Elder Ye, I recall you mentioning some years ago that you were seeking seclusion to cultivate and break through to the Nascent Soul stage. You are only at the eighth layer of the Golden Core stage now; how have you returned so quickly? Matters concerning military engagements can wait. The Purple Sword Palace has ample personnel for such tasks. For now, your focus must remain entirely on ascending to the Nascent Soul realm..."

Zhou Yu glanced at Ye Qin with some surprise and asked with a slight smile.

"Palace Master, I still need another decade or two to reach the peak of the Golden Core stage. However, I managed to break through to the Divine Alchemist level during my seclusion for pill refinement some years ago, and Sect Master Yu granted me a Guest Elder token from the Yu Sect. I only returned to Linhai City a month ago, planning to purchase some magic artifacts, and happened to meet Elder Jiang at the Heavenly Dao Pavilion. That’s how we arranged to attend this Alliance Council together today. I hadn't expected the Palace Master would also travel from Baifu City to Linhai City!"

Ye Qin smiled shyly as he offered his explanation.

Of course, the incident where he was forced back to Linhai City by several Silver Flood Dragon Clan cultivators after heading to the Sea of Blood was not something he needed to mention. If not for that reason, he and Huangfu Bing'er likely would not have returned to Linhai City until after they had both broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

"Divine Alchemist!"

Palace Master Zhou, whose demeanor was usually calm and unruffled, showed a look of astonishment.

The Supreme Elder, Zhou Hong, was overjoyed.

"Brother Ye... is now a member of the Heavenly Dao Alliance Elder Council..."

Even Zhou Yi, the Young Palace Master, standing respectfully nearby, stared at Ye Qin with disbelief, his face etched with shock.

He possessed much of the Palace Master's composure and had never openly shown the same disdain for Ye Qin as the other direct disciples. However, as the heir apparent to the Purple Sword Palace, the pride of a core family cultivator was inherent, though he never paraded it. He had always maintained a polite distance from Ye Qin, never growing overly familiar. He had always felt that elevating an outer-surname Golden Core cultivator to the rank of Elder in the Purple Sword Palace was inappropriate and would diminish the outside world's view of their sect. Only today did he realize with a jolt that the vision of the Palace Master and the Supreme Elder was far superior to his own.

Palace Master Zhou was acutely aware of Ye Qin’s background—a renowned Alchemist from the Azure Pill Sect in the Central Land's Misty Spiritual Realm, and moreover, a Grandmaster Alchemist.

However, the Eastern Sea Cultivation World was not lacking in Grandmaster Alchemists. The Purple Sword Palace alone housed dozens, dedicated to refining spiritual pills for disciples and supplying the commercial establishments under the sect's banner. Other large and small immortal palaces in the Eastern Sea also maintained a number of Grandmaster Alchemists.

The situation was entirely different once a Grandmaster Alchemist ascended to the level of Divine Alchemist.

Grandmaster Alchemists could refine pills ranging from the seventh to the ninth grade at best. Divine Alchemists, however, could concoct spiritual elixirs from the tenth to the twelfth grade. Due to the limitations of innate talent, the number of Divine Alchemists was extremely small, and the output of pills above the tenth grade was low.

In fact, the majority of Nascent Soul cultivators in the Eastern Sea did not possess a sufficient supply of tenth-grade or higher spiritual pills to boost their vital energy. They were usually confined to consuming ninth-grade elixirs, and the higher their cultivation base, the weaker the effect of these lower-grade pills became, naturally slowing their cultivation speed.

After reaching the Nascent Soul stage, a cultivator's inherent spiritual root potential, cultivation techniques, and the like become exponentially more important.

For a cultivator to advance from the early to the peak late stages of the Golden Core realm, assuming external conditions are met, typically requires a span of several decades to a century.

Yet, for most cultivators to progress from the early to the late stages of the Nascent Soul realm, even a thousand years of lifespan might not suffice, leading inevitably to their demise before they could even dream of attempting the Soul Transformation stage.

