Chapter 617: Ancient Pine Demon Monarch
Having heard this, both Bai Weng and Shi Hao were stunned. Bai Weng felt that Li Qiye was boasting too much. This was a five transformations fate pill; he himself would need to go all out with caution during the process.
It was needless to say for Shi Hao; such a pill was far beyond his reach. At this moment, there was no way he could refine such a pill.
However, amidst their daze, Li Qiye pressed one hand onto the cauldron.
"Pop!" The cauldron's flame appeared as Li Qiye threw all the ingredients inside.
"Pa, pa, pa!" The popping sounds as if someone was frying soybeans appeared. In just a second, a medicinal fragrance came about.
"Collect!" At this moment, the cauldron opened as the flame disappeared. A five transformations fate pill was refined in an instant.
Bai Weng was completely terrified while Shi Hao was rendered speechless. Both of them stood there silly with their mouths wide open and were unable to calm down for a long time.
Bai Weng's breath was taken away by this scene. He had become an alchemist for a long time but had never seen this style of pill refinement. How could it be possible for one to refine pills as easily as frying beans? He had never heard of something even remotely similar and couldn't see Li Qiye's pill refinement method when he did it so quickly.
Shi Hao, on the other hand, couldn't gauge anything since he was less knowledgeable than Bai Weng, so he just stood there silly.
Li Qiye handed a box to Bai Weng and said: "Okay, here is the proof that you need. Take it."
For Li Qiye, this kind of proof or becoming the national Alchemy Chief were not worth thinking about. He only wanted to go take a look at the capital as well as do a favor by paving the way for Shi Hao, allowing him to have a future position in the Giant Bamboo Country.
Bai Weng shook his body to calm down and opened the box to look at the five transformations fate pill. His scream quickly ensued.
"This… this… this is seventy percent purity! How… can this be!?" His knees met the ground as he was scared out of his mind.
Shi Hao was similarly awestruck. Despite being a Junior Alchemist, he still understood the significance behind a seventy percent purity for a five transformations fate pill.
"It is only like that because I wasn't in the mood. If I was more serious, then eighty percent wouldn’t have been a problem." Li Qiye leisurely commented.
Bai Weng suddenly felt the urge to kneel down and hit his head on the ground. Seventy percent purity for a five transformations pill was enough to scare all alchemists to death, not to mention the speed and ease that Li Qiye had demonstrated, as if he was just frying beans. All the genius alchemists, Alchemy Saints, and Legendary Alchemists were not enough to reach the apex if this was the norm.
The ingredients for this fate pill had only transformed five times so their potency was limited. It was already considered great to be able to refine a pill with fifty percent purity, and only Alchemy Saints and Legendary Alchemists were able to reach sixty percent.
But now, Li Qiye easily refined one with seventy percent, so his skill should be around the peak of Legendary Alchemists. However, he nonchalantly stated that it was only because he wasn't in the mood or else even eighty percent would be possible. Any alchemist would have a heart attack upon hearing this.
If anyone else said this, Bai Weng would think that the person didn't know his own capabilities, but he was completely convinced at this moment. With his body kneeling on the ground, he would believe anything Li Qiye said even if the words were even more outrageous.
"Are you… an Alchemy Emperor?" Bai Weng asked with a blank gaze.
Li Qiye only smiled and didn't answer.
Shi Hao joined Bai Weng on the ground by squatting straight down. He didn't know how to describe his feelings at the moment.
Alchemy Emperor was the highest title as well as the greatest achievement for an alchemist. Although an Alchemy Emperor was not as powerful as an Immortal Emperor, they were highly respected by all in the Nine Worlds.
An even more illustrious title was Alchemy God. However, only one person across the eons was worthy of this title — the Alchemy God himself!
The Stonetreading County was a tiny county in the Refreshing Prefecture, a sizable prefecture in the Giant Bamboo Country.
The Ancient Pine Demon Monarch was the overseer of this prefecture. He was one of the eighteen demon monarchs beneath Madam Zi Yan, the Giant Bamboo Overlord.
Just like his name, the monarch was a pine tree who succeeded in the dao. Although he was not the strongest out of the eighteen, he was the oldest one among the group.
As the ruler of a big prefecture, he was very busy, especially with the recent task of finding young alchemists for the Demon King.
He had found some young alchemists but was not satisfied with them. Although their innate talents were okay, their current skills were simply too shallow.
While the monarch was deep in work, Bai Weng from the Stonetreading County tried to rush into his office despite being stopped outside.
