After all, the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion is a chamber of commerce, and harmony is the key to wealth. If possible, it is naturally best not to offend anyone, let alone a genius like Xiayu.
"Actually, I do have a favor to ask of Pavilion Master Duanmu," Xiayu said.
"Young Clan Leader, please speak."
"I need some medicinal herbs. I urgently need to refine a pill, but I am currently without funds. I can offer my Dragon Spear as collateral to you; I will redeem it in the future."
Duanmu Lin smiled and said, "Young Clan Leader, you are being too formal. A few herbs are nothing; I will take it upon myself to gift them to you. Let’s consider it a gesture of friendship."
Xiayu looked deeply at Duanmu Lin and said, "Very well. I need ten pieces of Earth Flame Fire Crystal, ten pieces of Cold Ice Mysterious Crystal..."
"...Six-leaf Ghost Orchid, Purple Cloud Fruit, Earth Star Immortal Vine..."
With each item Xiayu named, Duanmu Lin’s face paled a shade more.
"The subsequent herbs must all be over two hundred years old."
Hearing this, Duanmu Lin’s face turned deathly pale, drained of all blood. At that moment, he wished he could slap himself hard. The herbs Xiayu mentioned were all precious and rare; the Huai City branch simply did not have them. Even if they did, the cost would be astronomical—at least twenty years of his salary.
This...
"Young Clan Leader, these herbs... the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion in Huai City is a small branch. We do not have these items. To find such things, one would at least have to go to the provincial capital of Luzhou."
"And... and the price..."
Duanmu Lin was on the verge of tears. He had intended to curry favor, but this was going to cost him his life. Beads of sweat broke out all over his forehead in an instant.
Xiayu, naturally understanding his predicament, said calmly, "I know these things are expensive and I cannot ask you to gift them to me. However, I have no money right now. This Dragon Spear of mine is definitely more valuable than these herbs; I will pledge it to you!"
Duanmu Lin breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly came to his ear: "Young friend, are you intending to refine a Monarch Realm pill?" The voice carried a hint of tremor.
Xiayu looked at the elderly man beside Duanmu Lin, his gaze filled with confusion. "And you are?"
"Young Clan Leader, this is Elder Duanmu Wenshan of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s Pill Tower, visiting from Luzhou City," Duanmu Lin quickly introduced.
Xiayu nodded and said, "Greetings, Elder Duanmu. I am indeed planning to refine a Monarch Realm pill. My elder sister is unwell and requires one."
Duanmu Wenshan’s eyes lit up. He looked at Xiayu deeply and couldn't help but ask, "Is that true?"
"Of course."
"I am Duanmu Wenshan, a Tier 5 Alchemist. If I may be so bold, young friend, I can provide the herbs you need for free. Would you allow me to observe while you refine the medicine?" Duanmu Wenshan looked at Xiayu with nervous, hopeful eyes.
Xiayu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Very well."
Duanmu Wenshan was overjoyed. He bowed respectfully to Xiayu and said, "Thank you, young friend."
"It is a small matter. Do you know when the herbs will arrive?" Xiayu asked. His sister Xia Yao’s health was his primary concern.
"I have the main ingredients in my storage bag, and the local Pill Tower should have the ordinary ones. We can start the furnace at any time," Duanmu Wenshan replied quickly. He had been stuck at the Tier 5 Alchemist level for many years; his greatest wish was to become a Monarch Realm alchemist.
Xiayu’s age was shockingly young, and Duanmu Wenshan felt a sliver of doubt, wondering if Xiayu was merely posturing. Yet, the list of herbs Xiayu had provided was indeed consistent with the requirements for a Monarch Realm pill.
He decided to gamble! If he could learn from this young man and break through to the Monarch Realm, it would be a massive gain. Even if he learned nothing, forming a connection with such a young Monarch Realm alchemist was still a win. After all, Monarch Realm alchemists were rare as phoenix feathers in the entire dynasty, and one this young had never even been heard of. Not even a quasi-Monarch level one had ever appeared. In his own youth, Duanmu Wenshan had barely been an apprentice, struggling to identify basic herbs.
"Very well, Pavilion Master Duanmu, I will trouble you to arrange a quiet place."
"No trouble at all, young friend! My residence has a silent room with an adjoining alchemy chamber, fully equipped with furnaces and everything else." Duanmu Wenshan spoke before Duanmu Lin could even get a word in. "Young friend, here is my furnace—a Monarch Grade furnace. Please, feel free to use it."
