Nine Heavens Martial Emperor

It had taken Pill Master Shan Dan ten years to develop the Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill. So when a pill even more potent appeared before him now, it was impossible for him not to be shocked.

Aside from Wu Kui, no one else in the room knew what this pill was.

The whisper Wu Kui had shared with Wu Taichu moments ago was simple: Lin Hao would be arriving later, and he needed Wu Taichu to help keep it a secret.

"Reddish-brown in color, and it carries the four supreme fragrances—agarwood, sandalwood, ambergris, and musk... I feel like I’ve read about a pill like this in some ancient text..." Pill Master Shan Dan murmured, lost in thought as he held the pill.

While he was lost in thought, the members of the Heaven-Stepping Sect stared expectantly at Wu Kui. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Wu Taichu, in particular, was ecstatic.

The fact that Wu Kui could appear with a pill more precious than the Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill was a clear sign that Lin Hao had accepted him.

But even more shocking than that news was Lin Hao’s skill in alchemy.

He had only just returned from Pill Cloud Hall, and Lin Hao had already refined a pill that surpassed the Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill. It was simply astounding.

"I remember now!" Suddenly, Pill Master Shan Dan slammed his palm on the table and shot to his feet. The table instantly shattered into smithereens from the force of the blow.

A pot of scalding tea on the table flew into the air the moment he struck it, landing squarely on the top of his foot.

Pill Master Shan Dan, however, seemed not to notice, his entire body trembling. "This... This is the Life... the Life Reviving Pill!"

After he spoke, tears suddenly streamed down Pill Master Shan Dan’s aged face, and he began to bawl his eyes out.

"To think that I, Shan Dan... that I could actually see a Life Reviving Pill in my lifetime," he choked out between sobs.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Was this really the same Pill Master Shan Dan whose mastery of the Alchemy Dao made him dominant in the Southern Border Prefecture, unmatched among the five great sects?

’It’s just a pill. Did he really have to be so dramatic?’

Pill Master Shan Dan finally regained his composure after a good long cry. Seeing everyone’s stares, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of shame.

Caressing the pill, he spoke, his words seeming to be for the crowd as much as for himself. "After overdrawing on one’s Bloodline Power, this pill can grant a complete recovery. Not only will your cultivation realm not fall, but you might even advance a step further! Compared to this, the Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill is utter trash. This is a Healing Divine Medicine! A legendary pill from ancient times!"

Everyone was aghast, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

Elder Gu, in particular, upon hearing that such a miraculous pill existed, desperately wished he could snatch it back and swallow it on the spot.

"Where did this pill come from?!" Shan Dan demanded, his hands trembling and his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Wu Kui.

Seeing Shan Dan’s reaction, Wu Kui was immensely pleased. ’So what if you’re a master?’ he thought. ’My Senior Brother could casually refine a batch of pills that would scare you to death.’

Hearing Shan Dan’s question, he shook his head smugly and launched into his usual spiel, "My Heaven-Stepping Sect has a legacy of ten thousand years. Everything..."

"Cut the crap! Do you take me for an idiot?!" Pill Master Shan Dan roared.

In the past, Wu Kui might have trembled in fear at such a display of rage. But times had changed. ’How dare a beggar be so arrogant?!’ he thought.

"I am treating you like an idiot. What are you going to do, bite me?" Wu Kui shot back, his attitude brazen and full of swagger.

’Hmph! Compared to my Senior Brother, this so-called master of the Alchemy Dao is a complete nobody!’

"I... I was wrong. Can’t you see I was wrong? Please, I’m begging you, just tell me." Far from getting angry, Pill Master Shan Dan wore a humble, almost fawning, expression.

If word of his current behavior got out, the entire Southern Border Prefecture would be rocked to its core.

With his pitiful appearance, he had none of the bearing of the lofty, revered master of the Alchemy Dao.

’So satisfying. Goddamn, this feels good!’

Wu Kui felt as if all thirty-six thousand pores on his body had opened at once, a feeling of pure, unadulterated bliss washing over him.

