Joe Di understood what the other party meant. The man was certain he couldn't refine the Foundation Sevenfold Pill anytime soon, and thought Joe Di didn't care about the pill's ingredients—hence his fury.
Sure enough, the man with the corpse-like face continued in a chilling tone, "I saw you have talent in alchemy, so I gave you a chance to keep practicing seventh-rank immortal pills. Maybe one day you'll be able to refine the Foundation Sevenfold Pill. If you think you can fool me, believe it or not, I'll kill you right now."
Joe Di calmly packed up his shop and replied unhurriedly, "I don't believe you. Business is about mutual consent. I never promised to help you refine the Foundation Sevenfold Pill, so why are you angry? Farewell."
With that, Joe Di turned and walked away, not bothering to say another word.
If the other party had offered the Void Flower, Joe Di might have swallowed his pride to explain, or even refine a batch of pills to show his sincerity. But a mere Liora Starfruit wasn't enough to make him yield. Besides, the man wasn't even giving him the fruit directly, only telling him where it was.
"Can you really refine the Foundation Sevenfold Pill?" Hearing Joe Di's words, the corpse-faced man blocked his path again, his domain locking Joe Di in place.
Joe Di's expression darkened. With a flick of his hand, an ordinary long blade appeared. "What, you want to stop me by force?"
"If you can't answer my question, keeping you here by force isn't out of the question. But if you're willing to listen and come with me, I guarantee you'll become a top-tier Seventh-Rank Immortal Pill King within three years." The corpse-faced man didn't care about the blade in Joe Di's hand. As a mid-stage Immortal King, why would he fear an ant who hadn't even reached the Immortal King realm?
Only then did Joe Di realize the man actually wanted to take him away.
"Get out of my way..." Joe Di stepped forward, his long blade sweeping up a wave of energy as he slashed at the Immortal King.
Before Joe Di's blade wave could even touch the corpse-faced Immortal King's domain, the domain shattered inch by inch, and the blade wave transformed into a rippling line of energy.
Bang! The corpse-faced man threw a punch, his fist colliding with the blade wave. Joe Di seemed to be struck by the force and was knocked back over ten meters.
Joe Di didn't attack further. Instead, he put away his blade and spun around to leave. That strike hadn't even used a tenth of his true strength—it was just to show the other party he couldn't be stopped.
But the corpse-faced man didn't pursue Joe Di. Instead, he cupped his fists and said, "Friend, I spoke rudely earlier. I sincerely wish to ask you to refine a batch of Foundation Sevenfold Pill for me. As a Pill King, you should know how difficult it is to make this pill. It must have all seven stripes, or else it's worthless."
The main spiritual herbs for the Foundation Sevenfold Pill—Dao Essence Fruit and Hundred Vein Blossom—are extremely rare. I only have enough ingredients for one batch. If the refinement fails, I can't afford the loss. So I must confirm: can you truly refine the Foundation Sevenfold Pill?"
He hadn't even used half his strength in that punch. But the real point was that Joe Di could break his domain, meaning he might not be able to keep Joe Di here. He had to switch to negotiation.
Joe Di, who had been about to leave, suddenly stopped. The Foundation Sevenfold Pill was a seventh-rank immortal pill—if he helped refine it, he could get three pills for himself. Not only that, he'd also gain the pill formula.
Thinking this over, Joe Di replied calmly, "That's right, I can refine the Foundation Sevenfold Pill. If you want me to do it, name your price and I'll get started. If not, then I'll take my leave."
Joe Di knew perfectly well why the man was so insistent. Even most eighth-rank Pill Venerables couldn't refine the Foundation Sevenfold Pill, let alone ordinary seventh-rank Pill Kings—they weren't so easy to hire.
"You really can refine the Foundation Sevenfold Pill?" The corpse-faced man still couldn't quite believe it, staring at Joe Di and repeating the question.
This time, Joe Di didn't even bother to answer. He simply took out a Seventh-Rank Immortal Pill with seven stripes and tossed it to the corpse-faced man, waiting to see his response—if he agreed, Joe Di would refine the pill; if not, he'd leave.
"A Seventh-Rank Immortal Pill with seven stripes?" The corpse-faced man saw the pill Joe Di had given him and his expression changed instantly. He'd only heard of such a pill in legends, and now it was in his hand.
Despite his earlier talk about giving Joe Di piles of seventh-rank immortal herbs to practice, he never truly believed Joe Di could refine a seven-stripe, Seventh-Rank Immortal Pill even after three years.
But now that he held the seven-stripe, Seventh-Rank Immortal Pill Joe Di had given him, excitement surged through him. He quickly realized what he needed to say. "All right, I'll let you refine it—but before you start, you must pledge something equally valuable as collateral."
Meeting a Pill King who could refine a seven-stripe, Seventh-Rank Immortal Pill was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he missed this chance, he might never get another.
