https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-651-Taking-Disciples-on-Behalf-of-the-Master/12947130/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-653-Who-Gave-Her-the-Confidence-5K4-/12947132/
Chapter 652: Peak Master's Alchemy (4K2)
Chapter 652: Peak Master's Alchemy (4K2)
After the youth in disarray left, the three Peak Masters exchanged glances, and their figures slowly dissipated in place.
Ye Lan stood with her hands clasped, staring at the curling smoke rising from the offering altar, deep in thought for a long time.
After a moment, she turned around, and the expression on her fair face finally returned to normal, no longer cold and distant, but still with a hint of fatigue in her eyes.
"Forgive my embarrassment," Ye Lan tried to force a smile, her lips twitching, but she couldn't lift the corners of her mouth.
The Ye Patriarch, who once intimidated the masses with her reputation in He Shan, now returned to her own sect in such a disheveled state that even her master's statue had been replaced.
She could almost imagine how disappointed Shen Yi must be.
"Every family has its own troubles."
Shen Yi didn't intend to comment further on the matter, merely offering a simple word of comfort before turning her gaze towards the courtyard.
There were a total of six rooms, most of which were now vacant. Rather than resembling a branch of an immortal sect, it looked more like a rural household, faintly reminiscent of its once lively and harmonious atmosphere.
"The Fifth Peak is called the Dan Peak, but even after the incident occurred, when I took over as the Peak Master, I still knew nothing about alchemy."
Ye Lan also looked at the rooms, her eyes revealing a hint of reminiscence and a subtle self-mockery, "To ensure that the legacy of the Fifth Peak wasn't wasted, that senior uncle, Mu Yang, selected many disciples who studied alchemy as a secondary path and sent them to the Fifth Peak."
"At that time, I was restless and had no mind to pay attention to these matters. Later, I even left Divine Void Mountain and traveled across the Divine Dynasty, gradually becoming what you see now."
After speaking, Ye Lan let out a long sigh, "Alright, I've given you the identity you asked for. Feel free to choose an empty room to rest. After I heal Jing'er's injuries, we'll set off on our return journey."
Obviously, she didn't intend to fight for anything.
If she hadn't seen the replaced statue of her master, she probably wouldn't have been able to hold back her anger, even for that brief moment.
"..."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yi raised an eyebrow.
He had already guessed that the situation wouldn't be ideal before coming, but he hadn't expected it to be this bad. It seemed like he had come to Divine Void Mountain just to go through the motions.
After a quick visit, they were heading back, without any delay.
"Don't even think about it. The Void Dao Fruit is an extremely precious treasure, even in Divine Void Mountain. Only the Peak Master has the qualifications to pass it on, and only to the most favored disciple."
"The one who holds the Void Dao Fruit is, in essence, the candidate for the next Peak Master."
"Do I look like a Peak Master to you?"
Ye Lan understood what Shen Yi was thinking and shook her head lightly. She held the title of Peak Master of the Dan Peak, but she had no real authority. In the eyes of the other Peak Masters, she was merely a junior of the third generation.
A junior had no right to choose a candidate.
Even if she forcefully tried to pass on the Dao Fruit, the other Peak Masters would join forces to stop her.
Even if Shen Yi's memories weren't erased, they wouldn't let him leave Divine Void Mountain with the Dao Fruit.
If the Dao Fruit was passed on outside, when Shen Yi obtained the Void Dao Fruit, Divine Void Mountain would surely sense it, leading to even greater trouble.
"You don't really look like one."
Shen Yi sighed, turning and leaving the room.
Having said so much, it would be impolite to persist further. If someone didn't want to teach, he couldn't very well capture Ye Lan and force her to reveal the secrets.
Even if he took a million steps back, he couldn't win...
After infusing another eighty-eight tribulations into the Dragon Tiger Fruit Position, accumulating a total of one hundred and sixty-nine tribulations of cultivation, Shen Yi finally gained a partial understanding of Ye Lan's strength.
The good news was that this time, it wasn't a matter of no increase or decrease.
The bad news was that the sense of danger had deepened.
But this was actually a good thing, indicating that he was one step closer to her.
Although they were both at the Fifth Stage, the gap between them was not insignificant.
Forget it, at least he had secured an identity. In the future, when traveling outside, he would have a nominal protection, and his trip wouldn't be in vain.
"Hmm."
Shen Yi casually chose an empty room and closed the door.
As the wooden door closed, an invisible array force quietly emerged, enveloping the entire room.
After sensing it briefly, Shen Yi identified its functions of suppressing breath, gathering energy, soundproofing, and more, all with an astonishingly powerful effect, unlike anything he had ever heard of.
His eyes widened in surprise.
Now he understood why Divine Dynasty cultivators often referred to Phoenix Water as a remote and backward place... It wasn't just their arrogance; there was some truth to it.
