“You’re finally back! Where are my Spirit Herbs?”
Outside the mountain gate, the young man barked through gritted teeth as soon as he saw Yang Kai return.
Yang Kai laughed awkwardly, “There were too many different kinds of herbs on the list, so I couldn’t finish getting everything prepared immediately. Little Brother, please come in and have a rest first. I’ll get you the Spirit Herbs you need right away.”
As he spoke, he opened the Sect Defending Array and shot a look at Hua Qing Si.
Hua Qing Si understood and gestured inside, “Little Brother, this way please!”
“Hmph!” The young man coldly snorted and sailed his ship into High Heaven Palace as he looked down at Yang Kai, “I’m warning you, don’t try any tricks with me. Whether it’s the year or quantity, there can be no mistakes on the Spirit Herbs written on the list; otherwise, you’ll never be able to get away with it!”
“Yes, of course!” Yang Kai nodded impatiently.
Even though this matter had nothing to do with High Heaven Palace, everything from the Seeking Passion Sect was indeed in his hands right now. Since they want to buy it, then he might as well just sell it to them, counting it as forming good relations with Medicine Pill Valley.
“Good…” The young man was just about to say something when his eyes widened and he stared straight at the two beautiful figures that suddenly appeared behind Yang Kai. His eyes lit up instantly and he quickly got off the ship, flying behind Yang Kai after a few steps in the air. He looked at Ji Yao and Zhu Qing with a smile on his face as he glanced between them, eyes finally settling on Zhu Qing’s body. As respectfully as possible, he asked, “This humble one is Li Xuan, may I ask Big Sister for your name?”
Flowers of joy were blooming inside his heart. His Master wouldn’t let him visit Ice Heart Palace and instead sent him to High Heaven Palace. He didn’t expect to see so many beauties in this damned place either. One after another, the beauties flowed in. A simply dazzling sight to behold.
Especially this particular Big Sister. Her figure was… tsk tsk…
He was originally a little chagrined at his Master’s decision to send his Senior Brother to Ice Heart Valley, allowing him to enjoy the charming company of all those beauties, but now, he had no more complaints. Even though Ice Heart Valley had many women, they were not necessarily as outstanding as these three.
Yang Kai’s body jolted as he felt goosebumps all over, he really hadn’t been able to tell that he was such a perverted fellow! Already such a menace at this age, he would surely become an insatiable tyrant when he grew older.
Zhu Qing did not utter a single word and was instead staring firmly at Yang Kai with her beautiful eyes, as if worried that he would disappear again.
But that did not annoy the young man. Instead, he was still acting bashful and called out, “Big Sister, I’m talking to you.”
Only then did Zhu Qing turn her eyes to him and spat a single word, “Scram!”
As soon as this word left her mouth, the boy’s face turned beet red.
[This isn’t good…] Yang Kai thought. One could tell at a glance this boy called Li Xuan wasn’t a decent person, but he carried the identity of a Medicine Pill Valley disciple. What Zhu Qing said might possibly end up making him angry. Just as Yang Kai was thinking about how he was going to remedy the situation, he heard Li Xuan take a deep breath and an intoxicated expression emerged on his face. His heart captured by lust, he mused, “Yes, wonderful… Big Sister, more please!”
Cold sweat dripped down Yang Kai’s face as Ji Yao and Hua Qing Si also wore strange expressions on their faces.
“I told you to scram! Didn’t you hear me? You think I won’t hit you?” Zhu Qing’s eyes went cold.
The young man covered his chest, his entire person appearing to have obtained great satisfaction. Even his breathing was growing rough. He couldn’t help but stagger back a few steps, his already crimson red face turning even redder.
“Is this little brat into ‘that’?” Yang Kai looked at Hua Qing Si in astonishment while sending his voice to her.
“How would I know?” Hua Qing Si rolled her eyes at him.
Yang Kai clicked his tongue, “Sure enough, once the forest grows big, one will see all kinds of birds flying about…”
Coming back to himself, he instructed out loud Hua Qing Si, “Sister Hua, bring this Little Brother to have a rest. I’ll go and sort out the herbs.”
“Yes,” Hua Qing Si nodded and gestured her hand at Li Xuan again, “Little Brother, this way please!”
“No, no, no!” Li Xuan raised his hand at Hua Qing Si, his eyes like leeches biting firmly onto Zhu Qing’s skin, “I don’t want you! I want this Big Sister to take care of me!”
Hua Qing Si’s face turned cold and she cursed him in her heart, [This little brat was just trying to take me back with him to serve in his bedchambers, but now I’m not even good enough to attend to him anymore? What? Aren’t they just breasts… big, giant breasts!]
“You court death!” Zhu Qing glared at him coldly.
Li Xuan still wore a sunny smile on his face, “If Big Sister can bear to see me die, then Little Brother will die for you to see.”
This boy wasn’t that old, and yet he already had quite the glib tongue, but he had no idea that Zhu Qing really did have the intention to kill him right now. Don’t even mention being a mere disciple of Medicine Pill Valley, Zhu Qing had the guts to kill him even if he was the Legacy Disciple of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor.
“I’ll grant your wish!” Zhu Qing coldly snorted and was really going to make a move as soon as she said that.
Yang Kai jumped in fright and quickly shouted, “What are you doing?!”
Shifting over, he stood in front of Zhu Qing.
“Move,” Zhu Qing looked at him with irritation.
“Hm, you even dare lose your temper with me?” Yang Kai glared at her.
Zhu Qing turned down her imposingness instantly and frowned, “Excuse me!”
Yang Kai whispered, “You can’t kill him!”
Zhu Qing said disdainfully, “Who can’t I kill?”
“Anyway, you can’t kill him. He’s from Medicine Pill Valley. I’ll be in trouble if he’s dead. How about this? Just put up with him for now, and if you can’t stand it, just ignore him.”
“He has such indecent thoughts towards me and you want me to tolerate him?” Zhu Qing looked at Yang Kai with an aggrieved expression.
“He’s just got a foul mouth is all, it’s not like you’re losing anything from it. Last time, even I… ahem…”
He thought to himself, [I’ve already done that to you and I don’t see you trying to kill me. Is my charm really that great?]
Zhu Qing’s cheeks turned red and she turned away, “Whatever the case, he doesn’t deserve my attention.”
“Fine, fine. Just think of it as a favour. All you have to do is stand here while I sort out the herbs, then we’ll drive him away once that’s over.”
“Make it quick,” Zhu Qing said unhappily.
“Qing’er is the best,” Yang Kai said to flatter her and quickly left.
Zhu Qing’s face turned red again, a sight that caused Li Xuan’s heart to race. He wouldn’t want anything more than to hold hands with her and grow old together with her.
After arriving at a deserted place, Yang Kai took out the jade slip that Li Xuan handed him and then compared them one by one with the things in his Space Ring.
After destroying Seeking Passion Sect, he took away all of their treasures. If the Seeking Passion Sect really had been collecting herbs for Medicine Pill Valley, then Yang Kai should be able to find them quickly.
And in fact, Yang Kai really did find them.
One by one, piece by piece, whether the age or species, it was all correct. There were even extras of some.
Over a thousand types of herbs, with several at the Emperor Grade, were all present. Yang Kai was a little reluctant to hand such a treasure trove over though; after all, he was an Alchemist himself, so these herbs were useful to him.
But he was a rich man now, so these Spirit Herbs didn’t matter to him all that much. At least he would be able to save some trouble by handing them over to Medicine Pill Valley.
Ji Yao said it too. Medicine Pill Valley wouldn’t let him suffer a loss, meaning they would probably buy them at a fair market price.
But that only made sense. For a place with a reputation as big as Medicine Pill Valley, and with Wondrous Pill Great Emperor’s name at stake, it was naturally impossible for them to bully the weak and cheat them out of Source Crystals.
In less than half an hour, Yang Kai sorted out all the herbs.
Just as he was about to hand them over and drive Li Xuan away, his communication artifact suddenly buzzed.
Yang Kai frowned. After grumbling a little, he took out the communication artifact and poured his Divine Sense into it. In the next moment, his face changed.
Space Principles flashed and he instantly disappeared. By the time he reappeared, he was already at the main gate.
Looking over, he saw that young man called Li Xuan now sitting on the ground with a horrified look on his face, hand holding his cheek. On that clean cheek was a clear five-finger mark and his mouth was leaking blood.
Zhu Qing was standing not far from him, releasing a cold murderous intent that enveloped the brat, causing him to tremble.
Only in this sudden life or death crisis did Li Xuan realize that his status as a Medicine Pill Valley disciple wasn’t effective in the slightest here. With an aura of death close at hand, he had chills running all over his body.
Ji Yao was standing there indifferently, looking at Li Xuan without the slightest bit of sympathy on her face.
Hua Qing Si was holding her communication artifact, unsure what to do.
Yang Kai’s appearance sizzled out Zhu Qing’s anger instantly. Only then did the Dragon Girl remember what Yang Kai told her before and her expression couldn’t help but become uneasy.
“What happened?” Yang Kai glanced coldly at Li Xuan before asking Zhu Qing.
Zhu Qing’s red lips quivered, but she didn’t utter a single word.
“Sister Hua, you explain,” Yang Kai turned his head towards Hua Qing Si.
Hua Qing Si sighed, “This little bastard tried to take advantage of Young Lady Qing. After Young Lady Qing avoided him, he became even bolder and tried to seize her directly. Young Lady Qing was overcome with anger and… taught him a small lesson.”
As a woman, Hua Qing Si wanted to praise Zhu Qing for her actions. She even felt that it wasn’t enough. Even if he wasn’t killed, his cultivation should be crippled, but as the Head Manager of the High Heaven Sect, Hua Qing Si knew how much trouble Zhu Qing’s slap would bring to their Sect, and she couldn’t help feeling worried.
“He tried to take advantage of her?” Yang Kai raised a brow.
“Nonsense, that’s not true!” Li Xuan yelled. Somehow, he found his spine and stood up, “This is slander! She is an Emperor Realm Master while I am only at First-Order Dao Source Realm. How would I have the ability to take advantage of her!”
“So, you do know that you’re at First-Order Dao Source Realm?” Yang Kai looked at him in surprise.
This little brat had been throwing his weight around as soon as he appeared, acting all haughty as if he was a Great Emperor rather than just a lowly Dao Source Realm.
Li Xuan wiped away the blood away from his mouth and glared furiously at Yang Kai, bellowing, “This woman laid her hand on me for no reason at all! As a disciple of Medicine Pill Valley, hitting my face is no different from hitting Medicine Pill Valley’s face! You are the Palace Master of High Heaven Palace, so you better compensate me! Otherwise, I won’t let you off so easily!”
“You want me to compensate you?” Yang Kai narrowed his eyes at him, “How?”
Li Xuan had a cruel look in his eyes and turned to look at Zhu Qing, “I want you to waste this bitch’s cultivation and then hand her to me for punishment!”
The disparity in their strength was too great, but if her cultivation was crippled, then there would be nothing to be afraid of. He swore in his heart that he had to show this woman the fate of daring to go against him.
Yang Kai turned to look at Zhu Qing, “You really hit him?”
Zhu Qing looked gloomy, “I could not endure it… I’m sorry!”
Yang Kai had just told Zhu Qing earlier that this boy was a Medicine Pill Valley disciple, a disciple of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor.
The fact that she slapped him would definitely bring trouble to High Heaven Palace. Worse, she might make Yang Kai angry with her, then she wouldn’t be able to complete her mission…
Zhu Qing was panicking, but she really couldn’t stand being in that situation just now.
“I almost got slapped to death by this bitch, can’t you tell!?” The young man shouted hysterically, his face filled with indignance as if he had suffered a massive grievance.
“No, not really.” Yang Kai looked at him in amazement and beckoned him, “Why don’t you come closer so I can see where she hit you?”
The young man hopped to his feet and scampered over to Yang Kai, pushing his cheek out for him to see, “My face! She actually hit my face! Look at what she did! If you don’t settle this matter to my satisfaction, I’ll never let this matter rest!”
Yang Kai observed the injury seriously and nodded lightly before suddenly raising his hand and slapping him flying on the other side of his face.
*Pa…*
A crisp noise sounded as Li Xuan flipped into the air, tumbling a dozen times before landing heavily. Around half of his teeth had been lost before he even hit the ground.
After he fell, he was seeing stars and lay there dumbly. It took him quite some time before he was able to recover from the shock.
The women present were all shocked, their eyes widening in unison.
“Palace Master, you…” Hua Qing Si was horrified. If one were to call Zhu Qing’s slap to Li Xuan’s face inviting disaster, then as High Heaven Palace’s Palace Master, Yang Kai’s slap was already serious to the point of being unmanageable.
Yang Kai was the representative of High Heaven Palace at this moment, so his every move carried great consequences. Wouldn’t this slap be an open challenge to Medicine Pill Valley?
Just thinking about it was terrifying, and as High Heaven Palace’s Head Manager, Hua Qing Si suddenly felt… exhausted! But very soon, she felt relieved. When she saw that boy called Li Xuan being swatted away, she really felt incredibly good.
This little bastard was just too outrageous.
“Next time you encounter this sort of thing, hit harder!” Yang Kai glanced at Zhu Qing.
Zhu Qing nodded dumbly.
As a dragon girl, her domineering power was almost insurmountable. Yang Kai had nearly eaten a great loss from her himself back then. If she had struck him with even ten percent of her strength, Li Xuan would have exploded into a blood mist a dozen times over. It was only because of Yang Kai’s words that she acted with so much restraint, only giving some light punishment. If this wasn’t the case, how could Li Xuan still be alive?
“You… You actually dare to…” Li Xuan finally came back to his senses and tremblingly pointed his finger at Yang Kai. His speech was slurred and the contents of his words unclear, “You actually dare to hit me?!”
“So what if I hit you!” Yang Kai raised his hand menacingly, causing Li Xuan to scamper to hold his head with his arms in fear.
Only when nothing happened after he waited for a long time did Li Xuan dare to sneak a peek at Yang Kai. Realizing he had been toyed with, his face instantly turned red and he howled, “I am a disciple of Medicine Pill Valley, but you dare hit me?! You’re dead!”
