Cornerstone Street—though its name suggests a hidden corner—was not at all remote within Cauldron Haven.
Joe Di stopped in front of a shop with no entrance sign or plaque. According to the address given by Huo Qianqian, this was where Quentin Pooler lived.
A restriction had been placed outside the shop. Joe Di tapped on the barrier.
After only a few breaths, the restriction was lifted. The first floor of the shop was empty, and Joe Di saw a scruffy, bearded man descending from the second floor.
This was a mid-stage Immortal King, a cultivator of considerable strength.
Yet his spirit seemed somewhat disordered. After reaching the first floor, he fixed Joe Di with a cold, sharp gaze. "What do you want?" he asked, his tone icy.
Joe Di replied calmly, "You must be Quentin Pooler, correct? I am an alchemist, here to refine the Soulbind Elixir for you."
A hint of disdain flashed in Quentin Pooler's eyes. He raised a hand and sent out two contract scrolls. The terms were clear: anyone wishing to refine the Soulbind Elixir must pass a test—refine a batch of fourth-grade immortal pills, and every pill must be of premium quality with at least one Dan Stripe. If even a single pill fails to meet the standard, the refiner accepts death willingly.
Once Joe Di signed this contract, if he failed to meet the requirements, Quentin Pooler could kill him without punishment from Cauldron Haven.
Joe Di did not care about such an unfair contract. Without hesitation, he signed his name and recorded the process with a Crystal Recorder.
"You really dare to sign this contract?" Quentin Pooler stared at Joe Di in disbelief after watching him sign, unable to conceal his shock.
Many reckless fools had come here before, but most, upon seeing the contract, paid compensation for disturbing his seclusion and fled in disgrace. A couple of self-important alchemists, thinking themselves exceptional, signed the contract hoping for his shop. When they failed to refine premium fourth-grade pills, Quentin Pooler killed them on the spot.
Joe Di put away one of the contracts and said, "Didn't you bring it out for me to sign?"
The contract made no mention of the shop, nor what would happen if Joe Di succeeded in refining the pills. Joe Di acted as if he was completely unaware.
Joe Di followed Quentin Pooler upstairs. He needed a place to stay. With his current cultivation and reputation, even with Liberty Points and Immortal Crystals, he couldn't buy a shop or decent residence in a place like Cauldron Haven.
The restriction on the second floor was a sixth-grade defensive immortal array, but to Joe Di, it was useless.
After Quentin Pooler opened the restriction, Joe Di saw another room inside, also sealed by a barrier.
"Begin your alchemy. I’ll be watching." Once inside the upstairs room, Quentin Pooler spoke to Joe Di and kept a close eye on him.
Joe Di asked calmly, "What pills do you want refined? Will you provide the pill furnace and flame, or should I use my own? And as for the immortal herbs, will you supply them or should I?"
Quentin Pooler replied coldly, "Since you’re here to refine the Soulbind Elixir, do you expect me to provide the immortal herbs as well?"
Joe Di didn’t care. He said calmly, "My only requirement when refining pills is to set up a restriction. My alchemy methods are rather unique—I don’t want anyone learning them."
Quentin Pooler burst into laughter—though his face showed no trace of mirth.
After laughing, he pointed at Joe Di. "You, a mere Immortal Lord ant, dare to talk about someone learning your pill-refining methods in front of me?"
Joe Di met Quentin Pooler’s gaze calmly. He wasn’t Quentin’s match in a fight, but with his spiritual sense escape technique, he could flee in an instant. This was Cauldron Haven—Quentin Pooler wouldn’t dare kill him without reason. Calling him an Immortal Lord ant, when Quentin himself was just a minor Immortal King, yet dared to call himself ‘king’.
Seeing Joe Di staring back without fear, Quentin Pooler frowned, then said, "Fine. I agree. Begin refining your pills now."
At his words, Joe Di immediately released dozens of array flags, forming a simple fourth-grade spiritual sense isolation immortal array in the room. Entering the array, Joe Di summoned his pill furnace and Dao fire, then produced a pile of immortal herbs.
This time, he chose to refine Ether Essence Pills—a fourth-grade immortal pill meant for Grand Ether Immortal cultivation. Its value was less than that of the Thousandfold Pill, and its difficulty was only moderate.
Even though he wanted Quentin Pooler’s business, Joe Di still held back some techniques while refining. In front of an Immortal King, he wouldn’t show his full ability by producing a batch of nine-mark premium pills.
Quentin Pooler kept a close watch on Joe Di. If Joe Di tried to deceive him, it would violate the contract, and Quentin would kill him without hesitation.
