This time, the Elixir King Palace had lost more than just a disciple; they had also lost their reputation, image, and the hearts of the people. Forcing their disciples and seizing their possessions through intimidation were acts of banditry, despised by all. This incident would become an indelible stain on the Elixir King Palace’s name. Most importantly, after this incident, the disciples of the Elixir King Palace would likely be wary of their high-ranking superiors. After all, no one wanted the things they had worked hard to obtain to be stolen. This was the chain reaction.
「Martial King Palace!」
Under the beautiful woman’s guidance, Qin Feiyang entered the council hall. There, he saw Elder Wan and a man in purple robes sitting at a tea table, chatting while drinking tea.
The beautiful woman frowned, her displeasure evident. "I was out there offending Old Man He and Old Man Jia, practically making enemies of them both, and you two are in here leisurely sipping tea? Isn’t that a bit much?"
Elder Wan chuckled, looking up. "Isn’t it better for one person to offend them than for all of us to do so?"
The man in purple robes added, "Indeed. Yan City is only so big; we’re bound to run into each other. We can’t afford a complete fallout with the Elixir King Palace."
The beautiful woman shot them both a glare before leading Qin Feiyang over.
Qin Feiyang clasped his hands. "Greetings, Elder Wan."
"Mm," Elder Wan nodded, rising with a smile. "Little fellow, our disciples have told us about your performance out there. I never expected you to be such an all-around prodigy."
"You flatter me, Elder."
Qin Feiyang shook his head, a little abashed, then looked at the man in purple robes with a smile. "Might I presume you are the Chief Hall Master?"
"Indeed, I am," the man in purple robes affirmed, nodding as he curiously sized up Qin Feiyang for a moment. "Can you tell me why you’re unwilling to become a disciple of the Martial King Palace?"
Qin Feiyang replied, "I’m afraid of trouble, senior."
The man in purple robes asked, "In that case, why did you join the Elixir Palace back then?"
Qin Feiyang sighed. "At the time, I was forced into it; I had no other choice."
"I know about that," Elder Wan interjected. "This young fellow was in Black Bear City at the time and had offended all the major figures. He’d basically made enemies of the entire world there. Luo Xiong had always wanted him to join the Elixir Palace, so he extended a helping hand, claiming Qin Feiyang had already become a disciple. The kid is clever; he went with the flow and acknowledged his identity as an Elixir Palace disciple," Elder Wan said teasingly.
The purple-robed man’s face twitched.
This young man is already causing so much trouble. What will he be like when he grows up? He’ll probably turn the world upside down!
Qin Feiyang felt quite awkward.
The purple-robed man’s expression turned serious. He put down his teacup and said, "Alright, sit down. Let’s discuss the important matter: how shall we cooperate?"
Qin Feiyang nodded and, without ceremony, sat opposite the purple-robed man. After briefly organizing his thoughts, he said, "You provide the Elixir Formulas and medicinal ingredients. I’ll handle the refinement. We’ll split the refined elixirs fifty-fifty."
The purple-robed man frowned. "We provide both the Elixir Formulas and the ingredients, and you only handle the refinement, yet you want a fifty-fifty split? Isn’t your appetite a bit too large?"
Qin Feiyang said, "Large? I don’t think so. After all, what I refine are Top Grade elixirs."
"I know they are Top Grade elixirs, but this deal isn’t favorable," the purple-robed man stated. "Because we at the Martial King Palace don’t have Elixir Formulas. We’d have to find ways to acquire them. Acquiring these Elixir Formulas will certainly come at a considerable cost. Furthermore, purchasing medicinal ingredients also requires capital. Most critically, without my help, you wouldn’t be able to control the Netherworld Demon Flame. You’re contributing nothing tangible yet expect to take half. Do you think that’s realistic?"
Qin Feiyang’s brow furrowed tightly.
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The purple-robed man continued, "If you insist on a fifty-fifty split, then you must be the one to procure the Elixir Formulas. The Martial King Palace will only provide the medicinal ingredients and ensure your personal safety. If you agree, I will assign a Nine-Star War King to protect you personally."
