Chapter 381: Otherworldly Alliance

Golden Light Coral Realm.

Yan Buji does not come often; most of the time he leaves his subordinates to trade with the shark people here, and the Dragon People have never come here either, conducting transactions in the sea region.

When Yan Buji arrived, he was summoned inside and directly met the shark‑people queen Ruyin.

Yan Buji laughed, "Ruyin Daoist friend, I am only here to purchase some Spiritual Material; no need to be so formal."

Ruyin smiled lightly; a faint gentleness appeared on her elegant, noble face. The sentiment was not aimed at anyone in particular, but Yan Buji could tell at a glance that it was deliberate.

"Yan Daoist friend has been away for many days, only recently thought of returning, which makes this queen miss you greatly."

"Oh?" Yan Buji looked puzzled. "I haven't interacted much with Daoist friends; why such a fuss, Ruyin Daoist friend?"

"You…," Ruyin rolled her eyes at Yan Buji, then said, "Even considering a Daoist friend's status, one should be formal. This time you come, is there any special Spiritual Material you need?"

"I'm just looking to purchase a batch of Sea‑Heart Stones."

"Sea‑Heart Stones?" the shark‑people queen was a bit bewildered, instinctively thinking Yan Buji sought some extraordinary Spiritual Material, but the nearby guard Luo Luo whispered, reminding her, and she recalled:

"Is it that First‑Tier Spiritual Material? Just for this?"

"Yes, I need a large quantity; I wonder how much the shark people have in surplus?"

"Let this queen inquire for a moment…" Immediately, Ruyin called several shark people over.

"This is the Dragon People king, Yan Buji Daoist friend, who specially comes to purchase a batch of Sea‑Heart Stones; how many does the tribe have?"

"Reporting to the queen, Sea‑Heart Stones are rarely needed, only about three thousand jin." The shark person below bowed and replied.

Ruyin nodded, "Yan Daoist friend, is that enough?"

Yan Buji calculated, shook his head, "Not enough; at least fifty thousand jin."

"Fifty thousand?" the nearby shark person was stunned and exclaimed.

Ruyin frowned, "Then go mine it. However, Yan Daoist friend, since it will take some time to extract, why not stay here for a while and have a relaxed talk with this queen?"

"Oh?"

Yan Buji didn't understand why she so bluntly kept him, but he nodded and bowed, "Since you warmly invite, I shall trouble you for a while longer."

When the surrounding people left, Yan Buji sat aside and asked, "Ruyin Daoist friend, may I know what you wish to discuss?"

"No rush for now, Yan Daoist friend, do you know the Snow People?"

"Snow People?!" Yan Buji frowned, "Are they coming here?"

"Indeed, this queen also did not expect the Snow People to arrive so early; perhaps the matters of the Dragon People cannot be hidden."

"Thank you for the information, Daoist friend; I wonder what relation the Snow People have with the shark people?" Yan Buji asked.

Ruyin thought for a moment and explained, "To put it simply, although we are Otherworldly Race, our relations with the demon races are not good. The Snow People drifted from the northern icy region, retaining relatively intact strength, and have developed a treasured land. Moreover, an ancient patriarch of the Harmonized Dao era resides there, so demonic beasts do not easily trouble them. Most Otherworldly Race in the Dongxing Sea Region live within the Winter Ocean, naturally seeking the Snow People's protection. The Snow People, however, have established an Otherworldly Alliance; by paying a certain amount of resources each year they receive protection, and thus there are few demonic beasts nearby."

"However, the Dragon People have just emerged and have not yet received recognition from the Otherworldly Alliance. Although the shark people are nearby, if the lurking demon races here discover them, they probably cannot avoid joining the Alliance. This queen's idea is to take this opportunity to recommend the Dragon People into the Alliance."

"I see, thank you, Daoist friend. But since the Snow People have such strength, the annual resource tribute must not be a small amount, right?" Yan Buji asked.

Ruyin frowned, "Indeed. However, we are fine; the Golden Light Coral Realm protects the Snow People so they dare not be forcibly taken, but the Dragon People are different…"

"At worst we retreat to the Boundless Sea Trench and find another way," Yan Buji laughed.

"I see, then you must have your own considerations; this queen will say no more."

At that point, Ruyin suddenly produced a pill formula, flicked it toward Yan Buji, and said, "Daoist friend, take a look."

Hm?

Yan Buji held the formula, examined it carefully: "Is this… a fragment formula? Looking at its effect… could it be for countering Mutant Force?"

Yan Buji previously did not understand, but now can infer the formula's purpose from the properties, and even a fragment formula can be roughly completed with professional training.

However, this formula's quality is absurdly high; it even uses Six‑Transform Immortal Material!

Yan Buji surmised that this is at least a Six‑turn Celestial Pill formula.

Because if it were a Fivefold Transformation formula, at most one Six‑Transform Immortal Material would serve as the main ingredient; this alchemical technique is called using a higher to control a lower. It means the pill is primarily brewed with the potency of Six‑Transform Immortal Material, without adding other properties, while the remaining Spiritual Materials assist the refinement, resulting in a Fivefold Transformation pill that carries Six‑Transform Immortal Material's potency, making it easier to swallow.

But a Six‑turn Celestial Pill, even a Nascent Soul cultivator, once obtained, would not part with it for daily practice; it is likely only used in a desperate breakthrough.

Only cultivators beyond the Transforming Spirit stage would choose a Six‑turn Celestial Pill as a daily auxiliary, because ordinary spiritual pills are already ineffective for them.

For example, Yan Buji asked a priest; he knows some alchemy but not much. He also knows that most Nascent Soul cultivators at most use Fivefold Transformation spirit pills as assistance, and thus scour resources to purchase Fivefold Transformation spirit pills.

So upon seeing this formula, Yan Buji guessed it might be a fragment formula for a Six‑turn Celestial Pill, specifically targeting Mutant Force.

Ruyin looked at Yan Buji in surprise: "That's not wrong; this pill can indeed grant a person a sudden surge of Spiritual Qi to some extent."

"Then it seems not?" Yan Buji wondered.

After all, his knowledge of Celestial Material is limited, and he never had the chance to become familiar with it.

"This is a Bao Long Zengyuan Pill formula, but it's a fragment."

"Bao Long Zengyuan Pill… I think I've heard of it; it's the upgraded Six‑turn version of the Ancient Zengyuan Pill, right?" Yan Buji exclaimed.

"Since you know about the Ancient Zengyuan Pill, are you confident you can complete and brew this formula?"

"This…" Yan Buji looked odd, "Daoist friend, perhaps you think too highly of me; I am only a Three‑turn Alchemist. Even if I've heard of it, I'm just a Three‑turn Alchemist. Not to mention brewing, even completing this formula is probably beyond me."

"Can't you?... Then Daoist friend, do you have any ideas?"

Yan Buji sensed Ruyin might urgently need this formula, recalled the Ancient Zengyuan Pill's brewing method, and said:

"It may also require a kind of Heavenly‑Earth Spiritual Fire, supplemented with Yin‑Yang dual‑nature Spiritual Material for brewing."

"Heaven‑Earth Spiritual Fire? Yin‑Yang dual nature?!" Ruyin's eyes lit up.

These words are exactly what that master said!