Among first-rank sects, the Xia Yu Heavenly Sword Sect could rank no lower than third. Its strength was formidable — the entire sect devoted itself to the Way of the Sword, and the whole organization carried an air of razor-sharp intensity.
Jiang Chen actually preferred dealing with sects of this style. They were less likely to engage in convoluted schemes and underhanded tricks.
The Xia Yu Heavenly Sword Sect treated Jiang Chen's arrival with an extremely grand reception ceremony.
After all, the Ancient Shape-Intent Pill was a matter of desperate urgency for the Heavenly Sword Sect.
"Ha ha, I never expected Brother Mo to be in the company of Young Master Shao Yuan. Our Heavenly Sword Sect is truly honored!" The person greeting them turned out to be Han Qiansui, the Third Sword Emperor of the Xia Yu Heavenly Sword Sect.
Han Qiansui was also the third most powerful Great Emperor in the sect.
He was the younger cousin of the sect's most powerful Great Emperor, Han Qianzhan.
Qianzhan and Qiansui — both brothers were exceptional geniuses, top-tier representatives of the Sword Way. Together they upheld the entire Xia Yu Heavenly Sword Sect.
The Peerless Great Emperor naturally knew Han Qiansui, and greeted him with a smile: "Brother Qiansui, it's been at least several hundred years since we parted, hasn't it? Where's your elder brother, Brother Qianzhan? Not even coming out to greet an old friend? That's rather unkind, isn't it?"
The Peerless Great Emperor was clearly acquainted with the major figures of the Xia Yu Heavenly Sword Sect.
As such, his manner was quite casual.
Han Qiansui smiled: "My elder brother has been in closed-door cultivation for many years now. This time, I'm afraid I'm the only one available to receive Brother Mo and Young Master Shao."
The Peerless Great Emperor waved his hand dismissively: "Forget it, forget it. I was hoping to see Brother Qianzhan. To think he's in closed cultivation. I suppose we'll have to meet next time, then."
Han Qiansui nodded, then cupped his fists toward Jiang Chen: "Young Master Shao, your reputation precedes you. Our Heavenly Sword Sect has been watching the stars and counting the moons, eagerly awaiting this very day."
Jiang Chen offered a somewhat apologetic smile: "It was my fault — certain matters delayed me. I take full responsibility for the holdup."
Seeing Jiang Chen's gracious attitude, Han Qiansui was mildly surprised. He had assumed this young man was brilliant but difficult — after all, why else would he have taken so long to arrive?
Now it seemed that wasn't the case at all.
"Are all the materials prepared?" Jiang Chen asked.
"All prepared, every last one," Han Qiansui replied. "Does Young Master Shao need any further arrangements? Should we select an auspicious date or anything of that nature?"
Jiang Chen chuckled: "It's just pill refining — there's no need for such ceremony. Since everything's ready, take me to the refining room now."
"Now?" Han Qiansui said with a wry smile. "Though our Heavenly Sword Sect is in a hurry, there's no need to rush this very evening. The hour is getting late — allow me to first host a welcoming banquet for everyone, and you can rest afterward. We'll begin tomorrow."
A guest follows the host's wishes, and Jiang Chen had no objection.
"We'll do as Sect Master Qiansui suggests." Whether he started today or tomorrow made little difference. Though the Ancient Shape-Intent Pill was of a very high grade, Jiang Chen was thoroughly confident. Three days at the quickest, five to seven at the most.
During the welcoming banquet, Han Qiansui noticed that Jiang Feng and Liu Zhen held seemingly lowly positions yet sat at the same table as Jiang Chen and the Peerless Great Emperor. This piqued his curiosity.
But he was a wise man who knew not to ask questions that were none of his business. He said nothing, simply extending impeccable hospitality to everyone.
Even toward Jiang Feng and Liu Zhen, he treated them with equal courtesy, never giving them lesser regard on account of their modest cultivation.
Jiang Feng felt a quiet stirring of emotion at this scene. After all, he was riding his son's coattails — he thought about it briefly and let it go.
Liu Zhen, on the other hand, could scarcely believe he had the chance to sit at a banquet hosted by a Great Emperor. The sheer honor of it made him want to weep on the spot.
In his entire life, he had never imagined he would one day share a table with a Great Emperor — and that the Great Emperor would even raise a cup to him.
Liu Zhen was overwhelmed with excitement. He felt that reaching this point in life made everything worthwhile.
Nothing else of note occurred that night.
The next day, Jiang Chen rose and, with Han Qiansui personally leading the way, entered the pill-refining chamber.
All the materials were prepared in full, and in generous quantities.
"Young Master Shao, would you like other Pill Kings to assist you? Or is there anything else you need?"
Jiang Chen smiled: "The original bounty task required me to complete the pill formula for you as well, in addition to refining the Ancient Shape-Intent Pill. I'll give you the full formula afterwards."
Han Qiansui was delighted to hear this: "Wonderful! Young Master Shao is truly a man of his word. I shall wait outside for the good news."
Alchemy was Jiang Chen's old craft, but it was a craft he preferred to practice without strangers present. Many of his techniques would appear rather shocking to an outside observer. So as much as possible, he preferred to decline any audience.
The Ancient Shape-Intent Pill was an extraordinarily miraculous medicine, and its ingredients were exceedingly rare.
This spoke volumes about the Heavenly Sword Sect's vast wealth.
This pill had existed since ancient times — powerful cultivators used it to reconstruct their physical bodies when their flesh fell apart. It was nothing short of magical.