While greeting the Holy Emperors politely toasting to him, Jian Sanshan didn’t forget to send regular sound transmissions to Ning Cheng. He also gave him a brief introduction of the pill sages within the crowd.
With Jian Sanshan’s introduction, Ning Cheng learned that at least three other Dao Transformation Pill Sages were here apart from him. Sheng Houtian and Jing Han made up two of the three, while a red-faced, middle-aged man was the third. This red-faced, middle-aged man was called Lei Shamu, a Dao Transformation Holy Emperor and a Dao Transformation Pill Sage.
There were also at least a dozen Dao Sculpting and Dao Raising Pill Sages here. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that nine out of ten known pill sages from all over the Grand Essence Realm had come here. Looks like these pill sages attached great importance to the Alchemy Discourse.
“Brother Ning, I have great admiration for you for beating down Lu Yixian and making him not even dare talk nonsense about you. You even occupied the premier spirit spring at the Extraterritorial Spirit Spring. This Percy[1] would like to toast to you.” A rugged-looking man with a full beard raised his wine cup and walked towards Ning Cheng. As a Dao Transformation Pill Sage, this was the first person to toast to him.
Ning Cheng felt a little strange. Percy looked as if he had just advanced to the Dao Sculpting Realm like him. For him to toast him in such a blatant manner, wasn’t it a slap in the face of Man Huishan?
Jian Sanshan knew that Ning Cheng was unaware of many things. Therefore, he simply sent him another voice transmission. “Brother Ning, Percy is one of the 12 Grand Essence Sacred Children, ranked second. He comes from a mysterious sect[2], the Void Star Sect.”
No wonder this fellow radiated so much happiness after he defeated Lu Yixian. By now, he had long since learned the names of all the 12 Grand Essence Sacred Children. Percy was ranked second among them, just behind Lu Yixian. Ning Cheng simply smiled, picked up his wine cup and drank it down in one gulp. He guessed that Percy hadn’t come here to look for him because he defeated Lu Yixian. In other words, Percy had most likely had something else going on.
“Fellow Daoists.” Just as Percy was about to continue, Jing Han suddenly picked up another wine cup and stood up.
In the crowd’s eyes, Jing Han was the youngest Dao Transformation Pill Sage in the Grand Essence Realm. Therefore, no one would fail to show their respect when such a person stood up. Even the Dao Fusion experts who hadn’t stood up for others raised their wine cups to show appreciation. Once Jing Han became a Dao Essence Pill Sage, who could guarantee that they wouldn’t end up begging for his help?
“My Great Spirit Pill Sect has obtained an Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill, and this pill is indeed remarkable. It helps the Sea of Consciousness expand while also purifying and strengthening one’s spiritual consciousness. One could even say that it’s the most powerful spiritual consciousness elixir I have ever seen……”
When Jing Han spoke about the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill, a slightly weird atmosphere emerged in the guest hall. Many people’s gazes quickly shifted to Ning Cheng.
Jing Han had come in a little later and didn’t know that Ning Cheng was Ji He. Nor did he know that Ning Cheng had the authentic Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills on him.
“But now my Great Spirit Pill Sect has derived the recipe for the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill from this pill……” The following words immediately ignited the atmosphere of the guest hall.
Sure, Ning Cheng possessing the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill might be a good thing for them. But most people thought that Ning Cheng had obtained those pills from the Grand Essence Mystic Realm. As for Ning Cheng refining the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill, not many people believed it. It was the same even for Jian Sanshan. It was why he had initially only wanted to ask Ning Cheng for two Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills.
Now that Jing Han possessed the recipe for the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill, it would be strange if it didn’t cause a stir.
When the chatter in the great hall had died down a little, Jing Han continued. “My Great Spirit Pill Sect has decided to make the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill public. We want all the cultivators in the Grand Essence Realm to benefit from it.”
A more enthusiastic atmosphere rose as numerous Holy Emperors praised Jing Han and the Great Spirit Pill Sect’s contribution to the Grand Essence Realm.
Ning Cheng, however, frowned. The method and refining of the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill were highly complex. Moreover, once the pill formed, it left no trace of the individual medicinal components. He was confident that no one could deduce this pill recipe unless their alchemy comprehension far surpassed Pill Sage Min Kong and his combined. Ning Cheng would never believe that Jing Han, a mere Dao Transformation Pill Sage, could figure out the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill’s recipe.