As the supply of high-grade spiritual pills drastically diminished, factors like spiritual root quality and cultivation methods became far more critical considerations for Nascent Soul cultivators.

Of course, if a constant and abundant supply of spiritual elixirs could be guaranteed, the cultivation speed of Nascent Soul cultivators would not be slow; they might reach the late Nascent Soul stage within three to five centuries, leaving ample lifespan to prepare for the Soul Transformation breakthrough.

The significance of a Divine Alchemist, therefore, was immense.

It was precisely for this reason that once a Grandmaster Alchemist achieved the status of Divine Alchemist, their standing rose sharply, granting them the qualification to become members of the Heavenly Dao Alliance Elder Council. These Guest Elders were entirely independent of the whims of any individual Immortal Palace Master; even the Sect Masters of the various factions within the Heavenly Dao Alliance treated them with high courtesy.

Moreover, these members of the Heavenly Dao Alliance Elder Council rarely attached themselves to ordinary immortal palaces; they generally formed formidable powers unto themselves.

Having a Guest Elder from the Heavenly Dao Alliance Council within the Purple Sword Palace was undoubtedly a great advantage for the sect.

Countless thoughts flashed through Zhou Yu's mind in an instant.

"Elder Ye, congratulations! This is not only your glory but the glory of the Purple Sword Palace as well. After this Alliance Council concludes, let's find a place in the city for a proper gathering..."

Palace Master Zhou, recovering from his shock, offered his felicitations to Ye Qin with a broad smile, his usual slight air of majesty replaced by an affable warmth.

"Oh, and Elder Jiang, if you are free, please join us! Palace Master Zhou, I haven't seen Elder Jiang since he left Baifu City. I wonder where Elder has been cultivating all these years? This gathering would be a perfect opportunity for Elder Jiang to discuss the Dao of Alchemy with Elder Ye..."

Palace Master Zhou proposed this with a smile.

Being close to Sect Master Yu, he was quite familiar with Jiang Zhenyuan, having known him long ago.

However, before Sect Master Yu passed away, he recognized that the decline of the Baifu Immortal Palace was inevitable. While Sect Master Yu lived, he could still command the outer-surname Elders within the palace. Once he died, his descendants were too mediocre to control those powerful outer-surname Nascent Soul Elders. Therefore, Sect Master Yu sent those outer-surname Elders away with generous gifts, lest they usurp the Yu family's foundation after his death.

The Baifu Palace suffered a significant reduction in strength, left with only two Nascent Soul stage Elders and some core Golden Core cultivators, barely enough to maintain stability, let alone advance. Fortunately, Sect Master Yu’s arrangements ensured the legacy could continue.

These outer-surname Nascent Soul Elders who departed the Baifu Palace naturally became highly sought after by the major immortal palaces in the North.

But Jiang Zhenyuan’s status was unique: a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, a Divine Alchemist, and a Heavenly Dao Alliance Guest Elder—his position was exalted, meaning he would never pledge allegiance to an ordinary immortal palace. Furthermore, his temperament was cold and solitary, focused entirely on the path of alchemy.

Jiang Zhenyuan declined numerous invitations from immortal palaces, choosing instead to wander the Eastern Sea, searching for raw alchemical materials and honing his art. It was only in Linhai City in recent years that he coincidentally met Elder Ye of the Purple Sword Palace, also a Divine Alchemist, leading them to form an association.

Palace Master Zhou was keen on recruiting Jiang Zhenyuan. If he could persuade Jiang Zhenyuan to join the Purple Sword Immortal Palace, the sect would simultaneously boast two Divine Alchemists and Guest Elders, greatly increasing their chances of contending for the position of Northern Sect Master. This thought prompted the current suggestion.

"Thank you for Palace Master Zhou's kind offer, but I must return to refining pills after the Alliance Council. I fear I won't have the leisure," Elder Jiang replied, shaking his head coolly.

