Ninth In the World

Diagonal Corner Street... The name made it sound as though the street was located in the corner, but it was not really isolated in the Gigantic Tripod Liberal Immortal City.

Di Jiu stopped in front of a store without a signboard. This was where Chi Yuanqing stayed according to the address provided by Huo Jianqian.

There was a restriction set up outside the store. Di Jiu knocked on it.

Only a short moment passed before the restriction opened. The first floor of the store was empty. Di Jiu saw a fully-bearded, unkempt man walk down from the second floor.

It was a mid-stage Immortal King who was very powerful.

However, the man did not seem to be spirited. He stared at Di Jiu after he walked to the first floor of the store. With a harsh tone, he said, “What do you want?”

Di Jiu said coolly, “You must be Chi Yuanqing? I am an Alchemy Master who has come to help you refine the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir.”

Di Jiu would not have bothered going there to waste his time with Chi Yuanqing, had it not been for the fact that he needed a store.

Chi Yuanqing gave him a mocking look before lifting his hand and taking out two contracts that clearly stated: One must pass a test to be able to refine a Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir. When refining a cauldron of grade-four immortal pills, all pills must be special-class and one-patterned or even greater. The alchemist must be prepared to die should they not meet even one of these criteria.

Should Di Jiu sign this contract and fail to meet the requirements, Chi Yuanqing would be able to kill Di Jiu without being punished by the Gigantic Tripod Immortal City.

Di Jiu was not bothered by this unfair contract. He signed his name without hesitation and recorded the entire process by using a crystal ball.

“You dare to sign this contract?” asked Chi Yuanqing in disbelief, staring at Di Jiu in shock when he saw Di Jiu sign the contract.

Many arrogant people had gone there in the past. However, upon seeing this contract, they had all left with their tails between their legs after paying a fee for disrupting his seclusion. A handful of Alchemy Grandmasters who had thought highly of themselves had dared to sign the contract because they had coveted his store. In the end, they had failed to refine a cauldron of special-class grade-four immortal pills and they had all been killed by him.

Di Jiu kept one of the contracts and said, “Didn’t you take them out for me to sign them?”

This contract did not mention anything regarding the store. The follow-up upon the success of the refinement was not mentioned either. Di Jiu seemed to be ignorant about this fact.

“You are called Di Jiu. Good, you have some guts. If that’s the case, follow me.” Chi Yuanqing only repeated Di Jiu’s name when he saw Di Jiu sign his name. Then, he turned and went up the stairs.

Di Jiu followed Chi Yuanqing up the stairs. He had to find a place to live in. Given his current cultivation level and reputation, he would not be able to purchase a store or a residence in a place like the Gigantic Tripod, even if he possessed Liberal Points and immortal crystals.

The restriction on the second floor was a level-six Defense Immortal Array restriction. This restriction was useless to Di Jiu.

After Chi Yuanqing opened the restriction, Di Jiu saw that there was another room within this room. However, that room was obscured by a restriction.

“Refine the elixir. I will watch,” said Chi Yuanqing the moment they entered the room as he stared at Di Jiu.

Di Jiu said coolly, “What elixir do you want me to refine? Are you providing the cauldron and the flame, or am I supposed to use my own? As far as the immortal spiritual herbs are concerned, are you providing them, or do I have to use my own?”

Chi Yuanqing said frostily, “You are the one who wanted to come here and refine the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir. Am I supposed to provide you with the immortal spiritual herbs?”

Di Jiu, who was not concerned about that, said calmly, “I only have a request while I am refining the elixir. I need a restriction. My alchemy method is slightly special and I do not wish for anyone to copy it.”

Chi Yuanqing laughed out loud. His face was devoid of any joy.

After he finished laughing, he pointed at Di Jiu. “A mere Immortal Lord weakling like you actually dares to say that one would copy your alchemy methods?”

Di Jiu looked calmly at Chi Yuanqing. He might not be Chi Yuanqing’s match, but he was capable of instantly escaping with his Spiritual Force escape technique. This was the Gigantic Tripod Immortal City and Chi Yuanqing would not dare to kill him without a valid reason. He might be an Immortal Lord weakling, but Chi Yuanqing was a mere Immortal King as well.

Chi Yuanqing frowned when he saw Di Jiu looking at him fearlessly and said, “Alright, I agree. Refine the elixir now.”

Upon hearing this, Di Jiu threw out several dozens of array flags without hesitation. A simple level-four immortal array that obscured one’s Spiritual Force appeared within the room. After he entered the Immortal Array, Di Jiu took out the cauldron, his Dao fire and a bunch of immortal spiritual herbs.

He chose to refine the Unity Accumulation Immortal Pill this time. It was a type of grade-four immortal pill that was only suitable for Great Unity Immortals to use. In terms of value, it was inferior to the Thousand Mortal Elixir, and the difficulty of refining it could only be considered average.

Although Di Jiu did want to inherit Chi Yuanqing’s business, he did not go all-out while refining it. It was impossible for him to refine a cauldron of nine-patterned special-class immortal pills in front of an Immortal King.

Chi Yuanqing stared at Di Jiu for the whole duration. He would kill Di Jiu without hesitation if he caught Di Jiu lying to him, for that would be a breach of contract.

