Soon, another piece of news regarding Master Liuyun spread throughout the Central Continent.
For those seeking pills, Master Liuyun would only accept wood-attributed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures!
Thus, the martial artists who had planned to seek pills began scouring everywhere for wood-attributed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
In merely two or three days, Ye Yunfei had received a considerable batch of wood-attributed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
"As expected, if I were to collect them myself versus having a large group help me gather them, the results are vastly different."
Inside the carriage, Ye Yunfei counted each wood-attributed treasure, a smile appearing on his face.
"Counting the days, the Alchemy Competition Conference hosted by the Alchemy Tower should be starting soon. Why haven't I received an invitation yet? Could it be my reputation isn't resounding enough? Do I need to refine a few second-grade, or even third-grade treasure pills to garner the Alchemy Tower's attention?"
Ye Yunfei murmured to himself.
Just at that moment.
"An invitation from the Alchemy Tower is here! Flowing Cloud, come out and receive it!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out ahead. A young man with an arrogant demeanor appeared, blocking the path of the carriage.
This young man wore pale yellow robes, had a face as fair as jade, and was exceptionally handsome. His eyes held a disdainful, lofty aloofness. Moreover, his body radiated a rich fragrance of pills; one glance revealed he cultivated alchemical arts.
"How dare you! My master is a revered alchemy master, a figure of lofty status. You cannot address him by name directly!"
Fengyun Jue roared angrily.
"Hah, a mere First-Grade Treasure Pill Master is nothing in the eyes of our Alchemy Tower. Besides, whether he's truly a First-Grade Treasure Pill Master is questionable. This 'Master Liuyun'—never before heard of such a figure in the Central Continent, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Highly suspicious. In this world, there are far too many charlatans who deceive and claim unearned fame."
The young man sneered.
"You seek death!"
Fengyun Jue could no longer restrain himself. He sprang to his feet and took a step forward.
Boom...
A terrifying aura of spiritual power surged into the sky, vast and mighty, crushing toward the young man.
Immediately, the yellow-robed youth's face changed drastically. He retreated hundreds of feet, blood and Qi churning within him, finding it hard to breathe.
He nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. How could he have anticipated that an ordinary, unremarkable carriage-driving old servant possessed such terrifying strength?
"I am a Core Disciple of the Alchemy Tower, here specifically to deliver the Alchemy Competition Conference invitation to Flowing Cloud! If you dare lay a hand on me, you'll make an enemy of the entire Alchemy Tower!"
The yellow-robed youth blustered, though inwardly fearful, and roared.
"Let it be."
Ye Yunfei's voice came from within.
Only then did Fengyun Jue relent, taking a step back to sit cross-legged before the carriage.
"Does my status as a Treasure Pill Master require your approval?"
Ye Yunfei said faintly.
"Humph! Treasure Pill Masters hold venerable status; even Primal realm experts must show them some respect upon meeting. Therefore, the recognition of a Treasure Pill Master is no trivial matter. Surely, you don't think that casually announcing to the outside world that you refined a first-grade treasure pill is sufficient for confirmation? How do we know you didn't fabricate it, hire a few shills to perform for the world, then parade around with the title of First-Grade Treasure Pill Master, swindling money everywhere? In short, the recognition of a Treasure Alchemist involves many aspects. One must receive our Alchemy Tower's endorsement to be a true Treasure Pill Master."
The yellow-robed youth scoffed coldly.
"Hah, so you're saying whether I'm a Treasure Alchemist depends on your Alchemy Tower's approval?"
Ye Yunfei was so angered he laughed.
"That goes without saying."
The yellow-robed youth nodded arrogantly.
"Fine. Where is this invitation you've brought?"
Ye Yunfei asked.
The yellow-robed youth waved his hand. A yellow invitation card flew out, landing before the carriage.
Ye Yunfei reached out and beckoned, and the invitation flew into the carriage.
It was an exquisitely crafted cardstock, depicting a nine-story pagoda that emitted a rich scent of medicinal pills.
"Hmph, what a sham of a Treasure Alchemist. At the Alchemy Competition Conference, your true colors will surely be revealed."
The yellow-robed youth sneered, then turned to leave.
