Supreme Elder

"Guild Master, you've finally come out of seclusion."

The Alchemists' Guild elders hurriedly gathered around him.

But Guild Master Dan Changkong was still staring blankly at Ancestor Danyang in the center of the platform. "Who is that?" he asked.

"Guild Master, that senior calls himself Danyang. He's a ninth-grade alchemist, and his cultivation is at the Sage King Realm."

The elder at their head pondered for a moment before giving that answer.

At those words, Dan Changkong could no longer remain calm.

"It can't be wrong. It really is him."

Boom!

A world-shaking bolt of lightning crashed down from the tribulation clouds, striking straight into the pill furnace before Ancestor Danyang.

Everyone watching held their breath.

Even Ancestor Danyang, a ninth-grade alchemist, wore a grave expression.

The next moment, Ancestor Danyang raised both hands.

The pill furnace before him floated upward.

Boom!

Another bolt of tribulation lightning struck.

Cracks began to spread across the pill furnace. It was already showing signs that it could not hold out.

At this rate, even if the ninth-grade pill was successfully refined, the furnace would be all but ruined.

But its owner, Elder Yan Rong, showed no distress at all. Instead, Yan Rong looked excited.

Though Yan Rong would never have a chance to refine a ninth-grade pill in this lifetime, having one refined in the furnace would still bring Yan Rong glory.

But just then, cracks suddenly began spreading rapidly across the furnace hovering in the air.

At the sight, the alchemists gathered there cried out in unison.

"No!"

If the pill furnace exploded now, the ninth-grade pill would surely be ruined!

At that thought, several elders glared at Elder Yan Rong.

They seemed to be saying it was all the fault of that wretched pill furnace.

Elder Yan Rong's expression was ugly too. Though a seventh-grade alchemist with an esteemed position in the guild, there were still several alchemists above Yan Rong whose attainments in alchemy were a notch higher.

Yet now, the ninth-grade pill was at risk of failure because Yan Rong's furnace was not good enough.

Good intentions really had led to a bad outcome.

Had Yan Rong known this would happen, the furnace would never have been offered.

Below the platform, Lu Qingshan saw what was happening too, but he was much calmer.

He trusted in his own ancestor's strength.

Sure enough, Ancestor Danyang showed no sign of panic. He added a few more portions of medicinal ingredients to the furnace, and the ninth-grade pill, which was about to take shape inside, instantly stabilized.

The pill furnace stopped breaking apart as well.

Seeing this, the crowd's expressions became a sight to behold, and countless alchemists let out long breaths of relief.

Hum-

The void began to hum.

Everyone knew the final bolt of tribulation lightning was gathering.

Once the three bolts of tribulation lightning had passed, the ninth-grade pill would appear in the world.

"To think that in my lifetime, I'd get to see a ninth-grade pill being refined with my own eyes."

Countless people marveled inwardly.

Then, beneath the crowd's unblinking gaze, the third bolt of tribulation lightning crashed down.

Bang!

The pill furnace exploded, sending fragments flying in every direction.

Everyone held their breath, staring fixedly at the cloud of smoke and dust in the void.

As the smoke cleared,

A golden pill the size of a fingernail, ringed by nine pill patterns, appeared before everyone's eyes.

Immediately afterward, a rich pill fragrance slowly wafted out and lingered for a long time.

"It really is a ninth-grade pill."

"Am I dreaming?"

"I have no regrets in this life."

In the void, several lewd presences were also fixed intently on the tiny pill, their greed steadily spreading.

But none of them chose to make a move.

They were no fools.

If they attacked and tried to seize it now, they would be making enemies of practically all of Central Province.

They would also offend the entire Alchemists' Guild, including a genuine ninth-grade alchemist.

"This junior, Dan Changkong, guild master of the Alchemists' Guild, pays his respects to Senior Danyang."

Guild Master Dan Changkong walked forward slowly, then bowed respectfully to Ancestor Danyang.

The other elders behind him followed suit, their earlier doubts nowhere to be seen.

Holding the freshly refined Nine Revolutions Yang Restoration Pill in his palm, Ancestor Danyang turned calmly to look at Dan Changkong and the others.

"You're the current guild master of the Alchemists' Guild?"

"I am."

"Stand aside and wait for now."

"Uh, yes."

Dan Changkong was momentarily taken aback, but he obediently led the elders to one side.

At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped out from below the platform and bowed respectfully to Ancestor Danyang. "Esteemed ninth-grade alchemist, I am the holy lord of the Star Holy Land. I am willing to offer one billion spirit stones for the Nine Revolutions Yang Restoration Pill in Senior's hand."