But Jing Han had spoken with such conviction. Did he really deduce it? But then the next question would be, where would he obtain the Divine Chalcedony for it?
“However, the spirit grasses used to refine the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill are too precious. Therefore, the Great Spirit Pill Sect can only sell this spirit pill using unorthodox means. In addition to spirit crystals, we will require at least a few spirit grasses from the prospective buyers to complete the refinement. Like the Flowerless Flower, the Clear Rainbow Buddha Pomegranate…..”
Ning Cheng laughed coldly in his heart when he heard those words. Most of the spirit grasses that Jing Han had quoted had nothing to do with the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill. In fact, only two spirit grasses in that list were used in the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills. In other words, these spirit grasses were either what Jing Han personally wanted or what the Great Spirit Pill Sect wanted.
“The Illusionary Fruit Orchard is about to open, and I believe that many of these spirit grasses will appear in it. If you need the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill, my Great Spirit Pill Sect will work with you.”
After Jing Han finished his words, Ning Cheng finally understood that this fellow was banking on other people’s harvest from the Illusionary Fruit Orchard.
“Pill Sage Jing, I’m afraid you still don’t know that Ji He, the first one to possess the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill, is also here……” Tong Mengzi’s voice rang out. Apparently, he also understood Jing Han’s purpose. Since Ji He was here, the Great Spirit Pill Sect’s version was the one who was pirating ‘his’ stuff. But if the pirated version wanted to sell well, it was only natural that the genuine version had to be curbed.
Jing Han’s words stalled. He was well aware of his Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill’s recipe. In truth, the side effects of the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill refined through his deduced formula were simply too great. In fact, there was a heaven and earth difference between the effects of his pill and the genuine pill. If he could have caught Ji He, his Great Spirit Pill Sect would have already captured Ji He a long time ago. Unexpectedly, Ji He had come to this place. So his gaze immediately swept out to try to find him.
This time, Ning Cheng didn’t even wait for others to come forward to point at him. He gestured to Percy that he would talk to him later and then took the initiative to step forward and bring out a jade bottle.
“Fellow Daoists, you have guessed correctly. The Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill has indeed flowed out of my hands. I still have five Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills inside this jade bottle in my hand. Unfortunately, these five Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill are also the last ones in my possession. Of course, I haven’t seen the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills Refined by Pill Sage Jing Han, so I dare not say how the effect of his pills compares to that of mine. But I believe that the pill sages here are not vegetables either, so a comparison of the two pills will easily tell you which one is better.”
Ning Cheng held up the jade bottle in his hand as he spoke. “I just want to see what I can get for these five Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills; one of them is even of high quality.”
Ning Cheng felt confident that if Jing Han wanted to sell fake Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills, he would have to purchase the real pills out of his hands. Otherwise, the Great Spirit Pill Sect wouldn’t be able to eat at all.
“I want it; what’s the price?”
As soon as Ning Cheng’s words came out, numerous cultivators stood up, and the atmosphere again charged up.
Jing Han stared at Ning Cheng and frowned. After a moment, he suddenly said aloud, “This fellow daoist is holding up unknown pills in his hands, claiming that it’s the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills. The Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill is something that no one here has probably ever seen except for the Star Stepping Tower’s master and myself. I don’t know if he’s lying either. How about this, you bring those so-called Empyrean Consciousness Pill over to me for inspection. We can determine its authenticity.”
Since Ning Cheng wasn’t a Dao Transformation Pill Sage, it wouldn’t be rude for Jing Han to say this. Moreover, it was not rude but also seemed righteous on the surface. Even if someone knew exactly what he had on his mind, they would dare say it.
The people in the guest hall immediately wore a bemused expression, intending to watch from the sidelines. They all knew what kind of person Ning Cheng was. A madman who dared to chide someone like Man Huishan and didn’t even put Le Jiesheng in his eyes. Moreover, he was even brothers with Sheng Houtian, a Dao Transformation Pill Sage, and the Second Union Master of the Pill Union. Therefore, even if Jing Han had the intention to bully him, Ning Cheng wouldn’t give a damn about him.
