The Third Elder shouted excitedly into the sect.
A ninth-grade Alchemist, there was almost none in the Dark Void Continent, which was why the Residual Night Sect had issued a decree.
To think that as soon as the decree was issued, one had arrived, a genuine ninth-grade Alchemist.
"I apologize for my earlier offense, please do not blame me," the Third Elder bowed to Xia Feng.
Alchemists held very high status, especially high-grade Alchemists.
Even though the Residual Night Sect had once produced an Immortal Emperor, they still treated a ninth-grade Alchemist with great respect, as they were in need of their services.
"It's nothing," Xia Feng said indifferently.
Seeing Xia Feng's arrogance, the Third Elder nodded inwardly. As expected of an Alchemist, their temperament was indeed different.
At the Third Elder's shout, several figures quickly flew out from within the sect.
"Sect Master," the Third Elder greeted the man in the lead.
Shen You, the Sect Master of the Residual Night Sect, nodded slightly and looked at Xia Feng, saying courteously, "May I know what to call young friend?"
"Xia Feng," Xia Feng replied, still expressionless, in a faint tone.
This was the typical personality of an Alchemist; with no real power, their airs were incredibly high.
After all, all cultivators sought out Alchemists; if they weren't arrogant, who would be?
"Young friend Xia Feng, please," Shen You gestured courteously.
Xia Feng, still expressionless, walked into the Residual Night Sect on his own.
Several people accompanied him, Shen You's face beaming with smiles.
Upon arriving at the Residual Night Sect, they first entertained Xia Feng. Afterward, Shen You took the initiative to say, "Young friend, we need to refine the eighth-grade Reversal Pill. What are your requirements? As long as it's something we can do, just name it."
"Who will be taking the eighth-grade Reversal Pill?" Xia Feng asked.
"My son's cultivation went awry, severing his meridians. Only the eighth-grade Reversal Pill can repair them. If we can't find a ninth-grade Alchemist in time, I intend to ask Uncle-Master Residual Night Immortal Emperor for help."
Shen You revealed the truth and even mentioned Residual Night Immortal Emperor, undoubtedly trying to reassure Xia Feng into refining the pill for him.
The implication was that even without a ninth-grade Alchemist, their sect would still have a solution in the end.
After all, it was very simple for an Immortal Emperor to seek assistance from a ninth-grade Alchemist.
Of course, the more direct implication was that Shen You wanted to show off, as Residual Night Immortal Emperor was his uncle.
"Are the medicinal ingredients all prepared?" Xia Feng asked.
"All prepared," Shen You nodded.
"Then take me to see them," Xia Feng said.
"Please."
Shen You didn't think much of it. Xia Feng wanting to see the medicinal ingredients meant he was ready to help refine the pill.
Xia Feng followed Shen You to a storeroom. Shen You spoke a few words to the people inside, and then the medicinal ingredients for the eighth-grade Reversal Pill were brought out.
Xia Feng glanced at them casually, but he couldn't enter.
These storerooms were equipped with special restrictions. As soon as one scanned them with divine sense, an alarm would automatically trigger; even Immortal Emperors were no exception.
"Young friend, are there any issues?" Shen You asked Xia Feng.
"The medicinal ingredients are fine. Now, let's discuss my compensation," Xia Feng said after a glance at the ingredients.
"Please state it," Shen You extended his hand.
"I want a stalk of Nai Wei Grass as compensation," Xia Feng stated directly.
Upon hearing this, Shen You's eyes narrowed, and he looked at Xia Feng without speaking.
Then, in a cold tone, he asked, "How did you know that our Residual Night Sect possessed Nai Wei Grass?"
"I heard it from others," Xia Feng did not conceal it.
"I'm sorry, I cannot agree to this request, nor can I fulfill it. Please choose another condition," Shen You said helplessly, spreading his hands.
Nai Wei Grass was extremely precious. Its effect was to stabilize one's realm, any realm.
If you treated it as grass, it was grass, and it could stabilize the realm of a mortal immortal.
If you treated it as a treasure, it was a treasure, and it could stabilize the realm of an Immortal Emperor.
Immediately after breaking through a realm, one's state was the most unstable; some people, after breaking through, could fall back at any moment if their realm was not stable.
If one broke through to Immortal Emperor and immediately consumed Nai Wei Grass to stabilize their realm, it would be exceptionally precious.
Therefore, Shen You rejected Xia Feng's condition without a second thought.
While his son's future was undoubtedly important, it paled in comparison to Nai Wei Grass.
Besides, Nai Wei Grass was not something a mere Sect Master could decide on.
"This is my only condition," Xia Feng said.
"Then there's nothing we can do," Shen You's expression turned stern.
Xia Feng thought for a moment and then said, "I am obsessed with alchemy and very interested in Nai Wei Grass. How about we both compromise? I only need to catch a glimpse of the Nai Wei Grass. Your people can be present throughout. I am only at the Immortal Emperor stage; surely you don't fear that I can steal treasures from the Residual Night Sect?"
Shen You fell silent.
It seemed not impossible, but he was very curious. Could one eat it just by looking at it?
"Young friend, I don't quite understand. What's the use of just looking at it?" Shen You asked, puzzled.
"You should understand the nature of us Alchemists; we never rest until we've thoroughly investigated something we're curious about."
Xia Feng used the nature of Alchemists to explain, then continued, "I am now a ninth-grade Alchemist and am on the verge of reaching the threshold of a Grandmaster. Nai Wei Grass has always been a high-level medicinal ingredient I wished to obtain. Even if I can't get it, just seeing it once is enough to resolve my inner demons and allow me to peacefully strive for the realm of Alchemy Grandmaster."
With Xia Feng's explanation, Shen You's curiosity was completely dispelled, and his earlier concerns vanished.
Indeed, the inner demons of cultivators were extremely important.
"How about this, I'll consider it. Even if you want to see it, it's not something I can decide. I'll discuss it with the Ancestors."
Shen You was tempted. He didn't believe Xia Feng would actually dare to steal treasures from the Residual Night Sect.
Even if he dared to steal, he'd need the strength for it.
With Xia Feng's current cultivation, he could crush him with one hand.
"Alright, I'll visit again tomorrow," Xia Feng nodded and bid Shen You farewell.
After Xia Feng descended the mountain, Shen You summoned someone.
"Sect Master."
Zhang Binbai, the Great Elder of the Residual Night Sect, called out courteously.
"Great Elder, I have something to trouble you with," Shen You said to the Great Elder before him, his tone somewhat polite.
"Please instruct me, Sect Master," Zhang Binbai said.
"That ninth-grade Alchemist who just left the mountain, keep an eye on him and see what his next moves are," Shen You instructed.
The Great Elder had the cultivation of an early Immortal Venerable. Other disciples weren't strong enough. Xia Feng, after all, was at the mid-stage of Immortal Emperor; if other Immortal Emperors were sent to monitor him, it would be easy for Xia Feng to discover them.
Therefore, only Zhang Binbai could be sent to monitor him.
Shen You couldn't possibly ask the Ancestors for help for such a trivial matter; it was better to do it himself.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Binbai said solemnly, "Yes, Sect Master."
After Zhang Binbai left, Shen You felt something was amiss, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what.