After Billy announced his name, the guards at the gate warmly led the group into the main building’s hall.
Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed, and a white-haired elder, accompanied by four or five people, quickly approached.
“Mr. Billy, I apologize for not welcoming you sooner,” the white-haired elder said, bowing deeply.
“You’re too kind,” Billy replied. “May I ask your name?”
“Shepherd Frost,” the elder responded.
“Elder Shepherd, is Miss Frost here?” Billy inquired.
“I’m afraid not,” Shepherd Frost said, bowing again. “Miss Frost received a message from headquarters last night and had to leave immediately. She asked me to convey her apologies to you.”
“She went back to headquarters?” Stout muttered. “It seems like every time we try to get a formula from the Alchemists’ Alliance, something unexpected happens. Are we being played?”
Shepherd Frost’s expression tightened slightly as he handed an animal skin scroll to Billy. “Mr. Billy, Miss Frost asked me to give this to you before she left.”
“Is this the formula for the intermediate Spirit Essence Pill? Let me see!” Stout said, grabbing it immediately.
Billy and the others: Stout, could you be a bit more subtle?
“This isn’t the formula for the intermediate Spirit Essence Pill,” Shepherd Frost smiled.
“It’s not? Don’t tell me it’s just the formula for the low-grade Spirit Essence Pill,” Stout lost interest. “In that case, we don’t need it. Here, take it back.”
Shepherd Frost’s expression tightened again. “This is the formula for the high-grade Spirit Essence Pill.”
“What?!” Stout quickly took it back.
Billy and the others: It’s a bit embarrassing to have this guy with us!
“Elder Shepherd, is this really the formula for the high-grade Spirit Essence Pill?” Ivy asked, looking at Shepherd Frost.
“Absolutely,” Shepherd Frost nodded. “Miss Frost specifically instructed me to hand it over to Mr. Billy personally.”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but feel astonished. The high-grade Spirit Essence Pill was incredibly valuable even in the sixth-tier star domain. A single pill could elevate a Breaking Emptiness Realm expert’s cultivation level significantly.
If Juliana Frost had merely asked him to hand over a batch of high-grade Spirit Essence Pills to Billy, he wouldn’t have been so shocked. But giving away the formula directly was unbelievable.
When Juliana Frost first mentioned this to him, he almost bit his tongue in disbelief. This formula was one of the Alchemists’ Alliance’s core assets. If it were to leak out, it would have a significant impact on the alliance.
Not to mention, auctioning high-grade Spirit Essence Pills was a major source of revenue for the Alchemists’ Alliance.
He couldn’t understand why Juliana Frost would do this. Even if she wanted to befriend Billy, this seemed like too high a price.
However, despite his confusion, he followed her instructions and did not substitute a fake formula.
“Miss Frost originally promised to give Mr. Billy the intermediate Spirit Essence Pill formula,” Shepherd Frost continued after a pause. “But she realized that since Mr. Billy had obtained items from the Netherworld Clan’s treasury, the intermediate Spirit Essence Pill would be of little use to you.”
“So, she decided to give Mr. Billy the high-grade Spirit Essence Pill formula instead.”
“Miss Frost is very considerate,” Billy nodded. He hadn’t expected Juliana Frost to give him such a valuable formula.
He was well aware of its worth.
“However, there’s something I need to clarify with Mr. Billy,” Shepherd Frost continued. “The materials required for the high-grade Spirit Essence Pill include two or three items that can only be found in the sixth-tier star domain.”
“You don’t have them here?” Stout asked.
“No,” Shepherd Frost shook his head. “Since no one here can refine high-grade Spirit Essence Pills, we don’t stock those materials.”
“Alright then,” Stout shrugged. “It’s fine; we don’t need high-grade Spirit Essence Pills right now anyway. We’ll deal with it when we get to the sixth-tier star domain.”
“Elder Shepherd, why did Miss Frost suddenly return to headquarters? Did something happen?” Harleen asked.
“It’s not an issue with the Alchemists’ Alliance; it’s something affecting the entire sixth-tier star domain,” Shepherd Frost replied.
“What do you mean?” Harleen pressed.
“I don’t know all the details, but recently, there’s been a lot of unrest in the sixth-tier star domain. Various forces are on edge.”
“The star domain hasn’t seen such turmoil in nearly a thousand years. Something significant must be happening.”
After speaking, he looked at Billy again.
“Mr. Billy, Miss Frost instructed that if you come to Phoenix City, you can stay at the Alchemists’ Alliance for as long as you like.”
“I’ve already had a place prepared for you. Would you like me to show you?”
“Thank you, Elder Shepherd,” Billy said after a brief thought. “We won’t impose since Miss Frost has left; we won’t stay long in Phoenix City.”
“Are you planning to go to the sixth-tier star domain?” Shepherd Frost asked in surprise.
“We’re considering it,” Billy smiled.
“In that case, I won’t…” Shepherd Frost began but stopped mid-sentence, frowning slightly. “Hmm?”
“Elder Shepherd, what’s wrong?” one of his men asked, noticing his unusual expression.
Before he could finish speaking, powerful auras swept in from the sky.
Even inside the building, everyone could feel a strong pressure.
Clearly, powerful beings had arrived-and likely more than one!
“What’s going on?” one of Shepherd Frost’s men muttered.
“It seems Phoenix City is in trouble,” Shepherd Frost said gravely after taking a deep breath.
“Elder Shepherd, do you know what’s happening?” Casey asked.
“Such a large-scale action can only be aimed at the City Lord’s Mansion,” Shepherd Frost nodded. “In this fifth-tier star domain, only people from Black Dragon City would dare openly attack Phoenix City’s Lord’s Mansion!”
“And if they’re making a move, they must be well-prepared; otherwise, they wouldn’t act rashly.”
“Elder Shepherd, can you briefly explain the situation at Phoenix City’s Lord’s Mansion?” Billy asked after a slight pause.
“What aspect would Mr. Billy like to know about?” Shepherd Frost asked in return.
“It doesn’t need to be complicated,” Stout interrupted. “Just tell my boss if Phoenix City is worth saving!”
Shepherd Frost’s entourage: …
Isn’t that a bit too arrogant?
They had already assessed Billy and his group’s cultivation levels; the highest was only at sixth-rank Perfection Emptiness Realm!
At that level, even within the Alchemists’ Alliance, they were only considered mid-tier!
And they think they can save the City Lord’s Mansion? They’d be lucky just to keep themselves alive!