“So you remember getting hit, but not the pain?” Yang Kai looked at him sternly and walked over to him, lifting Li Xuan up to face him.
Li Xuan struggled hard, but how could he escape from Yang Kai’s grip with his meagre strength? He shouted in terror, “What… What are you doing!”
“Teaching you a lesson!” Yang Kai coldly snorted and reached out to slap him.
*Pa pa pa…*
The incessant sounds of slaps rang out, and although Yang Kai didn’t use his Emperor Qi, his physical strength alone was enough for Li Xuan to beg for death. In just a few slaps, his face was already tear-streaked as he wailed out with no shame.
“Such outrageous behaviour at such a young age,” Yang Kai shot him a sidelong glance and raised his palm in front of Li Xuan’s face, looking fiercely at him, “Are you going to speak properly now?”
“Y-Y-Yes…” Li Xuan nodded repeatedly, only to feel that most of his face was numb. Even from the corner of his eye, he could see that his cheek was swollen up high.
“Apologize!” Yang Kai tossed Li Xuan right over to Zhu Qing’s feet.
Zhu Qing looked at Yang Kai, surprised, and feeling inexplicably moved.
Was he standing up for her? With Yang Kai’s current identity, the best thing to do in this situation would be to try to minimize the problem and ensure no trouble came to him in the future, but instead he actually beat up this little brat and demanded he apologize to her.
Wasn’t he annoyed at her and avoiding her? Why was he doing this?
For a moment, Zhu Qing’s mind was a mess.
Li Xuan struggled to stand properly in front of Zhu Qing before bowing deeply and saying in a sincere voice, “Little Brother apologizes to this Elder Sister for his brusqueness. I hope Elder Sister can be generous unlike myself. I’m just a child, I don’t know anything, so please don’t be angry, Elder Sister.”
After being given a sound beating, Li Xuan was like a whole new person. There was no need to mention how well behaved and sensible he had become.
Zhu Qing frowned, “It’s nothing.”
It really was nothing. When this little brat tried to take advantage of her earlier, he didn’t even manage to touch her clothes, so she didn’t suffer any loss. Instead, Li Xuan was beaten black and blue by Yang Kai.
“Thank you, Elder Sister, for your magnanimity!” Li Xuan had a grateful look on his face. Then, he turned around and went over to Yang Kai, a flattering smile on his face, “Elder Brother, Little Brother has already apologized, and Elder Sister has also forgiven me, you see…”
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes, “En, good. It seems like you can be taught after all.”
Li Xuan responded with all smiles, “Elder Brother’s compliments are overgenerous. If there’s nothing else, then this Little Brother will excuse himself for now!”
“Don’t you want the Spirit Herbs?” Yang Kai glanced at him with a curious expression on his face.
Li Xuan slapped his head and laughed dryly, “Haha, I almost forgot! This was the task that Honoured Master has given me!”
Yang Kai smiled and tossed him the Space Ring he prepared earlier, “The herbs on the list are all in there. Take a look yourself.”
“No need, no need. I trust Elder Brother’s integrity.” Li Xuan put away the Space Ring as he spoke before taking out another Space Ring, handing it to Yang Kai, “These are the Source Crystals for the Spirit Herbs. Elder Brother, please have a look!”
Yang Kai nodded in response and accepted the Space Ring. After checking it with his Divine Sense though, he looked back at Li Xuan and asked, “The quantity is a bit low. Are you sure that these are the Source Crystals your Honoured Master gave you?”
The Spirit Herbs on that list weren’t just ordinary materials, and based on Yang Kai’s estimations, they would be worth at least twenty million High-Rank Source Crystals!
But there were only a thousand Source Crystals in the Space Ring, and they were all Low-Rank Source Crystals!
The immense difference was simply like Heaven and Earth.
Li Xuan was stunned, then smiled and said, “That’s the wrong one, the wrong one, this is the one that Honoured Master gave me!”
While speaking, he scrambled to take out a different Space Ring for Yang Kai.
This time, the number of Source Crystals inside the ring made more sense. Moreover, it was even higher than Yang Kai’s estimations, with a total of twenty-five million High-Rank Source Crystals in it. It seemed what Ji Yao said previously was true. Even though Medicine Pill Valley asked all the top Sects in the Northern Territory to collect Spirit Herbs for them, they definitely wouldn’t let those Sects suffer a loss. All the herbs were bought according to their worth, and they even paid out a little extra.
After all, this matter related to the reputation of Medicine Pill Valley and Wondrous Pill Great Emperor. The disciples of Medicine Pill Valley also wouldn’t dare to mess around.
But Yang Kai knew that if Seeking Passion Sect still existed, this brat Li Xuan would only have needed to pay them the Source Crystals in the first ring for their herbs.
Li Xuan clearly wanted to take advantage of the situation. After all, twenty-five million High-Rank Source Crystals was no small number.
That was why he prepared two sets of Source Crystals in two separate rings.
But after the fierce lesson he received from Yang Kai, how could he dare to cheat him?
After the exchange was over, Li Xuan immediately excused himself and naturally Yang Kai didn’t try to stop him.
The young man boarded his ship. His actions did carry some elegance, and if not for his face which was as swollen as a pig’s head right now, he would have looked quite the gentleman.
“Farewell Elder Brother and Elder Sisters!” Li Xuan waved enthusiastically at them while standing on the deck.
“Have a safe trip!” Yang Kai responded with a smile.
Li Xuan’s ship quickly sailed away, but the moment he turned around, the smile on his face was quickly replaced with icy coldness.
…..
“What are you trying to do?” Ji Yao suddenly flickered and stood in front of Yang Kai, blocking his way. Her cold eyes were just like sharp knives that penetrated into Yang Kai’s heart, seeing into his soul.
This sudden action stunned both Hua Qing Si and Zhu Qing, as neither of them understood what Ji Yao meant.
“Nothing, I just felt like going out for a walk!” Yang Kai looked up at the sky, not daring to look Ji Yao in the eye.
“I’ll accompany you then,” Ji Yao said.
“I’m just going for a casual walk, why would you want to come with me?” Yang Kai eyed her.
“I want to take a walk too.”
Yang Kai grit his teeth, “I’m in the mood to visit a brothel to have some fun, are you going to accompany me for that too?”
“In the mood, are you?” Ji Yao sneered, “Fine, come back to Ice Heart Valley with me. You need only raise your hand and I guarantee hundreds of Ice Heart Valley’s disciples will willingly drown you to death!”
Yang Kai wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, “But aren’t the disciples from Ice Heart Valley very particular about purity of heart and freedom from worldly desires?”
“It’s just satisfying a need, what’s there to shy away from? I can’t talk for the others, but I have a few Martial Nieces who I know adore you very much. If you want, I can make arrangements for you, and I ensure they will be willing participants.”
[This Martial Aunt really is thoughtful…]
Yang Kai couldn’t help but gulp, almost agreeing instinctually to her proposition when he suddenly felt two burning gazes on his back. Choking down his words, he quickly barked, “What’s the fun with a good, well-behaved girl? This Young Master likes the broken flowers and withered willows in the brothel. That’s where the fun is!”
“Enough!” Ji Yao was trembling from anger. Even though Yang Kai was just mouthing off and not actually doing anything, she still found his words hard to accept. What’s more, what Yang Kai said made it sound as if he was a regular patron of brothels…
“You’re the one who should know when to stop! What are you getting in my way for? I already have one woman constantly following me around and pestering me. If you join in too, how am I going to live!” Yang Kai glared at her.
Zhu Qing frowned, sulking, “Who are you talking about? Speak clearly!”
“You, I’m talking about you! You have a problem with that?” Yang Kai glared at her.
Zhu Qing turned away, mumbling, “You think I want to do this?”
“Don’t try to hoodwink me!” Ji Yao scoffed, “You’re not trying to visit a brothel, you just want to silence the witness to the crime, aren’t you?”
“Silence the witness to the crime!” Hua Qing Si was shocked, “Silence what witness? What crime?”
As soon as Hua Qing Si finished speaking, she suddenly came to her senses and looked at Yang Kai in horror, “Palace Master! You couldn’t be thinking of…”
Wanting to silence the witness to the crime all of a sudden. Thinking back to what happened just now, it was already obvious who the ‘witness’ was going to be.
She couldn’t help but feel shocked at Yang Kai’s recklessness.
That person was a Medicine Pill Valley disciple! How could Yang Kai just kill him? If he really did such a thing, Medicine Pill Valley would never let this matter rest.
“What nonsense are you talking about…” Yang Kai denied vehemently, “It’s nothing of that sort. You have quite a rich imagination, Yao’er.”
“Then why don’t you dare to look me in the eye while you’re talking to me!” Ji Yao coldly snorted.
“Fine, I’ll look at you! It’s not like I’m afraid of you!” Yang Kai turned around with eyes as wide as chicken eggs as he stared aggressively at Ji Yao.
The beautiful eyes in front of him were clear and without flaw, clean as a pure spring. Yang Kai could see himself clearly reflected in Ji Yao’s eyes, mottled by her long lashes that were curved like dancing spirits, making them appear even more pure and unique.
“Hmph!” Ji Yao sneered, “You think you’re going to look any less guilty just because you widen your eyes at me like that? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
[I’m thinking of the time when I saw you stripped naked at Phoenix Nest Palace!]
“That little brat obviously isn’t the type to just let matters drop. He may act submissive after you beat him up a little, but he actually hates you to death in his heart. He’s young and shallow, thinking he can get away with things just by putting on a little show, but in truth, who of us does not know that he only wanted to leave here quickly in order to contact Medicine Pill Valley to complain? You obviously think that there’ll be no evidence if he’s dead, that’s why you’re planning to kill him, aren’t you?”
Yang Kai’s face was sullen, “So, what better solution do you have when things are already like this?”
This time he didn’t deny it anymore. He was just curious whether he made it seem that obvious. Otherwise, how did Ji Yao see through him at just a glance?
“Regardless, killing him isn’t the answer!” Ji Yao frowned, “If you really killed him, then things will truly become troublesome. Or so to say, you shouldn’t have hit him like that just now. If you didn’t want to deal with the fallout, you shouldn’t have stirred up this mess in the first place. You’re a Palace Master now, yet you still act so recklessly!”
“I shouldn’t have hit him?” Yang Kai jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, “I don’t even know who that little brat thinks he is! Throwing his weight around my High Heaven Palace, even trying to molest my people, yet still daring to speak so impertinently? You tell me I shouldn’t have hit him, but I would have killed him right then if I could! Letting him leave High Heaven Palace alive is already very magnanimous of me!”
“Who’s your person?” Zhu Qing said, blushing.
“I said what I said, why do you care about all that?” Yang Kai waved her off impatiently, “If he knew his mistake, then I could let him be, but if he’s secretly thinking about how he’s going to get revenge, how could I allow that!”
“How chivalrous of you!” Ji Yao may be complimenting him on the surface, but her eyes were filled with ridicule, “Are all you men like this?”
“This has nothing to do with chivalry!” Yang Kai suddenly said in a sullen voice, “This is just proper moral conduct!”
“I don’t blame you for hitting him just now… Even I wanted nothing more than to hit him,” Ji Yao pursed her lips, easing her attitude a little bit, “Only, you shouldn’t try and silence him by killing now.”
“Didn’t you stop me from doing anything?” Yang Kai bristled.
“It would’ve been over if you’d really done it. When that happens, you would have been the unreasonable one even if your reason for acting was valid,” Ji Yao sighed, “I think you’ve just let your anger get to your head, and that’s what got you thinking about doing something so foolish.”
“Say whatever you want,” Yang Kai put on the face of a dead pig that didn’t fear boiling water, remaining obstinate while Ji Yao lectured him.
Ji Yao was both angered and amused, “You’ve been in the Star Boundary for so many years now, so how can you not know how these young people are? He doesn’t represent Medicine Pill Valley. He’s just a second-generation disciple of Medicine Pill Valley…”
“Second-generation disciple?” Yang Kai raised a brow.
“En,” Ji Yao nodded and explained, “Medicine Pill Valley is where the Wondrous Pill Great Emperor cultivates in seclusion. His few Legacy Disciples under him are the first generation, all of whom are Emperor Alchemists with profound attainments in the Alchemic Dao. The Wondrous Pill Great Emperor stopped accepting disciples long ago, so the disciples taken in by his few Legacy Disciples are the second generation. Naturally, Li Xuan is one of them.”
“In that case… it doesn’t seem to be as big of a deal anymore,” Yang Kai stroked his chin thoughtfully. The only one he was really afraid of was the Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, but if what Ji Yao said was true, then the situation wasn’t unsalvageable.
Li Xuan and Wondrous Pill Great Emperor were separated by a generation, so the only one Li Xuan could rely on would be one of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor’s Legacy Disciples.
Yang Kai was also an Emperor Alchemist, so why would he need to fear this unknown figure?
What’s more, no matter how the matter was put, Li Xuan was the one who asked to be humiliated himself, using his identity as a Medicine Pill Valley disciple to put on airs. If his Master was a reasonable man, then he wouldn’t blame Yang Kai and High Heaven Palace for this matter.
Of course, he couldn’t expect him to thank him either. This unknown Master’s disciple had been punished by an outsider, so they would definitely feel uncomfortable. If this Master was small-minded, they might even come to look for trouble.
“So, do you still want to silence the witness to the crime?” Ji Yao asked.
Yang Kai laughed and waved his hand, “What are you talking about? What silencing the witness to the crime? Such frightening words you speak Yao’er. This Palace Master is scared of hurting an ant even while sweeping the floor and covers all his lamps to protect the moths. How could I do such a thing?”
The three women rolled their eyes at him in unison.
“Though there’s not much to worry about, it doesn’t hurt to be careful. I think it would be best if I return to Ice Heart Valley and ask about the situation for you. That Li Xuan’s Senior Brother is currently at our Ice Heart Valley,” Ji Yao said after some thought.
“Good.” Yang Kai nodded.
Ji Yao turned and left.
Yang Kai then looked to the side and shouted, “What have you been hiding there for? Come out!”
A ripple suddenly appeared in the air like a stone tossed into a calm lake, quickly revealing Nanmen Da Jun’s figure.
