Chapter 17
“Brother Xu, we Outer Disciples of the Heavenly Sect have no support, and each year we only get a tiny amount of resources from completing tasks.”
“To achieve the path of immortality, it’s hard to say when it will happen, so I want to unite our unsupported Outer Disciples.”
“We can trade our unused resources, share messages, or issue small tasks.”
“At least, it will provide another way out for us Outer Disciples.”
Pang Fu took the tea offered by Xu Fan and drank it in one gulp. His eyes flashed in surprise. This was Spirit Tea.
Seeing Pang Fu’s ambition, Xu Fan remembered his senior brother’s upbringing. Pang Fu was the direct descendant of a major nation’s wealthy merchant family. To describe it as extremely wealthy and competing against the country was not an exaggeration.
Xu Fan had once benefited from this family during his early days of begging, so he had paid more attention to Pang Fu.
“Brother Pang is not without support. The number one wealthy merchant in Qu Yang Country, he is much more powerful than an average cultivation family.” Xu Fan teased. Unlike those unkind wealthy merchants, Pang’s family was a typical example of benevolent trading throughout the world.
“How does Junior Brother Xu know about my background?” Pang Fu’s eyes flashed with surprise. Not many in the Outer Sect knew his identity.
“I was fortunate to have seen Brother Pang’s grand entrance when we entered the sect.” Xu Fan joked.
“Alright, let’s discuss the important matter next. Brother Pang wants to start an alliance.”
There are more than 200,000 outer members in the Heavenly Sect, similar to a small society, and various alliances emerge for the interest under such conditions.
These alliances are created to complete tasks together, share information, or mostly mutual aid trading.
“It’s not so much an alliance, but more like bringing together over a thousand brothers from our cohort. It’s better than struggling alone.” Pang Fu patiently said. If Xu Fan was just an ordinary disciple, he would have immediately accepted.
However, Xu Fan had already reached the standard to enter Spirit Pill Peak, so he had no choice but to make a personal visit. The future Alchemist must be won over.
There is an old saying in the Cultivation World: Behind every Great Power is a passionate Alchemy Master as a brother.
“Interesting, what can this alliance bring me, and what do I have to give?” Xu Fan asked with interest. Although low-key, occasionally showing off in front of others is acceptable.
“You can have access to the sect’s first-hand news, connections, and numerous junior fellows willing to run errands for the future Alchemy Master.”
“All you have to do is provide a little alchemy convenience to the brothers in the alliance.”
“When Junior Brother becomes an Alchemy Master in the future, all brothers in the alliance will be willing to follow your lead.”
“Currently, the alliance has over 40 senior and junior members prepared for Battle Hall, two hoping to become Basic Alchemists, and one refinement apprentice.”
“I believe that with the addition of Junior Brother, the future Pill Master, our alliance will surely develop.”
Pang Fu spoke passionately, thinking to himself that if he hadn’t inquired a bit, he might not have known that a person from his same cohort had entered the Spirit Pill Hall.
Xu Fan began to ponder, weighing the pros and cons.
Pang Fu stayed silent, waiting for Xu Fan’s response. He was confident that this genius in the field of elixirs would agree.
“I will join.” Xu Fan said. He had made up his mind. Suppressing his nature by being too low-key was not the right way to go. After all, who wasn’t a mortal?
“Good, I knew it.” Pang Fu said happily, then took out a simple circular artifact and handed it to Xu Fan.
“Is this a communication artifact?” Xu Fan asked in slight surprise.
“The alliance should have its own style. This is the work of the refinement apprentice.” Pang Fu said with a smile, now that a future Pill Master had joined the alliance, after a few years he would become a Tier 1 Pill Master.
“Impressive.” Xu Fan exclaimed.
“This artifact will receive the latest news and trading information from the alliance tomorrow, and occasionally there are tasks published.”
Pang Fu took out a jade slip and a token, handed them to Xu Fan, and then bid him farewell.
As soon as Xu Fan sent Pang Fu away, he saw someone he hadn’t wanted to see recently.
“Junior Brother Xu, did you just finish hosting a guest?” Sha Yan said with narrowed eyes.
Xu Fan looked into Sha Yan’s crescent moon-like eyes and his defenses crumbled.
“Yes, a senior brother came to visit.”
Xu Fan didn’t dwell on the matter of hosting guests.
“Junior Brother, won’t you invite me in to sit?” Sha Yan said with a smile.
Inside the pavilion, the two sat facing each other, and Xu Fan handed the prepared tea to Sha Yan.
“Junior Brother, why don’t you want to join Spirit Medicine Hall?”
“Let me rephrase it, why don’t you want to worship my father as your master?”
Sha Yan stared at Xu Fan and said. She had already determined Xu Fan’s talent in alchemy, and her father wanted to take him as a disciple. It was unexpected that Xu Fan would politely refuse.
Xu Fan looked at his beautiful senior sister and thought to himself, can I tell you that I’m not very interested in alchemy, and refining artifacts is my favorite thing to do?
“Senior Sister, I’m used to being free and easy, I don’t want to be restrained, alchemy is just my side business.” Xu Fan said helplessly as he tried to find a reason to push the issue away.
At this moment, Sha Yan looked at Xu Fan strangely. She didn’t understand why this junior brother didn’t treasure the opportunity that others could only dream of.
“But Junior Brother, your talent in alchemy is so outstanding. Without good guidance, your talent will be wasted.”
“The Path of Alchemy is vast like an ocean, and it’s also a way to ascend to immortality. As long as you become a top-level Alchemy Master, being guided to the Immortal World won’t be an issue.” Sha Yan persuaded. The chances of ascending for a master alchemist are much faster than for conventional cultivators.
Xu Fan looked at his beautiful senior sister with a headache. If he worshiped an Alchemy Master as his master, his early refining plans would be foiled.
It seemed that he had to tell some truth.
“Senior Sister, have you ever been on the Floating Skyship of our sect?” Xu Fan asked.
“I have. I followed the Floating Skyship on a trip once. Why?” Sha Yan asked curiously.
“Senior Sister, ever since I first saw the Floating Skyship, I swore that in this life, I must refine one of those Floating Giant Skyships.”
“Alchemy is just a way for me to accumulate Spirit Stones in the early stages. I don’t want to worship Teacher Jing Tian because I’m afraid I won’t be able to repay his kindness in the future.” Xu Fan said half truthfully and half falsely.
At this point, Sha Yan stared at Xu Fan dumbfounded, which reminded her of her brother who had broken with their father at the Refining Equipment Peak.
She still remembered what her eldest brother said during their last farewell.
“I, Stupid Sha, will definitely become the No.1 Refining Master of the Heavenly Gate!”