When Golden Cicada Lord met Xu Zimo’s gaze, for reasons he couldn’t explain, a trace of fear welled up in his heart.
He asked, “Then… what do you want?”
“How much do you think your life is worth?” Xu Zimo asked lightly.
“Just say what you want,” Golden Cicada Lord replied.
“Innkeeper, bring me brush and ink,” Xu Zimo instructed the nearby innkeeper.
“As for the damages to your inn, ask him to pay.”
The innkeeper glanced toward Golden Cicada Lord.
Golden Cicada Lord snorted coldly and tossed over several thousand spirit crystals.
The innkeeper cautiously put them away, then retrieved brush and ink from the wreckage of the counter and set them before Xu Zimo.
“Demon Emperor Flower, Ghost Withered Branch, Mana Fruit, Void Sky Vine, Black Orchid…”
Xu Zimo wrote out a full page in flowing strokes.
Since he was joining the Myriad Alchemy Gathering tomorrow, he was preparing a list of rare herbs he might need.
“By sunrise tomorrow, I want to see every item on this list,” Xu Zimo said calmly.
Golden Cicada Lord took the paper, glanced at it briefly, and his face darkened.
Each herb listed was a high-grade treasure, some exceedingly rare, priceless and virtually unobtainable.
“Sir, this request is far too excessive,” Golden Cicada Lord said.
“You don’t have to accept,” Xu Zimo replied. “If you value those herbs more than your life, that’s your choice. You can also pretend to agree and secretly call on the Buddha Faction for help, I don’t mind. Regardless, tomorrow morning, I expect to see these herbs. Only then will your life remain safe.”
Hearing this, Golden Cicada Lord stayed silent for a long time before finally gritting his teeth and nodding.
“I’ll prepare them.”
Xu Zimo waved his hand dismissively, signaling him to leave.
As Golden Cicada Lord’s figure faded into the distance, Miss Jing asked, “Aren’t you afraid the Buddha Faction will cause more trouble?”
“As long as I pass the Demon Faction’s assessment this afternoon, they’ll naturally protect me,” Xu Zimo replied.
He stood up, shaking his head slightly.
“Such a pity about all that fine food.”
The autumn wind swirled across the sky, carrying a chill and bleakness before sweeping back through the yellowing leaves of the trees.
Accompanied by Moon-Pluck Fairy and Miss Jing, Xu Zimo once again arrived at the Saint Sovereign Tower.
A young man in black robes spotted him and walked straight over.
“You’re here for the assessment, right?” he asked.
“The Alchemy Gathering,” Xu Zimo nodded.
“Master and the others are waiting inside. You’re the last one,” the black-robed youth said.
“How many people came?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Counting you, ten in total. All are well-known alchemists,” the youth replied.
Under his lead, Xu Zimo and his companions entered the inner chamber beside the hall.
The chamber was spacious, filled with a rich fragrance of pills.
One deep breath felt as if liquid spiritual energy was pouring into the meridians.
When Xu Zimo stepped in, he found the black-robed elder already speaking.
There were six men and three women present.
“You’re late,” the elder, with a glance at Xu Zimo, said indifferently.
“You only said afternoon, not a precise time. The afternoon isn’t over yet,” Xu Zimo replied.
“Friend, Elder Qian’s word is law. Don’t argue,” one man interjected.
“Enough, sit,” the elder waved his hand.
He introduced himself, “Those familiar with the Demon Faction may know me. I am Thousand-Slaughters. You may call me Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters.”
Before him were ten stone platforms, each displaying various pills, dozens of kinds.
With a wave of his hand, Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters continued, “On each of your tables are identical herbs, same potency, same age, same size. Now, we will proceed to the central plaza. Each of you will refine a Sixth-grade Five-Element Blood-Congealing God-Pill. Your performance will be judged by the quality of your pill.”
Hearing this, one youth asked, “Out of the ten of us, how many will be chosen?”
“Only one,” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters replied. “The slots for the Alchemy Gathering are limited. Our Demon Faction has only three. The other two are already decided.”
At these words, everyone stiffened.
It meant the ten of them were competitors, and enemies.
“Now, pack up your herbs and follow me,” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters said.
“There is only one set of ingredients. Guard them well.”
Everyone nodded slightly and headed toward the central plaza.
The Five-Element Blood-Congealing God-Pill was a sixth-grade pill, one of the more formidable within its rank.
Pills were graded from one to nine, this much was common knowledge.
Once a pill reached the sixth grade, its refinement would inevitably summon heavenly tribulation.
“Do you think you can manage this?” Miss Jing asked worriedly.
“Guess we’ll find out,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
Led by Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters, the group attracted considerable attention at the plaza.
Not only passersby, but even Buddha Faction monks came to spectate.
At their head was the infamous Ghost Buddha.
When Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters and Ghost Buddha locked eyes, both snorted coldly.
“What’s this? Couldn’t find anyone better? Scraping the bottom of the barrel?”
“Mind your own business,” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters said flatly.
“Then let me see what kind of clowns you’re testing today,” Ghost Buddha sneered.
Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters stepped into the plaza and calmly announced, “Pick your spots and begin.”
The ten nodded. With a wave, each summoned their cauldrons.
Nine heavy pill cauldrons landed with a rumble.
Only Xu Zimo stood still.
“Where is your cauldron?” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters asked.
“I don’t have one,” Xu Zimo said with a smile and shake of his head.
“You call yourself an alchemist without a cauldron?” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters asked skeptically.
“In my opinion, this friend should just quit now. Myriad Alchemy Gathering isn’t for amateurs,” one youth mocked.
“Cauldrons are for ordinary alchemists. I never use them,” Xu Zimo replied calmly.
“Absurd!” a nearby alchemist snapped.
“A cauldron is the lifeblood of an alchemist! Even the Alchemy God Tower’s grandmasters wouldn’t dare claim they could work without one. And you, a junior, dare boast such nonsense?”
“Alchemy God Tower?” Xu Zimo tilted his head. “Never heard of it.”
“You!” the alchemist pointed angrily, ready to lash out, but Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters stopped him.
“Enough,” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters waved his hand. He looked at Xu Zimo.
“I have a spare cauldron you can borrow. Though another’s cauldron may not suit you, will you use it?”
“I said, I don’t need a cauldron to refine pills,” Xu Zimo shook his head.
“If you insist, I won’t force you,” Progenitor Thousand-Slaughters said, waving him off.
Inwardly, he already dismissed Xu Zimo entirely.