After a moment of sighing, the Eternal Life Sect Leader headed to the Xianhuo Palace, full of determination. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

He picked a wriggling Ghost-faced Butterfly out of his Secret Realm and gently called, "Lead the way."

The space in Jing Country has many layers, and the Xianhuo Palace is hidden even deeper. However, someone like the Eternal Life Sect Leader, often tasked with missions, naturally knows how to find the Xianhuo Palace.

However, the Eternal Life Sect Leader also knows that the Xianhuo Palace he can find is not the true Xianhuo Palace.

"At most, it’s just a projection of the Xianhuo Palace."

"Xian Nu, Mr. Yin, I have come."

The Ghost-faced Butterfly fluttered around, and after a few flaps, it suddenly disappeared along with the Eternal Life Sect Leader.

The teahouse’s private room became quiet, but in the distant silkworm room of the Xianhuo Palace, it was in chaos.

Over a dozen accountants gathered around the "True Pill Copper Mirror" recording the East Market Street, chattering incessantly.

"What merits or abilities does Zhou Xuan have to find a ’Desire Pill’?"

"I heard that as long as it’s a Desire Pill, the elixir refined from it won’t be inferior—at least not below fifth-grade."

"Fifth-grade? Didn’t you see what the copper mirror wrote—Zhou Xuan claims that this time the elixir will be no less than third-grade."

"He says it’s third-grade, so it’s third-grade? Then if I say I’m Bai Yujing’s Dan Zheng, would you believe me?"

"Young people tend to boast a bit, but this time, Zhou Xuan might really refine an elixir within the fifth-grade."

These accountants turned into gossiping grandmothers, talking about Zhou Xuan’s elixir.

As for Mr. Yuan, he did not participate in the discussion but quietly left the crowd, heading straight to the depths of the silkworm room to find Silk Master Li Qingru.

When Mr. Yuan saw Li Qingru, he hurriedly said, "Li Silk Master, it’s bad, it’s bad."

"Old Yuan, what are you up to again?"

Li Qingru put down the teacup and said, "Didn’t we report to Mr. Yin together about Zhou Xuan’s ability to peek inside the Pill Furnace?"

"That’s another matter. Now, Zhou Xuan has caused more trouble," Mr. Yuan said. "That Zhou Xuan somehow acquired a Desire Pill and claims he can refine a third-grade elixir."

Most of the accountants did not believe Zhou Xuan could really refine a third-grade elixir, but Mr. Yuan was convinced, having witnessed Zhou Xuan’s Divine Miracle. He knew Zhou Xuan was not one to boast impulsively.

Hearing this, Li Qingru hurriedly stood up and pulled Mr. Yun along to report.

"What kind of Divine Person is this Zhou Xuan, refining elixirs one after another, each one more exaggerated than the last?"

Even with Li Qingru’s good temper, he couldn’t help but complain...

...

In the depths of the Xianhuo Palace, at those thousands of steps.

On the steps, Xian Nu’s figure remained buried in the Shining Stone Divine Throne,

while below the steps, Yin Nv’er knelt on both knees.

"Yin Nv’er, how are things going with the Eternal Life Sect Leader?"

"The Eternal Life Sect Leader has been bribed by this humble servant. He has placed Devouring Pill Worms into over six hundred of Zhou Xuan’s elixirs, but—just as the wolves are driven away, tigers and leopards appear. Zhou Xuan plans to refine a third-grade elixir in his second batch."

Yin Nv’er said repeatedly.

Xian Nu was furious, and a resonant sound of flapping wings emitted from within her body as she spoke fiercely, "This Zhou Xuan is indeed a brilliant figure, consecutively pulling off major undertakings.

Quickly, contact the Eternal Life Sect Leader. This time, put the Devouring Pill Worm into Zhou Xuan’s Pill Furnace.

That third-grade elixir must not leave the Pill Furnace."

Xian Nu understood the intricacies of elixirs well. Take the Human Pill, for example; it is an art form of combining "human desire" and "fire."

As for Zhou Xuan’s worn-out Pill Furnace in the East City Ancient Hall, its firepower is weak. Even with the Heavenly Fire strengthened by Green and Red Fish, if the fire is too fierce, the furnace can’t withstand it.

Therefore, the firepower of that broken Pill Furnace is limited, and refining a third-grade elixir would take a long time, at least not less than three days.

And these three days give the Fire Sect time to act within the Pill Furnace and ruin Zhou Xuan’s third-grade elixir.

"Let the Eternal Life Sect Leader help again. I don’t think there will be a big problem, but... I’m afraid the Eternal Life Sect Leader might ask for too much reward..."

"Those who achieve great things don’t mind the little things. No matter what the Eternal Life Sect Leader demands, just satisfy it. What we need to do now is suppress Zhou Xuan’s momentum."

"Indeed, indeed."

Yin Nv’er repeatedly agreed, and just then, deeper within the palace, a fire ignited, and a genderless voice emanated from it.

"Lord Xian Nu, the Eternal Life Sect Leader says he has an important matter to report and wishes to see you."

"See me?"

Xian Nu felt a jolt in her heart. Could it be that the Eternal Life Sect Leader already knows about Zhou Xuan’s second batch aiming for a third-grade elixir, and after, the Eternal Life Sect Leader knows the Fire Sect wants to destroy that elixir, so he came to negotiate the price?

Since the Eternal Life Sect Leader came on his own accord, the price will likely not be low.

"No matter how high the price, we must negotiate."

Xian Nu steeled her resolve, and immediately from the palm of her hand, a fire rose.

As the fire intensified, her ten fingers clenched, squeezing the fire until it exploded,

In an instant, the palace was filled with dazzling white light, and Xian Nu and Yin Nv’er vanished within it, without a trace.

...

The Eternal Life Sect Leader arrived in a space filled entirely with yellow sand.

Everywhere was the "swoosh" of flowing sand, and even the air was mixed with dust.

Layer upon layer of quicksand covered the feet of the Eternal Life Sect Leader but quickly receded again at high speed.