There is a huge peak that rises high into the clouds. There are many exotic flowers and plants growing on the mountain. There is a magnificent red palace on the top of the mountain. There are a large number of lifelike monster patterns engraved on the stone pillars. There are three big characters "Hongyun Palace" written on the gold-painted plaque.
The main hall is richly decorated, with the floor paved with some kind of red jade that sparkles and exudes luxury.
An old man of medium build was sitting on a red jade chair. He was wearing a red python robe, had a square face, ruddy complexion, and his eyes faintly emitted a hint of red light. He had a palm-sized red gourd tied around his waist, and two small words "Hongyun" could be vaguely seen.
The old man in red robe is none other than True Man Hongyun, one of the five greatest masters of HSBC Merchant Alliance. This is what many cultivators in the outer sea say, but True Man Hongyun does not agree with it at all.
There are many experts in HSBC Business Alliance, and he is not the top one.
A graceful middle-aged woman was sitting nearby. She was wearing a purple silk dress, had a round face, a pair of lively eyes that kept moving, slightly raised eyebrows, and looked very heroic. There were several butterfly patterns embroidered on her sleeves.
Fairy Qiandie, one of the three fairies in the outer sea, is proficient in the art of expelling insects and taming beasts.
"Madam Mu, you are such a rare guest! We haven't seen each other for over a hundred years!"
True Man Hongyun said cheerfully in a gentle tone. From what he said, it seemed that he and Fairy Qiandie were old acquaintances.
"I haven't seen you for over a hundred years, and I am still standing still. Fellow Daoist Chen has made further progress in his cultivation. I envy you so much."
Fairy Qiandie sighed.
"Haha, Madam Mu, you might want to consider joining our HSBC Merchant Alliance. By then, your cultivation speed will definitely be much faster. There is no need to be a casual cultivator for the rest of your life."
True Man Hongyun advised that Fairy Qiandie was quite powerful, otherwise she would not have been ranked as one of the three fairies in the outer sea.
"Humph, my Taoist partner died at the hands of the elders of your HSBC Merchant Alliance. It is impossible for me to join the HSBC Merchant Alliance. I appreciate the kindness of Brother Chen."
Fairy Qiandie's tone turned cold.
True Man Hongyun sighed lightly. The HSBC Business Alliance was a business organization that only cared about profits. Fairy Qiandie's Taoist partner died at the hands of an elder of the HSBC Business Alliance. Fairy Qiandie did not go against the HSBC Business Alliance, but she was unwilling to join it either.
"Madam Mu, I heard that your descendant is a third-level alchemist. You brought him to participate in the alchemy conference, right?"
True Man Hongyun changed the subject. Many alchemists came to this alchemy conference, most of them came for the rewards. There was no way around it, the rewards offered by the Nangong family were very generous.
"That's right, but I don't quite understand what the Nangong family is trying to do by holding an alchemy conference."
Fairy Qiandie frowned and said that she didn't believe that the Nangong family had so many resources for cultivating immortals that they would give them away.
"The Alchemy Conference is just a cover. The real purpose is to attract powerful Nascent Soul cultivators from the outer seas. They also want to collect resources for cultivation, such as ancient elixir recipes and teleportation arrays. However, their biggest goal is to find the jade box. After so many years, they still haven't given up."
True Man Hongyun said slowly that the real purpose of the Nangong family was to demonstrate their financial strength in the hope that the person who got the jade box would come to them. Simply put, this was a test.
Holding an alchemy conference can not only collect resources for cultivating immortals, but also make friends with masters from overseas, and show the strength of the Nangong family to other forces, killing two birds with one stone.
Fairy Qiandie suddenly realized and said, "Yu'er is obsessed with alchemy, even more than his great-great-grandfather. I hope he can get a place."
She was also looking for the jade box, but there were no clues.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, I heard that your great-great-granddaughter is also an alchemist. Why not let the young people communicate more."
Fairy Qiandie said with a smile.
"Feng'er is not in the outer sea at the moment. She is in Zhongtian Continent, preparing to give birth to her baby."
At the end of his speech, Master Hongyun's face was filled with pride.
"Are you ready to have a baby? You are so lucky, Mr. Chen."
Fairy Qiandie's face was full of envy. She suddenly thought of something and said, "Is Fellow Daoist Ling here? He should be here with his disciples!"
"Fellow Daoist Ling has arrived. This is his residence. Madam Mu, go find him yourself."
Master Hongyun raised his right hand, and a red jade slip flew out and landed in the hands of Fairy Qiandie.
Fairy Qiandie accepted the red jade slip, expressed her gratitude, took out a golden magic disk from her arms, entered a magic formula, and frowned slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, I have something to take care of. I'll take my leave now. I'll come and bother you later."
Fairy Qiandie apologized and stood up to leave.