Upon arriving at the quiet room and settling Xia Yao in, Duanmu Wenshan led Xiayu to the adjacent chamber. A "Monarch Grade furnace" meant it was crafted from materials capable of forging Monarch-tier weapons, and having refined Monarch-tier pills, it was saturated with spiritual energy. Essentially, it was a specialized Monarch-tier auxiliary weapon.
Xiayu nodded and glanced at the furnace. It felt quite ordinary, even less impressive than the one left behind by the nameless elder in the cave. After a moment of thought, Xiayu said, "I think I will use my own furnace."
Before Duanmu Wenshan could respond, Xiayu retrieved his own furnace from his storage ring. At the first sight of it, Duanmu Wenshan froze. A moment later, he leaned over it, inspecting it with agonizing scrutiny. This scene left Xiayu speechless; it was just a furnace.
"This... what grade of furnace is this?"
"This is definitely not a Monarch Grade furnace. It is not even an Emperor Grade furnace—I have seen Emperor Grade furnaces, and they are inferior to this!"
"Could it be... a Saint Grade furnace?"
After a long while, Duanmu Wenshan stood up, his face filled with shock as he looked deeply at Xiayu. At this moment, Xiayu appeared filled with mystery and the unknown in his eyes.
Xiayu said indifferently, "It was a gift from an elder. I don't know its grade. It will suffice for now."
Duanmu Wenshan was speechless. Better than an Emperor Grade, potentially a Saint Grade, and you call it "sufficing for now"? Then what did that make his Monarch Grade furnace—less than trash? Specialized Saint-tier auxiliary items were incredibly precious! If this were truly a Saint Grade furnace, its value would be...
Priceless!
Duanmu Wenshan gave a dry laugh, at a loss for words. Had he not been a specialist in alchemy rather than combat, he might have been tempted to snatch it by force.
"Young friend, shall we ignite the flame?" Duanmu Wenshan asked tentatively, noticing Xiayu standing motionless.
"Yes," Xiayu nodded. In truth, the reason he had been standing still was that he had no idea how to ignite the flame. The nameless elder had left behind high-level alchemy techniques and formulas, but not a single word on the basics of alchemy.
Hearing Xiayu’s agreement, Duanmu Wenshan was overjoyed. He quickly pulled an array disk from his storage bag and began chanting. Lights flickered on the floor as he placed medium-grade spirit stones into the formation.
"Young friend, I am not sure if these medium-grade spirit stones are enough, but if they aren't, I will replace them quickly so as not to interrupt your alchemy. It is a pity—had I known we were refining a Monarch pill, I would have swapped in high-grade spirit stones," Duanmu Wenshan muttered to himself.
In his subconscious, he believed Xiayu was allowing him to assist as a way to mentor him. Observing the refinement of a Monarch-tier pill at such close range was equivalent to Xiayu teaching him hand-in-hand. Knowledge, after all, is not easily passed on. Had he not been concerned that the young man might take offense, he would have knelt and called him 'Master'.
A sixteen-year-old Monarch Realm alchemist? In his experience, that was a one-in-ten-thousand genius. Moreover, he had noticed the extraordinary nature of the Dragon Spear, seen Xiayu’s storage ring, and witnessed what was likely a Saint Grade furnace. All of this pointed to Xiayu possessing a formidable background.
He might be a direct descendant of some great power sent out for experience. Duanmu Wenshan knew of one such person in the capital—a peerless young woman from a top-tier family, so noble that even the royal family treated her with reverence. They had even bestowed upon her the Nine Dragon Gold Medal, which granted the same authority as the Emperor himself. If one could forge a connection with such a person, it could be the opportunity of a lifetime. Duanmu Wenshan knew he had to hold onto this connection firmly. If he missed this chance, he might never get another.
Just as Duanmu Wenshan prepared to ignite the flame, the voice of Duanmu Lin echoed from outside the room: "Young Clan Leader Xia, people from the Xia family have arrived! They are acting aggressively and claim they are here to arrest you!"
"What? Has the Xia family lost their minds? Tell them my young friend is in the middle of alchemy and no one is to disturb him!" Duanmu Wenshan roared before Xiayu could speak. At this moment, anyone who offended Xiayu offended him. This was his best chance to become a Monarch Realm alchemist!
"Understood, Elder. I will send them away at once."
