The Ultimate of All Ages Novels - Chapter 0003
Chapter 0003
### **Chapter 03: Ultimate of All Ages – The Artificers’ Guild**
Having made his way to the **Artificers’ Guild**, Li Yunxiao stepped through its grand entrance. Inside, the vast hall was bustling with people. The lively crowd made it seem more like a marketplace than a place of prestigious alchemists and artificers.
“Welcome to the **Artificers’ Guild**!”
A sweet voice rang out.
Li Yunxiao’s gaze flickered as a young woman with a bright smile walked toward him. Her outfit was stylish, her demeanor warm and welcoming.
**Lu Yao.**
Every branch of the **Artificers’ Guild** had receptionists dedicated to welcoming guests. Back in his past life, Li Yunxiao had become accustomed to such hospitality. It had been a long time since anyone greeted him in such a casual, friendly manner.
Lu Yao looked him over and said playfully, “You’re probably the youngest guest I’ve ever received. What can I do for you, young sir?”
Li Yunxiao smiled faintly. “I’m looking for **Yang Di**. Is he here?”
The moment his words left his lips, Lu Yao’s cheerful expression **froze**.
“Y-Yang Di?” She almost bit her tongue. “You mean… **Master Yang Di**?”
Lu Yao stared at the young man in front of her, scrutinizing his face, as if trying to determine whether he was being serious or just joking.
After a long pause, she cautiously asked, “You’re referring to the **former Guild Master** Yang Di, correct?”
Li Yunxiao’s expression remained indifferent, but inwardly, his heart sank. “Former?”
Lu Yao’s eyes filled with admiration as she continued, “Master Yang Di left twenty years ago! He advanced to a **Fourth-Tier Grand Artificer** and was transferred to the headquarters of the Artificers’ Guild.”
“Twenty years…”
Li Yunxiao’s heart stirred as he quickly did the calculations. Yang Di had left five years before his own downfall.
With Yang Di gone, things would be much trickier. He had originally hoped to find his former disciple and have him assist in restoring his dried-up meridians.
However, there was no use dwelling on it. He would simply have to handle things himself.
“Do you need anything else, young sir?” Lu Yao asked with curiosity, still finding his request bizarre.
Li Yunxiao remained calm. “I need a set of materials. Do you have an inventory list?”
Lu Yao hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Of course. But depending on what you need, some items may be harder to acquire.”
Li Yunxiao quickly wrote down a list of ingredients. Lu Yao’s bright smile soon turned into confusion as she scanned the parchment.
She glanced at him doubtfully and asked, “Young sir, are you sure this is correct? I’ve been at the Artificers’ Guild for several years, and I’ve never heard of some of these items…”
Li Yunxiao frowned slightly but remained silent.
It was as he feared—this branch was too insignificant. Some of the materials he required were rare, but to him, they had once been commonplace.
Before he could respond, a cold voice interrupted.
“What are you doing?”
A figure clad in **a black artificer’s robe** approached. His robe bore the emblem of a **First-Tier Artificer**, a symbol of his official status.
The moment he appeared, many in the hall instinctively took a step back, showing respect. Even Lu Yao straightened her posture.
Li Yunxiao’s gaze flickered—**Jia Rong.**
Jia Rong took the list from Lu Yao’s hands, casually scanning it. His expression immediately **darkened**, and with a scoff, he **crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it away**.
“What is this nonsense?” he sneered. “Half of these materials don’t even exist in our records. You think you can just walk in here and make ridiculous demands?”
Lu Yao was startled. “Master Jia Rong, he was just—”
“Enough!” Jia Rong snapped. “Go handle **real customers**, not children playing make-believe.”
He then turned his gaze to Li Yunxiao, smirking condescendingly. “Kid, do you even know what an Artificer does? This isn’t a place where you can just make things up.”
Li Yunxiao’s expression remained indifferent. **This man was nothing more than a low-ranking artificer, yet he was already so arrogant?**
Jia Rong was about to dismiss him further when something caught his eye—Li Yunxiao’s calm gaze.
For some reason, that look sent an **uneasy chill** down his spine.
Li Yunxiao let out a light chuckle and said, “You’re a **First-Tier Artificer**, correct?”
Jia Rong lifted his chin, arrogance filling his face. “Hmph, naturally.”
Li Yunxiao’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “And you earned that rank **five days ago**, correct?”
Jia Rong’s smug expression **froze**. His pupils constricted as a wave of shock coursed through him.
“How did you—”
Li Yunxiao ignored his question and continued, “Let me guess… You used **Darkwind Stone** during your final assessment?”
Jia Rong’s heart **skipped a beat**.
Darkwind Stone was an extremely rare mineral used in certain artificing techniques. However, it came with **severe drawbacks**, making it highly **risky** to use.
“How do you—”
“Your fingertips are gray, with signs of minor peeling,” Li Yunxiao said leisurely. “That’s the residue left by prolonged contact with Darkwind Stone.”
Jia Rong clenched his fists, feeling an ominous premonition.
Li Yunxiao took a step closer, lowering his voice. “Tell me, Jia Rong… Have you noticed an **itching pain** in your right arm? And does your **spiritual energy feel weaker**?”
Jia Rong’s body trembled.
That was exactly what he had been experiencing.
“Your condition is caused by the **toxic remnants of Darkwind Stone**, which is slowly corroding your **spiritual foundation**,” Li Yunxiao stated matter-of-factly. “If you don’t cleanse it soon, your spiritual essence will collapse, and you’ll be unable to use artificing techniques ever again.”
Jia Rong felt his breathing become labored. He **knew** that something had been wrong ever since his promotion. **But how did this kid see through it at a glance?!**
“Fortunately for you, I happen to know a way to **neutralize the poison**,” Li Yunxiao said lazily.
Jia Rong’s heart pounded furiously. His pride screamed at him to **not** lower himself before a mere child. But the **fear of losing his artificing abilities** overwhelmed that pride.
“You… You’re lying!” Jia Rong snapped. “There’s no way you know something even our Guild’s alchemists couldn’t solve!”
Li Yunxiao shook his head in amusement.
“Think whatever you like.” He turned to leave. “Since you refuse to listen, go ahead—**wait three more days, and when your right arm turns completely numb, come beg me for help.**”
Jia Rong’s **face turned deathly pale**.
The moment Li Yunxiao stepped outside, his lips curled into a smirk.
**”That should do it. Within three days, Jia Rong will come crawling back. When that happens… he’ll be the one fulfilling my requests.”**
**His path to rebuilding his power had just begun.**