The Manager only suspected that Ye Qin had hunted and killed the Silver Jiao demon cultivator, but he absolutely dared not ask Ye Qin where he had obtained the raw materials for the tenth-rank Silver Dragon.

"If Elder Ye trusts me, you can hand these refining materials over to me for processing. I will arrange for the best artifact refiners in the Pavilion to forge these magic tools for Elder Ye, with a success rate of at least ninety percent. As for the spirit stone fee required for the commission, it will be calculated based on the most favorable price given to guest elders by the Heavenly Dao Pavilion."

"Fine. Additionally, I have several large gourds containing eleventh-rank and twelfth-rank spirit pills that I refined over the past few years, which I will consign to the Heavenly Dao Pavilion for sale. As for the refining fees, you can deduct them directly from those," Ye Qin said as he took out several brilliantly shining treasure gourds from his storage pouch. The spirit pills in these gourds were ones he had refined over the years to improve his alchemy skills. Being only at the late Golden Core stage, he couldn't use pills of such a high rank himself and could only sell them.

"Feng Yi, twelfth-rank spirit pills?" Steward Wang was shocked, his hands trembling slightly, yet he dared not accept the gourds.

He recalled that just a few years prior, the spirit pills Elder Ye sold were still tenth-rank. In just a few years of absence, his alchemy had improved so rapidly that he could now refine eleventh and twelfth-rank spirit pills? He himself could not even appraise the quality of such high-level pills; they required an alchemist’s judgment.

"Elder Ye, please wait a moment. I will go find an alchemist to appraise the quality of these pills. Sales of high-rank spirit pills have been excellent recently, far exceeding supply, so these pills are sure to fetch a good price."

Stunned, Steward Wang quickly rose, intending to leave to find someone for authentication.

Just as he was about to leave the private room, he thought of Yi Shi Shān Qīng, hesitated for a moment, and then turned back to ask, "By the way, does Elder Ye perhaps have any demon cores from Silver Bream demon cultivators?"

"I have one, but my main purpose for this trip is to refine these few magic tools and obtain pills. As for that tenth-rank demon core, there is no rush to deal with it; it can wait until there is an auction later. Why does Steward Wang need a demon core?" Ye Qin said with a faint smile, not concealing anything.

"It's like this: recently, a guest elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance named Jiang has been temporarily residing here in the Pavilion to refine pills, and he needs to acquire a batch of tenth-rank demon cores. Furthermore, he specifically requested only tenth-rank demon cores—no higher, no lower. Our commercial firm's stock of tenth-rank demon cores has been nearly exhausted by him, and he is urgently searching everywhere. It happens that very few people are selling tenth-rank demon cores during this period, so we are constantly short. As you know, tenth-rank demon cores from demon cultivators aren't something one can conjure up at will! If Elder Ye happens to have one, that would be perfect. I wonder if Elder Ye would be willing to transfer this demon core?" Steward Wang was overjoyed.

"A tenth-rank demon core, used for refining spirit pills? Oh, I see. If this Elder is in urgent need of a tenth-rank demon core, I can sell this one I have to him. Is this Elder Jiang currently in the commercial firm? Could I have an audience with him?" Ye Qin was slightly surprised but quickly recovered, pondered for a moment, and nodded.

In fact, many alchemists in the East Sea favored using demon cores to refine spirit pills, especially Fierce Spirit Pills.

This was because the vast East Sea region was teeming with demon beasts, whereas the spiritual herbs grown on the various spirit islands were relatively scarce. One demon core could yield several batches of pills. Using a demon core as the primary ingredient was somewhat cheaper than using equivalent-grade spiritual herbs, saving significant expenses.

Ye Qin had always possessed an ample supply of spiritual herbs as materials, so for a long time, he exclusively used spiritual herbs as the main ingredient for refining spirit pills, rarely employing demon cores.

Alchemists like him, who only used spiritual herbs, were uncommon.

Since the other party was a guest elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance and was acquiring tenth-rank demon cores, this alchemist must also be an early-stage Grandmaster of Minor Divine Abilities in Alchemy. Otherwise, he wouldn't specify acquiring tenth-rank cores.

