Alliance
In the end, Xu Fan did not accept the 50 Spirit Stones and simply welcomed Pang Fu into his small living room.
"Senior Apprentice Brother Pang, if you have something to say, just say it," said Xu Fan as he steeped tea.
"Senior Brother Xu, we outer sect disciples have no one to rely on in the Heavenly Imperial Sect. Every year, we receive a little bit of resources to complete missions."
"I don't know when I'll be able to attain the Immortal Path, so I intend to join forces with all of us outer sect disciples that have no one to rely on."
"We will trade the useless resources we have on hand, share information, or issue some small missions and so on."
"At the very least, this will allow us outer sect disciples to have another way out."
Pang Fu took the tea Xu Fan handed over and drank it in one gulp. Surprise flashed across his eyes. This was spirit tea.
As Xu Fan looked at Pang Fu who wanted to stand out, he recalled his background. Pang Fu was originally the direct descendant of a wealthy merchant from a large country in the secular world. It was not an exaggeration to describe him as coming from a rich family that could rival a country.
Xu Fan received a favor from Pang Fu's family in his early stages of begging for food. Thus, he paid more attention to Pang Fu.
"Senior Brother Pang Fu isn't someone who has no one to rely on. After all, your family is the Quyang Kingdom's most wealthy merchant. This is even more formidable than an ordinary cultivator family," said Xu Fan mockingly. Compared to those wealthy merchants who treated the rich unfairly, the Pang family was a classic example of benevolence.
"How does Junior Brother Xu know my identity?" Surprise flashed through Pang Fu's eyes. Not many people knew of his identity outside the outer sect.
"When I entered the sect, I was fortunate enough to see Young Master Pang's extravagance," said Xu Fan jokingly.
"Alright, let's get down to business first. I want to form an alliance."
The Heavenly Imperial Sect had over 200,000 outer sect members. It was just like a small society. Under such conditions, for the sake of benefits, it was not difficult to form all sorts of alliances.
Some of these alliances completed missions together, while others shared information, but most of them helped each other.
"I don't dare to call it an alliance. I just want to gather more than a thousand of our brothers from the same batch. It's better than fighting alone in silence," said Pang Fu patiently. If Xu Fan was just an ordinary disciple, he would simply send his subordinates to invite Xu Fan.
However, Xu Fan had already reached the requirement to join the Elixir Hall. Thus, he had no choice but to make a trip personally. He had to take in this future alchemist.
There was an old saying in the cultivation world that every powerful being had a passionate master alchemist as their brother.
"Interesting. What can this alliance bring me? What do I have to pay?" Xu Fan asked with interest. Although he kept a low profile, it wasn't impossible for him to show off occasionally.
"What you can get is first-hand news from the sect, connections, and countless junior brothers in the alliance who are willing to run errands for a future alchemy master like you."
"What you need to do is to provide some benefits for your fellow Senior Brothers in the alliance to refine pills."
"After Junior Brother becomes an alchemy master in the future, all the fellow apprentices in the alliance will be willing to follow your lead."
"Right now, there are more than 40 Senior and Junior brothers from the Combat Hall in the alliance. There are two who are likely to become basic alchemists and one apprentice blacksmith."
"I believe that with the addition of Junior Brother, a quasi-alchemy master, our alliance will definitely develop in the future."
Pang Fu spoke passionately. In his heart, he thought that if he hadn't asked around, he probably wouldn't have known that someone from the same batch as him had entered the Elixir Hall.
Xu Fan started to think carefully about the pros and cons.
Pang Fu did not speak either, quietly waiting for Xu Fan's response. He was confident that this alchemy genius would agree to him.
"I'll join the alliance," said Xu Fan. He understood that if he kept a low profile, he would be suppressing his true nature. Who wasn't a mortal?
"Alright, I knew it," Pang Fu said happily. Then, he took out a simple and circular Dharma artifact and handed it to Xu Fan.
"Is this a communication magic tool?" Xu Fan asked with slight surprise.
"The alliance should look like an alliance. This is the work of that apprentice blacksmith," said Pang Fu with a smile. The alliance he had established finally had a quasi-alchemy master. After working for a few years, he would become a Grade-1 alchemy master.
"This is amazing." Xu Fan sighed.
"This Dharma Artifact will allow you to receive the latest news and transaction information from the alliance starting from tomorrow. Occasionally, people will also issue missions."
Then, Pang Fu gave Xu Fan a jade slip and a command token. After that, he bid his farewells to Xu Fan.
Xu Fan had just sent Pang Fu out when he met another person he did not want to see recently.
"Junior Brother Xu, did you just receive a guest?" Sha Yan asked with narrowed eyes.
Xu Fan looked at Sha Yan's crescent eyes and instantly broke through her defense.
"Yes, a Senior Brother came to visit."
Xu Fan did not bother about receiving guests.
"Junior Brother, aren't you going to invite me in?" Sha Yan smiled.
In the pavilion, the two of them sat facing each other. Xu Fan handed Sha Yan the tea he had brewed.
"Junior Brother, why aren't you willing to join the Elixir Hall?"
"Let me put it another way. Why are you unwilling to take my father as your master?"
Sha Yan stared at Xu Fan as she spoke. She had already confirmed Xu Fan's talent in alchemy. Her father had wanted to take him in as a disciple so that he could listen to Xu Fan's thoughts, but in the end, Xu Fan had refused.
Xu Fan looked at his beautiful Senior Sister and commented in his heart, "I can tell you that I'm not very interested in alchemy. Weapon refinement is my favorite hobby."
"Senior Sister, I'm used to being free and unrestrained by myself. I don't want to be restricted. Alchemy is just my side profession," said Xu Fan helplessly, finding a reason to reject her.
At this time, Sha Yan looked at Xu Fan strangely. She didn't understand why this Junior Brother of hers didn't cherish the opportunity that others yearned for.
"But Junior Brother, your pill refinement talent is so outstanding. Without good guidance, your talent will be wasted."
"The path of alchemy is as vast as the sea. This is also a method to ascend to immortality. As long as one becomes a top-notch alchemy master, it is not a problem to be led to the Immortal World," Sha Yan advised. After all, the chances of a successful alchemy master ascending was much better than ordinary cultivators.
Xu Fan looked at this beautiful Senior Sister with a slight headache. If he were to become a disciple of an alchemy master, wouldn't the early stages of his weapon refinement plan be ruined?
It seemed like he had to speak the truth.
"Senior Sister, have you ever been on the Floating Sky Ship that belongs to our sect?" Xu Fan asked.
"I've been there before. I went out with the Floating Sky Ship once. Why?" Sha Yan asked doubtfully.
"Senior Sister, every time I see the Floating Sky Ship, I swore that I would refine that kind of Floating Sky Ship in my lifetime."
"Pill refinement is just a way for me to gather Spirit Stones in the early stages. The reason why I'm not willing to take Teacher Jingtian as my master is because I'm afraid I'll let Teacher Jingtian down in the future." Xu Fan only said half-truths.
At this time, Sha Yan looked at Xu Fan blankly. This reminded her of her brother who had broken off relations with her father at the Weapon Refinement Peak.
She still remembered Big Brother's words before he left.
"I, Sha