For over a decade, Xiao Fei had resided in Guiyi City.
During these ten-plus years, his speed in earning spirit stones had slowed.
However, by helping others refine pills and selling some of the spiritual herbs from his space as elixirs, he had accumulated over ten thousand high-grade spirit stones.
This was a sum he could never have amassed even if he had emptied the entire Eastern Continent in the past.
One day, the short, stout cultivator entered his shop once more.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang Xian! How have you been? Are you here to refine the Tai Xu Di Hun Dan again this time?"
Over the past decade, Jiang Xian had frequently sought Xiao Fei for pill refinement, and the two had gradually become acquainted.
"Alas! I have a favor to ask this time! I hope Fellow Daoist Xiao can agree."
Jiang Xian said with a distressed expression.
"May I ask what matter Fellow Daoist Jiang has?"
Xiao Fei did not immediately agree, but he had some inkling. He was merely an alchemist; what else could it be besides matters related to pills?
"It's like this, I am in urgent need of the Tai Xu Di Hun Dan. If it's a mid-grade or higher pill, that would be even better!"
Through years of interaction, he had come to know Xiao Fei's extremely high alchemy skills.
Having helped him refine so many batches of Tai Xu Di Hun Dan, it was possible that he might have mid-grade or high-grade pills in stock.
"Fellow Daoist, where are your spiritual herbs? I will do my best to refine a mid-grade pill for you."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xian hesitated.
"I apologize, Fellow Daoist Xiao. The Di Hun Grass is very rare, and I cannot find it at the moment. Therefore, I came to ask if you have any Tai Xu Di Hun Dan in stock."
As Jiang Xian spoke, he nervously watched Xiao Fei, sensing that Xiao Fei seemed about to refuse.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, I need this pill to save a life. If you have any pills, please grant me this favor.
I will be eternally grateful for this life-saving kindness!"
Xiao Fei carefully observed Jiang Xian from head to toe. He saw that Jiang Xian's complexion was ruddy, and his spirit was full, showing no sign of being on the brink of death.
"Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. It is not me, but my twin brother. He has been afflicted by a potent poison and requires the Tai Xu Di Hun Dan to detoxify."
"Could Fellow Daoist inform me of the detailed cause and effect of this matter?"
Xiao Fei became interested.
In the entire cultivation world, there were not many potent poisons that could affect high-level cultivators.
He had always been searching for such poisons but had unfortunately never obtained any.
"Alas! This matter was originally confidential and not to be spread to outsiders. However, Fellow Daoist Xiao is not an outsider, so it is not a problem to tell you."
Thinking of seeking Xiao Fei's help, Jiang Xian decided to explain the entire sequence of events.
"It's like this. Three hundred years ago, our clan discovered a secret realm, and we began to explore it.
However, this secret realm was overgrown with numerous poisonous substances. The first batch of disciples who went to explore were all poisoned..."
"Subsequently, the clan had to temporarily halt the exploration of the ruins and instead searched far and wide for spiritual herbs and pill recipes that could detoxify.
It was precisely because Fellow Daoist Xiao could refine the Tai Xu Di Hun Dan that our Jiang clan was able to restart the exploration of the secret realm over a decade ago."
With the help of the Tai Xu Di Hun Dan, the Jiang clan's exploration of the secret realm had been relatively smooth over the years.
However, unexpectedly, as they delved deeper into the secret realm, the toxicity they encountered grew increasingly potent.
Three months ago, Jiang Xian's own brother was struck by a peculiar poison after entering the depths of the secret realm.
Even after consuming the last Tai Xu Di Hun Dan in the clan's possession, it only managed to alleviate the symptoms slightly and did not truly detoxify him.
The Jiang clan had tried many methods, but none were effective. Moreover, the clan was currently unable to gather the ingredients for a batch of Tai Xu Di Hun Dan.
Therefore, Jiang Xian thought of trying his luck with Xiao Fei. Alchemists like him always kept some stock.
"I do indeed have some mid-grade Tai Xu Di Hun Dan.
I don't want snacks or other treasures, but I have only one request: could you allow me to personally visit the secret realm?"
As Xiao Fei spoke, he took out a pill bottle and opened its cap.
Jiang Xian's divine sense swept into the bottle, and his pupils contracted.
My heavens!
This pill bottle contained five mid-grade Tai Xu Di Hun Dans.
He had always suspected that Xiao Fei might have some stock, and it was even possible he had one or two mid-grade pills.
But he truly never expected that Xiao Fei would have five mid-grade pills in his possession.
This alchemy skill had surpassed all the alchemists he knew.
After letting Jiang Xian take a glance, Xiao Fei immediately closed the bottle cap.
"As long as the Jiang clan agrees to my request, I will give you this entire bottle of mid-grade pills for free."
Jiang Xian greatly desired them, but he did not have the authority to allow an outsider into the secret realm.
"This matter is of great importance, and I cannot make decisions on my own. Could Fellow Daoist accompany me?"
"Certainly!"
...
The scale of the Jiang clan was not large on the Central Continent, but compared to the Eastern Continent, it was a colossal entity.
The clan had several Void Refining realm experts and dozens of Deity Transformation realm experts, making them several times stronger than the Three Mountains Sect that Xiao Fei had offended previously.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, I shall wait here for your good news."
On a mountaintop outside the Jiang clan's territory, Xiao Fei was unwilling to proceed further and sat on the mountain to await news from Jiang Xian.
"Very well! Fellow Daoist Xiao, please wait here."
Jiang Xian said no more, cupped his fists in farewell to Xiao Fei, and departed.
Only half a day passed before Jiang Xian returned to the mountaintop.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, this matter is settled!"