Chapter 773: Close Conversation
Li Qiye nodded with narrowed eyes: "Good, since Hundred-Life is still alive, everything will be easy for me. I want to meet Hundred-Life!"
"I'm afraid Young Noble misunderstood something." The moment Li Qiye put on this expression, Ming Yexue had an unspeakable feeling of familiarity: "Forefather knows nothing about this conflict. Moreover, he has not asked about the world in a very long time."
"No matter." Li Qiye smiled: "If you didn't come forward, I was more than happy to flip over the Alchemy Kingdom. Your kingdom has maintained a low profile for too long and has forgotten a couple things. A few people have become restless!"
Ming Yexue paused for a moment. She didn't wish to discuss this matter further, so she softly said: "We can try to arrange a meeting if Young Noble wants to meet our forefather. However, this will take some time, I hope Young Noble can wait."
Li Qiye didn't say anything else while looking at Ming Yexue. A moment later, he gently reached out and lifted Ming Yexue's finely sculpted chin.
Such an action was extremely frivolous. No one had ever dared to treat Ming Yexue this way, but she didn't reject him. She closed her pretty eyes to embrace this atmosphere.
The two of them were inches from each other, and they could even hear each other's breaths. It seemed as if time stood still. A long while later, Li Qiye gently caressed her soft and beautiful face.
In the minds of many, Ming Yexue was an untouchable fairy. She could only be worshiped from afar and was not to be tainted with obscene thoughts!
Ming Yexue, with her eyes closed, sensed Li Qiye's rhythm and aura. An indescribable sense of familiarity invaded and overwhelmed her mind.
"Young Noble, there are many things I don't understand." After a long time, she lifted her head to look at him, a hint of doubt in her charming eyes.
Li Qiye withdrew his hand that still carried her sweet fragrance: "I will tell you later. At least, not before this matter with the Alchemy Kingdom concludes."
"Can Young Noble not live in peace with the kingdom?" Even someone as supreme as Ming Yexue couldn't help but sigh. When she sighed softly, the whole world would swoon over her. Her sentimental demeanor would break the hearts of countless cultivators.
Li Qiye dismissively replied: "Peaceful coexistence cannot be achieved. To put it bluntly, when the kingdom sees me, it should retreat or act as my subservient subjects!"
Ming Yexue was slightly startled; she knew that this had something to do with a past unknown to her!
Li Qiye continued: "You know, if I really wanted to take you away, the Alchemy Kingdom wouldn't be able to stop me. I can even erase your memories of anything related to the Alchemy Kingdom. However, I would only do so if there was no other way; I do not want this to happen because you are still you, you are not a puppet but rather a living being with your own mind!"
He wistfully sighed at this point. After millions of years, some changes were inevitable.
"I am very grateful for your consideration." Ming Yexue answered slowly, her words full of sincerity.
Li Qiye said dismissively: "Very well, this time will be a warning to your kingdom. If I truly wanted to destroy it, then I wouldn't be sitting here with you! Tell those old-timers for me that this is not the time for your kingdom to have any funny ideas and use this chance to break the promise from the past. If it wasn't for Hundred-Life, your Alchemy Kingdom would have ceased to exist!"
Li Qiye's eyes became serious as he sneered. To outsiders, the ancestors of the kingdom appearing was to suppress Li Qiye and to take revenge for the deceased Alchemy Ancestor! However, Li Qiye was well aware of the true reasons behind the whole thing!
"Young Noble, I will certainly convey your message." Ming Yexue was able to guess some of the details, but she was not completely clear. Only ancestor level characters knew this matter completely.
"What about the Phoenix's heart?" Ming Yexue had to ask. The heart was too important to the kingdom. It was a priceless treasure that had been gestated by the kingdom for countless moons. Its value was no less than an imperial true treasure!
"I want the heart of the Phoenix." Li Qiye lightly said: "The Alchemy Kingdom should remember this matter! A few people do not need to play dumb!"
"I'm afraid it is not up for me to decide this matter." Ming Yexue bitterly smiled, but even her bitter smile was very beautiful.
"It is not up to the Alchemy Kingdom either." Li Qiye said: "Even if your group of geezers do not want to do so, they must give it up regardless! You can tell Wushuang! It doesn't matter whether old Wushuang is in charge or if Hundred-Life is in charge or anyone else for that matter! In short, the sole reason why I am stopping for now is out of consideration for you. Your kingdom shouldn't try me again, or else I'll massacre a whole group before you can even respond!"