"Bai Weng, can't you wait a bit before reporting?" The monarch's brows furrowed after seeing Bai Weng's intrusion and said: "Wait until I'm done with work, then you can report what you have discovered."
He was busy deciding between these young alchemists and was already in a foul mood, so Bai Weng's intrusion only made it worse.
If it was anyone else, the monarch would have kicked them out already. However, Bai Weng was an experienced alchemist and was almost at the Grandmaster level. In the future, he could join the court any time as an alchemist, so the monarch viewed him in high regard.
"Demon Monarch, nothing is more important than this!" Bai Weng stated: "I will introduce an alchemist to you, a supreme and matchless alchemist!"
The monarch shook his head in response: "From your Stonetreading County? Outside of you, that county still has more alchemists? Although your disciples aren't bad, the matter this time is very important; those disciples won't do."
"No, no, Demon Monarch misunderstood my intent." Bai Weng quickly replied: "I am not recommending my own disciples. Moreover, my own skills are nothing before the Young Noble I am about to recommend, I'm not even worthy to hold his shoes!"
The Ancient Pine Demon Monarch was startled after hearing this. Although Bai Weng had yet to become a Grandmaster, he was already a top Alchemy Master. His self-deprecating praise to this person caught the demon monarch by surprise.
The monarch shook his head and said: "Are you joking right now? In the contemporary times, if any young person was worthy of being called supreme and matchless, then they would be the four alchemy prodigies. No one in the younger generation is comparable to those four."
Bai Weng quickly said: "No, Demon Monarch, the four alchemy prodigies are nothing compared to Young Noble Li!"
The monarch's expression became serious. While squinting his eyes, he deepened his tone: "Bai Weng, you can't joke around like that. As the saying goes, one can eat indiscriminately but cannot speak indiscriminately. If others hear what you said just now, it would cause trouble for us. You should know how strong the backings of the four prodigies are."
The four alchemy prodigies were renowned across the Stone Medicine World. Many people believed that if a new Alchemy Emperor were to appear, then it would be one of these four prodigies.
"Demon Monarch, I know just how much weight my words carried just now." Bai Weng also became serious and answered: "But Young Noble Li, who I am recommending, is worthy for our Giant Bamboo to do everything to keep him here regardless of the price, which is why I spent all night running here. If we miss this chance, then we won't be able to recruit another peerless alchemy genius."
After seeing Bai Weng's austere appearance, the monarch became more solemn as well: "Tell me why this alchemy genius is so amazing."
As the monarch, he knew that characters like Bai Weng were not the frivolous type and wouldn't joke around.
Bai Weng carefully handed the five transformations fate pill that Li Qiye concocted over to the monarch.
After seeing this fate pill, the monarch stood straight up from his seat and exclaimed: "Seventy percent purity! How… is this possible?!"
"Nothing is impossible for Young Noble Li." Bai Weng said in the most earnest manner: "You would be stunned if you saw him refine pills in person." Having said that, Bai Weng described Li Qiye's alchemy process.
The monarch was shocked as he listened, standing there like a statue. After a while, the monarch fell to his seat then looked up at Bai Wang and uttered: "This can't be real!"
Bai Weng replied solemnly: "This is one hundred percent real. This old man guarantees this with my life." Here, his tone became more urgent: "This is a once-in-ten-thousand-years opportunity for the Giant Bamboo Country. Her Majesty wants more talents, right? We need a young alchemist to join the Alchemy Conference, right? If Young Noble Li agrees to represent us, then we'll take first place for sure!"
The monarch calmed down and quickly asked: "This Young Noble Li, where is he from and which sect does he belong to?"
He was very emotional at the moment. If such a young alchemist had such capabilities, then he would surely be the Alchemy Emperor in the future.
Bai Weng answered: "Young Noble Li is a human, a vagrant cultivator that doesn't belong to any sect."
The monarch couldn't help but ponder after hearing this answer: "How could that be? As such a powerful alchemist, if he is not already an Alchemy Emperor, then he would be a Legendary Alchemist. It is one thing to be unknown, but not having any sect trying to recruit him? That is abnormal."
The Ancient Pine Demon Monarch's skepticism made a lot of sense. Alchemists have always been popular in the Stone Medicine World, and the high-ranking ones were always in demand and were invited by all the sects.
617 TeaserHaving heard this, both Bai Weng and Shi Hao were stunned. Bai Weng felt that Li Qiye was boasting too much. This was a five transformations fate pill; he himself would need to go all out with caution during the process.