Only one hour was required to refine one cauldron of the Unity Accumulation Immortal Pill. However, it took Di Jiu two hours to produce six elixirs.

Di Jiu was capable of refining nine elixirs in one cauldron. However, in the eyes of the majority of the Alchemy Masters, the maximum number of grade-four immortal pills that could be produced in one cauldron was six.

“You are already done?” asked Chi Yuanqing in astonishment when he saw Di Jiu discard the restriction. Then, he saw the jade plate before Di Jiu.

Di Jiu did not keep the elixirs in a jade bottle because Chi Yuanqing would want to check them.

Chi Yuanqing quickly took the jade plate by Di Jiu’s side. Then, he sensed that even his hand was shaking.

All six elixirs were special-class, the poorest quality being a three-patterned one and the best quality being a five-patterned one. No other alchemist he had encountered, not even Alchemy Masters, Alchemy Grandmasters or Alchemy Kings, had possessed the same capability as Di Jiu.

“Good, good...” Chi Yuanqing said a few times. In a moment of excitement, he grabbed Di Jiu.

Di Jiu unsheathed the Heavenly Aqua Saber on his back without hesitation and slashed down.

Bam! The saber aura clashed with Chi Yuanqing’s handprint, causing the house’s Defense Array to explode at the impact.

Chi Yuanqing had grabbed him casually, so Di Jiu had not used his full strength. Otherwise, Chi Yuanqing’s cave abode would have exploded altogether.

Di Jiu sheathed the Heavenly Aqua Saber after that saber swing and said coldly, “If I did not pass the test, the law enforcement officials of the Gigantic Tripod could come and judge me instead. I would not be courteous if you made any movements against me.”

This was probably the first time in history that an Immortal Lord had told an Immortal King that the former would not be courteous.

Chi Yuanqing was not angry in the slightest. He hastily waved his hands and said, “It was my fault. I’m sorry. Your alchemy skills are the best I’ve ever seen. I will let you refine the cauldron of Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir.”

Chi Yuanqing, who had seen many elixirs, instantly knew when he held the elixirs Di Jiu had refined in his hand that these elixirs were truly refined.

Di Jiu knew very well that Chi Yuanqing’s words sounded good, but he would definitely kill him without hesitation should the refinement fail.

Chi Yuanqing looked excitedly in anticipation at Di Jiu after he had finished speaking. He was worried that Di Jiu would turn and leave. He believed that he would not be able to find any Alchemy Masters as formidable as Di Jiu.

Di Jiu nodded his head. “I came here with the intention of helping you refine the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir. Since you approved of my alchemy techniques, shouldn’t the contract signed just now be void?”

“Yes, yes. It’s void.” Without waiting for Di Jiu to continue speaking about it, Chi Yuanqing took out the contract signed just now and destroyed it.

Di Jiu also took out the copy he possessed and did the same.

“Alchemy Master Di, could you start refining the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir?” Chi Yuanqing was certain that there would really be no one capable of refining the elixir if even Di Jiu failed to do so.

“Hold on during the elixir refinement.” Di Jiu waved his hand.

Before Chi Yuanqing could ask, Di Jiu said, “Shouldn’t we sign another contract before the alchemy process?”

Chi Yuanqing anxiously said, “Yes. I’m willing to give you another store along this same street, so long as you are able to refine a Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir. That store is as big as this store and its location is even better.”

Di Jiu shook his head. “That is the first condition. I did come here with the purpose of obtaining your store. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come here to help you refine the elixir.”

“Alchemy Master Di, feel free to state your conditions.” Chi Yuanqing’s eyes had turned bloodshot. He was worried that Di Jiu would suddenly leave and not help him refine the elixir.

“In that case, I will state them all. First, you must give me the store if I refine the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir. Furthermore, the procedure will be completed after I finish refining and you’ve confirmed the elixirs. I will only hand the elixirs to you once the procedure is completed.”

Before Di Jiu could finish speaking, Chi Yuanqing said, “No problem.”

“Second, you will only collect fees from the elixirs produced, and I will gain 50 percent of the profit. Considering that you gave a whole store to me, I will give you four Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixirs,” said Di Jiu unhurriedly.

Chi Yuanqing nodded his head. “I’ve no issues with this either.”

Di Jiu understood then that Chi Yuanqing had to be in desperate need of the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir. Thus, he added, “I also dislike noise and racket. Therefore, you cannot tell anyone else that I’m able to refine special-class immortal pills that are over three-patterned in quality. Last but not least, it is none of my business if the refinement fails.”

Chi Yuanqing hesitated before he said, “I’m okay with the third condition. As for the last one...”

Di Jiu cut Chi Yuanqing’s words off. “Daoist Chi, I can tell you with certainty that no one else will be capable of refining the Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir if even I am not able to do so. At least, there is currently no one in the Gigantic Tripod Immortal City who is capable of doing so. Therefore, it is up to you whether you want me to refine it or not.”

Di Jiu did not take the first contract to heart, because he was sure that Chi Yuanqing would destroy it. To Di Jiu, the current contract was the real deal. Although he was not worried about not being able to refine a Seven-Orifice Soul Condensing Elixir, he did not wish to be a part of an unfair contract. This was his Dao heart.