Ming Yexue gently sighed. It seemed that there was no room for negotiation regarding the Phoenix's heart: "Can Young Noble talk about the Phoenix? Can you really revive it?"
"Revive?" Li Qiye stroked his chin as his gaze wandered towards the horizon.
The legend regarding Phoenix City was true. In a very ancient age at Phoenix City, there was a divine tree and a Phoenix.
A very long time later, both of these existences neared their ends. The Phoenix burned the divine tree in order to use it to attempt rebirth. Although there were no Immortal Emperors during this era, this Phoenix was a real and matured Immortal Bird. Its power was definitely no less than an emperor's.
However, it still failed to be reborn in fire. Under the endless divine flames and the boundless tribulation, it was completely annihilated! The divine tree shared a similar fate.
However, it left behind a certain something despite its failure and subsequent demise. There was still a little piece of its heart that was not turned into ashes in addition to some bone fragments.
However, these burnt bone fragments were far less impressive than the small piece of the heart. This heart was lost in the deepest parts of the earth and guarded by countless dangerous sealing formations after this disaster!
Later on, Immortal Emperor Yao Zu found the path to the Alchemy Vein and built the ancestral foundation for the Alchemy Kingdom. He obtained that piece of the heart below Alchemy City!
Moreover, he was quite lucky since he coincidentally had a supreme Immortal Medicine. He used it after obtaining the heart to actually revive it and formed one drop of Phoenix's Blood.
With this first blood drop as well as the heart, the emperor was able to use this land to gestate this little heart. After many years of nurturing, a complete Phoenix's heart finally appeared.
In a future generation, Li Qiye also explored this land. However, he gave up after finding the bone remnants. Although these bones belonged to a Phoenix, they had become useless after being refined countless times by the tribulation and fire; they were no different from animal bones. Even an Immortal Emperor would not be able to instill any divinity into them.
However, in this generation, Li Qiye had obtained the Death Scripture, shifting the entire paradigm. After coming to Alchemy City, he specifically chose this mountain, the old roost of the Phoenix.
He once again found the useless bones underground and used the Death Chapter to communicate with this land before immersing it in his death energy.
The Phoenix's rebirth ultimately failed, but its divinity returned to the land. Normally, nothing could revive one's dead divinity. However, the Death Chapter was able to do so. This was the mystical and frightening aspect of the Nine Grand Heavenly Scriptures!
Through the mysticisms of the Death Chapter, Li Qiye finally reached through this earth with his death energy and allowed the Phoenix's bone fragments to reform to defeat the monarchs of the kingdom!
This process was easier said than done. In fact, if Li Qiye was not already familiar with its mysteries from his past efforts, he wouldn't be able to reproduce the Phoenix despite cultivating the Death Scripture!
"Can the Phoenix come back to life?" Ming Yexue asked again. Curiosity got the better of even a fairy-like lady like her. A Phoenix! This was a real Immortal Bird that did not exist in this world!
The big question was about the past Phoenix in this land. Where did it come from? This would remain an unsolvable mystery! The rebirth of a Phoenix would be completely unfathomable!
"Although your Alchemy Kingdom has gestated the heart for many years to the extent that it has completely recovered, it is still difficult beyond words to revive a real Phoenix." Li Qiye said: "This process requires massive effort from your kingdom! Moreover, success is not certain."
He chuckled here before continuing: "If your kingdom really wants to try, then I can attempt it once. Of course, the cost will be beyond your imagination. I can even say that when the creature revives, I won't need it and will give it to your kingdom!"
Ming Yexue was slightly jolted after hearing this. A Phoenix was definitely something that could drive the world crazy. The kingdom would surely want it if Li Qiye was willing to hand it over!
However, as Li Qiye said, the cost must be beyond imagination. Even their kingdom would not be able to bear this price!
"Fate cannot be forced." Ming Yexue gently shook her head: "In that case, just let it be."
"I won't force it." Li Qiye gently caressed her cheek: "Well, because of you, forget it. I only need the Phoenix's heart this time, nothing else! Just tell those old men to not provoke me again!"
Ming Yexue quietly bemoaned the situation. Although she hoped for this outcome, it still wouldn't be so easy.