The term "guest residency for refining" meant the alchemist was temporarily refining pills within the commercial firm and could leave whenever they wished. That Heavenly Dao Alliance guest elder was likely staying at the Heavenly Dao Commercial Firm in Linhai City for a period to procure tenth-rank demon cores to advance his alchemy skills.

Since becoming an Alchemy Divine Master, Ye Qin hadn't encountered any other Alchemy Divine Masters from the Heavenly Dao Alliance. If he happened to meet one today, it would be a good opportunity to make an acquaintance.

"Elder Jiang has been very busy refining pills recently and rarely comes out of the firm's alchemy room." ... "However, if Elder Ye wishes to meet him, I will go and invite him over right now. You two can directly negotiate the price, which will save the Heavenly Dao Pavilion the handling fee."

Steward Wang looked troubled, but seeing Ye Qin's intent to meet Elder Jiang, he decided to make the trip and hurried out. After all, both were guest elders of the Heavenly Dao Alliance; he couldn't afford to offend either of them.

Ye Qin sipped the spiritual tea on the table, waiting quietly with Huangfu Bing'er and Bai Xiuer for a short while.

Not long after, Steward Wang returned, bringing with him a tall elder wearing a faded cyan Daoist robe, emanating the aura of alchemical fire. This elder was not only an Alchemy Divine Master but also a cultivator at the mid Nascent Soul stage; his gaze was detached, appearing aloof and arrogant.

The few serving maids at the door of the private room lowered their heads, showing extreme deference to this elder.

"Is this the one selling the tenth-rank demon core?" Upon entering the luxurious private room, this white-bearded elder swept a dismissive glance over the Golden Core cultivators present, including Ye Qin. Seeing that Ye Qin's cultivation was only late Golden Core, his expression immediately soured, and he said to Steward Wang with a grim face.

Although Elder Jiang was not offering a pleasant demeanor, Steward Wang remained extremely fawning and dared not show the slightest disrespect.

"Elder Jiang, this is Elder Ye, who intends to sell a tenth-rank demon core! As soon as I received this news, I rushed to inform you, Elder Jiang," Steward Wang said hurriedly to the white-bearded elder with an extremely humble expression.

A Nascent Soul cultivator, an Alchemy Divine Master, and a guest elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance—any one of these statuses carried considerable weight. Moreover, a cultivator possessing all three was exceptionally revered. In the East Sea, a Nascent Soul cultivator wasn't particularly rare, but a Nascent Soul cultivator who was also an Alchemy Divine Master held absolutely significant sway. The forces eager to curry favor with such a figure were legion. Even the Palace Master of any Immortal Palace in the East Sea would only be respectful and dare not offend such a cultivator.

"To buy a tenth-rank demon core, does it require me to personally come out of the alchemy room? Steward Wang, couldn't you just buy the demon core yourself!" The elder frowned, clearly dissatisfied that Steward Wang had solemnly invited him away from his refining work just to meet a late Golden Core cultivator. To him, a mere Golden Core cultivator was less important than the batch of spirit pills currently being kept warm over his flame.

"Elder Jiang, this Elder Ye is also a guest elder of the Northern Lineage of the Heavenly Dao Alliance! He also intends to sell some spirit pills of tenth rank and above... otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to invite you personally, Elder." Steward Wang quickly explained with a forced smile, then stepped aside, judging the situation and saying no more. He trusted that hearing this, Elder Jiang would realize that Elder Ye before him was worthy of a status comparable to his own.

"Heavenly Dao Alliance Guest Elder? Spirit pills of tenth rank and above!?" Only then did Elder Jiang's expression shift slightly. His gaze fell upon the few gourds containing spirit pills on the table. He waved his hand, opened one gourd, glanced inside, and then inhaled the scent of the pills. Instantly, his eyes widened in shock, and he stared intently at Ye Qin, finding it hard to believe.

He was an Alchemy Divine Master and thus fully understood the arduous path of an Alchemy Divine Master. Which cultivator could achieve such mastery without exceedingly high talent, years of painstaking refinement, and the sacrifice of hundreds of years of lifespan? Ye Qin, such a young late Golden Core cultivator, possessed alchemy skills that seemed even superior to his own. Yet, these pills were undeniably eleventh and twelfth-rank spirit pills—pills he himself could not yet refine.