“Palace Master’s might is matchless, this Nanmen admires you greatly!” Nanmen Da Jun walked over with a flattering smile on his face.
“Enough of that, why are you here?” Yang Kai looked in askance at him.
Who knew what this old fogey was sneaking around and hiding here this whole time for? However, Yang Kai didn’t really care about this. Naturally, with Nanmen Da Jun’s current identity as High Heaven Palace’s Chief Array Master, it was impossible for him to mean any harm to him.
Nanmen Da Jun immediately answered, “This subordinate has prepared something good for Palace Master!”
“Something good?”
Nanmen Da Jun grinned meaningfully and said mysteriously, “Please, take a look!”
…..
“I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him…”
Atop the deck of his ship, Li Xuan had a hate-filled look on his face as he constantly cursed in a quiet voice.
What happened was a great shame to him. He had a noble identity as a Medicine Pill Valley disciple and was certain to become an Emperor Alchemist in the future. How could he endure such humiliation? Just as Ji Yao said, he may act submissive on the surface, but he was actually plotting how to get his revenge the whole time.
After flying all the way to a deserted mountain valley, he landed his ship.
After putting away his flight type artifact, the look of hatred on his face had already become warped. Feeling the burning pain on his cheeks, he slammed his fist fiercely down onto a giant boulder in front of him, sending debris flying everywhere together with a cloud of dust. Li Xuan was throwing out his power wantonly, seemingly wanting to vent all his rage and grievances.
After a long time, he panted and sat down on the ground, taking out a healing pill from his Space Ring and swallowing it. His eyes turned with a dark and unkind look as he cursed, “You’ll all die!”
As he said that, he took out his communication artifact and using his Divine Sense, used it to send a message.
Millions of kilometres away, inside the headquarters of Fire Dragon Palace, a top Sect in the Northern Territory, in a certain place overflowing with abundant World Energy.
This place was only a dozen kilometres across, but even within Fire Dragon Palace, it was considered a Restricted Area that only a few Elders and Palace Master Li Jiao were qualified to step foot into.
That was because this was where the Sect’s precious spirit medicine garden was located.
The number of spirit medicines cultivated in the medicine garden was not large, only about a hundred or so, but each one was Emperor Grade, extremely precious. Any one of these Spirit Herbs would be a rare existence to find outside. The entire garden was filled with dense World Energy and overflowing medicinal fragrance. Any cultivator visiting here would be able to improve their cultivation a lot just by breathing in lightly.
At this moment, three people were sitting at a table in the pavilion next to the medicine garden.
The one on the left, dressed in a graceful and luxurious purple robe with a chiselled mouth and nostrils, appearing quite furious at this moment, was the Palace Master of Fire Dragon Palace, Li Jiao.
On the right, a man with an extraordinary aura that looked to be about forty or so, but whose real age was obviously far greater, had a solemn expression on his face; it was the Sect Master of another top Sect in the Northern Territory, Full Sky Sect’s Mi Qi!
It was not surprising for the two of them to gather together. Since Yang Kai destroyed Seeking Passion Sect, these two top Sects had grown much closer. Just as Bing Yun said, they were wary of Yang Kai’s High Heaven Palace, so they naturally wanted to huddle together for warmth.
The one sitting at the centre was a middle-aged man whose cultivation was only Second-Order Emperor Realm, a Minor Realm lower than Li Jiao and Mi Qi. However, in terms of their attitude towards him, it could be seen that both Li Jiao and Mi Qi regarded this person with much respect, and it could also be said that they had a small mind to ingratiate themselves to him.
There were not many people in this world who could attract such respect from two Third-Order Emperor Realm Masters, even causing them to be somewhat anxious and wary about how they spoke, but the Wondrous Pill Great Emperor’s Legacy Disciple certainly was among these figures.
This man was the last disciple of the Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, ranked fifth, Emperor Alchemist Ji Ying.
The ten-year collection of Spirit Herbs for Medicine Pill Valley could naturally not be left to a Junior like Li Xuan. This time, Ji Ying had been the one to lead the collection team to visit all the various top Sects, but Ji Ying had encountered something that delayed his trip as soon as he arrived in Fire Dragon Palace, so he had no choice but to send his two disciples to Ice Heart Valley and High Heaven Palace.
He knew as well that his disciple, Li Xuan, was usually a little lustful, that was why he sent his other disciple to Ice Heart Valley instead, lest this little brat get himself caught up in the flower field, affecting his mood to cultivate.
But lust was not a big problem; after all, Li Xuan was young and hot-blooded. After studying Alchemy at Medicine Pill Valley all year round, it was only natural that he would feel somewhat pent up for women.
In Ji Ying’s opinion, both Disciples he accepted were fine seedlings, and as long as he gave them a little guidance, then even if they did not achieve as much as he did, they would not be much worse. Moreover, they usually behaved respectfully, so he was quite at ease to send them off on this little errand.
The pavilion was filled with the fragrant scent of tea as the three men sat talking with each other while enjoying themselves.
Li Jiao and Mi Qi’s immaculate flattery put Ji Ying into a good mood, causing him to wave his hands constantly, laughing incessantly.
Who knew how long had passed, but a strange noise suddenly emerged somewhere in the medicine garden. Though the sound was soft, all three men were Emperor Realm Masters, so how could they not have noticed it?
Ji Ying rose all of a sudden and looked towards a certain direction in the medicine garden, a look of excitement on his face, “The spirit flower is about to bloom!”
Mi Qi and Li Jiao looked at each other, both of them able to see the excitement in each other’s eyes as well.
Li Jiao quickly said, “Grandmaster Ji’s vision is truly sharp. If not for Grandmaster Ji’s appearance, this Li is afraid that we may not know that this spirit flower would soon bloom.”
Mi Qi laughed, “Grandmaster Ji is an Emperor Alchemist, and even a Legacy Disciple of the Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, he knows all the spirit flowers and herbs under the Heavens like the back of his hand, how could a rough old man like you compare? If you were really to look after the spirit flower, then you’d most likely miss the optimal time when the flower blooms, wasting precious treasures for nothing.”
“Yes, yes,” Li Jiao nodded repeatedly, “Brother Mi Qi is right. If not for Grandmaster Ji’s reminder, then such a precious spirit flower would really have been wasted. Since the spirit flower is about to blossom, why don’t we go and take a look?”
“Good, good, good!” Ji Ying nodded excitedly and took the lead in walking over.
Mi Qi and Li Jiao looked at each other, secretly exchanging glances without a word.
Soon, the three of them arrived at a certain spot in the medicine garden where only a single spirit herb was cultivated. It was about half a metre high and had coiled roots and gnarled leaves. Strangely enough, a special aura was emanating from this spirit flower. If Zhu Qing or Yang Kai were here, they would definitely be able to tell at a glance that it was Dragon Qi.
Only, the Dragon Qi was quite weak, nowhere near as pure as the Dragon Qi emitted when the two of them used their Dragon Sources.
Even so, this was still quite amazing as this was just a spirit herb.
Quite strangely, the spirit flower not only emitted faint Dragon Qi, but it also resembled a dragon shrunken down countless times in appearance, stretched across the roots and stalk. Each of its tiny Dragon Scales could be vividly seen, along with all its claws and its tail. On top of the dragon’s head, a blood-red flower bud was slightly unfolded, about to come into bloom, just like a fragile butterfly about to spread its wings and fly into the sky.
Ji Ying was standing ten metres in front of the spirit herb, holding his breath and watching the flower nervously.
From his appearance, rather than waiting for a spirit flower to bloom, it seemed more like his child was about to be born…
Li Jiao looked at the spirit flower that was about to bloom with a proud expression on his face as he silently made a glance at Mi Qi.
Mi Qi immediately said, “Grandmaster Ji, is this Dragon Blood Flower really that precious?”
“What do you know?” Ji Ying was looking ahead with rapt attention. When he heard Mi Qi speak, he subconsciously reprimanded him, but he quickly realized that the person who spoke was not one of his disciples, but rather the Sect Master of a top sect.
Slightly easing his tone, he explained, “Since you are not Alchemists, it is only natural that you don’t know the rarity of this Dragon Blood Flower; however, as Palace Master Li has been cultivating this Dragon Blood Flower with Blood Essence all this time, I’m sure he has at least some inkling.”
Li Jiao quickly said, “I am also muddled when it comes to this flower. I don’t know the details too deeply, so if I may please ask Grandmaster Ji to explain…”
After devoting himself to taking care of this flower for a hundred years, how could he not know it well? Only, he naturally wanted to pretend to be ignorant at this moment in order to satisfy the other man’s vanity.
Ji Ying nodded, “The Dragon Blood Flower is a natural resource from Dragon Island, and it is something only found on Dragon Island in this world. How precious is that, do you say?”
Mi Qi was shocked, “Truly?” He turned to Li Jiao, “Then where did Brother Li get this Dragon Blood Flower from?”
Li Jiao laughed, “Years ago, when I ventured out, I thought that this must be something extraordinary, so I brought it back. Who could have guessed that it would gradually begin to wither when I transplanted it here, so I tried to nourish it with my Blood Essence and fortunately brought it back to life. I have been cultivating it all these years using Blood Essence since then.”
“So it was simply by chance?” Mi Qi pondered.
Ji Ying nodded, “What Palace Master Li did was correct. The reason why this Dragon Blood Flower is a special product of Dragon Island is that only Dragon Blood can nurture it! Looking around the world, where else can you find Dragon Clan members if not on Dragon Island? So, the Dragon Blood Flower cannot survive even if it appeared anywhere else. Palace Master Li shares the Dragon Clan’s bloodline, so watering it with his Blood Essence was the correct course of action.”
Li Jiao was not just a pure human, but rather half Monster, said to be the descendent of a Human and a Dragon. Though not many people know this secret in the Northern Territory, Ji Ying and Mi Qi did.
Dragon Blood Flowers needed to be nourished with Dragon Blood, and even though Li Jiao’s Dragon Clan bloodline was quite thin, it was still present. As such, after many years of devoted care, the Dragon Blood Flower really did grow until the blossoming stage.
“I assume a Dragon Clan member fell at the place where Palace Master Li found this Dragon Blood Flower. If not, there is no way that a Dragon Blood Flower would grow there,” Ji Ying quickly said.
Li Jiao praised in admiration, “Grandmaster Ji is wise. When I found the Dragon Blood Flower, I did find the bones of a Dragon Clan member. Only, I have no idea how long it had been dead for, but it had already decayed and broken down a long time ago.”
“The bones of the Dragon Clan are indestructible, how could it so easily have broken down? It must be because the Dragon Blood Flower drew the nutrients from the skeleton.”
“So that’s how it is!” Li Jiao nodded his head incessantly as if he were an ignorant child.
Ji Ying said with enthusiasm, “With the Dragon Blood Flower, the Dragon Blood Pill can be refined. This pill will be very useful to Palace Master Li.”
“Why so?” Li Jiao held back the excitement in his heart and asked modestly.
Ji Ying smiled, “The reason the Dragon Clan on Dragon Island devours Dragon Blood Flowers is mainly to temper their bloodline, purifying their Bloodline Power. You should have heard that the Dragon Clan’s bloodline is separated into many different levels. Higher-order bloodlines have strong suppressive powers over lower bloodlines, so even if two Dragon Clan members are close in strength but differ too much in terms of bloodline, the one with the lower bloodline will be powerless against the one with the purer bloodline.”
Mi Qi and Li Jiao both nodded their heads.
Naturally, this was something they knew.
“The Dragon Clan is born powerful and can easily cultivate to the Emperor Realm. Without much effort, they can even achieve power on par with a Third-Order Emperor. Their main goal in cultivation though is to purify their bloodline. The higher the purity, the higher their strength becomes! The current Great Elder of the Dragon Clan is said to be an Eighth-Order Azure Dragon, whose strength is on par with even a Great Emperor. And above him, there are even legendary Ninth-Order and Tenth-Order bloodlines! The Dragon Blood Flower is said to be the most important resource to them.
Li Jiao said excitedly, “Does Grandmaster Ji mean that I can also…”
“Indeed!” Ji Ying nodded, “Though the Dragon Clan bloodline in Palace Master Li’s body is quite thin, it can indeed be enhanced by consuming the Dragon Blood Flower. Of course, the effects will be even better if it is refined into a Dragon Blood Pill.”
Li Jiao’s breathing suddenly quickened. Even though he had already secretly inquired about this news, he still felt that he had not wasted the past hundred years after receiving Ji Ying’s confirmation.
This Dragon Blood Flower had been obtained by him a hundred years ago, and he had been cultivating it with his own Blood Essence ever since, causing his strength to remain stagnant for many years. Even though both he and Mi Qi were Third-Order Emperor Realms, Li Jiao was undoubtedly a bit stronger thanks to his bloodline.
But if he could take this Dragon Blood Flower and refine it, then Li Jiao’s power would completely eclipse Mi Qi’s in one fell swoop.
“It’s just a pity…” Ji Ying suddenly changed the topic, frowning.
“What’s a pity?” Li Jiao’s heart was clenched in fear that he would hear bad news from Ji Ying.
Ji Ying smiled, “No need to be nervous, Palace Master Li. I just wanted to say that not only is the bloodline of the Dragon Clan separated into different levels, so too are the grades of Dragon Blood Flowers. Even if this Dragon Blood Flower really blooms, I’m afraid it will only be the lowest grade possible.”
For a Dragon Blood Flower of such a grade, perhaps no True Dragon would even spare it a glance if it were to be found on Dragon Island. However, it was already the most valuable thing here in Flame Dragon Sect’s medicine garden.
Only because it was rare and hard to find.
It was precisely because of this Dragon Blood Flower that Ji Ying stayed at Fire Dragon Palace. Otherwise, he would have gone to Ice Heart Valley and High Heaven Palace himself to collect all the spirit herbs for the ten-year agreement. He wanted to stay behind to watch the Dragon Blood Flower Bloom, which was a rare opportunity for an Alchemist.
Even though Ji Ying had been learning Alchemy for many years by Wondrous Pill Great Emperor’s side, it was the first time he had ever seen the Dragon Blood Flower. Naturally, faced with a spirit flower he was seeing for the first time, his desire as an Emperor Alchemist was thoroughly stimulated.
