Heaven Beyond, Heavenly Strategy Manor.
Just as Xiao Tian Ce and Xiao Du Ming were talking, violent ripples appeared in the space before them. A moment later, Huang Jiuji's Soul Body stepped out.
"Hahaha, lad, I've brought you some good news!"
The moment he appeared, Huang Jiuji burst into laughter. Puzzled by his demeanor, Xiao Tian Ce asked with a smile, "Grand Supreme Elder, what good news have you brought? Let's hear it."
"There's no need to find someone to refine a Ninth Grade Golden Pill anymore." Huang Jiuji was brimming with excitement. From his examination just now, he had discovered that with the White Jade Capital, they would have no need for a Ninth Grade Golden Pill at all.
"Really? Grand Supreme Elder, please don't tease me." Xiao Tian Ce was overjoyed.
Throughout the entire original story, aside from the half-finished pill inside Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion, the highest-grade pills any alchemist had refined were merely Ninth Grade Profound Pills.
Truthfully, when he had first agreed to Huang Jiuji's request and heard that a Ninth Grade Golden Pill was needed, he had been shocked. The main reason he had dared agree, however, was that Huang Jiuji was in no hurry.
Moreover, when he had said a few days ago that he would visit the Yao Clan after Xiao Xuan's attempt to reach Dou Di was over, he had merely been hoping a blind cat might stumble upon a dead mouse. In reality, he had little confidence that the Yao Clan's chief could refine a Ninth Grade Golden Pill.
More accurately, he had simply been trying his luck.
Now that a Ninth Grade Golden Pill was no longer necessary, he could finally fulfill his promise to Huang Jiuji.
While he was thinking about this, Huang Jiuji suddenly bowed to him and said respectfully, "Clan Head, I have a presumptuous request. I hope you will grant it."
Coming back to his senses, Xiao Tian Ce hurried forward to help Huang Jiuji straighten up, waving his hand as he said, "Why speak like that, Grand Supreme Elder? There's no need to stand on ceremony. If there's anything you need me to do, just say the word."
"Thank you, Clan Head. Before that, however, please forgive me." Shame appeared on Huang Jiuji's face as he spoke with a bitter smile.
Xiao Tian Ce was bewildered. He guessed that Huang Jiuji had held something back earlier, or perhaps made some excessive demand.
Sure enough, Huang Jiuji said shamefacedly, "Clan Head, I previously told you that a Ninth Grade Golden Pill was necessary to help the two juniors of my clan hatch. In truth, I deliberately exaggerated. Even an Eighth-Tier Eight-Colored Pill would allow those two descendants to hatch safely.
"I only said that because I wanted them to reach the level of five-star Dou Sheng as soon as they hatched.
"Please forgive me, Clan Head!"
Hearing him repeatedly address him as Clan Head, Xiao Tian Ce immediately understood. Through this unexpected turn of events, Huang Jiuji had truly pledged his loyalty.
It was not as though the thought had never crossed his mind. Powerful as the Heavenly Huang Clan was, it would have been utterly unrealistic if every member needed a pill on the level of a Ninth Grade Golden Pill to hatch.
However, Huang Jiuji had been a sly old fox back then, and both his life and Xiao Qing's had been in the old man's hands. If he refused and Huang Jiuji killed them, they would have been in real trouble.
He had thus had no choice but to hold his nose and sign that treaty under siege.
"Ah, Grand Supreme Elder, you're being far too serious. I willingly agreed to your terms. Besides, even if it was a Ninth Grade Golden Pill, it wasn't as though there were no way to obtain one. I never intended to go back on my word, so there's no need to mention this again.
"Now, whatever you need, just tell me. If I can resolve it, I'll do it for you right away. If I can't, I'll find a way." Xiao Tian Ce waved his hand, speaking without the slightest concern.
Despite his words, he had already guessed that, barring any surprises, Huang Jiuji's request would concern either the pills or the White Jade Capital.
A moment later, his guess was confirmed.
"Clan Head, I would like to place my two juniors inside the White Jade Capital. The liquid Dou Qi accumulated there can help them grow quickly. Even without pills to assist them, they will hatch within three years at most.
"If you could help refine two Eighth-Tier Pills, they would be able to break out of their shells in a year at most, or as little as half a year.
"Please grant my request, Clan Head." Huang Jiuji bowed.
Hearing this, Xiao Tian Ce helped him straighten up, then said with a smile, "Grand Supreme Elder, I agree to everything you've asked. You may send them into the White Jade Capital whenever you wish."
"Also, if you're worried about Xiao Clan Members disturbing them, we can seal off the White Jade Capital until they hatch."
"As for the pills, give me the Pill Recipe and I'll work out how long it will take. If I can finish refining them within half a year, I'll begin immediately."
"If I can't finish within half a year, I'll start once the Xiao Clan's affairs are settled and I return."
At these words, the respect in Huang Jiuji's eyes deepened. Having just inspected it, he knew what the White Jade Capital could bring to the Xiao Clan, yet Xiao Tian Ce was willing to seal it off. Such kindness was enough to make him respect Xiao Tian Ce all the more.
"Thank you, Clan Head, but there's no need to seal it off. As long as I place them beneath the accumulated liquid Dou Qi, the drops falling from it will provide enough energy for them.
"As for the Pill Recipe, please take a look. This is the Pill Recipe for the Myriad Phoenix Blood-Nourishing Bone-Melting Pill, an Eighth-Tier Eight-Colored Pill, along with the required medicinal ingredients. Please study it before making your decision."
"As long as the pills are refined within three years, they will help the two hatch in better condition." The Storage Ring on Huang Jiuji's hand flew off and landed directly before Xiao Tian Ce.
Xiao Tian Ce wasted no time. He took out the Pill Recipe and studied it, gaining a clear idea of what was required after roughly a dozen minutes.
"I can refine both pills at the same time. Three months will be enough to finish them," Xiao Tian Ce said in a low voice after a moment's consideration.
"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Clan Head. I'll send the two juniors into the White Jade Capital now." Delighted, Huang Jiuji hastily bowed and hurried toward the Heavenly Phoenix Palace.
Watching him come and go in such a rush, Xiao Tian Ce smiled in satisfaction. In truth, he could construct another Eighth-Tier Spirit-Gathering Array right now. He had only offered to seal off the White Jade Capital to win Huang Jiuji's loyalty.
Of course, he would never tell anyone this secret, not now and not in the future. A single Eighth-Level Spirit Gathering Array was enough to support the development of the entire Xiao Clan.
Once he reached the level of a ninth-tier Spiritual Array master or a Spiritual Array grandmaster, he could simply upgrade this Eighth-Tier Spirit-Gathering Array.
Putting those unrelated thoughts out of his mind, he turned to Xiao Du Ming and stroked his little head. "Come on. We have work to do!"
"Yes, Master."
As they spoke, the two headed toward the Ninth Layer of the Heavenly Strategy Manor.
Over the next half month, Xiao Tian Ce thoroughly mastered the formula for the Myriad Phoenix Blood-Nourishing Bone-Melting Pill. He also sorted out the medicinal ingredients in the Storage Ring Huang Jiuji had just delivered. There were enough for ten batches. With his current alchemy skills, he could succeed at least eight or nine times.
Two months later, nine-colored pill lightning gathered in the sky above the Heavenly Strategy Manor, raging with extraordinary ferocity.
Since both Myriad Phoenix Blood-Nourishing Bone-Melting Pills had been successfully refined at the same time, a full eighteen bolts of heavenly lightning gathered in the sky. Each one was powerful enough to reduce a newly advanced Dou Zong to drifting smoke and scattered dust. Moreover, as time passed, those eighteen bolts actually showed signs of merging, like the wrath of heaven itself.
Xiao Tian Ce remained calm. He activated his soul power, and a golden figure immediately shot into the clouds, bathing in the pill lightning.
An hour later, the heavenly lightning dispersed. The two pills were perfectly round, as though formed by nature itself, their exquisite pill patterns making them look like living works of art.
Whoosh, whoosh.
At that moment, the two pills fled in opposite directions. Xiao Tian Ce's smile remained unchanged as he murmured, If I let you escape, wouldn't I lose all face?
Please support me, please, please! Wu Meng thanks all the brothers and sisters reading this story.
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