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In a blue attic with carved railings and jade bricks, Song Qingqing was talking to an old woman in a purple robe with a ruddy face.
The old woman in purple robe was holding a green bamboo cane, her eyes were cloudy, and judging from the powerful spiritual pressure emanating from her, she was obviously a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Song Anruo, the law enforcement elder of the Wanfa Sect, is also Song Qingqing's aunt. The two are hundreds of years apart in age. According to seniority, Song Qingqing should call her aunt. This situation is not uncommon in immortal cultivation families.
"Han Changming, is this person Ling Xiao's new disciple? His alchemy skills are so high? He brought out so many mid-grade pills."
Song Anruo said with a frown.
"According to what he said, he has no relationship with Ling Xiao Zhenren, but Ling Xiao Zhenren has given him a lot of guidance. I guess Ling Xiao Zhenren plans to accept him as a disciple!"
Song Qingqing said slowly.
"With your alchemy skills, since the Nangong family won't participate, you should have no problem getting into the top three. It would be best if you could get first place, which will be of great benefit to your future path. The Nangong family went to so much trouble to organize an alchemy conference, it won't be that simple."
Song Anruo ordered, his tone heavy.
Song Qingqing nodded, patted her chest and said, "Yes, niece understands."
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A nine-story golden pavilion with three large golden characters "Golden Butterfly Pavilion" written on the plaque. Many monks came in and out.
On the eighth floor, a young woman in a red dress with a slim waist and a perky butt was talking to a burly man in a golden shirt.
The young woman in the red skirt wears a red jade hairpin, has picturesque facial features, and her snow-white breasts seem to be about to burst through her clothes, which is very tempting. The big man in the golden shirt has dark skin, a tall figure, thick arms, and is full of strength.
The young woman in the red skirt is called Nangong Yunyan, and the big man in the golden shirt is called Wang Yan. They are husband and wife, and both have reached the late Nascent Soul stage.
"How is it? There have been a lot of guests recently. Is there still no news about the whereabouts of the jade box?"
Wang Yan asked in a rough voice.
"Not yet. We have sent people to look for it all these years, but there is no news. I am afraid it may not be in the open sea, but in the inner sea."
Nangong Yunyan said with a frown.
"But we have also sent people to the Inner Sea to inquire. The East Sea and South Sea Immortal Cultivation Worlds have sent a lot of people, but there is no news. Does this jade box really exist? What is inside? If it is a Tongtian Lingbao, our family is not without Tongtian Lingbao. Could it be a top-grade Tongtian Lingbao?"
Wang Yan's face was full of confusion. He was a son-in-law, and only after he married into the Nangong family was he able to cultivate to the late Nascent Soul stage.
"I don't know. Anyway, our ancestor has ordered us to find this treasure. I don't think it's a magical treasure that can reach the sky. A magical treasure that can reach the sky is not enough for our Nangong family to make further progress. It may be the key to the cave where some great man passed away, or it may be the location of the ruins of a great sect of immortal cultivation."
Nangong Yunyan's voice was heavy.
"Could this jade box be in the hands of the old monster in the outer sea? Otherwise, with so many people dispatched, there is no way there would be no news."
Wang Yan made a bold conjecture.
Nangong Yunyan nodded and said, "I think so too, that's why we are holding the Alchemy Conference. These bumpkins in the outer sea have never been to Zhongtian Continent, and they have no idea how strong our Nangong family is. If we are willing, it won't be a problem to sweep across the inner and outer seas. If we don't bring out the real good stuff, they probably won't be willing to hand over the jade box."
They were testing the waters by holding an alchemy conference to let other forces and high-level cultivators see the strength of the Nangong family.
"If you ask me, why not just let the ancestors come forward to talk to Senior Wang and others from the HSBC Business Alliance? There's no need to be so troublesome, right?"
Nangong Yunyan shook her head and said, "Humph, HSBC Merchant Alliance is also looking for this jade box. Speaking of which, we are competitors. If they didn't ask our Nangong family for help, we wouldn't be able to go to the outer sea to look for this item. I hope we can find the jade box before them."
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In a vast manor, Fairy Qinglian was chatting with Han Benfu.
"I see. That's why I failed when refining it. Thank you, Fairy Wang."
Han Benfu smiled sweetly, revealing two cute dimples on her face.
She asked Fairy Qinglian about the art of alchemy. Fairy Qinglian gave her careful guidance, and the questions that had troubled Han Benfu for a long time were answered, and she benefited a lot.
"You're welcome. It's just a small favor."
Fairy Qinglian said modestly.
At this time, a young man in green clothes came over quickly and said respectfully, "Uncle Wang, Fairy Qiandie is here to visit us. She said she wants to see our master."
"Fairy Qiandie! I'll go out to greet you right away."
Fairy Qinglian quickly stood up and walked outside. Han Benfu followed her curiously.