Mi Qi stood to the side, asking, “Grandmaster Ji, other than being useful to Brother Li, is this Dragon Blood Pill useless for Human cultivators?”
Ji Ying smiled, “How could it possibly be useless? Enhancing strength, refining cultivation, tempering the body… The Dragon Blood Pill has infinite uses.”
After a pause, he said, “Palace Master Li, if you are willing to trust this Ji, how about allowing me to refine this Dragon Blood Flower into a Spirit Pill when it blooms?”
Li Jiao was overjoyed at his words and cupped his fists, “I was just thinking of making such a request. It could not be better if Grandmaster Ji could help.”
He was completely overjoyed. Even though he was Fire Dragon Palace’s Palace Master, it was not such a simple thing for him to get Ji Ying to refine a pill for him even with his status. Several times before, he had gone to Medicine Pill Valley in order to ask for help refining pills, but for which pill did he not have to pay a hefty sum and be forced to wait a long time?
But this time, Ji Ying actually took the initiative to offer his services. What’s more, he did not ask for payment.
It seemed that this Dragon Blood Flower was quite an attractive resource to Ji Ying too.
“I’m not sure how many pills can be refined if Grandmaster Ji takes action?” Li Jiao asked cautiously.
Ji Ying had a solemn look on his face, “I dare not say for sure, but three should not be a problem.”
Every time Ji Ying refined pills, not only would he collect a generous remuneration, but he would also keep a third of the refined pills. These were his standard rules.
So, that was the reason why Li Jiao asked how many Yi Jing could refine. Now that he heard that he could refine three, Li Jiao was ecstatic. In this case, he would be able to get at least two Dragon Blood Pills, which would be an enormous help to improving his strength!
“Congratulations, Brother Li! What a joyous occasion!” Mi Qi cupped his fists at the side to congratulate him, but he was feeling slightly displeased in his heart.
Even though High Heaven Palace’s sudden rise following the destruction of Seeking Passion Sect was the reason why Full Sky Sect and Fire Dragon Palace had recently formed an alliance, who of them did not have their own selfish motives? Naturally, Mi Qi did not hope for Li Jiao to become too strong.
In his heart, he secretly prayed that Ji Ying would fail to refine the Dragon Blood Pill.
But he also knew how unlikely that was. Ji Ying was an Emperor Grade Alchemist and his skill was unquestionable. If he said he could refine three pills, then he naturally wasn’t just boasting. He was sure he could really do it.
Li Jiao laughed, looking very pleased.
Right at that moment, another strange sound occurred. The three of them were taken by surprise and all turned their attention to the Dragon Blood Flower.
The blooming Dragon Blood Flower which was about to blossom began to unfurl a little, releasing a crimson light that dazzled their eyes.
The three Emperors were all holding their breaths, not turning away for even an instant.
The red light flourished more and more as the flower bloomed like a new life was being born that wanted to break free from that flower as faint Dragon Qi began spreading out in all directions.
*Dong dong, dong dong…*
Li Jiao’s heartbeat could clearly be heard. This matter was directly related to the increase in his strength, so he was naturally even more nervous than the other two.
All of a sudden, as if the birth of the flower was being hindered by something, the light suddenly dimmed a little. Even the petals that were about to open up began to coil up again.
A withering feeling enveloped the entire plant.
Li Jiao’s face changed dramatically and he called out in alarm, “What…”
Ji Ying shouted quickly, “Palace Master Li! Quickly use your Blood Essence to feed it before it’s too late!”
The Dragon Blood Flower could only grow using the Dragon Clan’s Blood Essence as nourishment, so Li Jiao was the only one who could save this peculiar flower at the moment.
When he heard Ji Ying’s words, Li Jiao didn’t think twice and raised his finger, drawing a wound across the tip and using a Secret Technique to draw a drop of his Blood Essence out.
“Go!” He shouted, sending the drop of Blood Essence flying in an arc towards the Dragon Blood Flower, landing steadily into the centre of the bud.
After receiving this nourishment, the Dragon Blood Flower regained its vitality as expected. The petals began to unfurl even faster than before, its peculiar fragrance permeating in the air.
On the other hand, Li Jiao, who had forced out that drop of Blood Essence, was slightly pale-faced at the moment, looking as if his foundation had been severely damaged. A drop of Blood Essence would require at least ten years of dedicated cultivation to restore, but when he thought of the wonderful uses of the Dragon Blood Pill, Li Jiao felt it was all worth it.
A loud dragon roar suddenly echoed as the Dragon Blood Flower blossomed in an instant. Following that, a red light sprang out, shooting straight into the sky like a living creature.
Ji Ying had been prepared early and he reacted quickly, reaching out his hand and making a grabbing motion, causing the red light to freeze mid-air, though it still struggled visibly.
Mi Qi and Li Jiao watched intently, both revealing looks of amazement.
That was because they saw the red light take the shape of a tiny dragon…
“This is a Dragon Blood Flower?” Li Jiao and Mi Qi looked at each other. They were both in disbelief. This Dragon Blood Flower didn’t look like a flower in the slightest, but rather the spirit of a dragon. Was this truly the Dragon Blood Flower?
Ji Ying took out a wooden box that smelled of fragrant sandalwood in excitement and put the Dragon Blood Flower into it before sealing it. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, “Fortunately it is not of a high grade, otherwise I really wouldn’t have been able to suppress it!”
The Dragon Blood Flower can only be produced on Dragon Island, and also subdued by only the Dragon Clan.
“Since the spirit flower has bloomed, I will leave the Alchemy to Grandmaster Ji,” suppressing the excitement in his heart, Li Jiao said respectfully to him.
“En. Just leave everything to me. Palace Master Li, if you prepare a secluded chamber for me…” Ji Ying nodded.
“Yes, yes!” Li Jiao was overjoyed. He thought that Ji Ying would bring the Dragon Blood Flower back to Medicine Pill Valley in order to refine it, but from what he said, he seemed to have the intention to start refining the pill here. So, how could he not be happy?
Mi Qi forced out a smile, “Brother Li, you should go handle that. I’ll stay and accompany Grandmaster Ji here.”
Li Jiao nodded, “Good! Please wait for a moment!”
After that, he turned to leave.
Right then, Ji Ying suddenly took out his communication artifact, but after checking it for a moment, his originally joyful appearance suddenly became filled with rage as he shouted, “Impudence!”
Li Jiao was startled and quickly turned around and asked, “What happened?”
He thought he had accidentally offended Ji Ying somehow.
Mi Qi also asked curiously, “Grandmaster Ji, what happened?”
Ji Ying’s face turned dark, “Li Xuan was beaten!”
“Li Xuan…” Both Mi Qi and Li Jiao muttered that name before quickly recalling. Wasn’t Li Xuan one of Grandmaster Ji’s disciples? That boy wasn’t old, but both his talent in cultivation and Alchemy were quite outstanding, so he was valued and nurtured greatly by Ji Ying. He had followed Ji Ying here a few days ago to Fire Dragon Palace, but was sent out to collect spirit herbs after the Dragon Blood Flower incident.
“Was it Ice Heart Valley or High Heaven Palace?” Mi Qi’s heart was beating wildly and he couldn’t help but ask in excitement.
If it were the people from High Heaven Palace who beat Li Xuan up, then there would be a good show for them to watch. He and Li Jiao were worrying over how they could keep High Heaven Palace’s arrogance in check, or better, suppress them. They didn’t expect High Heaven Palace to put themselves on the plate before they could even come up with a solution.
“It’s that High Heaven Palace’s Palace Master!” Ji Ying had a furious expression on his face, “He beat my disciple and stole the Source Crystals I gave him to buy the spirit herbs with. This High Heaven Palace is simply lawless!”
“What?” Mi Qi was shocked, “They didn’t just beat people but even snatched their Source Crystals? This…”
He almost couldn’t help himself from throwing his head back and laughing, thinking to himself, [High Heaven Palace, you’re asking for your own destruction! You think you can touch the people from Medicine Pill Valley however you please?]
“Such impudence! How dare High Heaven Palace despise Medicine Pill Valley! I, Li Jiao, and he are absolutely irreconcilable!” Li Jiao also realized that an opportunity had come and quickly exclaimed.
“Palace Master Li, I’m afraid this Alchemy matter will have to be delayed for now. This concerns the reputation of my Medicine Pill Valley so I must make a trip there personally to see just what that High Heaven Palace is trying to do!” Ji Ying yelled. Even though he promised Li Jiao, this was an important matter that he could not delay; otherwise, if word got out, then it would damage the prestige of both Medicine Pill Valley and Wondrous Pill Great Emperor.
“This… It can’t be helped.” Li Jiao was slightly exasperated. He could have gotten the Dragon Blood Pill immediately, but he didn’t expect such an incident to happen out of nowhere. He already had a bad impression of High Heaven Palace to begin with, so now he hated them even more.
“But Grandmaster Ji, it’s better not to go alone,” Mi Qi frowned.
Ji Ying snorted, “What’s wrong? Would he still dare to act unruly even if I make an appearance personally?”
Mi Qi said with a straight face, “If it were a Northern Territory cultivator like us, then we naturally wouldn’t dare be impudent in front of Grandmaster Ji. However, I heard that High Heaven Palace’s Palace Master is not from the Northern Territory. It seems he is from the Southern Territory. What’s more, he is a domineering and unreasonable man who uses all kinds of cruel methods. If that wasn’t the case, he wouldn’t have wiped out the Seeking Passion Sect. It is better to be on guard against such a ruthless and bloodthirsty man. Grandmaster Ji must not risk his safety so easily!”
“What Brother Mi Qi said is right,” Li Jiao nodded, “I have also heard that not only is that brat surnamed Yang savage and domineering, he also colludes with the Monster Race. It is best to be on guard.”
Ji Ying declared, “Even if I must enter a dragon’s cave, I must go. My disciple has been beaten and my Source Crystals robbed. If I stay silent on this matter, how will I face my Honoured Master when I return to Medicine Pill Valley?”
“Naturally, the trip has to be made,” Mi Qi and Li Jiao glanced at each other, “But Grandmaster Ji mustn’t go alone.”
“Indeed,” Li Jiao nodded, “How about this, as Brother Mi Qi and I are both free, we can accompany Grandmaster Ji to keep the situation under control. Let’s see if that High Heaven Palace truly wants to go against the Heavens!”
“Brother Li makes a good suggestion. I agree. If that High Heaven Palace really dares to disrespect Grandmaster Ji, then Brother Li and I will put our lives on the line in order to protect you!”
“Then… I shall trouble you both.” Ji Ying also did not refuse them, mainly because he was feeling anxious from hearing what these two had to say. He was truly worried that High Heaven Palace would not take his status into account and lay a hand on him.
“We must not delay. Let us set off!”
…..
High Heaven Palace, atop a certain mountain peak. Yang Kai was currently lying on the ground, legs crossed, lazily soaking in the sun.
It was a bright day today with not a cloud in the sky, and he was currently being accompanied by beauties in this sunny world.
Zhu Qing, who was pouring wine for him to the side, grit her teeth and spat as she shoved the cup in front of him, “Drink!”
In order not to lose him again, Zhu Qing decided to stick by his side at all times, forcing her to endure humiliation after humiliation. She had to put up with Yang Kai’s various criticisms and commands, and now she was even serving him like a maid.
Her pride was being trampled into a mess, and Zhu Qing felt that there was simply no one more hateful than this man in front of her right now.
“Ah…” Yang Kai opened his mouth but did not move.
Zhu Qing shot him a hateful glare before lifting the cup to his mouth and pouring it drink down.
He drank it in one gulp.
“Ah…” Yang Kai opened his mouth again, eyes slightly narrowed with a pleasant expression.
Flames of fury were tumbling around in Zhu Qing’s chest and wanted nothing more than to burn this man alive with her Dragon Flames, but she still reached over to pick up a grape-like berry and pop it into Yang Kai’s mouth.
After chewing a few times, Yang Kai swallowed the fruit, then turned to his side and propped his head up with his hand, looking at Zhu Qing, “Qing’er, how’s your Dragon Island right now?”
Zhu Qing responded indifferently, “If you want to know, then just follow me over.”
“You’re talking about that again,” Yang Kai frowned, “Do you not want to be friends anymore?”
“You’re the one who asked,” a trace of panic flashed past Zhu Qing’s face. It took a lot of effort for her and Yang Kai to become ‘friends’, so if he really cut off their relationship because of this, then she would be done for.
Yang Kai grinned meaningfully, looking at her with interest, he asked, “Do you have any other friends?”
Zhu Qing shook her head.
[Why would a Dragon need friends? What a joke.]
Yang Kai said with a serious look, “Let me tell you, there are many types of friends. Even though we’re friends now, we’re nothing more than the most ordinary of friends.”
“There are other types?” Zhu Qing furrowed her brows and asked curiously.
“Naturally so,” Yang Kai nodded pretentiously, “There are normal friends, then you have close friends above that. And if you go further… intimate friends! En, if we were intimate friends, then that would change our relationship. If it were so, it would not be impossible for me to consider visiting Dragon Island.”
Zhu Qing’s eyes lit up, “Then let’s be intimate friends?”
“Do you really want to?” Yang Kai looked at her with a solemn expression.
“Of course! Let’s be intimate!” Zhu Qing nodded with certainty.
“I wouldn’t mind if we became intimate friends, but I’m worried you’ll…” Yang Kai took Zhu Qing’s dainty hand and gently stroked it, “Find it forced!”
[Tsk tsk, such a smooth and delicate little hand. The texture feels just like the finest silk, making it hard to let go.]
Zhu Qing frowned and stared at Yang Kai’s wanton actions, squirming a little before she pulled her hand back and looked away, “Don’t do that, it feels weird…”
Yang Kai said with a straight face, “Didn’t you say you wanted to be intimate friends?”
Zhu Qing asked curiously, “Is this what intimate friends have to do?”
“Of course!” Yang Kai’s nostrils were blowing out hot air, “And this is just the basics.”
Zhu Qing could not help but look a little hesitant, “Then what else do we have to do?”