It was needless to say for Shi Hao; such a pill was far beyond his reach. At this moment, there was no way he could refine such a pill.
However, amidst their daze, Li Qiye pressed one hand onto the cauldron.
"Pop!" The cauldron's flame appeared as Li Qiye threw all the ingredients inside.
"Pa, pa, pa!" The popping sounds as if someone was frying soybeans appeared. In just a second, a medicinal fragrance came about.
"Collect!" At this moment, the cauldron opened as the flame disappeared. A five transformations fate pill was refined in an instant.
Bai Weng was completely terrified while Shi Hao was rendered speechless. Both of them stood there silly with their mouths wide open and were unable to calm down for a long time.
Bai Weng's breath was taken away by this scene. He had become an alchemist for a long time but had never seen this style of pill refinement. It could even be said that this was impossible!
[collapse]Chapter 618: Personally Visiting The Humble Abode
Alchemists were able to cultivate materials and craft fate pills, longevity medicines, physique pastes, and various ointments. In short, things that any sect would always need, and many of these items were always in short supply.
Thus, one could imagine just how popular alchemists were. This was the case for the other worlds as well since there were less alchemists in those places and their system had yet to be as flourished and developed.
Because of this, the status of alchemists in the Stone Medicine World was much higher than that in the other worlds. Moreover, this world also produced more Alchemy Emperors.
"There are many strange things in this world." Regarding the monarch's worries, Bai Weng had such a conjecture: "Extraordinary people have their own train of thought; Young Noble Li's skill is enough to sweep over this world. Perhaps he considers power and fame to be useless since he can obtain whatever he wants already. With a swing of his hand, countless people would want to offer him gifts and treasures. Maybe because of this, he got tired of rowdy places."
The Demon Monarch became worried from this: "If this was the case, then what do we have to hold him down? If he has such abilities, then not mentioning the great powers, even imperial lineages would want him as well. The Alchemy Kingdom would also be tempted. We don't have any advantage compared to those monsters."
Bai Weng became spirited when this issue was brought up: "We can't guess how these extraordinary people think. Back in the county, there is an envoy named Shi Hao. This kid is very honest and hardworking and has always wanted to become a powerful alchemist. I think Young Noble Li is staying here because he wants to teach this boy. I heard Shi Hao say that Young Noble Li was teaching him pill refinement. Even if the young noble doesn't want to take him as a disciple, he is still training the boy."
Bai Weng paused for a bit and continued: "I have asked Young Noble Li before. He wants to take a trip to the capital once. We can just introduce him to Her Majesty at that time. Whether this endeavor is successful or not, it'll be up to Her Majesty."
"Very well, how can we let go of such a powerful alchemist?" The demon monarch solemnly said: "I'll personally go and pay my respects to him!"
Initially, Bai Weng wanted to recommend a young alchemist to Her Majesty, but he was astonished after seeing Li Qiye's abilities. He knew that Li Qiye had the qualifications to act arrogantly, and whether he would stay at the Giant Bamboo Country to be an alchemist was dependent on his whims!
Such a great alchemist would have sects scrambling for his attention, so Bai Weng became even more determined to persuade the demon monarch so that he would ask Her Majesty to recruit a supreme alchemist like Li Qiye.
Meanwhile, Li Qiye continued his normal and relaxing life back at Jadeblood Mountain. He wanted to stay at the Giant Bamboo Country for a while as well as to take a look at the capital and the palace.
Under Li Qiye's guidance, Shi Hao mustered all of his effort into pill refinement. Although he was a simple fellow, he still knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; he wouldn't be able to find another such wise teacher once Li Qiye leaves. As Li Qiye repeatedly demonstrated the methods, Shi Hao didn't dare to miss a single detail.
Bai Weng returned the next day with a companion.
Bai Weng and the Ancient Pine Demon Monarch both came to Jadeblood Mountain and noticed that the vegetation here along the mountains were full of life. The Jadeblood Bamboo planted here happily swayed back and forth as if they had come to life.
This was not strange at all. The Ancient Pine Demon Monarch was initially a pine tree, so he was very close with the flora. His arrival was naturally sensed by the vegetation on the mountain.
Shi Hao was frightened at the monarch's arrival. He had been an envoy for a long time but had only seen the monarch once. But now, the monarch was actually here at Jadeblood Mountain — this was something Shi Hao wouldn't have dreamt of before.
"You must be County Envoy Shi Hao?" The monarch revealed a friendly smile to Shi Hao.
The monarch ruled an entire prefecture that consisted of countless envoys, so his personal greeting left Shi Hao aghast.
