From the surrounding discussions, Liu Bai gradually understood what this so-called "Holy Spirit Pill" truly was.
However, there was still a lingering doubt in his heart that he could not shake off.
Seeing that the crowd was growing restless, Liu Si did not speak further and immediately began leading everyone into the Emerald Serenity Valley.
"Hm? This young brother looks unfamiliar. To possess such strength at such a young age, may I ask from which Immortal Land you hail?" When it was Liu Bai's turn, Liu Si looked at his appearance and felt the majestic spiritual energy radiating from him. He could not help but reveal a trace of surprise.
Although there were many people attending this event, Liu Si could not possibly recognize them all. Yet, someone as striking as Liu Bai was impossible to forget if he had appeared before. That meant this was most likely Liu Bai's first visit.
"I am Liu Bai. I have been cultivating in Jiuyuan Mountain, and this is my first time traveling abroad." Liu Bai spoke in a calm yet confident tone.
Jiuyuan Mountain was several thousand miles away from the Emerald Screen Mountain and was known to be home to many powerful rogue cultivators. So even if Liu Bai said this, there was no risk of being exposed.
"So it's Brother Liu. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner!" Liu Si, clearly experienced in dealing with outsiders, became even warmer upon meeting such a young and talented genius. His smile was sincere as he personally guided Liu Bai inside, showing great respect.
Liu Bai, seeing this, also appeared delighted and quickly became friendly with him, calling him "Brother Liu" with ease.
"Haha, Brother Liu, you came at the perfect time. My master has just refined a batch of Holy Spirit Pills for this trade fair, which has attracted many seniors to compete for them. This pill is greatly beneficial to cultivators at the Heaven Transformation Realm. Later, I'll take you to meet my master and see if he might spare you one or two pills."
Hearing this, Liu Bai's expression immediately brightened with excitement. He grabbed Liu Si's arm eagerly. "Brother Liu, are you serious?"
"Of course! Leave it to me!" Liu Si thumped his chest confidently. "Brother Liu, you must know that my master has ten disciples, but I am the one he favors the most. Such a small matter will not be a problem. Just wait and see."
"Excellent. Then I'll leave everything to Brother Liu. Rest assured, once it's done, I'll be sure to reward you generously!"
"No need for such formality between brothers. It's only right."
Liu Bai's expression of joy and gratitude made Liu Si secretly sneer in his heart.
"A genius… how wonderful. Our Emerald Serenity Palace loves talented youths like you, hehe…"
He forcibly swallowed the villainous laugh that almost escaped his lips, maintaining a warm smile as he led Liu Bai to the trade fair grounds before excusing himself.
After all, as the host responsible for this event, there were still many matters he needed to oversee.
However, what Liu Bai did not know was that after leaving him, Liu Si did not return to the valley entrance. Instead, he headed straight toward a grand palace deep within the mountains.
Inside that palace, within a heavily sealed secret chamber protected by multiple layers of formations, an elderly man sat cross-legged.
The old man was slightly plump and wore a white robe adorned with cloud patterns. His face was kind and benevolent, exuding the aura of an immortal sage that made anyone feel at ease at first glance.
Before him was a massive crimson pill furnace, from which waves of scorching heat radiated outward, raising the temperature of the entire chamber.
Yet within that intense heat lingered a faint, eerie chill, utterly different from the bright and majestic essence of normal spiritual flames.
Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out from a corner of the chamber. A small emerald bell hanging there had begun to chime softly.
The old man, who had been tending to the pill furnace, furrowed his brows slightly. Then, his closed eyes slowly opened, revealing a fleeting glimmer of darkness deep within them.
He glanced at the furnace before standing up and walking toward the chamber's exit.
Outside the door, Liu Si stood waiting nervously. The way he rubbed his hands together showed how restless and uneasy he felt.
"Weren't you told to oversee the trade fair outside? What happened?"
A calm, aged voice resounded. Liu Si quickly looked up to see the old man before him.
"Master, your disciple has made an important discovery and dared to interrupt your alchemy. Please forgive me." Although the elder's face appeared kind, Liu Si could not suppress the fear rising within him.