Yang Kai stroked his chin, a wicked smile on his face, “Much, much more…”
“Tell me about it? I’ll see if I… can manage,” Zhu Qing’s tender pink neck had become a little red, seemingly becoming aware of something.
Just looking at her reaction alone was enough to make one restless. Yang Kai quickly took a deep breath to calm down his tumbling urges before he swiftly laid his head atop Zhu Qing’s firm and smooth thighs. The top of his head nudging against her belly as he said comfortably, “Try giving me a rub.”
Zhu Qing’s face was red. Even though it was not her first time having such intimate contact with Yang Kai, and even had done more excessive things before this, her heartbeat couldn’t help but quicken and she became a little flustered.
Raising her hands, she pressed her two thumbs lightly against Yang Kai’s temple and moved them gently in a circular motion.
Yang Kai felt his whole body loosen up, like he was floating on clouds. It felt so good he could almost reach his peak. [This girl is actually quite cooperative], he thought to himself. He even began to wonder if he should just forget everything that happened up until now and really get to know her properly?
Suddenly, a violent force erupted at his temples, as if he had just been hit by two hammers at the same time. Yang Kai’s face twisted up instantly and his eyes went wide.
“You really think I don’t know anything and will let you do whatever you want?!” Zhu Qing ground her teeth as a force great enough to move mountains and break seas, her two thumbs pressing like drills, spinning hard back and forth against Yang Kai’s temples.
“I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die!” Yang Kai’s head was pinned down so that he was unable to move his body, only able to flail about madly.
“It may be my first time leaving Dragon Island, but I’m no fool! Don’t think you can bully me like this!” With gritted teeth, Zhu Qing’s fingers kept digging.
Yang Kai instantly felt the desire to die. His entire person had become uncomfortable. Body arching, he shot up from the ground, feet landing towards Zhu Qing’s head.
Zhu Qing easily deflected the blow with a wave of her hand and took this moment to stand up, putting some distance between Yang Kai and herself, panting and glaring at him.
Yang Kai swayed a few times, still feeling a little dizzy. He almost couldn’t stand straight as he indignantly shouted, “You actually pretended to be innocent in front of me! How could you deceive me so wickedly!”
Feeling like he had been cheated, it left a huge scar deep in his heart.
“I’ve had enough of you!” Zhu Qing shouted at him through gritted teeth.
“It’s not like I’m the one who asked you to stay, you’re the one that’s insistent on staying here and now you’re blaming me for that?”
Zhu Qing’s chest heaved like a volcano that could blow at any moment. She stomped her feet, “Fine! I won’t pester you anymore in the future, so don’t come looking for me either!”
“What a joke!” Yang Kai stood with his arms on his waist, spittle flying everywhere as he spat, “I won’t look for you even if every other woman in this world died!”
Zhu Qing’s face instantly turned icy cold as if a bowl of frost could be scraped off of it. A layer of mist appeared in her beautiful eyes as she calmly said, “Remember what you said.”
Then, she turned around and left.
Yang Kai scoffed and raised his hand, waving, “Good riddance!”
But he could no longer see Zhu Qing’s figure anymore.
In a flash, Hua Qing Si suddenly appeared at the top of the mountain. She looked at Yang Kai, then at the direction Zhu Qing left, asking, “Did you quarrel?”
“We just couldn’t see eye-to-eye, that’s all,” Yang Kai coldly snorted.
“It’s not too late to catch up to her now. She hasn’t gone that far yet.” Hua Qing Si looked into the distance, “You know how women are, just coax her a little and she’ll be fine. If she can be angry with you, it means she cares about you.”
“She has other intentions,” Yang Kai bristled. He then turned to look at Hua Qing Si and asked, “What do you need me for?”
Hua Qing Si quickly said, “They’re here.”
Yang Kai’s face turned serious before he sneered, “Since they’re here, let’s go and have a look at the famed Great Emperor’s Disciple.”
Outside the gates of High heaven Palace, a huge ship hovered mid-air beside the Sect Defending Array, just like a dark cloud covering the sky.
Five figures stood on the deck.
Ji Ying stood at the forefront, waiting with a heavy look on his face. Fire Dragon Palace’s Palace Master Li Jiao and Full Sky Sect’s Sect Master Mi Qi stood quietly to each of his sides just like his guards. Further back were two more people, Ji Ying’s Disciples, one of whom was Li Xuan.
Li Xuan had lost most of his teeth and his cheek was swollen even now.
These weren’t serious injuries, and as he was an Alchemist and came from Medicine Pill Valley, he naturally had some good healing pills with him. This sort of injury could be treated in less than a hour, but he had deliberately not healed himself so that Ji Ying could see his wounds and know how he was bullied and humiliated at High Heaven Palace.
The result was quite good.
When Ji Ying saw how his beloved Disciple had been beaten up to resemble a pig’s head, even losing most of his teeth, his anger exploded.
Li Xuan may be a second-generation disciple of Medicine Pill Valley, not a personal student of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, but he was still part of Medicine Pill Valley.
It was unforgivable for him to be humiliated in such a way in the Northern Territory.
Now, when he arrived at High Heaven Palace and was even blocked outside their gates without receiving the respect he deserved, it gave Ji Ying an even worse impression about this place.
“This is simply outrageous!” Li Jiao said with indignation, “This High Heaven Palace is simply too arrogant! They should be honoured that Grandmaster Ji has personally come to visit, but nobody has come out to receive him. This Sect has no manners to speak of.”
Mi Qi chimed in immediately, “Too true! This High Heaven Palace has no regard for Grandmaster Ji. That means they have no regard for Medicine Pill Valley either!”
The two of them fanned the flames while they watched the show, wanting nothing more than for High Heaven Palace to offend Ji Ying as much as possible.
Ji Ying’s already displeased face became even uglier.
He was a Disciple of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor and was a noble Emperor Alchemist; where in the Northern Territory would he not receive a warm welcome? No matter where he went, people waited on him with great enthusiasm, but he was actually greeted with closed doors here at High Heaven Palace!
Just now, there was some Head Manager who came out, asking a few questions before she went back inside, now nowhere to be seen.
Was this how unruly High Heaven Palace was? As the saying goes, seeing is believing. When he heard Mi Qi and Li Jiao talking about High Heaven Palace, Ji Ying knew that they were deliberately discrediting this place, but now, his own personal experience proved that this High Heaven Palace really wasn’t anything good.
“Master, you have to obtain justice for this disciple!” Li Xuan found the right time to jump out, sobbing and snotty while he spoke incoherently, “Not only did that High Heaven Palace Palace Master beat this disciple, he even snatched away this disciple’s Source Crystals meant to purchase the spirit herbs! He did not take this disciple seriously even after I told him Honoured Master and Ancestral Founder’s name. You can’t let him go easily, Honoured Master!”
“What!” Ji Ying’s face changed and he said fiercely, “He actually dares to disregard Honoured Master’s name?”
Even though he was angry with what he and his disciple encountered thus far, it was not to the degree that he lost his mind. But when he heard from Li Xuan that High Heaven Palace’s Palace Master actually disdained the Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, Ji Ying completely erupted.
Observing his reaction, Li Xuan turned his eyes away and said, “He even said… even said…”
“What did he say?” Ji Ying asked with a dark face.
Li Xuan said meekly, “Disciple doesn’t dare to say.”
“Speak!” Ji Ying glared at him.
His Senior Brother at the side also said, “Junior Brother, what has that man said? Tell Honoured Master everything! Don’t be afraid!”
Only then did Li Xuan let loose as if he had found the courage, “He said Alchemists are all bloated fools, thinking we are masters just because we know Alchemy. He said that we were all worthless in his eyes…”
“Impudence!” Ji Ying shouted.
Li Xuan fell to his knees, “Honoured Master, I wasn’t the one who said it, it was him!”
“Master naturally knows that you didn’t say such disgraceful words,” Ji Ying took a deep breath and calmed himself before raising his hand, “Get up!”
Li Xuan staggered up and lifted his sleeve to wipe the corners of his eyes, covering the sinister grin that appeared on his face.
As Ji Ying’s Disciple, he naturally knew what Ji Ying’s reverse scale was.
Wondrous Pill Great Emperor was Ji Ying’s Honoured Teacher, and the Alchemic Dao was what Ji Ying spent his whole life pursuing. These two things weighed more to Ji Ying than even his own life, so he would never allow anyone off easily if they dared profane them.
And now, from what he was told, Yang Kai violated both of these taboos, so it would be strange if he had a good end after this.
[Let’s see how you die now!] Li Xuan cheered in his heart.
“Grandmaster Ji, it seems like this High Heaven Palace has no need to exist anymore. If we really allow them to stay in the Northern Territory, it would be nothing more than a great shame!” Li Jiao said coldly, “Grandmaster Ji. We should gather our allies in the Northern Territory and band together to condemn High Heaven Palace!”
Mi Qi echoed his sentiments, “My Full Sky Sect will devote all of its strength to eradicate this malignant growth from the Northern Territory!”
Ji Ying frowned deeply for quite some time before finally saying, “We shall decide how to proceed once I have met the Palace Master of this High Heaven Palace.”
He was not someone who made decisions based solely on his emotions. Even though his fury was hard to restrain, what he heard was nothing more than his Disciple’s side of the story.
Even though he thought Li Xuan couldn’t lie to him, it was better to see what High Heaven Palace’s Palace Master wanted first. If things were truly as Li Xuan said, then it wouldn’t be too late to make a move against High Heaven Palace then.
Mi Qi and Li Jiao exchanged helpless glances. Both of them knew that this matter couldn’t be rushed, so they remained silent.
On the other hand, a trace of panic flashed across Li Xuan’s face. He had exaggerated what happened to Ji Ying just now and even fabricated several big lies. He was really afraid of him confronting High Heaven Palace’s Palace Master face-to-face and hearing a different story. But on second thought, he had always put on a well-behaved appearance in front of his Honoured Master, so even if the other party spoke differently, with no proof, his Honoured Master would surely side with him rather than an outsider.
When Li Xuan thought about things this way, he instantly felt much better.
A red light suddenly emerged that suddenly shot out from High Heaven Palace, flying out of the Sect Defending Array.
When it arrived in front of the ship, the red light paused for a moment, revealing a small and delicate figure. It was Zhu Qing, who had just left in anger.
In actual fact, she was actually feeling extremely regretful that she had fallen out with Yang Kai earlier and left in a moment of rage, completely forgetting the task given to her by her Elders. She was cursing Yang Kai in her heart for putting her in this awkward situation with his lack of propriety and for not even trying to stop her or persuade her to stay.
When she suddenly saw the ship stopped outside the Sect Defending Array, she naturally looked over in curiosity.
Her eyes swept past Mi Qi and Ji Ying without pause, only pausing on Li Jiao for a moment as the corners of her mouth twitched, seemingly out of disdain.
Inexplicably, Li Jiao felt his heart clench, like he was being stared at by a vicious predator. He suddenly had the impression that this petite woman in front of him could kill him at will.
He was flabbergasted at how he could suddenly feel such a thing. He was already a Third-Order Emperor, so the only ones who could kill him at will would be Great Emperors.
Could this woman in front of him be a Great Emperor?
But that was impossible. He had never heard of a Great Emperor who looked like this before. Flower Shadow Great Emperor may be a woman, but she definitely did not look like this.
[What’s going on?] Li Jiao was confused for a moment, wondering whether he was too on edge and imagining things.
“It’s you!” Li Xuan called out as he pointed at Zhu Qing, eyes bloodshot as if he were looking at his most hated enemy.
“Who is she?” Ji Ying asked with a frown.
This woman had flown out from High Heaven Palace, so she should be one of their people. Could she be High Heaven Palace’s Palace Master? But that didn’t make sense as High Heaven Palace’s Palace Master was supposed to be a man named Yang Kai?
“Honoured Master, it’s her! She also hit this disciple along with High Heaven Palace’s Palace Master. This disciple suffered a lot because of her…” Li Xuan began to cry.
“She laid hands on you?” Ji Ying’s face turned dark.
“That’s right, she was the one who hit this disciple first! She is an Emperor Realm Master while this disciple is only in First-Order Dao Source Realm. There was no way this disciple could have fought back…” Li Xuan cried out with snot and tears flowing, appearing extremely hurt.
“Shameless!” Ji Ying cursed angrily. Originally, he had a good impression of this woman when he saw how beautiful she was and how nobly she carried herself, but after hearing what Li Xuan said, that good impression crashed. In an instant, he felt that this woman was abominable no matter her outward appearance.
“To actually bully the weak even though you’re an Emperor Realm Master. It is simply a disgrace to all Emperors!” Mi Qi shouted angrily and pushed his Emperor Qi, “Let this King teach you a lesson and exact justice for Martial Nephew Li!”
As he said that, he shot towards Zhu Qing like a great Peng spreading its wings.
Ji Ying’s expression changed, seemingly wanting to stop Mi Qi’s reckless move, but on second thought, he gave up and just stood there with a grim expression.
It would be good to teach this High Heaven Palace a lesson, so it thought twice about being so arrogant. He wasn’t worried that Mi Qi wouldn’t be this woman’s opponent since he was, after all, a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master. Even if this woman was strong, she should pose no threat to Mi Qi.
Zhu Qing furrowed deeply as her anger erupted.
She was already enraged from the grievances Yang Kai inflicted upon her, so now that Mi Qi was taking the initiative to rush at her, it gave her a chance to vent. Raising her arm, she swung her fist out, punching straight towards Mi Qi’s chest.
Mi Qi’s hands moved quickly to form a large seal and he sneered, “A measly thing like you dares to contend with this King?!”
Pushing forward both hands, Emperor Pressure spread out. Mi Qi’s move was extremely fierce, as if he wanted to suppress Zhu Qing in one hit.
The dainty fist flew forward without pause though, a vortex of power forming around it as it shredded everything in his path, smashing apart Mi Qi’s seal as easily as crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood.
“What!?” Mi Qi’s expression drastically as fear surged up from deep within himself. Only now did he realize that he had greatly underestimated his opponent. Even though this woman did not use her Emperor Qi, her raw strength was beyond extraordinary. By the time he realized what was happening and tried to execute another move to defend himself, it was too late. He could only gather up his Emperor Qi hastily in order to guard himself.