Shi Hao eventually calmed down and quickly answered: "My lord, that is me."
The demon monarch didn't act condescendingly at all as he politely said: "We are here to visit Young Noble Li."
Shi Hao didn't dare to waste time and quickly led the two of them to see Li Qiye.
Inside the room, Li Qiye was still nonchalant after seeing a big shot like the demon monarch. To him, the monarch was not a big shot at all since he had seen too many true grand characters.
"Young Noble Li's visit to the Giant Bamboo Country is our honor." The monarch hastily said upon their meeting.
"The Giant Bamboo Country is indeed a place worth remembering." Li Qiye replied with a smile.
The demon monarch placed an ancient box in front of Li Qiye: "This visit was in a hurry so I couldn't prepare a big present. I have this little thing here and hope that Young Noble Li won't laugh."
Li Qiye looked at the box and didn't move at all. He simply nodded and said: "I accept your goodwill, so I will accept this gift as well."
The demon monarch heaved a sigh of relief after seeing Li Qiye accept the present. It would be quite a bad start if Li Qiye were to reject the gift.
The monarch was old and experienced, thus his dealings were meticulous and well thought out as he said: "County Envoy Shi Hao had contributed a lot to the Stonetreading County; he is dutiful and dedicated. I didn't bring too many things on this trip, but I do have a little gift for you."
Shi Hao was stunned as he accepted the gift from the monarch. He was only a small character, an ordinary envoy, so receiving a gift from the monarch was an impossible matter, something beyond his wildest dreams!
The demon monarch went on to say: "Our Majesty adores talents and I heard that Young Noble Li intends to visit the capital once. How about we go to the capital together so I can take you to see Her Majesty? I wonder if this would be acceptable to you?"
The Ancient Pine Demon Monarch was a man of high position; how could he be so deferential to an ordinary young cultivator? His respectful attitude astonished Shi Hao, but he slowly got used to it. He understood that Li Qiye was an extremely amazing alchemist.
Li Qiye didn't refuse and nodded his head: "Very well, we can go take a look at the capital. Shi Hao will come with me."
Prior to this, he intended to stay at Jadeblood Mountain for some time to teach Shi Hao pill refinement, but now Li Qiye had decided to take him to the capital.
"I…" Shi Hao was stunned since he had never been to the capital before.
It was a long journey from the Stonetreading County to the Giant Bamboo Country's capital. How long would it take for someone with Shi Hao's cultivation to get there? It was nearly impossible unless an expert decided to bring him along.
"That's good, that's good. Shi Hao should go take a look at the capital for more experience and broadening his horizons." Bai Weng added. He could tell that Li Qiye wanted to groom Shi Hao.
Li Qiye nodded his head and said: "Then it is decided."
Shi Hao couldn't contain his excitement since he never thought he would have an opportunity to visit the capital. This was one of his aspirations — to visit the heart of the Giant Bamboo Country!
After Li Qiye made his decision, the demon monarch couldn't help but rub his hands together in hesitation: "Young Noble Li…"
Li Qiye raised his brows and said: "Say what you want to say."
The demon monarch wryly laughed and said: "Recently, I have been collecting ingredients for a six transformations fate pill. I've been wanting to refine one to increase my cultivation, but I hadn't met the right alchemist. It is fate that we met today, so I wonder if you can refine a six transformations fate pill for me?"
He quickly added right after: "As for the payment, Young Noble Li can just say it."
Six transformations pills were meant for Heavenly Sovereigns. The demon monarch had cultivated for several thousand years, but his cultivation had been stuck at this bottleneck and couldn't reach the World Sovereign level.
Li Qiye glanced at him and asked: "Is this a test?"
"No, no, please don't misunderstand!" The monarch quickly waved his hands in denial and said: "If you don't want to, then just pretend like I never said anything. That was not my intention at all, it is just that I want the pill badly enough that I couldn't help but ask for your assistance."
Whether the monarch's cautious and respectful attitude were for show or were actually from the bottom of his heart, it was still the same case. At this moment, he didn't want to annoy Li Qiye, a supreme alchemist that the Giant Bamboo Country could only wish for!
"Fine, it doesn't matter if it is a test or your desire for the pill." Li Qiye said: "Since you showed respect, I will refine one for free this time. Luckily for you, you only want a six transformations pill. I would have asked for a sky high price for one with seven transformations. A fate pill of that level would bring along a tribulation after all, so I wouldn't help just anyone."
