~~~~~~A Few Moments Ago~~~~~~
Ye Ming’s arrival had improved Yanyan’s mood considerably. The Outer Contribution Hall member already thought that he had moved to Core Grounds and was in the care of more talented Senior Apprentice Sisters, but it turned out he was still here.
It would seem he was just busy with his alchemy and cultivation, as his cultivation increased by two whole minor realms in just a few days!
Such cultivation speed...
’Is this what an alchemist can do?’ A greedy part of her mind was wondering what methods he was using.
If only he singled her out and made her his representative to the Contribution Hall...
People like Ye Ming, who hold important roles such as Alchemists, Pill Makers, Weaponsmiths, and Formation Masters, work constantly, so they delegate duties like ingredient management to people in the Contribution Hall. These trusted, selected people manage resources and wealth for the important people in the Sect.
That is, if he even knows such a support profession exists.
Yanyan can only dream of such a promotion; if she does her work splendidly... he could reward her with pills, and Houtian would not be a fantasy.
Just imagining that makes her tremble with excitement and a bit of desire.
As the beautiful black-haired teller daydreamed for a couple of moments, she brought him to a meeting room in the main building, away from the regular disciples. Outer Court Elders rarely use these; mostly for business and managing disciples’ meetings.
"In here, no one would interrupt us. What do you wish to discuss... Junior Apprentice Ming." The lady was still calling him by his rank, as The Contribution Hall trained her to do, and she hoped he wouldn’t be offended by it.
"Call me Ye Ming, no need for the formalities." He shook his head as he walked over and took a seat in the wooden chair at the table.
Yanyan followed his lead and did the same, sitting on the opposite side of the table and directly in front of him.
"I require building materials. I will be building a workshop with specifications of my choice. So what I need is things like wood and stone.
I don’t know if that kind of stuff is in the catalogue; that is why I am asking."
"Hmm... The Sect can provide such things, but I do need specifics; I need measurements of the building you want to build." The Beautiful teller pulled out a notebook and began to write down some things.
"I see... then I need measuring tools and a means to communicate."
Her eyes perked up; this was exactly the moment that she needed!
"Of course, we can do that. Take the measurements of your dream workshop and send them to me. I will arrange the rest." She winked at him, borderline seductively.
"Good. Then it’s settled; I leave these transactions to you." He smiled as he realised that he could leave the boring stuff to her!
A beautiful manager! Just thinking about that makes him excited!
"I won’t disappoint you... Ye Ming." She scrambled to her feet as she elegantly bowed to him.
The Alchemist followed as he got up, and Yanyan walked over to him.
"I do need to know your budget and things like that." She began to ponder how this would work.
"Don’t worry, for now, let me get the communication... talisman?" Ye Ming asked her for confirmation.
"Yes, it’s a talisman." She nodded at his question.
"Great, then get me that and measuring tapes or whatever you have."
"We have several choices for that. Let me show you." The teller girl pulled out the book and showed him its illustrations.
What he saw was a selection of artefact-like devices that use a tape; they cost from a few coins to a couple of hundred Qi Stones and over two thousand contribution points.
Ye Ming went with the coolest one, as he had no idea of the perks. So he chose Cloud Sect colours—blue, white, and gold.
"This one is good enough." He went for the two hundred Qi Stones and two thousand Contribution Points measuring artefact.
"Very well." The girl noted down the specific number and letter on this item.
Ye Ming realised that this place was truly like a bank or like those warehouse shops he recalled from his previous life.
It works almost exactly like those places.
"For communication talismans, they are the same; only the range differs." Yanyan turned to the page where they are.
He saw a single item, but next to it were prices based on range.
And the prices were wild.
’Fifty thousand Qi Stones!? And five hundred thousand contribution points!?’
Ye Ming gawked at the prices of these things!
"Ignore the expensive ones; those are for emergencies and used by Grand Elders, Ancestors and Sect Masters.
This one here should be just fine; you could call me anywhere in Cloud City." The black-haired beauty pointed at the lower end.
It costs 500 Qi Stones and 5,000 Contribution Points.
"Very well. I take the one pointed out."
Yanyan smirked. This deal was already a great commission for her! But this was just the beginning.
"Understood, then let me bring them to you." She was about to leave, but he stepped closer.
"One moment, Yanyan."
The Teller girl stopped in her tracks; there was a bit of a hopeful expression on her face.
The beauty wondered what he had to say.
"You see... my profession makes me quite busy, and I need someone who could assist me in resource management."
Her eyes brightened. What Ye Ming was suggesting was exactly what she was hoping for!
"Y-You want me to be your representative in Contribution Hall?" She asked with a hopeful tone. Ye Ming had no idea if this was just like the manager’s job in his previous world.
It sounded like it...
"I guess it is? You will be answering to me, and only me~ is that okay with you?" He smirked at her as he got even closer.
And she answered his advances with a seductive smile.
"That is something I want~ but will you reward me for all the effort I will put in?" She asked; her voice was husky and quite stimulating.
"Pills~~ many pills~~~"
Her eyes gleamed when she heard pills!
"But~ you will be mine in turn~." He whispered the last words into her ear, making her blush at what this would mean to her.