"Pavilion Master Duanmu, I am Xiayu. I have no relation to the Xia family anymore," Xiayu said calmly.
"Young... Young Master Xia, I understand. Please focus on your alchemy; I will handle this."
"Thank you for the trouble."
"You are too kind, Young Master Xia!" Duanmu Lin turned and left.
"Young friend, rest assured, the Xia family would never dare force their way into my Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion," Duanmu Wenshan said proudly.
Xiayu nodded. "Ignite the flame."
Following the instructions in his memory, Xiayu began to refine. The first furnace failed. The second failed. The third succeeded. Xiayu had prepared enough herbs for ten furnaces and successfully refined seven Monarch Realm pills.
By now, Duanmu Wenshan looked at Xiayu with boundless awe and absolute respect. This was his first time witnessing the birth of a Monarch-tier pill. He had learned so much! He was now confident that if he were to refine himself, he would surely produce a Monarch-tier pill within five attempts. Once he attained that status, his position and treatment would reach a new height. Even in the capital, the status of a Monarch Realm alchemist was lofty; after all, there was only one Emperor Grade alchemist in the entire capital.
After finishing the ten batches, Xiayu immediately fed two pills to Xia Yao. Seeing the color return to her face, a smile broke across Xiayu’s features. He then sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, replaying the entire refining process in his mind. Reviewing his actions and identifying where he had fallen short was a method of self-reflection he had mastered to ensure constant progress.
An hour later, Xiayu opened his eyes. Duanmu Wenshan, who had been standing quietly to the side, immediately bowed respectfully.
The sun was now high in the sky. Suddenly, a thought struck Xiayu. "Today seems to be the day of the Huai City Grand Tournament!"
"Young Master Xia, it appears so. Little Lin already went; he came here to mention it before leaving, but I didn't dare disturb you," Duanmu Wenshan said, dropping the "young friend" address—he felt it wasn't sufficiently respectful.
Xiayu stood up and looked at Xia Yao. "Sister, I must go. I will take back with my own hands what Mother left behind."
"I will go with you."
"Sister, your health has only just improved."
"I will go with you," Xia Yao said, her gaze firm.
"Alright." Xiayu agreed. He knew well that when his sister wore that expression, her mind was made up.
Outside the City Lord's Mansion in Huai City, the plaza was packed with people. For the citizens of Huai City, today was a significant day. The triennial Grand Tournament was a major event for the city, even attracting spectators from nearby cities. This year, the situation was vastly different; rumors held that people from the Luzhou provincial government had arrived. It was also said that many sect disciples were present, making it a rare and spectacular occasion.
On the spectator stand, City Lord Zhu Kang sat in the secondary seat, the primary seat occupied by a youth of about twenty. The youth sat with an air of arrogance, while City Lord Zhu Kang showed him nothing but respect. Below the City Lord were the leaders of the four great families, all equally deferential.
People in the crowd whispered among themselves. "Look, that’s said to be the young master from the Luzhou government office."
"The eldest young master of Luzhou—truly extraordinary. He has a grace that only someone from the provincial capital could possess."
"Do you see those beside him? Those are from the sects. It’s so strange to have so many sect members this year; in previous years, there were only one or two."
"You don't know? They are all here for the young clan leader of the Xia family. They say when he broke through, he triggered a heavenly phenomenon—it was earth-shaking!"
"Look! The Xia family’s young clan leader is coming out!"
In the middle of the arena, a figure soared into the air and landed on the stage. Applause erupted from all around. It was Xia Longfei, the young clan leader of the Xia family.
Lu Tianxiang, who had been dozing off in the primary seat, perked up slightly at the sight of Xia Longfei. However, a moment later, he frowned slightly. *Fourth Heavenly Layer of Gathering Origin Realm? So weak?*
Many of the sect members, who had initially been intrigued, now looked disappointed upon closer inspection. *This is the person who triggered a heavenly phenomenon? So weak?*
"Brother Xia, Young Master Longfei truly lives up to his reputation as someone capable of triggering such omens. To think he has risen three small realms in just half a month—the Xia family is destined for prosperity," the head of the Li family said with a laugh.
"Haha, Brother Li, thank you for your kind words! I hope my son has a bright future," Xia Hongji replied, his face beaming with a smile.
Xia Longfei, dressed in white, stood elegantly on the stage, holding a long sword and looking down at the crowd. "Who dares to challenge me?" he called out loudly.
"I will." A figure lunged onto the stage.