"Speak. What is it that makes you so anxious?" The elder's tone was icy, devoid of any emotion.
"Master, at this trade fair I met a young genius. Judging by my observation, he's definitely under twenty years old, yet his cultivation has already reached the Early-Phase of the Heaven Transformation Realm. His strength is no weaker than mine."
"More importantly, he seems to come from a humble background. I found no sign of any powerful protector nearby. I even befriended him and learned quite a few details. I am certain he does not belong to any major force."
Upon hearing this, the elder's previously calm face showed a faint reaction. "Very good. I understand. You need not wait for me to instruct you further. You know what must be done. Once it's accomplished, you will be credited with great merit."
"Thank you, Master. I will not disappoint you!" Overjoyed by the promise, Liu Si immediately dropped to his knees in deep reverence. Only after sensing his master's presence fade did he dare to rise.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, unable to contain his excitement, then hurriedly left the palace.
Inside the secret chamber, the elder's gaze returned to the pill furnace as his mind replayed Liu Si's words.
"A prodigy under twenty years old… No matter who you are or what purpose brought you here, since you have entered my Emerald Serenity Valley, even if you possess divine abilities, you will never leave this place."
The faint murmur echoed through the chamber.
In the next instant, the once-quiet furnace erupted with a surge of immense spiritual energy. The furnace lid shot open, and a mass of pitch-black flame soared upward, releasing a piercing wail that echoed across the room.
The flame twisted into the shape of a skull. From its hollow eyes and mouth, three glowing spheres radiating sacred light slowly rose.
At that moment, heaven and hell seemed to coexist, holiness and evil intertwined.
"Hehe, three top-grade Holy Spirit Pills. Not bad. Those old fools will surely be pleased."
With a wave of his hand, the glowing orbs drifted toward the old man's palm, while the black flame transformed into countless thin threads that flowed into his body through his eyes, ears, and mouth.
As the dark flame entered his body, the elder's once-kind face twisted into a sinister grimace. The sudden transformation chilled the entire chamber despite the blazing heat.
Meanwhile, back at the trade fair grounds in the Emerald Serenity Valley, Liu Bai sat at his table, pouring himself a drink while observing the growing crowd. He soon noticed that this section seemed reserved for cultivators of the Heaven Transformation Realm and above.
Most of them were mid-phase Heaven Transformation Realm experts, and many looked quite old. Among them, Liu Bai was the only youthful face.
"Tsk tsk, what a handsome young man."
A seductive voice suddenly echoed through the hall. The tone was so alluring that it felt like soft hands were gently scratching at one's heart, causing many men nearby to flush red.
Liu Bai turned his head and saw a woman in a crimson dress, her figure voluptuous and mature.
She had a beautiful face, her eyes filled with a mature charm that exuded sensual allure. Her smiling expression carried a captivating temptation.
Even Liu Bai, who had long grown accustomed to seeing beautiful women, had to admit that such a mature beauty carried a unique charm that young girls could never compare to.
Faced with the devouring gazes of the surrounding men, the woman did not restrain herself in the slightest. Instead, she swayed her hips even more seductively, causing the men's eyes to follow the rise and fall of her curves.
Liu Bai frowned slightly. Though her physical allure was undeniable, he remained unmoved. What truly caught his attention was the aura emanating from her body.
"Heaven Completion Realm. This woman's strength is likely not weaker than that guardian of the Spiritual Light Mountain back then."
Of course, such a level of strength might only be considered mid-tier within the Northern Heaven Spirit Academy, but within the Northern Heaven Continent—especially in this region surrounding Emerald Serenity Valley—she was undoubtedly a top-tier powerhouse.
"The humble one is Wan Niang. May I ask if this young man would be willing to share a cup of tea with me?"
The woman, who introduced herself as Wan Niang, swayed her graceful figure toward Liu Bai, slightly bending forward to reveal her abundant charms as she spoke softly.
Seeing this, Liu Bai suddenly smiled. He picked up the teacup beside him, poured a cup himself, and gently pushed it toward her.
