"Junior Li Xuan, please be seated." Qiu Zhen said with a smile as they entered the Treasure Pavilion. Li Xuan, hearing this, casually sat down and then looked at Qiu Zhen.
Qiu Zhen understood Li Xuan's intention and immediately spoke, "Junior Li Xuan, if this old man's eyes don't deceive him, those low-grade spiritual swords you took out earlier should have been purchased from our pavilion, correct?"
"Pavilion Master Qiu, let's speak plainly," Li Xuan nodded and said.
"Very well, since you say so, this old man will be direct," Qiu Zhen nodded. "Earlier, a... hmm, a senior came to this pavilion to purchase some low-grade spiritual swords, and before that, that senior sold a recipe for a fourth-grade spirit pill. Junior Li Xuan, what is your relationship with this senior?"
"That is my master," Li Xuan said with an unchanged expression.
Yi Qin: "..."
"Haha, as expected. Junior Li Xuan, to be frank, a senior from the main pavilion has arrived here, and their purpose is to meet your master. Does Junior Li Xuan's master have time? Oh, right, this senior is a sixth-grade alchemist." Qiu Zhen was overjoyed. The day after Li Xuan sold the fourth-grade spirit pill recipe, that person had already arrived. But Qiu Zhen couldn't find any trace of them, so he could only wait. He never expected that by going to the Li family to watch the competition, he would find someone related to that person, and moreover, that person's disciple.
"Master is currently indisposed and cannot appear. Does the senior from your main pavilion have some business with my master?" After hearing Qiu Zhen's words, Li Xuan immediately asked Yi Qin. The result was that upon hearing Yi Qin say, "A mere sixth-grade wants to see me, is he dreaming?" he immediately deflated. However, since it was a strong individual from the main pavilion of the Treasure Pavilion, and also a sixth-grade alchemist, Li Xuan was naturally curious.
"Junior Li Xuan may not know, but the recipe your master sold, although only a fourth-grade spirit pill recipe, is an ancient recipe that has been lost for a long time. One who can possess an ancient recipe must be extremely proficient in the art of alchemy. Otherwise, with the dignity of a sixth-grade alchemist, why would they come to a small place like Qingcheng? That senior wishes to seek guidance on some matters, and thus came to Qingcheng to meet your master," Qiu Zhen said with a wry smile.
"Pavilion Master Qiu, let me think about it." Li Xuan nodded in realization. No wonder Qiu Zhen, as the pavilion master of the branch of the Treasure Pavilion, treated him with such courtesy. It turned out the recipe was an ancient one. After recalling that Yi Qin had been suppressed for tens of thousands of years, Li Xuan felt relieved.
"Senior Yi Qin, shall we meet?" Li Xuan thought for a moment and then asked in his mind. Li Xuan had heard some things about the lineage of alchemists. Although alchemists were highly respected now, it was also because there were not many of them. It was rumored that a major event occurred among alchemists ten thousand years ago, causing a break in their lineage. Now that an ancient recipe had reappeared, it was no wonder that the sixth-grade alchemist had come here. If it were Li Xuan himself, he would probably have made the trip personally.
"No," Yi Qin refused without hesitation. What a joke, a mere sixth-grade alchemist. In her time, even ninth-grade alchemists kneeling before her could not have obtained even a shred of guidance. What was this sixth-grade alchemist to her?
"Senior Yi Qin, look, although I know you don't think highly of this sixth-grade alchemist, with my current strength and status, the other party probably wouldn't think much of me either. If I can establish a good relationship with them, it would actually be a good thing. Although I cannot confirm if you are an alchemist, if you are, wouldn't you want to see the alchemist lineage flourish?" Li Xuan said.
"I said no," Yi Qin replied, then paused. "However, what you say is not without merit. You have now left your family, and with your cultivation method, you will truly be stuck without abundant resources. Fine, have him come here. Then, you can tell him what he wants to ask."
"I tell him? Senior Yi Qin, I am not an alchemist." Li Xuan was stunned. How could he solve the problems of an alchemist? Moreover, if even a sixth-grade alchemist couldn't solve it, what was he to say?
"Didn't you just say you were a disciple?" Yi Qin chuckled, and her voice gradually faded.
Li Xuan gave a wry smile. This made Qiu Zhen a little nervous.
"Pavilion Master Qiu, my master truly has no time at the moment. However, I have followed my master since childhood and may have some insights that could be of help." Looking at Qiu Zhen's nervous and expectant expression, Li Xuan smiled slightly and said.
"Junior Li Xuan is also an alchemist? Look at this old man's memory. Since Junior Li Xuan is that senior's disciple, he is naturally an alchemist as well. It's rare for Junior Li Xuan to be able to help. This old man will go invite that senior here. Junior Li Xuan, after this matter is concluded, no matter what, this old man owes you a favor." Qiu Zhen's expression was a bit disappointed after hearing Li Xuan's initial words, but Li Xuan's subsequent words made Qiu Zhen's eyes light up.
"Pavilion Master Qiu is too kind. How could I, a junior, possibly have a sixth-grade alchemist come to see me? I shall accompany Pavilion Master Qiu to meet that senior." Li Xuan smiled. Although Qiu Zhen was only the pavilion master of the Qingcheng branch of the Treasure Pavilion, even the City Lord's mansion showed him respect. Li Xuan knew that the Treasure Pavilion was spread throughout the entire Tianyun Kingdom. If Qiu Zhen could enter the main pavilion, this favor would be significant.
"Junior Li Xuan is so humble. His future achievements will likely be beyond even this old man's admiration. Junior Li Xuan, please." Qiu Zhen's eyes flashed with a hint of admiration. Li Xuan's status and his identity as an alchemist almost allowed him to be arrogant among his peers. But to be able to remain unpretentious and calm, such young people were truly rare.
"I suddenly realized, you're a bit flashy," Yi Qin's voice suddenly sounded in Li Xuan's mind halfway there.
Li Xuan: "..."
A moment later, Li Xuan followed Qiu Zhen to the top floor of the Treasure Pavilion. Qiu Zhen gave Li Xuan a look that said "wait a moment," then stepped forward and bowed, "Elder Zeng, this Junior Li Xuan is the disciple of that senior. I wonder if Elder Zeng has time?"
"That person's disciple?" As soon as Qiu Zhen finished speaking, the tightly closed room door suddenly opened. A figure appeared in Li Xuan's sight, his snow-white long beard particularly striking.
"This person's lifespan is only ten years," at this moment, Yi Qin's voice sounded again in Li Xuan's mind.
Li Xuan was startled. Then, under Elder Zeng's gaze, he slowly stepped forward three paces and said in a slow voice, "My master has some matters preventing him from meeting Elder Zeng. After learning that Pavilion Master Qiu was looking for my master, I chose to come and meet you. Elder Zeng, to speak with utmost disrespect, you seem to have less than ten years left to live."
Qiu Zhen was greatly astonished. The Elder Zeng before him looked full of vigor. At this moment, Elder Zeng's eyelids twitched, and his gaze towards Li Xuan became more serious.
"Young friend, please come inside for a chat."