Qi Tian naturally refused.
There was nothing in the Misty Immortal Palace worth his staying for. Anyway, his objective for today had been achieved, and it was time to leave. He might as well go back and inform Lin Xiao that their transaction could continue.
"Nephew, you come in such a hurry and leave just as fast. Why the rush?"
Before Uncle He could speak, a voice resonated throughout the area.
"This voice... Senior Brother, the Palace Master?" Elder He recognized it immediately. He respectfully cupped his hands to the side, awaiting the Palace Master's arrival.
All the disciples present also straightened up at this moment, shouting almost in unison, "Greetings, Palace Master!"
An old man with an immortal demeanor, riding on seven-colored auspicious clouds, with one hand behind his back and the other stroking his goatee, slowly descended from the sky and landed directly in front of Qi Tian.
"Greetings, Palace Master Chen," Qi Tian bowed to show his respect.
Palace Master Chen was currently the strongest in the Misty Immortal Palace. Even on his own sect's territory, he would have to respectfully greet and address Palace Master Chen, let alone being in the Misty Immortal Palace's domain.
For reasons of propriety and logic, he could not act the same way he did with Elder He.
"Nephew Qi, it has been five years since we last met. I never expected you to be so outstanding now," Palace Master Chen said with a smile, looking at Qi Tian like an elder, with great admiration. "A puppet that could force my junior brother to use this sword. In the future, the Artifact Sect will surely become the leader of the inner realm!"
"I dare not accept such praise," Qi Tian said with a smile. "My master once said that as long as Palace Master Chen is here, the title of the foremost expert will never change hands. My Artifact Sect simply enjoys crafting things. Compared to Palace Master Chen's solid strength, we are nothing."
While Qi Tian might be a proud prodigy when facing others, he felt no arrogance whatsoever in the presence of Palace Master Chen. In fact, he harbored a slight fear.
He had been trained by Palace Master Chen when he was a child, a memory that still lingered as a childhood trauma.
"Ah, you are too humble... I haven't seen your master for a long time. I wonder how he has been recently?" Palace Master Chen said, gesturing for Qi Tian to follow him. "A few days ago, your master went into seclusion to forge artifacts. I wonder if he has completed his work."
"Replying to Palace Master Chen, my master has not yet emerged from seclusion. The time required to refine that magic treasure is too long, and he has not come out," Qi Tian replied quickly.
As he followed Palace Master Chen, he lamented inwardly that he probably couldn't leave now. Since Palace Master Chen had personally appeared, it would be problematic if he showed disrespect.
As they chatted, the two arrived at the Misty Immortal Palace's mess hall. The gesture was simple: they intended to have him stay for a meal.
Qi Tian had no way to refuse.
He would definitely urge Lin Xiao to complete their transaction upon his return. This trip had been anything but peaceful...
"Achoo!"
Lin Xiao sneezed and instinctively looked towards the horizon. For some reason, he felt as if someone was talking about him over there.
"Brother Xiao, after breaking through to the Divine Realm, you can still catch a cold?" Ye Chen teased him from the side.
"How could that be?"
Lin Xiao shook his head. "I just feel like someone is speaking ill of me behind my back."
"Perhaps it's people from the Beautiful Country."