11 New Grandparents
Xia Qingyue looked through the window at the pair of massive airships floating above Xiao Clan in the distance.
She wasn't too afraid of who these were. The girl was more anxious about the upcoming ceremony. By this point, she mentally repeated all the things that needed to be done in the ceremony.
"Young Miss, Young Master is here."
Hearing that he was here, the girl took a deep breath to control her breathing.
Why doesn't she have some sort of art that could help her to control these emotions!?
The pair of maids took both of her hands and started to lead her outside where her future husband was waiting for her.
When she saw him her eyes slightly gleamed. He was looking extra handsome today which made her smile slightly.
The moment she was in front of him the maids let her go, and this allowed her to offer her hand to him. He gently took it.
"You look extra beautiful today, Qingyue."
There was a thin blush on her cheeks as she slowly nodded.
He then proceeded to take her to the waiting carriage which he helped her to enter. Once it was done he went over and got on a feisty-looking horse.
Once this was done a small convoy started to go toward the clan.
Xia Qingyue looked at the number of people watching this convoy. She is pretty sure the entire city came to see their marriage.
After a short ride, they arrived at the Clan grounds. The beauty gulped as she sensed a multitude of extremely powerful people waiting.
She didn't expect that her future husband made this many allies.
As the carriage doors opened she walked out and Xiao Long offered his hand as she took her steps down.
The pair slowly proceeded into the main hall, where the ceremony was going to be held.
Few short moments later the ceremony proceeded.
~~~
"The girl is special. I didn't expect such a backwater place to have this many interesting things." Qu Fengyi said to her husband.
"She has a special physique, her husband will soon acquire it as well." The old man said with a knowing look.
"..."
"So even more talent to him… the longer this is going on the more I want to add him to my Palace."
The old man hummed to himself while thinking for a bit.
"No need to rush. Knowing Alchemists they will settle down after exploring for a while. At such times you can offer it to him. By that point, he will have a decent amount of experience and will know how the outside world can be dangerous."
"...Maybe… You are far too lenient with this situation."
Zi Ji frowned when he heard that.
"I want his genius to bloom. He passed all my tests so far, my worries that he will become my enemy are non-existent." He said that while stroking his beard he watched how the couple were doing their bows.
"...If you say so."
~~~
Feng Hengkong looked with a calculating gaze at the boy. He has underestimated the potential of this boy.
He was doubtful until he saw the Sovereign of the Seas attending this event.
Now, the doubt has disappeared. His goal is clear. His Empire needs this boy's talents. Those pills or whatever other ones he can make will assist his Empire to resist the Sacred Grounds.
'However, those two are like protective birds around him.'
For a second he thought to offer his daughter but such an idea quickly left. No, Feng Xue'er will be the last line of defence until then he will find some other ways.
"Ximing, watch closely, this young man is the greatest Alchemist this continent has seen for a long time." Feng Hengkong said to his son and the Crown Prince.
Though the thirty year looking prince didn't quite care. He hasn't seen anything special so far. The Crown Prince even wonders why they are here…
~~~
After the ceremony was complete Xia Qingyue was taken to Xiao Long's home while the Young Master of Xiao Clan had to deal with the guests for a while.
Though his most important guests were someone he could not delay…
The first one to approach him was the Phoenix Emperor who had been sidelined before.
"Young Man, we congratulate you on your marriage. We hope we can discuss business matters tomorrow, for now, enjoy your special day." After saying that the Emperor of the Divine Phoenix Empire left him alone.
After him, it was the pair from Sacred Grounds once again he got congratulated, and told him that they wish to speak with him tomorrow.
Once the most important guests were gone he could relax slightly and went to see his relatives.
One of the more amusing parts is that he is closer to his grandfather than his actual parents. He barely knows a thing about who his mother is and who his father is.
Funny enough he knows the numbers. His father is the second son of Xiao Li and his mother is like the third wife…
That's the weirdness in the whole quantity thing one lives in a Clan.
Like last time Xiao Long compares this to an ant colony.
"That's quite a scare you put us through, cousin!"
Quickly enough the Young Master was surrounded by his average cousins and the group started to talk about some random stuff.
Mostly about Sacred Grounds, Phoenix Empire, and the Black Moon Merchant Guild.
After the cousins, it was the elders who said a couple of words.
Once everything was said around forty minutes had passed and Xiao Long decided that it was enough to waste time and it was time to see his wife.
As he arrived at his room, Xia Qingyue's maid left with a friendly smile on her lips. There was a thin blush on her cheeks.
It was a similar situation with Xiao Lingxi when she first became his maid.
As he entered his room he saw his wife waiting patiently for him.
"My apologies for making you wait this long… several guests were waiting for me to talk with them." He said with a sigh.
"...Qingyue understands." The beauty said with a calm tone as she slowly stood up and faced him.
Xiao Long walked over to her side. He could feel the beauty radiating with excitement. He slowly lifted his hands and removed her phoenix coronet.