That smile stunned the woman for a moment. When she looked at Liu Bai again, she found that this handsome young man appeared even more captivating than before.
Just as the red-dressed beauty's heart began to stir, a rough voice suddenly broke the atmosphere and startled everyone.
"Yu Wanqiu, you venomous woman, are you seducing young men again?"
"It seems you've forgotten what Old Ancestor Feng Ling did to you back then!"
Upon hearing that last sentence, Yu Wanqiu's face instantly turned ashen. Her beautiful eyes flashed with cold light as she glared toward the speaker.
"Xue Yan, you brainless fool! If you're looking for a beating, just say so! Let me show you whether this Red Lady dares to destroy your Hundred Victory Divine Fist!"
This "Red Lady" was notorious for seducing talented young elites from various powerful families, luring them into her embrace. Many of them had fallen to her charms, losing their will and spirit power, eventually turning into useless wrecks.
Countless clans and sects hated her to the bone. After all, the heirs they had painstakingly cultivated were ruined within mere days, a loss that no one could easily accept.
However, the Red Lady was not only incomparably beautiful but also possessed formidable strength. Ordinary cultivators dared not provoke her, and even those who could stood little chance of capturing her, which allowed her to remain unpunished for years.
Ten years ago, while hunting for prey, she accidentally targeted the young son of Old Ancestor Feng Ling. The two indulged themselves for nearly three months. When Feng Ling finally found them, his son had already been drained to the point of losing his human form.
Feng Ling was a genuine Sovereign-level powerhouse. Enraged, he captured the Red Lady and imprisoned her in his Wind Tomb Crossing, tormenting her for three years before finally releasing her.
After that, her spiritual foundation was completely destroyed, and all the energy she had harvested was exhausted. Her cultivation dropped drastically, and from then on, she lost all hope of ever advancing further.
That incident became an eternal nightmare in the Red Lady's heart. Anyone who dared to mention it would inevitably suffer her most violent wrath.
There is a saying: one does not strike a person's face nor expose their scars. Yet Xue Yan, the fool that he was, had chosen to hit her where it hurt most, igniting her fury.
"Hehe, destroy me? With what strength? Or do you still miss the days you spent being toyed with in the Wind Tomb Crossing?"
"You're courting death!"
With just a few exchanged words, the two immediately started fighting. The surrounding crowd hurriedly retreated to avoid being caught in the aftermath.
However, none of them left entirely. Instead, they stayed and watched the fierce battle with amused expressions.
Liu Bai clearly did not expect things to escalate this quickly. He was still unaccustomed to how these rogue cultivators would start fighting at the slightest provocation.
"Enough! Both of you, stop!"
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure descended upon the area, making everyone feel as if a great mountain had been placed upon their shoulders.
The battling Yu Wanqiu and Xue Yan were instantly forced to stop. Everyone turned their gaze upward and saw a white-robed figure descending slowly like a celestial immortal.
Though the man's steps appeared calm and unhurried, he traversed a great distance in the blink of an eye. Seeing this, Liu Bai's pupils contracted sharply.
"That movement technique that seemed to shrink the ground into inches must involve the manipulation of surrounding natural energy. To achieve this level of mastery, this old man's control over space is extraordinary. His strength, even within the Heaven Completion Realm, must be among the very best."
"Could this be the Palace Master of Emerald Serenity Palace, Master Ling Yun? His power seems far greater than the rumors suggest."
According to rumors, Master Ling Yun was a brilliant alchemist but possessed only an average cultivation, supposedly at the Early-phase of the Heaven Completion Realm.
Yet now, from how his mere presence had been enough to suppress two Heaven Completion Realm powerhouses, it was clear his true cultivation was far beyond that.
While Liu Bai was still taken aback by the man's strength, many people around had already recognized him. They quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully.
"Greetings, Master Ling Yun!"
The Red Lady and Xue Yan also ceased their battle. The former gave a cold humph and glared at Xue Yan.
"Xue brute, for Master Ling Yun's sake, I'll let you off today. But if you dare run your mouth again, I'll tear it right off!"
....
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