The title of Pill King could be obtained through an examination. However, the title of Pill Emperor required unique contributions, or the founding of an entirely new school of alchemy, along with universal recognition — only then was one qualified to receive the title of Pill Emperor and enjoy renown across the world.
"The title of Pill Emperor — perhaps one appears in a thousand years. In some eras, not even that. On the Divine Abyss Continent, the true Pill Emperors have virtually vanished from the world. At least in our Myriad Spirits Domain, rumors of a Pill Emperor are simply unheard of." Elder Yun Nie let out a soft sigh, clearly quite sentimental about it.
In the Myriad Spirits Domain, Dan Qian Palace was unquestionably the foremost sect in alchemy, and Elder Yun Nie himself had once been regarded as the number-one alchemist in the entire domain.
Yet, across the vast Myriad Spirits Domain, he, Elder Yun Nie, was nothing more than an ordinary alchemy grandmaster — he didn't even qualify to sit for the Pill King examination.
"Jiang Chen, in the entire history of Dan Qian Palace, only our founding ancestor ever obtained the title of Pill King, and merely a Second-Rank Pill King at that. Even so, that was enough to establish a sect in the lower domains. If one were a Fourth- or Fifth-Rank Pill King, they could found a sect in a middle domain and accomplish something truly great. A Pill King of Seventh Rank or above would be sought after even in the Upper Eight Domains — they'd become a top-tier guest elder of a First-Rank Sect! Forget propping up a First-Rank Sect — propping up a Second-Rank Sect would be absolutely no problem!" Palace Master Dan Chi laughed.
"Even across the entire Myriad Spirits Domain, the Pill Kings who have appeared throughout history wouldn't number more than ten, would they? And most of them were from the old imperial family of the Myriad Spirits Empire."
The Myriad Spirits Empire had once been supremely powerful, ruling over the Myriad Spirits Domain. These sects had not been the strongest existences during the empire's era.
After the empire fell, these Fourth-Rank Sects had carved up its resources — that was how they had grown powerful.
Jiang Chen's mind suddenly cleared. He now roughly understood the weight that the titles of Pill King and Pill Emperor carried on the Divine Abyss Continent.
Even Elder Yun Nie, the foremost alchemist in the Myriad Spirits Domain, was not a Pill King. That alone showed how difficult the title was to obtain.
However, Jiang Chen was certain that within Dan Qian Palace, besides himself, there was one more person who could definitely earn the Pill King title — Mu Gaoqi.
After chatting for a while longer, Palace Master Dan Chi smiled and said, "Jiang Chen, the restriction on Mysterious Wave Mountain still needs a few more days to open. You can make good use of this time. The major sects will hold various small trading fairs — you should go and have a look. You might just stumble upon some real treasures!"
After leaving, Jiang Chen didn't rush back to his quarters. Instead, he headed for the main hall of the Mysterious Wave Grand Palace.
If there was a trading fair, Jiang Chen naturally wouldn't let it pass him by.
Resources were about exchanging what you had for what you needed. If there was one thing Jiang Chen lacked most right now, it was resources.
Resources weren't limited to spiritual medicines and pills — they included all manner of natural treasures and rare materials. In the world of martial arts, resources were all-encompassing.
Besides Shen Qinghong, Mu Gaoqi and Ling Bi'er were still in the main hall.
Shen Qinghong, wealthy and well-connected, clearly had little interest in the trading fair. Moreover, after being provoked by Wang Han and Zhu Feiyang, he had been shamed into action and deeply felt the need to break through to the Saint Realm as quickly as possible. Otherwise, facing people like Wang Han and Zhu Feiyang, he, the chief disciple of Dan Qian Palace, would still find it hard to hold his head up.
"Brother Chen, you came too?"
Mu Gaoqi had set up a small stall. Clearly, he was very interested in the trading fair.
Ling Bi'er hadn't set up a stall but was browsing the various wares. She, too, was searching for something.
Jiang Chen had once given her a list of spiritual medicines needed to treat the Spirit Bewildering Miasma. She wanted to see if she could find any of the medicines she needed at this small trading fair.
However, after several rounds of browsing, she had found nothing.
"Sister Ling, you've been walking back and forth — is there something you're looking for?" Wei Qing suddenly flickered forward and appeared before Ling Bi'er with a grin.
"Tell me what it is. Perhaps I can help?"
Ling Bi'er clearly had no fondness for Wei Qing's uninvited attentiveness. Her brow creased slightly, and she turned sideways, slipping past him without a word.
Wei Qing seemed to thoroughly enjoy this kind of relentless pursuit. As the most outstanding talent of the Carefree Sect, how could he ever lack for women?
What he lacked was precisely this kind of challenge.
So the colder Ling Bi'er treated him, the more thrilling he found the chase.
"Hmph, go ahead and play the innocent little maiden in front of me now. Once I've got you in my grasp, no matter how virtuous you pretend to be — after tasting my special skills, I'll turn you into a wanton little plaything."
Wei Qing had long since decided that Ling Bi'er was his for the taking — in his mind, she was already a done deal. Gazing at her graceful retreating figure, he secretly swore that he would have Ling Bi'er, no matter what it took.
Mu Gaoqi watched from a distance as Wei Qing pestered Ling Bi'er once again, and he was thoroughly disgusted. "Brother Chen, this Wei Qing is truly insufferable — he keeps hitting on Sister Bi'er like a buzzing fly."
In Mu Gaoqi's heart, he had long considered Ling Bi'er to be Brother Chen's woman. This Wei Qing, daring to harass her time and again — he truly deserved to die.
Jiang Chen smiled. "Gaoqi, if you run into Wei Qing in Mysterious Wave Mountain, be careful. That man is ruthless and vindictive — he never lets go of a grudge."
Mu Gaoqi nodded. "Don't worry, Brother Chen. I'll be careful."
Mysterious Wave Mountain was enormous. Even though everyone would be teleported in through the transmission arrays, the chances of encountering someone were slim, though not impossible.
"Friend Jiang Chen."
Just as they were speaking, a voice came from behind them. Jiang Chen turned to see a disciple of the Northern Abyss Sect. The young man was dressed in Daoist robes, just like a cultivator.
In terms of bearing, he bore a certain resemblance to Mu Gaoqi — but his features were not nearly as refined, carrying instead a touch of hardship and suffering.
"This humble one is Ku Zhu of the Northern Abyss Sect. I have been sent by the Sect Master to invite you for a meeting."
Sect Master Tianming?