50,000 Mystic-World Essence Stones!
Not a single person present or observing could control their expressions changing greatly, suffused with emotions of disbelief, shock, uncertainty, and envy. Setting aside the obscene amounts of money offered to the Utmost Purity Hall as a direct gesture of apology, Mei Xiangyao had been given the equivalent of a blank check!
Any reasonable Mystic-World grade alchemical product? Any! Additionally, it was promised not to be impure or low-quality! That detail could not be overlooked! Absolutely not!
Wei Wuyin's offer was implicit on both sides agreeing to his conditions; however, so if Mei Xiangyao refused to accept the offer on her side, then the Utmost Purity Hall would be unable to recoup their loss and gain great benefits with little to no cost! This would be no different than robbing the Utmost Purity Hall of the Northwestern Growth Zone!
A single move, while outrageously generous on the surface, was forceful as could be! Vicious! Sinister! All the things!
Mei Xiangyao did not lack intelligence or keen situational awareness with her position, cultivation, and experience, so she immediately realized that she was backed into a corner where she would infringe on the Utmost Purity Hall's benefits, yet her jaw was still dropped and her eyes effused a light of utter disbelief. Fortunately, this could also indirectly allow Hao Chengxue to owe her a favor, bettering the relationship with her Soothing Jade Institute and the manager of this Utmost Purity Hall branch.
She wouldn't lose much agreeing!
"Ar-are you sure, World-Saint Neo-Dawn?" Hao Chengxue muttered softly, his thoughts firing on all cylinders as he considered the proposal with all his soul. Fifty low-quality Mystic-World Essence Pills would grant him immense benefits and an explosive surge of wealth. That said, he would have to divide the wealth among the other members of this Utmost Purity Hall to prevent any further issues, but even 5%, the equivalent of 2,500 Mystic-World Essence Stones, would be enough to satisfy every last one of them several times over, especially since they would lose nothing and be given free money. How could they possibly complain?
Wei Wuyin smiled,
"Since I'm creating a difficult situation, and you're both assisting me in completing my objective, it's the very least I could do. I hope that my offer isn't too inadequate."
"Inadequate?" Hao Chengxue started. He hurriedly waved his hands before him and said:
"Your compensation isn't low at all, World-Saint Neo-Dawn. However..." his eyes turned to Mei Xiangyao, "...the participants of the Dao Clash must agree to the new terms, even if it's just a retroactive exclusion. This must include the Sea & Sky Institute's representative and the Soothing Jade Institute's representative. You already have World-Saint White Sky here and World-Saint Soothing Jade; as long as both parties agree, we can amend the terms immediately."
"..." White Sky's eyes brightened like two luminous stars.
"I agree with the exclusion of the White Heaven Jewel, an immediate recalculation of the wager, and a refreshed fulfillment period." She was quite knowledgeable on the rules, so her words established everything she desired in a single go.
Mei Xiangyao's eyes had never left Wei Wuyin's impressive figure surrounded by a peerless presence. She then revealed a brightly lit, incredibly sweet smile that could charm the soul, exuding the unrivaled grace of a mature beauty capable of soothing a beating heart's every worry.
"Since World-Saint Neo-Dawn desires it, as long as I'm not infringing on the Utmost Purity Hall's established rules, how could I possibly reject this great blessing? Yet I must ask, what is considered 'reasonable' by your standards?"
Hao Chengxue internally sighed a breath of relief intermixed with growing excitement in his chest.
"How about we accept Hall Manager Dustpath's offer, and we can discuss it further?" Wei Wuyin suggested. After settling the matter publicly, his goal had all but been achieved, and now they could take this in a private setting to handle the rest.
"Haha! That would be lovely! I have some Myriad-Year Water Lily Wine that we can enjoy to wet our throats and warm our hearts!" Hao Chengxue's laughter filled the world. How could Mei Xiangyao refuse?
Before long, Wei Wuyin followed Hao Chengxue into the free-floating continent containing the palatial hall. Pakhet and Luo Ning followed him. The former was his formal Alchemic Knight, while the latter was his assistant who simultaneously cultivated his lineage, so they had the right to enter a discussion of this level.
