"B-Billions!?"

Rant Valo exclaimed in shock and disbelief. He doesn't even think that he has seen that many plant leaves in his whole life.

"Unbelievable, right?"

Floriana Sabina smiled widely, seeing Rant Valo's face. She was really enjoying shocking him again and again.

"Y-Yes."

Rant Valo nodded his head. As for Veia, she walked with them blankly as she looked around.

"Where is the Pill Master's Association, Master Floriana?"

Rant Valo asked her.

"It's that building."

Floriana Sabina pointed to a building at least a kilometer away from them. It stood out among the 1-2 story tall buildings in this city. It had at least 100 floors to it. The building is even so wide. Who knew how many people can fit inside?

"Wow!"

Rant Valo was speechless. That building looks like it was reaching for the clouds.

"Let's go."

Floriana Sabina urged them. Both Rant Valo and Veia were looking at it in a daze.

"Let's just fly there."

Floriana Sabina said to them. She grabbed both of their arms, and she flew towards the big building.

After a few minutes of flight, they arrived in front of the entrance.

The smell of different medicinal plants wafted in the air. The smell fills your senses with a sense of calm. People wearing different robes walked through and fro. They all had a sense of solemnity as they walked.

"This feels intimidating…"

Rant Valo couldn't help but say. Seeing this huge building and the dozens of people moving up and down the short flight of stairs made him feel insignificant.

"Don't worry, Disciple. I know someone here."

Floriana Sabina reassured him with a smile. She then led the three of them, and they entered the building.

"There are so many receptionist desks…"

Rant Valo looked left and right. The only thing he could see was beautiful women standing behind a counter, taking orders from different kinds of people.

"Halt! You demon over there! What is your business here?"

A guard wearing thick golden armor moved his spear to block their passage.

"U-Um.."

Veia looked at the guard fearfully. He was exuding a strong aura that she knew she couldn't resist.

"Remember what I said, Veia."

Floriana Sabina whispered to her. Veia nodded her head

"I-I'm Master's slave."

Veia bowed and pointed to Rant Valo's original body.

"Hm? A 10th Mana Condensation stage trash, and… this is an Early Foundation Establishment clone."

The guard examined Rant Valo from head to toe. He then noticed Rant Valo's clone that was shadowing him from behind.

"Hmph. Pass."

The guard didn't say much. He moved his spear out of the way and Rant Valo's group was able to proceed forward.

"That was a tight security."

Rant Valo couldn't help but say to Floriana Sabina. The guard saw right through them.

"Of course, Disciple. This is the headquarters of the Pill Master's Association. There are very valuable pills contained here. It would be a huge loss if even one gets stolen."

Floriana Sabina explained to Rant Valo in a matter-of-fact manner.

"Why didn't he check you?"

Rant Valo asked in curiosity. The guard never even glanced at her.

"Fufufu. That's because he can't see my cultivation stage. If he could, he wouldn't have let us pass so easily."

Floriana Sabina chuckled and replied.

"What's his cultivation stage anyway?"

Rant Valo asked her.

"He's a Peak Nascent Soul stage cultivator. I would have crippled him for calling you trash, but this is not the right place."

Floriana Sabina replied to him.

"Woah. You'd cripple someone for that?"

Rant Valo looked at her in surprise. As usual, as the villager he was, Rant Valo was very nice.

"Of course!"

Floriana Sabina nodded her head vehemently.

"Uhh…"

Rant Valo didn't know what to say to her. He felt like that guard somehow got lucky.

"Anyways, let's go through the stairs, Disciple."

Floriana Sabina pulled the hem of Rant Valo's clothes and led him to the staircase. There was a red carpet that leads to the top.

"What floor are we gonna go to?"

Rant Valo asked her with a blank face.

"The top."

Floriana Sabina replied candidly.

"Ehh!? We're gonna go up through the stairs to reach the 100th Floor!??"

Rant Valo looked at her in shock. That will be too tiring.

"We have no choice, Disciple. You can't fly in here, or you will be kicked out."

Floriana Sabina shrugged helplessly. If she had a choice, she would have flown them to the top instead of taking the trouble to walk through each stair step.

"Sigh."

Rant Valo slumped his shoulders, downcast.

"Grandmaster, can't Mana Dominion stage cultivators get an exception?"

Veia asked. She was also against the idea of walking through one hundred floors with who knows how many stair steps in between.

"Nope. Even Saints or Saintessess don't have that privilege. After all, the Pill Master's Association President is a Saint. He is very powerful."

Floriana Sabina shook her head and explained to them.

"Aren't you stronger, Master Floriana?"

Rant Valo said with a smile.

"Fufufu. I am, but I owe that guy."

Floriana Sabina chuckled in reply. Rant Valo was right, she was much stronger than the Association President, but that doesn't mean that she could do whatever she wants. He's one of the best Alchemy Master's in the world, after all.

"I see."

Rant Valo and Veia nodded their heads together. And so, without any choice, they walked through the stairs till they reached the top.

"Even though I'm a cultivator… my back hurts."

Rant Valo said out loud as he held his aching back.

"Look at your clone, Disciple. You only need to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and it will just be a piece of cake."

Floriana Sabina pointed to Rant Valo's clone which did not have any obvious signs of fatigue.

"I should have cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage before we came here…"

Rant Valo replied to her with a wry smile.

"Halt! This is a forbidden area! State your business or I will attack!"

A guard with thick golden armor etched with various symbols blocked their way with a spear.