Seeing that Joe Di had no intention of inviting him, Fang Feilou could only bid farewell to Joe Di and leave Peace Inn together with Yin Wushang.
As soon as Sam Shen followed Joe Di into the guest room, he spoke with shame, "Alchemist Di, as the First Deputy Guildmaster of the Alchemist Guild, I truly feel disgraced. I knew you were beset by several Immortal Emperors, yet I had no power to speak a word of justice for you. If you weren't so capable... sigh..."
Joe Di smiled faintly and poured Sam Shen a cup of starry sky tea. "Guildmaster, you need not blame yourself. Given the circumstances, there was little you could do to help."
Joe Di could sense that Sam Shen's guilt came from the heart; this First Deputy Guildmaster of the Alchemist Guild was genuinely concerned for him. From Sam Shen's perspective, refusing to join the attack on Joe Di was probably the best way he could protest.
Not to mention Sam Shen—even Yin Wushang, who had come here specifically to ask for his help, dared not intervene when faced with the overwhelming power of eight Immortal Emperors joining forces.
"Alchemist Di, are you truly an Immortal Alchemist Emperor?" For Sam Shen, whether Joe Di forgave him wasn't the point; what mattered was that he hoped to entrust the heavy responsibilities of the Alchemist Guild to Joe Di. Sam Shen himself was limited in ability—a fourth-level Immortal Emperor was hardly much. As for his alchemy, he was barely an eighth-grade Immortal Alchemist Sovereign, and his pill formation rate was not particularly high.
Joe Di answered earnestly, "I'm not an Immortal Alchemist Emperor yet, but I believe I will become a true one very soon."
Receiving Joe Di's definite reply, Sam Shen stood up excitedly. "Alchemist Di, I hope you can become Guildmaster of the Alchemist Guild. Our guild has been struggling to survive in the cracks these past years—it's been far too difficult."
Joe Di looked at Sam Shen in confusion. "Guildmaster Shen, please sit down. Even if I become an Alchemist Emperor, I've only been part of the Alchemist Guild for twenty years. The guild has deep foundations—what qualifications do I have to be Guildmaster? And what about the previous Guildmaster?"
Sam Shen calmed himself before speaking. "The reason I'm asking you to become Guildmaster is actually because of the previous Guildmaster, Quentin Qu."
"What happened to Guildmaster Qu?" Joe Di asked instinctively.
Suppressing his anger, Sam Shen said, "Back then on the Aurora Immortal Continent, our Alchemist Guild was thriving. The old Guildmaster, Mu Xiekong, was the top Ninth Grade Grandmaster Alchemist. At that time, we had more than a dozen Seventh Grade Alchemist Kings, and five or six Eighth Grade Alchemist Sovereigns. But ever since the old Guildmaster mysteriously perished at Moon Ruins, the Guild began its decline..."
"Senior Mu Xiekong perished at Moon Ruins?" Joe Di asked in surprise. He had heard of Mu Xiekong—a legendary figure. Many alchemy jade slips mentioned his name.
Sam Shen nodded. "I suspect Guildmaster Mu was assassinated, and the one who targeted him also went after his disciple, the current Guildmaster Quentin Qu."
"Who orchestrated the assassination?" Joe Di asked in a low voice.
Although he didn't have deep feelings for the Alchemist Guild, Joe Di was still a member. Besides, when he first arrived at Cauldron Haven, he had relied on the Guild's name to settle in peacefully for a few days.
Since he had once relied on the Alchemist Guild when he was weak, it was only natural for the Guild to seek his help now. If he could help, he would not hesitate to do so.
"The strongest cultivator on the Aurora Immortal Continent, Nate Shee of Radiant Lake Palace," Sam Shen said, enunciating each word.
Nate Shee? Joe Di was very familiar with that name. The reason he didn't dare stay long in the Chaos Rift was precisely because he feared Nate Shee would return to search for him.
"Back then, you must have disguised yourself to bid for a Chrono Crystal at the auction, right? After you left, I suspect Nate Shee also went after you. It's just that he acted alone, so no one else knew," Sam Shen explained.
Joe Di raised his hand and tossed out a crystal ball. The image of a man with a tall crown appeared in the ball. "Guildmaster Shen, is this Nate Shee?"
Sam Shen immediately nodded and said, "Yes, that's Nate Shee."
Joe Di put away the crystal ball and nodded to Sam Shen. "Guildmaster Shen, go ahead. I have a grudge with him too. I thought he would come to Cauldron Haven as soon as he heard I was here, but so far, he hasn't shown up."
"Alright," Sam Shen said. "As soon as your reputation as an Immortal Alchemist Emperor spreads, he'll definitely come here looking for you."
Joe Di sneered, "I'm just afraid he won't come."
