Ninth In the World

Di Jiu executed a complicated Alchemy Art with both of his hands, taking out nine elixirs when he lifted his hand.

Every single one of the nine elixirs was nine-patterned, which implied that they were all top-notch, special-class immortal pills.

Di Jiu did not immediately observe these nine elixirs. Instead, he closed his eyes and started reflecting on his gains and losses during the making of this cauldron.

He opened his eyes after two hours. After repeatedly amending the Alchemy Art and merging it with the Alchemy Dao Law of both the Creation Cauldron and his own, he believed that the chances of him succeeding in purifying the Seven-Orifice Cloud Annulus were over 90 percent.

The nine elixirs he was holding were not grade-three immortal pills but true grade-four immortal pills. These pills were Thousand Mortal Elixirs.

The Thousand Mortal Elixir was a top-notch healing elixir among the grade-four immortal pills. Di Jiu was now scared of getting injured again. Therefore, the first thing he did when he became a grade-four Alchemy Grandmaster was refine healing elixirs.

The alchemy jade slips Di Jiu had gotten stated that the maximum number of grade-four immortal pills to be produced at one time per cauldron were six. However, Di Jiu produced nine grade-four immortal pills maximum per cauldron. This pleased Di Jiu greatly, as he knew that this was because his Alchemy Dao was different from other people’s.

The reason he was able to achieve that was because his Alchemy Dao was formed from the merging of the laws of all beings. Also, his understanding of the Dao laws was much deeper than other alchemists’.

Di Jiu put away the Creation Cauldron and cleaned himself up.

Now, he could find Chi Yuanqing. Otherwise, staying here, where he had to watch his actions, would not be beneficial to his future plans.

Di Jiu opened the restrictions and realized that a shop assistant was standing outside. This shop assistant was the Golden Immortal who had brought him there back then.

“Hello, I would like to check out.” Di Jiu greeted the assistant with a smile.

This shop assistant was not bad. If it had not been for him, Di Jiu would not have known that the various Elixir Dispensaries were hiring.

The shop assistant had evidently been standing in that spot for a long time, yet he was unable to sense Di Jiu’s presence the moment the latter came out of the room. Now that Di Jiu came up to greet him, he immediately exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “Sir, you’ve come out of seclusion?”

“That’s right. Help me complete the checking-out procedure. I want to leave this place,” repeated Di Jiu.

“Sir, I have waited here for quite a number of days. Deacon Huo from the Star Elixir Dispensary has come by once. She said that you could head to the Star Elixir Dispensary to find her once you came out of seclusion. There seemed to be something she would like to talk to you about,” said the shop assistant hastily.

Di Jiu nodded his head. “Thank you, I’ll head over. In the future, if you ever need elixirs, you could head to the Star Elixir Dispensary and I will help you refine a cauldron of elixir for free. Oh, by the way, what’s your name?”

“Thank you. Thank you, sir. I’m called Lu Kui.” The shop assistant was so excited that his voice was quivering.

However, he quickly remembered why he had been waiting there for the past few days and hurriedly said, “Sir, a man called Shen An had been waiting here for you for nearly two weeks. I told him that you were in seclusion and that I would inform him once you were out. However, he insisted on staying here and waiting for you.”

Shen An? Di Jiu was confused. He thought for a while, as he did not remember knowing someone called Shen An.

“Where is he?” asked Di Jiu.

“He is in the hall on the first floor of this inn. You could go back in seclusion if you do not wish to meet him,” replied Lu Kui hastily.

Di Jiu clapped Lu Kui on the shoulder, took out a jade bottle and handed it to him. “There’s no need to. Lead the way. This elixir is for you.”

Di Jiu understood the implications of Lu Kui’s words. The latter was worried that Di Jiu’s enemies were there to find Di Jiu. He and Lu Kui were strangers. Lu Kui had reported to him as a form of repayment, simply because Di Jiu had promised to help Lu Kui refine elixirs. Lu Kui must have waited here whenever he was free to be able to immediately inform Di Jiu of this matter once the latter was out.

“Thank you, sir.” Lu Kui was aware that Di Jiu was a grade-three Alchemy Master. The deacon of the Star Elixir Dispensary had even come by personally to find him, and even the deacon of the Tripod-Existing Elixir Dispensary had stopped by the inn twice to see Alchemy Master Di. This proved that Alchemy Master Di was very capable.

“Are you Alchemy Master Di?” A middle-aged man seated in the corner of the hall stood up the moment Di Jiu reached the ground floor. He approached Di Jiu with a look of delight.

Di Jiu’s pupils dilated, for this man was actually a late-stage Immortal King. Why had such an expert waited there for more than two weeks? Di Jiu was certain that he did not know this man, but he believed that the latter would most likely be a reasonable person. Otherwise, the man would not have waited for him but directly knocked on his restrictions a long time ago.

“That’s right. I’m Di Jiu,” said Di Jiu as he cupped his fists.

