Chapter 81: Grandmaster of the Dao of Alchemy
Outside Huiyue City.
Shuang'er led Xiao Chen and Elder Yao along a rugged mountain path to a hidden camp.
Several gray-brown tents were scattered about. Around the campfire, members of the Plant Spirit Clan sat in vigilance, casting wary and curious looks at the strangers.
In the center clearing, heaps of herbs were neatly stacked and sorted, while several clan members busied themselves processing newly gathered plants.
"Second Uncle, I am back." Shuang'er lifted the flap of the central tent.
Xiao Chen and Elder Yao followed her inside.
Within, a stern-faced youth abruptly rose. "Shuang'er! Who told you to bring outsiders here?" His sharp gaze swept over Xiao Chen, his tone harsh. "Do you know what time this is? You still dare stir up trouble?"
"This Young Master Xiao is willing to buy all our herbs," Shuang'er hurriedly explained, "and at a fair price, far better than Moonflower Pavilion—"
"Silence!" the youth cut her off sharply. "What do you know? Uncle is negotiating with Moonflower Pavilion's steward. If you disrupt things now, the entire clan will suffer!"
"But if not for Moonflower Pavilion's oppression, these herbs would already be sold out."
"When we are the fish and they hold the knife, what choice do I have?"
…
"Wait."
Stopping the siblings' quarrel, Xiao Chen folded his arms and spoke evenly. "What price did Moonflower Pavilion offer?"
The youth's eyes flickered. "That… that is clan secrecy. I cannot reveal it."
"Secrecy?" Shuang'er suddenly stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Brother, I personally saw them forcefully buy a Nine-Leaf Lingzhi yesterday with only ten low-grade spirit stones! Is that the 'good price' you speak of?"
Murmurs drifted from outside the tent. Several clan members had gathered quietly, their expressions conflicted.
The youth's face darkened. "You… what do you understand! Moonflower Pavilion promised us future protection, and even to grant us a plot of herb fields outside Huiyue City—"
"And then?" Shuang'er sneered, flipping open a basket at the tent's corner. Inside lay several Dragonblood Ginsengs, glowing with rich spiritual essence. "These herbs, in past years, would fetch at least four hundred mid-grade spirit stones each from the imperial merchants. At auction, even five hundred mid-grade stones. How much did you sell them for? Thirty? Fifty?"
"We…" The youth faltered, cold sweat breaking on his forehead.
Just then, urgent footsteps approached outside.
An elder with graying hair rushed in, several disciples in Moonflower Pavilion robes following behind.
"Shuang'er! Who allowed you—" The elder's angry roar cut off midway as his eyes locked on the alchemist's jade token at Elder Yao's waist. Eight golden patterns glimmered brilliantly in the dusk.
"An eighth-grade Grandmaster of the Dao of Alchemy?!" He blurted out in shock.
On the Xuanying Continent, alchemists were truly transcendent figures.
The Dao of Alchemy was vast as the abyss. To even glimpse its threshold was one in ten thousand.
Alchemists were divided into nine grades by mastery. Each advance required immense trials and resources.
Low-grade alchemists (first to third grade) could refine basic pills. Though not rare, they were honored in small and medium forces. Pills like Qi Gathering Pills and Healing Powder were indispensable for cultivators.
Mid-grade alchemists (fourth to fifth grade) could craft wondrous elixirs. A Barrier-Breaking Pill to shatter bottlenecks, a Life-Extending Pill to lengthen lifespan. Such figures were honored guests in sects, and their pills were nearly unattainable.
High-grade alchemists (sixth to seventh grade) were true treasures. A seventh-grade alchemist could refine Marrow-Washing Pills to reshape bone roots, or Spirit-Consolidating Pills to aid comprehension of the Dao. These alchemists were nurtured with utmost effort by major sects, rarely revealed to outsiders.
Above them stood the eighth grade and beyond—the Grandmasters of the Dao of Alchemy!
Grandmasters grasped the essence of alchemy, able to refine legendary Heaven-rank pills with a mere thought. The Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill could revive flesh from bones, while the Creation Pill could reshape meridians and even help Longevity Realm experts break shackles. Each furnace birthed would incite bloody wars.