Before long, four Worldly Saint Alchemists sat around a table filled with delicacies brought out by young mortal men and women, both of which were pleasant to look at, carefully selected by Hao Chengxue to attend to their needs. While discussing the details of the revision, finalizing this matter, and exchanging stories, Hao Chengxue pointed out that half of the servers were formerly a part of a game of Mystics that had caught his fancy.
This was common practice among alchemists to acquire servants, disciples, and even alchemic knights, albeit rarely, from these realm-stage games of Mystics that unfolded.
Luo Ning would occasionally refill Wei Wuyin's cup whenever it lowered by half, and the others whenever they were drained by a third, her attitude faultlessly diligent and her eyes glowed endlessly as she listened with the utmost attentiveness. Luo Ning was undeniably a beauty after her bodily rejuvenation and steady progression of her cultivation base. Moreover, she was remarkably young for her cultivation, and Wei Wuyin spoke only the highest of praise. The others could not ignore her.
After learning that she was an alchemist who possessed an Alchemic Soul, the outward attitudes of White Sky, Mei Xiangyao, and Hao Chengxue—these three Worldly Saint Alchemists—underwent a noticeable change for the better. While an Alchemic Soul Alchemist wasn't too uncommon here, an Alchemic Soul Ascended being Alchemist was!
"Such a young Earthly Saint Alchemist! I wonder what tier she's reached in the Alchemic Dao?" Hao Chengxue asked curiously, sparking the interest of White Sky and Mei Xiangyao. There were three tiers of all stages of Alchemic Saint, divided into Junior, Senior, and Exalted, which were respectively tethered to low-tier, high-tier, and peak-tier products of their proper grades. Additionally, some standards had to be reached.
For the Resolute Dusk Galaxy, Sage Khonshu had informed Cao Cuifen that their standards were influenced by the Utmost Purity Galaxy. According to the Alchemic Dao of their galactic standards, to be classified as a specific tier, an alchemist needed a 30% success rate with at least two products of a single type OR a success rate of 50% with at least one product of a single type, which couldn't be a paste, and only low-quality products were considered!
The Utmost Purity Galaxy's standards were more or less the same, with the only difference being that an alchemist could achieve a 20% success rate with at least three products, all of different types, excluding paste. This was specifically removed from the Resolute Dusk Galaxy's Alchemic Dao after a silent admittance of their inferiority. The vast majority of alchemists in the Resolute Dusk Galaxy's historical lineages have traversed the path of a single lifetime specialization.
Luo Ning politely smiled in response. How was she to respond to that question? She honestly didn't know; the standards of the Utmost Purity Galaxy were daunting to the Resolute Dusk Galaxy and the various neighbors that took it as the tip of the surrounding galactic standard for the Alchemic Dao, but compared to the Hepta-Dawn Alchemic Corps' alchemic standards—especially the need for mastery of all four types and the compulsory Thirty-Three Heavenly Concoction Method usage for each product type, with at least ten successful low-quality or higher products each batch—the standards felt very lackluster.
She didn't know her exact standard, and even if she was placed in the batch of Exalted Earthly Saint Alchemists, there was a great chance that for products at the low-tier, she would outclass every last one of them directly and embarrassingly.
Fortunately, Wei Wuyin was present.
"She can be regarded as a Junior Earthly Saint Alchemist."
While a junior was the lowest official tier, it was only a societal standard. If an alchemist could concoct a low-tier, Mystic-Earth grade product at the low-quality—which was essentially 'perfect'—the Alchemic Dao would recognize them as an Earthly Saint Alchemist, producing a phenomenon regardless of societal beliefs.
For those who've succeeded in concocting Mystic-Earth grade products and received the recognition of the Alchemic Dao, they were blanketly referred to as Earthly Saint Alchemists without any prefix titles. But many took offense to such designation, and often rather be called Grand Mortal Sovereign Alchemists until they meet the required standard lest they become a joke, misrepresenting the established ability of the Utmost Purity Galaxy.
