The Sword God of the Universe
Chapter 516: Admission Fee

Chapter 516: Chapter 516: Admission Fee

The Pill Master that Li Xingjiu mentioned was naturally Jing Yan.

Although Jing Yan was young, his attainments in the Alchemy Dao were, in some respects, even more impressive than those of Li Xingjiu himself. At the very least, when Jing Yan had refined the Third-level Elixir that treated Mr. Zhou Tian’s Martial Arts Meridians, Li Xingjiu had been unable to do so.

The elder in the dark gold robe listened to Li Xingjiu’s words and revealed a barely noticeable smile on his face.

He evidently didn’t take much interest in Li Xingjiu’s words. Lanqu County was just a relatively small Commandery in the Heavenly Origin Continent. It was not known for having particularly strong Pill Masters. He knew Li Xingjiu was the president of the Lanqu County City Alchemist Association and also the most capable Pill Master in Lanqu County when it came to Alchemy.

However, even a Sixth-level Alchemist like Li Xingjiu was hardly noticeable within Pill Country.

How high could the attainments in the Alchemy Dao of the person recommended by Li Xingjiu be? Therefore, he didn’t hold much expectation for the individual Li Xingjiu recommended.

The man in the dark gold robe, the president of the Golden Sparrow Commerce, was named Bai Lan.

Bai Lan casually asked Li Xingjiu, "The person you’re talking about, what is his name?"

"His name is Jing Yan," replied Li Xingjiu.

"Jing Yan? I have not heard of this name before," Bai Lan shook his head. "What level Pill Master is he?"

It would be odd if Bai Lan had heard of Jing Yan. Jing Yan became famous in Lanqu County, yet Pill Country and Lanqu County were separated by more than a dozen Commandery Cities. How could Jing Yan’s name have reached Pill Country so soon? Besides, even the Lanqu County Prince wasn’t someone Bai Lan paid much attention to.

"Four years ago, he was already a Third-level Alchemist," the last time Li Xingjiu saw Jing Yan in the Prince Manor of Lanqu County, Jing Yan was indeed a Third-level Alchemist. He didn’t know whether Jing Yan had made any breakthroughs in the Alchemy Dao over these few years.

However, in Li Xingjiu’s view, with Jing Yan’s talent for the Alchemy Dao, advancing from a Third-level Alchemist to an Intermediate Alchemist in four years should not be a difficult task.

"A Third-level Alchemist?" Bai Lan frowned and showed a hint of displeasure.

A Third-level Alchemist wanting to represent Golden Sparrow Commerce in the Alchemy Ceremony? What a joke! In Pill Country, even a randomly picked Pill Master could likely be an Intermediate Alchemist of the Third-level or above.

"President, this Jing Yan was a Third-level Alchemist four years ago; with his abilities, he should have already been promoted to an Intermediate Alchemist by now. Jing Yan’s Alchemy Dao talent is extremely profound. He became a Third-level Alchemist before the age of twenty. Even within Pill Country, it is difficult to find a Third-level Alchemist so young," seeing the change in Bai Lan’s expression, Li Xingjiu quickly explained, guessing what Bai Lan might be thinking.

Hearing Li Xingjiu’s explanation, Bai Lan regained his composure and nodded. Indeed, if one became a Third-level Alchemist before turning twenty, that could be considered a genius of the Alchemy Dao. Such a genius was worth recruiting and cultivating by Golden Sparrow Commerce.

"Pill Master Li Xingjiu, are you certain that this Jing Yan will come to the Alchemy Ceremony?" Bai Lan pondered for a moment before asking.

"Yes, I’ve received news that Jing Yan and Zhou Shangyun, the Lanqu County Prince, are already on their way to Pill Country," said Li Xingjiu solemnly.

"Good! In that case, once this Jing Yan arrives in Pill Country, inform me, I’ll meet with him," Bai Lan told Li Xingjiu.

...

"Jing Yan, look, there lies Pill Country!" In the sky above, Zhou Shangyun and Jing Yan were slowly decelerating.

Zhou Shangyun pointed to a huge city atop a mountain ahead and said to Jing Yan.

Before Zhou Shangyun spoke, Jing Yan had already taken note of the unique city.

Jing Yan had departed from Lanqu County City with Zhou Shangyun, and on this journey, they crossed territories of over a dozen Commandery Cities, seeing countless cities. However, none of them were built atop a mountain. Thus, when Jing Yan saw this brooding city, it struck a chord in his heart. Immediately afterward, he heard Zhou Shangyun declare that they had reached Pill Country.

"Pill Country is indeed extraordinary," Jing Yan exclaimed.

"Of course, Pill Country is renowned throughout the entire Heavenly Origin Continent. Let’s go down; flight is not permitted within Pill Country. We’ll need to climb up on foot," Zhou Shangyun said with a smile.

At this moment, the two had been traveling for three months since leaving Lanqu County City. It took them a full three months of flying to reach Pill Country from Lanqu County City.

"To head to Pill Country from here, there is only one path that leads up. The other areas are all protected by Array Barriers. Inside Pill Country, one must not trespass recklessly. If you accidentally enter an Array, the consequences are unimaginable," Zhou Shangyun warned Jing Yan. It was Jing Yan’s first visit to Pill Country, and there was much he did not understand.

If Jing Yan trespassed, especially into some Forbidden Lands, even Zhou Shangyun, as the Lanqu County Prince, would have difficulty extricating Jing Yan. In Pill Country, his influence was not very effective.

The two continued to climb.

Along the way, they encountered many Martial Artists, some climbing up, others descending. Among these people, there were quite a few Pill Masters.

After climbing for over an hour, Jing Yan saw a massive stone gate. Before the gate stood a formation of guards clad in blue Armor. These guards exuded powerful auras, all of them Martial Artists of the Dao Spirit Realm, especially their leader, who appeared to be at the Peak Realm of the Dao Spirit Realm.

The two approached.

"Please, halt!"

The lead guard in blue Armor stretched out his hand to stop them.

"Do the two of you have the Pill Country residence permit?" The guard asked sternly, looking at both individuals.

"We are not from Pill Country," Zhou Shangyun replied.

"Foreigners who wish to enter Pill Country are required to pay an entrance fee of ten Top-grade Spirit Stones," the guard said with an impassive face.

Ten Top-grade Spirit Stones?

Jing Yan was slightly shocked inside, not expecting that entering Pill Country would entail an entrance fee—and such a steep one at that—costing ten Top-grade Spirit Stones. Ten Top-grade Spirit Stones equated to about thirty to forty thousand ordinary spiritual stones.

Although Jing Yan’s personal wealth could easily cover this amount, it was noteworthy that this was merely the entrance fee amounting to tens of thousands of spirit stones.

Tch, tch... the Controllers of Pill Country could become exceedingly wealthy just by collecting this entrance fee alone. Jing Yan couldn’t help but feel amazed.

"We are friends of Pill Master Li Xingjiu from Golden Sparrow Commerce," Zhou Shangyun said to the guard with a smile.

The guard frowned, gave Zhou Shangyun a glance, and then shook his head, saying, "Then you two will have to wait for the person you mentioned to come out and fetch you."

"We will wait a while," Zhou Shangyun said, leading Jing Yan to the side.

"Pill Master Li Xingjiu should be coming out to meet us shortly; we’ll just wait a moment," Zhou Shangyun told Jing Yan.

"Okay, no hurry," Jing Yan nodded. "Prince, do we not need to pay the entrance fee if we know someone from Pill Country?"