The Pill Convention concluded successfully under the watchful eyes of the masses.
No incidents occurred throughout the entire event.
From beginning to end, everything proceeded so smoothly and peacefully that it almost exceeded expectations.
Perhaps things were exactly as Cloud Link had suggested.
No matter how insane the Demon Cult was, they could not possibly launch an attack in a place where masters from all the top sects were gathered.
Or rather, if the Demon Cult truly possessed the strength to wipe out the top righteous forces gathered there, they wouldn’t need to waste their efforts on a plan to ally with the demonic beasts.
As the convention ended, the cultivators who had gathered in Spirit Herb City began to disperse.
However, the various topics surrounding this event were destined to circulate for a long time.
This time, Chen Yuyang and his master, Tai Lingxuan, had thoroughly made a name for themselves in the cultivation world.
Tai Lingxuan was famous for her terrifying rate of cultivation growth during this period.
Everyone was debating whether Tai Lingxuan would become the next Great Completion Realm cultivator of the Northern Region.
Chen Yuyang, on the other hand, received significant attention for the stunning talent he displayed in alchemy.
After the convention, Chen Yuyang did not go to the Alchemy Sect to claim the 5,000 top-grade spirit stones’ worth of natural treasures.
In his view, he was an old soul relying on age and experience to win a ranking in a competition for young people.
Claiming the reward would feel a bit beneath him, and he wasn’t exactly someone lacking 5,000 top-grade spirit stones.
As for the right to listen to Sect Master Zhu Tian’s sermon or enter the library, he had zero interest in those from the start.
Those things held essentially no meaning for him.
After handling a few simple follow-up matters, Tai Lingxuan prepared to take Ling Xi directly back to the Acacia Sect.
Chen Yuyang, following his previous agreement with Yan Dangmo, temporarily bid farewell to his master and sister to follow Yan Dangmo to the Yan family.
He would stay there for a period to teach Yan Luo the techniques of fire control.
At the moment of departure, Ling Xi pulled on Chen Yuyang’s sleeve.
Her small face was filled with reluctance, and her eyes turned slightly red.
“Senior Brother, you must be careful while you’re out there alone,” she said, her voice carrying a slight nasal tone.
Chen Yuyang couldn’t help but be amused.
He reached out and patted the girl’s head, his tone light as he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. It’s not like I’m heading into a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair. Don’t make it sound like a final farewell.”
Afterward, Chen Yuyang turned to Tai Lingxuan.
“Master, I have some words I wish to speak with you in private.”
Tai Lingxuan was puzzled but nodded nonetheless, following Chen Yuyang to a quiet, secluded spot.
Chen Yuyang spread his spiritual sense to confirm no one was watching.
Only then did he take a stack of talismans and a palm-sized set of flags from his robes, stuffing them directly into Tai Lingxuan’s hands.
“Master, keep these safe,” he whispered.
As Tai Lingxuan held the stack of talismans and flags, she could feel the extraordinary power contained within them.
She frowned in confusion and asked, “What… is this?”
“These are life-saving items granted to me by my father,” Chen Yuyang explained, invoking his non-existent father.
“Half of these are defensive talismans. At their limit, they can withstand a full-strength strike from a Level 5 Great Completion Realm cultivator. The other half are offensive talismans. They require a significant amount of spiritual energy to use, but they can effectively damage Great Completion Realm cultivators.”
“That set of flags is a simplified entrapment and killing array. Just lock onto the opponent with your divine sense, pour in spiritual energy to activate it fully, and you won’t need to worry about the rest.”
Tai Lingxuan frowned and hurried to interrupt him.
“Since these are treasures for protection, why are you giving them to me? You should keep them for yourself.”
Chen Yuyang’s gaze sharpened slightly as he shook his head.
He leaned closer and lowered his voice further.
“Master, I’m afraid that old dog from the Heaven and Earth Sect might try to harm you.”
“After all, we’ve effectively made an enemy of him. Who knows if he’ll find an opportunity to strike us? He has no shame. If he attacks you on your way back and blames it on the Demon Cult afterward, there will be no evidence or clues. It’ll be whatever he says.”
“That… surely it won’t come to that…” Tai Lingxuan’s mouth hung open slightly, her voice hesitating.
The Heaven and Earth Sect was a prestigious righteous sect.
As its Great Elder, surely he wouldn’t…
Chen Yuyang shook his head, his voice turning a bit sterner.
“Master, don’t be naive. Are these righteous sects truly that righteous? One must always be wary of others. Regardless, take these with you. I will be with Senior Yan; with his protection, I am very safe. Conversely, you are taking Ling Xi back to the sect. You need to be extra careful on the road and within the sect itself.”
Tai Lingxuan fell silent for a moment, pondering the young man’s words.
Her fingers gradually tightened around the talismans and flags.
After a long while, Tai Lingxuan finally nodded.
“Alright, I understand. Yuyang, I will wait for you to return to the Acacia Sect.”
Even though she didn’t think things would escalate that far, it was Yuyang’s goodwill… Ultimately, he was doing this for her.
