Ye Qin remained in the Pill Refining Chamber for over a month more, only emerging after successfully crafting more than ten Core-Forming Infant Pills.
He was now entirely confident in the level of his alchemy, having reached the middle stage of a Minor Divine Ability Alchemist Master. Refining a Tenth-Order spiritual elixir like the Core-Forming Infant Pill yielded a success rate of roughly fifty percent.
Huangfu Bing'er completed her seclusion cultivation within the manor that day.
“Bing'er, how has your cultivation progressed during these past months of seclusion?”
“Mmm. I have reached the peak of the seventh layer of the Golden Core stage. I just need to consolidate this level before attempting the eighth layer. Hmm, what is that scent?”
Huangfu Bing'er nestled into Ye Qin’s embrace, her delicate nose twitching. She detected a peculiar, medicinal fragrance emanating from Ye Qin—an indescribable feeling, as if there were a lively, potent herbal aura. This scent was unlike the medicinal fragrance she carried; his was far more vibrant.
Moreover, she quickly noticed that Ye Qin’s temperament seemed softer and more refined. Having been with Ye Qin constantly, she was acutely aware of subtle shifts. Her eyes immediately lit up with realization, and she exclaimed with pleasant surprise, “Husband, your cultivation hasn't increased much—could it be that you’ve broken through to the Divine Alchemist Master realm?”
“Indeed, you are correct! I have now broken through to the Divine Alchemist Master realm and can refine Eleventh-Order and higher spiritual elixirs.”
Seeing Huangfu Bing'er intrigued by the medicinal scent on him, Ye Qin offered a wry smile. He had already washed himself several times using water-elemental purification spells inside the refining chamber, yet that faint, lingering herbal fragrance refused to leave. Fortunately, as an alchemist, carrying a scent of medicine was hardly a liability.
He then recounted the matter of the Medicine Spirit to her in detail.
This rare and elusive Medicine Spirit greatly astonished Huangfu Bing'er.
Huangfu Bing'er nodded slightly. “If Husband can refine Eleventh-Order and higher elixirs, the progress on the warship should also accelerate significantly! Over these past twenty years, we’ve had to invest twenty to thirty million low-grade spirit stones annually into the vessel. The expenses for other cultivation pursuits are also considerable. Tenth-Order and higher elixirs refined by a Divine Alchemist Master can be sold to Nascent Soul cultivators, which will definitely yield far more spirit stones than selling to Golden Core cultivators!”
“That is naturally so.”
Ye Qin smiled and nodded. In truth, a large portion of the spirit stones earned from selling elixirs was being stockpiled, reserved for planting the Ghost Lotus seeds in the Mu Residence and preparations for future major conflicts. One needed to remember that a warship wasn't merely built and finished; it relied on spirit stones for propulsion. The ten light bombardment cannons mounted on the warship consumed vast quantities of spirit stones with every shot fired. Flight required spirit stones. Activating the protective barrier also demanded spirit stones. Without sufficient reserves, the warship was merely a giant, powerful shell of a magical artifact, completely unusable.
Despite breaking through the Minor Divine Ability Alchemist realm, Ye Qin still maintained his secluded practice within the Ye Residence; little seemed to have changed externally. The only difference was that when he occasionally visited the market to sell elixirs, the Tenth-Order pills formed the majority of his offerings.
One day, in Linhai City.
Suddenly, a contingent of several hundred Golden Core City Guards descended, cordoning off the entire street block where the Ye Residence was situated, forbidding any unauthorized cultivators from entering or exiting. These guards manned all access points, their expressions cold, their gazes icy, exchanging no pleasantries. The contingent of Golden Core guards was led by several Nascent Soul cultivators.
The cultivators residing nearby witnessed this and were immediately astonished, unable to fathom the reason.
“What is happening? Why the sudden lockdown of the street block?!”
“Are they perhaps apprehending a fugitive cultivator?”
“Who knows!”
