Master Fengzi and Supreme Elder Qi Hongtian starer at the barbarian's departing figure. They felt slightly jealous of the Demon Crystal that he got from Jiu Shen. Although they were not body enhancers, they could still use the Demon Crystal as an ingredient for refining pills. It was a very rare ingredient and it was capable of enhancing a refined pill's efficacy with its abundant energy.
'What a lucky guy!' They muttered in their hearts.
Without turning his head back, Jiu Shen gestured for the two olf men to sit down as he said. "Sit."
Supreme Elder Qi Hongtian and Master Fengzi glanced at each other before they bowed at Jiu Shen while respectfully greeting. "Greetings, master."
The two old men then sat down across Jiu Shen with expectant looks.
Jiu Shen glanced at them with a calm look and said. "You both might be curious as to why I changed my mind and accepted you as my disciples."
Master Fengzi remained silent, while Supreme Elder Qi Hongtian nodded his head lightly. They were indeed curious as to why Jiu Shen suddenly accepted them when he had rejected them countless times. They thought that he was moved by their resolve, but that did not seem to be the case when they saw his indifferent eyes scanning them.
"In fact, I have already stated that your talents are nothing worthy in my eyes. In the place where I come from, even an outer disciple of a low-rank sect has much better talent than you guys added together. Do you know what that means? That means the both of you are not even qualified to enter a low-rank sect in that place." Jiu Shen's tone was calm and unhurried, but his words were like multiple bombs exploding beside the old men's ears.
Just what kind of place did Jiu Shen come from?!
They gulped audibly as surprise covered their aged faces.
"Master... Where..." Master Fengzi suddenly closed his mouth when he saw Jiu Shen gesturing him to remain silent.
"In the place where I came from, Alchemy Saints are abundant. It is also the lowest requirement needed before one could join the Divine Alchemy Pavilion, the holy land for alchemists." Jiu Shen paused and looked straight into their eyes. He could see the dumbfounded looks of the two which made them look a bit silly.
"Alchemy Saints are abundant and it is just the lowest requirement? This..." Supreme Elder Qi Hongtian muttered with a shocked expression.
Master Fengzi was speechless and he could not even utter a single word after hearing what Jiu Shen said.
"I'm not exaggerating at all. That place is called the Primordial God Realm. It is a world ruled by Immortals and Goddesses. With your current skills and cultivation levels, the both of you could only become slaves or servants of the wealthy nobles." Jiu Shen added with a stern look.
Upon hearing that, the faces of the two old men turned grim. If anyone else said this, they would have surely laughed it off, but the man in front of them was Jiu Shen and he was not someone who casually jokes around.
'Is there really such a world?' They thought.
"Master, if that world is so great, then why are you here?" Supreme Elder Qi Hongtian asked curiously. If his master came from such a place, how come he left from there?
Master Fengzi was similarly curious, so he waited for Jiu Shen to speak.
Jiu Shen's expression remained tranquil when he heard that. His indifferent eyes were glued into Qi Hongtian's face, making the latter flinch. The old man felt a chill ran down his spine upon seeing that pair of golden eyes. The depths of Jiu Shen's gaze was like a bottomless void, frightening and cold.
"You don't want to know. Trust me." Jiu Shen uttered coldly.
Supreme Elder Qi Hongtian immediately shut his mouth when he heard Jiu Shen's icy voice.
"I said all these things not to mock you, but to tell you that there is always a taller mountain out there. With my teachings, although you won't become peak-rank alchemists, you should still be able to reach the heights that are unattainable for others in Nuar. However, because of your meager talents, you have to work much harder than everyone. Are you prepared to exhaust yourself into bitterly refining pills to reach such heights?" Jiu Shen asked as he eyed the two with a solemn gaze.
The two old men turned serious upon seeing Jiu Shen's look. They felt that something was amiss from his words, but the thought of breaking away from their shackles was just too tempting for them to pass on. In the end, the both of them nodded their heads as they answered in unison.
"Yes, master! We are willing!"
Jiu Shen smirked in his heart. Now, he did not have to worry about refining low-level pills...
* * *
A day later.
The soldiers led by Defender Duanmu killed the remaining members of the Xue Family. The son of their supreme elder, Xue Tong was also captured and would be beheaded in public to serve as a warning for others.
The news sent everyone into a frenzy. A huge noble family like the Xue Family was obliterated just like that. Not even a cat or dog survived the rage of the Silver Wing Empire's soldiers!
"When will that traitor, Xue Tong, be beheaded? I want to see the look on his face in his moment of death! Hmph!"
"Too bad I could not kill him personally! His Xue Family actually colluded with those crazy bastards from the Undying Corpse Sect! So hateful!"
"I heard that the Silveria Imperial Family is doing this on purpose."
"What do you mean? Come on! Don't keep us in suspense! Goddammit!"
"I heard from a wandering bard that the Blue Fang Empire and Clear Water Empire are planning to become allies! This is not a good sign since those two are enemies of our Silver Wing Empire! Not to mention that those two are not any weaker compared to our Silver Wing Empire! It would be terrible if they suddenly invade us with their combined power!"