Six transformations pills were for Heavenly Sovereigns, and seven transformations pills were for Heavenly Kings. At the latter level, pill refinement would bring along quite a terrifying tribulation for the alchemist.
Because of this, fate pills of seven or more transformations had prohibitive pricing that only Heavenly Kings or Virtuous Paragons could afford.
Chapter 619: Refining Pills Like Frying Beans
"Thank you, Young Noble Li. I am very, very grateful!" The monarch's mind came back as he quickly took out his ingredients; all of them had transformed six times. All of these were good materials whose medicinal spirits had aged for a long time.
It was clear from a glance at the materials that the monarch did not hastily gather them as an excuse, he had indeed been gathering them for a long time for pill refinement.
"How do you want me to refine it?" Li Qiye looked at the materials then back at the monarch.
The monarch was surprised, but he quickly answered: "I am only a layman so Young Noble Li can decide everything."
Li Qiye was very pleased with the monarch's attitude. He had always been a person who prefers soft over hard. He smiled and took out the Myriad Heavenly Cauldron.
"Boom!" The cauldron's flame erupted, but Li Qiye was too lazy to take a look and casually threw all the ingredients inside. Even in the era of the Alchemy God, very few people could compare to him regarding the dao of alchemy. In this generation, Li Qiye could personally refine pills, so after he got familiar with it, the whole process became a piece of cake to him. This type of fate pill refinement was no challenge unless it was an immortal pill!
"Crakkk—" A sound that resembled beans being fried appeared as the flame that danced like a dragon and phoenix refined the materials inside.
Although the monarch was not an alchemist, he was still thrown into a daze while watching the process.
Bai Weng had previously told him how Li Qiye refined pills so the monarch was mentally prepared. However, seeing it with his own eyes still left him shaking and breathless.
This was the second time Shi Hao and Bai Weng watched, but they were still astounded. Li Qiye's style was very stimulating and impactful to watch for alchemists. They couldn't see his process with their current level, but it was the most beautiful scene in the world, at least, for alchemists.
After a series of crackles, Li Qiye shouted quietly and turned off the fire before taking out the pill. In the blink of an eye, a six transformations fate pill flew into a gourd.
Li Qiye threw the gourd towards the monarch and put away his cauldron, then he lightly said: "Okay, take it."
Li Qiye's appearance didn't look like he had just refined pills at all. Refining high level fate pills was a great challenge to alchemists; it was both tough and required full concentration.
The monarch couldn't calm down as he asked blankly: "It's done…? Just like that?"
This was the fastest pill refinement speed he had ever seen. No one in the world could be faster than Li Qiye.
Li Qiye drily answered this inquiry: "This is only a six transformations fate pill, one without a tribulation, so how long could it possibly take? This is not an imperial pill or an immortal pill after all; those would take some time."
Others would think that Li Qiye was insane for saying such things. Even an Alchemy Saint couldn't guarantee success for refining a six transformations pill in one go. If it was fast, then it would be one or two days; slow would be three to five days. Who could do it like Li Qiye? Refining pills like frying beans?
But of course, this was normal for Li Qiye. He had become proficient after refining pills back at the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect. Moreover, back in the remote times of the Desolate Era — the age of the Alchemy God, Li Qiye himself had developed many guidelines.
Half of the rules of modern alchemy were from the Alchemy God, and the other half were from Li Qiye! They were the standards that had been used for tens of millions of years.
After reclaiming the canon left behind by the Alchemy God, he had trained with the best alchemy dao in this world. He had practiced many times back in the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect, so his pill refinement had reached the zenith.
For him, as long as he put more effort into it, it would not be a problem to reach the Alchemy God's level in the past. In fact, he was the one who guided the Alchemy God before he achieved his unparalleled success in the dao of alchemy. At the moment, the only pills that could be considered a challenge to Li Qiye were imperial pills, immortal pills, or incomparable items such as imperial medicines and era medicines; common alchemy creations were nothing to him.
At this moment, the three were at a complete loss for words and felt that Li Qiye's answer was completely natural and without pretension.
Eventually, the demon monarch calmed down and poured the pill out of the gourd to take a look.
"Pop!" The monarch fell straight to the ground. His reaction shocked both Bai Weng and Shi Hao. Bai Weng helped him up then asked: "Demon Monarch, what is wrong?"
"This… this… How is this possible?!" The monarch lost his calm and involuntarily screamed: "This… is ninety percent purity!" His hand was shaking while holding onto this six transformations fate pill.
