These two individuals were the two Grand Elders of the Lightning-Severing Sect, cultivators of the Unity Realm.
The one seated on the left was a man who looked to be in his thirties, imposing and dignified even without showing anger, named Teng Xingjian.
The kindly-looking elder on the right was named Tan Yehe.
According to the etiquette of the cultivation world on Chenping Continent, the left seat was traditionally the position of honor. Therefore, Teng Xingjian, seated on the left, held a slightly higher status within the Lightning-Severing Sect than Tan Yehe.
"Gentlemen, please be seated."
Seeing Chen Yan and Mr. You step into the hall, Teng Xingjian stood up first, placed his hands before him, and gave a slight bow.
Chen Yan and Mr. You returned the courtesy together, then took their seats on the guest chairs to the side.
In truth, a cultivator of the Upper Three Realms only needed to casually probe with their spiritual sense. With Chen Yan's current condition of shattered meridians, unable to use the Hidden Immortal Art to conceal his true cultivation realm, they could easily discover the fact that he had lost all his cultivation.
But Mr. You had covered for him.
The cultivation realms of these two were both above the Divine Ability Realm.
Very quickly, both Teng Xingjian and Tan Yehe came to the same conclusion.
"I am Teng Xingjian, and the one beside me is Tan Yehe," Teng Xingjian introduced himself.
"Grand Elder Teng, Grand Elder Tan," Mr. You responded in kind.
"Might I be so bold as to ask for your esteemed names?" Teng Xingjian continued immediately after.
"That is not important," Mr. You simply replied. "I merely wish to know if the two Grand Elders have any means to help us obtain one Nine Revolutions Chaos Heaven Tempering Meridian Pill."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of Teng Xingjian and Tan Yehe both stiffened slightly, their faces then turning somewhat unpleasant.
Because the words of this young man in plain daoist robes before them left absolutely no face for the two of them.
No matter what, the Lightning-Severing Hall was their territory. To speak without giving any face at all was rather too excessive.
But very quickly, Teng Xingjian and Tan Yehe readjusted their mindset.
One must understand, the cultivation level of these two cultivators before them was very likely above the Eighth Realm.
Looking across the entire Chenping Continent, just how many Divine Ability Realm cultivators were there?
There were only six Dao Union Realm cultivators in total.
As for the Divine Ability Realm, if you added together all those from the Five Great Sects, the various top-tier sects, and the Rogue Cultivators, the number on the surface was roughly over twenty.
Even including those Divine Ability Realm and above cultivators who lived in seclusion and did not appear in the world, the entire Chenping Continent had at most no more than fifty.
"If the two of you merely wish to find one Nine Revolutions Chaos Heaven Tempering Meridian Pill, it would be best to seek it at Wind Ravine Valley," Tan Yehe spoke up. "My Lightning-Severing Sect truly has no means to help."
Actually, Teng Xingjian and Tan Yehe also couldn't understand one thing.
That was, why did this young man in plain daoist robes and the youth beside him have to fixate on demanding a Nine Revolutions Chaos Heaven Tempering Meridian Pill from their sect?
They had already been told ten thousand times.
If you want this pill, go to Wind Ravine Valley to find it, go to Wind Ravine Valley.
If two great Eighth Realm cultivators visited Wind Ravine Valley just to request one Nine Revolutions Chaos Heaven Tempering Meridian Pill, they believed Wind Ravine Valley would be very willing to do these two Divine Ability Realm cultivators a favor.
But these two seemed incapable of understanding human speech, insisting that the Lightning-Severing Sect help them procure a pill.
Procure my foot.
Teng Xingjian was beginning to suspect that these two were simply here to pick a fight.
Or there was another possibility.
Could it be that these two had some grievance with Wind Ravine Valley, but due to certain reasons, they had no choice but to seek a Nine Revolutions Chaos Heaven Tempering Meridian Pill, hence they took a roundabout route and approached the Lightning-Severing Sect?
He had actually guessed somewhat correctly.
Although Mr. You had no grievance with Wind Ravine Valley, he was unwilling to personally go to Wind Ravine Valley to seek the pill.
Because if he personally went to Wind Ravine Valley, he would inevitably be discovered by that Dao Union Realm cultivator of Wind Ravine Valley. Although in this world, apart from Li Haoran, no other Dao Union Realm cultivator had any understanding of so-called cause and effect.
It could still potentially bring about some unnecessary trouble.
"If your esteemed sect can help us obtain one pill..." Mr. You said, pausing slightly, "Then I can also bestow upon your esteemed sect an opportunity."
Mr. You's words obviously made Teng Xingjian even more convinced of the guess he had just made.
These two most likely, for some reason, could not personally go to Wind Ravine Valley to seek the pill.
As for the opportunity, they could set that aside for now. If he didn't clarify the whole story, even if the opportunity the other party could offer would allow him to instantly break through to the Divine Ability Realm, Teng Xingjian would not rashly agree.
Because if, for the sake of this uncertain opportunity, they offended Wind Ravine Valley, that would be a case of the gain not being worth the loss.
"Might I ask why the two of you do not go to Wind Ravine Valley to seek the pill, but must ask my Lightning-Severing Sect for help?" Tan Yehe, standing to the side, tentatively inquired.
"It seems your esteemed sect is not planning to help?" Mr. You retorted in this manner.
"We truly wish we could help, but are unable to," Teng Xingjian stood up, bowing with an apologetic smile. "My Lightning-Severing Sect does not have the qualification, nor the face, to go to Wind Ravine Valley and ask for a pill. So we are truly sorry, gentlemen."
"No matter. Today we have disturbed your esteemed sect, thank you for your hospitality. As for this, consider it a small gift for the two of you."
As he spoke, Mr. You gave a slight flick of his daoist robe sleeve, and then a long sword slid out from within his sleeve, embedding itself in the platform floor before the Lightning-Severing Hall.
A three-foot-six-inch long sword, pitch black overall with dark red patterns shimmering across it, was thrust diagonally before the hall. The blade sank three inches into the ground yet remained unstained by dust. Spiritual energy began to spread outward along the sword's edge.
"...A top-grade magical instrument?"
Inside the hall, Teng Xingjian and Tan Yehe both straightened their postures, their eyes revealing looks of shock.
"You two..." Teng Xingjian, this Unity Realm cultivator, couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva. Such a gesture was something even the Grand Elders of the Five Great Sects certainly could not produce.
If this was merely a small gift, then what would that opportunity the other party mentioned earlier be?
However, no matter what, Teng Xingjian would not harbor hopes for that opportunity.
Because no matter what, the Lightning-Severing Sect would absolutely not act in a way that risked offending Wind Ravine Valley.
But to accept this top-grade magical instrument just like that... Teng Xingjian would feel he did not deserve it.
"Gentlemen, regarding the matter of the Nine Revolutions Chaos Heaven Tempering Meridian Pill, I truly wish I could help but am unable. However, perhaps there is a compromise..."
"What?" Mr. You asked.
"Three months from now, Wind Ravine Valley will host a Dao Inquiry Assembly at Floating Light Summit. At that time, all the somewhat prestigious cultivation sects of the entire Northern Region of Chenping Continent will come to participate. It is even said that the Dao Gate Travelers of the other four great sects will also come to observe."
Teng Xingjian answered, "As for the final champion of this Dao Inquiry Assembly, they will receive an opportunity to make a wish to Wind Ravine Valley."