Then, he beckoned to Shan Dan with a crooked finger.

The supreme authority of the Southern Border Prefecture’s Alchemy Realm immediately broke into a wide grin and scurried over like an eager puppy.

Wu Kui said nothing, simply holding out his hand.

Pill Master Shan Dan was visibly reluctant, his face a mask of pain, but he ultimately returned the Life Reviving Pill.

"Now can you tell me?" Pill Master Shan Dan asked, staring at Wu Kui with the most pitiful expression imaginable.

Wu Kui coughed twice, straightened his spine, and clasped his hands behind his back. "I refined it, of course," he said coolly.

As he said it, Wu Kui’s heart pounded with anxiety, but the moment he remembered his Senior Brother’s instructions, he felt a sense of calm.

’With Senior Brother backing me up, what do I have to fear from this guy!’

"You refined it?" As expected, Pill Master Shan Dan’s eyes filled with doubt. He didn’t believe Wu Kui for a second.

"You doubt my ability? Fine! I’ll give you proof you can’t deny!" Wu Kui already had a plan, his expression one of complete confidence.

Pill Master Shan Dan put on an apologetic smile and repeatedly said he wouldn’t dare doubt him, but his eyes remained fixed on Wu Kui.

"Pill Master Shan Dan, you certainly are clever," Wu Kui said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Your Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill is merely a modification of the Great Returning Pill, yet you’ve managed to drive its price to the heavens."

Pill Master Shan Dan’s expression changed.

Seeing this, Wu Kui grew even more certain. He said confidently, "The formula is secondary. The real key is the Alchemy Hand Seal. With the right seal, I could refine a Nine-Nine Life-extending Pill in a single day!"

Wu Kui wasn’t lying. Back in Pill Cloud Hall, he had fully grasped the Alchemy Hand Seal Lin Hao had taught him. While he couldn’t refine pills as quickly as Lin Hao, producing one in a single day was well within his ability.

One day!

Pill Master Shan Dan’s eyes went wide!

A pill that took him three days to refine... this young man could do it in just one!

That was simply heaven-defying!

Seeing his expression, Wu Kui pursed his lips. ’This Pill Master Shan Dan is so easily impressed,’ he thought.

’If it were Senior Brother Lin Hao, he wouldn’t even need an hour.’

"Alas, I’m still not very familiar with the Alchemy Hand Seal. In the future, I’m sure I’ll be able to refine it in half a day, or maybe even less! I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you, Pill Master Shan Dan," Wu Kui said, putting on a look of shame.

Pill Master Shan Dan’s old face flushed beet red, and he stammered, looking like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

"Elder Gu, please take this pill and circulate your energy to heal," Wu Kui said with a smile, ignoring Shan Dan and handing the pill to the elder.

Elder Gu had been waiting for this moment. Without another word, he quickly swallowed the pill and began to circulate his energy to heal his injuries.

Everyone stared at him, eager to see if the pill was truly as miraculous as the legends claimed.

「Half an hour later...」

"HAHAHAHA!"

Elder Gu shot to his feet, laughing heartily. His voice was sonorous, his presence as magnificent as a rainbow.

Then, his face flushed with excitement, he exclaimed, "A Divine Medicine! It’s truly a Divine Medicine! Not only have my injuries completely healed, but my cultivation has actually improved!"

He had already taken three Nine-Nine Life-extending Pills previously, so taking the Life Reviving Pill now naturally yielded twice the results with half the effort.

Joy filled the faces of everyone from the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

"Congratulations, Elder. Congratulations, Sect Leader. This junior would like to discuss a business proposition with your esteemed sect?" At that moment, Pill Master Shan Dan gave a deep bow, addressing Wu Taichu with the posture of a junior.

Wu Taichu was stunned.

Pill Master Shan Dan gave a carefree smile. "I lost the bet, and I accept my defeat. From now on, whenever I, Shan Dan, see a member of the Heaven-Stepping Sect, I will greet them with the courtesy due from a junior! Now, this junior wishes to discuss a partnership with the Sect Leader."

