Invitation

"Fang Yuanfeng of the Fang Household."

"Li Yunche of the Li Household."

"We have long admired your name, Alchemist Wu. Now that we have finally met you today, I never imagined you would be so young. The younger generation is truly a force to be reckoned with."

"Indeed. When I first heard of your exceptional alchemy skills, I thought you must have spent many years immersed in the Dao of Alchemy. You have truly surprised us."

Smiling, the two men entered the shop. Their manners were impeccable, and they carried themselves with the bearing of men born into aristocratic clans.

As they spoke, they discreetly studied the man before them, both feeling at least a little surprised.

What they had just said was not all empty courtesy.

From the news they had received from the Du Household, they knew only that someone had come to Changxing Market who could refine pills beneficial to Qi Refinement cultivators.

There were some pills that strengthened Divine Sense in the thirty-six commanderies of the Land of Wu, but none called the Divine Intent Pill.

If it were merely a pill with a different name, the Du Household would not have acted this way. They could be fairly certain it was a new pill, which was why they had hurried over.

They had not expected him to stay in seclusion so long, making them wait.

"You two household heads flatter me. I merely happened to put together two Pill Formulas."

Xu Fan smiled and cupped his hands before inviting them to sit.

One did not strike a smiling face. Since they were being courteous, he would naturally show them respect in turn.

Besides, both men were the heads of major Foundation Establishment aristocratic clans, and both had reached at least the seventh layer of Qi Refinement.

It seemed that the Divine Intent Pill's ability to strengthen Divine Sense was very important to these lineages.

The Fang, Li, and Du Households stood as three equals in Black Sea City. Had his appearance made it possible to upset that balance?

Was that why the Luminous Plain Moon Mirror had calculated that the other two households would move against him if he left Changxing Market?

"Have you two come for the Divine Intent Pill and the Minor Restoration Pill?"

There was no tea to serve guests here, so Xu Fan got straight to the point.

Business was business, no matter who he did it with.

"You are right, Alchemist Wu. That is indeed why we came."

Fang Yuanfeng and Li Yunche exchanged a glance. They had not expected him to be so direct, and they smiled and nodded.

If the Du Household had not tried to keep everything for itself, the two of them would never have come at the same time, much less sat down together to discuss the matter.

"Would you be willing to join my Fang Household, Alchemist Wu?"

"As long as you are willing, you may take your pick of the Fang Household's daughters of the main line."

"The Fang Household also has two fourth- or fifth-grade Supreme Yin Cultivation Methods, and we will continue searching for more on your behalf. What do you say?"

Fang Yuanfeng spoke first, knowing that he had asked the Du Household to search for Supreme Yin Cultivation Methods.

Though Fang Yuanfeng did not know why, all that mattered was catering to his preferences and winning him over.

"Alchemist Wu, my Li Household has two fourth-grade Supreme Yin Cultivation Methods. If you agree, we can give them to you right now."

"Whatever the Fang and Du Households can offer, the Li Household can match it all, and give you even more."

"My daughter Li Qiushui and Du Qingluo are known as the Twin Beauties of Black Water. Both are at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, and both have a good chance of reaching Foundation Establishment in the future."

"I suppose the Du Household was reluctant to part with her, which is why they let you stay here in the market, Alchemist Wu."

Li Yunche glanced at Fang Yuanfeng, then looked at Wu Song with a smile, brimming with confidence.

Many in the Li Household cultivated water virtue, which did not accord with the prevailing image of the world. Spiritual resources were scarce, and they were often suppressed.

Although the Supreme Yang Immortal Lord had ascended beyond the heavens, several True Lords still remained in the Supreme Yang Dao Lineage.

There was also the Sword Ancestor of the Sword Dao, who had attained the empty fruition.

The prevailing image of the world leaned toward the sun, metal, and fire, as did its spiritual resources and the spiritual workings of heaven and earth.

Most water-virtue True Lords came from dragonkind. No water-virtue Immortal Lord had appeared for countless years, and compared with those of other Dao lineages, their spiritual resources were exceedingly hard to find and obtain.

If the other two households suppressed them further because of the Divine Intent Pill, the Li Household's position would likely become precarious in less than a century.

Naturally, Li Yunche would do everything he could to win Wu Song over on this visit. If he could not, he would have to find another way.

"You have even brought out that precious daughter of yours. You really are willing to part with her."

