Firstly, Ye Yunfei wanted to go to the Alchemy Tower to gather several fourth-grade treasure herbs.
Secondly, he also wanted to seize this opportunity to see the true alchemy standard of the Alchemy Tower for himself.
"Young Master, you want to go and have a look too?"
Master Mu was taken aback for a moment, then he sneered inwardly.
Any external alchemist who qualified for an invitation from Dan Domain to attend the Alchemy Competition Conference was a master of profound alchemy skill and a renowned figure. Master Mu simply couldn't believe that a young man like the one before him was qualified to receive an invitation from the Alchemy Tower.
It was well known that mastering the path of alchemy was often more difficult than martial arts!
Every alchemy master had to exhaust the greater part of their life's effort, spending countless years to arduously research and refine their alchemic arts before achieving any significant accomplishment.
This kid in front of him was far too young!
As for trying to sneak into the Alchemy Competition Conference through trickery or shortcuts? That was even more impossible.
As one of the top forces in Central Continent, the Alchemy Tower had Grotto-Heaven Realm experts personally safeguarding the event.
Moreover, several other top forces would also have Grotto-Heaven Realm experts gathered at the Alchemy Tower to observe the prowess of the numerous alchemy masters. Who would dare try to sneak in then?
However, with his life currently held in someone else's hands, Master Mu dared not show the slightest sign of defiance toward Ye Yunfei on the surface.
"Zhou Sheng from the Tianxuan Sect was helping his brother-in-law collect treasure herbs. His goal was also in preparation for the Alchemy Competition Conference, right?" Ye Yunfei recalled the incident at the Tian Ge Auction House where Zhou Sheng had tried to bid for the Bodhi Samsara Fruit.
"Zhou Sheng's brother-in-law from the Tianxuan Sect..." Master Mu hesitated briefly.
"Zhou Sheng's elder sister is named Zhou Ying," Ye Yunfei reminded him.
"Right! That is the Third Elder's grandson. He indeed married the young lady of a first-rate force, named Zhou Ying." Master Mu immediately remembered.
Although he was merely an herb-growing old servant within the Alchemy Tower, having spent the greater part of his life there, he was well-informed about many of the tower's trivial matters.
"Hmm." Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Young Master, I have answered all your questions truthfully. Please, spare my life!" Master Mu begged Ye Yunfei for mercy.
"Very well. I won't kill you. However, I cannot release you yet," Ye Yunfei said with a slight smile.
This Master Mu was just a minor character. To Ye Yunfei, killing him or sparing him was inconsequential.
However, Ye Yunfei planned to go to the Alchemy Tower for a look. He certainly couldn't release Master Mu prematurely, as that would surely invite a host of unnecessary troubles.
Ye Yunfei casually sealed Master Mu's cultivation and locked him away inside the Phantom Pagoda.
He also casually retrieved the Bodhi Samsara Fruit from the man's possession.
"You can come in now," Ye Yunfei said faintly towards the room's door.
"Young Master." Ji Xue walked in, her expression awkward.
Earlier, Ye Yunfei had not only given her the Bodhi Samsara Fruit free of charge but also exposed Master Mu's scheme, thereby preserving her chastity.
Yet, from beginning to end, the Taiyi Gate's attitude towards Ye Yunfei had been extremely cold, even hostile.
This left Ji Xue feeling somewhat ashamed to face Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei's gaze swept over Ji Xue briefly, then his eyes lowered, and he remained silent. He knew perfectly well that Ji Xue had been waiting outside the door all along.
"Young Master, Ji Xue boldly requests Young Master to intervene and treat my father's injuries!" Biting her lip, Ji Xue suddenly knelt on the floor, her tone pleading as she addressed Ye Yunfei.
"Based on what?" Ye Yunfei spoke, his voice indifferent.
Ji Xue's body shuddered.
Yes, based on what?
Ever since Ye Yunfei had arrived at the Taiyi Gate, everyone within the sect, including her father, had maintained an extremely cold attitude towards this young man.
Only after Fengyun Jue displayed his profound cultivation just now did the sect's higher-ups begin to treat him with any degree of respect.