*Hong long long…*
As Zhu Qing’s delicate-looking fist made contact with Mi Qi’s chest, a large depression instantly formed. Ji Ying and the others standing behind Mi Qi could clearly see the bulge appearing on Mi Qi’s back, making it look like he was an old hunched man, while at the same time, a wave of pressure burst out behind him, exploding a big hole in the robes Mi Qi wore.
The Sect Master of one of the top Sects in the Northern Territory, Full Sky Sect, the Third-Order Emperor Realm Master Mi Qi, was sent flying and crashed heavily into the protective barrier of the ship, planting him spread-eagled mid-air.
*Ssii…*
The sound of someone gasping was heard.
Everyone’s eyes were filled with astonishment.
Even though they suspected Mi Qi had underestimated his opponent, being able to devastate him in one hit proved beyond any doubt the strength of this woman.
Li Xuan, who was originally excited to watch how Mi Qi was going to get justice for him, suddenly felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his neck, almost causing his eyes to pop out of their sockets. His whole body began trembling as his heart was filled with fear.
He was slapped by Zhu Qing the other day, but he didn’t suffer anything more than a sore cheek.
But if she had hit him with this much power that day, would there even be ashes left?
Cold sweat poured down his whole body.
Only after being stunned for quite a while did Ji Ying remember to lower the protective barrier and bring Mi Qi inside.
“This King underestimated yo… wa…” Landing on the deck, Mi Qi was just about to say something to save some face when he coughed out a mouthful of blood mid-sentence, his face was as pale as paper.
Ji Ying was shocked and quickly fed him a Spirit Pill.
“Who are you people?!” After punching Mi Qi, Zhu Qing felt much better and asked while looking coldly ahead at them.
Ji Ying was furious. He thought that this person had come with the sole intention to humiliate him; after all, he had already informed the so-called Head Manager of his status while this petite woman had just come out from High Heaven Palace. How could she possibly now know who he was?
She was clearly asking despite knowing the answer.
Had High Heaven Palace already grown this conceited?
“Qing’er, don’t be rude!” A bellow came from afar, and by the time it was heard, Yang Kai and Hua Qing Si had already arrived together.
Zhu Qing glared at him, but then she turned her eyes away.
[Don’t think I’ll forgive you just because you called me Qing’er!]
“Grandmaster Ji has come from afar. This Palace Master apologizes for not welcoming you sooner and hopes Grandmaster Ji can be magnanimous!” Yang Kai cupped his fists with a smile, appearing neither overbearing nor servile, instead putting himself on equal footing with Ji Ying.
On the way here, he also learned of this man’s identity from Hua Qing Si.
The Fifth Disciple of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, Emperor Alchemist Ji Ying.
Ji Ying responded indifferently, “Palace Master Yang is polite. It was this Ji who came uninvited and disturbed your noble Palace.”
Even though he felt annoyed that this man made him wait so long before appearing, one does not greet a smile with a raised hand. He couldn’t fall out with him as soon as he came out, could he?
Yang Kai smiled broadly, “I have long heard of Grandmaster Ji’s esteemed name. It is a great honour to have you here at my High Heaven Palace so please, do tell me what brings you here.”
Li Jiao confronted him coldly, “Palace Master Yang, Grandmaster Ji made the trip here personally and you are still keeping him out with this Sect Defending Array? Is this how your High Heaven Palace treats its guests?”
“Your Excellency is…” Yang Kai glanced at Li Jiao.
Ji Ying introduced, “This is Fire Dragon Palace’s Palace Master, Li Jiao!”
“So, it is Palace Master Li… And who is that man spitting blood over there?” Yang Kai turned his attention to Mi Qi.
Mi Qi had already taken a Spirit Pill to suppress the tumbling blood inside of him, but hearing these words almost made him spit out another mouthful of blood.
Ji Ying answered, “This is Full Sky Sect’s Sect Master, Mi Qi.”
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes. “So, Sect Master Mi has come as well.”
Li Jiao coldly snorted, “En. Palace Master Yang doesn’t seem to welcome Brother Mi and me very much.”
Yang Kai stroked his chin and thought seriously for a moment, “Indeed, you are not very welcome!”
[Simply ridiculous. These two guys have banded together, obviously to pick a fight, and they’re asking me whether I welcome them or not! They must be sick in the head.]
Li Jiao’s breath almost got stuck in his throat as his face turned ugly. Even those with power and status like him and Mi Qi had to display some decorum despite how much they disliked a person. If Yang Kai had gone to his Fire Dragon Palace, he would still treat him with courtesy despite wanting to kick him out on sight. That was simple manners, but who could have anticipated that this Yang Kai would be so blunt and disrespectful?
Yang Kai chuckled seeing this reaction and continued, “But since you’re already here, please do come in.”
As he said that, he opened the Sect Defending Array.
It made him seem extremely reluctant.
Ji Ying collected the ship and flew into High Heaven Palace with the others.
“Please, follow me.” After saying that, Yang Kai turned around and led the way. After flying out some distance, he turned back and shouted, “Qing’er, why are you still out there?”
Zhu Qing was originally waiting there bitterly for Yang Kai to come and apologize, and she decided she would forgive him for his impertinence as long as he could say a few coaxing words to her. However, after waiting for so long, he never even spared her a glance in the end.
She couldn’t help but feel a little hurt.
[Am I really going to leave just like this? What about the mission Elder entrusted to me? What about the Ancestral Dragon Source?]
The moment she heard Yang Kai’s shout, she turned around and scurried back into High Heaven Palace, following right behind Yang Kai with a pout on her lips. Watching Yang Kai’s back, her lips opened and closed, but none of them could hear what she was muttering about.
From the shape of her lips though, she seemed to be cursing him.
“Palace Master Yang, this woman is…” Li Jiao asked quietly.
He had no idea why, but having Zhu Qing follow along at the back made him feel prickly all over. He felt extremely uncomfortable, as if the one following behind them was not a marvellous beauty, but rather an ancient beast that was going to devour him. It sent chills running up his spine.
“Haha, just a little servant girl. Please don’t mind her, Palace Master Li,” Yang Kai casually blabbed.
“Servant girl…” Li Jiao looked speechless.
“Is that not an insult to me, Palace Master Yang?!” Mi Qi almost choked himself to death, feeling extremely irritated. Her strength was unfathomable, so how could she possibly be a servant girl? In the outside world, this woman was more than strong enough to found a top Sect of her own.
If she was truly just a servant girl, then wouldn’t he be less than a mere servant girl?!
“Why would I humiliate you? I don’t hold a grudge against you!” Yang Kai grinned, “If I really did have a grudge, I still would not have humiliated you either. It would be much faster to just kill you!”
Mi Qi had no idea what Yang Kai was trying to insinuate, but he quickly shut his mouth. He could tell at a glance that this Yang Kai wasn’t someone to be messed with. He instinctively felt that his decision to accompany Ji Ying on this trip was a bad one. If things went poorly, then his lifetime of fame and fortune would end here.
“Qing’er, go and prepare up some tea for our guests,” Yang Kai turned around to order Zhu Qing.
Zhu Qing’s face turned dark and she eyed Yang Kai angrily.
Yang Kai, however, just glared at her.
“Good!” Zhu Qing submitted helplessly and turned around, flying off in another direction.
“I’ll help you!” Hua Qing Si quickly followed her.
Inside High Heaven Palace’s reception hall, both guests and hosts were seated.
Ji Ying’s face looked a bit displeased because Yang Kai sat at the head of the table, putting him below him.
This had never happened before. He had always been treated as the Guest of Honour in any Sect in the Northern Territory, and the head seat was always reserved for him. That was the case for his visit to Fire Dragon Palace just now as well.
If this happened at any other time, Ji Ying would not have cared too much, as a guest should suit the convenience of the host after all. No matter how noble his status was, he was still an outsider in another’s home. In any case, seating order was a mere formality, not something worth bickering over.
But he already had a preconceived impression of High Heaven Palace and Yang Kai, further strengthening his idea that Yang Kai did not show him any regard.
On the other hand, Yang Kai didn’t think about this issue at all. He was the host, so it was only natural that he should sit at the front and entertain his guests.
Turning his eyes over, he chuckled, “What a coincidence that Grandmaster Ji has arrived with two other Sect Masters.”
Ji Ying quickly said, “It was no coincidence. This Ji came with Palace Master Li and Sect Master Mi acting as escorts.”
Yang Kai was curious, “Grandmaster Ji is a highly respected man, and with Medicine Pill Valley’s renowned name in the Northern Territory, there can’t possibly be someone with no eyes who would dare to stir up trouble with Grandmaster Ji, right? I also heard that the Northern Territory was a very peaceful place.”
Li Jiao coldly snorted, “Things were indeed peaceful in the past, but recently… it has not been so.”
There were insinuations laced in his words, and there was no way Yang Kai wouldn’t notice this. Li Jiao was pointedly saying that High Heaven Palace’s founding and rise in the Northern Territory had robbed it of its tranquillity.
As if he didn’t understand the hidden meaning in these words though, Yang Kai turned to Li Xuan who was standing behind Ji Ying and smiled, “Little Brother, we meet again so soon.”
Li Xuan’s face paled and he yelped, “What… What do you want! I’m warning you, don’t mess around!”
Half of it was just pretend, but half of it was actual fear. After what he suffered at Yang Kai’s hand last time, facing him still made his heart jump.
Yang Kai snickered, “Little Brother is such a joker. It seems like this Palace Master’s hospitality was lacking last time, causing Little Brother to have some complaints. If Little Brother is free, then why not stay here as a guest for a while. This Palace Master will definitely make you feel at home!”
Li Xuan answered back angrily, “Who wants to be your guest!”
With his Honoured Master here, Li Xuan was much bolder than before and did not grovel like last time.
Zhu Qing and Hua Qing Si came over with tea at that moment and proceeded to serve everyone.
Hua Qing Si’s attitude was still acceptable, but Zhu Qing ruthlessly tossed the cups onto the table, spilling tea all over the place. Yang Kai was furious and struck the table, “What are you doing! What happened to courtesy… I’m talking to you, come back here!”
But there was no sign of Zhu Qing as she left immediately after ‘serving’ the tea.
Yang Kai shouted for a while before helplessly saying, “Grandmaster Ji, please do not blame her for her behaviour. This girl has a bit of an unruly personality. This Palace Master will certainly lecture her properly after this.”
Ji Ying was indifferent, “It’s just a small matter, don’t worry about it.”
Yang Kai smiled, “Grandmaster Ji is magnanimous. Now then, I wonder what Grandmaster Ji has come to my High Heaven Palace for?”
Mi Qi slammed the table and stood up, sneering, “Palace Master Yang, why ask when you already know the answer? Don’t you know perfectly well what you did several days ago?”
Yang Kai glanced at him from the corner of his eye, “This Palace Master is not sure what he has done to rile up Sect Master Mi. This should be our first meeting, so this Palace Master should not have any grudges with your Full Sky Sect either.”
Mi Qi grunted, “This King and Palace Master Li are here today in order to seek justice for Martial Nephew Li. Palace Master Yang, you should know that your misdeeds will catch up to you someday when you commit too many, so please be more self-aware; otherwise, you may lead your High Heaven Palace to ruin.”
Li Jiao also nodded at the side, “Brother Mi is right.”
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes, “So to say, the two of you have come to my High Heaven Palace to cause trouble? But I don’t even know what my High Heaven Palace has done to offend you.”
Mi Qi said, “The one you have offended is neither Brother Li nor I, but Medicine Pill Valley! Medicine Pill Valley is the Northern Territory’s holy land, so offending them is equal to offending the entire Northern Territory! As someone from the Northern Territory, naturally we can’t just stand by and do nothing!”
Yang Kai was surprised, “When have I offended Medicine Pill Valley?”
Ji Ying’s face was dark as he spat, “My poor disciple is in such a state and Palace Master Yang still wants to quibble?”
Yang Kai turned to look at him, then he swept a glance at Li Xuan’s sullen cheek, seemingly only coming to his senses then as he exclaimed, “Oh, so that’s how it is!”
Ji Ying looked expressionlessly at him, “Palace Master Yang, you’re not going to tell me that you weren’t the one who hit my disciple, are you?”
“No, that’s right, I hit him,” Yang Kai nodded and admitted it.
Ji Ying was furious, barking through gritted teeth, “Palace Master Yang is an Emperor Realm Master, yet he deems to bully the weak? Why would you humiliate my disciple like this? Do you have no regard for my Medicine Pill Valley at all?!”
“Such impudence, Yang Kai!”
“Grandmaster Ji, we must not let this matter pass, otherwise Medicine Pill Valley will be brought to shame if word were to spread!”
Li Jiao and Mi Qi both shouted angrily, as if they were the ones who were beaten and not Li Xuan. They couldn’t wait to inflame Ji Ying’s anger in order to give Yang Kai a taste of his own medicine.
“What else do you have to say for yourself?” Ji Ying looked grimly at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai raised a brow, “Should I not teach the child a lesson if he has done wrong?”
“Done wrong!” A hint of anger flashed past Ji Ying’s face, “My disciple has always been a sensible and good child. What kind of wrong has he done to deserve such a punishment from Palace Master Yang?”
Yang Kai eyed Li Xuan with a smile, saying after some thought, “I wish to know exactly what your good disciple has told you, Grandmaster Ji.”
Ji Ying coldly snorted and ordered, “Xuan’er, tell me in detail what happened to you that day! Don’t be afraid, Master will stand up for you!”
“This…” Li Xuan was a little hesitant; after all, what he told Ji Ying was a pile of lies. Now that Yang Kai was here, Li Xuan really didn’t have the guts to confront him.
But if he didn’t speak now, he would look guilty, and his attempt to slander would be exposed. Knowing his Honoured Master’s temperament, Li Xuan knew he might not be forgiven for such deception if he was exposed, but if his Honoured Master was willing to believe his words, then it wouldn’t matter what he said.
With such thoughts, a cruel light flashed past Li Xuan’s eyes as he steeled himself.