“I’m Shen An, and I come from the Starry Demon Palace. There are some matters I would like to discuss with you. Could you step aside with me to the spirit tea house nearby to have a chat?” Shen An was an Immortal King, yet he spoke in a warm, respectful tone to Di Jiu.

Lu Kui, who was standing behind Di Jiu, shuddered in fright the moment he heard the three words ‘Starry Demon Palace’. Di Jiu’s Spiritual Force senses were extremely powerful and he sensed Lu Kui’s shudder, even though the latter was standing behind him. It seemed that the Starry Demon Palace was not an ordinary place.

“Of course.” Di Jiu was not really afraid of the man. This was the Gigantic Tripod Immortal City, which meant that the man would not force him to do anything even if he was an Immortal King.

After accepting Shen An’s invitation, Di Jiu turned and told the shop assistant, “Please help me check out and see how many immortal crystals I need to top up.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Lu Kui before he quickly helped Di Jiu calculate the amount required.

“Are you Alchemy Master Di? Oh, Manager Shen is here as well.” A bright and clear voice was heard as a man with a goatee walked over.

“And you are?” asked Di Jiu in confusion. He wondered why so many people he did not know were approaching him that day.

The man with the goatee laughed and said, “I’m Deacon Lu Zhao from the Tripod-Existing Elixir Dispensary. I have come here today to invite you to join the Tripod-Existing Elixir Dispensary. If you are willing, we could have a chat after you’ve finished your discussion with Manager Shen.”

Di Jiu, who understood, cupped his fists and said, “Thank you for choosing me, Deacon Lu. However, I’ve already joined the Star Elixir Dispensary and have no choice but to let you down.”

Lu Zhao laughed again. “Alchemy Master Di, it might not be good to talk about people behind their backs, but I think that, given the formidable alchemy skills that you possess, only the Tripod-Existing Elixir Dispensary will be capable of helping you develop. Any other places would only limit your potential.”

Di Jiu felt a little displeased. His tone turned cool as he said, “Thank you. My alchemy skills are only average. Therefore, the Star Elixir Dispensary is a suitable place for me. I’m afraid I would not be able to hold my own in an Elixir Dispensary of a high level. Farewell.”

As soon as he said that, Di Jiu turned and left. He did not like the arrogant demeanor of the man with the goatee, who evidently thought that he was showing him respect by coming there personally a few times to find him.

Lu Zhao frowned. He was about to speak again when Shen An stopped him. “Let it go. He has already joined an Elixir Dispensary.”

Lu Zhao stared at Di Jiu’s back unhappily. He had been rejected by a grade-three Alchemy Master he had personally approached.

…

At the Auspicious Cloud Immortal Tea House, Shen An ordered a kettle of Immortal Spirit Tea and poured a cup for Di Jiu. Then, he said, “The reason I invited you over so suddenly is because there are no options left for me.”

Di Jiu, who wanted to start a business about Immortal Spirit Teas, silently shook his head after he took a sip of tea. The Immortal Spirit Tea Shen An had ordered was considered expensive, yet its taste was far inferior to the Star Immortal Spirit Tea.

“May I know what matter Daoist Shen came here to find me for?” said Di Jiu as he placed the teacup in his hand down.

Shen An’s cultivation level far surpassed his. Hence, he should have addressed him as Senior. However, it seemed that Shen An had a favor to ask of him. It would not be beneficial to the preceding negotiation if Di Jiu addressed him like that. After all, he was a grade-three Alchemy Master, so he possessed a certain prestige himself.

The Starry Demon Palace said solemnly, “Alchemy Master Di, the Young Palatial Lord is seeking an alchemist like you to discuss with. You can set any conditions, so long as you are willing to come with me to the Starry Demon Palace.”

Di Jiu smiled. “I’m sorry. I do not intend to leave the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City just yet.”

“May I know how long you intend to stay here for?” Shen An seemed to know that Di Jiu would not leave the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City. Therefore, he asked how long the latter would be staying in the city instead.

Di Jiu fell silent for a while before saying, “Perhaps for another seven or eight years.”

Mo Yuxuan would still be able to live for a while. If he was not able to find the Agama True Glazed Water after staying there for seven or eight years, he would leave the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City and continue his search elsewhere.

Shen An did not attempt to continue persuading Di Jiu upon hearing that Di Jiu would be staying there for seven to eight more years. Instead, he took out a jade card and handed it to Di Jiu. “Alchemy Master Di, this is the authorization jade card of the Starry Demon Palace. If you encounter any difficulties in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City, you could directly take and show this jade card.”

Upon sensing Di Jiu’s confusion, Shen An said, “Since you are unwilling to leave the Gigantic Tripod, I will head back and ask the Young Palatial Lord to come to the Gigantic Tripod to seek your help.”

Di Jiu liked hearing those words. He had never heard of the Starry Demon Palace before, but it should not be a simple existence based on Lu Kui’s reaction. This proved that the Starry Demon Palace was not a repulsive existence. Although it was a powerful immortal sect, its Young Palatial Lord would come there to seek help.

At this thought, Di Jiu accepted the jade card. “Alright, I will wait for the Young Palatial Lord here.”