He could finally see her face.
"Someone happy~"
"Un. Qingyue has been waiting for this day for years~" The girl said with a happy tone.
As she said that both of his hands went up and stroked her cheeks.
He slightly chuckled at how excited she was about this. The girl closed her eyes and waited for him to kiss her…
~~~~~~Next Morning~~~~~~
Since I had a bunch of big shot guests, I could not be lazy and spend the morning in my bed with my wife. Not that she was awake in the first place. The beauty was deeply asleep.
So, I sneaked out the bed, dressed up, and went outside. The first thing I did was to refine the Vital Yin I got from Xia Qingyue.
The energy was unique as the moment I refined something started to happen in the Dantian. Something was forming. The whole of my body adjusted to this thing.
Eventually, a separate world formed inside of it. What is incredible is that my cultivation increased by a whole small stage.
By the time of the wedding, I was halfway to [Eight of Spirit Profound] but, once I refined her vital yin I had a breakthrough.
That's some potency…
After a few more circulations, I got up from the ground and cleaned myself up with Profound Energy.
Time to talk with the guests.
When I walked to my grandfather's quarters, I sensed two insanely powerful beings were there… I don't need to look, they show themselves where they are. Like a beacon at nighttime, you can find them just by trying to sense something.
The heaviness of the Profound Energy is warping space around them.
As I entered I saw the pair of Sovereigns drinking tea with my grandfather who was less stuffy than yesterday.
"Long'er you finally awake. Where is your wife?"
I looked embarrassed for a moment.
"She is sleeping. I let her rest."
"Good. It seems you are taking your duties seriously." The one who said this was the Sovereign of the Seas… Heavens… are all women crazy in this place? Lingxi killed Yulong with a punch and then cried like a waterfall, then Qingyue tried to prove something in the bed before passing out… now the strongest woman in Profound Sky Continent is telling me that I should fuck women until they pass out…
Goddamn, this place is strange…
Regardless, I nodded at her before walking over and taking my seat.
"Since you are are here young man it's time for us to give you the gifts."
"Gifts?"
"Your wedding gifts. I have prepared something special." As the old man said I could feel some sort of competition brewing between those two.
The old man waved his hand, his purple ring glowed and several beautiful boxes appeared in front of him on the table.
"I have a recipe book of pills of Profound Sky Continent. It's a copy of a book compiled by Black Moon Merchant Guild. You won't find a bigger recipe book on this continent.
While these boxes here hold Profound cores. A single Tyrant Core, 3 Emperor Profound cores, and 10 Sky Profound cores."
For a second my brain stopped working.
Did he just hand me over a Tyrant's core!?!?
*Hmph*
"Not bad. Though my gifts are better for his Profound Way." The woman snapped me out of my shock.
This time she waved her hand and a much smaller set of exquisite boxes appeared.
"These are a set of Pills made by my Supreme Ocean Palace. It will help you to cultivate to reach [Emperor Profound] or even [Tyrant Profound] depending on your Profound Entrances.
On top of this, I have 1000-year-old Blood ginseng. It will strengthen your blood and vitality."
Holy fuck…these two are nuts as well…
"...My thanks… but isn't this too much?"
"...Don't think much about this young man. Black Moon Guild and Supreme Ocean Palace have extremely strong foundations such gifts are nothing more than a drop of water in a bucket." Zi Ji said to me with a smile.
Well, if he says it's fine…
"We are more interested to see how you do your art. Care to show?"
"Of course, I will do that. But first I need to speak with the Phoenix Emperor. I assume he has some orders for me."
The lady rolled her eyes. It appears she doesn't think too much about the Phoenix Empire.
"Yes. My guild was only able to sell 30 of your pills to his Imperial family."
I nodded to the old man's explanation. It appears the Empire was not that lucky, my maid has more pills than his whole family.
"I see. That's not that much."
~~~
A few more minutes later I ended up face-to-face with the Phoenix Emperor.
The Ruler of the biggest empire didn't hold back with his gifts, though they pale in comparison to what the couple gave me.
Some fire-related pills and fruits, some materials for pill-making, and cleansing water for Profound Entrances.
This makes me wonder if I could incorporate water into alchemy making. It's kind of an interesting thought.
"My thanks, Your Majesty."
"Think nothing of it. Now, since everything is out of the way, can we discuss the trade deal I wish to make with you?"
"Indeed. Though I assume Black Moon guild will take care of the logistics for the delivery?" I said that while looking at Zi Ji AND his wife sitting next to him. They were part of the meeting.
"Indeed." He said with not that happy of a look. I assume this is how he was able to move the old man.
"I wish to buy your Profound Sensitivity pills and vitality pills in bulk."
"I understand. My question is do you want the previous edition or the newer edition as I kept on upgrading the pills and the variants?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Can I see them in person?"
"Sure. Let's go to the warehouse."
"Warehouse?"
