"It's Elder Lu Hailong of the White Tiger Gang!"
A martial artist whispered in the distance.
A large group of people then followed this great elder out of the battle vessel and stood in the air above the Taiyi Gate.
These members of the White Tiger Gang had arrived aggressively, seeming somewhat ill-intentioned.
"Elder Lu, your sudden visit is unexpected; my welcome is inadequate."
Ji Tianzheng, accompanied by the Taiyi Gate's high-level members, soared into the air and cupped his hands in salute, his attitude extremely respectful.
The White Tiger Gang was a first-rate power, said to have a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert presiding over it. It was much stronger than the Taiyi Gate.
Therefore, Ji Tianzheng adopted a very humble posture.
"Less talk."
"Tell the Flowing Cloud Alchemist to come out and see me right away."
Lu Hailong said with his hands clasped behind his back, his head held high.
"This..."
"The Flowing Cloud Alchemist is currently alchemy refining, so I'm afraid..."
Ji Tianzheng looked a bit troubled.
"Ji Tianzheng, I'll say this one more time. Tell that Flowing Cloud Alchemist to come out and see me!"
"If you delay my time, you'll bear the consequences!"
Lu Hailong's face darkened as he shouted coldly.
"Then... Elder Lu, I'll go and inform him for you."
Ji Tianzheng said with a forced composure.
He then turned around, descended into the headquarters of the Taiyi Gate, and arrived outside Ye Yunfei's room.
"Young Master, Elder Lu Hailong of the White Tiger Gang has come. He... he wants you to go out and see him."
Ji Tianzheng cautiously said through the door.
His attitude towards Ye Yunfei was becoming more and more respectful lately, with a flavor of currying favor.
During this period, he had witnessed how great the influence of a high-level alchemist could be.
One could say that Ye Yunfei's earnings these past few days were equivalent to the entire Taiyi Gate's total income for ten years!
Moreover, now, with just a single word from Ye Yunfei, a large group of fanatical martial artists would surely step forward to handle matters for him!
"Tell him to get lost."
Ye Yunfei's voice came from inside the room.
Though Ye Yunfei had been refining pills inside the room the whole time, his Soul Power was tremendously powerful, allowing him to perceive Lu Hailong's words and actions with perfect clarity.
Given Ye Yunfei's temperament, naturally, he wouldn't bother to acknowledge him.
"Young Master, the White Tiger Gang is a first-rate power in Central Continent, with a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert presiding over the gang. If we slight him, I'm afraid..."
Ji Tianzheng weighed his words carefully, whispering.
"The Master said, tell him to get lost!"
The loud shout of Fengyun Jue came out.
"Alright."
Ji Tianzheng gave a start.
Even though Fengyun Jue was just an old servant by Ye Yunfei's side, he was a Late Stage Mystic Liquid Realm expert with an immeasurably profound combat prowess. Ji Tianzheng dared not offend him carelessly.
A moment later.
"Elder Lu, the Flowing Cloud Alchemist is currently refining pills and likely has no time to receive visitors."
Ji Tianzheng came before Lu Hailong and said cautiously.
"Hahaha..."
"What enormous airs for a mere spiritual grade alchemist!"
"How dare he not even give face to our White Tiger Gang!"
Lu Hailong laughed furiously, his face clouded with anger.
Those members of the White Tiger Gang behind him also grew furious, cursing one after another.
"How dare he!"
"A mere spiritual grade alchemist dares to neglect our White Tiger Gang!"
"What high-level alchemist could possibly come from a small backwater like Tianlan City? He's probably just a fourth-grade or fifth-grade alchemist at best!"
"He dares to put on airs in front of our White Tiger Gang. Is he tired of living!"
"Elder Lu, if you ask me, no need for politeness. Just capture that so-called Flowing Cloud Alchemist directly and bring him back!"
"..."
The members of the White Tiger Gang shouted and cursed loudly, one after another.