The Foundation Sevenfold Pill's immortal herbs were indeed extremely hard to obtain, but he actually had enough for two batches—a fact he'd kept secret until now. If he'd only had one batch, no matter what Joe Di said, he wouldn't dare risk it. But since Joe Di produced a seven-stripe, Seventh-Rank Immortal Pill, he was willing to let him try with one batch.
Joe Di retorted mockingly, "First, I'm not begging you to refine pills—you're the one asking me. Whether you want me to refine them or not is none of my business. Second, I'm not putting up collateral for you. You give me the payment for refining first; if I'm satisfied, I'll help you. If not, I'll walk away."
The corpse-faced man recalled how Joe Di had shattered his domain with a single step, making him wonder if Joe Di was truly in the Immortal King realm. Whether he was or not, the man knew he couldn't keep Joe Di here now.
Realizing who held the upper hand, the corpse-faced man finally cupped his fists to Joe Di and said, "Friend, if you can help me refine the Foundation Sevenfold Pill, I'll give you fifty Eighth-Grade Immortal Herbs..."
Joe Di was secretly astounded. This corpse-faced man was truly wealthy. Fifty Eighth-Grade Immortal Herbs, and from an Immortal King no less—he could hardly believe it. Was this guy's family a specialized herb farm? Clearly, fifty Eighth-Grade Immortal Herbs wasn't his bottom line.
"Not only that, I can also give you the location of the Liora Starfruit." The corpse-faced man spoke calmly, but only he knew the turmoil in his heart.
"One hundred Eighth-Grade Immortal Herbs, and the location of the Liora Starfruit," Joe Di demanded without hesitation, opening with a sky-high price. He sensed how crucial the Foundation Sevenfold Pill was to the other party. Otherwise, no one would offer such a terrifying price. While these herbs alone couldn't buy the pill, their value far exceeded it.
But everything depends on need. To a man dying of thirst in the desert, a cup of water is worth more than mountains of gold. From the corpse-faced man's words, Joe Di was certain the Foundation Sevenfold Pill was something he desperately needed.
"Agreed." The other party didn't wait for Joe Di to repeat himself, his voice unwavering.
"Good, I accept. Give me the ingredients and I'll refine it for you right now." Joe Di raised his hand and summoned the pill shop once more.
This time, the corpse-faced man didn't haggle. He carefully handed Joe Di a storage pouch. "Inside are the ingredients and the pill formula."
Joe Di swept his divine sense over the pouch—it really did contain the Foundation Sevenfold Pill's ingredients and formula, and this time the formula was complete.
As Joe Di put away the pouch and prepared to enter the pill shop, he suddenly turned back and asked, "Do you have a Prime Immortal Pill Furnace?"
When the corpse-faced man heard Joe Di didn't even have a pill furnace, his face grew even more sullen—darker than before. He began to suspect Joe Di was tricking him, using a seven-stripe, Seventh-Rank Immortal Pill to win his trust.
Joe Di saw his expression and knew exactly what he was thinking. He said coolly, "I can refine the pill without a Prime Immortal Pill Furnace. If I had one, the results would be even better. Of course, if you don't trust me, I can return your ingredients right now and we can go our separate ways."
The corpse-faced man didn't answer Joe Di. He swallowed the Seventh-Rank Immortal Pill Joe Di had given him. After a dozen breaths, he produced a pill furnace and handed it to Joe Di: "Fine, I'll trust you this once."
Joe Di looked down on him inwardly. The guy tested the pill right in front of him, confirmed it was freshly refined, and only then handed over the furnace. Yet he acted so dignified, talking about 'trusting' Joe Di.
Joe Di couldn't be bothered to argue, picked up the pill furnace and entered the shop. The corpse-faced man was unpleasant, but the things he offered were truly valuable.
...
Of the Four Immortal Continents, the first is undoubtedly the Aurora Immortal Continent.
The foremost sect on Aurora Immortal Continent is Radiant Lake Palace.
Radiant Lake Palace isn't built on a lake, but atop towering mountain ranges. Around these mountains lies a vast lake called Radiant Lake.
The palace lord of Radiant Lake Palace, Ye Xi, is not only the strongest on Aurora Immortal Continent, but also the top cultivator among the Four Immortal Continents.
Ye Xi is of average height, with fair skin, always wearing a tall crown wherever he goes.
At this moment, Ye Xi stepped out of his cultivation cave, feeling rather pleased. Advancing further at the pinnacle is extremely difficult. His recent gains in seclusion were a source of joy.
"Anything happen while I was in seclusion?" Ye Xi asked casually.
A pretty maid beside the cave hurriedly bowed. "Palace Lord, seven years ago, Joe Di destroyed the Crescent Chamber of Commerce at Moon Ruins Tomb, then escaped into the tomb. Later, pursued by Immortal Emperor Yuan Yi of Demon Garb Immortal Continent, he fled into the Chaotic Space inside the tomb..."
Joe Di's whereabouts were what the palace lord had ordered to investigate, so now that Ye Xi emerged, it was reported immediately.
"What? Joe Di escaped into Chaotic Space?" Ye Xi exclaimed, then in a flash, left Radiant Lake Palace.