Free Web NovelChapter 234: Number Three
"The Nine Cauldrons Sect’s so-called Dharma Form Realm power..." Feng Ao muttered.
Feng Ao naturally knew that the Nine Cauldrons Sect had relied on a primordial psyche formation and the Dharma Form spirit treasure, the Origin World, to simulate abilities similar to those of a true Dharma Form cultivator.
But he had clearly witnessed the distant exchange between Lin Deng and that so-called "Dharma Form" cultivator in the past. That level of power could easily overwhelm primordial psyche cultivators, and calling it Dharma Form Realm power was no exaggeration.
Yet, before a genuine Dharma Form cultivator, it was completely insufficient. There was no way it could match the power of the mysterious Dharma Form cultivator who had crushed him with near-overwhelming force, heavily damaging his Void Psychic World. That had been peak Dharma Form Realm power.
However, although Feng Ao knew in his heart that the mysterious fifth Dharma Form cultivator could not have come from the Nine Cauldrons Sect, he didn't say anything, keeping his thoughts to himself.
A Crimson Golden Core cultivator had attacked the Immortal Alliance’s headquarters and caused losses exceeding one hundred million spirit stones. Such an enormous loss had to be paid for. Since the Immortal Alliance claimed it had been the Nine Cauldrons Sect, then it had been them! Even if it was not, it would be! If the Nine Cauldrons Sect did not pay a sufficient price, this matter would not be resolved.
As for Ye Lisha, the Thousand-Beast Sect she belonged to and the Nine Cauldrons Sect were not allies, although they shared common enemies in the Infinite Star Palace and the Immortal Alliance.
Thinking of this, she sneered. "Hehe, Lin Deng, that's a good plan. Our Thousand-Beast Sect has been wondering why Li Hanqiu of the Nine Cauldrons Sect has been making unusually bold moves as of late. Is his Golden Core no longer stable, unable to hold out until the others return from the North Sea Star? Are you afraid that before Li Hanqiu dies, he will drag someone down with him and target your Infinite Star Palace? So you are urging the Immortal Alliance to take your place and perish alongside him?"
After speaking, she turned her gaze toward Feng Ao. "As for whether the Dharma Form cultivator who attacked you came from the Nine Cauldrons Sect... You know very well how much power their so-called 'Dharma Form' cultivator truly has. The attacker managed to reduce your Void Psychic World by one-third in such a short time... I don't need to say who could accomplish that."
Lin Deng and Luo Fu exchanged a glance. Luo Fu immediately rebuked her, "Nonsense. No one can destroy one-third of another Dharma Form cultivator’s Void Psychic World in such a short time."
"I did not say one person could. What if it were two? Or perhaps even a hidden third joining forces?" Ye Lisha sneered.
"You—"
"Enough. Don't let her confuse the issue. Feng Ao personally exchanged blows with that Dharma Form cultivator. He knows it wasn't any of us." Lin Deng waved his hand, signaling Luo Fu to stop arguing.
Luo Fu fell silent. He had merely intended to demonstrate that the Infinite Star Palace had no desire to become enemies with the Immortal Alliance.
"I think the ones confusing the issue are you guys. You dared to claim that it was the Nine Cauldrons Sect?" Ye Lisha said bluntly. "Don't forget, aside from a Dharma Form cultivator, there was also a Crimson Golden Core cultivator among the attackers! The Nine Cauldrons Sect has no one of note besides Li Hanqiu! On the other hand, certain forces have countless people hidden within other sects."
"I can't be bothered talking to you. Why couldn't there be another hidden Crimson Golden Core cultivator within the Nine Cauldrons Sect?" Lin Deng waved dismissively, then turned to Feng Ao. "Lord Feng Ao, rest assured. Our Infinite Star Palace will assist you in uncovering the true culprit who inflicted such massive losses upon the Immortal Alliance."
"Oh? Will the Infinite Star Palace help me hold off Li Hanqiu?" Feng Ao asked.
"Uh..." The question choked off Lin Deng’s next words.
Luo Fu quickly stepped in. "We will support you publicly and pressure the Nine Cauldrons Sect to provide an explanation. Given the Immortal Alliance’s heavy losses, I believe having the Nine Cauldrons Sect hand over the Origin World spirit treasure would be a reasonable form of compensation."
Feng Ao glanced at him. He knew those were nothing more than empty promises from the Infinite Star Palace. He also knew that if he truly pressured the Nine Cauldrons Sect to surrender the Origin World, Li Hanqiu would go mad.
Forget it. Li Hanqiu has indeed been unstable lately. He might not last more than a few decades. And before dying, he is highly likely to drag someone down with him. The Immortal Alliance should not provoke such misfortune. Feng Ao thought.
Feng Ao made his decision internally, though he did not voice it. Instead, he nodded in agreement. "I also think that's reasonable."
After all, it's just extortion. I will start high and settle for lower. No matter what, we have to squeeze something from the Nine Cauldrons Sect to compensate for the Immortal Alliance’s losses. The Nine Cauldrons Sect can't blame anyone for being weak and easy to bully. Feng Ao thought.