However, when Luo Ning revealed her Alchemic Stars of Spiritual Transcendence earlier, both to announce herself as Wei Wuyin's assistant and go to pick up World-Saint Soothing Jade as Wei Wuyin's envoy, both Worldly Saint Alchemists were shaken.
When Wei Wuyin attained the Alchemic Stars of Spiritual Transcendence, he had reached a form of mastery over transcendent-quality products, intermixing the Mortal with the spirituality of Mysticism, transcending limitations without infringing on any of their principles or boundaries. However, that was but one of the seven ways to initially attain the Alchemic Stars of Spiritual Transcendence.
Bai Xiu was an existence infused by the Alchemic Dao and could deduce which of the seven ways an alchemist had attained their Alchemic Stars, and Wei Wuyin's path was the most difficult, purest, and strongest of the seven ways. It was unprecedented for a mortal to achieve that. In fact, it should be impossible, and she speculated that it had never happened before in history!
Why? Because an alchemist in the Mortal Realms should never be able to grasp, observe, manipulate, or control the Ways of Mysticism in such a competent and precise manner to infuse the Mystic Dao's far-reaching and unfathomable principles into the Mortal Dao. It simply was unreasonable!
Hence why Wei Wuyin was the first of his kind throughout history—a Mortal Saint Alchemist!
The most common outside of the seven ways was to be infused with an Alchemic Rune by a master who had already attained it. Officially, the most commonly traversed path to spiritual transcendence that the majority of alchemists achieve the Alchemic Stars of Spiritual Transcendence was to concoct the four types of 'established' products under the Alchemic Dao—pill, potion (elixir), pellet, and paste—of the peak-tier within the Mystic-Earth grade!
It was due to this that many Worldly Saint Alchemists still hadn't developed their Alchemic Stars of Spiritual Transcendence yet!
The third path was for an alchemist to, by virtue of their own lineage or design, create a new product of the low-tier, Mystic-Earth grade. While seemingly easier, the difficulty in creating something new, readily accepted by the Alchemic Dao, was as difficult as assailing higher cultivation stages.
Wei Wuyin had performed this difficult task at the Mystic-World grade, instantly birthing his Alchemic Stars of Transcendent Purity, the third level of Alchemic Intent! While initially achieving Alchemic Stars through a single path, Alchemists continuously increase the foundation of their Alchemic Stars and Alchemic Dao by achieving each of the seven ways for each level.
For example, all three paths had been achieved by Wei Wuyin, and the other four paths had similarly been completed by him unknowingly, establishing the strongest Alchemic Stars of Spiritual Transcendence possible!
"Incredible!" Hao Chengxue's eyes brightened with outward interest, but his heart was mostly deflated. After recalling the fourth path of achieving the Alchemic Stars of Spiritual Transcendence, which was to reach the Earthly Saint Phase with an Alchemic Soul or the Ascended Saint Phase with the Alchemic Stars of Mortal Spirituality, he wasn't too interested in her achievements.
In his eyes, she had attained her alchemic stars by virtue of her cultivation base. That was an unsatisfying achievement in his eyes. Mei Xiangyao felt a similar feeling.
Whether it was White Sky, Mei Xiangyao, or Hao Chengxue, they were all Worldly Saint Alchemists that had reached that level by concocting peak-tier products of the Mystic-Earth grade, and while not rare, it displayed their outstanding talent in the Alchemic Dao unreliant on an Alchemic Soul's absurd advantages. Moreover, none of them had an Alchemic Soul.
Luo Ning didn't mind them underestimating her. She remained mindful and respectful as she kept Wei Wuyin and the other's cups filled.
Before long, all the details were hashed out. What shocked Hao Chengxue was that Wei Wuyin directly paid the fifty Mystic-World Essence Pills and Utmost Purity Mist. Then, he asked Mei Xiangyao what product she desired. When that matter was brought up, her expression became somewhat indistinct, and she glanced at the sitting and listening Hao Chengxue. Seeing this and being insightful to others' thoughts, he politely rose and said that he had to properly store those pills and the mist, leaving directly with a satisfied smile.
Mei Xiangyao also gave White Sky a look, but she sipped her cup and refused to leave. Wei Wuyin chuckled softly, then exerted his mutated Minor Spatial Law and mutated Minor Temporal Law, enveloping them in a barrier of distorted space and time, preventing any eavesdropping.