773 TeaserLi Qiye nodded with narrowed eyes: "Good, since Hundred-Life is still alive, everything will be easy for me. I want to meet Hundred-Life!"
"I'm afraid Young Noble misunderstood something." The moment Li Qiye put on this expression, Ming Yexue had an unspeakable feeling of familiarity: "Forefather knows nothing about this conflict. Moreover, he has not asked about the world in a very long time."
"No matter." Li Qiye smiled: "If you didn't come forward, I was more than happy to flip over the Alchemy Kingdom. Your kingdom has maintained a low profile for too long and has forgotten a couple things. A few people have become restless!"
Ming Yexue paused for a moment. She didn't wish to discuss this matter further, so she softly said: "We can try to arrange a meeting if Young Noble wants to meet our forefather. However, this will take some time, I hope Young Noble can wait."
[collapse]Chapter 774: Duel Against The White Haired Alchemy God
The conversation between Li Qiye and Ming Yexue finally came to an end. The moment Li Qiye reappeared before the world was back in Alchemy City, immediately coming under the eyes of many. Every spectator wanted to know how this storm would end.
Eventually, the imperial auras disappeared and the imperial family recalled their formations and weapons while Li Qiye stopped his attack.
After seeing this, everyone understood that the battle had come to a peaceful conclusion. The two sides did not reach an all out war.
They were very curious and wanted to know what Li Qiye and Ming Yexue talked about. For what reasons did the tyrannical Li Qiye agree to end this conflict?
Different speculations arose. Some thought that Li Qiye was charmed by Ming Yexue. This speculation was not strange at all. Ming Yexue had been deified as the number one beauty of the Stone Medicine World. No one was free from intoxication after seeing her.
Others guessed that the Alchemy Kingdom made concessions and eventually handed over treasures to end this battle!
Although the battle had come to an end, it was far from finished. After leaving the ancestral ground of Alchemy City, Li Qiye headed straight for the White Hair Alchemy God's place.
This action immediately attracted others. They knew that Li Qiye was about to deal with the white hair alchemist.
"This guy really wants to sweep over everything. Now, even the white hair alchemist is about to suffer!" A big shot murmured after seeing this.
"I wonder how many experts from the previous generation the alchemist will be able to mobilize. If he doesn't have enough, then he will be in grave danger. It might not be too late for him to run back to the Bailian Clan right now." An alchemist was quite worried.
Prior to this, many people would’ve thought that Li Qiye didn't know his own capabilities by going to challenge the white hair alchemist. Everyone knew the alchemist's influence. With one word, countless near-death old monsters would be willing to work for him. However, it was another story now. A devilish person like Li Qiye was able to shake even the Alchemy Kingdom. This was more than enough for the world to look at him twice!
Many alchemists hoped that white hair could leave the city before Li Qiye's arrival. Li Qiye had already killed Cao Guoyao, so they didn't wish to see the white hair alchemist being disposed of as well.
However, the alchemist did not escape. When Li Qiye reached his abode, he was already standing outside of the door, waiting. He resembled a swan among a flock of hen — extremely brilliant. Especially his hair, as black as jade, that caused him to stand out.
"You're finally here." The alchemist was not surprised to see Li Qiye. He was well prepared for this moment.
The crowd prepped themselves, wanting to see how the alchemist would deal with this trouble. Whether he would bow and apologize or call for old undyings to help him and fight Li Qiye to the bitter end, everyone wanted to know.
"I heard you wanted my life. Very well, here I am, right in front of your door." Li Qiye sat in his carriage and lazily stared at the alchemist.
The alchemist took a deep breath. He had always been a proud person no matter the occasion! He laughed proudly: "Li Qiye, your abilities are heaven-defying and devilish — I know this very well. However, you have killed the disciples of my clan, so regardless of whether I have the capability to gain vengeance or not, I will not back down!"
"Is that so? You have piqued my curiosity, what is your plan?" Li Qiye didn't bother explaining the sacred doctor's death. It didn't matter that the Bailian Clan viewed him as the murderer.
He smiled leisurely and continued: "I'll play with you if you want my life. Use all of your abilities now so that no one can say I didn't give you a chance."
The anxious spectators were all watching closely to see how the alchemist would deal with Li Qiye in this unfavorable situation!
The alchemist composed himself with a deep breath. Even when Li Qiye was fierce enough to fight against the Alchemy Kingdom, he still held his head high and looked straight at Li Qiye.
