Ninth In the World

Huo Jianqian had evidently thought of how to answer the question before. “The first way is for Alchemy Master Di to join the Star Elixir Dispensary and enjoy the benefits of the Elder of the dispensary. Other than the benefits gained from your service, you would obtain a certain percentage as remuneration for each cauldron of immortal pills you refined. However, all elixirs you wish to refine must be approved by the Star Elixir Dispensary first.”

“What about the second way?” asked Di Jiu as he was not quite satisfied with this condition. He had gone there to earn immortal crystals. Although this method would allow him to obtain stable yields, it did not quite fit his needs, for it basically meant that he would be unable to accept any private work.

Huo Jianqian seemed to know that Di Jiu would not be satisfied with this condition. Thus, she smiled and added, “The second way is for you to help the Star Elixir Dispensary refine elixirs with a certain monetary benefit and percentage that will be given to you for each cauldron. Furthermore, you could participate in some conferences between alchemy masters or some alchemy tournaments by representing the Star Elixir Dispensary.”

She had mentioned the second method only because Di Jiu was a level-four Alchemy Grandmaster. A grade-three Alchemy Master would not be qualified to enjoy the conditions stated in the second method, for the Star Elixir Dispensary would basically be providing Di Jiu with resources and knowledge while he would receive monetary compensation.

“Does that mean that what I do on a daily basis will have nothing to do with the Star Elixir Dispensary?” asked Di Jiu.

“That’s right. That means that Alchemy Master Di will be bound by no restrictions.” Huo Jianqian nodded her head.

Di Jiu comprehended what she meant. According to the second method, he would not be joining the Star Elixir Dispensary but would only be labeled a part of the dispensary. This was a notion Di Jiu was not opposed to.

On the surface, he had become a hired alchemy master of the Star Elixir Dispensary. There seemed to be not many benefits in doing so in the first glance. However, some benefits would not be obvious.

It would evidently not benefit him to open an elixir shop given his current strength. He would both earn immortal crystals and obtain support if he was hired as an alchemist by the Star Elixir Dispensary, which would provide him with the necessary resources and the required knowledge. The Star Elixir Dispensary might not be comparable to the other major elixir dispensaries, but it was still considered reputable in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City. This meant that the alchemists they hired would naturally be under their protection.

“I choose the second option,” said Di Jiu without hesitation.

Through the second method, he would be able to accept alchemy jobs. The first method, however, would only allow him to accept alchemy jobs offered by the Star Elixir Dispensary.

Huo Jianqian said joyously, “In that case, you will share weal and woe with the Star Elixir Dispensary from now on and triumph in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City.”

She took out a jade card and handed it to Di Jiu. It was a jade card for an Honorary Alchemy Master of the Star Elixir Dispensary.

Di Jiu accepted the jade card, cupped his fists and said, “There are two matters I need to trouble you with.”

Huo Jianqian was in a very good mood. “Please do tell. I will do my best, so long as it is something within my capabilities to accomplish.”

Di Jiu said, “I’m lacking immortal pill formulas. It would be wonderful if you were able to help me obtain some.”

The elixir formulas Di Jiu owned all belonged to the sect masters who had attacked the Starry Sky Immortal City. Therefore, these formulas were mostly grade-five and below and were all commonplace. He would naturally need to obtain more elixir formulas now that he had arrived at the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City.

Huo Jianqian was astounded, for she had not expected that Di Jiu would ask for elixir formulas. However, she reacted quickly and said apologetically, “The elixir formulas I could help you obtain are only some ordinary ones, not any special ones.”

Di Jiu knew that Huo Jianqian had misunderstood his words. Thus, he hurriedly said, “I only need some simple elixir formulas.”

“No problem. I will immediately pass some to you once you have settled in,” promised Huo Jianqian the moment she heard that Di Jiu did not want any special elixir formulas.

The Star Elixir Dispensary did not lack ordinary elixir formulas.

“Thank you, Deacon Huo. I also hope to obtain the deed to a store in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City. Preferably, it would be one where two people could live, for I still have a Junior Sister living inside my Small World,” said Di Jiu.

Huo Jianqian was unperturbed by the fact that Di Jiu possessed a Small World and had also brought a Junior Sister along. No one cared about such matters, as they were a daily occurrence in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City. It was also very normal for a grade-four Alchemy Grandmaster like Di Jiu to possess a Small World Herb Garden.

The only thing that was challenging for her to accomplish was Di Jiu’s wish to open a shop.

Di Jiu was a grade-four Alchemy Grandmaster whose purpose for wanting a shop would naturally be to sell immortal pills. The Star Elixir Dispensary would not mind Di Jiu doing so. This was because the number of cultivators going in and out of the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City was humongous, and so was the amount of immortal pills required. Di Jiu opening an elixir store would not cause any conflict of interest.

However, it was not easy to obtain ownership of a shop in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City. This applied even to the deacon of the Star Elixir Dispensary.

Di Jiu knew that this would be an impossible wish to achieve when he saw Huo Jianqian’s expression. Just as he was about to speak, she said, “It would not be possible to rent or purchase any shops in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City. Actually, it would be impossible to get a hold of any shop deeds in the first place. It is not something attainable, no matter the number of Liberal Points or immortal crystals you possess. Furthermore, one would need at least 10 million Liberal Points in order to buy an ordinary small store. However, in a few years, you might really have the opportunity to obtain one…”

Di Jiu, who had at first been disappointed, had not expected Huo Jianqian to say so at the end of her speech. He hurriedly said, “Please tell me.”

