Towering cliffs towered, misty clouds drifted across the sky. The bright moonlight cast a veil of light, casting a serene and beautiful light.
On the clifftop, where the moon seemed within reach, a graceful figure stood alone, a shiny gold coin clutched between her slender fingers. She gazed into the distance, lost in thought, unable to make up her mind.
After an unknown amount of time, soft footsteps echoed from behind, startling the figure, who was lost in thought, and instinctively hid the gold coin in her palm, then placed it behind her.
"Teacher, why are you back too?"
Noticing her subtle gesture, Yun Shan smiled gently and stepped forward to the cliff's edge.
"I had no intention of celebrating my promotion to Dou Zong, but the Deputy Pavilion Master and Old Man Jia insisted, so I had no choice but to accept. I had overlooked your relationship with the Deputy Pavilion Master."
Yun Yun shook her head slightly, appearing unconcerned.
However, this subtle thought could not be hidden from Yun Shan, who had watched her grow up.
With a long sigh, Yunshan gazed southeast. Just beyond this point lay the Zhongzhou, the land so coveted by countless people.
"Go ahead if you want. Live for yourself. I'm sure that boy will be very surprised to see you. I chose you as the successor to the position of Sect Leader because you were my disciple, not because the sect chose you. The Yunlan Sect shouldn't be a shackle that binds you. Now that I've ascended to the Dou Zong position, the Yunlan Sect will not fall with me!"
"Teacher..."
"There's no need to elaborate. Honestly, Yun'er, you're not suited to being a Sect Leader. The Heavenly Alliance is growing stronger, benefiting all of us. It's a good time for development. Even if you don't leave, I'm prepared to take over the position of Sect Leader again."
Yunshan looked at Yunyun, who looked ashamed.
Seeing him like this, Yunyun couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Teacher, thank you. I'll think about it."
"Haha, why are we talking about this between master and disciple? I'm going to the palace and won't be back for the next few days. Don't look for me when you leave. Leave a letter for Yanran at the Gate of Life and Death, so she won't be disappointed if she can't see you after she comes out of seclusion."
Yunshan waved his hand, his smile unfailing.
He didn't linger any longer, stomping through the air and away.
After a few breaths, he completely disappeared from his disciples' sight, then he sighed deeply.
Atop the mountain
, Yun Yun's heart wavered after hearing Yunshan's words. Recalling someone's words, she immediately spread her palms, leaving the final decision to fate.
With a clang, the outcome was already determined.
Under the same night sky, back at Danta, Chen Guan cordially escorted Xiao Yan out.
"Brother Guan, I'm going back to practice. With these two grains of Soul-Bearing Dust, I'll definitely be able to enter the Spirit Realm within half a month!"
"Well, I'm counting on you. Go ahead."
Chen Guan nodded with a smile, watching him go before turning to collect the Blood Spirit Demon Fruit on the table. He couldn't stop smiling.
The seeds planted that day finally bore fruit today. Things were progressing as expected, which was a joyful thing.
With this Blood Spirit Demon Fruit, the ingredients for the Bone-Growing and Blood-Melting Pill were finally complete.
The resurrection of the Skyfire Venerable was just around the corner!
"It's almost time. Let's go, Junior Brother, to see the teacher."
Cao Ying, who was sitting next to him, stood up, a smile on her face, calling him Junior Brother as if she had gotten a great deal.
Chen Guan had been almost numb to her calls all night, so he didn't argue, but nodded and followed.
Chen Guan didn't mind becoming Xuan Kongzi's disciple. No matter how you looked at it, it was a great thing.
After all, to get involved in this, one needs power and a background. If there had been such a backer before, the incident with the poisonous old monster could have been avoided.
But Xuan Kongzi brought up this matter in public during the day...
Never mind, it's better not to think about it, otherwise it will be suspected of being ungrateful.
Shaking his head slightly, Chen Guan regained his composure.
Soon, they arrived at the study.
"Come in directly."
Before the two knocked on the door, Xuan Kongzi's voice came out, and it was obvious that he had been waiting for a long time.
Cao Ying turned around and smiled, leading Chen Guan to push the door open and enter.
"Teacher."
"Teacher."
Cao Ying greeted first, and Chen Guan followed closely behind.
It was the first time to call a living person teacher, and he was a little uncomfortable.
Xuan Kongzi, who was sitting behind the desk, didn't find it strange. The smile on his face was the kindest Chen Guan had ever seen.
"Please take a seat. There are no outsiders here."
"Chen Guan, you are now able to refine seventh-grade pills. Your level of skill is unquestionable. As the saying goes, teaching students in accordance with their aptitude. I don't need to explain the basics of alchemy. As a gift for meeting... er, becoming your disciple, I will give you three volumes of eighth-grade pill recipes."
