In Fang Bai’s view, the Sizhu Immortal King was impulsive, lacked emotional intelligence, and was not very scheming. Speaking and acting carelessly, he could easily offend immortals. The Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor sending him to invite Fang Bai was simply a poor choice.

Fortunately, Fang Bai had taken the initiative to visit the Heaven Fiend Sect; otherwise, not even the Hundred-Year Immortal King’s apology and many attempts to please him would have succeeded in inviting him.

Along the journey, Fang Bai conversed continuously with the tall and short immortals, occasionally inquiring about the Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor.

The Hundred-Year Immortal King was very cautious, smiling but not answering Fang Bai’s inquiries, keeping his mouth tightly shut.

However, the Sizhu Immortal King’s mouth was not as tight, and Fang Bai easily extracted some desired information from him.

Seeing Fang Bai asking questions and the Sizhu Immortal King answering them, almost revealing their Sect Master’s secrets, the Hundred-Year Immortal King felt a headache, but was too embarrassed to stop him in front of Fang Bai, constantly giving him eye signals instead.

Unfortunately, the charming gestures were wasted on the Sizhu Immortal King, who without much scheming, was easily "won over" by Fang Bai’s flattery and small favors, quickly becoming friendly and calling each other brothers, regarding Fang Bai as a close friend, oblivious to his senior brother’s signals.

Actually, Fang Bai’s "small favors" were not small at all; the cultivation resources he gave to the Sizhu Immortal King were highly attractive to someone like him, even making the Hundred-Year Immortal King somewhat tempted.

Initially, the Hundred-Year Immortal King remained wary of Fang Bai’s continuous inquiries about the Sect Master, but later realized it was harmless. After all, their Sect Master invited Alchemist Fang as a guest without ill intent, and considering Alchemist Fang’s cultivation level, even knowing some secrets about their Sect Master would not matter—he couldn’t cause any trouble within the Heaven Fiend Sect.

On this day, tens of thousands of Heaven Fiend Sect disciples were diligently cultivating in various parts of the mountain, when suddenly they heard the Great Bell in front of the Sect Master Hall ringing.

The bell tolled loudly, resonating in all directions.

The bell ringing indicated a major event, so tens of thousands of Heaven Fiend Sect disciples dared not be negligent, swiftly assembling towards the square.

On the square in front of the Sect Master Hall, the Heaven Fiend Sect Master, Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor, stood with arms at his sides on the tall stone platform in the center, looking up at the distant sky with visibly excited emotions.

"What’s happening?"

A later-arriving Heaven Fiend Sect disciple whispered to a nearby fellow disciple.

The fellow disciple replied, "I heard a distinguished guest is coming to our sect."

The inquiring Heaven Fiend Sect disciple was stunned, asking, "What distinguished guest? Could it be the Immortal Emperor?"

In his view, given their Sect Master’s status and strength, only the Immortal Emperor’s personal visit could warrant such a grand reception and respectful welcome.

The fellow disciple shook his head, "It is not the Immortal Emperor; it is an alchemist and artifact refiner from Canglan Immortal City..."

"Is it Alchemist Fang, titled Wushuang Immortal King?"

The questioning Heaven Fiend Sect disciple had evidently heard of Alchemist Fang’s reputation.

The fellow disciple nodded, "It should be him. The Sect Master has invited him here, perhaps intending to make him the sect’s tribute."

The questioning Heaven Fiend Sect disciple nodded, "I think it’s possible... Hmm, although Alchemist Fang is only at the Fourth Grade Immortal King realm, his aptitude is extraordinarily strong, and his future on the Immortal Dao is limitless. The Sect Master offering him such high courtesy is probably to elicit his gratitude and thus his allegiance to the sect!"

On the square, tens of thousands of Heaven Fiend Sect disciples were already gathered, and nearly every disciple was discussing the same thing.

Standing with arms at his sides on the stone platform, the Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor ignored the discussions of his disciples, continuing to look up at the sky with an expectant look.

A moment later, he sensed something, his eyes suddenly brightened significantly, his body standing even more upright, his expression growing more excited.

Dozens of seconds later, three streaks of light flew across the sky, landing in the square filled with immortals in an instant.

"It’s the Sizhu Immortal King and the Hundred-Year Immortal King!"

"Could the white-robed Immortal King in the middle be Alchemist Fang from Canglan Immortal City?"

"I heard Alchemist Fang excels in alchemy and artifact refining! Is it true?"

"Of course it’s true! I can attest to that! I once asked Alchemist Fang to refine a bottle of Creation Pills of mid-level Immortal King grade and an immortal artifact of the same grade!"

"Doesn’t that mean Alchemist Fang possesses three innate spiritual roots combined?"

"My heavens, this is a constitution rarely seen in millennia! Alchemist Fang’s future on the Immortal Dao is infinite!"

"How wonderful it would be to become Dao partners with Alchemist Fang!"

...

After the three immortals landed, a wave of commotion spread among the Heaven Fiend Sect disciples, with almost all eyes focused on Fang Bai.

Some female disciples of Heaven Fiend Sect, seeing the young and handsome, extraordinary Fang Bai, imagining the achievements he might attain, felt their eyes light up with fervent longing, as if wolves had spotted a sheep, eager to rush up and claim Fang Bai as a Dao partner.

"Master, we have brought back Alchemist Fang!"

The Sizhu Immortal King and the Hundred-Year Immortal King, seeing their master, the Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor, standing on the stone platform in the square, and looking at them intently, hurried forward to bow and report.

The Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor’s gaze was not on them but directly fell on Fang Bai.

Fang Bai stood with hands behind his back, smiling slightly, also observing the Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor.

In many Heaven Fiend Sect disciples’ eyes, Fang Bai, merely a Fourth Grade Immortal King, looking at their Sect Master with a high-ranking Immortal Emperor cultivation like this was somewhat disrespectful, possibly causing their Sect Master to be displeased.

However, the Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor showed no sign of anger; some attentive Heaven Fiend Sect disciples noticed their Sect Master’s tightly clenched fists, his body lightly trembling with extreme excitement.

"What’s happening with the Sect Master? Even if that Alchemist Fang is a prodigious talent, with infinite possibilities on the Immortal Dao, he shouldn’t be this excited."

All Heaven Fiend Sect disciples were perplexed by their Sect Master’s behavior, which was nearly losing composure due to excitement.

"How have you been these thousand years?"

Fang Bai looked at the Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor, suddenly letting out a gentle sigh and asking.

His voice was intimate and soft, as if a senior asking a younger one.

"Speaking to the Sect Master in such a tone, without even using an honorary title, is simply an act of offense!"

Heaven Fiend Sect disciples began to stir with unrest, their faces clearly showing dissatisfaction, but given the unusual conduct of their Sect Master today, they did not dare to openly express their discontent.

Upon hearing Fang Bai’s inquiry, the Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor’s eyes turned slightly red, his nose tinged with soreness, his eyes welling with tears, nodding endlessly, "Good! I am well! Palace... are you well?"

Fang Bai replied, "I... it’s a long story! Let’s go find a quiet place to talk about the things that have happened to both of us over the years."

"Please follow me!"

Saying this, the Heaven Fiend Immortal Emperor’s figure flickered slightly, and he drifted into the Sect Master Hall behind him.

Fang Bai followed him inside.