The other martial artists around were intimidated by the White Tiger Gang's might. No one dared to make a sound.
"Fine."
"Men, seize that Flowing Cloud Alchemist and bring him back."
Lu Hailong said indifferently with his hands clasped behind his back.
He had come under the gang leader's orders to invite the Flowing Cloud Alchemist back to refine pills.
But in his mind, this Flowing Cloud Alchemist was probably just an alchemist of ordinary skill at most.
Otherwise, why would he need to rely on refining pills for others in a small backwater like Tianlan City to earn rewards?
After all, those genuine master alchemists all held noble status, were highly respected, and became honored guests supported by major powers.
This Flowing Cloud Alchemist, being in such a sorry state, his skill must be rather mediocre.
Lu Hailong had no intention of being polite to this Flowing Cloud Alchemist.
"Yes sir!"
Those White Tiger Gang members behind him sneered cruelly, deciding to teach this Flowing Cloud Alchemist a serious lesson.
As a first-rate power in Central Continent, the White Tiger Gang, apart from showing wariness towards Central Continent's few top-tier powers, felt no need for politeness towards anyone else.
Right at this moment.
"Stop!"
A middle-aged man, built like a bear and a tiger, with rugged, imposing features and an air of authority even without anger, came striding through the air from a distance, leading a sickly, pain-wracked little boy who constantly moaned.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived in the sky above Tianlan City.
Boom...
With this middle-aged man's arrival came a terrifying oppressive might that bore down, making the entire space sink.
It was as if a great mountain pressed down upon Tianlan City.
This was a First-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm expert!
"Gang Leader!"
Lu Hailong and the other White Tiger Gang members couldn't help but be shocked when they saw this middle-aged man.
This middle-aged man was precisely the leader of the White Tiger Gang, Lu Dachong!
"Elder Lu, what are you doing!"
"I sent you to invite the Flowing Cloud Alchemist, and you actually plan to capture him?"
"Is this how one issues an invitation!"
Lu Dachong said to Lu Hailong.
"Gang Leader, that Flowing Cloud Alchemist wouldn't even come out to see me."
"He seems to disregard our White Tiger Gang."
Lu Hailong replied.
"Dad, I'm in so much pain, I can't take it anymore..."
"Please find me a doctor!"
"I'm going to die soon!"
The little boy beside Lu Dachong suddenly contorted in pain, screaming miserably, and kept clawing wildly at his own body.
It seemed some kind of injury or toxic force was acting up within him.
"When asking for help, we must have the posture of one asking for help!"
"Quick, come with me to pay a visit to the Flowing Cloud Alchemist!"
"Remember, straighten your attitude! Be polite to the Flowing Cloud Alchemist!"
Seeing his son suffering so much, Lu Dachong felt his heart being torn apart. He shouted reprimands at Lu Hailong and the other White Tiger Gang members.
"Gate Master Ji, quickly take me to pay a visit to the Flowing Cloud Alchemist!"
Lu Dachong said to Ji Tianzheng.
"Alright, Gang Leader Lu, please follow me."
Ji Tianzheng gritted his teeth and said.
Lu Dachong was a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert; he dared not slight him.
Soon, Ji Tianzheng brought Lu Dachong to outside Ye Yunfei's door.
"Flowing Cloud Alchemist, I am Lu Dachong, leader of the White Tiger Gang."
"My son is afflicted with a strange poison. In this time, I've sought famous healers far and wide without finding a cure."
"Hearing of the Flowing Cloud Alchemist's surpassing alchemy skills and exceptional medical art, I have specially come to seek treatment!"
Lu Dachong stood outside the door and called out loudly.
Inside the room, no sound came out.
"How dare he!"
"Such a petty little alchemist, our White Tiger Gang leader has come in person, yet he dares to..."
Finally, a White Tiger Gang member couldn't hold back and began cursing.
Whack!
Lu Dachong backhanded a slap that sent the White Tiger Gang member flying backward, half his teeth knocked loose.