One could say that Taiyi Gate and this young man shared not the slightest trace of friendship.
Strictly speaking, Taiyi Gate was the one indebted to him!
Otherwise, they would still be blissfully fooled by that Master Mu.
Why should he, out of the blue, agree to help?
Ji Xue gritted her snow-white teeth against her red lips, unable to answer.
"Young Master, Elder Chen, the physician in Tianlan City, once diagnosed my father. Without effective treatment, my father has at most half a year left. Please, Young Master, intervene and save him. Our Taiyi Gate will definitely offer a reward that satisfies you," Ji Xue continued.
"Forgive my bluntness, but Taiyi Gate is merely a second-rate sect. Wanting to purchase a single treasure herb would probably consume one-fifth of the entire sect's wealth. I'm afraid it cannot offer a reward that would satisfy me," Ye Yunfei said plainly.
Upon hearing this, Ji Xue was momentarily stunned, then revealed a bitter smile.
She remembered how extravagantly this young man had spent while bidding for treasure herbs at the Tian Ge Auction House—it was practically like burning money. He was undoubtedly a young master who had no shortage of wealth.
How could someone like him possibly be moved by Taiyi Gate's remuneration?
"If Young Master is willing to intervene and save my father... Ji Xue is willing to become your servant, your maidservant. Even... tonight, Ji Xue can attend to you in your chamber..."
Suddenly biting her lip, Ji Xue closed her beautiful eyes tightly, then slowly opened them, as if having made a momentous decision. As she spoke, she began to reach for the sash tied around her waist.
Fengyun Jue immediately turned to face the wall.
He was acutely aware of what was appropriate and inappropriate in his master's presence, what to watch and what not to watch.
The pink garment slipped down like a drifting red cloud.
"Enough. No need for that. On account of your filial devotion, I agree," Ye Yunfei said indifferently.
"Thank you, Young Master!" Ji Xue trembled all over with excitement.
For some reason, she seemed deeply convinced that if Ye Yunfei agreed to intervene, he would definitely be able to save her father.
"The spirit medicines listed on this jade slip—after gathering them all, bring them to me."
Ye Yunfei moved a finger, and a jade slip flew out, hovering before Ji Xue.
Taking the jade slip and lightly probing it with her Soul Power, Ji Xue discovered that all the items listed inside were ninth-grade spirit medicines.
"Young Master, rest assured. Our Taiyi Gate will definitely gather these spirit medicines and deliver them at the fastest speed possible!" Ji Xue bowed gracefully towards Ye Yunfei, then excitedly left, the jade slip in hand.
Although Taiyi Gate was only a second-rate sect and gathering treasure herbs posed a significant challenge, collecting a batch of ninth-grade spirit medicines was not difficult.
Several hours later.
"Young Master, all the required spirit medicines are here!"
Ji Xue hurriedly entered Ye Yunfei's room once more and handed a spatial ring to him.
"Very good. Return in half an hour to retrieve the spirit pill." Ye Yunfei stated.
Ji Xue hastily withdrew, but did not leave. Instead, she stood respectfully outside the door.
Another half hour passed.
Ji Xue entered Ye Yunfei's room again.
"This Ninth-Grade Golden Dragon Pill is sufficient to fully heal your father's injuries."
Ye Yunfei opened his palm. A golden-yellow spirit pill slowly rose and floated to land before Ji Xue. A rich, fragrant aroma of medicinal herbs filled the room.
"Thank you for your immense kindness, Young Master. Ji Xue will etch this debt of gratitude deep in my heart!"
Sensing the potent medicinal fragrance emanating from the golden spirit pill before her, Ji Xue was extremely excited. She bowed deeply to Ye Yunfei, then, taking the spirit pill, rushed out as if flying.
One hour later.
Taiyi Gate Headquarters.
Sect Leader Ji Tianzheng's private chamber.
"Haha… My injuries are finally fully healed!"
Ji Tianzheng abruptly stood up. A mighty aura of spiritual power surged from within his body, and he couldn't help but laugh heartily.
Then, he strode out of the private chamber.