“Led by Nascent Soul cultivators—this indicates a mission of the highest protocol! It looks like someone very important has arrived.”
The surrounding cultivators murmured in shock, but none dared to provoke the City Guards. This was because Linhai City belonged to the jurisdiction of both the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Demonic Alliance. The City Guards here reported directly to these two Immortal Alliances. Ordinary cultivators would never dare to provoke these two great Immortal Alliances.
Not long after, a large, luxurious conveyance, drawn by nine Tenth-Order Green Luan birds, arrived in Linhai City. It appeared at the strictly controlled street section and halted directly outside the gate of the Ye Residence. A conveyance pulled by nine Nascent Soul-level spiritual birds was enough to shock all of Linhai City. Such a vehicle was typically reserved for the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Dao Alliance or a supreme figure within the Demonic Alliance.
“My Lord Leader, we have arrived!”
The driver of the Green Luan conveyance was a middle-aged cultivator with mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation.
“Hmm.”
An elderly man, clad in a simple grey robe, his hair entirely white, his face lined with many wrinkles, yet possessing a gentle and peaceful countenance, descended from the conveyance. Although the elder appeared amiable, his gaze carried an indescribable majesty. The powerful spiritual pressure emanating from a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator made the lower-ranked cultivators nearby feel suffocated.
“We welcome Alliance Leader Yu!”
“As per the Leader’s instructions, the surrounding five li radius has been sealed off; no unauthorized cultivators will be present.” Several Nascent Soul City Guards leading the cordon, along with the multitude of Golden Core guards, paid their respects.
“I have a matter to attend to here. You all wait outside.”
“Yes!”
Inside the Ye Residence, Ye Qin was still cultivating in seclusion.
Suddenly, his brow twitched, and he felt a strong premonition. A significant number of mid and late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, along with a large cohort of Golden Core cultivators, had appeared outside the manor. This colossal aggregation of spiritual pressure was intensely concentrated, enveloping the entire street block—it was impossible for him not to notice.
“Who has sealed off the several li radius surrounding the block?” Ye Qin’s expression shifted, but after a moment’s thought, he quickly calmed down. These Nascent Soul cultivators and masses of Golden Core cultivators could not possibly be here to deal with him. There would be no need for such a large deployment; a single Nascent Soul cultivator would suffice. Furthermore, this was Linhai City, governed by the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Demonic Alliance. Any major action here could not escape the notice of the two great Immortal Alliances. Anyone intending a significant undertaking in Linhai City would require prior consent from both alliances. The only plausible reason for sealing off an entire street block was that the forces involved belonged to the Heavenly Dao Alliance or the Demonic Alliance.
Ye Qin emerged from the cultivation chamber and saw Bing'er, who was equally shocked. After briefly comforting her, Ye Qin opened the manor gate only to stop, momentarily stunned by the magnificent, large conveyance parked outside.
Alliance Leader Yu of the Northern Sector of the Heavenly Dao Alliance stood at the entrance, sporting a gentle, warm smile. Behind Alliance Leader Yu stood two Nascent Soul cultivators from the White Float Palace. The rest of the Heavenly Dao Alliance City Guards maintained a respectful distance, not daring to approach.
Ye Qin had not expected Alliance Leader Yu himself to arrive; he was slightly taken aback but quickly regained his composure, bowing respectfully. “This junior, Elder Ye Qin of the Purple Sword Palace, welcomes Alliance Leader Yu! We did not anticipate the Leader’s esteemed visit; may I inquire as to the purpose of your presence?”
What shocked him was that in the span of just over twenty years, Alliance Leader Yu, who had once been on Desolate Spirit Island, had aged considerably, now appearing frail.
“This junior, Huangfu Family of the Water Cloud Palace, also welcomes Alliance Leader Yu!” Huangfu Bing'er quickly performed a curtsy.
