Inside the inner hall of the Alchemist Heart Palace.
Li Yun looked at Ye Chen, who still seemed a bit dazed, and couldn't help but chuckle. "What's wrong, little friend Ye Chen? Haven't recovered yet from being kissed by a beauty?"
Ye Chen touched the cheek that had been kissed, as if he could still feel the soft touch and warmth, and gave a wry smile. "I really didn't expect Vivian to kiss me. I thought it was some kind of gift."
"Blockhead!"
This was the unanimous thought of both Li Yun and Old Yan, who had drifted out from the ring. Being kissed by a beauty was a good thing; he should be happy.
Shaking his head, Ye Chen decided not to dwell on the topic. He first cupped his fists towards Li Yun with a smile. "I forgot to congratulate you, Li Yun, on your promotion to Two-Star Alchemist. Congratulations indeed."
Although it had been some time since his promotion, Li Yun was still very happy whenever someone congratulated him. After decades of alchemy, he had finally reached this step, which was truly a rare achievement.
His face was full of smiles as he said, "If it weren't for the Spirit Refining Method bestowed by Sir Qian, my promotion speed would have been much slower, taking at least a year."
The Spirit Refining Method was indeed miraculous. For an alchemist to advance to a higher level, although experience was important, spiritual power was even more crucial. The higher the spiritual power, the higher the success rate of alchemy, and the more beneficial it was for understanding alchemical knowledge.
Generally, the growth of spiritual power could only rely on the advancement of cultivation. The Spirit Refining Method, however, could enhance spiritual power, providing a shortcut to rapid achievement.
Unfortunately, the Spirit Refining Method was too rare, a spiritual technique that could only be created by alchemy masters of considerable achievement. Otherwise, alchemists wouldn't have such difficulty advancing their levels.
Ye Chen chuckled. Li Yun didn't ask about any information regarding the mysterious Sir Qian.
In this regard, he knew his place. If Ye Chen wanted to say it, he would naturally say it. If he didn't want to, Li Yun couldn't force him. He just felt increasingly reverent towards Sir Qian.
After drinking a cup of tea, Ye Chen finally asked, "Li Yun, I wonder if the medicinal ingredients Teacher asked you to prepare are all ready?"
Li Yun smiled slightly and lightly clapped his hands. Immediately, five youthful and beautiful Alchemist Heart Palace maidservants presented five brocade jade boxes, each half a meter long and a palm wide, placing them one by one on the table.
Opening them, they revealed precious spiritual herbs, including several particularly rare Heaven and Earth Treasures. Spiritual energy flowed from them, and whether in terms of medicinal age or quality, they were all considered top-grade ingredients, hard to come by.
Just the ingredients in these five jade boxes were probably worth no less than two hundred thousand gold coins, far exceeding the initial estimate of one hundred thousand.
This was because Ye Chen had no money at the time and planned to purchase only mid-grade items, while these top-grade ones naturally cost much more.
Li Yun said, "Little friend Ye Chen, these are all the medicinal ingredients this old man collected after returning to the royal capital. They are basically all gathered, except for two types. Even using the Alchemist Heart Palace's influence, we couldn't obtain them."
Ye Chen couldn't help but raise his sword-like eyebrows, somewhat surprised.
Every alchemist was an influential figure, and the Alchemist Heart Palace was an organization that gathered almost all the alchemists in the entire Xia Feng Kingdom. Its influence was immense and almost unimaginable. Almost all forces in the Xia Feng Kingdom had to give it some face, and there was almost nothing it couldn't do. Obtaining medicinal ingredients shouldn't be too difficult, yet two types were still missing. This was somewhat unbelievable.
Seeming to know Ye Chen's thoughts, Li Yun gave a bitter smile. "It's not that the Alchemist Heart Palace's influence within the country is insufficient, but the remaining two ingredients are too rare. Looking across the entire Xia Feng Kingdom, they cannot be found. Even if they exist outside the Xia Feng Kingdom, the Alchemist Heart Palace's influence, while great within the Xia Feng Kingdom, drops manyfold once outside. Collecting them becomes many times more difficult."
Ye Chen naturally understood. Although the Alchemist Heart Palace was an alchemist organization, it was only an organization within the Xia Feng Kingdom. No matter how great its influence, it was limited to the Xia Feng Kingdom. Once outside, it would immediately diminish significantly.
After all, forces within the Xia Feng Kingdom dared not offend the Alchemist Heart Palace, but those outside had no such concerns.
Ye Chen said, "Is there no information at all about these two ingredients?"
Li Yun chuckled. "Although we haven't obtained them yet, we have relatively accurate information about one of them. It should be pretty much confirmed."
"What information?"
"In half a month, a grand auction will be held in the royal capital. According to reliable intelligence from within the Alchemist Heart Palace, the Nine Soul Heart Refining Grass will appear at the auction," Li Yun said.
