“Young Hero Ling, please wait a moment. I’ll have the materials prepared immediately,” Yunya said excitedly, turning to leave and nearly tripping over the threshold.
Such a thing had never happened to her before.
About half an hour later, Yunya returned, holding a storage ring. “Young Hero Ling, all the items you requested are in here. Just return the ring when you’re done. Of course, if you like it, you’re welcome to keep it.”
“No need. I can’t keep taking advantage of you. A storage ring isn’t cheap, especially one of this quality, equivalent to an immortal-grade treasure. If I kept it, I’d owe you a favour,” Ling Xiao said with a smile, transferring the materials to his Mountain River World. To outsiders, it looked like he was storing them in a ring.
Returning the ring to Yunya, he said, “I’ll be off then. Once the mid-grade Heavenly Spirit Pills are refined, I’ll deliver them to you personally. Rest assured.”
“No problem!” Yunya nodded eagerly.
The more she interacted with Ling Xiao, the more she sensed his mystery and prowess, feeling a growing admiration.
It was rare for her to admire a young man of his age.
“Hmph, this kid’s got some nerve!” A cold snort came from the door as a green-robed elder, around fifty, walked in.
“Why is Master Liu so upset? It’s not him refining, but the mysterious figure behind him,” Yunya said with a smile.
Master Liu was Tianlong Auction House’s dedicated alchemist, a mid-grade Yellow Rank alchemist.
Though not as skilled as Sun Shang, he was still impressive.
Hearing Ling Xiao’s earlier words, he was furious.
After all, his success rate for mid-grade Yellow Rank pills was only fifty percent, yet Ling Xiao claimed a perfect success rate for high-grade Yellow Rank pills. Wasn’t that a slap in his face?
“Even if it’s the person behind him, could they be better than Sun Shang?” Master Liu said disdainfully.
“Master Liu, there’s always a bigger fish. Nothing is absolute,” Yunya replied, believing the mysterious figure behind Ling Xiao surpassed Sun Shang. How else could they achieve such a high success rate for high-grade Yellow Rank pills?
“Don’t be naive. If they were better than Sun Shang, why hide? Someone of that level would be a guest of honour even at Five Immortals Island, with endless benefits. Why help a Heaven-Human Realm kid?” Master Liu shook his head firmly.
“Things are unpredictable. I let myself get upset earlier, a big mistake. I fear he might think less of me now. Will he see me as stingy?” Yunya ignored Master Liu, regretting her earlier irritation over a few low-grade spirit stones. Though she hadn’t shown it, Ling Xiao had noticed.
“You’ve been generous enough. If the alchemist behind that kid isn’t high-grade Yellow Rank, you’ll face trouble from above,” Master Liu snorted, turning to leave.
“Short-sighted!” Yunya muttered, glaring at the swaying curtain.
She knew competition existed within Tianlong Auction House, which was why she needed to secure Ling Xiao before others did.
…
On his way back to Qingxu Academy, the academy’s leadership was tearing their hair out over the pill issue.
“Hmph, Divine Phoenix Academy has gone too far. Our academies have always competed, but never so openly. They’re blatantly stealing our business, pushing us to the brink. We can’t let this continue!” said another vice-dean, unlike the mild-mannered Feng Qingyan. Known as Fire Thunderbolt, his temper was explosive.
Though not from the Divine Phoenix Clan, he was an expert from an immortal island, with considerable status.
He was furious, smashing a table with his palm, yet still unable to quell his anger.
Feng Qingyan said coldly, “Qingxu Academy is losing money across the board in the pill market. Sometimes we even lose money to attract customers. When the walls fall, everyone pushes. What’s worse, some students we treated well have chosen to leave at this critical moment. Fine, leave if you must, but to join Divine Phoenix Academy? That’s despicable.”
The topic fueled Feng Qingyan’s anger. “Ordinary disciples leaving is one thing, but what I can’t stand is our top-ranked student, Ximen Bumie, defecting. His departure sets a terrible example.”
A white-bearded elder said calmly, “He was lured by Feng Mingpiaoxue. That girl, relying on her background, increasingly disregards us old folks.”
“Isn’t she from the Ice Phoenix Clan?” Feng Qingyan asked, puzzled.
“No, she was just raised by the Ice Phoenix Clan. She’s actually the little princess of Changle Immortal Island,” the elder explained. “Never mind her. The pill issue is the real problem. If we don’t solve it, our economy will collapse. Any good ideas?”
“If need be, I’ll take people to kill Sun Shang!” Fire Thunderbolt suggested.
“Though your strength is impressive, killing Sun Shang is impossible. He’s always guarded by Yin-Yang Realm experts, and he’s a top Cave-Heaven Realm expert himself,” the elder shook his head.
“Then what do we do, Dean? If this continues, Qingxu Academy is doomed,” Fire Thunderbolt said urgently.
“It won’t be doomed. Lord Yinshan will find a way, but we shouldn’t add to his troubles at this juncture. We need to find a solution ourselves,” the elder said.
“If only we could find a skilled alchemist to rival Sun Shang,” Feng Qingyan muttered.
“Hmph, easier said than done. Sun Shang is a high-grade Yellow Rank alchemist. Unless we bring someone from Changle Immortal Island, finding anyone better is impossible,” Fire Thunderbolt snorted. “It’s all Ling Xiao’s fault. If that kid hadn’t stirred trouble, Divine Phoenix Academy wouldn’t be so ruthless.”
“Scared?” Feng Qingyan sneered.
“Scared? I’m not scared! I just think Ling Xiao should step up and solve this, not hide. That’s what a man does!” Fire Thunderbolt shouted.