“Heh heh, Little Elder Ye, Madam Ye, would the esteemed couple permit this humble Leader to sit within your residence for a while? The Heavenly Dao Alliance is rich in talent, and this Leader has seldom had the chance to converse with promising juniors in recent years. Today, I happen to be free, and I must have a proper chat with you both,” Alliance Leader Yu said, his face filled with gentle warmth.
“Leader, please come in,” Ye Qin replied after a brief pause.
He had never truly known Alliance Leader Yu, having only seen him from afar twice: once during the Island Seizing Assembly of the Heavenly Dao Alliance and again on the Desolate Spirit Ghost Island in the Blood Sea. They shared no personal acquaintance. Alliance Leader Yu certainly held no interest in idle chatter with a mere Golden Core cultivator. The Leader’s sudden arrival today, in his capacity as the Northern Sector Alliance Leader, genuinely surprised Ye Qin.
Ye Qin led Alliance Leader Yu and the two Nascent Soul cultivators from the White Float Palace into the rather plainly decorated reception hall, seating them according to status.
Huangfu Bing'er personally brewed and served a pot of spiritual tea.
“Little Elder Ye must be wondering why this Leader has suddenly visited your estate. You are such a young man yet hold the crucial post of Elder in the Purple Sword Immortal Palace; being intelligent, you must already have some notion of the reason.” Alliance Leader Yu took a sip of tea, smiled lightly, and dispensed with pleasantries, speaking directly.
“This junior is merely an ordinary Golden Core cultivator; it is unlikely I would draw the attention of the Alliance Leader. Although I became an Elder of the Purple Sword Palace, that was decades ago. If there is anything that necessitates the Alliance Leader making a personal trip, it must be related to spiritual elixirs,” Ye Qin pondered before speaking.
In truth, after the initial shock, he had already guessed the likely reason: it must be connected to his breakthrough to the Divine Alchemist Master realm. If he had not disclosed his breakthrough, no one would know. However, the Tenth-Order spiritual elixirs he refined had to be sold. Although he disguised himself and tried to conceal his identity while selling them, Tenth-Order and higher elixirs drew too much attention. Anyone intent on investigating would surely uncover clues. Especially a massive cultivation power like the Heavenly Dao Alliance—concealing anything from such an entity was nearly impossible, unless one fled the Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm for places like the Blood Sea to evade their scrutiny.
“Heh heh, Little Elder Ye is indeed clever. This Leader will not play games. The Heavenly Dao Alliance maintains an extremely stringent surveillance system to monitor every Alchemy Grandmaster, watching for their promotion to Divine Alchemist Master. Elder Ye Qin of the Purple Sword Palace, an Alchemy Grandmaster, was long ago recorded by the Heavenly Dao Alliance and placed under surveillance.”
“Recently, a Surveillance Elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance detected the appearance of a significant quantity of Tenth-Order spiritual elixirs in Linhai City. This Leader then dispatched personnel to investigate every Alchemy Grandmaster in Linhai City and found nothing amiss. The only Alchemy Grandmaster who remained in closed-door seclusion was you. However, this was not absolute confirmation. Later, this Leader dispatched a Divine Alchemist Master, who observed your unusual physique and confirmed it was indeed you,” Alliance Leader Yu stated calmly.
Ye Qin could only offer a bitter smile. The reach of the Heavenly Dao Alliance was indeed pervasive. He had only become a Divine Alchemist Master for less than a month, and already the highest echelon of the Heavenly Dao Alliance was monitoring him.
“Little Elder Ye need not be nervous. As an Elder of the Purple Sword Palace, you belong to the Northern Sector of our Heavenly Dao Alliance. Under this Leader’s jurisdiction within the Northern Sector, gaining another Divine Alchemist Master is a momentous occasion! The longevity of the Heavenly Dao Alliance is precisely due to the existence of Divine Alchemist Masters like you. This Leader’s visit today adheres to a custom maintained by the Heavenly Dao Alliance for hundreds of thousands of years: I personally invite every newly advanced Divine Alchemist Master to become an Honorary Elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance Central Headquarters!” Alliance Leader Yu declared with a smile.
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