Alchemy Master

Chapter 545, Water Moon Crystal House

Translator: Silavin

Shooting Star Spirit Crystals were said to be meteorites from beyond the skies. Due to their high velocity, while in the starry skies they absorb the essence of countless stars and celestial bodies. Therefore, Spiritual Energy was imbued within them, forming Spirit Seeds.

In reality, Spirit Seeds were just Stellar Essence!

Obtaining Shooting Star Spirit Crystals was an extremely difficult endeavour. Every time meteorites fall from the sky, they always attract numerous powerful individuals to compete for them.

This was because, regardless of whether those fragments contain Spirit Seed or not, they were all extremely valuable.

It was said that the Ouyang Family was severely damaged in a conflict with a powerful Force from another Imperial Dynasty during one such competition.

This shows just how fierce the competition for Shooting Star Spirit Crystals could be.

The fact that the Sha Family can operate a Crystal House was sufficient evidence of their formidable strength!

Throughout the journey, after observing the excitement and anticipation written all over Qin Yichen’s face, Shen Ling confirmed one thing, [He’s an addicted gambler!]

Having grown up in the Imperial City, she had seen and heard of far too many people who had lost everything due to gambling on these Crystals. Those who had made their fortune through Crystal gambling were as rare as Phoenix feathers and Qilin horns.

*Haaa…* This was not the first time Qin Yichen had heard Shen Ling sighing beside him.

He was quite puzzled as to why she was behaving this way.

“Are you sick?” He stopped and placed his palm on her smooth forehead.

Shen Ling froze. She then swatted away Qin Yichen’s hand and pulled the bewildered Gongshu Zhiyi to walk ahead.

“Perverted scoundrel, gambling addict…” Hearing her muttering, Qin Yichen finally understood that this Young Lady had misunderstood him.

[Gambling addict? In my previous life, I had indeed engaged in high-stakes gambling. Sometimes I won, sometimes I lost! But, at that time, I was alone in the world, so there was nothing I could not lose. After all, I had no ties or burdens. But now, I cannot afford to lose. Now, behind me are many people who need my care.]

[That being said, this is one thing and that is another. This does not prevent me from gambling on Crystals. Besides, what I’m doing could not be called gambling, but rather… taking!]

In his previous life, when he had just awakened his Divine Eyes, he frequently visited the Water Moon Crystal House for practice.

Initially, he almost always lost. Each time, the gold coins he had painstakingly saved would be completely lost in one go!

He could never forget the feeling when he first extracted a Spirit Seed.

It was precisely because of this that Qin Yichen was very familiar with the Shooting Star Spirit Crystals in the Water Moon Crystal House.

Which ones contained Spirit Seeds and which ones did not, he knew them like the back of his hand, and the holes in his old pocket.

Particularly those Shooting Star Spirit Crystals from which he had extracted Spirit Seeds from, his memory of them was crystal clear.

Therefore, his trip to the Water Moon Crystal House could not be considered gambling.

It was a sure thing!

Still, he had to admit, his earlier demeanour did bear some resemblance to a gambling addict. But where did the accusation of being a scoundrel come from?! And a perverted one at that!?

*Haaa…* Qin Yichen could only let out a long sigh. [Women truly are incomprehensible creatures! If I really were a scoundrel, would I have refrained from taking advantage last night? When I think about it now, I seriously can’t help but feel I got shortchanged!]

Of course, these thoughts were things he could only keep to himself and dared not voice aloud.

…

The Water Moon Crystal House was located in the most prosperous district of Heavenly Dragon Imperial City.

This area bustled with horse-drawn carriages and flowing crowds. Qin Yichen and his two companions squeezed through the throng, moving forward with difficulty.

“How nostalgic!” Looking at the jewel-encrusted ‘Water Moon Crystal House’ signboard before him, a slight smile curved at the corner of Qin Yichen’s mouth.

In his previous life, he had lost so many gold coins in this Crystal House. Now, it was time to reclaim them!

With this thought, he led the way into the Water Moon Crystal House.

Upon entering, the cacophony from outside was immediately cut off.

The interior was very spacious.

Shooting Star Spirit Crystals were embedded in wall alcoves, and combined with the special lighting around them, the overall impression was one of mysterious allure.

At this time, there were not many people inside. After all, this was a Crystal House!

Without at least several hundred thousand to a million gold coins on one’s person, one would not dare to step through those doors.

It should be noted that every Shooting Star Spirit Crystal in the Water Moon Crystal House was worth several hundred thousand gold coins, with even the cheapest ones valued at over a hundred thousand gold coins.

This alone was enough to deter many people.

Those who were here were naturally Imperial Dynasty Nobles and wealthy individuals. Occasionally, they would spend several hundred thousand gold coins to casually amuse themselves in the Crystal House.

Whether they could extract Spirit Seed was not particularly important to them. Browsing Crystal Houses was actually considered a Noble pursuit within the Imperial City.

This was a symbol of status!

“Welcome to the Water Moon Crystal House.” As Qin Yichen surveyed the interior, a sweet voice reached his ears.

This was an exceptionally beautiful woman, dressed in very revealing and sensual attire that wrapped tightly around her S-shaped figure, accentuating her alluring charm. Her jet-black hair was elegantly pinned up, making her slender neck appear even more graceful while adding several degrees to her cold beauty.

Her two lips were full and lustrous, glistening enticingly, making one unable to resist taking multiple glances.

For a mere female attendant to possess such bearing and beauty spoke to the extraordinary nature of this Water Moon Crystal House.

“Might I enquire if Young Master wishes to try his luck?” The female attendant’s gaze fell upon Qin Yichen, her voice sweet and beautiful, like a clear spring flowing into one’s heart.

No doubt many wealthy Nobles had been persuaded to part with considerable gold coins by her sweet, alluring voice.

It should be known that female attendants received commission on the sale of Shooting Star Spirit Crystals!

At this moment, Qin Yichen’s appearance was quite impressive.

He wore a Fifth Grade Alchemy Master Medal on his chest, and was accompanied by two stunningly beautiful women. No matter how one looked at it, he appeared to be a wealthy Young Master from a great Family or a Major Force.

“Indeed.” Qin Yichen nodded, pretending this was his first visit and affecting a very curious manner. With apparent eagerness, he said, “Please show me around first.”

“Please follow me.” The smile on the female attendant’s pretty face grew even more radiant, and her voice became sweeter still.

In her view, he was a prime target.

She turned and led Qin Yichen towards the display counter, introducing him to the various Shooting Star Spirit Crystals and their prices.

As she quoted each price, she noticed that Qin Yichen’s expression remained unchanged, which fully demonstrated that this was someone with money.

However, the two women behind him, particularly Shen Ling, showed quite dramatic reactions.

Gongshu Zhiyi was manageable, as she had little concept of money to begin with. But Shen Ling was different. Upon hearing those prices, she was filled with trepidation and even wanted to drag Qin Yichen away from this place of potential ruin.

She truly regretted bringing Qin Yichen here!

While Qin Yichen remained calm and composed, she was burning with anxiety, terrified that Qin Yichen might have a moment of folly and waste several hundred thousand gold coins.

However, Qin Yichen’s attention was focused on the Shooting Star Spirit Crystals embedded in the various alcoves. At this moment, he showed a demeanour of great intrigue while examining each crystal.

These Shooting Star Spirit Crystals were somewhat different from those he had encountered before.

After all, with several decades having passed, naturally there would be certain changes.

Just as Qin Yichen was feeling extremely disappointed, suddenly, a particular Shooting Star Spirit Crystal appeared within his line of sight.