A glint flashed in Qin Feiyang’s eyes. Now, his greatest fear was retaliation from the Elixir King Palace. Moreover, he also had to be wary of Lin Han. If an expert were by his side at all times, he would undoubtedly be much safer. But the problem was that most Elixir Formulas were controlled by the Elixir King Palace. Very few circulated externally. Where was he supposed to find them?
"Alright, I agree." In the end, Qin Feiyang nodded. As for the Elixir Formulas, he couldn’t rush it; he could slowly figure out a way in the future.
"Young man, that’s how one should be—decisive," the purple-robed man said with a smile. "Bring out the Netherworld Demon Flame!"
Without any visible movement from Qin Feiyang, with just a thought, the Netherworld Demon Flame shot out from between his eyebrows.
The three exchanged glances, a trace of astonished suspicion rising in their eyes simultaneously.
The purple-robed man reached out. The Netherworld Demon Flame landed before him, hovering in the void. Its pitch-black flames flickered, exuding a strange and eerie aura.
The beautiful woman said gravely, "It truly is the Netherworld Demon Flame!"
Elder Wan sighed. "For the past eight years, we all believed Zuo An was dead. Who would have thought that not only is he alive, but he has also reached the Eight-star War Emperor realm. When he makes his comeback, I fear Yan Province will witness rivers of blood."
"He is advancing, but so are we. We failed to kill him eight years ago. The next time he appears, I will ensure he meets Yama!" the purple-robed man declared with a cold smile.
Battle Intent surged from his palm, transforming into a furious torrent that rushed towards the Netherworld Demon Flame!
Simultaneously, the beautiful woman waved her hand. A Battle Intent barrier instantly materialized, enveloping Qin Feiyang within it.
「In a certain cave.」
Zuo An and Lin Chen were both sitting with their eyes closed, refining the Bloodfiend Pill.
Suddenly, Zuo An violently spat out a mouthful of blood! His aged eyes snapped open, and two terrifying glints of cold light shot out from them!
Lin Chen, puzzled, opened his eyes. Seeing Zuo An’s condition, his expression changed drastically. "Master, what’s wrong?" he asked.
Zuo An stated, "Someone has erased the Blood Covenant on the Netherworld Demon Flame!"
"Who?" Lin Chen exclaimed in shock.
Zuo An sneered. "Who else could it be? It must be those four old dogs of the Yan King. In all of Yan Province, only they possess such power."
Lin Chen frowned. "Does this mean Jian Haotian has already gone to Yan City?"
"Yan City..." Zuo An uttered, a ferocious sneer spreading across his face. He cackled sinisterly. "I will come find you!" Then, he closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.
「The Council Hall!」
At this moment, the hall had transformed into a great furnace, suffused with astonishing heat waves. If not for the protection of the Battle Intent barrier, Qin Feiyang would likely have been incinerated! This was because once the Blood Covenant was erased, the masterless Netherworld Demon Flame would immediately unleash intense heat.
The purple-robed man flicked his sleeve, and a powerful surge of Battle Intent swept towards the Netherworld Demon Flame. In no time, he had forcefully suppressed the terrifying heat!
Then, he turned to Qin Feiyang and said in a deep voice, "For an elixir flame to recognize a master, it needs to be nurtured with a large amount of fresh blood. Are you ready?"
Qin Feiyang nodded, exited the Battle Intent barrier, and walked up to the Netherworld Demon Flame.
The purple-robed man waved his hand. A sliver of Battle Intent flew out, instantly creating a gash on Qin Feiyang’s wrist. Blood spurted out!
Qin Feiyang quickly raised his arm over the Netherworld Demon Flame. His blood flowed out in a steady stream, like a column, pouring continuously into the flame. Gradually, the originally pitch-black Netherworld Demon Flame turned a deep, bloody red. Eventually, it looked incredibly ominous, as if it had been thoroughly soaked in blood!