Shen Yi slowly walked to the bed and sat down, habitually opening the panel, only to pause in surprise.
【Remaining Demonic Beast Lifespan: Six Tribulations】
He flipped through the panel and quickly guessed the source of this unexpected increase in lifespan.
"Have you descended to the mortal realm?" Shen Yi called out to Qinghua with his divine sense.
"Reporting to my master, Qinghua is currently guarding the Azure Sea by order and leading troops to sweep away the demons."
In the Divine Continent, there were few demons and monsters, mainly due to the formidable power of the imperial court and the Imperial Qi that controlled the world. It was challenging for ordinary demonic creatures to hide within its borders and find sustenance.
Unless they had pledged allegiance to the Three Teachings, becoming their subordinates, most of the free-roaming demonic races preferred to stay outside the Divine Continent.
Only those who violated the divine laws would prompt the Immortal Court to dispatch troops to purge them.
"Be careful."
Shen Yi had already learned about Qinghua's transfer from Qinghua herself before his departure.
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. A promotion from Seventh Stage to Sixth Rank might seem like a small step, but the power of the official seal alone, not to mention other factors, marked the difference between a True Immortal and a Heaven Transcender.
Countless people coveted this position, and it was unimaginable that it would fall into the hands of a lone Stable Master without any backing.
The Azure Phoenix General who arranged this transfer clearly wasn't acting out of charity; there had to be a deeper intention.
Shen Yi pondered this, and the only connection he could think of was the incident where Zi Ling was locked in the stable. Perhaps this Celestial General wanted to use this opportunity to investigate Qinghua's background and allegiance, assessing her strength and whether she posed a threat to Zi Ling.
Shen Yi had no better solution to this situation.
After all, in terms of both strength and status, he and the Azure Phoenix General were not on the same level.
Since he couldn't completely clear himself of suspicion, he could only take things one step at a time. At least, for now, the Celestial General was still observing and hadn't taken direct action.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, he could also earn some demonic beast lifespans, which was a good thing.
"Go ahead."
Shen Yi opened his eyes, breaking the connection. He was about to infuse the Six Tribulation lifespan into the Dragon Tiger Scripture, hoping to truly complete this Fruit Position.
His mind stirred slightly, but he quickly stopped himself.
Currently, aside from cultivation, he lacked too much in other aspects. Whether it was his understanding of cultivation or various techniques, when it came to the Eighth Stage and above, he was utterly clueless.
It was a rare opportunity to visit the grand sect, and he couldn't return empty-handed.
With this in mind, he decisively stood up and walked out the door.
In the courtyard, only Ye Jing remained.
She spoke softly, "Senior Brother Shen, is there something you need?"
It had been challenging to force that title, and calling someone 'Senior Brother' within the Immortal Sect would inevitably lead others to associate it with the Divine Dynasty and the Immortal Court.
Although Ye Jing wasn't a disciple of the Pill Peak, she had spent many years on the mountain during her childhood and was relatively familiar with the place.
"Where's your sister?" Shen Yi scanned the surroundings but couldn't find Ye Lan's figure.
Upon hearing this, Ye Jing's face suddenly took on a strange expression. She pursed her lips, shook her head, and a hint of fear flashed in her eyes.
"Where's the Secret Law Pavilion?"
Seeing that Ye Jing was reluctant to speak, Shen Yi decided to get straight to the point.
"It's over there."
Ye Jing turned and pointed towards an old building in the distance.
Shen Yi took a step forward, and his figure disappeared from his original spot. When he raised his eyes again, he had arrived at the entrance of the small building.
"It's him..."
Outside the Secret Law Pavilion, the disciples passing by halted in their tracks. Their gazes were filled with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.
The news of Ye Lan's return to the mountain to accept disciples on behalf of her master had already spread among the various peaks.
The third-generation disciples were the backbone of Shenxu Mountain, second only to the Peak Masters. The fact that this youth had joined their ranks upon entering the sect was puzzling.
Now that they had seen the main character, they felt even more perplexed.
A Seventh Stage True Immortal's cultivation was indeed impressive in the outside world, but here, at the mountain gate of the Great Enlightenment Immortal, it was not particularly remarkable. It was not considered low, but it was also not extraordinary.
Even among the third-generation disciples, it seemed a bit lacking.
Under the gaze of so many people, Shen Yi remained unperturbed. He was about to leave, so why should he care about these things?
He decisively stepped into the Secret Law Pavilion.
The two guards at the entrance, though unwilling, bowed and greeted him, "Greetings, Senior Uncle."
Until this moment, they didn't even know the youth's surname.
"..."
Shen Yi had seen the powerful array might within the seemingly ordinary courtyard earlier. He had assumed that the Secret Law Pavilion was only old on the outside, and its interior, if not boundless, would at least not be inferior to the Nanyang Sect's Secret Law Pavilion.
