With a lift of Li Guanqi's hand, the violent flame instantly turned exceedingly docile.
Even though the gathered alchemists were knowledgeable and experienced, when had they ever truly come into contact with a heavenly flame? The sight just now had terrified quite a few of them, and their eyes turned green as they stared at the fire. Fortunately, they all had their wits about them and didn't let any greed show in their eyes.
If anyone had truly shown greed, Li Guanqi wouldn't have minded striking to kill—even if the other party was an alchemist.
Under Li Guanqi's control, the flame grew very gentle.
Yet that was only relative. The alchemists took out their best pill cauldrons one after another, but in just an instant, two more cauldrons cracked and burst under the searing heat. Left with no choice, Sun Miao had to bring out the prized cauldron from his private collection.
After taking a long time to adapt, everyone held their breath, focused their minds, and opened their cauldrons to refine pills!
A grand total of twelve rare and esteemed alchemists refining pills together—such a sight left even Lu Kangnian, who had arrived on the scene, filled with wonder.
"Truly magnificent... If only they were all alchemists of our sect, how wonderful that would be..."
Hearing Lu Kangnian's wistful sigh, Li Guanqi shrugged and said, "Later, find another grand peak. I'll leave behind a seed of the flame and maintain it with spiritual energy. Based on this heavenly flame fire pit alone, it'd probably attract countless alchemists swarming over. When the time comes, we can tier the fire pit and build alchemy chambers, charging fees for their use."
Yet Lu Kangnian shook his head and said softly, "No."
Li Guanqi asked softly, "Afraid of exposing me?"
"Yeah. Not worth it."
"Sect Master, there's actually no need to worry so much. The fact that I possess a heavenly flame probably can't be hidden anyway. Those with ill intent will find out one way or another." Speaking up to here, Li Guanqi shrugged, his gaze gradually turning sharp. "Besides... I never planned to hide it from the world!"
Lu Kangnian's pupils contracted sharply. He sent a deep voice via sound transmission: "You... plan to go to Juexian Mountain?"
Li Guanqi sneered. "The people of Qingyun Continent have learned their place from being beaten, but there are still some who don't know life from death and want to poke around and investigate. The matter of the eleventh-layer Qi Refinement cultivation technique probably can't be hidden for long either. The only thing that can make schemers abandon their designs is strength. Right now, we still lack a Void Refinement realm expert who can deter petty schemers! So until then, we can only be cautious, treading on thin ice. But even so, the image our sect has worked so hard to build cannot collapse!"
Cold glints flashed in Lu Kangnian's eyes as he nodded quietly. "That's right. No matter who it is, if they dare stretch out a hand, we chop it off!"
The two exchanged a look and smiled faintly.
The pill refinement lasted for a full three days and two nights without interruption.
The detoxification pills being concocted were actually not of particularly high grade; the difficulty lay in the fact that very few people knew the recipe for this detoxification pill. Furthermore, each pill required at least three stalks of Demon Slaying Flowers, resulting in an enormous demand. Sun Miao happened to be one of the few who knew the recipe.
Lu Kangnian had also prepared generous gifts for everyone well in advance.
The refined pills were distributed into the hands of all the disciples. After a night of refining and absorbing the medicine, the toxins inside everyone's bodies were finally purged clean.
Just as Lu Kangnian arrived with the generous gifts to thank the alchemists, he discovered that more than a dozen alchemists were crowding around Li Guanqi, excitedly saying something.
"Young friend, please, let me join your sect... Even being an odd-job worker is fine!"
"Me, me, me! Me too! No need to find me a peak or lodging—I can just live halfway up the mountain without even coming up!"
"Ever since using a heavenly flame, I can't even look at my demon fire! What kind of trash is that?!"
"Master! Master, say something! We want to stay too..."
To the outside world, these fourth-rank alchemists were exalted figures, yet right now they were like children begging grown-ups for candy.
Even Sun Miao was helpless about this. After all, after experiencing Li Guanqi's Purple Dragon Thunder Flame, even he felt the companion flame was garbage. Still, the companion flame's intensity was comparable to an earth flame—several times stronger than his own flame—and he could absorb it and make it his own.
Seeing this, Lu Kangnian's eyes practically glowed green.
Left with no choice, Li Guanqi had to agree to arrange corresponding positions as consecrated elders for them. Their monthly stipends wouldn't be high, but once Pill Peak was established, they could convert their allowance into hours of usage for different alchemy chambers. Furthermore, he solemnly recited the sect creed of the Great Xia Sword Sect!
A group of alchemists obsessed with pill refinement naturally had no objections whatsoever, nodding eagerly like chicks pecking at grain.
Li Guanqi shrugged, turned to Lu Kangnian, and said, "Looks like on top of the seven main peaks, we'll need to add a Pill Peak."
Lu Kangnian's smile stretched from ear to ear, readily promising that he would finalize the matter of Pill Peak as quickly as possible. Moreover, Sun Miao was tentatively designated as the peak master of Pill Peak. As for Gu Yan... He had a clan behind him, so naturally he wouldn't join the Great Xia Sword Sect.
Beside them, Qin Xian couldn't help but sigh with feeling. "This truly counts as a blessing in disguise. Not only did we weather the crisis, but we gained a full eleven alchemists!"
Saying so, he turned toward the young man smiling warmly beside them. In his heart, he couldn't help but marvel: *All of this is because of him...*
With the disciple matter settled, a heavy stone in Lu Kangnian's heart finally fell away.
Over the past two days, before anyone else could react, he had directly shattered the two sects! All their resources were completely plundered. As for an explanation to the outside world? Just like Li Guanqi, he offered none at all.
Yet everyone in the Northern Region instinctively believed that the two sects had provoked the Great Xia Sword Sect for some reason. For ever since the Great Xia Sword Sect's rise to prominence, they had never initiated plunder without cause—whenever their swords were drawn, there was always a reason.
Early the next morning, Li Guanqi stepped out of Lu Kangnian's study.
With a complicated expression, Lu Kangnian said, "On your journey this time, look after your safety. Whenever you feel homesick, come back."
Li Guanqi smiled, nodded, and joked, "Alright. While I'm on the road, wait for me to hoodwink a few more people back here."
Hearing that, the man burst into hearty laughter: "Hahaha, good, good, good! I'll be waiting for you. Remember what I told you: before Void Refinement, remember to come back and see if you can invoke an immortal's name!"
Li Guanqi nodded quietly. Then he went to Tianlei Peak to bid farewell to his master, Li Nanting.
Yu Sui'an peeked her head out from behind the door, munching on a steamed bun. Squinting her eyes, she waved her hand and laughed, "Little Blindie, don't forget to bring me buns!"
Li Guanqi smiled and stroked her head. "Don't worry, I won't forget."
Around the little girl's neck hung a small, delicate jade slip.
With those words spoken, Li Guanqi bowed respectfully to the old man.
"Master, this disciple is leaving."
"Mhm. Go on. Be careful."
*Whoosh!*
Li Guanqi turned crisply. With one hand behind his back, he took a step forward, already a thousand zhang away.
Behind him stood the thriving, bustling eight peaks of the Sword Sect!
Countless disciples took to their swords, rising into the air, and shouted at the top of their lungs:
"Respectfully seeing off Elder Li!"
Chapter 406