Chapter 871: To Please the Client

To do business, one must act like one is doing business; Xiao Yan is fair in his dealings. Though these three men's factions sent people into the Dou Qi Continent to seize the Dimensional Embryo, and even later dispatched troops to attack the Dou Qi Continent,

such actions are quite normal in the cultivation world, and since this was an attempted crime that ended in capture, Xiao Yan is not unwilling to release them—if the conditions are right, he can free the prisoners.

Of course, the condition must be attractive enough for Xiao Yan.

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's demand, ShangGuanYan's eyelids twitched violently—how dare you even think of the Dimensional Embryo!

As Xiao Yan finished speaking, SuGong, seated on the wooden chair, let out a cold smirk, his silence heavy with the condescension of a superior.

"Hmm," ShangGuanYan replied, a forced, helpless expression crossing his face as he sighed, "Heavenly Venerable of Yan, you don't understand—even the Great Thousand Palace's Execution Demon Hall, funded by donations from all major factions across the Great Thousand World and capable of exchanging Execution Demon Points for rare treasures, does not possess the Dimensional Embryo."

The Immortal Emperor was no fool; when he founded the Great Thousand Palace, he understood that hollow slogans—honor, reputation, protecting the world—were useless without material incentives.

So he issued threats, demanding that the Divine Tribes donate vast quantities of treasures, cultivation methods, and divine technique scrolls to the Great Thousand Palace. With generous rewards, brave men would emerge to guard against invasions from the Domain Beyond.

But this method could not remain effective forever, especially after the Immortal Emperor's death, when the Great Thousand Palace had no ruler, only the Chief Elder—now Execution Demon King Qin Tian—temporarily managing it.

Qin Tian is not the Great Thousand Palace's ruler for a simple reason: he is nowhere near as powerful as the former Immortal Emperor, even though he is a Sage Emperor. He is still far from being the greatest in the Great Thousand World.

Thus, the Great Thousand Palace now relies solely on ancient relics and donations from major factions after each Great Thousand Alliance concludes, to sustain its Execution Demon Point exchange system.

But these so-called donations have dwindled over time; the Divine Tribes and super-factions have grown accustomed to peace, many even believing the Domain Beyond can no longer invade the Great Thousand World, so they now sweep only their own thresholds, secretly enriching themselves.

Forget the Dimensional Embryo—there are no longer good elixirs, weapons, or legacies left; what remains are either broken or require special cultivation conditions.

Hence, ShangGuanYan's helplessness upon hearing Xiao Yan wanted the Dimensional Embryo.

"No Dimensional Embryo at all?" Xiao Yan was startled. To a Lower Plane, the Dimensional Embryo is priceless—the most treasured thing in a Lower Plane, even the Domain Beyond sends Demon Emperors or entire tribes to fight over it.

But the Domain Beyond has thirty-two great tribes, each with countless branches, plus innumerable minor tribes, and the Demon Emperor is merely the leader of a minor tribe.

For both the Domain Beyond and the Great Thousand World, the universe holds countless Lower Planes—how could there be no Dimensional Embryos? Isn't the Dimensional Embryo like a pill capable of breaking through to Supreme? How can the Great Thousand Palace, which governs the entire Great Thousand World, not even have a SpiritualPill?

Is this ridiculous?!

Xiao Yan wanted the Dimensional Embryo for a simple reason: to give it to Xun Er, Xiao Yixian, and others—they were nearing the peak of Earth Supreme, and needed the Dimensional Embryo. Xiao Yan was planning ahead.

"Is your Great Thousand Palace this poor?" Xiao Yan muttered.

Hearing Xiao Yan slight the Great Thousand Palace, SuGong could no longer stay silent—he snorted coldly, "Hmph! What right do you, a man from a Lower Plane, have to slander the Great Thousand Palace? Had the Immortal Emperor not founded the Great Thousand Palace and fought to the death against the Domain Beyond, your Lower Plane would have been conquered long ago!"

Xiao Yan froze—he was merely stating facts, not slandering the Great Thousand Palace. Why the sudden anger?

"Cough, cough, SuGong, you're overreacting," ShangGuanYan interrupted, then apologized to Xiao Yan: "Apologies—his family was destroyed during a Domain Beyond invasion a millennium ago. He was saved by the Great Thousand Palace's Execution Demon Masters, so he's emotionally stirred."

Xiao Yan waved his hand, not caring much about such minor matters. He had assumed the Great Thousand World and the Domain Beyond had always coexisted peacefully—apparently, small-scale wars still erupted occasionally.