“This is what happened…”
Li Xuan may not have been very old, but he was quite articulate. In his elaboration, he came to High Heaven Palace on Ji Ying’s orders to buy Spirit Herbs, yet he was stopped outside their gates and forced to wait bitterly for several days before someone finally came to ask what he wanted. After learning his purpose, he was beaten up directly. Not only was he wounded, but he was also robbed of all the Source Crystals he was given to buy spirit herbs with.
As he spoke, it was as if he was recalling what happened that day. Li Xuan’s face went pale and his body trembled, even wiping tears from his eyes, whether true or faked, filling his listeners with grief and indignation. In the end, his speech became clearer and clearer and his voice louder and louder. His back also straightened up as if what he said really happened to him.
Ji Ying’s face was getting uglier and uglier, but Mi Qi and Li Jiao were both feeling pleased inside. They knew that the worse Li Xuan’s experience was, the bigger the trouble there would be for High Heaven Palace and Yang Kai.
“Look at what you’ve done!”
Once Li Xuan finished speaking, Mi Qi immediately jumped out and pointed at Yang Kai in a rage, “The strong bullying the weak! As an Emperor Realm Master, not only did you lay hands on a Dao Source Realm Junior, you even shamelessly robbed him! You are simply a disgrace to all cultivators in our Northern Territory!”
Yang Kai ignored him and instead looked at Li Xuan with a smile, “Are you sure there’s nothing else you want to add?”
Li Xuan’s body trembled, and he quickly hid behind Ji Ying.
“Palace Master Yang, are you threatening my disciple?” Ji Ying looked coldly at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai shrugged, “It’s not a threat, just a question.”
“So, that means you’re admitting it?”
Yang Kai frowned and looked firmly at Ji Ying, “Grandmaster Ji, do you truly believe what your disciple said?”
Ji Ying snorted, “My disciple has been under my tutelage for ten years. I watched him grow up and know his nature very well. He is definitely not the type of person to make something out of nothing.”
Yang Kai shrugged again, “In that case, nothing I say would have any meaning.”
Ji Ying grunted, “Do you have a different story to tell?”
“No, no… I just think that Grandmaster Ji’s eyes are not very good when it comes to picking disciples.”
Ji Ying narrowed his eyes, “If there is anything you want to say in your defence, I can give it a listen. But if not… then this High Heaven Palace has no need to exist anymore. You must also return with me to Medicine Pill Valley to receive punishment!”
To be able to decide the fate of a top Sect with just mere words, only a Legacy Disciple of Wondrous Pill Great Emperors had such rights.
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes, “I am not guilty of anything!”
Ji Ying said, “Showing no regard for my Honoured Master, Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, and looking down on all the Alchemists in this world are your greatest sins!”
Yang Kai raised his voice, “If all disciples of the Wondrous Pill Great Emperor are as rotten as you are, and as cunning as Li Xuan, then this Palace Master really does not have any regard for him. And what of Medicine Pill Valley? Your so-called holy land is clearly nothing more than a cesspool of wanton wastes and degenerates!”
Ji Ying’s face changed dramatically, “Impudence!”
Yang Kai looked at him with disdain, “I’m impudent, and so what? Come and bite me if you have the ability to do so!”
“You…” Ji Ying pointed his finger at Yang Kai. He really wanted to go up and bite him to death, but despite having Second-Order Emperor Realm cultivation, he was ultimately an Alchemist. He had very little experience fighting people, so he could not take that risk.
Eyes sweeping to the side, Mi Qi and Li Jiao understood and both pushed their Emperor Qi in preparation to pounce.
At that moment, three astonishing Monster Qi auras suddenly erupted. Three figures flickered in from outside the hall, standing in front of Mi Qi and Li Jiao.
“You want to make a move? Try it if you dare!” Xi Lei cracked his fists as he looked darkly at the men before him.
Mi Qi and Li Jiao were both shocked and instantly froze in place, both feeling on edge.
Even though they knew that there were Monster Race Masters in High Heaven Palace, and that these Masters were involved in the destruction of Seeking Passion Sect, they never thought that there would actually be three Monster Kings here!
In a two against three, they had no chance of winning. Not to mention, there was still that girl called Qing’er among their ranks.
That woman was able to send Mi Qi flying with a single punch, so her strength could only be greater than these three Monster Kings!
This place was a dragon cave and tiger den all in one!
Where did High heaven Palace find all these incredible Masters? With this level of heritage, they were almost on par with a Great Emperor Sect, only lacking a Great Emperor to assume command.
Ji Ying felt chills over his body at that moment. How many years had it been since he last encountered such danger? The Monster Qi rolling over him was almost suffocating, but he was still the disciple of a Great Emperor after all and his mental strength and cultivation were not just for show. Though his expression turned grave, he did not panic.
“What are your intentions here?” Ji Ying looked gravely at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai responded, “Nothing at all. Since Grandmaster Ji is willing to believe what his disciple says, this Palace Master thinks it is useless to argue, so I won’t bother with petty words. Instead, let me show you something interesting.”
“Something interesting?” Ji Ying frowned, having no idea what Yang Kai was up to.
Yang Kai clapped his hands and looked out the hall, “Come in!”
Everyone looked over in unison, only to see a man walk in from the outside before standing in the middle of the hall and cupping his fists, “Greetings, Palace Master!”
“En!” Yang Kai nodded lightly.
“You…”
“Grandmaster Nanmen! What are you doing here?”
Mi Qi and Li Jiao both stared wide-eyed at Nanmen Da Jun who had just entered, unable to believe their eyes.
As Sect Masters of two of the top Sects in the Northern Territory, they naturally had dealings with Nanmen Da Jun before. They knew that this man was highly accomplished in the Dao of Spirit Arrays, his achievements only matched by his aloof and arrogant character. They had tried in the past to recruit Nanmen Da Jun into their Sects, but never had any success.
When they saw Nanmen Da Jun here, treating Yang Kai with such respect, it felt a little unreal to both Mi Qi and Li Jiao.
Was this really that Nanmen Da Jun they knew? To think he could actually bow down to another person of his own free will.
“I am now the Chief Array Master of High Heaven Palace. Why shouldn’t I be here?” Nanmen Da Jun glanced at the two men.
“Chief Array Master!”
“Grandmaster Nanmen, you… Ai!”
Li Jiao and Mi Qi were both shocked and a little disappointed to hear this. They had tried many times to recruit Nanmen Da Jun, but they were always rejected by him. How long had this High Heaven Palace been established yet they actually managed to rope him in? What sort of tricks did that damn Yang Kai use to achieve this?
Yang Kai just smiled lightly and continued, “Grandmaster Nanmen, bring that thing out.”
“Yes!” Nanmen Da Jun answered and suddenly took out several Array Flags from his Space Ring, placing them in a neat arrangement before him.
In just a few moments, a Spirit Array was laid down. However, the crowd was confused and had no idea what he was trying to show them by arranging this Spirit Array.
Nanmen Da Jun took out another item from his Space Ring next, one that looked like a mirror but strangely did not show any kind of reflection, a somewhat unsettling sight.
Holding up the mirror-like object, Nanmen Da Jun explained, “This is an item I procured in my early years. It is called the Image Recording Crystal, and just as its name suggests, it can record some images. I have no idea how it was refined despite asking several Artifact Refining Grandmasters to examine it. None of those Grandmasters were even able to tell what sort of material it is made of. I rarely use this in usual times, so please excuse me for my inadequacy.”
“Image Recording Crystal!”
“Image Recording!”
When they heard that, they vaguely understood what Nanmen Da Jun meant to do.
Li Xuan’s face paled as he stared dumbly at the Image Recording Crystal, seemingly not having expected that such an astonishing thing existed in this world.
Ji Ying frowned and sent a thoughtful glance at Li Xuan, at which point Li Xuan couldn’t help but dodge his gaze, causing Ji Ying’s face to turn even uglier.
Nanmen Da Jun tossed the Image Recording Crystal into the air and waved an Array Flag in his hand. Emperor Qi surged up and the centre of the room was suddenly shrouded. A light then shot out from that Image Recording Crystal, spreading out in all directions.
A fairly clear image emerged at the centre of the hall.
The crowd all looked over and instantly recognized the scene depicted as High Heaven Palace’s main gate. That was because a giant stone slate with the three characters, ‘High Heaven Sect’, inscribed onto it was right at the centre of the image, clear for all to see.
At that moment, four figures were present in the image.
One of them was none other than Li Xuan. Besides him, there were three women, two of which were the women who left earlier, the one called ‘Qing’er’ clearly among them.
No sound was transmitted as the Image Recording Crystal seemed to only be able to record images.
As Nanmen Da Jun fed it his Emperor Qi, the image kept on changing, as if recreating the past vividly.
In front of everyone’s eyes, Li Xuan went up to Zhu Qing with a playful smile on his face, but it was not known what was said. Zhu Qing ignored him with a cold expression on her face.
Li Xuan tried several times to take advantage of Zhu Qing following his first failed attempt, but despite her looking angrier and angrier, all she did was avoid him.
After a few moments, as Li Xuan’s actions grew more and more unruly, only then did Zhu Qing send him flying with a slap across the face.
After a while, Yang Kai suddenly appeared, and after seeming to ask a few questions, he sent a big slap across Li Xuan’s face, sending him flying with his teeth scattering into the air.
…..
The show continued on, only ending after Li Xuan left on his ship.
Nanmen Da Jun collected the Array Flags and the Image Recording Crystal before cupping his fists to Yang Kai, turning around, and leaving the hall.
Li Jiao and Mi Qi both looked at Li Xuan with strange looks in their eyes, their expressions a mix of anger and amusement.
They learned just how strong Zhu Qing was earlier, so they naturally understood that even they were no match for her, yet this Li Xuan actually dared to profane her. It was the great blessings of all his ancestors that Li Xuan was let off with just a slap on the cheek. If he were not protected by his identity as a Medicine Pill Valley disciple, he would have been turned into a blood mist back then.
But even more abominably, this boy actually dared to slander Yang Kai, not only accusing him of beating him, but also of snatching away his Source Crystals. Now that they had been led here, muddle-headed by his trickery, it was hard for them to even think of getting out of this unscathed.
Ji Ying’s eyes were set ablaze as he turned around to glare at Li Xuan, a face filled with disappointment and sadness.
“Master, I was wrong, this disciple was wrong! I ask Master to please punish this disciple!” Li Xuan fell to his knees.
With the image recorded by that Image Recording Crystal, he knew it was useless to quibble. The only thing he could do now was quickly admit to his wrongs and hope that Ji Ying would take their bond as Master and Disciple into account and not punish him too harshly.
“I didn’t expect you to be such a person.” Ji Ying was so angry and upset with Li Xuan that he instinctually raised his hand at him. He really did not expect his cherished disciple that appeared so well-behaved and sensible in front of him would actually dare to act so disgracefully and deceitfully. It was extremely disappointing.
“Master!” Li Xuan was shocked and quickly crouched down on the ground with his hands covering his head.
Yet the slap he expected never came down.
After a long time, Ji Ying let out a long sigh and put his hand down, calmly declaring, “Leave.”
Li Xuan raised his head and looked at Ji Ying in shock.
“From now on, you are no longer my, Ji Ying’s, disciple, nor are you a disciple of Medicine Pill Valley. If you dare try to use Medicine Pill Valley’s name in the future for malicious gains, then I will not forgive you!” Ji Ying said with a flick of his sleeve.
“Master…” Only then did Li Xuan begin to panic. He knew that Ji Ying was really going to expel himself from the Sect this time. As a disciple of Medicine Pill Valley, he had gained many benefits and had a bright future ahead of him, so how could he be willing to leave? If he really were to be exiled by Medicine Pill Valley, then there would probably be no place for him in the vast Northern Territory.
“Say one more word and I’ll kill you!” Ji Ying did not look at him. His expression was firm, determined to drive him out of Medicine Pill Valley.
Ji Ying was regretful. He regretted not being able to see right from wrong, for believing a cunning villain like Li Xuan who told such outrageous lies. If he allowed Li Xuan to remain in Medicine Pill Valley, there was no telling just how much damage he would bring to Medicine Pill Valley in the future. If his own Honoured Master, Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, had his name tarnished as a result, there would be no redemption Ji Ying could hope for!
Li Xuan wanted to plead for mercy, but how could he dare to say anything more after hearing such a threat?
The Senior Brother next to him directed a serious look at him at that moment, and only then did Li Xuan stand up with tears in his eyes and rush out of the hall.
The hall fell silent for a while, with only the sound of Yang Kai drinking tea to be heard.
Only after a long time did Ji Ying manage to compose himself and mutter self-deprecatingly, “It seems that Palace Master Yang was right. This Ji truly does not have an eye for disciples.”
Yang Kai responded indifferently, “If it weren’t for Grandmaster Nanmen’s Image Recording Crystal, then I’m afraid this Palace Master would not have been able to defend himself today.”
If he and Li Xuan were to confront each other with only words, neither side having proof of their stories, Ji Ying would definitely choose to believe Li Xuan and not him. If the accusations of him looking down on Medicine Pill Valley, and even beating and robbing one of its disciples were to become set in stone, how could High Heaven Palace still establish itself in the Northern Territory?
Knowing that he must feel wronged, Ji Ying cupped his fists, “Today’s incident came as a surprise to this Ji. I was deceived by the words of that villain, and I hope Palace Master Yang will not blame me for this mistake. This Ji deeply apologizes to Palace Master Yang.”
After saying that, he stood up and bowed to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai remained seated and answered, “Grandmaster Ji is polite. Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, then it is no longer a problem.”
Ji Ying said, “Palace Master Yang is magnanimous. This Ji is ashamed.” But after a pause, he added, “But there is one thing that this Ji must say.”
Yang Kai looked at him, “Please speak.”
“Since this Ji has come today, then I can consider what Palace Master Yang said before as just words out of anger, nothing to complain about. But if Palace Master Yang were to meet my Senior Brothers in the future, please do not say such words again.”
“Say what?” Yang Kai frowned.
“Words of contempt for our Medicine Pill Valley!” Ji Ying said justly.
