129. Displaying True Skills

Dusk is about to fall and Clay had gathered a few dried tree branches that scattered within his surroundings and was about to start a bonfire when a Late Qi Condensation Elven showed up.

“I asked this human friend to consider camping two mountains away from here. Your presence is messing with our traps.”

Clay felt the presence of six Elves behind him but he was relaxed as he had planned everything.

“I apologize for my ignorance. I was merely lost and I hope these friends will not make it difficult. As you can see I am missing both hand but I’m actually an Alchemist. I feel tired from my travels but if you want, I concoct some basic pills for you in exchange for my stay.” Clay summoned ten little flames to prove he is indeed capable of pill refinement.

“This is a set of ingredients for Qi Enhancement Pills. If you can indeed refine pills, we can temporarily ignore your presence.” The strongest of the group summoned five boxes of herbs and placed it in front of Clay.

Elves are prideful creatures but when it comes to cultivation, some know when to control themselves. Who would want to give up on this opportunity? The Elf knew this person will be gone tomorrow and they can only blame themselves if they do not take advantage of the situation.

Clay activated his aura and summoned his cauldron then unboxed the ingredients and placed them all in one go which surprised the Elves.

In the mean time, Clay ignored them and after less than ten minutes, using a hand made of his Qi, he opened the lid and revealed three pills which he adjusted to have 90 percent quality.

“I hope these friends will keep their word. Tomorrow morning when the sun rises, I will continue on my journey.” Clay respectfully said as he arranged a bonfire.

The leader of the scout was stood frozen by the quality of pills placed on his palms. Their village has their own alchemist and potion master but the pill on his hand now is something he believes the Crescent Moon Sect cannot produce.

The Elf summoned a bottle and contained the pill then handed it to his fellow scout and ordered the scout to go back to the village.

“I hope this young master can forgive this junior’s blind eyes. This place is full of annoying insects. How about you come with us to the village. It’s not much but it’s definitely more comfortable.”

“I’m quite fine here. It’s only for a night and I don’t want to cause too much trouble.” Clay pretended to be polite but in truth, he had been waiting for this moment.

“Please, young master. It’s the least we can do for your journey.” The leader of the scout kneeled on one knee.

Seeing how respectful the Elf is, Clay inwardly laughed like a devil.

“If you insist, then don’t blame me for being impolite.”

After travelling for four months, he researched on the geography of the closest Elven sect he can join and he found out about a branch of Crescent Moon Sect called Seven Makluman Colonies. It is a different specie of Elves but still the same prideful race.

He knew he cannot just barge in into the sect so he decided on revealing his skills by visiting a village under the jurisdiction of the branch sect and start showing off until he is invited by a higher figure. He just hopes everything will turn out the way he planned.

As they approach the village, Clay could already see the results of his plan. The scout who was sent prior had already reported the quality of his pills and it looks like the village head had already prepared a grand reception. As soon as they arrived at the village gate, the village head came to personally greet him.

“We are honored this human friend has graced us with his presence.”

Clay would like to laugh again. Inside his head, he had pictured everyone kneeling with this presence. “Kneel to your god, you inferior race.”

“This elder did not need to come out. I was merely passing by and forgot I have overstepped my boundaries.” Clay slightly bowed to show respect.

“Please follow me. I have prepared a comfortable residence you can spend the night on.”

Clay kept his mouth zipped and followed the village elder.

After a few moments, he was led into a reception hall where sumptuous meal had been prepared. On top that, it looks like every important figure within the village came to welcome him.

“I’ve prepared a little banquet you can indulge yourself with before resting tonight. It’s not much but I hope this friend will find it to his liking.”

Clay looked around and although it was a glance, he can be sure that one of them is the village potion maker or herbalist.

“I feel embarrassed to have disturbed everyone’s busy day. I’m actually quite useless other than my concoction ability. Honestly I feel bad having to sit with everyone. How about this. Bring out all your ingredients for Qi Enhancement, Body Forging, and Qi Reinforcement Pills and after I have refined them, then I will have the courage to sit and enjoy what elder has prepared.”