Qin Feiyang, having lost half his blood, began to feel dizzy and faint.
BUZZ!
Finally, the Netherworld Demon Flame quivered in the void. The blood-red color swiftly receded, and it became pitch-black once more. At the same time, Qin Feiyang felt a profound connection to it, as if it were part of his own flesh and blood. He sensed that the Netherworld Demon Flame had become an extension of his own body.
The purple-robed man lowered his arm and said with a smile, "The Blood Covenant is formed. You are now its master."
Qin Feiyang was overjoyed. After tending to the wound on his wrist, he looked up at the Netherworld Demon Flame, his expression ecstatic.
The Blood Covenant was equivalent to a contract. All treasures that recognized their owner through a blood ritual would form a Blood Covenant, hidden within the treasure itself. Only once the Blood Covenant was formed could the treasure be controlled at will. If one encountered an item that already had a master, the original owner’s Blood Covenant had to be erased before a new blood ritual could establish ownership. However, erasing a Blood Covenant was not something just anyone could do. One’s cultivation had to be at least comparable to that of the original owner.
Qin Feiyang had initially planned to erase the Netherworld Demon Flame’s Blood Covenant and claim it through a blood ritual once his cultivation caught up to Zuo An’s. He hadn’t expected the Martial King Palace to lend him a hand in this. However, the strength displayed by the purple-robed man had truly astounded him. The ability to erase Zuo An’s Blood Covenant was enough to prove that this man was also an Eight-star War Emperor!
The purple-robed man said, "This matter is settled. I should also go cultivate. The three of you can discuss the remaining details."
The three nodded.
After the purple-robed man departed, Elder Wan chuckled. "Jian Haotian, don’t just stand there beaming. Now that the Netherworld Demon Flame has recognized you as its master, when do you plan to start alchemy?"
With a thought, Qin Feiyang recalled the Netherworld Demon Flame into the ancient castle and then asked, "What elixirs do you want me to refine?"
"What elixirs can you refine?" the beautiful woman retorted.
Qin Feiyang replied, "Healing Pill, Bone-renewing Pill, Body-refining Elixir, and Qi Gathering Pill."
"Why are these all such low-level elixirs?" the beautiful woman frowned.
"Er..." Qin Feiyang was taken aback.
That was rather demoralizing.
Elder Wan shook his head with a smile and said to the beautiful woman, "Don’t forget, he only started learning alchemy recently. It’s already quite remarkable that he can refine these four types of elixirs."
The beautiful woman pouted, her disdain evident.
Looks like I’ll have to pull out something impressive,
Qin Feiyang mused to himself, then said with a smile, "Seniors, I can also refine Vermilion Glazed Pills. Do you have the ingredients?"
"Really?" both of them asked in disbelief.
"Of course," Qin Feiyang affirmed with a nod.
The two exchanged a look.
He can even refine such a rare elixir as the Vermilion Glazed Pill?
"Kid, did you steal that Elixir Formula?" Elder Wan asked in a hushed tone.
"Steal?" Qin Feiyang’s face twitched.
Do I look like that kind of person?
He cleared his throat and said, "You don’t need to worry about where it came from. As long as you have the ingredients, I can refine it for you. However, as per our agreement, it’s a fifty-fifty split."
If the Martial King Palace truly has the ingredients, I’ll have hit the jackpot this time!
The beautiful woman said, "List the required ingredients first. Let us take a look."
Elder Wan quickly fetched a brush and ink. Moreover, he even personally ground the inkstick.
Qin Feiyang took the brush and swiftly wrote down the names of various medicinal ingredients on a blank sheet of paper. After he finished writing the list, the beautiful woman and Elder Wan both took the list and examined it carefully.
Qin Feiyang asked, "Well? Do you have them?"
Elder Wan put down the list and chuckled. "Of course, we do! What’s more, we can prepare enough ingredients for six portions."
"That many!" Qin Feiyang exclaimed, ecstatic.
If I can successfully refine them, I’ll get three Vermilion Glazed Pills! This is truly an unexpected windfall!

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