Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Not long after Qin Yu entered the city, he spent some time finding information about the area. For instance, the strongest provider of alchemy services as well as the one with the best reputation was the organization known as Sky Declaring Pavilion.

From other aspects, he was able to confirm information related to Sky Declaring Pavilion. In his heart, he had already made up his mind. This sort of powerful chain store-like institution usually placed a premium on their own reputation. If he were to use them then he might be able to save himself a great deal of trouble.

Of course, it was impossible for Qin Yu to take out all of the blood flame fruits. With half for a pill and the other half as a reward, that should be enough to eliminate the other party’s greed.

This was a decision that Qin Yu came to after deliberating upon it on the way here. At this time, he had already arrived outside Sky Declaring Pavilion. He glanced around the area and walked in.

Unlike other places, Sky Declaring Pavilion wouldn’t come to greet guests on their own initiative. They would only send out a specialist to greet a guest after determining there was a need.

Qin Yu walked to the alchemy services area. With a beckoning wave and a smile, a female cultivator walked over. “Dear guest, is there anything you need?” After seeing the piglet on Qin Yu’s shoulder, her expression became warmer.

“I want some pills refined.”

The female cultivator’s smile brightened. “Will you be supplying materials yourself or purchasing them from Sky Declaring Pavilion?”

“Supplying myself.”

The female cultivator gestured to the side. “Dear guest, please come with me. After determining the rank of your materials, I will be able to recommend an appropriate alchemist for you.”

After walking through the throngs of people in the alchemy service area, they soon came upon a white building with a black door. There were over a dozen of these buildings scattered around.

After waiting a moment, the stone building opened from within and a cultivator walked out. The female cultivator smiled and said, “It’s your turn now. I will be waiting outside. Once receiving the appraiser’s results, if you have no objections then please pass me the issued receipt.”

Qin Yu nodded. He pushed through the door and walked in. The room inside wasn’t too large. There was a large black and crystal-like testing table in the middle. Sitting behind it was a middle-aged man with a tired expression. Before they even exchanged greetings, the man said, “Dear guest, please take out your materials.”

Since Qin Yu came this far, he naturally wouldn’t hesitate. He patted the miniature Big Pig on his shoulder. With a humph, Big Pig raised a hoof and slashed the air. A crack immediately appeared and a blood flame fruit flew out.

Behind the testing table, the middle-aged man spat out the water he was drinking. If he wasn’t seeing things just now then the miniature pig had actually torn open space!

It was common for exceedingly formidable cultivators to tear through the void. But for a pig to achieve this, it was far too odd.

And the most terrifying part was that from beginning to end, he didn’t sense anything at all. If he didn’t see this with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have felt a single fluctuation of aura.

It was like opening a pocket…just what level of strength was needed for this?

The middle-aged man looked at Big Pig as if he was looking at an impossibly high mountain. His eyes as he looked at this black-robed youth before him were now filled with respect and reverence.

Mm? He didn’t feel any aura at all. How was this possible? It was simply impossible for an average person to make their way to Parasol Tree Mountain deep within the First Moon Mountain Range.

It seemed that this person was just like his pet; they were both experts with concealed skills!

“Respected guest, please wait here. I will serve you to the best of my abilities…blood flame fruit!” His voice suddenly rose up in a shrill scream as if he were an old duck that had its neck held tight. His face flushed red and he started to breathe rapidly.

He nearly pounced onto the testing table. Picking up the lens used for appraisals, he carefully looked over it. The more he looked the more excited he became.

It was real! It was a real blood flame fruit! A fruit that was rumored to be able to save a person’s life even if there was nothing left of them but bones, a transcendent treasure when it came to healing bodily wounds!

It was only after a long time that the middle-aged man recovered his composure. He awkwardly smiled and said, “I must have given dear guest a good laugh. It’s just that the material you provided is far too precious.”

He definitely wasn’t mistaken. This black-robed youth in front of him might have lived for thousands if not tens of thousands of years already. Those fathomless black eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of time!

After taking a deep breath, the middle-aged man stood up. “Dear guest, your material is of the highest level of existence and I do not have the qualifications to test it. I ask you to please follow me. I will bring you to my teacher.”

The door opened from within and the somewhat bored female cultivator revealed a blinding smile. But soon, she stiffly froze.

The middle-aged man said, “From this point on, this honored guest will be personally received by me.” He bowed and said, “Dear guest, please follow me.”

Not only was the female cultivator stunned, but the surrounding guests all had wide eyes and faces full of disbelief. This was an appraisal master of Sky Declaring Pavilion! His status and identity weren’t low, but he actually treated this youth with such deep respect. Just who in the world was he?

As Qin Yu was preparing to follow the middle-aged man away, a group of cultivators walked out from Sky Declaring Pavilion carrying two wooden crates. The one leading them was a thin man with a pale face and a gloomy complexion.

The middle-aged man cupped his hands together and bowed, “Steward Bai, does teacher have any free time right now? I have just received an honored guest.”

Steward Bai squeezed out a smile. “Grandmaster Jiang should have time right now.” He nodded at Qi Yu and cupped his hands in greetings.

He didn’t have the qualifications to casually ignore someone that an appraisal master said was an honored guest.

Suddenly, one of the wooden crates shattered and a man tumbled to the floor. His face was full of panic and horror, “Steward Bai, it was me who offended Grandmaster Qi! Please be merciful and forgive my niece!”

He had been pretending to be unconscious all this time in order to wait for this one opportunity. If he were to cause a mess here then perhaps there would be a small chance of survival.