"These are trivialities. I know your Great Thousand Palace, but Xiao Yan has never received any favor from you. To release JingAnOldImmortal and the other two just because you're from the Great Thousand Palace? Impossible." Xiao Yan knew JingAnOldImmortal and the others were Execution Demon Masters who had bled for the Great Thousand Palace.

But what does that have to do with Heavenly Venerable of Yan?

"I'm sitting here calmly negotiating with you because I respect the Great Thousand Palace. With ordinary people, I wouldn't be this polite." Xiao Yan spoke slowly.

SuGong's face darkened—he rose from his seat, his spiritual energy surging.

"Don't think your chance to strike comes because I'm wounded," Xiao Yan sipped his tea, calm and composed: "Your Great Thousand Palace has indeed contributed greatly to eliminating the Domain Beyond and is a faction that defends the people. But if you're wise, don't provoke me. Otherwise, I won't give you face—even if the Immortal Emperor crawled out of his coffin, it wouldn't matter."

A slow stream of Soul Force surged from Xiao Yan's body, causing the meteor fragment to tremble slightly, cracks appearing across its surface.

Feeling the formidable power still hidden within Xiao Yan, ShangGuanYan's expression changed slightly. Xiao Yan was warning them: don't even think of attacking—he may be wounded, but he's not someone to be bullied.

SuGong, weaker still, grew even more grim—he had considered pressuring Xiao Yan into releasing the prisoners, but now, sensing that overwhelming Soul Force, he had no confidence.

"Don't act rashly," ShangGuanYan's voice rang out again, signaling him to sit.

SuGong, standing, silently obeyed and sat down without a word.

"That's better," Xiao Yan smiled.

Even ShangGuanYan was speechless at Xiao Yan's words. Xiao Yan's strength was formidable, but he was still only a Spirit Rank Heavenly Venerable—even if he rivaled a Xianpin Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun, he was still only Xianpin Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun. The Great Thousand Palace had Sage Emperors!

This was outrageously arrogant—so arrogant it made ShangGuanYan want to scream.

After a moment's thought, ShangGuanYan spoke again, abandoning all other topics: "Heavenly Venerable of Yan, we came here with sincerity."

With a soft hum, ShangGuanYan retrieved an object from Space and placed it on the table—a scroll, its surface etched with a butterfly, lifelike, as if dancing mid-flight.

"Hmm? This is… a Pill Formula?" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke slowly: "You've clearly done your homework."

ShangGuanYan smiled. When Xiao Yan had forced the Xuan Shi Emperor into the Domain Beyond, he had drawn the Great Thousand World's attention—and they had investigated him thoroughly, learning he was not only powerful in cultivation but also an Alchemist, already at the peak of Grandmaster Alchemist.

ShangGuanYan continued: "This is the ShenghuaPill—a formula created by a Heavenly Venerable of ancient times named Lingdie Xianpin Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun."

"Lingdie Xianpin Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun?" Xiao Yan frowned—he had never heard the name.

"This Lingdie Xianpin Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun was famed for her pill alchemy. Though she was only a Spirit Rank Heavenly Venerable, the elixirs she crafted were highly praised even by Sage Emperors," ShangGuanYan said.

"Oh?" Xiao Yan's interest stirred. Though ShangGuanYan's words likely contained exaggeration, at minimum, Lingdie Xianpin Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun was a Spirit Rank Grandmaster Alchemist—possibly even Xianpin Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun Zhenzun.

"This formula is her masterpiece: the Shenghua Pill. It reaches the level of Spiritual Pill. After consumption, the user enters a wondrous state of Enlightenment and sublimation, randomly elevating one cultivated Divine Technique by one tier—even ordinary supreme Divine Techniques can be upgraded."

"A pill that enhances the rank of a Divine Technique?!" Even Xiao Yan was startled.

In the language of the Dou Qi Continent, this meant one pill could advance a Dou Technique from beginner to minor mastery, minor mastery to major mastery, or major mastery to perfection.

A pill that increases skill proficiency!

Such an effect was unheard of on the Dou Qi Continent.

Though Xiao Yan's expression remained unchanged, his mind grew grave—he, as an Alchemist, understood the true significance of the "ShenghuaPill."

Its real power was not merely a minor rank boost—it enabled the user to enter a state of sublimated Enlightenment, and that state was the core.

Xiao Yan had been in the Great Thousand World for a long time, never cultivating any Divine Technique, relying instead on his old tricks, letting his Dou Techniques evolve to adapt, or using the Dou Po Cang Qiong Body to elevate his techniques by a major tier.