Yang Kai suddenly remembered what he said about Medicine Pill Valley…
Smiling brightly, he said, “I’ll remember it!” Indeed, he had spoken out of anger at that time.
Ji Ying said seriously, “As an Alchemist, my goal may not be to pursue the Martial Dao, but what I cultivate is still one of the Grand Daos, and the only one to ascend to the height of Great Emperor by pursuing the Alchemic Dao throughout the ages is my Honoured Master. Medicine Pill Valley is widely regarded as a cultivation paradise and hallowed ground for all cultivators in the Northern Territory. If someone with ill intentions were to spread what Palace Master Yang said today, it would undoubtedly offend all Alchemists in the Star Boundary. How would Palace Master Yang still be able to ask for someone to refine pills in the future if that happened?”
Mi Qi and Li Jiao’s eyes lit up at these words as they began devising plans in their hearts, thinking about whether they should spread what Yang Kai said and make him an enemy of all Alchemists.
Yang Kai, however, just laughed and replied, “I don’t need to ask for anyone’s help for that. This Palace Master can handle it himself.”
Ji Ying was stunned, looking at Yang Kai in amazement, “Could it be that Palace Master Yang is an Alchemist as well?”
Even Mi Qi and Li Jiao were wide-eyed in disbelief, as if they had just heard something astonishing.
Yang Kai nodded, “I know a thing or two about Alchemy.”
Ji Ying couldn’t help but be intrigued, “May I ask what grade Palace Master Yang had managed to achieve?”
Yang Kai stroked his chin, “If I can refine Emperor Grade pills, what grade would I be?”
“What?” Ji Ying was shocked. If he could refine Emperor Grade Spirit Pills, didn’t that make him an Emperor Alchemist? How many Emperor Alchemists were there in the entire Star Boundary? Don’t look at how he and his fellow brothers had already reached this level. Naturally, Wondrous Pill Great Emperor had high standards when it came to accepting disciples, so after so many years of his personal instruction, would it not prove that Wondrous Pill Great Emperor had a bad eye for disciples if Ji Ying and his Senior Disciples weren’t even able to achieve that much?
They were them, and others were others. Besides them, all the Emperor Alchemists added up in the Star Boundary probably wouldn’t exceed twenty.
Ji Ying was shocked to suddenly hear that Yang Kai was able to refine Emperor Grade Spirit Pills.
Very soon though, his face darkened again and he said with some displeasure, “I hope Palace Master Yang isn’t making a crass joke.”
How could Emperor Grade Spirit Pills be so easy to refine? Only an Emperor Alchemist was able to refine Emperor Grade Spirit Pills! If just anyone could become an Emperor Alchemist, then their status in the Star Boundary wouldn’t be so high.
Yang Kai clearly didn’t look old, so he could already be considered a heaven-defying genius to be able to raise his cultivation to the Emperor Realm. How could he have had any time to study the profound Alchemic Dao as well? That was how Ji Ying concluded that Yang Kai was purely speaking nonsense.
This was simply an insult to all Alchemists and a scorn to the Alchemic Dao!
Sure enough, this man had no regard for Alchemists. Though his unfilial disciple Li Xuan had flipped white and black, fabricating lies, it seemed he was not wrong on this point.
Ji Ying was so annoyed that he wanted to just flick his sleeves and leave, but he had misunderstood Yang Kai once before out of anger, so it would be extremely embarrassing to just get up and leave now.
However, the gloominess on his face was apparent to all.
“Grandmaster Ji doesn’t believe me?” Yang Kai looked at Ji Ying.
Ji Ying grunted.
[Don’t believe me then!] Yang Kai chuckled. He was a genuine Emperor Alchemist, and there was no need for him to prove himself to anyone. However, after thinking of something, he suddenly raised a brow and proposed, “Since Grandmaster Ji doesn’t believe me, do you dare to make a bet with me?”
“A bet?” Ji Ying frowned, “A bet on what?”
“A bet on whether this Palace Master is an Emperor Alchemist or not!” Yang Kai smiled.
Ji Ying’s frown deepened even further. He couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious of how confident Yang Kai was acting. Could he really be an Emperor Alchemist? If it was true, that would be quite astonishing.
Anyone who could become an Emperor Alchemist deserved his attention, and this did make Ji Ying somewhat curious. He now began wanting to know whether it was true or not.
“What are we betting with?”
“Let me think…” Yang Kai stroked his chin thoughtfully, looking left and right for a moment before clapping his hands and saying, “Right! My High Heaven Palace has just been founded and obviously, there are hundreds of things waiting to be done at times like these. Right now, we have a Chief Array Master, but we just so happen to be missing a Chief Alchemist. If Grandmaster Ji loses, how about becoming the Chief Alchemist of my High Heaven Palace?”
When Mi Qi and Li Jiao heard this, they were both shocked and shouted, “Grandmaster Ji, you must not trust him!”
“You can’t take the bet against him!”
High Heaven Palace was difficult enough to deal with as it was, but if Ji Ying really became their Chief Alchemist and they manage to build a relationship with Medicine Pill Valley, then no one would be able to stop High Heaven Palace in the Northern Territory in the future. Both their Full Sky Sect and Fire Dragon Palace could only bow down to High Heaven Palace in order to survive.
Neither Mi Qi nor Li Jiao wanted to see that happen.
Xi Lei glared at them, “Shut your mouths!”
Even though Mi Qi and Li Jiao both felt disgraced, they really didn’t dare to speak again.
Ji Ying was stunned, but then he laughed and said, “So, this is the plan that Palace Master Yang has in mind?”
Yang Kai chuckled, “So, does Grandmaster Ji dare to take the bet?”
Ji Ying responded, “This Ji’s bet is to become the Chief Alchemist of your High Heaven Palace. Then, may I ask what Palace Master Yang Kai’s bet is?”
Yang Kai answered readily, “If I am not an Emperor Alchemist, then Grandmaster Ji can ask for whatever he pleases! This Palace Master will have no complaints.”
Ji Ying’s face froze. Yang Kai’s words made him realize that he was not just talking nonsense, but really had something to back up his confidence, and that was undoubtedly his identity as an Emperor Alchemist.
[He’s really an Emperor Alchemist?]
Ji Ying was already convinced at this point, but was still a little shocked.
To have cultivated to the Emperor Realm at such a young age, where did he find the time to cultivate the Alchemic Dao? He himself was an Emperor Alchemist and knew all the hardships of walking on this Grand Dao. Naturally, Ji Ying could appreciate the rarity of an Emperor Alchemist.
After thinking seriously for a while, Ji Ying shook his head, “No. Palace Master Yang’s gambling method is not appropriate. This bet is far too unfavourable to this Ji.”
Whether Yang Kai was an Emperor Alchemist or not was a fact only he himself knew, so if Ji Yin really made this bet with him, then he would be too much of a fool. He would gain nothing by winning, and would be falling into a trap if he were to lose. Ji Ying wasn’t stupid to such an extent yet.
“Does Grandmaster Ji not dare to take the bet?” Yang Kai smiled.
Ji Ying shook his head, “There is no need to try and provoke this Ji. This Ji will not be fooled.”
The more Yang Kai tried to urge him on, the more he felt that Yang Kai was trying to trap him. If he lost, then he would have to become this High Heaven Palace’s Chief Alchemist. When that happened, how could he still live a free life?
Even though Alchemy was as simple to him as eating and drinking, he was still the Legacy Disciple of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, so how could he become the hired Alchemist of another Sect? Not to mention how exhausting it would be to have to refine pills for such a large Sect.
Yang Kai scratched his chin, “In that case… Why don’t we change the bet itself?”
Ji Ying frowned, “What is Palace Master Yang planning now?” He instinctively felt that it must not be good.
Yang Kai said, “The stakes remain the same, but Grandmaster Ji and I will have an Alchemy competition, refining the same type of pill. We will compete to see who can refine the most Spirit Pills with the highest quality!”
Ji Ying was shocked and stared wide-eyed at him, “You… You want to compete with me in Alchemy?”
Did he hear that right? Someone actually wanted to challenge him, a disciple of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor, to an Alchemy match?
Both Mi Qi and Li Jiao had strange expressions on their faces as they observed Yang Kai seriously, checking to see whether this guy was touched in the head.
They could have bet on anything, but he actually wanted to gamble with Ji Ying on this. Wasn’t he just asking to lose?
“That’s right, let’s compete in the Alchemic Dao!” Yang Kai nodded lightly and said in provocation, “Grandmaster Ji wouldn’t lack the guts to accept even this, right?”
Ji Ying’s face darkened, “Palace Master Yang, this Ji can discipline his unfilial Disciple for confusing rights and wrongs, and this Ji admits his wrongs and has apologized to you, but seeing how Palace Master Yang can found a Sect, he can’t be such a narrow-minded person, can he? For you to repeatedly try and make things difficult for this Ji, are you intent on humiliating this Ji on this day?”
If Yang Kai’s bet with him on whether or not he was an Emperor Alchemist, it was still acceptable, but his current proposition to hold an Alchemy competition was clearly too foolish. Ji Ying felt that Yang Kai was deliberately trying to provoke him and give him trouble.
Yang Kai shook his head and said seriously, “Nonsense. I sincerely wish to be able to compete with Grandmaster Ji in the Alchemic Dao, and I also hope that Grandmaster Ji can become the Chief Alchemist of my High Heaven Palace once everything is settled!”
Ji Ying was furious to hear that response and snapped, “You think you can win against me?”
His earlier displeasure had completely turned into anger now. Yang Kai wasn’t just trying to make trouble for him, but was clearly insulting him. What made him think he could make him into the Chief Alchemist of High Heaven Palace? And that was all based on whether he won this competition or not.
He had been studying the Alchemic Dao from his Honoured Master for so many years. In fact, his Honoured Master was the one who taught him everything he knew. To humiliate him was no different from humiliating his Honoured Master! How could Ji Ying tolerate this? He had felt some guilt towards Yang Kai over what happened with Li Xuan, but now that guilt was gone, instead replaced with fury.
Yang Kai slowly got up and took a step forward, smiling, “Does Grandmaster Ji dare to bet with me or not?”
Ji Ying’s eyes were burning with rage. He was so angry that he didn’t even know what to say anymore.
But as if he did not see this, Yang Kai continued, “If Grandmaster Ji doesn’t dare to take the bet, then forget it. Just pretend this Palace Master never said such a thing.”
“Why wouldn’t I dare!” Ji Ying slammed the table and jumped to his feet. Someone was challenging him to his face in his most prided of expertise, so how could Ji Ying endure this? If Yang Kai wanted to bet with him in a life-or-death battle, Ji Ying would endure the insult and refuse; after all, he rarely fought. However, now that the Alchemic Dao was involved, Ji Ying had to take this bet whether he wanted to or not. For the sake of his reputation, for the sake of Medicine Pill Valley’s reputation, and the reputation of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor! He needed to make sure that anyone who dared do something so outrageous would pay the price.
“Good!” Yang Kai clapped his hands joyfully.
“But the stakes must be changed!” Ji Ying coldly snorted.
“How do you want it changed?” Yang Kai raised a brow.
Ji Ying pointed a finger at Yang Kai, “If this Ji wins, then this Ji will have Palace Master Yang’s head.”
[If you dare bet with me in Alchemy, then let’s play for high stakes! We’ll see if you’re afraid now or not.]
No one would be indifferent when his or her life was involved, so Ji Ying thought that Yang Kai would panic after he asked for his head, but unexpectedly, Yang Kai nodded after only a brief thought, “Sure. Let’s go with what Grandmaster Ji says.”
“You…” Ji Ying was stunned as the flames of anger inside of him raged even hotter.
How many years had it been since he had been this angry? He did not actually want Yang Kai to die, he just wanted to scare him a bit. Who knew that this impudent man would actually accept the bet without even so much as a change to his face?
Was he really so confident that he could win? How could that be? Even as Emperor Alchemists, there would naturally be differences in their level of Alchemy techniques. The only Emperor Alchemists in this world who could defeat him in an Alchemy competition were his few Senior Brothers and Senior Sister.
“Outrageous!” Ji Ying had never met anyone as hateful as Yang Kai in his life. There should be a limit to how much one could mock him!
A face full of anger, Ji Ying shouted, “Palace Master Yang, do you want to change your wager as well? You can take this Ji’s life as well if you wish to.”
Yang Kai laughed, “The only thing I want is for Grandmaster Ji to become the Chief Alchemist of my High Heaven Palace. What would I need your life for?”
“Then that will depend on whether you have the ability!” Ji Ying flicked his sleeve in anger.
“Now that the stakes are set, let’s discuss what kind of Spirit Pill we should refine,” Yang Kai looked to Ji Ying.
“Palace Master Yang can decide. This Ji does not mind one way or the other.” There was extreme confidence backing his words, as if he did not care at all what sort of Spirit Pill Yang Kai wanted to refine.
But he did have such qualifications. After refining pills for so many years, what sort of Spirit Pill had he not refined before? Though he had not refined the Dragon Blood Pill before, it was only because he had never obtained a Dragon Blood Flower.
“Then… Let’s go with the Emperor Yuan Pill,” Yang Kai quickly gave his answer after thinking for a while.
Ji Ying looked up at Yang Kai and said solemnly, “Is Palace Master Yang sure that he wants to refine the Emperor Yuan Pill? Even though the Emperor Yuan Pill is one of the easiest Emperor Grade Spirit Pills to refine, it is also one of the Spirit Pills that is used to test one’s comprehension of the Alchemic Dao. Why not change it to a Dao Source Grade Spirit Pill instead?”
[This guy really is an Emperor Alchemist!]
Ji Ying was sure of that fact as soon as Yang Kai made that suggestion. Even though the Emperor Yuan Pill was one of the most common and easiest Emperor Grade Spirit Pills to refine, only an Emperor Alchemist was able to refine it. Moreover, it was one of the pills most commonly used to assess the level of skill of an Alchemist.
Just like in cooking, the simpler the dish, the easier it would be to see the skill of the chef that cooked it. The same reasoning applied to Alchemy. Even with the same ingredients, an average Emperor Alchemist may only be able to refine three or four Emperor Yuan Pills. However, Ji Ying was certain he could refine nine pills!