“I beg you! I beg you!”

Steward Bai’s face was now pale white. Today’s matter couldn’t be exposed to the light. With Mu Tong causing such noise it was bound to set off mighty waves.

“You scoundrel! Take him!” He loudly shouted out at the workers. He cupped his hands at the people around him and said, “Dear guests, this person has lost an extremely precious treasure that belonged to Grandmaster Qi Yunshan, and that is the reason why he is being punished. I will personally take him away to avoid ruining your time here.”

“No! That’s not it! I already bought that bracelet; even if it was lost it has nothing to do with Grandmaster Qi!” Mu Tong immediately revealed the truth without any consideration for anything else. I am a deacon of the Blue Wave Sect, you can’t just take my life like this!”

Steward Bai shook with rage, “You are babbling nonsense! Hurry and take him away!”

After tearing apart any pretense of face, how could Mu Tong allow himself to be captured like this? In the ensuing chaos, a young woman tumbled out from the other crate.

Completely coincidentally, this young woman just happened to be facing Qin Yu. It was Mu Xuan!

In a flash, countless thoughts flashed through his mind, eventually connecting together. They had lost a bracelet, thus leading to their current predicament…it seemed that he had been the origin of this disaster. Qin Yu furrowed his eyebrows, an uncertain look crossing his eyes.

“Shut up! You have ruined the honor of the Blue Wave Sect!” With a cold shout, Elder Liu Zang strode forward. His aura rose and the powerful suppression shocked those present. The scene suddenly fell silent.

“Grandmaster Qi, Mu Tong is the scum of my sect. Not only did he lose your treasure but he even dared to slander you. I ask grandmaster to rest assured. I will bring him back to the sect and give you a full confession later!”

Grandmaster Qi nodded with a dark expression.

Feng Qing had an indifferent look. The world of cultivators was one where the strong ate the weak. She had seen similar scenes countless times before. Besides a faint mockery in her heart, she wouldn’t intervene at all.

Mu Tong had a panicked expression. He knew that once he left everyone’s line of sight today, he and Mu Xuan would most assuredly die.

Elder Liu Zang would kill him. It would be easy to come up with any random reason for his death, such as saying he was stubbornly trying to escape. This would be a sufficient explanation to the sect. After all, no one would care about the life and death of two young cultivators from a fallen family.

“No! Everything I said was true! Elder Liu Zang is working in tandem with Grandmaster Qi! I will expose you to the sect…”

Elder Liu Zang sneered, “Very good. Then I will wait for that day.”

Lifting a hand and grasping forward, an invisible strength surged out and imprisoned Mu Tong, leaving him unable to utter another word.

He turned around, “Grandmaster Qi, Miss Feng Qing, I will bid my goodbyes here first.”

Both inside and outside, Sky Declaring Pavilion was silent. No one here was an idiot; they had already detected certain truths in Mu Tong’s actions.

But so what?

Elder Liu Zang and Grandmaster Qi’s will was enough to distort the truth and flip black and white. Even Miss Feng Qing was remaining silent, so naturally they wouldn’t go around looking for trouble.

In this silence, a light voice suddenly rose up, “Wait a moment.”

Elder Liu Zang turned around, a sharp light shining in his eyes. When he saw who was speaking, his pupils imperceptibly shrank. He said, “Fellow daoist, is there anything you would like to say?”

Qin Yu waved a finger. “I haven’t seen enough fun, so how could you take them away?”

Seen enough fun…

Countless people felt their hearts tremble. Even if this was true, there was no need to say it out loud. Weren’t you just looking for trouble?

They all began to drip a cold sweat for Qin Yu!

Still, they were somewhat happy in their hearts. This sort of matter where right and wrong were flipped around, even if they themselves didn’t dare to stop such an injustice, they were still excited that others were willing to stand up.

Elder Liu Zang’s face paled. He coldly said, “Allow me to sternly remind this fellow daoist that you had best not play around, otherwise you might not be able to withstand the consequences!”

The appraisal master’s complexion changed and his heart trembled. This person wasn’t as harmless as he appeared on the surface. If this young man was truly provoked, he might not even care if Liu Zang was an Elder of the Sea Wave Sect.

The appraisal master hurriedly stepped forward, bowed a little, and rapidly whispered some words.

Feng Qing’s pupils shrank and she looked at Qin Yu. Glancing at Big Pig on his shoulder, a dignified light shined in her eyes.

After a moment’s thought, she stepped forward and said, “Dear guest, on behalf of Sky Declaring Pavilion’s honor, could you not interfere in this matter?”

She also needed to remain on good terms with Grandmaster Qi.

Qin Yu smiled, “And if I say no?”

Lying on Qin Yu’s shoulder, Big Pig’s legs weakened and he nearly fell over. Big brother, why do you have to have such a hobby? You are walking on a wire right now! The smallest mistake and there won’t even be bones left of you!

Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air. They never imagined that this person would be so stubborn. Even when facing Miss Feng Qing, he didn’t give any face to her.

Feng Qing furrowed her eyebrows. She had a plaintive expression as she sighed. “Honored guest, why must you make things difficult for me…whatever, since you insist on meddling, please leave before you continue. Sky Declaring Pavilion is not willing to be involved in this mess.”

These words already gave sufficient respect to Qin Yu, and also served as a warning to Elder Liu Zang and Grandmaster Qi that this person wasn’t someone that was easy to provoke.

Immediately, everyone’s expressions towards Qin Yu changed.