After Mittel Tengshan and Hai Bodong left the Xiao Clan residence, they walked side by side through the streets of the imperial capital.
Only after walking for quite a while did Mittel Tengshan finally voice his amazement.
"Elder Hai, Lord Lu is so young, yet he already possesses such formidable strength. He truly is extraordinary. A seventh-tier alchemist in his early twenties who can even refine pills on the level of the Sect Breaking Pill-I've lived more than half my life, but this is the first time I've ever seen someone like him."
Hai Bodong nodded with deep agreement, his expression somewhat grave.
"Indeed. And Lord Lu isn't just skilled in alchemy. His own strength is even more unfathomable."
"I've already recovered my strength as a peak nine-star Dou Emperor, but when I stand before Lord Lu, I can still feel an instinctive sense of oppression. It's hard to describe, but it's definitely not something an ordinary powerhouse could exude."
Hearing this, Mittel Tengshan was even more shocked. Elder Hai was a peak nine-star Dou Emperor. If even he felt that pressure, just what level had Lord Lu's strength reached?
After glancing at him, Hai Bodong shook his head, signaling him not to dwell on it.
"It's enough that we understand Lord Lu's situation ourselves. Don't spread it around. Since someone like him is willing to remain in the Jia Ma Empire, that's our good fortune. We just need to cultivate a good relationship with him."
Mittel Tengshan nodded repeatedly. "You're right, Elder Hai. From now on, I'll certainly make sure to build a good relationship with Lord Lu."
"Whatever Lord Lu needs in the future, the Mittel Auction House will give him its full cooperation."
After hearing this, Hai Bodong fell silent for a while, unable to stop thinking again about Jia Xingtian's breakthrough to Dou Zong. After all, he too was now a peak nine-star Dou Emperor, in exactly the same position Jia Xingtian had been before.
Jia Xingtian had successfully broken through to Dou Zong after taking the Sect Breaking Pill, and he wanted the same opportunity. But such things could not be rushed. Since Lord Lu had said he would consider it, there was still hope.
Having secretly made up his mind, Hai Bodong thought that he had to let Lord Lu see his sincerity, no matter what.
Three days later, a special guest arrived in the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire.
Clad in a black robe that concealed her features, Queen Medusa arrived in the imperial capital alone.
She had brought no attendants and alerted no one, entering human territory without a sound.
Standing on a street in the imperial capital, Queen Medusa swept her gaze over the surrounding buildings and pedestrians, her heart remaining unruffled. In fact, her purpose in coming to the Jia Ma Empire was clear: she wanted to find the alchemist who could refine the Sect Breaking Pill.
Whatever conditions that person proposed, she had to find a way to have them refine a Sect Breaking Pill for her.
After asking for directions, Queen Medusa headed toward the Xiao Clan residence.
At the same time, Yun Yun of the Misty Cloud Sect and her disciple Nalan Yanran had also arrived in the imperial capital of the Jia Ma Empire.
Travel-worn from their journey, the two headed straight for the Nalan Family after entering the imperial capital.
Inside the Nalan Family residence, Nalan Jie and his son Nalan Su were discussing matters. When a servant reported that Sect Master Yun Yun and the young miss had returned, they hurriedly rose to greet them.
Seeing Yun Yun enter with Nalan Yanran, both Nalan Jie and Nalan Su were somewhat curious.
"Sect Master Yun Yun, Yanran, why have you suddenly come back?" Nalan Jie asked.
"Aren't you busy with affairs at the Misty Cloud Sect?"
Nalan Yanran glanced at her grandfather and father before explaining.
"Grandfather, Father, we've returned on important business. My teacher and I have come specifically to pay someone a visit."
Hearing this, Nalan Jie and Nalan Su exchanged a glance, both looking puzzled.
"Pay someone a visit? Who? When did someone so important appear in our imperial capital that the sect master and Yanran would make the trip in person?"
Nalan Yanran glanced at Yun Yun. Seeing that her teacher had no intention of stopping her, she spoke.
"The person we're visiting is named Lu Changfeng. I heard he's staying at the Xiao Clan residence in the imperial capital. Grandfather, Father, have you heard of him?"
Upon hearing this name, both Nalan Jie and Nalan Su froze for a moment, then looked bewildered.
"Lu Changfeng? The Xiao Clan residence?"
As his words fell, Nalan Jie frowned in thought, then shook his head.
"I've never heard of him. Since when has there been someone named Lu Changfeng in the imperial capital? I do remember the Xiao Clan residence. Isn't that the estate the declining Xiao Clan left behind in the imperial capital?"
"It seems to have been vacant all this time. Someone only moved in recently."
Hearing that neither her grandfather nor her father knew Lu Changfeng, Nalan Yanran was not surprised. After all, Lu Changfeng usually kept a very low profile, and ordinary people really did not know of his existence.
She added, "Grandfather, Father, that Lu Changfeng is the alchemist who refined the Sect Breaking Pill for the venerable Elder Jia, Jia Xingtian. He's also a seventh-tier alchemist, and his strength is even more unfathomable."
Hearing this, Nalan Jie and Nalan Su were instantly stunned.
"What? He's the one who refined the Sect Breaking Pill for Elder Jia, and he's a seventh-tier alchemist? When did someone like that appear in the imperial capital?"
Nalan Jie's face was filled with disbelief. As the head of the Nalan Family, he could be considered well-informed in the imperial capital, yet he had never heard that a seventh-tier alchemist was living in the Xiao Clan residence.
Beside him, Nalan Su was also visibly shocked. He could not help pressing her with another question.
"Yanran, how old is this Lu Changfeng you're talking about?"
Nalan Yanran glanced at him and answered truthfully, "He's said to be only in his early twenties."
At that instant, hearing her answer, Nalan Jie and Nalan Su looked even more astonished.
A seventh-tier alchemist in his early twenties, who could even refine a Sect Breaking Pill to help Jia Xingtian break through to Dou Zong?
In the past, they would never even have dared imagine such a thing, yet now it was truly happening right before their eyes.
Only after considerable effort did Nalan Jie come back to his senses, hurriedly saying, "If he's someone like that, then he's certainly worth visiting."
"Does the family need to prepare anything? Should we send a visiting card ahead first?"
At last, Yun Yun spoke. "There's no need for so much trouble. We can simply go to the Xiao Clan residence and pay him a visit. Although he's powerful, he doesn't seem to care much for all that red tape."
Nalan Jie nodded and immediately had someone prepare gifts.
Standing beside them, Nalan Yanran was filled with curiosity about the young man named Lu Changfeng.
In a little while, she would see for herself just what the young man her teacher had described, the one who had casually slapped the Amethyst Winged Lion King flying, actually looked like!