Hao Chengxue's expression changed slightly as he realized that his formation within the room only sent back a static, distorted burst of spiritual feedback. His ears even bled, and his steps were wobbly for a long while.
"Tell me, what product is it that you wish for me to concoct?" Wei Wuyin asked. White Sky held back the urge to comment rudely, realizing that Mei Xiangyao was being abnormally solemn here.
Mei Xiangyao tested out the qualities of Wei Wuyin's barrier with her Spiritual Sense, and her expression instantly paled a few shades as jade-colored blood leaked out of her nose. She swallowed harshly, barely keeping her wits about her. For a second, she felt as if she had just jumped into a pool of chaotic time and space, almost losing herself outright in pure dissonance of self. Breaking free of this sensation caused her to suffer a minor backlash. Hao Chengxue had suffered the same fate.
"No one else will know what happened here. Not even Oracles or Heavenly Seers," Wei Wuyin assured. Pakhet's eyes blinked curiously, not daring to send her Spiritual Sense toward the distortion barrier, only giving it a few looks. What profound power!
"I see..." Mei Xiangyao coughed a few times before her complexion gained some color.
"World-Saint Neo-Dawn, can you concoct peak-tier Mystic-World products?"
Wei Wuyin didn't answer, only calmly smiled.
"..." Mei Xiangyao seemed to be struggling with something internally. Then, after a long while, she finally resolved herself. She was at the Worldly Saint Phase, the fifth stage of the Mystic Ascendant Realm, and her ambition was not low.
Her cultivation was neither low nor high, and her achievements on both paths of cultivation and the Alchemic Dao were praiseworthy. While her age was rather advanced, she was still capable of nurturing a far more talented cultivator to become her Dao Protector into an Original Magistrate. While her Dao Protector was already at the World Emperor level when they met, she still put forth incredible effort and made great achievements in nurturing him to such astounding heights.
Unfortunately, this was a common plight for those who cultivated the Alchemic Dao diligently with exceedingly long refinement times and constant failures, including the hecticness of scrambling to sell products to purchase material for concoction. Practicing alchemy was an activity that drained the most money and time.
Because of this, Mei Xiangyao didn't have the greatest foundation for cultivation, and her current achievements were largely the result of alchemical products like the Mystic-Will Convergence Pill and life-saving, ascension-assisting materials and treasures like Mystic Origin Liquid. Her last tribulation nearly claimed her life, and she was still mentally scarred by that experience.
Finally, Mei Xiangyao gathered her resolve and spoke:
"Years ago, one of my Void Hunters I've embedded into an organization came across a concoction method in a fragmented spatial realm that contained ancient ruins that were millions of years old. I learned that it was the external secret realm of an ancient organization of the Utmost Purity Galaxy—a former Tower of the Refinement Zone of two galactic generations ago."
As she spoke more and more, the eyes of her Dao Protector, Luo Ning, and Pakhet began to widen an absurd amount! Wei Wuyin remained calm, but his heart was slowly boiling with interest. He kept listening.
"This concoction method... Have you ever heard of the ninth-grade Echoing Stars of the Vastness Pill?" Mei Xiangyao asked.
Wei Wuyin solemnly nodded. He didn't just know of the pill; the Ancient Sealed Region had been plunged into a dark age due to that pill! Moreover, it had the greatest significance to his cultivation during the upper stages of the Astral Core Realm! Without it...
"Then as you know, that product requires natural Solar Stars to concoct, making it extremely dangerous to any functioning cultivation society if left unchecked and could damage its future potential in the long term. It was even used often in high-level games of Mystics to rapidly accelerate the rate of cultivation. The concoction method they discovered... is a peak-tier—no, pinnacle-tier Mystic-World grade pill... the true Echoing Stars of the Vastness Pill: The Resounding Echoes of Celestial Refinement Pill!"
"..." Wei Wuyin's heart raced with thunderous fervor. This was it... this was the fortuitous encounter the Heavenly Daos had guided him toward by sparing White Sky!
THIS WAS IT!!

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