A batch of Ether Essence Pills that should have taken only one incense stick to refine, Joe Di deliberately took two, and produced six pills.
He could have made nine pills in a batch, but among most alchemists, a full batch of fourth-grade pills was considered six.
"Is it done?" Seeing Joe Di remove the restriction, Quentin Pooler asked in surprise, then noticed the jade plate in front of him.
Joe Di didn’t put the pills into the jade plate, since Quentin Pooler needed to inspect them.
Quentin Pooler snatched the jade plate from beside Joe Di at lightning speed, his hand trembling as he did so.
All six pills were premium quality—the worst had three Dan Stripes, the best had five. In all his years searching for alchemists, not a single one had such skill. Not even the average Pill King could match Joe Di.
"Good, good..." Quentin Pooler said the word over and over, his excitement getting the better of him as he suddenly reached for Joe Di.
Without hesitation, Joe Di drew the Azure Veil Blade from his back and slashed out.
Boom! The force of the blade collided with Quentin Pooler's hand seal, shattering the room's protective array with thunderous explosions.
Quentin Pooler had only made a casual grab, and Joe Di hadn’t used his full strength. Had he done so, Quentin’s residence would have been destroyed.
After his strike, Joe Di withdrew the Azure Veil Blade and said coldly, "If I’m not up to standard, let Cauldron Haven’s law enforcement judge. If you try anything, don’t blame me for fighting back."
An Immortal Lord speaking so boldly to an Immortal King—perhaps it was a first in history.
Yet Quentin Pooler didn’t show the slightest anger. He quickly waved his hand, "That was my mistake just now, I apologize. Your alchemy skill is the finest I’ve ever seen. I’ll have you refine this batch of Soulbind Elixir for me."
Quentin Pooler had seen countless pills; the moment he held Joe Di’s, he knew they had just been refined—there was no way to fake it.
Joe Di knew full well that despite Quentin’s friendly words, if he failed in refining the pills, Quentin would kill him without hesitation.
After speaking, Quentin Pooler looked at Joe Di with expectation and excitement, worried he might leave. He was certain he’d never find a second alchemist as skilled as Joe Di.
Joe Di nodded. "I came here to refine the Soulbind Elixir for you. Now that you recognize my alchemy skills, does our previous contract become void?"
"Yes, yes, void." Before Joe Di could say more, Quentin Pooler took out the contract and crushed it to dust.
Joe Di also produced his copy of the contract and destroyed it.
"Alchemist Di, can you start refining the Soulbind Elixir now?" Quentin Pooler believed that if Joe Di couldn’t refine the pill, then truly no one could.
"Wait on the alchemy." Joe Di waved his hand.
Before Quentin Pooler could ask, Joe Di continued, "Shouldn’t we sign another contract before I begin refining?"
Quentin Pooler replied eagerly, "Yes! As long as you succeed in refining the Soulbind Elixir, I’ll give you the other shop on this street. That shop is no smaller than this one, and its location is even better."
Joe Di shook his head. "That’s only part of it. I did come for your shop—otherwise, I wouldn’t be here refining pills for you."
"Alchemist Di, just name your terms." Quentin Pooler’s eyes were red with anxiety, fearing Joe Di might leave and refuse to help.
"Since you insist, I’ll state my conditions. First, once I successfully refine the Soulbind Elixir, the shop must be transferred to me. The formalities are handled after you confirm the pills, and only then do you get them…"
Before Joe Di could finish, Quentin Pooler said, "No problem."
"Second, your shop is just the fee for pill refinement. My commission is fifty percent, but since you’re giving me a shop, I’ll give you four Soulbind Elixirs." Joe Di continued, unhurried.
Quentin Pooler nodded. "That’s fine too."
Joe Di understood that Quentin Pooler must be desperate for the Soulbind Elixir. He continued, "Third, I dislike noise, so you can’t spread word that I can refine premium pills with three or more Dan Stripes. Fourth, if the pill refinement fails, it’s not my responsibility."
Quentin Pooler hesitated. "No issue with the third condition. As for the fourth…"
Joe Di interrupted, "Quentin, let me be clear: if even I can’t refine the Soulbind Elixir, then no one can. At least in Cauldron Haven, no one is capable. So the choice to proceed is yours."
Joe Di hadn’t cared about the first contract—he knew Quentin would tear it up. For Joe Di, this was the true agreement. It wasn’t that he feared failure, but he refused to enter an unfair contract; that was his Dao heart.