"Gong Jihang of the Gong family, please enlighten me!" Gong Jihang bowed.
Xia Longfei arched a brow; he had been expecting Xiayu. "You are only at the Fourth Heavenly Layer of Gathering Origin Realm. You are no match for me," Xia Longfei said arrogantly.
"Cultivation level is not the only standard. Take this, blade!" Gong Jihang shouted. With a metallic clang, his long blade was unsheathed. Gripping the handle with both hands, he slashed through the air. The wind of his blade was fierce, fast, and sharp. The crowd erupted in cheers, primarily from the Gong family faction.
Xia Longfei’s lips curled into a faint smirk. With a slight shift of his body, he blocked and countered with his sword. In an instant, Gong Jihang froze in place. The tip of the sword rested against his throat.
Defeated in one move! Gong Jihang’s face turned ghastly pale. The sect members, who had initially been shaking their heads in disappointment, now looked on with renewed interest. Lu Tianxiang’s gaze also held a glimmer of appreciation; a genius who could trigger heavenly phenomena, while weak, surely possessed some merit.
Xia Longfei sheathed his sword and said proudly, "I am one who can trigger heavenly phenomena. I can fight across levels and am invincible among my peers. You, however, are not!"
Gong Jihang’s face turned livid. He had nothing to say, so he turned and leaped off the stage. For the loser, anything said would only be an excuse.
"Who else?" Xia Longfei stood on the stage like a sharp sword, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. Almost no one dared to meet his eyes.
He stood above the crowd! At this moment, Xia Longfei felt invincible. One day, he would stand at the peak of all mountains, with countless people worshipping at his feet. He glanced at Xia Hongji and, sensing the passionate and satisfied look in his father's eyes, he allowed his lips to curl again. This was merely the beginning of his life.
Suddenly, he thought of Xiayu. If he killed Xiayu today, he would finally vent his frustration. The thought of how Xiayu had overshadowed him for all these years, making him, the young clan leader, feel so stifled, made the anger in his heart burn fiercely.
"Xiayu! You coward! Come out! We agreed to a life-and-death battle during today’s tournament. Are you afraid?"
No one answered. Many spectators looked at each other in confusion, while those in the know kept their expressions neutral. *Internal strife in the Xia family? How entertaining.*
Lu Tianxiang also looked puzzled and glanced at Zhu Kang, who hurried forward to whisper the situation to him. Lu Tianxiang nodded. *Interesting.*
"Xiayu, you truly make me look down on you. A spineless coward who breaks his promises!" His voice echoed across the square, yet there was no response.
Suddenly, a white figure descended from the sky. The newcomer glanced at Xia Longfei and frowned, asking with confusion, "Are you the one from the Xia family who triggered a heavenly phenomenon?"
Seeing the woman, Xia Longfei’s eyes widened. He had never seen such a beautiful woman! With phoenix eyes, a delicate nose, and pearl-white teeth, her exquisite oval face was flawless. Her long hair fluttered in the breeze, and her white dress rippled. She looked ethereal, a beauty who could topple cities.
"Greetings, miss. I am Xia Longfei, the young clan leader of the Xia family. I am indeed the one who triggered the heavenly phenomenon. Is there anything I can assist you with?"
The woman's expression was cold as she said, "It shouldn't be you. To trigger a heavenly phenomenon, you are not worthy!"
In an instant, Xia Longfei’s expression turned hideous. He wanted to refute her, to prove himself. Yet, looking into her cold gaze and feeling her noble air, he found he didn't know how to speak.
The woman had not lowered her voice, and Lu Tianxiang, Zhu Kang, and the others on the platform heard her clearly. Xia Hongji’s expression turned icy cold, yet he said nothing. He dared not, for he realized he could not discern the woman’s level of cultivation.
The atmosphere froze. At that moment, the crowd on the outer perimeter suddenly parted, and three people walked through.
Upon seeing them, Duanmu Lin on the stage lit up. Lu Tianxiang, in the primary seat, also stood up immediately and hurried over.
"Young Master Xia, Elder Duanmu, you've arrived! Please, this way—we have reserved seats for you," Duanmu Lin was the first to greet them.
"Greetings, Elder Duanmu. I am Lu Tianxiang of the Lu family. My grandfather, Lu Xiujie, and I pay our respects!"
Duanmu Wenshan glanced at Lu Tianxiang and gave a slight nod, acknowledging the greeting.