Tai Lingxuan felt a wave of warmth rippling through her heart.
‘This child is really becoming more sensible and knows how to look after people…’
“Mm,” Chen Yuyang grunted in response, saying nothing more.
After bidding farewell to Tai Lingxuan and watching her board the flying ship with Ling Xi to depart, Chen Yuyang turned and walked toward the Alchemy Sect.
At that moment, in a certain courtyard within the Alchemy Sect, Yan Dangmo had just finished handling some final business.
This time, aside from leading the team to the Pill Convention, he had also come to establish a cooperative relationship with the Alchemy Sect’s higher-ups regarding several matters.
Having finished his business, Yan Dangmo turned his gaze toward his granddaughter, Yan Luo.
‘I’ll go find that Chen kid in a moment. Before that, I should do some psychological preparation for Radish.’
“Radish, Grandpa is telling you, the young man I found for you is a true one-in-a-billion genius. Even though he’s young, his cultivation is quite impressive, and his talent in alchemy is extraordinary. His future is limitless. Moreover, he’s handsome and dashing, absolutely a young hero — “
Yan Dangmo began to boast incessantly, failing to notice the increasingly numb expression on Yan Luo’s face.
The girl kept her head down.
Although she didn’t argue, her opinion of this “young hero” had already dropped to freezing point before they even met.
Only she knew how much resistance was in her heart.
He made it sound nice, calling it “teaching fire control techniques.”
But who didn’t know that the Yan family possessed the top fire control techniques in the Northern Region?
Grandpa just wanted her to interact with that boy.
‘Hmph, if I can actually learn something, then fine. But if this is what Grandpa is planning, he can forget about it,’ Yan Luo snorted inwardly, having already made up her mind.
When she met that person later, she would definitely give him a show of force first! If he wanted to instruct her, he had to see if he had the strength!
‘A young hero? Let’s see if you can even beat me first!’
Just as Yan Dangmo was about to continue, a calm voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard.
“Senior Yan, this junior…”
Before the visitor could finish his polite greeting, Yan Dangmo’s eyes lit up, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out.
“He’s here! That kid is here! Quick, quick, Radish, come with me to greet him. Don’t be rude!”
Yan Luo remained firmly seated in her chair, unmoving.
She only glanced at her grandfather’s eager, somewhat undignified appearance, her lip curling as she couldn’t help but complain internally.
‘Grandpa is really something. As a dignified Great Completion Realm powerhouse, he actually shows such an attitude toward a junior. He has no sense of majesty or decorum left.’
‘Hmph, I don’t care who you are. Expecting me to go out and greet you? Dream on! Just you wait!’
However… that voice just now sounded somewhat familiar.
Yan Luo felt a brief flash of doubt, but it was quickly pushed to the back of her mind.
She hardened her expression, putting on an uninviting, sour face and crossing her arms.
She was already calculating how to humiliate the boy in front of her grandfather.
Outside the courtyard gate, Chen Yuyang stood dressed in plain green Daoist robes, his hands clasped slightly as he waited.
Yan Dangmo hurried to meet him, his eagerness undiminished.
However, after seeing Chen Yuyang’s respectful posture, he subconsciously straightened his expression to maintain the bearing of an elder.
“Haha, Young Friend Chen, you’ve finally arrived! I was just thinking that if you didn’t show up soon, I would have to go look for you myself.”
Chen Yuyang bowed slightly, his voice remaining calm and gentle.
“This junior would not dare to neglect a promise made to a senior. After bidding farewell to my master and junior sister, I came immediately.”
“Good, good, good,” Yan Dangmo said “good” three times in a row, stepping forward to pat Chen Yuyang’s shoulder.
“You certainly have a heart. Come, there’s no need to be so restrained. And stop calling me senior, it sounds distant. If you don’t mind, just call me Elder Yan.”
Of course, in his heart, Yan Dangmo actually wanted to hear Chen Yuyang call him “Grandpa Yan.”
But that would be a bit too obvious… so it was better to take things step by step.
Chen Yuyang clasped his hands again.
“Then, Elder Yan, this junior shall obey.”
“Haha, that’s more like it! You’re a straightforward man!”
Looking at Chen Yuyang, Yan Dangmo grew more pleased the more he looked at him.
“Come, come in with me. Sigh, that girl Radish… I told her to come greet you together.”
Yan Dangmo led the young man into the courtyard.
Looking back at the house, he noticed Yan Luo sitting there unmoving and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
Chen Yuyang wore a gentle smile and said nothing more, following Yan Dangmo into the house.
Yan Luo raised her eyes, watching the two shadows — one large and one small — approach in the sunlight.
The girl’s expression tightened further, and she even deliberately made her face look a bit menacing, as if she were literally writing her displeasure on her forehead.
As she watched him step forward, the girl thought coldly, ‘Stepping into the room with his left foot first. To hell with him!’
Then, Yan Luo’s sharp gaze, like a sword, shot toward the other person with undisguised hostility, meeting a pair of black eyes as vast and deep as the starry sky.
“Yo, Fellow Daoist Yan, we meet again.”