Bai Weng's eyes were wide open as he looked at the fate pill in the monarch's hand. This was more than just excellent; it was a ninety percent pure pill with a near golden color!
"Pop!" Bai Weng's legs gave out as he also dropped to the ground and muttered in a daze: "No… way! Near golden color with ninety percent purity for a six transformations pill! This color is only something the finest nine transformations pills from the legends should have!"
Shi Hao also gasped as he watched this scene unfold. He was a Junior Alchemist, but he had heard of many legends before. Even a simple-minded fella like him realized how untouchable Li Qiye's alchemy dao was!
It was no wonder why those two were so affected. A successful refinement was already amazing for a six transformations concoction; this meant that it had sixty percent purity. A bronze color was already of the finest grade. After all, the potency of ingredients that had only transformed six times was limited.
As the saying goes: pills are never naked. For alchemists, especially the high ranking ones, there were two standards for gauging the quality of fate pill: purity and color. 1
For example, a six transformations fate pill with sixty percent purity should help a Heavenly Sovereign increase his cultivation by sixty percent, but this was strictly theoretical.
Normally, in order for a pill to achieve the above, it needed to be of the finest grade with a golden color. Most of the time, fate pills with sixty percent purity could only increase a Heavenly Sovereign's power by sixty percent in a minor level. Nevertheless, this was already quite precious.
More often than not, the six transformations pills refined by most alchemists might have sixty percent purity, but they would carry a slightly yellow color that resembled copper. These were already considered high grade.
However, Li Qiye was able to refine a ninety percent purity six transformations pill with a golden color, so how could others not be shocked? Even a Legendary Alchemist wouldn't be able to refine such a pill — this was absolutely impossible!
Normally, only nine transformations pills would have ninety percent purity. It was already heaven-defying for a six transformations pill to have seventy percent purity. Once again, pills are never naked, and only nine transformations pills should have the near golden color.
Despite all of this knowledge, right here and now, this impossibility appeared on the six transformations pill, causing the group of three to lose their minds.
If six transformations pills with a bronze color and sixty percent purity refined by other alchemists were considered high-grade, then Li Qiye's pill was of an immortal grade. Other pills were merely trash compared to this one!
"I'm… not… dreaming, right?" The monarch was extremely excited as he held the pill with quivering hands.
Such a fate pill wouldn't only increase his cultivation by sixty percent. This was more than enough to help him break through his bottleneck and directly become a Heavenly King!
The monarch was even a little reluctant to take such a supreme pill. It could be said that this pill was rare even across the eons and was definitely worth keeping as a precious collectible.
"You are not dreaming." Li Qiye slowly said: "You collected only the good stuff. Not only did all the materials transform six times, they aged well and had enough medicinal strength. If your materials were a bit worse, then it would have only been at eighty percent purity. It seems that you have spent a lot of effort collecting them."
The monarch composed himself and deeply bowed before speaking with extreme gratitude: "The pill you are granting me is akin to a chance at a new life. This little demon has nothing to repay this debt. In the future, just say a single word and this little demon will not say no!"
The monarch's gesture was not just for show. At his age, he had no chance of reaching the Heavenly King realm, so Li Qiye's pill had completely changed the monarch's fate. Although sovereigns and kings were only one realm apart, there was a huge gap between the two.
More importantly, even if Li Qiye was not an Alchemy Emperor at the moment, he would become one in the future! Although an Alchemy Emperor did not lord over the world like an Immortal Emperor, they were still a high and above existence beseeched for favors by countless Virtuous Paragons. It would be an honor to be of service to an Alchemy Emperor.
Regardless of the Alchemy Emperor's cultivation, there would be times when Virtuous Paragons or even Immortal Emperors asked them for help!
Ancient Pine was only a Demon Monarch so he knew he was extremely lucky to be in Li Qiye's presence.
Li Qiye leisurely accepted the Ancient Pine Demon Monarch's bow and nodded his head to say: "Stand up, get ready to depart for the capital."
Ancient Pine and Bai Weng voiced their agreement then went and waited outside.
After they left, Li Qiye pushed the box Ancient Pine had given him in front of Shi Hao and said: "You take it."
"But…" Shi Hao was hesitant and didn't dare to accept it. No matter what was inside the box, the monarch's solemn expression earlier showed that it had to be a wonderful item.
The raw is "pills are never barefoot", so I'm guessing it is never naked and is saying that pills are easily gauged by their colors. This is one expression I do not know, and a google search only… ahem… led to some unsavory images. Just kidding, they were good images, albeit quite distracting. ↩