"Get back here and kneel! If you dare to be disrespectful again, I'll slaughter you with a single palm!"
Lu Dachong growled harshly.
That White Tiger Gang member, frightened out of his wits, scrambled over to the front of Ye Yunfei's room and knelt down with a thud, trembling uncontrollably, his face pale.
He knew full well that Lu Dachong was notorious for his fiery temper. In a fit of anger, he truly might blast him to death with one palm.
Some time passed.
Finally, a leisurely voice came from inside the room.
"Five days ago, he was poisoned by Nethergush Mercury Toxin. He has, at most, two days of life left."
"If you wish for treatment, within one day, gather all of these first-grade treasure herbs and deliver them to me."
"Also, a remuneration of ten million medium-grade spirit crystals."
"Only under these conditions will I intervene and treat him."
A voice came out.
Fengyun Jue then pushed the door open, came out holding a jade slip, and handed it to Lu Dachong.
The jade slip recorded several types of first-grade treasure herbs.
"Ten million medium-grade spirit crystals!"
Lu Dachong was shocked and somewhat hesitant.
Ten million medium-grade spirit crystals – for a first-rate power, even if they could come up with it, would be a huge drain.
"This is too much!"
"Gang Leader, this is taking advantage of a fire to rob us!"
"Moreover, it's highly likely a scheme to cheat money!"
Lu Hailong couldn't help but speak up angrily.
Lu Dachong turned and saw the pained, agonized state of his son, and gritted his teeth.
"Alright!"
"I'll immediately go and collect these first-grade treasure herbs."
Anxious for his son's condition, Lu Dachong nodded in agreement and hastily left.
"Hmph!"
"A mere little alchemist dares to make things so difficult for our White Tiger Gang. If later you fail to cure the young master's illness, you'll be in deep trouble!"
Lu Hailong glanced at Ye Yunfei's room, gnashing his teeth, muttering darkly in his heart.
After the better part of a day.
Lu Dachong returned to Tianlan City. Respectfully, he sent two spatial rings into Ye Yunfei's room. Then, leading his son, he waited anxiously outside the door.
Another half day passed.
Finally.
The door pushed open.
Ye Yunfei came out slowly, followed by Fengyun Jue.
Immediately, everyone's gazes fixed upon Ye Yunfei.
"So young!"
Lu Dachong and those White Tiger Gang members couldn't help but stare blankly.
This was the first time they had personally laid eyes on Ye Yunfei. They never expected Ye Yunfei to be this young.
He was far from matching the image of those master alchemists in their minds.
"Heh heh, this young fellow, more likely than not, is a fraud!"
"At such a tender age, what possibility is there for him to successfully refine first-grade treasure pills!"
"Kid, soon, you'll get to know my methods!"
Lu Hailong inwardly sneered, already planning in his heart how he would torture Ye Yunfei later.
Even Lu Dachong began to harbor doubts.
Ye Yunfei's face expressionless, he stretched out his hand. A scarlet-colored treasure pill slowly rose and landed before Lu Dachong.
"Take this pill. Once he consumes it, your son will be fine."
Ye Yunfei said calmly.
"Indeed a first-grade treasure pill!"
As a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert, Lu Dachong naturally recognized it at a glance.
He immediately gave the treasure pill to his son to take.
In the next moment.
Under everyone's gazes.
Pfft, pfft, pfft...
Stream after stream of inky black, foul-smelling liquid continuously sprayed out from within the little boy's body.
The complexion on the little boy's face rapidly improved.
In the span of just ten-odd breaths.
"Dad, my body doesn't hurt anymore!"
"It feels so good!"
"This sensation, too marvelous, too comfortable..."
The little boy was utterly filthy all over, but his expression was one of utmost comfort, shouting and laughing joyfully.
"Incredible!"
"Truly, as soon as the medicine arrived, the illness vanished!"
The people watching were stunned one after another, sincerely convinced.