I nodded and got up from the seat. The trio followed after me.
I swiftly took them to the warehouse.
~~~~~~Feng Hengkong~~~~~~
Feng Hengkong looked at the rows of pills, then there were some pills piled on a mountain and some pills in wooden bowls.
There were some which he had never seen before. Like the white pill, the orange pill…
"My original pills are quite easy to make, though their effects are not as great."
"Yes. It only lasts a minute in [Sovereign Profound]." The Sovereign of the Seas said from the back she was looking around as well.
"I see. Well, when I was making them I wasn't using Catalyst grass."
"Catalyst Grass?" The Leader of the Merchant guild asked curiously.
"Yes."
The boy pulled out regular-looking grass. This made the trio look confused.
"That's regular grass…"
"Not quite. It stores Profound energy in the most neutral form, in the refining process of the pill, the catalyst essence is used to reinforce the sensitivity essence."
"...But such a process… how sensitive is your fire control!?" Feng Hengkong asked with an utterly shocked look. He is the one with Phoenix blood here! For his family to use fire is like breathing!
"I suppose, a demonstration is in order, as I can't just explain."
The trio nodded at him. Seeing how Phoenix Emperor reacted made the couple very interested.
The alchemist boy called forth his fire, and a stream of flames rushed at the stacks of grass and picked a single one up, it swiftly melted into liquid form before picking up a single catalyst grass.
The pair of essences moulded together becoming a dark salad pill.
The flame current brought the pill into Xiao Long's hand. Once there another flame started to burn the pill.
Its extremely light orange colour, lighter than Phoenix flames…
"...What is this fire!?"
"Oh, this? Its purification flames. It removes impurities, I use them to improve the quality of my pills."
"Here you go." he handed over a familiar salad green pill.
It was still warm…
'This boy… he is a genius! And he doesn't even have Phoenix blood! His flame control is even better than Xue'er's!'
Feng Hengkong just had his whole world turned upside down!
Now he is certain what Zi Ji said. This genius… it's absurd…this was where his greed started to surface…
He needs this boy in his Empire immediately!
"...Incredible…though how did you form the purifying flames? I never heard of such a form of fire." He asked the boy.
"It's from purifying grass. One day I was exploring the mountainside and saw a water stream. In some parts of it the stream was slow and the water started to look muddy, but this grass made the water around it look extremely pure."
"So, I picked it up and started to repeat what the grass' profound energy is doing. The process was long. I would submerge myself in water with this grass and try to feel the energy with my whole body.
Eventually, I was able to use the energy just like the grass, and soon after I made it into flames."
"...Genius!" The Sovereign of the Seas said with an excited tone.
"Utterly genius!"
"Young Man! I have decided! I want you to be my successor!"
Feng Hengkong snapped his gaze at the Leader of the Supreme Ocean Palace.
What did he just witness!?
"And I won't take 'no' for the answer!" The woman said with a serious tone.
"...Um…are you sure? I mean…I just like making things…"
"Yes, I am very sure."
"...And…will I be able to continue to do things the way they are?"
"I insist that you do." She said with a serious nod.
"...Then I don't see any reason why I should decline such an offer."
'Heavens… So the boy is now the Young Master of the Supreme Ocean Palace… Now many years have passed…'
The Phoenix Emperor realised that the political landscape just reshuffled in the Profound Sky Continent!
"Wonderful!" The Sovereign of the Seas exclaimed with an elated tone.
"...Um…so, can we get back to the pills?"
"Of course!"
"Great…so umm…where was I…" The boy looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Oh right… the sensitivity pill. I have around 300 of them ready to be shipped. These are the improved version, and I have around 500 of the previous version of the pill. These should be good for people with lower cultivation."
'3-3-300…Heavens…is he mad…how fast is he making them!?'
For a moment the Phoenix Emperor was wondering if his treasury could keep up…
"Now, the vitality pill, this is something I have been working on recently…"
He pulled out two pills, one was light brown other one was orange.
"...This… you haven't sold the orange one…" Zi Ji said with a curious tone.
"Yes. It's quite a recent addition. I used the Desert flower you sent me."
"...You were able to use it?" The shocked tone of the old man got the Phoenix Emperor and the Sovereign of the Seas curious.
"Yes. I needed to improve my fire to melt it into essence, it was a challenge. I hope I get some more materials that are hard to use in the future."
"Don't worry we will find some for you." The Leader of the Supreme Ocean Palace said with a tranquil but happy tone.
"Glad to hear. Now for the pill's effects. It's an improved version of the previous vitality pill. It permanently increases vitality. It works even above [Elementary Profound]. It's a superior version as the boost is not temporary. In truth, you can only use three of these as after that you won't get any sort of effect.
If you give these to [Elementary Profound] they should finish the whole realm in just a few short months. It boosts vitality, strength, and life force."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"How many do you have of these?" The Phoenix Emperor asked with a cough.