"Your pill fire is flawed. Within a year, it will inevitably extinguish. By then, you'll have to cultivate it anew. I'm afraid you'll drop from being a seventh-grade Spiritual Pill Alchemist to a sixth-grade, or even a fifth-grade Spiritual Pill Alchemist."
Ye Yunfei's voice suddenly rang out.
"What did you say?!"
The yellow-robed youth's footsteps halted abruptly. He slowly turned, his gaze fixed intently on Ye Yunfei's carriage, and asked.
"Your pill fire is a strand of Earth-Lung True Fire, but you incorporated the bloodline essence of a hundred-year-old Triple Dark Cold Toad into its fusion. You were probably trying to harmonize yin and yang to enhance the fire's quality. Instead of achieving harmony, however, a problem arose. The two fire sources of different natures now attack each other."
Ye Yunfei continued.
"How... how do you know this?!"
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the yellow-robed youth was as if he had seen a ghost, an incredulous expression on his face, as he cried out in question.
"Actually, resolving the issue with your pill fire is quite simple."
Ye Yunfei stated.
"How can it be resolved?!"
The yellow-robed youth couldn't help but feel great joy, hastily taking several steps closer to Ye Yunfei's carriage as he asked.
Over the past half-year, to remedy his pill fire, he and his master had racked their brains, trying every conceivable method, all to no effect.
If an alchemist's pill fire fails and must be re-cultivated, it greatly impacts their alchemical skill. It might even affect the heights they can attain in the future.
Thus, he desperately wanted to resolve the problem with his pill fire.
"Your speech has repeatedly belittled and disrespected me. Why should I tell you?"
Ye Yunfei sneered.
"Let's go."
Ye Yunfei said to Fengyun Jue.
Fengyun Jue cracked his long whip, and immediately, the Crimson Flame Devil Horses pulled the carriage into the sky, galloping swiftly away.
"You...!"
The yellow-robed youth watched the departing carriage, fury raging in his eyes.
"Fine! Just wait until you arrive at the Alchemy Tower. I'll make sure you get yours!"
The yellow-robed youth gnashed his teeth.
His master was an elder of the Alchemy Tower, and he himself was a Core Disciple. Since when had he ever suffered such an insult?
"Oh? The Alchemy Competition Conference is postponed by a month because the Pill Monarch has yet to emerge from seclusion temporarily."
Inside the carriage, Ye Yunfei examined the invitation carefully and discovered the change in timing.
Originally, the conference was scheduled to be held two days later.
Now, it was postponed by one month.
"Just as well. I'll use this time to gather enough wood-attributed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to elevate my Greenwood Emperor Body to the next level."
Ye Yunfei muttered to himself.
Subsequently, Ye Yunfei traveled leisurely everywhere, refining pills for others, only accepting wood-attributed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures as payment.
As the title of Master Liuyun had already spread throughout the Central Continent, martial artists seeking pills came in an endless stream each day.
Ye Yunfei amassed more and more wood-attributed Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
One day.
The Crimson Flame Devil Horses pulled the carriage along at a slow pace.
Suddenly.
A man covered in wounds and bloodstains, his expression full of grief and indignation, approached from afar and knelt before the carriage.
"Master Liuyun, I come seeking pills!"
The man cried out loudly.
"What pills do you need to be refined? And what is the payment?"
Fengyun Jue asked.
"I need pills that can enhance martial cultivation talent and spiritual realm! The higher the grade, the better! Our Wu family was annihilated by a sworn enemy! My father, on his deathbed, handed me this vine, saying it was a treasure passed down by our ancestors, extremely precious. I have no idea what the true value of this vine is..."
At this point, the man's confidence wavered somewhat.
He took out an emerald-green vine, vibrant and lush, its leaves dense, radiating a rich life force. At a glance, it clearly was extraordinary.
However, neither this man nor his family knew what exactly this vine was or its worth.
"Master, please examine it."
Fengyun Jue handed the vine into the carriage.
"Everlasting Life Vine!"
Ye Yunfei nearly cried out.
"Excellent! With this Everlasting Life Vine, I can finally begin cultivating the Greenwood Emperor Body!"
A look of profound joy spread across Ye Yunfei's face.