Yet across the entire Xuanying Continent, fewer than twenty such grandmasters existed. Each was a cornerstone of a supreme power, enjoying unmatched status.
"As expected, you are a true expert."
Elder Yao, seeing his identity exposed, smiled with reserved pride.
This token was not a simple ornament. The rank of Grandmaster of the Dao of Alchemy, though not recorded on the Heavenly Stele, was acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao itself, marked upon the soul, impossible to counterfeit.
Though a Grandmaster of the Dao of Alchemy usually lacked combat strength, their connections were what truly inspired fear. It was said that once, a man offended such a grandmaster, and three Saint Venerates personally struck together, erasing him to dust in an instant.
The entire camp fell into dead silence.
Everyone was shaken by Elder Yao's revealed identity as an eighth-grade Grandmaster of the Dao of Alchemy. Shuang'er's cousin in particular flushed red to the ears, cold sweat beading on his forehead, his lips trembling as he found himself unable to utter a single word.
Xiao Chen quietly leaned closer to Elder Yao, lowering his voice. "Elder Yao, with such an incredible identity, why didn't you reveal it earlier?"
Elder Yao stroked his beard and murmured just as softly, "Truth be told… my heart wavers as well. I don't know if it will still work."
He paused, his tone subtle. "After all, I was once but a remnant soul, dead for countless years. I don't know whether this token… still carries weight."
And as if to confirm his words, at that moment—
"Hahaha!" A wild laugh suddenly rang out, breaking the heavy silence.
Everyone turned to see a youth in Moonflower Pavilion robes walking forward. Golden cloud patterns were embroidered on his garments, and a jade token hung at his waist—it was also an alchemist's token.
Yet it bore only six golden patterns.
Even so, his eyes were sharp, his mouth curved with mocking disdain as he stared directly at Elder Yao.
"What audacity!" the youth sneered. "How dare you impersonate a Grandmaster of the Dao of Alchemy?"
He raised his hand, channeling light into his jade token. At once, six golden patterns gleamed in the sunlight—six golden dragons in various forms.
"Look closely, everyone!" the youth declared. "The true alchemist's token bears dragon patterns, symbolizing the supreme majesty of the Dao of Alchemy! But this man's token has carvings of flowers, birds, insects, and fish!"
The crowd immediately glanced at Elder Yao's waist, and indeed saw what the youth claimed.
His gaze sharpened like a blade, pinning Elder Yao. "Who are you really? To forge the identity of a Grandmaster of the Dao of Alchemy—courting death!"
An uproar broke out!
Shuang'er's cousin, who had kept his head bowed, suddenly lifted it, suspicion flickering in his eyes. The Moonflower Pavilion disciples straightened their backs at once, arrogance returning to their faces.
Xiao Chen felt his chest tighten, his hand instinctively gripping his sword hilt.
But Elder Yao remained calm, only letting out a gentle sigh. "Ah, as expected… times have changed."
Slowly raising his head, his gaze grew deep, as if piercing through the youth before him to a far distant past.
"You are right. This token… does not belong to the present era." Elder Yao smiled faintly. "Because it comes from—the flourishing age of alchemy tens of thousands of years ago!"
Before the words had even faded, his fingertip tapped the token. In an instant, the eight golden patterns burst into dazzling radiance. The flowers, birds, insects, and fish seemed to come alive, weaving together in the void to form the phantom of an ancient pill furnace!
"This… this is…" The youth's pupils shrank violently.
Elder Yao clasped his hands behind his back, his robe billowing though no wind blew. His aged voice boomed like a great bell, shaking the hearts of all.
"When this old man stood as an eighth-grade Grandmaster, your Moonflower Pavilion's founding ancestor was still in his mother's womb!"
…
"So it turns out you are a great master from the ancient era. My respects, my respects!" The youth's face paled with shock, then turned reverent.
Elder Yao nodded proudly. "At least you know your place. Now then, what do you propose regarding the Plant Spirit Clan's herbs?"
"As such a venerable ancient Grandmaster, of course our Moonflower Pavilion shall—"
But then the youth's lips curled into a smile.
"All of them. We'll take them all."
"What?!" Elder Yao was startled.
The youth's smile widened until he finally burst into laughter. "Hahaha… old fool… I was merely humoring you. Surely you didn't think I was serious?"
…
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