"Yunxia Peak disciple Jiang Yunzhou, greets Uncle-Master Xu!"
The young man bowed respectfully, his movements impeccable.
Ji Yuan quietly observed the man before him. On the surface, at least, this person seemed flawless.
Handsome features, meticulously neat attire, an elegant demeanor, and even his hair was perfectly styled. He was like a piece of flawless jade.
"I didn't expect my Senior Brother, the Sect Leader, to send you out."
Xu Chengfeng was somewhat surprised. In his memory, this nephew should still be in seclusion, seeking a breakthrough to condense his Golden Core.
"My master likely wishes for me to venture out more, thereby finding that sliver of opportunity for core condensation."
Jiang Yunzhou replied respectfully.
After speaking, he produced a mountain and river bag and a brand-new jade slip, placing them steadily on the table before them.
"These are items my master ordered me to deliver. Please, Uncle-Master, examine them."
He bowed, and after finishing, stood upright in place.
Xu Chengfeng beckoned, and the jade slip fell into his hand. He then channeled a wisp of divine sense to view the information within.
However, in just a moment, he couldn't help but frown, his expression tinged with displeasure.
"Well done, Heavenly Cauldron Peak, you've truly turned into a bunch of madmen with your alchemy!"
After a long pause, he muttered angrily.
He tightened his grip slightly, and the jade slip in his palm instantly shattered, breaking into over a dozen fragments that scattered across the floor.
A surge of anger that flowed through him unconsciously intimidated the two by his side, making them feel as if they were adrift on a stormy sea, on the verge of being swallowed by colossal waves!
As if realizing this, Xu Chengfeng coughed lightly and immediately suppressed his anger.
He turned around and said with a hint of apology, "The Heavenly Cloud Water Essence I promised you is likely no longer redeemable."
At these words, Ji Yuan's pupils contracted sharply, the disappointment in his eyes impossible to conceal.
Xu Chengfeng also felt a headache coming on. After all, he had already made the promise, offering to gift the man a drop of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence, never expecting such a turn of events.
Upon receiving his message back to the Nine Profound Sect, the Sect Leader had rushed to Heavenly Cauldron Peak. This was because one of the two drops of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence in the sect's treasury had been taken out a month or two prior, intended for alchemy.
Who would have thought that upon learning the Sect Leader's intention, the Peak Master of Heavenly Cauldron Peak would simply shut his doors, directly using the Heavenly Cloud Water Essence? Even if opening the furnace early would increase the chance of producing failed pills, they were unwilling to part with this drop of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence.
The final outcome, naturally, was that the pill was not successfully refined, resulting in the wasted drop of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence. This infuriated the Sect Leader on the spot.
"Now, the last drop of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence in the sect has been jointly withheld by the other Peak Masters. Even the Sect Leader cannot retrieve it for you."
Xu Chengfeng sighed, a trace of anger still lingering in his eyes.
Once this matter was concluded, he would definitely head to Heavenly Cauldron Peak and have a word with that alchemist who had become a madman, to vent his frustrations properly.
However, these were matters for later. For now, he needed to consider how to compensate for what he had promised.
Having understood the full story, Ji Yuan could only offer a wry smile. He naturally understood the intentions of those Peak Masters.
With only one drop of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence remaining, and having learned of the efficacy of the Spirit Spring, they were naturally unwilling to give up and wait for an unknown period.
After all, Heavenly Cloud Water Essence was exceedingly rare. In fact, in the past two to three hundred years, not a single new drop had been reported in the entire Lingyang Prefecture.
"This mountain and river bag contains the rewards the sect has bestowed upon you."
Xu Chengfeng merely glanced at the mountain and river bag on the table, and it flew of its own accord towards Ji Yuan.
He reached out and grasped it, absentmindedly injecting a wisp of his consciousness. Immediately, a look of shock appeared on his face.
Within the space, several zhang in size, was a full treasure trove of spiritual items. Each item was of extremely high grade. To gather them all again, even with the assistance of Mingxin Xuan, would likely take over ten years.
And during this time, the manpower, material resources, and other costs would be an astronomical figure.
Most importantly, these spiritual items were all necessary for cultivating the Xuan Tian Dao Jing!
With the spiritual items in this mountain and river bag, Ji Yuan could completely elevate his innate flying sword and the Xuan Tian Devouring Spirit Pagoda to their peak. Even after successfully condensing his Golden Core, they would be more than sufficient for a very long time.
He could even refine several more powerful magic treasures recorded in the Xuan Tian Dao Jing with these!
"Don't be surprised. After all, the Xuan Tian lineage was once an integral part of the Nine Profound Sect."
Seeing the shock in his eyes, Xu Chengfeng slowly offered a reminder.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan nodded instinctively. He quickly recalled that the establishment of the Nine Profound Sect had also involved contributions from the Xuan Tian lineage.
Before the Xuan Tian lineage had separated, they had coexisted for hundreds of years. Naturally, they had a deep understanding of the affairs of their own kin.
Therefore, producing such an item was not an insurmountable task.
Although he was pleasantly surprised, Ji Yuan still felt a pang of concern. Failing to obtain the Heavenly Cloud Water Essence from the Nine Profound Sect meant he would have to find a way through the Immortal Slaying Valley.
He wondered if Elder Tang's connections could secure the Heavenly Cloud Water Essence.
"My master had instructed me to visit the Immortal Slaying Valley later and see if I could exchange for a few drops of Heavenly Cloud Water Essence from the local foreign tribes."
Just then, Jiang Yunzhou, who had been waiting quietly, suddenly said respectfully.
At these words, not only Ji Yuan but even Xu Chengfeng were slightly taken aback. However, they quickly reacted.
Xu Chengfeng pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly. "You tread the path of divine cultivation; indeed, you would not be resented by the foreign tribes of the Immortal Slaying Valley."
Ji Yuan's expression shifted. He looked at Jiang Yunzhou with surprise, not expecting this man to be cultivating the path of divine cultivation.
Currently, the world was dominated by Immortal cultivation, Confucianism, Buddhism, and other paths. Divine cultivation might have once been the mainstream, but it had now completely declined.
Unless there was no other recourse, no one would willingly cultivate divine cultivation and eventually become a deity.
For once one ventured far on the path of divine cultivation, even achieving divinity, they would forfeit the opportunity to re-enter the cycle of reincarnation. Should they perish, their souls would be utterly annihilated.
As a direct disciple of the Nine Profound Sect's Sect Leader, Jiang Yunzhou's future would have been boundless if he had pursued immortal cultivation. Ji Yuan found it hard to comprehend why he would choose the path of divine cultivation.
"With your status in divine cultivation, you indeed wouldn't be resented by the foreign tribes of the Immortal Slaying Valley. However, this journey is still too perilous."
Xu Chengfeng suddenly shook his head gently. "Once it is discovered that you are a disciple of the Nine Profound Sect, even if you have now converted to divine cultivation, it will still provoke the foreign tribes to pursue and kill you."