On this side, while the Eternal Life Sect Leader was secretly scheming, worrying himself sick, Alchemist Bai Lu appeared almost overly simple-minded.

He had only one thing on his mind: to observe the elixir in Zhou Xuan’s hand.

This single Elixir—though it was only one pill—was after all a High Grade elixir. Never mind that heaven-penetrating medicinal fragrance; the moment this elixir was taken out of the furnace, a strange sight arose in the entire Ancient Soul Returning Hall—

—all the insects hiding in ravines and cracks lined up in rows and ranks, surging out like a tide. Within a radius of five zhang from Zhou Xuan, they formed an insect tide.

In other words, within five zhang around Zhou Xuan, everything still looked normal, but beyond those five zhang, it was a stretch of black and brown—the colors of the insects’ carapaces.

Besides the insect tide, the White Cicadas in Zhou Xuan’s Secret Realm were chirping "yo-yo," their tone somewhat pleading, yet also like they were in pilgrimage.

"All these insects are making pilgrimage to the elixir in my hand."

Zhou Xuan said to Alchemist Bai Lu.

Alchemist Bai Lu stared fixedly at the elixir, but no matter how he looked, he couldn’t make anything of it. He said, "Ai-ya, Mr., from the look of it, this elixir really doesn’t seem meant for humans to take. It should be an elixir prepared specifically for the Heavenly Fire Clan."

"First, it has no incense aura; second, it bears no Divine Skills aspect. I really can’t figure out what this elixir is actually for."

Old Bai Lu’s "Alchemy Knowledge" once again failed to keep up with the latest version; scratching his cheeks and neck, he couldn’t puzzle out the category of this elixir.

Aside from Old Bai Lu, there actually was someone in East Market Street who understood elixirs—Danzi, of course.

As long as Danzi saw this elixir, he would definitely be able to discern its use, type, and value.

But right now, Qing Yangyu could descend to the human world at any time. If Zhou Xuan went to consult Danzi now and happened to be spotted by the Changsheng Palace Master, that would be a truly grave crime.

Moreover, Zhou Xuan’s Alchemy time had been too short. Although he had talent and Divine Skills in Alchemy, he had never seen many elixirs before; his accumulation of knowledge about elixirs was far from sufficient—people in the Heavenly Dome knew this, and so did those in Bai Yujing.

If he were to know this strange elixir inside and out, that would naturally arouse suspicion.

Therefore, taking this elixir to ask Danzi would be worse than not asking.

Holding up the Elixir, Zhou Xuan asked Alchemist Bai Lu, "Old Bai Lu, let me just ask one thing: for every type of elixir, are the intended takers different?"

"But of course."

Alchemist Bai Lu said, "Some elixirs can only be taken by people of the Heavenly Fire Clan; some elixirs can only be taken by Heaven and Earth; some elixirs can only be taken by human world Disciples. These elixirs are called ’Clan Pills’ by Alchemists.

Of course, the vast majority of elixirs can be taken by anyone, like that Joyful Longevity Pill you refined some days ago."

"So the categorization of elixirs really is a vast and complex discipline?"

"Need you even ask? In the past, an Alchemist would spend fifty years just to get a first glimpse into the gate of Alchemy, then another fifty years to master the control of heat; only after a hundred years could he graduate.

But even to grasp the effects and categories of the vast majority of elixirs, those two hundred years would still not be enough."

Zhou Xuan asked again, "Then these ’Clan Pills’ you mentioned, since they’re restricted to some specific group, doesn’t that make them less valuable?"

According to Zhou Xuan’s business logic, a product’s value lay in how many it could serve—the more mainstream, the more valuable.

But Alchemist Bai Lu immediately shook his head like a rattle, saying, "Not so, not so. The function of Clan Pills is something other elixirs don’t have. For example, that Source Power Pill you refined for Heaven and Earth—it can increase Heaven and Earth’s Origin Power. Where else would you find such an effect in other elixirs?"

"Oh, so the effect of ’Clan Pills’ is unique?"

"Exactly. Rarity makes value. The refinement of Clan Pills relies heavily on fortune; they can’t necessarily be made every time, and this kind of Clan Pill is also hard to form—during the refining process, it’s easy for the pill to explode.

Therefore, the formation of each Clan Pill is fortune-blessed, priceless beyond words."

Alchemist Bai Lu added, "Plus, this particular Clan Pill is a special elixir of the Heavenly Fire Clan, so its value is naturally several times higher than that of ordinary elixirs of the same grade."

"So you’re saying this pill of mine is actually a good pill?"

"More than just good."

Alchemist Bai Lu pointed at the surrounding insect tide and said, "Mr., just look at those insects: ’Ten thousand insects forming a tide to worship the Immortal Pill’—this is a phenomenon recorded only in ancient texts. In recent years, I fear no one has seen such a scene."

"Then I know where I stand."

Zhou Xuan said.

"And I know where I stand as well." On the side, the Eternal Life Sect Leader also muttered to himself. With a Treasure Pill in hand, and coupled with his excellent ability to mediate and maneuver, he was sure he could guarantee Zhou Xuan’s life.

Growing more confident, he gazed in the direction of the Heavenly Dome. Just then, the figures of Qing Yangyu and Zhong Guan manifested.

"Little Changsheng, what are you looking at?"

As soon as Qing Yangyu’s words came out, the Eternal Life Sect Leader reacted like clockwork—before he even saw the figure, his waist had already bent, and his mouth started broadcasting automatically: "Little Changsheng pays respects to the Palace Master."

Only after his words fell did his gaze actually land on Qing Yangyu.

"For Master Zhou’s sake, I must take the initiative to shift the topic, to prevent a conflict between the Palace Master and Master Zhou."

After silently deciding this, the Eternal Life Sect Leader was about to open his mouth and continue, "Palace Master, about Mr. Yan’s matter, it was also his fault..."

He had just begun to speak the rhetoric he had labored over for so long when Qing Yangyu directly ignored him.

Qing Yangyu simply waved his hand and said with a smile, "It’s fine, it’s fine. That Mr. Yan—usually bullying men and women alike, abusing his power—didn’t die an unjust death.