As Xiao Fei and Huang Feifei's fame grew, many individuals and factions sought to recruit them, both openly and covertly.
However, Xiao Fei merely offered perfunctory responses, refusing to align himself with any particular side.
It was akin to a beautiful young maiden: only when she was unattached did she attract the most attention from matchmakers and suitors.
Once she was taken, though a few still harbored desires to poach, the number of interested parties significantly dwindled.
At present, neither of them saw the need to abandon an entire forest for the sake of a single tree.
Xiao Fei, at this moment, was like a fickle woman, flirting with everyone. "You can pay for my services temporarily, but you will never have my heart. I belong to the entire cultivation world, not to anyone. When I send you off, I'll even politely say, 'We look forward to your next visit.'"
One day, a special guest arrived at Xiao Fei's shop.
This individual was a cultivator at the Void Refinement stage, clad in the Daoist robes of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect.
While Xiao Fei's business was thriving, attracting powerful individuals from various factions, cultivators at the Void Refinement stage were still a rare sight. The four great families and three major sects all had their own alchemists, so it was uncommon for cultivators from these seven major forces to seek him out for alchemy.
The occasional visitor was usually an outsider from these forces, unable to find a suitable alchemist within their own ranks, and thus turned to him. Someone like the current guest, who had already reached the Void Refinement stage and held a distinguished position within the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, had no need to personally approach Xiao Fei for alchemy.
"This old man, Wei Feng of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, has long heard of young friend's reputation. I have come specifically today to request your assistance in refining a batch of pills."
Xiao Fei had already guessed the visitor's intention, but he remained composed and asked, "May I inquire what kind of pills Senior requires?"
"I need to refine the Innate Qi Nourishing Pill. Have you heard of it, young friend? Can you refine it?"
This was a rather obscure pill, and Wei Feng had spent a considerable amount of time searching through ancient texts to find its recipe.
Xiao Fei pondered for a moment. He truly had never heard of such a pill. "My apologies, junior has never heard of this pill. I would need to examine the recipe first to determine if it can be refined."
"I see you seem quite confident. It is not a problem to show you the recipe." Wei Feng said, handing over a jade slip.
Xiao Fei took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense. After only a moment, he withdrew his consciousness.
According to the recipe's description, the Qi Nourishing Pill was specifically for treating infertility and could enhance the potential of offspring while still in the womb. The stronger a cultivator's cultivation and power, the higher the probability of infertility. They might toil diligently for one or two hundred years without necessarily conceiving offspring.
However, many cultivators, in their youth, were consumed by their cultivation and the pursuit of opportunities. Romantic relationships only served to hinder their progress. By the time they achieved great cultivation and established vast territories, they often found themselves without heirs. It was then that they wished to produce offspring to inherit their legacies, but they found themselves powerless. While other arduous tasks in the world could be outsourced for a fee, this particular matter could only be handled personally. This was a source of great suffering for many accomplished elders, who harbored deep regrets but had no one to confide in.
The efficacy of the Qi Nourishing Pill was indeed heaven-defying, but one of its primary ingredients, the Nourishing Fruit, was exceedingly rare, causing the recipe to be on the verge of extinction.
After reviewing the recipe, Xiao Fei felt confident. "It should be possible to refine it."
"Excellent, excellent! I truly did not choose the wrong person," Wei Feng exclaimed, clapping his hands.
"However, I have one more request. The pills I require this time are of great importance, and the materials are also rare. I hope you can refine a batch of high-grade pills."
"Of course, if you can refine high-grade pills, I will certainly not let you suffer any loss."
At this point, Xiao Fei was certain that Wei Feng was using this obscure recipe to test him. Since he and Huang Feifei had gained renown, he had encountered such situations frequently. Many, upon hearing of their talents, approached with skepticism, seeking to test or verify their true abilities. However, he had always disdained these sorts of probing trials. What right did these people have to test him? He did not need to beg them for anything.
"Refining high-grade pills is extremely difficult. I cannot guarantee this matter."
With Xiao Fei's current alchemy skills, high-grade pills were certainly achievable, but the exact number was uncertain. He had already planned to sell Wei Feng a mid-grade pill, keeping all the other mid-grade and high-grade pills for himself. As an alchemist, one's wealth was built upon secretly keeping a portion of the client's pills.
"Hahaha... Young friend, do not be so quick to refuse. I have here an experience of advancing to the Void Refinement stage, which is of great use even to cultivators at the Soul Transformation stage. If you refine high-grade pills, I can exchange this experience for them."
As Wei Feng spoke, he placed another jade slip on the table. This cultivation experience, from advancing from Soul Transformation to Void Refinement, was invaluable to any Soul Transformation cultivator; he did not believe Xiao Fei would be unmoved.
However, while this experience was indeed crucial for other Soul Transformation cultivators, it was largely inconsequential to Xiao Fei. He was currently suppressing his cultivation with all his might, proceeding with extreme caution, fearing that a single misstep might lead to another rapid advancement. Who could understand the difficulty and hardship he endured? For him, breaking through from the Soul Transformation to the Void Refinement stage should pose no difficulty. The only significant issue was the considerable amount of spirit stones required. Nevertheless, he decided to exchange for the jade slip, as it was merely a matter of one pill.
"Very well, I will do my best to try."
Just as Xiao Fei accepted the spiritual herbs and prepared to refine the pills, another Void Refinement stage cultivator entered the shop. This one, however, wore the Daoist robes of the Sacred Pill Sect. His small shop had suddenly attracted two great deities in one day.
"Hahaha..."
"What wind blows you here today, you old ghost Wei!"
This was the territory of the Sacred Pill Sect, and Xiao Fei and Huang Feifei had already come to their attention. Although they had not approached them before, these two were considered their prize, their food already in the pot. Food in their own pot was not to be claimed by outsiders.
"Old ghost Ouyang, your nose is quite sharp. This old man is simply here to have young friend Xiao refine a batch of pills."
It was evident that these two were acquaintances. Their banter and playful scolding concealed underlying currents, yet they remained within the framework of unity, cooperation, and mutual benefit between the two major sects.
"Young friend Xiao, proceed with the alchemy. Pay no mind to this old fellow."
With these two gods battling, Xiao Fei was eager to leave. He took the spiritual herbs and entered the secret chamber.
"With our brotherhood of thousands of years, why didn't you seek me out for alchemy? Do you look down on my alchemy skills?" Ouyang Yu's alchemy skills were among the very top tier in the entire cultivation world.
"Old ghost Ouyang, stop relying on your age. Let me ask you, what is the success rate for refining high-grade pills?"
"Old ghost Wei, don't be ungrateful. How can high-grade pills be so easily refined? To occasionally see one is already good fortune." Ouyang Yu suddenly realized something and looked in the direction Xiao Fei had departed.