There were far more talented and beautiful women in Inner Court and Core Sect Contribution Halls, yet Ye Ming went with her! It would be too stupid to pass up such an opportunity.
"Then I accept~" Her hands wrapped around his neck as she pushed her assets into his chest; she was ready for a bit more.
"Wonderful~ then I will leave these small things to you." His hands went to her bum as he pulled her up, getting a feel for a new, beautiful girl he had just got.
"Fufufu, should we seal the deal?" She whispered back to him.
Ye Ming smirked. He wasn’t that needy, as he had just had a long session with Liu Li, but to kiss a beauty? He could do that.
The Alchemist leaned forward and claimed her lips. Yanyan’s eyes gleamed with desire as she began to kiss him with growing need.
It turned into a sloppy kiss as their tongues began to wrestle.
The swirling continued for several minutes as her fingers began to rub his hair. The girl was getting turned on.
But then Ye Ming pulled back and looked at her.
"This will be enough for now."
Her eyes widened as she wondered if she had done something wrong.
Before she could ask, his finger went to her lips and stopped her midway.
"You need to prove to me that you are fit for the task, Yanyan. Once you prove it to me and demonstrate great effort, then I will reward you with pills and more." As he said that, his other hand squeezed her rear a bit harder, enjoying that firm buttock.
"Ohh~~ Yes! I will do my best!"
~~~
A bit later, Ye Ming left the building with two items. He got Yanyan’s contact information. Once he got the number, he would send her a voice message.
He also gave her a decent amount of Qi Stones and an order to buy, or notify him of, when interesting ingredients and herbs appear in the Sect’s ecosystem.
For those, she could set them aside and message the Alchemist if they cost a lot; he could sweeten the exchange with some pills and stuff.
With that said, he was very satisfied with his visit to the Contribution Hall.
As he returned to the main area where most of the disciples gathered, Liu Li swiftly made her way to his side.
"Let’s go, I got what I wanted." Ye Ming smiled as he took her hand.
"Okay, let’s go to the Inner Sect Grounds where I can speak with the Elder for the promotion." She said with a smile, leaning into his shoulder once more.
"Alright, I do wonder if I can get that deep into the Inner Sect Grounds. Bai Lingxi used some sort of token." The Alchemist recalled that beauty was quite resourceful.
"Hmph, don’t worry, just trust me." She clenched his hand while saying that.
To her resolve, he simply nodded, though he found it cute when she was that serious.
"You must be the Alchemist the entire Sect is talking about. May I have a moment of your time?" An arrogant voice said from behind them.
Liu Li stiffened when she heard it.
The pair turned around and saw a group of people. All of them were Inner Sect Disciples, and leading the front was a gorgeous girl.
Long black hair, combed into a ponytail, she had white gloves that went all the way to her elbows, while her sect robes were a bit altered to have shorter sleeves.
The most striking feature was that aura of arrogance and slender eyebrows that made Ye Ming feel that this girl was an incarnation of wealth and even... nobility?
It was hard for him to put his finger on the specifics.
"Jiang Zi Yan."
’Of course it’s related to Mengxue...’ The Alchemist internally deadpanned.
"Liu Li. I can tell that the Alchemist is the real deal. You surpassed me, congratulations." The Jiang girl flicked her hair, as if it meant nothing to her.
"...Jiang Zi Yan, why are you here?" Liu Li asked with a bit of force; she instinctively channelled her Qi, and the air got sharper around her.
"Relax, I am not here to compete or fight." Her striking, sharp blue eyes went to Ye Ming.
"The Master Alchemist is what I want to talk to." The ponytail girl slightly smiled as she looked at him.
"Do tell." The Alchemist smiled back at her. That is where his conspiracy brain got turned on. He wondered if it was cliché to try to steal him over, or persuasion, or dropping a secret that would try to damage his opinion of Jiang Mengxue... all of that, but it was far simpler.
"A trade. I will offer you four Iron Thorn Flowers; in exchange, you will make me a batch of Qi Gathering pills." The girl declared her terms.
"Of course, I do have the herbs; don’t worry about that part." She motioned with a proud tone.
"You want to borrow my skills?" Ye Ming was very surprised.
Jiang Zi Yan smirked back at him.
"Of course, I am not like everyone else." She said, looking at Liu Li as if hinting at something.
"Pity, I perform better when girls are eager and need help." He shook his head in fake disappointment, making the Jiang Girl panic at such an unexpected reply.
"T-Then you will decline my offer?"
"No, it’s fine. I will do it." He motioned for her to follow him.
The ponytail girl slowly nodded as she began to follow him, and her silent escort followed.
Ye Ming was a bit surprised to see both guys and girls following her. It was completely different from Jiang Mengxue, who was picky about her choices.
[Extra Info]
Yanyan: A graduate from Middle Sect, she has a decent talent and is in the early stages of the Foundation Realm.
While she has no talent beyond the Foundation Realm, she can still become an Elder in Middle Sect Grounds. Her ticket to reach that level is to become close to her newest favourite Apprentice Disciple, Ye Ming.
As someone who is proud of her looks, she is certain that one day she can get closer to him.
A beautiful girl in her late twenties, with long black hair, black eyes, traditional hairpins of their sect adorning her hair, and she is well-developed, with a sweet, almost seductive voice.
Hair: Black, Eyes: Black