Chapter 325

In a small house on Heart Moon Island, Yan Buji took the alchemical furnace given by a local cultivator and successfully refined a second-transformation spiritual pill.

"Congratulations, Daoist Yuejin, you have passed the Sea Sky Alliance's second-transformation alchemist examination!"

After Yan Buji walked out with the alchemical furnace and spiritual pill, handed them to the examiner for verification, his passing was announced on the spot, and he was given an official certification of second-transformation alchemist issued by the Sea Sky Alliance.

The examiner smiled, then returned the alchemical furnace and spiritual pill to Yan Buji, saying, "Daoist Yuejin, according to the alliance's rules, since you are indeed a second-transformation alchemist, this spiritual pill and alchemical furnace are both bestowed upon you."

"Thank you, thank you, the Sea Sky Alliance is truly generous—this is a second-transformation alchemical furnace, right?" Yan Buji grinned and laughed.

"Of course, but talent is what truly matters. As a second-transformation alchemist, you can freely go to the prosperous outer seas; there's no need to stay near the turbulent sea region. With this, you could join many factions."

"That works."

Yan Buji's successful completion of the assessment quickly spread throughout Heart Moon Island.

After leaving the assessment area, Yan Buji received many invitations—some asking him to help refine pills, others wanting him to join.

Indeed, with a foundation, his competitiveness is now vastly different from before.

Previously, he had to beg sects to take him in; now it's the opposite—people come seeking him.

"Please inform everyone: if you have any news about dragon-blooded beasts or spiritual materials, come find me. However, I will only stay on Heart Moon Island for one month, so I won't disturb the various masters."

Yan Buji's conditions are not small; dragon blood itself is precious, and even mixed blood is more valuable than ordinary spiritual materials.

Moreover, spiritual materials cultivated from dragon blood are even rarer—like the fifth-transformation spiritual material dragon ganoderma Yan Buji once obtained, which was so precious he stored it for a long time without daring to use it.

Still, Yan Buji has plenty of spiritual materials, though most come from Youming Jie; though their rank is low, they should also be rare in the five regions.

But since learning that Nascent Soul cultivators can also travel between the two realms, Yan Buji has no intention of using Youming Jie's spiritual materials to exchange for resources; if forced, he only releases a small amount.

"I don't know if anyone will bring good news."

Yan Buji stayed on Heart Moon Island for half a month like this before someone finally came to fetch him.

Biding his time, Yan Buji followed that servant all the way to a large manor on Heart Moon Island and took a look.

"Is this... the manor of the Heart Moon Island lord?" Yan Buji asked strangely.

The servant respectfully replied, "What Daoist Yuejin said is correct—this is indeed the manor of the Heart Moon Island lord; the master has been waiting for you a long time."

"Hmm."

Yan Buji entered with a calm expression, came to the inner hall, and saw a Golden Core cultivator.

"Ah, Daoist Yuejin honors us with your presence; I am Lord Tu Tu of Heart Moon Island, and I have awaited you here for a long time." Tu Tu bowed with a smile.

Yan Buji hastily returned the salute, saying, "Greetings, Lord Tu Tu; I don't know why you invited this poor Daoist—could it be you have found what I need?"

Tu Tu smiled, took a box from the Storage Accumulation Device, placed it on the table, and said, "Daoist Yuejin, please look."

Yan Buji walked over, sat down, and opened the box.

"Third-transformation jiao elixir?!"

Yan Buji stared—this... this is the inner elixir of a demon king–level jiao beast?!

The demon crystal and inner elixir of a demon beast are the source of its power; this inner elixir contains the jiao beast's strength and also embodies dragon blood, which would be of great help to Yan Buji.

He immediately closed the box and said solemnly, "I don't know what Lord Tu Tu requires of me."

Tu Tu sighed, "I need to refine a third-transformation spiritual pill; I wonder if Daoist Yuejin dares to try?"

"A third-transformation spiritual pill? Although I passed the second-transformation alchemist examination, I have never actually refined a third-transformation spiritual pill. Besides, with Lord Tu Tu's status, couldn't you find a better alchemist?"

Tu Tu nodded: "Indeed, but having them do it would cost too much. If you are willing to refine it, upon success I will give you this third-transformation inner elixir; if not, I will trouble you to stay on Heart Moon Island for a while."

Tu Tu's words carried an undeniable authority; Yan Buji frowned and fell silent.

Tu Tu suddenly laughed, "Daoist Yuejin, don't be afraid—I, as the island lord, merely wish to ask you to alleviate Heart Moon Island's talent drain. Naturally, provisions will be arranged to your satisfaction."

Yan Buji closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Lord Tu Tu's kindness is hard to refuse, but I still have pressing matters; I will accept the task of refining the third-transformation spiritual pill, though the spiritual materials must be prepared by you, Lord Tu Tu."

Tu Tu was stunned—he hadn't expected Yan Buji to actually dare accept.

"Of course, the spiritual materials are already ready, but there are only two batches; if you fail..."

"Then I will stay for a period of time."

"Good!"

Yan Buji took the spiritual materials and entered the alchemy room within the manor to begin refining.

After Yan Buji examined the formula and identified the materials, he couldn't help but sigh: "Lord Tu Tu is really strange—does he really need to threaten people like this?"

"Since you know he's threatening you, why still help him refine pills?" the Dragon Pattern Furnace asked.

"This old fox has two plans: he wants me to succeed and walk away with the inner elixir; if I fail, he wants me to stay. Between the lines, he just wants me to stay and work for him, but he doesn't dare to seize me directly for fear of rebellion, so he's set up this scheme." Yan Buji laughed.

"Then you..."

"His spiritual materials have a problem—the potency is insufficient; I still need a senior's help."

"That's fine, but are you sure he'll let you leave if you have the third-transformation spiritual pill?"

Yan Buji frowned: "Since he didn't immediately act to give me a choice, I'll tentatively trust his words. If I wanted to keep someone for my own work, I certainly wouldn't go to such extremes. If he truly tries to detain me by force, that would be tearing our faces apart."

Anyway, I have the Heaven Gate Law; if worst comes to worst, I can make another trip to Youming Jie and teleport back—same thing.

Yan Buji understood what Tu Tu was thinking: nothing more than wanting to use his identity, status, and strength to keep him around to work, but he didn't dare to offend too much, so he started with a probe.

After the probe, he then revealed his true intent, giving Yan Buji this difficult problem, and deliberately gave him spiritual materials with insufficient potency.

Actually, there is only one problem.

If Yan Buji were at the Golden Core stage, Tu Tu would never dare to do this.

It's just because Yan Buji has only recently arrived in the Dongxing Sea Region and hasn't had time to build his network; otherwise, even as a Golden Core island lord, he would still be a second-transformation alchemist himself.

Nevertheless, playing both sides, Yan Buji watched the Dragon Pattern Furnace finish refining the spiritual pill, then deliberately waited a night, pretending to strive hard at alchemy.

The next day, he finally took the spiritual pill to find Tu Tu.