The Nine Soul Heart Refining Grass was an extremely rare Heaven and Earth Treasure. Legend said it could bring the dead back to life, revive flesh and bones, possessing incredible miraculous effects.
Although legends often exaggerated the facts, it was indeed one of the main ingredients for refining the Spirit Refining Pill, indispensable.
"A grand auction?" Ye Chen's eyes flickered, seemingly intrigued.
"Yes, this auction is hailed as an unprecedented grand event. At that time, countless forces, large and small, from across the entire Xia Feng Kingdom will participate. It should not be underestimated."
According to Li Yun's description, this auction was unprecedentedly prosperous because every item to be auctioned was no ordinary object, each considered priceless and rare. The Nine Soul Heart Refining Grass was just one of them.
There were also many other treasures about to appear, such as Xiantian demonic cores, Martial God weapons, Heavenly God talismans, Heavenly God blood, and more—all priceless treasures beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Even before it officially opened, it had already attracted the attention of countless eyes across the world.
"I'm not afraid to tell you, this auction is not simple. Rumor has it that an incredible, priceless secret treasure will appear." Finally, Li Yun added one more sentence.
"What secret treasure?" Ye Chen's curiosity was piqued.
Li Yun's tone became mysterious, lowering his voice as he said word by word, "A Divine-level secret treasure!"
This last sentence caused Ye Chen's pupils to instantly shrink to the size of needle points.
What was a Divine-level secret treasure? It was something that only supreme existences, said to surpass the Heavenly God realm, had the qualification to be called Divine. Such existences were legends across the entire Tian Du Continent, revered by countless people as deities.
Divine beings possessed heaven-shaking, earth-overturning abilities, nearly omnipotent. With a mere wave of their hand or a step of their foot, they could annihilate mountains and rivers for thousands of miles, terrifying beyond imagination.
Every secret treasure left behind by such Divine beings was priceless, something even Heavenly God realm existences would go crazy for.
Even Ye Chen was moved. He transmitted a mental message, "Old Yan, what do you think?"
Old Yan drifted out and said, "Although the so-called Divine-level secret treasure is probably just a Sage-level treasure, something you and I might have looked down upon in our prime, at this time, I think we should still obtain it. It should be of great use."
Ye Chen thought the same. A Divine-level secret treasure was at least a legendary Sage's treasure. For his current self, it would definitely be of unimaginable great use.
Immediately, Ye Chen looked at Li Yun and said, "I think Teacher, that old man, will participate in this auction. I wonder if you can get a seat?"
"Sir Qian is coming too?!" Li Yun was overjoyed and immediately agreed. "Little friend, you need not worry about this. With the Alchemist Heart Palace's influence in the Xia Feng Kingdom, not to mention just one seat, even ten or eight wouldn't be a problem."
"No need. This time, Teacher will come personally. I have matters and cannot go," Ye Chen said.
"Good. When the time comes, as long as Sir Qian comes to find me, I will personally escort him, and there will be a private booth," Li Yun said.
The two briefly discussed matters regarding the auction, and Ye Chen learned the date and location of the auction.
Afterwards, Li Yun suddenly said, "Little friend Ye Chen, be careful recently. Something terrible is about to happen in the coming days."
Ye Chen's heart stirred. "You mean the demonic beast turmoil?"
"Yes," Li Yun said. "An extremely important treasure has been lost in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. A terrifying existence there is threatening our Xia Feng Kingdom. If it is not found within a month, the most terrible demonic beast turmoil in history will be launched. At that time, towns near the Demonic Beast Mountain Range will suffer, including Luo Feng City."
"This old man advises you to have your parents and clansmen leave Luo Feng City. Otherwise, once the demonic beast turmoil occurs, even if Luo Feng City is not the main target, it will still be quite dangerous."
Ye Chen said, "I understand this point. Don't worry, I will handle it properly."
"In that case, this old man is also relieved," Li Yun said. He also handed a token to Ye Chen, saying it was an Alchemist Heart Palace token. As long as he held this token, even the royal family would have to give him some face.
Ye Chen did not refuse. With this token in hand, not to mention other places, it would be many times more convenient within the Xia Feng Kingdom.
Finally, after Ye Chen collected all the medicinal ingredients, just before leaving, he flicked a stream of light with his finger. Li Yun casually caught it—it was actually a Memory Jade. As if thinking of something, he couldn't help but become excited. "Could this be..."
"You guessed right. This is the latter half of the Spirit Refining Method." Ye Chen's figure flashed, already at the doorway. "I am very satisfied with you. My Teacher said that as long as the ingredients are sufficient, he would give it to you. Although two are still missing, it's not your fault. Moreover, my Teacher also said that as long as you satisfy him, there will be an even better Spirit Refining Method for you. I hope you won't disappoint my Teacher."
In his excitement, Li Yun quickly knelt down and hurriedly said, "Little friend, please assure Sir Qian that this old man will definitely not disappoint him."
But Ye Chen's figure had already gone far away...