Xu Qingxuan's words truly provided a brand new line of thinking.
Everyone considered it carefully, and all recalled the tale of how Pill King Jilang had once lost to Pill King Zhen of Glazed Tile City many years ago. This matter had occurred long ago.
However, at the time, the incident had caused an enormous uproar throughout the entire Upper Eight Domains. Pill Fire City had banned quite a few people over it, but that proved futile.
In the end, Pill Fire City still stubbornly claimed that Glazed Tile City had cheated—that they must have studied the Myriad Life Pill in advance, and that Pill King Jilang had simply been caught off guard with a hasty response, which was why he had capsized in the gutter.
Although this explanation was extremely unreliable and hardly convincing, it managed to suppress the once-raging public opinion.
It gradually made people forget Pill King Jilang's humiliating defeat from those years.
Pill King Zhen?
To be honest, the Upper Moon Region was rather far from Glazed Tile City. Going around Pill Fire City to invite someone from Glazed Tile City would seem rather disrespectful to Pill Fire City.
After all, they were Pill Fire City's neighbors. Inviting someone from Glazed Tile City would inevitably offend Pill Fire City's people. As close neighbors, offending Pill Fire City was hardly a good thing.
For a moment, the Sect Leaders looked at one another, none willing to speak up.
The Second Sect Leader said with a bitter smile, "Qingxuan, your suggestion isn't bad, but from a broader perspective, it's not ideal. It would be rather embarrassing for Pill Fire City."
"Why must we always consider Pill Fire City's face? They can't solve the problem themselves, so we invite someone else—what's wrong with that? It's not as if we're approaching Glazed Tile City first." Xu Qingxuan had her own line of reasoning.
The Second Sect Leader smiled wryly. "What do you all think?"
The First Sect Leader sighed softly. "Pill King Zhen of Glazed Tile City might be worth considering. However, that must be our absolute last resort. Before that, let us follow Pill King Qingfeng's suggestion and search for that genius Shao Yuan first!"
"Right. If he truly is as extraordinary as Pill King Qingfeng describes, this person must be remarkable. Perhaps a miracle really could happen?"
The Sect Leaders all agreed to first follow Pill King Qingfeng's advice and seek out Pill King Shao Yuan.
They believed that even if they didn't know where Pill King Shao Yuan currently was, as long as they posted a generous bounty, Pill King Shao Yuan would surely come.
As they were discussing this, someone brought in a report: "Sect Leaders, Old Ancestor Jing of the Jing family, Elder Jing, requests an audience with the three Sect Leaders."
"Elder Jing?" The First Sect Leader was taken aback. "What does he want here?"
"He says he wishes to recommend a Pill King candidate to the three Sect Leaders."
Elder Jing?
The image of Elder Jing flashed through all three Sect Leaders' minds. He was indeed an elder of the Moon God Sect. However, his standing among the Elder Council was rather ordinary, and his performance had not been particularly outstanding. He was certainly not among the top-tier elders.
So they were all somewhat surprised by Elder Jing volunteering to make a recommendation.
However, this was precisely the time when they needed to recruit talent. If they turned Elder Jing away now, it would be tantamount to cutting off their own path to capable candidates. Who else would dare come forward with recommendations in the future?
"Let him in," the First Sect Leader said.
Elder Jing was none other than the old ancestor of the Jing Laosan family, holding a seat on the Moon God Sect's Elder Council. Ordinarily, he had few opportunities to appear before the Sect Leaders.
"Your subordinate Jing Tianbai greets the three Sect Leaders and all the Saintesses."
The Saintesses held a position in the Moon God Sect second only to the Sect Leaders—even slightly above the elders. However, the Saintesses' status was merely symbolic, and they did not hold actual power for the time being.
"Elder Jing, no need for formalities. I hear you wish to recommend a Pill King?" The First Sect Leader's tone was not particularly warm, but neither was it dismissive.
Jing Tianbai nodded hastily. "Indeed, your subordinate has come precisely for this purpose."
"Oh? And where is this Pill King you recommend from?" the First Sect Leader asked gently.
"Your subordinate does not know his exact identity or background."
You don't even know his background, yet you dare recommend him so casually? The First Sect Leader was somewhat displeased. "Then what rank of Pill King is he?"
Jing Tianbai's head began to ache. He genuinely didn't know what rank of Pill King the person was, and for a moment he stammered, unable to produce an answer.
"Then you must at least know something about his master or lineage?" The First Sect Leader was seriously considering showing him the door.
Jing Tianbai said with a bitter smile, "His master and background are reportedly quite mysterious. Your subordinate did not inquire too deeply. However..."
"Elder Jing, you are far too rash." The Second Sect Leader, standing nearby, couldn't help but speak up in reproach. "If you wish to recommend someone, you should at least do some basic investigation first? You come rushing in with no information at all to make a recommendation? Do you know what you're doing?"
Jing Tianbai was startled, cold sweat pouring down his face. "Your subordinate is terrified, your subordinate is terrified. But this person..."
"That's enough. There's no need to say more. Elder Jing, you may withdraw for now. Although our sect urgently needs the help of a master of the pill dao, not just anyone is qualified to come into our Moon God Sect and tell us what to do."