Not long after, she walked out of the manor and saw the Thousand Butterflies Fairy and a young man in a red shirt with red lips and white teeth standing at the door.
The young man in red was of medium build, with handsome features. He held a red folding fan in his hand, looking like a gentleman.
"Junior greets Senior Mu."
Fairy Qinglian bowed quickly and Han Benfu followed suit.
"Friend Wang, long time no see. Your cultivation hasn't improved much! It seems that you have put a lot of effort in alchemy. Yu'er, this is the friend Wang I mentioned to you, the beloved disciple of Daoist Ling. She has made great achievements in alchemy. You should learn more from her."
Fairy Qiandie said with a smile.
The young man in red stepped forward, clasped his fists and said, "My name is Li Yu, nice to meet Fairy Wang and Fairy Han."
"Senior Mu, thank you for your compliment. I don't deserve your praise."
Fairy Qinglian said modestly that she would never dare to be arrogant.
Fairy Qiandie nodded and said, "Is your master available now? I have something to ask him."
"My master is instructing Fellow Daoist Han in alchemy and cannot leave for the time being. How about this! I will inform Senior."
"Teach Fellow Daoist Han how to make the elixir?"
Fairy Qiandie was slightly stunned. Fairy Qinglian called him fellow Taoist, so he was naturally not a disciple of Master Lingxiao. Who would have such a great honor to be taught by Master Lingxiao in alchemy
"Friend Han is a good friend of this junior, and he is also Fairy Han's father. Friend Han's alchemy skills are quite high, and Master values his talent and is personally giving him guidance."
Fairy Qinglian explained.
There was a flash of surprise in Fairy Qiandie's eyes. To be able to have Master Lingxiao personally teach her how to make an elixir, this person must be extraordinary.
"Forget it, I won't bother you anymore. Wait until your master comes out of retreat, and then tell Fellow Daoist Ling that we live in Sifangju."
After saying this, Fairy Qiandie took Li Yu away.
Fairy Qinglian breathed a sigh of relief. It was really not easy to deal with Nascent Soul cultivators.
"Fairy Wang, is this Fairy Qiandie, one of the three fairies in the outer sea?"
Han Benfu's face was full of curiosity.
"Yes, I didn't expect her to come too. Fellow Daoist Li should also be an alchemist. It seems that the competition in this alchemy conference is very fierce, and many alchemists have come."
Fairy Qinglian said seriously that the more intense the competition, the greater the pressure she would feel.
"Let's go! Let's go back! I hope your father can get a good ranking."
Fairy Qinglian and Han Benfu walked back, drinking tea and chatting.
······
Half a month passed quickly.
Han Changming sat cross-legged on a cushion, staring at the Lingxiao furnace in front of him. Some bloodshot could be seen in his eyes. A red flame enveloped most of the Lingxiao furnace, and a strong medicinal fragrance wafted away.
Around him were many bottles and jars and some wooden boxes, all of which were empty.
Master Ling Xiao stood in the corner, saying nothing, with an approval look on his face.
In the past half month, he frequently asked Han Changming to refine pills, three portions of materials each time. After Han Changming finished refining the three portions of materials, Ling Xiao Zhenren would give comments, point out the key points, praise Han Changming for what he did well, and correct him for what he did not do well.
Under the careful guidance of Master Ling Xiao, Han Changming made rapid progress.
After a while, Han Changming retracted his magic spell and the flames dissipated.
He was not in a hurry to open the alchemy furnace. After a while, Han Changming opened the alchemy furnace.
He walked forward and saw nine red pills inside. Each pill had dan patterns on its surface, and was obviously a mid-grade pill.
"Nine mid-grade medicinal pills, good, good, good."
Master Ling Xiao said "good" three times in a row, his eyes full of admiration.
In just half a month, Han Changming practiced diligently and was able to refine so many mid-grade pills.
Han Changming's alchemy skills were so high that they were beyond Ling Xiao Zhenren's imagination.
In fact, Han Changming knew very well that he had added spiritual water when refining the elixir. Judging from the fluctuations of spiritual energy, there was nothing abnormal with the spiritual water. However, adding spiritual water when refining the elixir had a certain effect on improving the quality of the elixir. This was the miraculous effect of the Taiyi Hualing Gourd. Unless one personally used the spiritual water made by the Taiyi Hualing Gourd to refine the elixir, it would be impossible to discover it.
"Thank you, Senior Ling, for your guidance. I am very grateful."
Han Changming bowed with a respectful look. No matter what Ling Xiao's purpose was, he benefited a lot from Ling Xiao's personal guidance.
Ling Xiao's face turned serious, and he said seriously: "My dear Han, are you willing to take me as your master?"
Han Changming has a high talent for alchemy, and Master Lingxiao wants to take him under his wing. With time, Han Changming will surely become a great man.