He could discern Zhou Yu’s intentions. However, before the Northern Sect Master position was decided, he was unwilling to commit to the Purple Sword Palace. Pledging allegiance too early might offend the other immortal palaces. Once the Northern Sect Master was determined, it would not be too late to consider his options. After all, which immortal palace would ultimately secure the position as Sect Master was not yet certain, and whichever did—be it the Purple Sword Palace or any other—would certainly not treat a Divine Alchemist poorly.

"The Purple Sword Palace having a talent like young friend Ye is certainly a blessing for the sect. Although I, Jiang, am solitary by nature and only interested in the Dao of Pills, showing no warmth toward others, I greatly admire young friend Ye. In the Eastern Sea's alchemy circles, few can match young friend Ye's skill," Jiang Zhenyuan added.

In the world of alchemy, cultivators with profound skill are always respected. The path of alchemy is often one of solitary study of ancient texts, but the benefits of exchanging insights with higher-level alchemists are self-evident. A significant reason for his closeness with Ye Qin stemmed from his admiration for Ye Qin's alchemy skills.

"It would be best if both of you could dedicate yourselves so thoroughly to the Dao of Pills..."

Palace Master Zhou chuckled, understanding Elder Jiang's aloof nature and taking no offense at his response.

As they were conversing near the palace entrance, a spirit-beast carriage slowly approached, halting in the open space beside the main gate. The insignia of an immortal palace and the characters "Wan..." were clearly visible on the carriage.

As soon as the carriage stabilized, the curtains rose without a breath of wind, and three cultivators emerged. Two were mid-to-late Nascent Soul experts: a middle-aged man in a silver-trimmed brocade immortal robe, and a venerable, long-haired, rosy-cheeked elder in a green robe, both exuding an aura of authority.

Trailing behind them was a Golden Core cultivator with a pale face, clad in luxurious magic robes, clutching a ceremonial fan, his head bowed low, appearing deeply dejected.

These arrivals were none other than Palace Master Wang of the Myriad Luo Palace and the Grand Elder, while the Golden Core cultivator behind them was naturally the Young Palace Master, Wang Shiwei.

"Palace Master Zhou, Elder Zhou! Oh... Elder Jiang is here too? It has been a long time, and I truly missed you, esteemed Elder!" Palace Master Wang exclaimed, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Purple Sword Palace cultivators as soon as he disembarked. A smile instantly bloomed on his face as he cupped his hands in greeting. The Myriad Luo Palace and the Purple Sword Palace had been engaged in a silent struggle for the Northern Sect Master position for over a hundred years, though such rivalry could never be openly admitted.

"It is Palace Master Wang and Grand Elder Wang! It has been several years, Brother Wang, your cultivation has progressed quite a bit..." Palace Master Zhou returned the greeting with a smile.

"Young Elder Ye!" Both palace masters offered greetings as warm as a spring breeze. Meanwhile, Wang Shiwei’s eyes, previously clouded with gloom, flashed with a sharp, hostile glint upon seeing Ye Qin present. Several years prior, upon learning Ye Qin had ventured alone to the Sea of Blood, he had led dozens of Myriad Luo Palace Golden Core cultivators to the Blood Sand stronghold, intending to surround and kill Ye Qin. Unexpectedly, Ye Qin had used a battleship to blast them into smithereens, inflicting heavy losses. Upon returning to the Myriad Luo Palace, he was punished and confined to the extreme cold ice cavern within the sect's restricted area for a year, nearly freezing him to death. It wasn't until last year, thanks to his grandmother pleading with the Palace Master, that he was finally released from the ice cave.

He still couldn't understand how Ye Qin, whom he had kept under surveillance for so long, managed to turn the tables on him. He firmly believed it must have been an ambush set by the Purple Sword Palace, leading to the devastating losses among the Myriad Luo Palace Golden Core cultivators. Otherwise, how could Ye Qin, relying on his own strength, possess a small Divine Ability Warship and dare to so wantonly blast the Myriad Luo Palace cultivators to pieces!

Wang Shiwei’s expression shifted slightly, and he fixed a cold glare on Ye Qin, as if facing a mortal enemy.