Chapter 21: Refreshing Breeze over the Eastern Sea Waves

“Master, you have returned.”

Haipo Dong approached, licking his lips.

“Rest assured, your elixir will not be lost,” Su Yun comforted him.

He took out an herb from his ring—this was the Sand Mandala he had casually picked from the desert on his way back.

“Thank you, Master!” Haipo Dong exclaimed joyfully.

“Hm,” Su Yun nodded and immediately began refining the medicine. This time, he used the fifth-tier alchemical cauldron prepared for him by Mittel Tengshan.

Although the Breaking Calamity Pill was also a sixth-grade elixir, its refinement was far less difficult than the Sect-Breaking Pill. There was no need to go out of the way to borrow an alchemical cauldron from Fama.

“I still need to get a better cauldron soon; a fifth-tier cauldron is hardly befitting my status,” Su Yun mused, thinking again of Han Feng.

If he killed Han Feng, not only would he have the Heavenly Cauldron to use, but he would also gather the three different kinds of exotic flames needed to refine poison pills.

Green flames churned within the cauldron. Haipo Dong was visibly tense and even called Mittel Tengshan over to guard Su Yun.

He had waited decades for this moment; whether he could succeed depended entirely on this batch of pills. There could be no mistakes.

“Old Hai, you worry too much. In the entire Gamma Empire, who dares disturb Master Su?” Mittel Tengshan smiled.

Unexpectedly, just at that moment, someone did come to see Su Yun.

Yafei approached gracefully, whispering a few words in his ear.

“Master Yun and Pill King Gu He?” Mittel Tengshan frowned.

Haipo Dong snorted coldly, “What business do they have here?”

Yafei replied softly, “Old Hai, Master Yun and Pill King said only that they have urgent matters to discuss with Master. They revealed nothing else.”

She knew Haipo Dong’s identity.

After formally joining Su Yun’s ranks, Haipo Dong no longer needed to hide. Even though his cultivation had not fully recovered, no one dared to risk offending Su Yun by harming him.

“Tengshan, stay here. I’ll go meet them.”

“Very well.”

Haipo Dong was deeply invested in the Breaking Calamity Pill.

In the Mittel family hall, crystal chandeliers poured warm light down. Yun Yun sat serenely in a white jade-carved chair, clad in a moon-white gown, hands folded calmly on her lap.

Gu He was far less composed. He paced the hall restlessly, his heavy footsteps echoing as his eyes kept darting to the door.

A faint look of helplessness crossed Yun Yun’s brow. “Brother Gu He, what must come will come.”

Gu He’s mouth twisted bitterly. “Sect Master, you are not an alchemist; you don’t know how important exotic flames are to me.”

“Brother Gu He, rest assured. Although Yun Yun is not an alchemist, she understands that a person can only refine one exotic flame.”

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“Su Yun already possesses the Netherworld Poison Flame; keeping an exotic flame would be useless. Even if there were a bidding war, how many people in the Northwest Continent could offer better stakes than you, a sixth-grade alchemist? The Yunlan Sect will do everything to support you.”

“You speak wisely, Sect Master,” Gu He admitted, feeling some of his anxiety ease. The reason they came so quickly was because Gu He had learned in advance that Medusa had obtained an exotic flame.

He had gathered a group of experts and headed to the Tagore Desert, just in time to witness the fierce battle between Su Yun and Medusa.

So, as soon as Su Yun returned to the imperial capital, they followed suit.

“Yun Yun, Gu He,” Haipo Dong strode in.

“Old Hai,” Yun Yun greeted him with the respect due to an elder.

The elderly man before her was a peer of her teacher—once fallen but now pledged to a powerful figure, he would soon regain his prime.

Su Yun’s alchemy skills even surpassed Gu He’s.

“Hm, Master is still refining the pill and cannot see you now,” Haipo Dong said casually.

“I see,” Yun Yun nodded. Judging by Su Yun’s speed when refining the Sect-Breaking Pill that day, it wouldn’t be long.

Half a day passed again before the pill was completed. A miraculous sign appeared above the Mittel family estate; the fragrance of medicine filled the air as energy ripples spread gently.

“Success!” Haipo Dong was overjoyed.

“If not for our sect, no sixth-grade alchemist would help you refine with only one herb,” Su Yun said, holding a pill the size of a longan fruit. He flicked his finger, and the pill transformed into a streak of light flying to Haipo Dong.

“Thank you, Master!” Haipo Dong thanked him repeatedly.

“Go now. Once your strength is restored, serve our sect well.”

“Yes!” Haipo Dong left, leaving only Su Yun, Yun Yun, and Gu He in the hall.

“We already know the purpose of your visit,” Su Yun sat down, resting his elbow on the white jade armrest, his wrist supporting his chin as he crossed his legs.

Gu He cautiously probed, “May I ask…”

“Exotic flames are precious, rare treasures that cannot be sought at will. What kind of stakes can you offer?” Su Yun interrupted.

“Earth-grade battle techniques, sixth-grade pills… anything you ask, I can bring!” Gu He waved his hand grandly. For the exotic flame, he was willing to risk everything.

“Not enough.” Su Yun shook his head. “The world changes over millennia; some values shift with time. But rarity defines worth. There are only twenty-three types of exotic flames listed; even after thousands or tens of thousands of years, exotic flames remain scarce and valuable.

“Even eighth-grade alchemists do not necessarily possess one. Our sect will eventually go to the Central Continent. If we find suitable buyers, exchanging for Heavenly-grade battle techniques or eighth-grade pills is not impossible.

“Your stakes are simply too low.”

Gu He and Yun Yun’s expressions faltered.

Indeed, their vision was limited to the Northwest Continent, but Su Yun was thinking of the Central Continent!

“This…” Gu He was speechless. With his abilities, how could he possibly produce Heavenly-grade battle techniques or eighth-grade pills?

Su Yun’s interest waned. “Our sect has no intention of selling the exotic flame. You may leave.”

Gu He tried to resist, “Master Su…”

“Tengshan, see them out.”

Su Yun waved his sleeve.

Mittel Tengshan promptly came to the hall and escorted the two out.

“Sect Master, what should we do now?” Gu He smiled bitterly.

Yun Yun was at a loss as well and looked to Mittel Tengshan. “House Head Mittel, could you plead for Brother Gu He? The Yunlan Sect will surely reward you handsomely.”

Mittel Tengshan smiled. “Please don’t put me in a difficult position. Master Su’s intentions are beyond what one subordinate can fathom.”

Gu He and Yun Yun remained silent for a long moment.

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The next day, a formidable Dou Huang aura rose over the imperial capital.

Haipo Dong was shrouded in chilling frostlike mist, most of the wrinkles on his face vanished, his stern features sharp and angular, and a fierce gleam shone between his brows.

“Hahaha, it’s been so long since I felt this invigorated!”

“Congratulations, Old Hai!” Mittel Tengshan’s face lit with joy. No matter how strong Su Yun was, to him, his master remained distant and awe-inspiring—Haipo Dong was closer.

Su Yun gave a slight appraisal and nodded. “A two-star Dou Huang—not bad.”

Haipo Dong knelt before Su Yun on one knee. “I am willing to serve you faithfully, Master!”

“Mm.”

Su Yun raised his hand lightly, calling upon the power of heaven and earth to lift him up, then began to lay out plans.

“Your cultivation is still not fully restored... Our sect knows of a fifth-grade pill, the Purple Revival Pill, which can restore regressed cultivation caused by sealing. Serve our sect well, and you will be well rewarded.”