But things happened out of everyone’s expectations. After Ning Cheng heard Jing Han’s words, he quickly clasped his fists and said to Jing Han. “It’s only natural for Pill Sage Jing to check. It’s just that these pills of mine are too precious. I was planning on relying on these few pills in exchange for cultivation resources, in case……”
Jing Han’s face turned cold. “Tell me what you want me to press into your face before you feel at ease?”
Ning Cheng hurriedly shook his head. “How dare I let Pill Sage Jing press something into my face. Wouldn’t that make me too blind?”
Jing Han’s expressions eased a little. But before he could continue speaking, Ning Cheng’s volume picked up. “How about an exchange of equal value. I heard that the Great Spirit Pill Sect has a lot of 5-Element Heavenly Fruits. I’ll exchange these five pills for fifty 5-Element Heavenly Fruits……”
Everyone sucked in a deep breath of cold air. This fellow had really dared to ask for fifty 5-Element Heavenly Fruits for five pills. It was simply too much.
A thin layer of frost started to form on Jing Han’s face. Again, before he could speak, Ning Cheng suddenly poured a pill from the jade bottle. “Everyone can take a look. A genuine Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill. It’s definitely not a fake.”
As soon as the pill came out, Jing Han’s eyes tightened. The pill Ning Cheng had taken out was indeed a genuine Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill. Although it was only a medium-grade pill, it was the real deal.
“I only have two 5-Element Heavenly Fruits. If you want to exchange them, let’s get on with it. If not, then forget it.” Jing Han clenched his fists. A Dao Sculpting Holy Emperor dared to speak like that in front of him, a Dao Transformation Pill Sage. Just that alone had already provoked his dignity.
Ning Cheng sighed and placed the jade bottle in his hand in front of Le Jiesheng. “Alright, two means two. Who let you be a Dao Transformation Pill Sage? I guess even I have to suck up to it. Let’s get on with the exchange. I’ve already placed my items in front of City Lord Le, and I hope that City Master Le will testify to it.”
Jing Han didn’t expect Ning Cheng to be so malleable, dropping from fifty to two in an instant. Seeing Ning Cheng place the pills in front of Le Jiesheng, Jing Han quickly took a deep breath and took out two jade boxes before placing them in front of Le Jiesheng. In the same movement, he took away Ning Cheng’s jade bottle.
Ning Cheng raised his hand and swept away the two jade boxes while feeling wildly happy in his heart. He used only four pseudo-low-grade and one middle-grade Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills for two 5-Element Heavenly Fruits. Those five pills were from when he researched the Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pills recipe. In effect, they were nothing but wastes, which he never thought would be of any use until now.
If Jing Han didn’t use his Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill for swindling, Ning Cheng would have used the actual recipe for the exchange. But not only did this fellow use his pills to cheat, but he also took the opportunity to enrich himself and tarnish his name and that of Pill Sage Min Kong. If he didn’t screw him over, Ning Cheng wouldn’t even feel right about himself.
Jing Han opened the jade bottle. However, he only saw one medium-grade Empyrean Consciousness Transmutation Pill when his spiritual consciousness swept inside. Seeing the other pills inside, his face instantly soured like a pig’s liver.
“Good, very good.” Jing Han put the jade bottle away and swept a cold gaze at Ning Cheng.
No one present was a fool. One look at Jing Han’s expressions, and they understood that Ning Cheng had offended another one, this time, a Dao Transformation Pill Sage. This fellow’s courage truly covered the sky.
Since Holy Emperor Extreme Void had previously received benefits from Ning Cheng, he immediately decided to stand up and intervene. “City Lord Le, everyone here has come for the Illusionary Fruit Orchard. We’ve all eaten the spirit fruits and drunk your dao fruit wine. Why not watch the talented alchemists of our Grand Essence Domain compete for the dao fruits while discussing the dao? Wouldn’t it be great?”
[1] The name here is ‘珀西’ or ‘Po Xi’. However, it phonetically sounds like ‘Percy’. I will use this form until I clarify this person’s family as the author tends to use western names occasionally.
[2] Here, the word ‘mysterious sect’ is more of a classification of his sect, unlike the apparent meaning.