Fang Yuanfeng looked over in surprise and spoke with some feeling.

Among the Fang Household's daughters of the main line, even the most gifted of this generation had only just advanced to Qi Refinement, far behind Li Qiushui and Du Qingluo.

That was why he had promised Wu Song his pick of them.

Wu Song looked to be under thirty, and he was a Rogue Cultivator. He would make a suitable match.

"What do you think, Alchemist Wu?"

Li Yunche did not respond and asked again.

"The terms you have offered are indeed tempting."

Xu Fan pondered briefly, then said with a smile:

"But I have no intention of joining any household. I came here only to sell pills and collect materials and Supreme Yin Cultivation Methods along the way."

"Refining pills takes time and effort. It is not what I seek, merely a means on my path of cultivation."

"Every six months, I will sell ten bottles each of Divine Intent Pills and Minor Restoration Pills. If you are interested, you may reserve them in advance. Those with high-grade Supreme Yin Cultivation Methods will have priority."

The Du Household alone had managed to find a third-grade Immortal Method. Perhaps the Fang and Li Households, whose reputations stood on par with theirs, could find some for him as well.

Now that he had the third-grade Immortal Method, Essentials of Spiritual Radiance and Plain Moon, there was little need to collect lower-grade methods.

With Essentials of Spiritual Radiance and Plain Moon, he could certainly deduce Plain Luminary Supreme Yin Wondrous Instruction to the third grade, and perhaps even the second.

Ideally, he would find an immortal-level Cultivation Method, then deduce and merge them.

He was in no hurry, though.

He was only at the second layer of Qi Refinement now, and immortal-level Cultivation Methods were still far beyond him. He was simply collecting them as the opportunity arose, in case Great Yin Spiritual Qi truly returned one day.

When that happened, the value of Supreme Yin Cultivation Methods would soar overnight, putting them completely beyond the reach of Rogue Cultivators like him.

Besides, whichever side he joined, the other two households would surely target him. He might as well stay with the Du Household, since it made no difference anyway.

"My Du Household has always respected your wishes, Alchemist Wu. It is not that we cannot offer the same terms as these two. In fact, we can offer even more."

Just as the heads of the Fang and Li Households were frowning in thought, a father and daughter approached the shop. They were none other than the Du Household head and Du Qingluo.

"I have been in seclusion for a long time and have neglected you, Alchemist Wu."

The Du Household head cupped his hands slightly in apology.

"We cultivators naturally put cultivation first."

Xu Fan waved a hand, unconcerned with whether it was true.

"Brother Wu, my household will not force you to do anything."

Du Qingluo spoke softly. On her way here, she had also feared that he might really have left.

Fortunately, Brother Wu was strong-willed and had not agreed and left Changxing Market.

"A capable man naturally deserves a corresponding position. My Fang Household merely offered him a better place to go."

Fang Yuanfeng sneered.

Since the Immortal Lord of the Supreme Yang Dao Lineage had ascended, the spiritual workings of metal virtue had become exceptionally active, while even those of the sun and fire virtue lagged somewhat behind.

In terms of cultivation and combat strength, the Fang Household was the undisputed number one in Black Sea City.

If it came to a real fight, the Du Household's fire-virtue Foundation Establishment cultivator was no match for his father.

"Since you intend to do business with all three Black Sea City households, Alchemist Wu, my Fang Household will gladly take part. It is settled, then."

"The Fang Household will reserve three bottles each of the Minor Restoration Pills and Divine Intent Pills first."

With that, he took his leave.

"Alchemist Wu, the Li Household would likewise like to reserve three bottles each of Minor Restoration Pills and Divine Intent Pills."

Seeing that he could not win Wu Song over, Li Yunche said no more and soon took his leave.

"If you are willing, Alchemist Wu, you may come live on Yang Fire Peak. It is peaceful there, and the spiritual workings of the sun and fire virtue are richer as well."

Du Zhaowen withdrew his gaze from the departing men and made the suggestion with a smile.

Wu Song's willingness to remain in Changxing Market showed that he still trusted the Du Household more.

"I am quite comfortable living here. I will visit when I have the chance."

Xu Fan did not explicitly refuse, though he could not possibly move there.

Traveling between the two worlds right under the nose of a Foundation Establishment Ancestor would be difficult to handle if something went wrong and he was discovered.

"Of course. You are welcome to come at any time, Alchemist Wu."