I can only blame my charm!

Alchemy alliance was like a big campus college on Earth. Everything you need was available inside the alliance. It's almost like a city inside a city. Leo was mesmerized by the architecture as he entered the alliance gate. There was a big statue of a sitting bearded man refining pill with a smile as his hair flowed on the air. The statue was so lifelike that Leo couldn't avert his eyes for a long time. According to Lisa, it was the statue of the alchemy deity who controlled the alliance.

There were all kinds of trees and water parks inside the garden of the alliance. Leo spotted many people wearing either blue robes or purple robes going here and there. Some were discussing some alchemy pill, some were fiercely debating about the merit of potion versus pills.

According to Lisa's general introduction, there were two halls in the alchemy alliance. One was pill hall represented by the royal blue uniform and the other was potion hall represented by the purple uniform. Pill hall existed for thousands of years and already developed to a pinnacle level using ancient mystic arts. Whereas potion hall was relatively new, only started a hundred years back using the help of the latest technologies.

The debate between pills vs potions was not new. It was present since ancient times but when the potion hall started using technology forgoing mystic arts the debate became stronger. Now the debate not only was about which was more effective but which method was more effective.

Pill hall alchemists disdain potion hall for using technology as they believe that technology was for mortals without power. On the other hand potion hall alchemists believe in changing with times. They don't have any stereotypes of using technology. Also, they don't resent using mystic arts and believe that fusion of mystic arts and technology was the future of alchemy.

Leo couldn't help but admire the potion hall for its open-minded thinking. He was initially reluctant to be part of the alchemy alliance fearing the heavy investment but hearing the ideology of the potion hall Leo started to become curious. He started to believe that there was an opportunity for him.

Suddenly he heard someone shouting "Hey hurry up everyone, big brother Richard made a huge bet with the bullies of pill hall. He agreed to refine a breakthrough potion that could help reach soul apprentice-level on the grand hall. If he succeeded in the potion making, potion hall could finally gain some face against the pill hall."

Purple-dressed youths became excited as if they were injected chicken blood and ran towards the grand hall like a flock of chickens. Looking at the excitement of the potion hall youths, blue-robed youths spat in disdain. One of the youth said in a lazy voice,

"These bunch of hybrid bastards doesn't deserve to be in the alchemy alliance. All they created over the hundred years are some random potions only suitable for the foundation-level cultivators. How many times have they claimed that breakthrough potions over the decade? Every time they failed miserably telling some random excuses. I don't think this time would be any different."

Another blue-robed youth nodded calmly "They use our pills for the breakthrough but don't value our ideology. If they really believed in that damn potions and technology, they shouldn't use our pills at all. What a bunch of hypocrites."

All types of ill comments flooded the entire alliance. Potion hall youths behaved as if they have not heard anything. It was not their first time listening to the ill comments. Pill hall youths on the other hand used all the vocabulary they could muster to scold the potion hall mercilessly.

Leo couldn't help but commend the thick skin of potion hall. He liked the potion hall more and more. Moreover, Leo faced the same situation during his previous life because of his lack of background. Growing thick skin was the natural defense anywhere in the universe.

Lisa and Leo wore maroon color clothes which symbolized the Royal family. All though they were on a declining curve, because of the reputation of Eva, they still received a warm welcome from the pill hall. Some pill hall youths even started flirting with Lisa the moment they saw her.

"Sister Lisa, I will just look around and meet you hereafter a few hours. Is that ok?"

Since Lisa also needed to do some errands for Eva, she agreed readily. Leo casually followed the purple youths to the grand hall. Some of the purple-robed girls were impressed by the temperament of Leo and took the initiative to strike up a conversation. Leo also talked with them enthusiastically and created a good impression and eventually, he went along with them towards the grand hall. Some purple-robed male youths couldn't help but feel envious looking at Leo and the flock of girls surrounding him. Who would not be envious? after all, it was the dream of all hot-blooded males anywhere in the universe and the underworld was not an exception either.

Leo sighed internally 'I can only blame my overwhelming charm! Why don't they understand that it's difficult for him too.' Although he was sighing his smug smile betrayed him.

Grand hall was a very big auditorium situated in the center of the alliance. Mainly it was used for a conference, events, and competitions. Almost the entire auditorium was filled with purple robes. Blue robes were only present here and there. Naturally, it was a very important occasion for the potion hall. On the other hand pill hall, youths were only present to laugh after another failure.

At the center of the stage, a youth was wearing a lab coat, a transparent glass, and gloves on both hands was calibrating modern equipment with the help of his helpers who were also wearing similar dresses. There were all kinds of modern types of equipment on the stage for example various size glass tubes, spectrometers, electronic microscopes, nuclear magnetic resonance, and so on.

Leo had a strange feeling looking at the modern equipment in the underworld. Sometimes he wondered whether he really died in the mortal world or just having a dream. But he currently felt like the dream should continue for some time by looking at the beautiful purple-robed girls on his left and right side of his seat which was situated at the center of the auditorium. Many hot-blooded potion hall males gave a death glare at Leo. If looks could kill Leo would have died hundred times already. But Leo only showed them his middle finger and moved on.

Speaking to the girl on his right side, Leo asked "Jaya, is that Richard on the center of the stage?"

Jaya nodded fervently. She had huge respect for the passion of Richard who despite hundreds of failures continued to fight for the advancement of the potion hall. Richard was the son of the potion hall master and was born and brought up in the underworld. He had a huge reputation in the alchemy alliance not only because of his background but also his temperament. He was like a big brother who respected his juniors and was known to go to huge lengths for a grain of justice.

The girl on his left side who was also a huge fan of Richard started crying all of a sudden and said in a broken voice "Big brother is seeking justice for his juniors who are bullied every day by those scummy pill people. Hopefully, he succeeds this time. If only my talent is good enough, I would have gladly given up my life to help him succeed."

Another girl sighed lamenting "Even if you want to help, you need to have the qualification to do so."

Leo had an amusing smile looking at the expressions of the girls around him. It reminded him of the celebrity talks on Earth which were filled with drama and all kinds of spice. He was surprised to come across a man like Richard but according to his opinion, righteous people had their own dark side but outside people weren't yet aware. He had a lot of experience with those people on Earth but he didn't really know him personally and so declined to make a judgment based on comments.

On the left side of the front row, he noticed many old people wearing purple robes discussing something. On the right side of the front row, most of the seats were empty but he noticed a blue-robed arrogant youth lazily sitting in the middle along with his two female companions on either side, with his eyes closed as if he was doing meditation. His female companions were looking at the stage with an amused expression as if they were enjoying a great show.

Looking at Leo's focus Jaya said "That's the son of a pill hall elder. He is the one who made a bet today. Looking at his arrogant and smug face as if he had already won makes my hand itch."

Another girl timely chimed in "I want to beat him black and blue and take a look at the expressions of those sluts."

"Me too"

.

.

Leo chuckled as he listened to the remarks of the girls. It felt like he was inside a great reality show. Just then a bell rang and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became silent. Everyone's eyes turned to the main character at the center of the stage.

Leo's excitement reached its peak "Finally it's started."