Huo Jianqian said, “Alchemy Master Di, have you ever heard of the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir?”

Di Jiu shook his head, for the elixir formulas he had obtained were very limited and he had never heard of such an elixir.

When she saw that Di Jiu had never heard of it before, Huo Jianqian took out a jade slip and handed it to him. “This is the elixir formula of the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir.”

“That’s right. This is the Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus.” Huo Jianqian was not surprised that Di Jiu knew about the Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus. Di Jiu would not have lived up to his status as a grade-four Alchemy Grandmaster if he had not even known about the Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus.

“This elixir is extremely difficult to refine.” Di Jiu sighed after falling silent for a few long moments.

Huo Jianqian nodded her head. “The Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir might be a grade-four immortal pill, but it might just be the most difficult immortal pill to refine. However, it is also the most valuable grade-four immortal pill.”

Di Jiu understood what Huo Jianqian was implying. He did not know if the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir was the most difficult grade-four immortal pill to refine, but he knew that the Alchemy Dao of anyone who had successfully done so had already reached a new height.

The most difficult procedure in the entire refining process of the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir was the filtration of the Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus. The Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus was an extremely soft void item which was very hard to gather. However, its recovery effect on the soul was one of the best.

Due to its extremely soft nature, the probability of failure during the filtration process was high. The Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus would transform into a poisonous item upon the failure of its filtration.

Alchemy required the use of flames and the possibility of failure when using a flame to filtrate the Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus was nearly 99 percent. Furthermore, the Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus had to be filtered to a certain degree before it could be used to refine the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir.

“What has this got to do with the store?” asked Di Jiu doubtfully.

Huo Jianqian explained, “There is an Immortal Supremacy expert in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City called Chi Zhengshan. A hundred years ago, he headed out into the void to search for something with a few Immortal Supremacy experts and they never returned. Chi Zhengshan had a son called Chi Yuanqing, who owned two shops. He said that he would give one of these two shops away to any alchemist who was able to help him refine a Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir.”

“Surely, someone must have accepted this job, given how valuable the shops in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City are?” asked Di Jiu in confusion.

Huo Jianqian answered, “There’s indeed someone who accepted this job before. Chi Yuanqing once possessed two Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus, but a very famous grade-five Alchemy Grandmaster accepted the job. He failed during the refinement process and wasted a Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus.”

Di Jiu gritted his teeth when he heard that one Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus had been wasted, as this was not something that could be easily obtained. Chi Yuanqing had most likely been extremely upset when one had been wasted.

Huo Jianqian then added, “Chi Yuanqing became enraged and killed that grade-five Alchemy Grandmaster on the spot.”

Di Jiu, who was alarmed, hastily asked, “A grade-five Alchemy Grandmaster must have been an alchemist of the Elixir Association. Did the association do nothing when one of their members was killed in this manner?”

The reason he asked this question was because Di Jiu himself was a member of the Elixir Association.

Huo Jianqian smiled. “Firstly, Chi Yuanqing’s father, Chi Zhengshan, was a late-stage Immortal Supremacy. Although he had not returned in many years, who knew if he would come back as an Immortal Emperor? Secondly, Chi Yuanqing had explicitly stated that the alchemist should not waste his Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus unless they were 100 percent capable of succeeding.”

“Grade-seven Alchemy Kings surely know how to refine it. Why did no one do so?” asked Di Jiu, who was feeling puzzled.

Huo Jianqian wanted to rub her forehead and sigh when she heard Di Jiu ask such a no-brainer. She would actually have asked him if he possessed a brain, had he not been who he was.

Huo Jianqian smiled bitterly and said, “Just how many grade-seven Alchemy Kings are there in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City? They would be able to obtain stores if they wished to. Why would they still need to help others refine elixirs?”

Di Jiu suddenly understood. He did not place great importance on grade-seven Alchemy Kings, which was why he had asked such a silly question. The truth was that every grade-seven Alchemy King was considered a distinguished existence. Therefore, they would not have to fret about being unable to obtain a store. Moreover, even grade-seven Alchemy Kings would not be able to guarantee a 100 percent success rate in filtering the Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus. No Alchemy Kings would be silly enough to mar their own reputation.

Huo Jianqian helped Di Jiu escape from this awkward situation by saying, “Given your potential in alchemy, you might be able to attain success in your Alchemy Dao if you practice alchemy under the Star Elixir Dispensary for a dozen years. You would be able to think of a way to filtrate the Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus then.”

“Thank you for your advice, Deacon Huo. May I know where Chi Yuanqing resides?” Di Jiu was not able to wait for a dozen more years, for Mo Yuxuan might not be still alive by then.

Upon hearing Di Jiu’s words, Huo Jianqian’s expression changed slightly and she asked uncertainly, “Alchemy Master Di, are you actually thinking of heading out to find Chi Yuanqing now so that you can refine the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir?”

She was truly terrified that Di Jiu was ignorant enough to really attempt to refine the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir. If that happened, all her efforts would be wasted.

After all, no matter how talented Di Jiu was, he would only die if he attempted to refine the elixir now. Chi Yuanqing would definitely not let Di Jiu live, should the latter waste his Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus.