Earth Pill Sect, Council Hall.
Hong Qingliu had already waited for more than thirty breaths, but no one had given him a response.
So he raised his voice. "If we cannot supply a hundred Origin-Replenishing Pills, the Sacred Martial Dynasty will surely be furious. Our sect's days ahead certainly won't be easy.
"Now is not the time to play deaf and dumb."
Finally, a white-bearded elder spoke. "Sect Master, Elder Zu's whereabouts are unknown. We cannot make up the shortfall of twenty Origin-Replenishing Pills with our own strength.
"As things stand, our only option is to buy Origin-Replenishing Pills elsewhere while we still have enough time."
At this, shame appeared on the faces of many Earth Pill Sect leaders.
A dignified Alchemy Dao sect actually had to buy pills from others to meet an emergency.
Just then, a black-robed elder picked up the conversation. "There aren't many fourth-level Alchemists or higher in the Imperial Dynasty.
"Origin-Replenishing Pills are also in high demand. Even if we want to buy them at such short notice, I'm afraid it won't be easy."
The white-bearded elder said quietly, "They may be hard to buy elsewhere, but we can certainly buy them in Dragon Soaring City.
"Dragon Soaring City is the foremost city beneath the Sacred Martial Dynasty's imperial capital. Martial Dao experts gather there, and high-level Alchemists are far from scarce.
"We will definitely be able to buy Origin-Replenishing Pills there."
At the words "Dragon Soaring City," Chen Shi'an's heart trembled.
At that moment, a yellow-robed man said in a muffled voice, "Even if we manage to buy Origin-Replenishing Pills from Dragon Soaring City this time, what about six months from now?
"If there's still no news of Elder Zu in six months, we'll have to go to Dragon Soaring City to buy Origin-Replenishing