Chapter 488

Chapter 488: Master Yuan

A massive Flying Boat stretching one hundred zhang in length soared through the skies. Carved from a colossal horizontal divine tree, it bore ornate pavilions adorned with vibrant flowers and spirit herbs, their fragrance wafting far and wide.

The vessel, green below and crimson above, resembled a floating garden—an extravagant sight. It raced across a boundless terrain until reaching an unusual city.

The city spanned over a hundred li, encircled by walls towering dozens of zhang high. Seasoned Soldiers patrolled the battlements, backed by rows of Divine Lightning Towers, marking it as a formidable military fortress.

This was no longer part of Fang Lie’s Great Thousand World but the Demon Domain, a Central World teeming with demons. Though limited by the Central World’s incomplete laws, their strongest—Seventh-rank great demons—matched human Wind Tribulation Immortals in power. Worse, their sheer numbers overwhelmed.

Demons frequently assaulted human cities here in hordes numbering millions. Without formidable defenses, survival was impossible.

As the elegant Flying Boat approached, vigilant city guards swiftly dispatched a squad to block its path and demand identification.

A beautiful maid emerged at the bow, addressing the black-armored Soldiers with a smile. "My master is the Young Master of a reclusive family clan and a Great Pill Master. He journeys here to gather materials for his ascension to Alchemist Grandmaster. We humbly request your accommodation."

The Soldiers exchanged stunned glances. Their leader clasped his fists in salute. "A Great Pill Master! Please wait—I’ll inform my superiors at once!"

He sent a message via Flying Swords, and within moments, over a dozen Wind Tribulation Immortals arrived. Leading them was a Taoist with an Immortal-Style Appearance, clad in Eight Trigrams Immortal robes and wielding a horsetail whisk. He stood atop a White Lotus, exuding celestial grace.

Approaching, he smiled. "Might I inquire which Great Pill Master honors us? I am Immortal Qingning, City Lord of this domain."

"My master bears the surname Yuan," the maid replied with a bow. "His unique Dao magic prevents him from receiving guests directly. We apologize for this discourtesy."

"Ah, understood." Qingning’s smile remained, though inwardly he bristled. As City Lord, his personal welcome should’ve warranted at least an audience. Yet showing irritation risked offense—alchemists, especially skilled ones, were notoriously temperamental. Even Fire Tribulation Immortals hesitated to slight them.

A Great Pill Master capable of crafting pills for Wind Tribulation Immortals was invaluable. Major sects beyond the Xuan Sect counted fewer than a dozen such talents, each cherished as treasures. Cross one, and their admirers would eagerly avenge the insult.

"Your understanding is appreciated, City Lord." The maid produced a Bottle of pills, offering it respectfully. "As newcomers, we rely on your guidance. This humble gift symbolizes our gratitude."

"How kind!" Qingning accepted it cheerfully, then froze upon reading the label. "Spirit Nourishing Pills? This is too generous!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Spirit Nourishing Pills enhanced a Cultivator’s divine sense—perfect for Wind Tribulation Immortals. Exorbitantly rare, each pill cost hundreds of thousands of small spirit pearls. A full Bottle containing three? A fortune.

The maid waved dismissively. "Merely my master’s casual creations. Alchemy comes naturally to him—these pills pose no challenge. He now seeks materials to attempt Seventh-rank spirit pills."

"Seventh-rank? Those serve even Fire Tribulation Immortals!" Qingning blurted. "Succeed, and he’ll transcend Great Pill Master to become an Alchemist Grandmaster!"

Although a Great Pill Master and an Alchemist Grandmaster seem only one level apart, determined by the ability to refine Seventh-rank spirit pills, it was actually an insurmountable barrier.

On average, only one out of ten Great Pill Masters could advance to Alchemist Grandmaster—a testament to its difficulty.

The influence of an Alchemist Grandmaster was even more formidable.

Normally, a Great Pill Master already held qualifications to stand equal to Fire Tribulation Immortals, while an Alchemist Grandmaster received treatment equivalent to Thunder Tribulation Immortals wherever they went.

Even Thunder Tribulation Immortals treated them with deference, as they required many varieties of Seventh-rank spirit pills.

Upon hearing the visitor was a pill master nearing the Grandmaster realm, Qingning grew more reverent and immediately said, "Master, your journey must have been arduous. Please rest at this humble one’s city lord’s mansion. It boasts the richest Spiritual Energy and strongest defenses in the city. I shall ensure your comfort."

"Very well. My thanks, City Lord!" the beautiful maid replied with a smile.

The group then flew toward the city lord’s mansion.

During the journey, Qingning attempted subtle inquiries about Master Yuan’s origins, but the maid skillfully deflected all probing, revealing only her own name—Mi Qing.

The city lord’s mansion stood on a low hill, featuring grand palaces at the front and a lush garden at the rear.

Master Yuan’s Flying Boat descended onto a small lake within the garden, settling there.

The City Lord sent lavish offerings of food and wine to probe their guests, but his men failed to enter the vessel. Instead, they glimpsed over a dozen stunning maids, each possessing peerless beauty, refined grace, and notable cultivation.

After dismissing the City Lord’s men, Mi Qing entered the cabin to meet her master—a golden-winged youth named Fang Lie.

"Young Master, we’ve deceived them for now," said Mi Qing (the disguised identity of the woman named "迷情"). "But they remain suspicious. They’ll likely test us further. Still, as a genuine Great Pill Master, simply demonstrating your skills will secure your position."

Fang Lie sighed. "That’s the problem. Their test would involve pill refinement. Others require months per batch—I finish multiple batches daily. My speed alone would expose me."

"Can’t you slow down?" Mi Qing asked. "If haste troubles you, why does slowness?"

"It’s unavoidable," Fang Lie explained. "Others spend weeks purifying ingredients. My Nirvana True Fire incinerates impurities instantly. Even if I idle, the furnace’s heat would ruin the spirit pills. I can’t delay without destroying the materials."

"Why not mimic others’ methods?"

"Impossible," Fang Lie shrugged. "Using conventional techniques, I’d perform worse than an apprentice."

"Then waste a batch slowly," Mi Qing suggested. "Produce one proper batch at the end."

"Terrible plan!" Fang Lie chuckled. "Failed refinement emits distinct odors. Any local alchemist would notice. Though no Great Pill Masters reside here, ordinary ones exist."

"Leave it to me," Mi Qing grinned. "Refine poorly as needed. When you present finished pills, I’ll silence any doubters—brutally."

"Ha! With your assurance, I’ll endure the embarrassment!" Fang Lie laughed.

Meanwhile, Immortal Qingning convened with the city’s three power figures.

In an opulent hall, Qingning presided. To his left sat Deputy City Lord Flower Sword, an East Kunlun sword cultivator. To his right was the renowned wandering cultivator Immortal Wulian. All three possessed Golden Pool Qi Seas exceeding five thousand *li*, rivaling Fire Tribulation Immortals in strength.

The lowest seat belonged to Li Wan, an alchemist marked by the Pill Furnace emblem on his robe. Though merely at the Nascent Soul level with a Golden Pool Qi Sea spanning mere hundreds of *li*, his alchemical skills granted him a seat among these elites.

Qingning first questioned Li Wan: "Have you heard of any reclusive Yuan family excelling in alchemy?"

"No," Li Wan shook his head. "Few clans master alchemy—none surnamed Yuan. Among hidden clans I know, none bear that name either."