After a quick browse through the letters, Han Feng picked out a few and tossed the rest aside.
None of these factions were good people, so Han Feng only cared about who offered the highest reward.
Rejecting all of them was not an option, at least not at the moment. It would disrupt the balance of the Black-Corner Region and bring disaster to Feng City.
But by selecting only a few and ignoring the majority, he could cleverly shift the conflict among the various factions in the Black-Corner Region, making them compete with each other.
This method of fanning the flames was old, but very practical.
Especially for someone in a position of power.
Han Feng now stood at the pinnacle of the alchemy world in the Black-Corner Region. Only he had the right to choose others; no one could force him.
After calling for a manager and ordering him to send back the selected letters to their respective factions, Han Feng turned and walked into the training chamber to begin cultivating.
His Dou Qi cultivation had already reached the peak of the Dou Emperor realm. There was no need for intensive cultivation before advancing to Dou Ancestor.
Soul power became Han Feng's main focus.
After several months of hard cultivation, Han Feng's soul power had successfully touched the barrier of the Spirit Realm.
The progress might seem insignificant to an outsider, but any high-level cultivator who had studied soul cultivation would understand how difficult it was.
The Spirit Realm meant that an alchemist could refine eighth-grade pills and imbue them with additional spirituality.
In terms of combat power, the Spirit Realm also meant that a cultivator had the capital to contend with a Dou Venerate expert.
Even if one mastered some profound soul skills, an ordinary Dou Venerate would be no match for a Spirit Realm cultivator.
From this, one could see how huge the gap was between the peak of the Mortal Realm and the Spirit Realm.
Han Feng tried to break through these barriers. His powerful soul power continuously spread out and vibrated.
A quarter of an hour later, Han Feng's face was slightly pale. He changed his hand seal and stopped his attempt.
Of course, he didn't delude himself into thinking he could break through to the Spirit Realm now, but as long as he kept attacking the barrier, it would loosen.
The improvement of soul power involved the tedious accumulation of daily practice, as well as the courage to fearlessly attack the barrier when breaking through.
Of course, a strategy was still needed for advancement.
Without a "Soul Mantra," one couldn't even sense the soul energy in the world, let alone accumulate it bit by bit.
And without a treasure to nourish the soul, rushing to break through like this would also leave hidden soul injuries.
Han Feng took out the fifth-grade Spirit Nurturing Liquid that Jia Xingtian had given him and drank it all in one gulp.
The powerful medicinal energy of the spirit liquid quickly began to nourish his soul, soothing the fatigue from his earlier attempt.
It was only because this thing was rare that Han Feng had agreed to refine the pill in the first place.
Blissfully enjoying the comfort of his soul being nourished, Han Feng re-condensed his soul seal and began to efficiently absorb the scattered points of soul light in the world.
Time passed quietly.
In the blink of an eye, it was the seventh day.
The preparations for the alchemy competition were in their middle stage, and the promotional work was in full swing. Han Feng felt it was time to send a special invitation to Jia Nan Academy.
He personally wrote a large invitation letter. The strokes of his writing contained soul power; just one look was enough to feel an overwhelming sense of power.
After finishing, Han Feng ordered it to be sent quickly to Peace Town, which was the entrance to Jia Nan Academy.
At the same time, the leaders of some of the major factions that Han Feng had selected before arrived in Feng City one after another with their own sincere offerings, requesting Han Feng to refine pills.
The first person Han Feng met was the sect master of the Blood Sect, Fan Lao.
He was a newly advanced Dou Emperor in the Black-Corner Region, but his strength was extremely impressive. His "Blood Transformation Grand Art" was masterfully executed.
This person's skin was dry, and his pupils were blood-red, but as soon as he saw Han Feng, he revealed a fawning smile.
"Fan Lao of the Blood Sect has seen the Medicine Emperor."
Han Feng sat in his seat and did not stand up, only nodding.
"Sect Master Fan, if you're requesting a pill, just say it directly."
"I would like to request a sixth-grade Emperor Extremity Pill. The ingredients have all been prepared. I wonder if the Medicine Emperor can refine it?"
Fan Lao clasped his fist in a salute and waited for Han Feng's reply.
"If you have the ingredients, it can naturally be refined."
Han Feng took a sip of tea to wet his throat.
"However, whether I will make a move depends on your sincerity, Sect Master Fan."
Fan Lao was prepared. He handed a gift list and a storage ring to Han Feng.
After a glance, Han Feng had a rough idea.
He directly pointed out what he was interested in.
"Blood Spirit Divine Ganoderma, a sixth-grade medicinal ingredient. This is not bad."
Hearing Han Feng say this, Fan Lao was overjoyed. Could it be that the treasure he offered was exactly what Han Feng wanted?
"But to exchange for an Emperor Extremity Pill, it's still a bit lacking, isn't it?" Han Feng looked at Fan Lao and said calmly.
A single sentence made the huge rock in Fan Lao's heart lift up again.
"I wonder what else the Medicine Emperor needs?" Fan Lao asked tentatively.
"I won't make things difficult for you, Sect Master Fan."
Han Feng knocked on the table and continued, "I've heard that within the Blood Sect's territory, there is a Blood Python Mountain, which contains many rare blood-attribute medicinal ingredients. How about this, I'll give you a list of ingredients, Sect Master Fan. As long as you collect them all, I will refine the Emperor Extremity Pill for you."
Quickly writing a list, Han Feng flicked his two fingers, and it shot in front of Fan Lao.
Fan Lao took the list and glanced at it. His previously furrowed brow immediately relaxed.
"Good, good, then it's a deal. I'll have someone search for them right away."
Fan Lao stood up and bowed again.
"Medicine Emperor, I will leave the ingredients I brought with you for now. After I have collected the items, I ask that you refine this Emperor Extremity Pill for me."
"Of course. Bring the items, and I will immediately present the Emperor Extremity Pill."
Han Feng picked up the storage ring on the table and weighed it.
"I won't see you out."
Watching Fan Lao's confident departing figure, Han Feng knew that those blood-attribute ingredients could most likely be collected.
With Fan Lao's current strength and status, he was actually not qualified to be in Han Feng's eyes.
The reason he let him come this time was actually because he had taken a fancy to the sixth-grade Blood Spirit Divine Ganoderma, as well as some rare blood-attribute ingredients that might be hidden in the Blood Sect.
There were many ways to reconstruct one's physique postnatally, and the things required were also different, but only this blood-attribute spirit medicine was an indispensable existence in every method.
If Han Feng wanted to reconstruct his physique when he broke through to Dou Ancestor, then the more blood-attribute spirit medicine, the better.
It would be best to do it in a blessed land with a blood attribute.
Han Feng remembered that in the northern region of the Central Plains, there was a Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool, which was specifically for cultivators to use when breaking through to Dou Ancestor.
He would have to borrow that treasure land when the time came.
His thoughts returning, Han Feng had the next petitioner come in.
Half a day passed, and Han Feng had received all the petitioners.
Those who could find him, Han Feng, were generally requesting the refinement of sixth-grade pills.
Among them, besides Fan Lao, there were two others who also wanted an Emperor Extremity Pill, but they were tactfully refused by Han Feng because their bargaining chips were not attractive enough.
As for the remaining few, they were not requesting a top-grade pill like the Emperor Extremity Pill, so Han Feng's conditions were much more relaxed.
Some were happy, some were sad. Han Feng didn't pay much attention. After having his subordinates see the guests off, he entered the alchemy room to refine the pills.
These sixth-grade pills could be refined by him in half a month.
By then, the alchemy competition should be about to start.
Han Feng revealed an expectant smile and slowly closed the door of the alchemy room.