Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Ye Futian sat quietly in the courtyard of the inn. He gazed into the distance and seemed quite relaxed.
Baize walked over to him, his tail wagging. Ye Futian took out a pill and fed it into the beast’s mouth. As soon as Baize Demonic Beast swallowed it, formidable energy burst out of his body. The Demon Saint glowed brilliantly as the light of the Great Path illuminated each part of his body. He looked at Ye Futian with gratitude. A low and deep voice came from his abdomen, “Thank you, senior.”
“Achieve the breakthrough first,” Ye Futian said to him. Baize sat down and started to cultivate. As expected, he soon radiated the bright light of the Great Path from his body. A gigantic shadow of a demon became visible behind him. He was advancing to a higher plane.
Everyone in the inn sensed the change. Although the Ninth Inn was a famous place, it was not very spacious. For cultivators at such a high level, nothing that happened in the inn could escape their detection.
Moreover, Ye Futian didn’t try to keep it a secret in the first place. He intended to let everyone see what was happening.
Before long, Baize achieved the breakthrough. The energy was surging in his body. Ye Futian took out another pill and fed it into his mouth. Baize Demonic Beast opened his eyes and shot Ye Futian a grateful look. Then, he continued to cultivate to fortify himself. It was a life-elemental pill of the Great Path that wouldn’t have any side effects.
“Giving a pill of the Great Path to a demonic beast that is only a Demon Saint…” People in the inn were at a loss for words. The pills were clearly at the imperial level, yet Ye Futian recklessly wasted two of such precious things on a Demon Saint who wasn’t capable of digesting them.
What a willful act, other Renhuangs thought to themselves. Why couldn’t Ye Futian give the valuable pills to them?
He must have a large number of pills on him since he casually fed two to his mount.
Alchemy Grandmasters were usually liberal with pills.
Besides, Ye Futian was aloof and unapproachable. He didn’t care for anyone who tried to be friendly with him. People staying in the inn were all prominent figures in their local areas, yet this Alchemy Grandmaster wasn’t interested in being friendly at all.
Around this time, a group of people headed to the inn, but they didn’t come for lodging. Upon their arrival, the head of the group said loudly, “We heard that an Alchemy Grandmaster is staying in the inn. May I ask if he is here?”
He didn’t use his divine consciousness to examine the inn’s situation since it could be considered offensive.
Everyone heard his voice and looked outside. They immediately realized who these people were.
“They came so fast,” someone whispered.
“I didn’t think that he would attract the attention of the Tianyi Pavilion so quickly.” [1]
None of them spoke up. They watched Ye Futian in silence and waited for his response. Ye Futian didn’t care to befriend other guests in the inn before. Would he treat these people from the Tianyi Pavilion differently?
Silence reigned all around. Ye Futian didn’t respond. Instead, he gently groomed Baize’s white fur in a leisurely manner as though he didn’t know they were talking to him.
“I am Tang Chen from the Tianyi Pavilion. We want to invite the master to visit the Tianyi Pavilion,” the head of the group added. He looked up in the direction of the Demonic Qi and knew that Ye Futian was there.
“Tang Chen!”
Many people narrowed their eyes in surprise. Not only had the Tianyi Pavilion acted promptly, but they also attached great importance to the invitation. Tang Chen was an important figure in the Tianyi Pavilion. He was a disciple of Grandmaster Tianbao and excelled in both cultivation and alchemy. The Tianyi Pavilion obviously thought highly of the mysterious Alchemy Grandmaster by sending Tang Chen over to deliver the invitation.
“I’m not available,” Ye Futian replied coldly. His hoarse voice made his rejection sound even more disrespectful. It was as if the Tianyi Pavilion meant nothing to him.
Ye Futian’s response reinforced the impression that he was an arrogant and standoffish man. Nevertheless, Ye Futian felt rather satisfied deep inside. He wasn’t expecting to draw the attention of the ancient royal family of Duan right away. After all, the Duan family was a supreme force that reigned over the entire Giant Gods Continent. Ye Futian was pleased that he could make the Tianyi Pavilion take notice in such a short time. It meant that he was one step closer to his goal.
Tang Chen’s brows knitted tightly together upon hearing Ye Futian’s reply. It was beyond doubt that the Tianyi Pavilion was a top group in the Ninth Street and had always commanded respect from everyone. Few people were given the honor of visiting the Tianyi Pavilion. Tang Chen only came here personally and delivered the invitation with courtesy because the mysterious person was an Alchemy Grandmaster.