Ye Qin remained perfectly calm. At this moment, he took out a black token of the Heavenly Dao Alliance Guest Elder from his storage pouch.

"So, this young friend is also a guest elder of the Northern Lineage of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. My apologies. I am Jiang Zhenyuan, formerly one of the non-affiliated elders of the White Float Palace. I became an Alchemy Divine Master over fifty years ago and was personally promoted to a guest elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance by Sect Master Yu. However, I no longer belong to the White Float Palace. Which Immortal Palace do you hail from, young friend?" Elder Jiang finally confirmed Ye Qin's identity upon seeing the black token. His expression softened, and he was no longer stern. He sat in a chair in the private room and inquired.

"Your junior is Ye Qin, a non-affiliated elder of the Violet Sword Palace, also a guest elder of the Heavenly Dao Alliance personally promoted by Sect Master Yu! Learning that Elder Jiang was temporarily refining pills here at the Heavenly Dao Pavilion today prompted me to ask Steward Wang to invite you over. I have no major business," Ye Qin replied respectfully.

"Oh, the Violet Sword Palace! Palace Master Zhou Yu of the Violet Sword Palace is a man of great talent and vision, always highly regarded by Sect Master Yu. Perhaps the White Float Palace will rely on the Violet Sword Palace for support in the future. Palace Master Zhou has good judgment; bringing you in as an elder early on was probably the investment that cost him the least but yielded the greatest return." Elder Jiang smiled faintly and then asked, "Elder Ye, how long have you been promoted to Alchemy Divine Master?"

"About several years."

"Several years? Then... what about the twelfth-rank spirit pills in these gourds?"

"It was a stroke of luck. When refining a tenth-rank pill, I accidentally produced an Alchemical Dao Spirit; consuming it granted me a massive amount of alchemy experience, which directly propelled me from the early stage of Minor Divine Abilities Grandmaster to the peak of the middle stage. It took several more years to break through the middle stage peak and enter the late stage, allowing me to refine twelfth-rank spirit pills now..."

"Alchemical Dao Spirit?" Elder Jiang was completely dumbfounded upon hearing this.

His expression shifted several times before he finally shook his head and sighed, "That is fortune, something one might seek but rarely find! When I became an Alchemy Divine Master, I also obtained a spirit residue, but upon consuming it, I discovered it was a Toxin-Repelling Spirit Residue, capable of resisting thousands of potent poisons. Since then, I have feared no poison. However, my alchemy has progressed slowly for over fifty years. I am still at the peak of the early stage of Minor Divine Abilities Grandmaster and cannot seem to break through..."

Ye Qin smiled and rubbed his nose, feeling awkward about what to say. A Toxin-Repelling Spirit Residue might not necessarily be inferior to his Alchemical Dao Spirit.

"Speaking of which, I have rarely returned to the East Sea over the years, having been in the Blood Sea. I only just returned from the Blood Sea today. Elder Jiang, being stationed in Linhai City, you must have better intelligence. Has the Heavenly Dao Alliance undertaken any major actions recently?" Ye Qin inquired.

Elder Jiang considered for a moment. "In one month, the Elder Council of the Heavenly Dao Alliance will hold an important meeting concerning the war against the Immortal-Demon conflict, which will determine the strategic deployment for the next few decades. All members of the Heavenly Dao Alliance Elder Council in Linhai City have received invitations. Additionally, the Palace Masters and elders of the four Northern Immortal Palaces—the Violet Sword Palace, Upper Soup Palace, Ten Thousand Luo Palace, and Wu Nu Er Palace—will also attend this meeting. Since you just returned from the Blood Sea, you are likely unaware of this. I must also attend this meeting; perhaps we can travel together then..."

This chapter was supposed to be updated yesterday at one in the morning; it was already close to three thousand characters. However, I wasn't satisfied with how it looked, so I started revising it. I ended up still not finishing the revisions by two in the morning, and as I kept working, I simply fell asleep. It used to be easy to pull an all-nighter years ago, but now I feel increasingly less capable. I completely re-conceived the material while rewriting during the day.

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