“This young master need not to be polite. It would be…”

“Please I insist. I have my own pride as an Alchemist. And if you don’t bring the ingredients now, I’m sure you will only have regrets once I leave tomorrow.”

Clay’s plan is to have his pill arts known toward the elders of Seven Makluman Colonies and the way the village elder is acting now is deviating from his plans so he insisted on creating more pills.

“I only intend to give this young master a comfortable night but if his pride won’t allow him, I have two ingredients of Body Forging Pills with me.”

“Bring them all out or else I will think the village head is looking down on my abilities.”

“It’s not aaah… uhmm.. our …”

“Please bring them all out. I won’t touch the food if you don’t.” Clay interrupted the stuttering village elder.

Clay stood quietly while observing everyone looking at each other and after a few seconds, everyone summoned boxes of ingredients sets they have available and placed it on a corner not from the table.

Clay summoned his cauldron and with hands made of Qi, he inserted four Fire Crystals into the chamber then extended his aura towards the piles of ingredients and opened each boxes.

After sorting all the similar ingredients, he then activated the cauldron and guided the heat towards each of the ingredients. From his estimate, there are 23 sets of ingredients for Qi Enhancement, 19 sets for Body forging and 27 sets for Qi Reinforcements.

The reception hall is wide around twenty meters long and ten meters wide and for each ingredients floating and had their essences extracted, there is only one word to describe is going on- Breathtaking.

Clay had always hidden his talent but now that he is out of options, he is allowing these Elves to witness the glory of what simultaneous refinement is about.

Without his flame, Clay would look like a one-celled bacteria with hundreds of thin white tentacles extended out from his body.

After a few minutes, the pills have started to form. Fragrant herb essences exploded within the reception.

“Prepare bottles to contain these pills.”

Clay ignored everyone else’s stupefied look and instructed them to contain the pills. After a minute when all the pills solidified, he slowly dropped them on the floor.

The reception hall is bursting with pill aroma.

“If you don’t want them wasted, contain them in bottles now.” Clay instructed again after seeing that nobody wants to move.

The village head came to his sensed and started collecting the pills. “Collect them now fast!”

Clay took his seat pretending not to be exhausted and observed everyone. The satisfaction brought by being able to command these arrogant Elves and see them groveling is immeasurable. Having no arms, he shaped his Qi to for a hand and grabbed a slice of meat.

Meanwhile, aside from the village elder, everyone stepped outside and did not dare stay in the reception as to not offend the Alchemy master. The herbalist in particular took out three bottles and summoned their fastest scout.

“Make a report to Makluman and tell them that a 4 Star Human Alchemist is passing by. These bottles will be your proof. And when you return, relay a message towards nearby colonies of this human with no arms.”

“It shall be done with haste, Elder.”

In the mean time, Clay is still enjoying his meal but he is confident that even if he did not look outside, he can concur that those Elves who stepped outside should have had sent news of his abilities by now.

The village head stood not far from Clay and like a maid, he politely asked Clay, “I wonder if this young master could reveal a few of his objectives in travelling to our lands. Not to pry but if it’s something our village or nearby colonies have, maybe we can help.”

“I am hoping to join the ranks of Crescent Moon Sect. My talent is limited and I don’t mind working for a certain amount of time as long they will promise to help me re-grow my arms back.”

The village head almost choked with his tongue upon hearing Clay’s words about his talent being limited. Indeed he saw that Clay had integrated with an inferior Essence Flame but those pills concocted just now is the real measurement of being called an Alchemist. In fact, those Alchemists from the closest Elven Sect who have integrated with an Earth Class Essence Flame can only concoct at best 50 percent quality.

“The main sect is quite far but they do have a branch a day travel from here. If this young master wishes, we can accompany you tomorrow.”

“I thank this elder for his arrangement.”