Everyone present was startled by his words.

One billion spirit stones.

Even in the wealthy Central Province, one billion spirit stones was no small sum.

Many of the factions present could not produce a billion spirit stones even if they emptied their coffers.

As expected of the Star Holy Land, its pockets ran deep.

When Lu Qingshan heard the figure, his eyelids twitched wildly.

One billion.

If the Lineage had a billion spirit stones right now, that would be wonderful beyond words.

But before Ancestor Danyang could answer, another figure stepped forward: a shapely woman. "Senior, I am from the Heavenly Sound Pavilion, and I too wish to buy the Nine Revolutions Yang Restoration Pill in your hand. The Heavenly Sound Pavilion is willing to offer two billion spirit stones."

Two billion!

Lu Qingshan could not help drawing a sharp breath.

The price had doubled just like that.

"You think you can buy a ninth-grade pill for two billion, and a Nine Revolutions Yang Restoration Pill at that? Heh."

"Senior Danyang, I am the hall master of the Thunder Hall. I offer three billion spirit stones!"

A man with thick brows and large eyes stepped forward, his voice rough.

At his words, the entire square fell silent.

Everyone turned to look at Ancestor Danyang without thinking.

Ancestor Danyang's expression was calm, as though he had heard nothing.

He was a man who had seen the wider world. In his era, the Lu Clan had been known as the wealthiest clan on the Cangxuan Continent. What did that mean? How could a mere three billion move him?

His ninth-grade pill could not be measured in spirit stones.

Still, none of these three factions could be underestimated at present, so he could not afford to offend them with his words.

"I'm not selling this pill."

"Uh..."

The Thunder Hall's hall master froze, but remembering the demands from above, he continued politely, "Senior, I am very sincere. To that end, the Thunder Hall is also willing to..."

Before the hall master could finish, Ancestor Danyang shook his head.

"You've misunderstood. I refined this pill for the Alchemists' Guild. It was a transaction between us, so this Nine Revolutions Yang Restoration Pill naturally belongs to the Alchemists' Guild."

Only then did everyone understand.

The members of the Alchemists' Guild could not help smiling.

To be honest, even if Ancestor Danyang had kept the Nine Revolutions Yang Restoration Pill, they would not have dared say anything.

But Ancestor Danyang had left the pill to them after all.

Perhaps Ancestor Danyang had feelings for the Alchemists' Guild in his heart too.

The Thunder Hall's hall master and the other two factions that had made offers said no more.

With everyone's eyes upon him, Ancestor Danyang placed the Nine Revolutions Yang Restoration Pill in the hands of Dan Changkong, the Alchemists' Guild's guild master.

Breathing heavily, Dan Changkong carefully put the ninth-grade pill away.

Ninth-grade pills had long since vanished from the markets of the Cangxuan Continent, but the Alchemists' Guild had deep reserves. Just because others had none did not mean the guild had none.

Even so, they still treasured ninth-grade pills greatly.

After all, no ninth-grade alchemist had appeared in a very long time, so every pill used was one less remaining.

And just like that, the spectacle of refining a ninth-grade pill came to an end.

Ancestor Danyang took Lu Qingshan and left the crowd's sight with Dan Changkong and the others.

Deep within the Alchemists' Guild,

Rich medicinal fields stretched as far as the eye could see.

Dan Changkong showed Ancestor Danyang and Lu Qingshan around, a faint look of pride on his face.

"Senior Danyang, the guild's medicinal fields have grown larger and larger. In all the world, aside from the legendary Yellow Pill Grotto-Heaven, where else could compare to the Alchemists' Guild's medicinal fields?"

The legendary Yellow Pill Grotto-Heaven.

It contained countless laws of the Dao of Alchemy and also possessed a uniquely favorable advantage for cultivating medicinal ingredients.

It could be called a paradise for alchemists.

Unfortunately, this legendary hidden realm had never revealed itself to the world. Even the Alchemists' Guild had searched for it at enormous cost without ever finding it.

Looking at the familiar medicinal fields before him, Ancestor Danyang was filled with a measure of emotion.

"It's been more than eight hundred thousand years already."

When he had first come here, they had only just begun to take shape.

Hearing this, Dan Changkong was visibly moved, his eyes growing moist.

Ancestor Danyang had admitted it. He truly was the Alchemists' Guild's supreme elder from more than eight hundred thousand years ago.

Dan Changkong promptly dropped to his knees and bowed to Ancestor Danyang once more.

"Your junior, Dan Changkong, pays his respects to the Supreme Elder!"