But after his battle with Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, Xiao Yan wanted to learn one technique: Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's Fire Scripture Divine Technique—the Taiji Fire Disc!

The Fire Scripture was unique—it had no fixed rank; the stronger the Strange Flame, the stronger the technique. Like the Buddha Fury Lotus: with twenty-four Strange Flames, it matched the Fire Scripture's level; reduce the flames, and its rank dropped.

The Buddha Fury Lotus was a wide-area explosion, while the Taiji Fire Disc was more like a slicing strike—each had its use.

Xiao Yan had been troubled over how to steal it. Though he now possessed the Five Elemental Divine Fire, stealing it wasn't simple. But with the ShenghuaPill, it might not be difficult at all.

Of course, as Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan understood negotiation.

His expression remained calm, showing no great delight, yet not cold indifference either—four parts calm, three parts surprise, two parts satisfaction, one part casualness.

"I can't deny the SpiritualPill formula is intriguing, but exchanging it for three Heavenly Venerables? That's hardly enough." Xiao Yan tapped his fingers on the table—he neither refused nor accepted the Great Thousand Palace's offer.

Xiao Yan's meaning was clear: he could make concessions, but not too many; this single Pill Formula was not enough.

Hearing Xiao Yan show interest in the Pill Formula, ShangGuanYan breathed a sigh of relief—at least there was still room to negotiate, and Pill Formulas were too unique, especially Heavenly Venerable-level ones; how many Grandmaster Alchemists could there possibly be?

Know that the Spirit Butterfly Alchemist had died fifty thousand years ago, and the Pill Formulas she had contributed were still not fully redeemed.

"Hehe, I wonder what else the Heavenly Venerable of Yan finds unsatisfactory? This is no ordinary Elixir of the Spirit Butterfly Alchemist; though merely a Spiritual Pill of Heavenly Venerable rank, it rivals a Heavenly Venerable Immortal Elixir." ShangGuanYan haggled.

"One Pill Formula is not enough. Very well—if you can provide the complete legacy of the Spirit Butterfly Alchemist, I will exchange it with your Great Thousand Palace." Xiao Yan smiled slightly, demanding the full legacy of a Grandmaster Alchemist.

Upon hearing this, ShangGuanYan let out a bitter laugh: "Heavenly Venerable of Yan, you may not know—the Spirit Butterfly Alchemist has perished, and she perished on the Sacred Abyss Continent. That region was once the main Battlefield between the Great Thousand World and the Domain Beyond demons; even now, many Domain Beyond demons enter it seeking the Demon Emperor's legacy. It is a deadly place. Even our Great Thousand Palace does not possess the Spirit Butterfly Alchemist's complete legacy."

In ancient times, the Sacred Abyss Continent was one of the decisive battlegrounds between the Great Thousand World and the Domain Beyond demons.

Thus, countless powerful beings had perished within the Sacred Abyss Continent—even Supreme beings and Demon Emperors numbered more than a dozen. Countless legacies, Divine Techniques, and Sacred Artifacts were lost there. Over these ten thousand years, some fortunate souls had stumbled upon extraordinary legacies and risen from obscurity to sudden fame.

In ancient times, the Sacred Abyss Continent was first seized by the Domain Beyond demons; though now taken from them, the Domain Beyond demons still secretly controlled certain Space Channels allowing entry into this land.

Their purpose in entering the Sacred Abyss Continent was identical to that of many powerhouses from the Great Thousand World: during the ancient great war, numerous top-tier Domain Beyond demons also perished here.

Thus, the Domain Beyond demons who entered the Sacred Abyss Continent sought the legacies of those fallen top-tier beings, aiming to strengthen themselves.

Due to all these reasons, the Sacred Abyss Continent had become a convergence point between the Great Thousand World and the Domain Beyond demons; whenever powerhouses from both sides met within it, they would inevitably fight to the death—it was a place of great peril.

"Sacred Abyss Continent?" Xiao Yan silently memorized the name, his expression unchanged: "Then I can do nothing for you. I cannot afford to lose so much."

"Wait—has the Heavenly Venerable of Yan ever heard of the DragonPhoenixHeavenlyEmperorPill?"

【The DragonPhoenixHeavenlyEmperorPill was the Elixir Xiao Yan gave to the War Emperor of the West Heaven, helping Mu Chen secure the title of Continent's Chosen.】

(End of Chapter)