? That's going to cost you quite the Spirit stones," she said.

"I don't think it will cost me that much," Alex said. "I just need a small store with a single room, if that. I can make the pills back home."

Fang Yuxie shook her head this time. "I don't know how well you can persuade someone to come to your store if it doesn't even look like a store."

Alex thought for a moment and realized she was correct. "Maybe I should open a larger shop," he said. "How do I go about finding a place to rent in the city?"

"People will usually have signs out front mentioning that there are vacant spaces," Fang Yuxie said and looked around the street as she walked. "Oh, I know where we can find out. Let's go."

Fang Yuxie walked around the city for a while, asking some people for directions along the way until she stopped in front of a massive building.

"The Store-Owners guild," Fang Yuxie explained. "Every business in the city needs to be registered here. If you want to open a shop, the owners of those vacant spaces will let these people know so they can let people like us know."

"I see!"

Not long after, Alex was in a room with one of the people from the guild who was there to help him find a location.

"To start, could you tell me what sort of store you are hoping to open? How large it will be or how many rooms it should have?" the man asked.

Alex had thought this through by now so he answered. "I need a small store with 2 rooms. One is a reception area so decently sized, while the other one is for me to take care of patients. I intend to open an Alchemy store that also doubles as a physician's office."

Fang Yuxie gave a surprised look. "Physician? You never said you were a doctor," she said.

"It never came up in a conversation," Alex said. "I am an Alchemist first, but I also dabble in wounds and diseases."

Fang Yuxie only raised her eyebrows in surprise, saying nothing.

"Hmm, those are easy enough requirements," the man in front of them said and brought out a bunch of talismans. "These are available. Please check."

Alex checked a few and was shocked by the pricing. He was ready for the cost of these spots to be high, but 5000 Immortal Spirit stones a year was still quite a lot, considering it was just 2 rooms.

He had to tell himself that this was how it worked and soon landed on a few that he thought would work well. There were lists of businesses around that area and there weren't any stores there that would clash with his.

"Which of these 3 do you think is the best?" he asked, showing Fang Yuxie what he was going to choose from.

After deliberating between the three, Fang Yuxie gave Alex 2 options and Alex chose the cheaper one at 5200 Immortal spirit stones a year.

"This one will do," Alex said, handing back the talisman to the man.

"I see you've chosen a great one," the man said. "I'll let the owner know about it soon and you can meet with her and see if everything is fine there too. After that, just bring your Alchemist and Physician license and we can get your store registered."

Alex paused. "I'm sorry, my license?" he asked.

"Of course," the man said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Alex. "Why, do you not have one?"

"I… don't," Alex said, turning to Fang Yuxie for some aid.

Fang Yuxie gave a surprised look as well. "You don't have a license?" she asked. "What about from the world you came from?"

"If it is a license not issued through the Blue Silk sect, I'm afraid it won't work," the man said.

"Oh," Fang Yuxie said. "Then what do we do? How long does it take to get a license?"

"Not that long," the man answered. "You simply register yourself to one of the official Alchemy guilds in the city, authorized by the Blue Silk sect, and give a small test to verify your authenticity as an Alchemist. Once that is done, you should receive a license in no less than 5 days."

"Will this place remain open for 5 days?" Alex asked. "Can we book it?"

"Hmm, I'll ask the owner if she's willing. If she is, I will let give you a week's time before putting it back on the market."

"Thank you," Alex said quickly and rose from his seat. "If you'll excuse me, I have a license to go get."

Alex left the Store-owners guild and made his way to an Alchemy guild. He had seen one along the way, and now he just had to hope it was an official one.

Alex arrived at the Blackfrost Alchemy Guild and entered.

As soon as he entered, there was a plaque on the top of the wall right at the center of the hall that read 'The Blackfrost Alchemy Guild is officially recognized by the Blue Silk Sect as an Alchemy and Physicians Guild'.

'Oh! Two for one?' Alex thought. He had only come here for the Alchemy license, but it appeared he would get both of them in the same place.

He ignored the line of people who were there to get pills made and found a staff member.

"Greetings, brother. I'm here to get an Alchemy license. It's my first time here, what should I do?" he asked the man.

"For a license? That test happens in the morning. You can register yourself over there and come back tomorrow to take it," the man explained. "Ask the receptionist, she should help you. I'm a little busy."

The man left.

Alex made his way to the receptionist, who gave him a talisman to fill. Once Alex filled it all with the details, he gave it back and paid a small fee for the test.

"Your Alchemy license test will take place at sunrise tomorrow morning. The Physician's license test will take place in the afternoon. Please be here on time for both," the receptionist said.

"I will," Alex said. He took a talisman that was the confirmation of his registration and left.

"What happened? Did you get a license? You came out quickly," Fang Yuxie said.

"I'm only registered," Alex explained. "The actual tests will take tomorrow morning."

"I see," Fang Yuxie said. "What do we do now?"

"Go back home," Alex said. "I have some books I bought in the Sunlight City that I need to read and prepare for tomorrow. I need to get the license or else my plan to open a business will go nowhere."