Having learned a bit about Chen Guan's character from Yao Chen, Xuan Kongzi wasted no time and presented his benefits.
He opened with three copies of the eighth-grade elixir formula, a testament to his wealth.
Even Chen Guan, who had inherited something from his elder brother Han Feng, was impressed by his generosity and quickly stood up to accept it.
"Thank you, Master."
"Well, keep these three things too: the seventh-grade alchemist badge and the Danta Core Disciple token. With them, you'll have much greater ease in Zhongzhou. But I hope you can upgrade to the eighth-grade soon. The same goes for Ying'er. I'm laying down a rule: whoever of you reaches the eighth grade first will receive three treasured elixir formulas as a reward. I guarantee they're unseen in the outside world, not even that old Yao Chen has them."
Xuan Kongzi's face gleamed with pride, a sense of superiority at his lead over Yao Chen.
Chen Guan and Cao Ying's eyes lit up, and as they glanced at each other, they could see each other's confidence.
Healthy competition among fellow disciples—that's exactly what Xuan Kongzi desired.
With a slight smile, he continued, "This memoir represents the culmination of my experience gained in alchemy over most of my life. I'll pass it on to you today as well. You two, sister and brother, can explore and study together. If you encounter any questions, feel free to ask me."
"Yes!"
Chen Guan saluted and accepted it, his affection for his new teacher rising rapidly.
He had given so much!
Han Feng's legacy had already allowed Chen Guan to ascend directly to the Seventh Rank, let alone the legacy of an Eighth Rank alchemist. The value of this...
is inestimable!
"Well, let's do this. You two are both one-in-a-million alchemy prodigies. Ordinary instruction is useless for you. I believe that allowing you to explore the art of alchemy more freely will lead to faster progress. Do you have any questions?"
Cao Ying shook her head upon hearing the question.
Having long been a disciple, she always asked questions of her own whenever she had a question.
Xuan Kongzi nodded, then looked at Chen Guan.
Chen Guan pondered for a moment before bowing and saying, "Teacher, I'd like to ask for a favor."
"Oh? Tell me."
"Teacher, I'd like to ask for help in refining the Bone-Growing Blood-Melting Pill and the Heavenly Soul-Melting Blood-Melting Pill."
Without hiding anything, Chen Guan detailed the details of the Heavenly Soul-Melting Blood-Melting Pill. As for the former, Xuan Kongzi knew it well,
so there was no need to elaborate. Both pills were at the peak of the seventh rank. With Chen Guan's current skill level, he had some confidence in refining them, but there was also the possibility of failure.
After all, he had never refined pills of this rank before.
The first time was always a bit awkward.
Refining them himself would inevitably require more time to master these elixirs. Instead, asking Xuan Kongzi to do
it would save him considerable time. As for training, he could choose other pills.
Both pills were highly useful, and the ingredients for them took a long time to gather, so failure was unacceptable.
Regardless, Xuan Kongzi's success rate would undoubtedly be higher than his current one.
"I see. Since it's a promise, I should fulfill it conscientiously. I'll take it. Leave the recipe and herbs. Come back in a month and a half to pick it up."
Xuan Kongzi nodded, a hint of melancholy in his tone, and glanced at Cao Ying, who seemed unresponsive.
Geniuses always attract each other. He had originally thought that with these two gifted disciples spending years together, it would be hard not to fall in love, and some sparks would inevitably fly. But he never expected...
what a pity...
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Chen Guan thanked him solemnly, once again lamenting the benefits of having a teacher.
Without hesitation, he left the herbs and the recipe for the Heavenly Soul Melting Blood Pill and left with Cao Ying.
After leaving Xuan Kongzi's study, Cao Ying, no longer having a reason to join him, said a simple farewell and returned to her residence.
Chen Guan then headed to the Alchemist Trade Fair. The Bone-Bone Melting Blood Pill had already been found, so Venerable Skyfire no longer needed to waste time there.
It took a while to retrieve Venerable Skyfire, and he also took the opportunity to write a letter to inform the Ye family.
Now that everything was done, Chen Guan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. By now, the more urgent matters had basically been completed. It was a bit difficult to get used to the fact that he was
no longer burdened. "Hehe, you are really a person who can't sit still, but you should get used to this state. Normal people are tense every day. Now relax and feel the essence of Danta. In a few months, you will be reborn."
The laughter of Venerable Skyfire came from the ring, and he was incomparably happy.
It's almost there, I will be able to start a new life soon!
Chen Guan chuckled and nodded, walked to the open window and looked at the starry sky, enjoying this rare tranquility. Figures flashed through his mind, including Queen Medusa, Sect Master Yun, Yaoye Yaoyue, Qinglin...
"I wonder what they are doing now?"
(End of this chapter)