The meeting in West State City concluded.
In the conference room, everyone got up and left to attend to the follow-up tasks.
Chairman Chen Shu remained seated, opened his laptop, and joined the meeting in Shangjing via video conference.
On the screen, the atmosphere in the Shangjing conference room was also quite serious! The leaders present were all of high rank, speaking slowly but with a firm tone, and their opinions were sharp!
"Currently, it seems that this mysterious figure is most likely the 'Soup Man' of Sequence Eight, and moreover, a very powerful one. It's possible he is on par with Professor Zhang.
"We must find him and offer him a vice-chairman position."
"This position should not be given lightly. At the level of Sequence Eight, one must undergo the strictest scrutiny.
"We must thoroughly understand what Immortal Techniques he possesses, what Immortal Realm resources he controls, and everything about him."
"He need not handle administrative work but can do some technical work alongside Professor Zhang."
"If he indeed has a significant amount of resources, perhaps... we can assist him in better managing and developing them."
In front of the computer screen, Chairman Chen Shu remained silent, not speaking.
He, a university professor specializing in calligraphy, pursued art and was unworldly. The veteran participants from Shangjing were also all Sequence Eight but inevitably carried a strong political aura. The mysterious figure had just saved the West State City Committee, yet these politicians did not speak of gratitude or appreciation. Their primary concerns were risk, control, resources...
It was understandable. After all, every leader has many responsibilities and cannot let emotions influence their work. Chairman Chen Shu understood it... but did not like it.
Suddenly, a cheerful voice in the video conference overpowered everyone else, silencing the room.
"Let Professor Zhang visit West State City first.
"Look at the collected medicinal aura, see those traces of blood."
...
The office building of the Immortal Technique Committee remained bustling with activity, people coming and going.
On the rooftop of the office building, a helicopter landed on the helipad, kicking up dust amid the loud noise and strong wind.
A middle-aged man in a white coat stepped off the helicopter and was greeted by Chairman Chen Shu.
This middle-aged man was an expert hurriedly arrived from Yanjing, a Sequence Eight 'Soup Man' on the Alchemist path.
Formerly a botany professor at a university, he was among the first to partake in the Immortal Dream three years ago, cultivating the Alchemy Dao, which suited him perfectly! He progressed swiftly, becoming one of the eight 'Soup Men' existing today.
He was accompanied by over a dozen students, some of his graduate students and others Sequence Nine 'Strawmen' of the Alchemist path from the Immortal Technique Committee.
"Chairman Chen, it's been many years!"
"Professor Zhang, it's been many years!"
The two shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with smiles.
They left the helipad together, discussing work as they headed straight to the laboratory.
"Actually, one of my key tasks recently is researching the Ancient Immortal Blood Qi.
"Not only in your West State City, but many other cities have also discovered that Ancient Immortals control disciples through Blood Qi!
"This Extracorporeal Blood Qi is quite fragile and has weaknesses.
"But we haven't found an appropriate method to counteract it.
"Our proposed solutions are either prohibitively costly or have very low efficiency and success rates.
"This time, I want to see Mr. Mystery's solution, to more accurately evaluate his abilities and level.
"On the other hand, I want to see if I can learn from his approach, drawing analogies."
...
Bright sunlight streamed into the laboratory windowsill.
On metal and ceramic-topped laboratory tables were various test tubes, beakers, microscopes, and a Bronze Pill Furnace placed in the center.
Professor Zhang led the students and disciples in with Chairman Chen, jokingly saying, "Oh, there's a Pill Furnace here, do you use it?"
Chairman Chen laughed too.
"This was brought from a museum, hasn't been used yet.
"Not only this Pill Furnace, but our lab tables and various instruments haven't been used either."
After all, Alchemy Dao is a rather rare path. Only a few dozen people countrywide have reached Sequence Nine, most of whom are in the research institute of the Imperial Capital. Therefore, the laboratory prepared for Alchemy Dao remains unused, collecting dust to this day.
The group didn't waste words and went to look at the various samples collected.
A designated person introduced,
"The blood traces on this test paper formed after the Blood Qi was neutralized."
"This blood was coughed out by a Bloodthirsty person."
"This bottle of gas is the medicinal aura neutralizing Blood Qi, but it might not be pure and could be degraded..."
Professor Zhang and a group of students started changing clothes, putting on gloves, washing equipment, and preparing for operations. The coordination among them was seamless, and soon, the previously collected materials were transferred into various containers. All kinds of test papers, reagents, and instruments were prepared and ready.
...
Half an hour later, Professor Zhang, looking at the test paper and the nearby test tube, became increasingly solemn, his brows knitted, his earlier ease gone.
"This..."
Chairman Chen approached.
"What's wrong?"
Professor Zhang hesitated briefly, his tone uncertain.
"This medicinal aura perfectly counteracts the Ancient Immortal's Extracorporeal Blood Qi.
"The crucial point is, it contains no valuable components, just ordinary Immortal Grass!
"Achieving such results with the most ordinary Immortal Grass?
"Simply relying on refining techniques, turning base into noble? Making the mundane divine?
"Is this... really possible?"
A group of graduate students marveled at the medicinal aura's wonder.
Professor Zhang and Chairman Chen were speechless.
This test result pointed to two things unexpected for them...
First, the medicinal aura crafted from ordinary Immortal Grass but capable of countering Ancient Immortal Blood Qi had value beyond their expectations!
Second, the mysterious man's alchemy skills were terrifyingly beyond their expectations!
Professor Zhang, fraught with concerns, furrowed his eyebrows.
"This... this method of refining...
"I can't assess it.
"Is there a bed?
"I'm going into the dream to seek my Ancient Immortal Master."
...
In the dim living room.
Bai Mo slurped hot beef noodles, taking bites of noodles and sips of soup.
He had just ordered this delivery, including a side of scallion beef, spending several dozen bucks, enjoying the rich flavor.
"First time having beef noodles with this much meat, truly satisfying."
Suddenly, his phone vibrated again, a message received.
He opened it to find a message from Fang Xiaoyu.
This guy had no serious matters, just pure gossip.
[An amazingly skilled expert has arrived from Shangjing!]
[Said to be incredibly formidable, one of the eight 'Soup Men' of this world]
[The second person in the world in Alchemy Dao!]
Second person?