Nonetheless, politeness and respect were not reciprocated at all. The man claimed that he was not available even though he was doing nothing but sitting still and feeding his demonic beast. Apparently, it was a poor excuse.
“My master would like to meet you in person. We would be filled with gratitude if you could honor us with your presence.” Although Tang Chen was upset, he composed himself and made another plea.
Ye Futian was still sitting quietly in the chair, acting like nothing was happening. He gazed into the distance and spoke casually, “Shouldn’t your master come to me if he would like to meet me? Why should I go to him? In that case, why should I accept your invitation at all?”
Ye Futian’s impudent reply shocked every cultivator in the inn.
Who was Tang Chen’s master?
Grandmaster Tianbao was the best Alchemy Grandmaster on Ninth Street and enjoyed the highest status in the Tianyi Pavilion. As far as everyone knew, no one in the entire Giant Gods City, except for the ultimate grandmaster of the ancient royal family, was better at alchemy than Grandmaster Tianbao.
Now this mysterious man asked Grandmaster Tianbao to come to meet him.
Even though what Ye Futian said was reasonably sound and Grandmaster Tianbao technically should come if he were the one interested in meeting Ye Futian, the wide disparity in social status had to be taken into consideration as well. How could a man like Grandmaster Tianbao come to meet a nobody?
To receive an invitation was a great honor already.
Ye Futian’s response probably affronted the Tianyi Pavilion.
As expected, Tang Chen’s face grew grim. He believed that he was polite and respectful enough, yet this hubris Alchemy Grandmaster dared to order Grandmaster Tianbao around. How audacious!
“No one on Ninth Street has ever asked my master to come. You are the first.” Tang Chen’s tone changed.
Ye Futian didn’t seem annoyed or scared. Baize finished his cultivation and leaned against Ye Futian. Ye Futian caressed his white fur and didn’t respond further. He didn’t appreciate Tang Chen’s attitude and their condescending invitation. They acted as if they were bestowing some special favor on him. He wouldn’t accept the invitation even if he were interested in the Tianyi Pavilion.
Tang Chen’s eyes became frosty after he was ignored by Ye Futian again. Even so, he didn’t dare to break the rules of the Ninth Inn. He darted Ye Futian a meaningful glance and said, “I hope you enjoy your stay here.”
After his final remark, he turned around and left with the people who came with him.
After Tang Chen was gone, someone said to Ye Futian, “Master, the Tianyi Pavilion is one of the most powerful forces in the Ninth Street. Grandmaster Tianbao—Tang Chen’s master—is also a superior Alchemy Grandmaster who can make the ninth-grade pills of the Great Path. You probably offended them just now. You are safe in the inn but have to be careful when you’re outside.”
“That’s right. The Ninth Street has good and bad people mixed up together. The situation here is quite complicated,” another person echoed. Ye Futian was still sitting quietly as if he didn’t hear any of them. People had no idea if their friendly warnings were received.
Ye Futian’s reaction frustrated everyone in the inn. This mysterious man was as stubborn as a mule.
At this moment, Ye Futian stood up and said to Baize Demonic Beast, “We haven’t gone outside since our arrival. Let’s go out to try our luck and see if we can find good ingredients for alchemy.”
Then, he sat on Baize’s back and rode across the courtyard and out of the inn. An odd and surprised look came over every cultivator’s face.
They were reminding him to be careful, yet he didn’t take them seriously at all. Instead, he rode the demonic beast and swaggered out of the inn.
What a bold man, other Renhuangs thought to themselves. Ye Futian offended the Tianyi Pavilion and received a warning from Tang Chen just now, yet he still dared to leave the inn. What an arrogant Alchemy Grandmaster… Did he not care about the Tianyi Pavilion at all? Or was he confident that the Tianyi Pavilion wouldn’t act against him?
“Let’s go to have a look.” Many Renhuangs were intrigued. They followed behind Ye Futian and left the inn as well.
Ye Futian rode down the street and seemed extra relaxed. Judging by his mask, some people on the street realized that he might be the new Alchemy Grandmaster everyone was talking about.
In the meantime, Tang Chen’s divine consciousness was still scanning and monitoring the area. Ye Futian stepped out of the inn before Tang Chen and his people had gone far.
[1] In the original text, the author used “Tianxin Pavilion” initially and changed it to “Tianyi Pavilion” later. I used “Tianyi Pavilion” throughout for consistency.