However, upon entering, he discovered that the interior was indeed just an ordinary room. There were only a few dozen shelves of books, all of them heavy tomes, and not a single jade slip in sight.
The only remarkable thing was the vast array might that still filled the room. As soon as Shen Yi stepped in, he realized that even his divine sense had been completely sealed.
He casually picked up a book and flipped through it. It contained records of the alchemy path.
Moreover, it wasn't a neatly compiled alchemy book; it was filled with various notes and scribbles. There was no sign of a summary on the cover.
"All the books in this pavilion record the Alchemy Path, but this is too advanced for you."
Just then, a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
Shen Yi turned to see Ye Lan holding two thin books, gently shaking them, "The introductory volume is here."
Before he could react, she was already walking towards the door, "If you're interested, I'll give it to you after I'm done."
Shen Yi fell silent for a moment.
He was disappointed not to find what he was looking for, but since he was already there, he might as well take something.
The Great Enlightenment Immortal's teachings on the Alchemy Path would surely come in handy someday.
With this thought, he followed Ye Lan out of the Secret Law Pavilion.
...
On the Fifth Peak, there was no shortage of alchemy chambers.
Most disciples had their own private rooms.
Ye Lan ignored the strange glances from others and calmly entered an empty room. The room was simply furnished with three alchemy furnaces and several large medicine shelves.
She didn't look at the medicine shelves but instead flipped through the two thin books, taking out various medicinal ingredients from her storage treasure.
"What are you doing?" Shen Yi asked, slightly puzzled.
"I'm refining pills to heal Jing'er's injuries. The pills outside aren't good enough, and they might leave hidden problems."
Ye Lan appeared indifferent, and even when Ye Jing returned with severe injuries, she didn't show any unusual emotions. But in reality, she deeply cared for her sister.
"Are there no pills on Pill Peak that can heal a True Immortal?"
Shen Yi watched Ye Lan's focused expression, feeling something was amiss, "And didn't you say you don't understand the Alchemy Path?"
If even on the vast Pill Peak, they couldn't find a single pill suitable for a Seventh Stage cultivator, then what was the point of all this?
"I don't want to use their pills."
Ye Lan didn't look up, following the instructions in the thin book. She used vast spiritual energy to ignite the furnace and refine the medicinal ingredients one by one, "I studied it for a while in the past, but I've become rusty. I just need to refresh my memory."
Her voice was steady, and her movements were becoming more and more skilled, following the pill recipe precisely without deviation.
As the saying goes, if you master one skill, you can master them all. Those with exceptional cultivation talent, if they truly focus on mastering various arts, will never fall short.
"..."
Shen Yi silently stared at the alchemy furnace, feeling a sense of deja vu in the changes within.
The next moment... Pfft!
The furnace roared, and a puff of black smoke suddenly shot out.
Ye Lan wiped the black soot off her fair cheek with the back of her hand, then flipped the pages of the thin book and started the process again, her expression unchanged.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Black smoke stained the walls in waves.
Ye Lan remained focused, having memorized the pill recipe in the thin book. She put it down and began the next attempt with utmost concentration.
"Huff."
Shen Yi finally understood the source of the apprehension he had seen on Ye Jing's face earlier.
He sighed and took the thin book.
【Seventh Stage. Tetragrammatic Alchemy Manuscript: Volume 1 - Uninitiated】
As Shen Yi opened the Tetragrammatic Alchemy Manuscript, his past expertise in the Alchemy Path finally had a chance to shine. He could understand about seventy to eighty percent of the content in this volume.
Demonic beast lifespan rapidly flowed into the book, and in less than a tribulation's time, in just over two hundred years of lifespan, the pill recipes and techniques were all instinctively engraved in his mind.
Time passed slowly.
Ye Lan stared intently at the alchemy furnace, and a rare look of excitement appeared on her pretty face. She exclaimed, "It's done!"
In an instant, the lid of the furnace was lifted, and emerald green pills floated out.
She took the pills in her hand, her lips curving upwards, and habitually turned around as if her master was right behind her, "Look!"
"Hmm."
Ye Lan's expression froze, and she looked at the item in Shen Yi's hand, then at her own.
Clearly, they were the same pills, but the difference in fragrance and appearance was like heaven and earth.
"You... know how to refine pills?" She opened her mouth slightly, her dazed expression resembling Ye Jing's, finally showing some resemblance as sisters.
"I know a little." Shen Yi put away the pills and handed the bottle to her, "Use these. Yours have too many impurities."
"I... I just wanted to show you, not to give Jing'er these pills. I'll just familiarize myself a bit more..."
Ye Lan instinctively explained, but under Shen Yi's gaze, she still reached out and took the bottle, lowering her eyes and saying softly, "Thank you."
(End of Chapter)
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