"Li Qiye, regarding methods and war, I am not your equal! I can admit at least this." The alchemist proudly said: "However, I want to change the battlefield! I am someone who has studied longevity medicines my whole life! I want to compete against you with one batch!"
Li Qiye couldn't help but smile at the proud alchemist: "It seems like you are completely confident in your dao of alchemy."
The alchemist chuckled: "I cannot compare to you regarding wood mastery and insect mastery. However, I claim to be a king at refining longevity medicines! No one in the younger generation can compare to me!"
Despite knowing Li Qiye's ability full well, the alchemist was still able to utter such proud words. However, his words rang true since he was indeed unmatched in the younger generation!
The alchemist held his head high and continued: "Do you dare to bet? If I lose, then there is no need for you to do anything, I will end myself! If you don't dare, then I am standing right here, come and take my life!"
Everyone was caught off guard to the point of being astonished after hearing the alchemist. No one thought that he would use this type of method. What if Li Qiye refused? Wouldn't he just be killed on the spot?
Li Qiye asked: "Is this a dare?"
The proud alchemist responded: "Think of it as you please. In short, if I lose to you in refining longevity medicines, then I will accept my death willingly. My clan also won't come to bother you!"
The onlookers watched with bated breaths. They were waiting for Li Qiye to make a decision. Anyone else would not accept this bet with the alchemist and would just directly take his life instead. Li Qiye had the absolute advantage right now — this was as clear as day to everyone!
Under such favorable conditions, taking the alchemist's life was the most simple method. Only a fool would take the bet against the alchemist. Everyone knew that he was unequaled in this regard, so who would be willing to compete against him?
However, Li Qiye had always acted as that fool time and time again. On the matters that others didn't dare to do, he would do so without hesitation!
"Somewhat interesting." Li Qiye stroked his chin a bit: "I am a person with a little hobby, and that is to break the pride of people so that they can taste despair. Very well, I will use the longevity medicines that you know so well to defeat you; I will let you have a taste of despair! The bet is on!"
Li Qiye's choice left everyone rolling their eyes. This was simply too crazy. To give up his absolute advantage and choose to compete in the enemy's field of expertise… Only a madman would do such a thing!
"This decisiveness and charisma… No one in the younger generation can compare to him!" An ancestor emotionally said: "So young yet so domineering!"
"Well then, how do you want to do this?" The alchemist became even more confident after Li Qiye voiced his agreement. He knew that he was inferior compared to Li Qiye regarding martial strength, but he was certain of victory in a competition of longevity medicine refinement.
Li Qiye cheerfully said: "If we are going to do it, then let's make it interesting by refining emperor medicines!"
"Very well, emperor medicines it is!" The alchemist responded without any hesitation even when emperor medicines were brought up. This was indicative of his confidence regarding alchemy!
Everyone, especially the great powers' ancestors, was shaken after hearing that it was a bet involving emperor medicines. They became quite excited and only wished that this bet would happen even faster.
Emperor medicines were the highest level of longevity medicines. At least, this was what the majority of people thought. Although they were referred to as emperor medicines, they were nearly exclusively used by Virtuous Paragons.
Generally, Immortal Emperors would not use emperor medicines unless they were of the highest level. Immortal Emperors rarely used longevity medicines because normally, there were other options for them!
But as for Virtuous Paragons, longevity medicines were priceless treasures. The better they were, the more precious they would be. At this time, the crowd's anticipation ran high. The spectating ancestors were hoping that they would be able to buy the medicines if given the chance. Nothing could be better!
"Since we are betting with emperor medicines, we have to select the alchemy ingredients first." The alchemist told Li Qiye.
Li Qiye didn't seem to care too much as he answered: "It isn't difficult to select the ingredients. You can decide the exact specifications and I'll follow suit."
Emperor-rank longevity medicines required ingredients of three million years or older. When the ingredients had varying quality, the quality of the end result would change as well.
"If Fairy Yuan doesn't mind, the ingredients can be specified by you. The cost will be borne by us." The alchemist sought Yuan Caihe's assistance.
"If Daofriend Bailian can trust me, then I can select two batches of ingredients from the Serene Garden." Yuan Caihe pondered for a moment before nodding her head.
The garden stored the most precious ingredients in the Stone Medicine World. It was not empty words when people said that the garden was the best at cultivating plants and medicines.