Isabelle Shao had originally felt some goodwill toward Joe Di, but upon hearing his words, her gaze turned cold. "While grandstanding may attract attention, when cultivators discuss the Dao, it must be grounded in truth. If you speak recklessly, why should the Dao even exist?"
Joe Di hadn't planned to take a stand on this issue; it was only because Sicily insisted everyone state their position, and Luna Fairchild pressed him for an answer, that he spoke honestly. Now, after Isabelle Shao had drunk his Starry Sky Tea and still acted this way, Joe Di was thoroughly annoyed. "Isabelle Shao, you have your perspective, and I have mine. If you don't believe me, I'm not forcing you to."
As he spoke, Joe Di snorted coldly. "Women like you, who just show up and drink someone else's tea, act as if the whole world is beneath your feet—and that's what I dislike the most. Debating alchemy with you only lowers my standards, since you clearly don't understand pill refinement at all."
"You..." Isabelle Shao suddenly stood up, her face flushed with rage.
She had one principle: you could hit her or insult her, but you could never belittle her skills in alchemy, nor accuse her of being wrong in the Dao of Pills—unless you could prove it to her face.
Moreover, she really had drunk Joe Di's tea for no reason just now, which left her both furious and ashamed, unable to utter a single word for the moment.
Luna Fairchild's face was equally stormy. She had given Joe Di respect, hoping he'd realize how much she valued him and gradually change his impression of her. Yet Joe Di, emboldened by her support, dared to disregard even Isabelle Shao's dignity.
Isabelle Shao was a Transformation Alchemist from the Heavenly Pill Sect—someone you couldn't offend lightly. Luna Fairchild then remembered Joe Di's stubborn temper; if he were easy to deal with, she probably wouldn't have been so interested in him. With that thought, her anger slowly faded away.
Luna Fairchild could let it go, but Sicily was far from pleased. This little follower of Luna Fairchild had been given some respect, yet dared to act so arrogantly—truly outrageous. His tone lost all previous courtesy toward Joe Di and turned cold. "So, Joe Di, are you saying you can easily use pill dregs to condense a higher-quality Ascendant Pill?"
Joe Di picked up his teacup, finished the Starry Sky Tea in one gulp, and replied unhurriedly, "That's right."
"Alright, then please, Master Joe, refine a batch for us. Don't worry about lacking cauldrons or divine spirit herbs—we have plenty here." Sicily was waiting for Joe Di to say this, and as soon as he spoke, Sicily followed up.
Joe Di looked at Sicily and chuckled, "Who are you? What relationship do you have with me? Why should I refine pills for you?"
"If you can truly do as you say—refine Dao Transformation Divine Pills using pill residue to condense higher quality pills—then I, Isabelle Shao, am willing to treat you with the formal respect owed to a master." Isabelle Shao immediately declared.
Her anger subsided considerably, because Joe Di's answer was different from Dan Yan's. Joe Di claimed he could refine such Dao Transformation Divine Pills, whereas Dan Yan had said he could not.
Joe Di laughed, "Formal respect? Do you think I care? There are plenty who beg and cry to be my disciple, and I don't accept them. Why should I take you as one? Is it because you're prettier than others, or your personality is better?"
Isabelle Shao, not good with words, was left completely speechless by Joe Di's retort.
A flash of killing intent appeared in Sicily's eyes. If Joe Di hadn't come with Luna Fairchild, he would have already taught Joe Di a lesson.
Though Luna Fairchild's face was still grim, she said nothing. So Sicily could only suppress his anger. "Joe Di, in that case, tell us what you need, or what conditions you require to refine a batch of pills. Otherwise, I'll offer a mid-grade artifact flying vessel—if you can refine Dao Transformation Divine Pills as you claimed, the vessel is yours."
Joe Di looked at Sicily, speechless, and replied blandly, "If you think I can refine Dao Transformation Divine Pills my way, do you think I'd care about your mid-grade flying artifact? To be blunt, even if you threw your flying treasure on the ground, I wouldn't bother to bend down and pick it up. Only someone as inexperienced as you would consider a mid-grade flying treasure so important."
"I offer a top-grade artifact pill cauldron." As Isabelle Shao spoke, she raised her hand and placed an ancient-looking cauldron in front of Joe Di.
Everyone who saw this cauldron secretly admired Isabelle Shao's boldness. Even knowing Joe Di might not be able to refine such pills, putting up this cauldron as a wager took real nerve.
This pill cauldron of Isabelle Shao's was one of the three great cauldrons of the Heavenly Pill Sect—the Xun-foot Cauldron, ranked third. In terms of value, even some supreme-grade cauldrons might not compare.
Yet Joe Di only glanced at the cauldron with little interest and said, "Not interested."
Sicily burst out laughing, then said, "So that's how it is."
Even without Sicily saying it, everyone understood what Joe Di meant. He couldn't refine the pills, so he claimed to be uninterested. Otherwise, even cultivators who didn't practice alchemy would covet the Xun-foot Cauldron.
Dan Yan, who had supported Joe Di's pill theory, now found his eyes dim. He too thought Joe Di was just boasting.
Suno said coolly, "Then what are you interested in? If you can't say, don't blame Suihan Valley for poor hospitality."
Joe Di chuckled, "Back when the Young Lord of the Lunar Temple proposed to Luna Fairchild at the Palace of Sinking Fish, he offered both the Lunar Heart and Solar Heart as betrothal gifts. Now, I'm about to demonstrate the pinnacle of alchemy before you all—shouldn't the offerings be at least on par with the Lunar Heart and Solar Heart? If they're lower, my performance fee is far too cheap."
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Instead of anger, Luna Fairchild smiled sweetly, placed a jade box on the table, and said, "Ah Jiu, in that case, I'll use this Lunar Heart as the wager. It's a pity I don't have the Solar Heart with me, or I'd offer both."
Joe Di hadn't expected Luna Fairchild to actually bring out the Lunar Heart. It was a pity she didn't have the Solar Heart; if she did, he would have already started refining.
Still, the Lunar Heart and Solar Heart were equally valuable. He wasn't concerned only because he already possessed one. Remembering that the flames he carried included more than just Dao Fire, he realized the Lunar Heart would be useful regardless.
"Brother Jiu, Luna's already offered the Lunar Heart. You're not going to demand a Solar Heart too, are you?" Suno's tone was mocking, clearly waiting to see how Joe Di would respond.
Joe Di sighed, "Well, in that case, I'll reluctantly refine a batch of Dao Transformation Divine Pills for you all—so you can see what true alchemy looks like."
As he spoke, Joe Di had already put away the jade box containing the Lunar Heart.
Sicily frowned, his tone a bit cold. "Joe Di, you haven't even started refining—why take the prize first?"
Joe Di chuckled, "Because I know I can definitely refine them—and no one will be able to deny it."
Sicily seemed ready to protest, but Luna Fairchild waved her hand. "Let him refine."
She wasn't worried about Joe Di forcibly taking her Lunar Heart. If it were that easy, Luna Fairchild wouldn't have survived till now. Her real reason for offering the Lunar Heart was to remind Joe Di not to overstep. She planned to step in later to show him his place—behind her, not ahead.
Seeing Joe Di truly preparing to refine pills, everyone fell silent. Isabelle Shao stared intently, her spiritual sense focused on Joe Di's every move.
At this moment, she wouldn't miss a single subtle gesture from Joe Di.