Ling Feng took a deep breath and looked at Yan Cangtian before saying, "Elder Yan, you're not suggesting I follow in my grandfather's footsteps and go treat some demon emperor, are you?"
"Of course not! Do you think I'm that foolish?" Yan Cangtian rolled his eyes and smirked. "Do you know how rare it is for a demon emperor to fall ill? And even if one did, why would they seek out someone with no reputation like you? They'd go for famous Daoist physicians, not you."
Ling Feng's mind went blank as he started to internally grumble.
If that's not it, why did you ramble on with all those nostalgic sighs for so long?
"Patience, young man!" Yan Cangtian chuckled, stroking his long beard. "Now, let me tell you about the last extraordinary individual who managed to infiltrate Heavenly Demon City."
Ling Feng, though slightly annoyed, nodded and said, "Fine, I'm listening."
Yan Cangtian continued with a twinkle in his eye, "This person was a genius... Well, sort of. He was a supposed genius alchemist who couldn't even reliably concoct a first-tier medicinal pill. Because of this, no one recognized him as a true alchemist. Yet..."
He paused dramatically. "This peculiar alchemist managed to create all sorts of bizarre pills. For example, there was the Qilin[1] Arm Pill that made the right arm grow disproportionately large! And then there was the infamous Manhood Explosion Pill, which... well, you can imagine the rest."
Ling Feng's lips twitched in disbelief. The world really is full of strange people.
"He often refined these odd pills, but because he couldn't perfect the basics, the Alchemist Guild refused to acknowledge him. They even banned him from using the title of alchemist to prevent him from misleading people. Frustrated, he vowed to prove himself by doing something truly extraordinary with his refinements."
"Oh?" Ling Feng leaned in, intrigued. "Did he succeed?"
"Yes, he did!" Yan Cangtian nodded. "After three years of dedicated research, he invented a pill called the Demon-Transforming Pill. This pill could imbue a human with the essence of a demon race member, making it impossible even for demon experts to tell the difference. Using this pill, he infiltrated Heavenly Demon City, snuck into their sacred land, and stole an eighth-tier demonic core from the demon ruler's tomb!
"This feat finally earned him recognition, and he was accepted into the Alchemist Guild. Even though he has since passed away, his name remains etched in the annals of the guild's history."
As Yan Cangtian narrated, Ling Feng felt a surge of inspiration and determination. "Elder Yan, are you suggesting that if I can obtain the formula for this Demon-Transforming Pill and refine it, I could use it to infiltrate the demon race's domain?"
"Exactly! With your wit and a demon's identity, you should have no trouble blending into their sacred land," Yan Cangtian said, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Ling Feng nodded thoughtfully, "It's a good plan. But Elder Yan, do you know the formula for the Demon-Transforming Pill? Is that what you've been searching for during your seclusion these past few months?"
"Pill formula?" Yan Cangtian shook his head with a wry smile. "Finding this pill formula is no easy task. Despite my extensive reading, I've only come across a few hints. It is said that the most crucial ingredient for refining the Demon-Transforming Pill is the crystal core of a thousand-year-old demonic shen[2]!"
"Crystal core?" Ling Feng was puzzled. "What exactly is a crystal core?"
"It's understandable that you don't know."
Yan Cangtian stroked his long beard. "Typically, demonic beasts begin to form a demonic core at the second tier, which holds their demonic essence. However, some demonic beasts don't have a demonic core. Instead, they develop a crystal core, a gem-like structure inside their bodies. These are usually found in shape-shifting demonic beasts, which are rare even within the demon domain. A thousand-year-old demonic shen is even rarer."
"Shape-shifting demonic beasts?" Ling Feng blinked in surprise. Although he had never heard of this term before, considering the existence of elemental life forms like Zifeng, it seemed plausible.
"Secondly, during my research, I found that the formula for the Demon-Transforming Pill might be hidden in the Alchemist Guild in the imperial capital," Yan Cangtian continued. "So, I plan to visit the guild and retrieve this formula!"
With his status, Yan Cangtian believed that even the president of the Alchemist Guild would treat him with respect.
Ling Feng's eyes sparkled with hope. If what Yan Cangtian said was true, and he could use the Demon-Transforming Pill to disguise himself as a demon, the dangers of infiltrating the demon domain would be significantly reduced.
"Elder Yan, I don't know how to thank you enough!" Ling Feng said, deeply moved.
"Save your thanks until we actually get the formula."
Yan Cangtian pursed his lips. "In the meantime, don't sit idle. I remember that Deng Xian, the General Ascendant Eagle, killed a thousand-year-old demonic shen about ten years ago. He has a habit of collecting unusual demonic beast corpses. If I'm right, the body should still be in his mansion. You'll have to find a way to either steal or negotiate for the crystal core. I won't be getting involved in this part."
Yan Cangtian had been friends with General Deng for many years. During their last encounter at the auction, Deng Xian had already done him a big favor. Yan Cangtian didn't want to exploit their friendship further by asking for the crystal core directly.
Although he was confident that Deng Xian wouldn't hesitate to help him, Yan Cangtian was unwilling to leverage their long-standing friendship for this favor.
Ling Feng, perceptive as always, immediately understood Yan Cangtian's thoughts. He had already troubled Yan Cangtian a lot, so he decided to handle this matter on his own.
After all, he had interacted with Deng Xian twice before. Despite Deng Yongshi's troublesome behavior, General Deng was a kind and respected senior. Ling Feng believed that if he explained his situation and offered fair compensation, he could obtain the crystal core.
"Alright, Elder Yan, let's split up and handle our tasks. I'll get the demonic shen's crystal core!" Ling Feng said firmly, taking a deep breath.
"Hehe, I'll wait for your good news, kid!"
Yan Cangtian clapped Ling Feng on the shoulder, stretched with a yawn, and prepared to head to the Alchemist Guild.
1. The qilin is a legendary hooved chimerical creature that appears in Chinese mythology. ☜
2. In Chinese mythology, the Clam-monster (shen or chen) is a shapeshifting dragon or shellfish-type sea monster believed to create mirages. ☜