"I am no grandmaster alchemist. I am merely an old servant within the Alchemy Tower tasked with cultivating spiritual herbs. On this trip, I was entrusted by Young Master Sima, the grandson of our Tower's Ninth Elder, to venture out and collect some rare spiritual herbs. In ten days, the Alchemy Tower will host the Alchemy Competition Conference. Many core disciples, hoping to put on a grand display of their skills, have dispatched people early to gather spiritual herbs and treasure herbs everywhere."
Master Mu explained.
"Master Mu! Speak honestly, do you truly have the ability to heal me?" Ji Tianzheng demanded angrily.
"At best, I can only refine Second-Grade Spiritual Pills. How would I have the capability to treat your injury?" Master Mu dared not meet Ji Tianzheng's piercing gaze and lowered his head, answering in a low voice.
"What?!"
Ji Tianzheng and the higher-ups of the Taiyi Gate were shocked and furious.
Throughout this period, the Taiyi Gate had hosted this Master Mu with the highest standard of hospitality, gifting him countless lavish presents, enduring endless fake smiles, and pinning all hopes for Ji Tianzheng's recovery on him.
In the end, he was merely a conman!
"Sect Master, kill this fraud!"
"Yes! That guy swindled us horribly!"
...
The Taiyi Gate elders roared in anger.
"Heh, heh... I'm working for Young Master Sima, grandson of the Alchemy Tower's Ninth Elder. As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, you have to consider the face of its master. If your Taiyi Gate dares kill me, and if Young Master Sima pursues the matter later, I fear your insignificant Taiyi Gate will be unable to bear the consequences."
Master Mu sneered.
Upon hearing his words, Ji Tianzheng and the elders couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts.
Indeed, to the mighty Alchemy Tower, the Taiyi Gate was but a tiny ant, too weak to be casually crushed. Even an Alchemy Tower herb-cultivating servant was someone the Taiyi Gate wouldn't dare kill recklessly.
"Heh heh, Sect Master Ji, I advise you to just let me leave. Otherwise, the consequences will be extremely grave." Master Mu watched their expressions, a sneer on his face as he spoke.
It was precisely this insight that had emboldened him to come swindle the Taiyi Gate.
"Master Mu... so does this mean you truly cannot cure my father's ailment?" Ji Xue couldn't bear to give up, her eyes reddened as she asked.
She knew that if her father's illness could not be cured, he would, at most, live for another six months.
"Heh heh, I'll be frank. Unless a member of the Alchemy Tower's Elder council personally makes a move, there is possibly a chance your father might be cured. Otherwise, just wait for death. If you release me now and I return, putting in a few good words for you before the Ninth Elder, there's a chance His Grace might have a momentary moment of mercy and extend a helping hand."
Master Mu snorted coldly.
"Truly?!" Ji Xue was overjoyed, a hopeful expression surfacing on her face.
"Of course it's true. However, it depends on whether you can satisfy me." Master Mu's courage started growing again, his eyes wandering over Ji Xue's body with malicious intent.
Ji Xue trembled, understanding his meaning.
"Do you still intend to deceive them?"
Ye Yunfei shook his head and chuckled. "Sect Master Ji's injuries, though severe, could be completely healed with just a few Ninth-Grade Spiritual Pills. There's absolutely no need for an Alchemy Tower Elder to intervene."
Ye Yunfei was confident that any Alchemy Tower Elder would undoubtedly be a Treasure Pill Master.
"Boy! Such big talk! Could it be you understand alchemy? You think you can cure Sect Master Ji?! Hmph! I reckon you're just seeking attention!" Master Mu flared up in rage.
If not for Ye Yunfei, his scheme would have succeeded long ago.
"Sect Master Ji's injuries, to me, could be accomplished with a simple wave of the hand."
Ye Yunfei's tone turned indifferent. "That's enough. Detain this fellow and take him away."
"Yes." Fengyun Jue replied respectfully. Then, sealing Master Mu's cultivation, he hoisted him up by the collar like a small chick.
Master Mu wailed and struggled mightily, only to be knocked unconscious by a single palm strike from Fengyun Jue.
Ye Yunfei raised his hand and beckoned lightly.
Whoosh... Whoosh...
From within Master Mu's room, several small black Formation Flags flew out from space, landing in Ye Yunfei's palm.
Earlier, Master Mu had used these small Formation Flags to set up a Formations that isolated Soul Power perception, making it difficult even for Ye Yunfei's Soul Power to penetrate. Then, with hands clasped behind his back and without a backward glance, Ye Yunfei strode away.
"Young Master..." Ji Tianzheng called out.
But Ye Yunfei did not even look at him.
After returning to his room, Ye Yunfei revived Master Mu.
"Now, I'll ask, and you answer. Understood?"
Ye Yunfei looked at Master Mu and stated.
Slap!
Before Master Mu could even formulate a reply, Fengyun Jue had already slapped him across the face.
Master Mu's cheeks were now swollen like pork bellies.
"Stop hitting! I understand!" Master Mu nodded hurriedly. He had already been scared to the core by Fengyun Jue.
"Within the Alchemy Tower, are there any Fourth-Grade Treasure Herbs?" Ye Yunfei asked directly.
"Yes. However, it is said that all Fourth-Grade Treasure Herbs are stored under the custody of the Tower Master," Master Mu replied.
"Hm."
Ye Yunfei nodded slightly.
"You mentioned earlier that in ten days, the Alchemy Tower will host an Alchemy Competition Conference. What exactly is this conference about?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"The Alchemy Competition Conference is a grand event held by our Alchemy Tower once every five years. It consists of two main segments. The first involves alchemy competitions among the disciples within our Alchemy Tower. It's essentially a ranking contest. It is rumored that for this session, the Tower disciple who secures first place at the conference will have the opportunity to become Dan Jun's direct disciple. Therefore, all of our core disciples are highly focused and preparing with all their might."
"The second segment of the conference is to invite renowned alchemists from across the lands to gather at the Alchemy Tower, discuss the Dao of alchemy, and engage in friendly exchanges."
Master Mu answered.
"So that's how it is. Your Alchemy Tower inviting renowned alchemists from all over, in essence, is merely a means to flaunt the Tower's alchemical techniques and assert dominance over all alchemists, isn't it?" Ye Yunfei said with a faint smile.
"Our Alchemy Tower's alchemical techniques are already number one in the world," Master Mu muttered under his breath.
Even though he was just a herb-cultivating servant of the Tower, he had always taken great pride in the Alchemy Tower.
"Who is Dan Jun?"
Ye Yunfei continued questioning.
"Dan Jun is the previous Tower Master, also widely acknowledged as the most skilled alchemist within our Alchemy Tower! Naturally, he is also the most formidable alchemist in the entire Central Continent, or perhaps even the entire Tianxuan Continent! In short, within the alchemy community, Dan Jun is a supreme deity reigning high above! He is the ultimate idol for all alchemists under heaven!"
A flash of fervent zeal ignited in Master Mu's eyes at the mere mention of Dan Jun. It was evident he worshipped Dan Jun deeply.
"So that's how it is."
Ye Yunfei smiled faintly, thinking to himself in complete disdain. Before him, Ye Yunfei, there was no alchemist in this world who dared claim the title of number one.
"So, it means any renowned alchemist can receive an invitation from the Alchemy Tower to participate in this competition conference, correct?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"Yes," Master Mu replied.
"Good. In that case, I shall attend this Alchemy Competition Conference and take a look,"
Ye Yunfei nodded.