***
Such a massive incident within the Immortal Alliance quickly became headline news worldwide. Discussions flooded the Void Psychic World. Under such circumstances, the death of an alchemy grandmaster was barely noticed. At most, the Immortal-Proving Tower would slightly raise the prices of several special pills.
A battle between a Crimson Golden Core cultivator and a star god had killed only a few hundred people. For the Immortal-Proving Tower's headquarters, that was already considered fortunate. Had the battle lasted slightly longer or grown more intense, flattening the entire headquarters, or even all of Seven Hills City, would not have been surprising.
If even the death of an alchemy grandmaster didn't make the headlines, then the quiet disappearance of a deputy minister soon after attracted even less attention.
Three days later, after personally killing the mastermind behind the massacre of his family, Xie He returned to Yaoguang and said solemnly, "Deputy Hall Master Yaoguang, from this day forward, my life is yours."
"As long as you don't betray the Nine Cauldrons Sect, the Nine Cauldrons Sect will never betray you." Yaoguang patted his shoulder despite being several decades younger than this alchemy grandmaster.
Several days later, Yaoguang brought Xie He directly to the headquarters of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, Crimson City.
When they arrived, the Nine Cauldrons Sect demonstrated its sincerity by having Sect Master Li Qingshan personally lead a group to receive them. For the sake of secrecy, the welcoming ceremony was not grand. However, every attendee held the rank of hall master. Among them was Wu Qingying, the hall master of the Alchemy Hall.
This was the first time Yaoguang had seen her in person. She looked like an aging female doctoral researcher. Her expression lacked vitality, her eyes were dull, and even during the welcoming ceremony, her mind seemed to drift elsewhere.
"Qingying, with Grandmaster Xie He’s assistance, you can hand over the body refinement pills for Deputy Hall Master Yaoguang to him from now on. You will no longer need to shoulder so much responsibility..." Li Qingshan told her.
As soon as she heard those words, it was like Wu Qingying had been injected with new energy. Her entire demeanor brightened at once. Her previous absent-mindedness was gone. She stepped forward enthusiastically toward Xie He. "Grandmaster Xie He, welcome. You have arrived at the perfect time. The future of the Alchemy Hall will depend on you..."
Seeing her sincerity, Xie He once again understood how genuine the Nine Cauldrons Sect was to him. He responded solemnly. "Hall Master Wu, you're flattering me. I am only proficient in a few types of pills. The overall direction of the Alchemy Hall still relies on your leadership. We will assist and learn from one another."
"I am serious. I have decided to step down and let you take over as hall master of the Alchemy Hall. I will also transfer control of the Azure Jade Pill Cauldron to you. With your alchemy attainments, if you wield that spirit treasure furnace, you will surely be able to refine more pills, and of better quality." Wu Qingying looked as though she wanted to drop her responsibilities immediately.
"Uhh... No, no, absolutely not. I am an outsider. How could I possibly assume the position of hall master upon arrival? I have rendered no service, earned no merit..." Xie He waved his hands repeatedly.
"In alchemy, skill comes first. Grandmaster Xie is a renowned level 9 3-star alchemy grandmaster in the Great Cangwu World. As for me, I am at best a level 8 1-star alchemist. And that's only because the sect provided me with plenty of resources. I can barely refine a single type of middle-grade treasured pill, and, in truth, I cannot even produce a third-generation low-grade treasured pill... I-I..." As she spoke, recalling the immense pressure she had borne over the years, Wu Qingying’s voice trembled.
"There is no need to belittle yourself." Li Qingshan quickly stepped in to reassure her. "Qingying, your talent in alchemy is unquestionable. Before forty, you were already able to refine second-generation low-grade treasured pills and even stack resources to produce a first-generation middle-grade treasured pill. Give yourself another thirty years of growth, and refining a first-generation high-grade treasured pill and becoming a level 9 alchemist will not be out of reach. With a few more decades of accumulation, you could very well become a level 9 3-star alchemist before you're a hundred years old. There is no need to doubt yourself."
The other hall masters nodded in agreement. Wu Qingying was indeed among the top alchemy prodigies. To become a level 9, 3-star alchemist before a hundred would place her not far behind Xie He.
Her lack of confidence stemmed mainly from being pushed too hard by Yaoguang. Every year, he would ask about her progress in alchemy two or three times. Each time he asked, his cultivation seemed to have advanced another level. The one waiting for her pills was constantly progressing, while her alchemy remained stagnant. She naturally felt inadequate.
"But—" Wu Qingying began to protest again.
Yaoguang interjected, "For now, let Xie He use the Azure Jade Pill Cauldron. It will be a way to demonstrate the sincerity of the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Coincidentally, I have a formula for a pill that I would like him to attempt refining. With a spirit treasure cauldron, the success rate should improve significantly."
Hearing Yaoguang say this, Wu Qingying and the others did not object further. "Very well. We will proceed as you suggest."
By now, both she and the higher-ups of the Nine Cauldrons Sect clearly understood that Yaoguang represented the sect’s future. Given enough time to grow, the Nine Cauldrons Sect might one day stand against top immortal sects such as the Thousand-Beast Sect and the Immortal Alliance.
Thus, even though he currently held only the position of deputy hall master, in the hearts of many, he had already become the sect’s third most important figure, only behind Li Hanqiu and Li Qingshan.