It had to be said, this Pill Master Shan Dan was an impressive figure with great foresight. He saw the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s potential and wanted to build a good relationship with them while they were still in a weakened state.

"Well... let us discuss this amongst ourselves first. Kui’Er, please escort the Master and this brother to rest for now."

Wu Taichu had remained silent while Wu Kui had been posturing, but he knew full well where the pill had come from.

Now that Pill Master Shan Dan wanted to discuss a partnership, Wu Taichu knew he wasn’t in a position to decide. The final say belonged to his Martial Grand-Uncle—after all, he was the one who had refined the pill.

"Please, you must be busy! Don’t mind us. Just find any disciple to show us around your sect," Pill Master Shan Dan said, instantly getting into character and being exceedingly polite to Wu Taichu.

The Danling Sect was a giant in the Southern Border Prefecture, and Pill Master Shan Dan was one of its most revered elders. How could Wu Taichu possibly allow him to refer to himself as a junior?

Just as he was about to say something, Wu Kui cut in. "Go outside, turn left, walk fifty meters, and find the disciple at the gate. Have him show you around."

He really was treating Pill Master Shan Dan like a junior with that tone.

Wu Kui wasn’t as considerate as Wu Taichu. His mind was completely occupied with the thrilling image of the great elder of the Danling Sect, the foremost authority in the Southern Border Prefecture, a titan of the Alchemy Realm, having to bow to him like a junior.

"Yes, sir." Pill Master Shan Dan wasn’t the least bit angry. He bowed respectfully and withdrew with his disciple, even closing the door for them on his way out.

Seeing this, Wu Kui felt a satisfaction even greater than if he had eaten a legendary Ginseng Fruit.

"Kui’Er, you’re being utterly ridiculous!" Wu Taichu said, feigning anger the moment Pill Master Shan Dan was gone.

To be honest, though, he had only one feeling today: utter vindication.

Wu Kui, however, saw nothing wrong with his actions. "Master, you don’t need to show him any respect. I’m telling you, compared to Senior Brother Lin Hao, his alchemy skills are utter trash."

Hearing this, the eyes of the three Grand Elders glinted with a strange light.

They knew Wu Kui’s skill in alchemy; there was no way he could have refined such a pill. They had been suspicious from the start, but now they understood everything.

The three Grand Elders were all aware of Lin Hao’s true identity. They were stunned to hear that he was the one who had refined the pill.

"Kui’Er, go and invite your Martial... No, never mind. I’ll go myself." Pill Master Shan Dan’s proposal had to be decided by their Martial Grand-Uncle. After some thought, Wu Taichu decided to go and invite Lin Hao personally.

Just as he was about to set off, there was a knock at the door.

He opened the door, and who should be standing there but Lin Hao himself.

Just as Wu Taichu was respectfully ushering Lin Hao into the room, two heads quietly ducked back around a corner outside.

"Master, I still don’t understand. Why were you so respectful to them?"

The two were none other than Shan Dan and his disciple. The middle-aged man was now asking his master.

"Did you see that young man who just went inside?" Shan Dan asked in return, his eyes narrowing.

The middle-aged man nodded.

"I wasn’t being respectful to them. I was being respectful to *him*!" he said. "Do you really think I’m an idiot? That I couldn’t tell the pill wasn’t made by Wu Taichu’s disciple? While I don’t know whose hands crafted it, I know it has to be connected to that young man who just walked in."

Understanding dawned on the middle-aged man.

"If I’m not mistaken, that young man has a powerful expert backing him! Leave now. Go and investigate his background," Shan Dan instructed.

The middle-aged man accepted his orders and departed. With his hands clasped behind his back, Shan Dan walked away as if nothing had happened, setting off to tour the Heaven-Stepping Sect.

"Greetings, Senior Brother. This junior is new here. Might I trouble you to show me the way?" Upon spotting a Heaven-Stepping Sect disciple, Shan Dan respectfully bowed like a junior...