Sam Shen didn't doubt Joe Di's words. Eight Immortal Emperors and over a dozen Immortal Sovereigns came to cause trouble for Joe Di, and even someone as strong as Nate Shee would have had to back off. Yet Joe Di was not only unharmed, but he had slain nearly eighty percent of those who came for him.
He wouldn't ask how Joe Di managed it; as long as it was done, that was strength.
Sam Shen gathered his thoughts, took a sip of starry sky tea, and then said, "Excellent tea. I tasted starry sky tea once more than ten years ago—it's practically an experience of seeking the Dao. Nate Shee probably wants to cause you trouble mostly because of this tea."
Back then, after Guildmaster Qu had just advanced to Ninth Grade Grandmaster Alchemist, he received an invitation from Nate Shee. Nate Shee invited him to Radiant Lake Palace for a discussion of the Dao. At that time, Guildmaster Qu already had some foreboding, but as the strongest cultivator on the Aurora Immortal Continent, even with misgivings, he had no choice but to go.
With a sigh, Sam Shen continued, "Before leaving, Guildmaster Qu told me that if he didn't return, I should move the Alchemist Guild to Cauldron Haven."
"So Guildmaster Qu never returned?" Joe Di asked in shock. He was surprised because Guildmaster Qu had gone to visit Nate Shee openly.
Under such circumstances, for Nate Shee to make Guildmaster Qu disappear—how audacious was that? After all, Guildmaster Qu was the leader of the Alchemist Guild. If Nate Shee dared to do this, it was a grave taboo. Joe Di's situation was different; others were targeting him. But Nate Shee committed such a taboo and remained unscathed—who in the Aurora Immortal Continent would dare defy him?
Sam Shen nodded heavily. "Yes, Guildmaster Qu never returned, and then, suddenly, the Alchemist Guild on Aurora Immortal Continent caught fire..."
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Sam Shen gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Heh, a sudden fire. Have you ever seen a group of experts perish in a so-called ordinary fire? It's not just a joke; it's an irony. After the fire, the Alchemist Guild's Guardian Elders died one after another. I wasn't at the Guild at the time, so I managed to survive. Knowing Guildmaster Qu's foresight was correct, I didn't hesitate to move the Guild to Cauldron Haven."
"Such an obvious act—Nate Shee dared to do it? Why would he?" Even though Joe Di didn't feel much attachment to the Alchemist Guild, he was still angry.
Sam Shen's eyes were full of grief and indignation. "Nate Shee dared, and after doing it, he even came out to uphold justice, claiming a powerful cultivator set fire to our Guild. There was even a crystal ball recording. In the image, just as the Guild was burning, Guildmaster Qu arrived, resulting in a fierce battle...
As for why he wanted to destroy our Guild, just look at the Aurora Elixir Pavilion on Aurora Immortal Continent. The Aurora Elixir Pavilion is run by Radiant Lake Palace, with branches all across the continent. If the Alchemist Guild wasn't destroyed, the Pavilion couldn't survive. The Guild only took a commission for pill refining, never more than fifty percent—usually thirty to forty percent. The Pavilion's prices are sky-high, and they charge sixty percent for pill refinement, plus additional fees.
Joe Di understood now. No wonder Nate Shee wanted to destroy the Alchemist Guild. Without eliminating the Guild, his Elixir Pavilion couldn't operate.
Sam Shen explained, "Actually, the Alchemist Guild on Thundercrest Continent faced a similar situation. But there, it was the Thundercrest Sect that destroyed the Guild. After their Guild was wiped out, some alchemists came to Cauldron Haven to join our Guild."
Thunder Resonance Chamber, affiliated with Thundercrest Sect, has a shop in Cauldron Haven, dealing not only in immortal pills but also materials and artifacts. Back then, a Thundercrest Sect Immortal King tried to break the restrictions on your Starlight Teahouse, but it was Jude Wanling who drove him away. I suspect Thundercrest Sect has its eyes on you too, though I'm puzzled why no one has found you yet."
Joe Di clasped his fists and said, "Guildmaster Shen, I understand. I expect Nate Shee will soon come here, and if he doesn't after hearing about the events in Cauldron Haven, I'll go find him myself. My rest lodge has just opened, and I plan to go into seclusion for a while. As for the Guildmaster position, it still belongs to Quentin Qu. If Guildmaster Qu doesn't return soon, after my retreat, let's visit Radiant Lake Palace together to meet Nate Shee, the strongest cultivator on the continent."
Having gained much, Joe Di planned to enter seclusion to organize his gains, then further his alchemy skills and cultivate for a time in Harmony Hall.
"Thank you, Alchemist Di." Upon hearing Joe Di's words, Sam Shen stood up excitedly and bowed deeply.
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