Having survived a calamity, Bi Lan was filled with anxiety.
She looked up at the high mountain before her, feeling that the Medicine God Sect resembled a slumbering Giant Beast. Who knew what might happen during this Medicine God Grand Ceremony?
The journey had been fraught with hardship.
But finally, she had found the Mountain Gate of the Medicine God Sect.
Mountain Guard Disciples took the initiative to greet her. Bi Lan presented her greeting card, and the guard disciple invited her inside, directing her to the Sect Main Hall.
Only then did Bi Lan learn that today was the very day the Medicine Ceremony was being held.
Following the guard disciple’s instructions, she headed toward the Sect Main Hall.
The paths within the sect were flat, and every few hundred steps, a directional signpost was erected. Finding the Sect Main Hall didn’t take Bi Lan much time.
But when she arrived at the Sect Main Hall, a High Platform had already been erected on the Martial Arena outside the hall. A crowd of cultivators from other sects had gathered all around.
Some were sparring with Medicine God Sect disciples in arranged matches, others were exchanging cultivation insights. There were also renowned Medicine God Sect Elders and disciples being surrounded by visitors, offering large sums of money to request Medicinal Pills and Pill Recipes.
The Martial Arena was bustling with people. Yet, as Bi Lan looked around, she didn’t see many familiar faces.
On the High Platform, everything required for the ceremony was already prepared. Underneath the platform were designated seats for the Mighty Figures from various sects who had received invitation cards to observe the ceremony at the Medicine God Sect.
It was said the ceremony would begin at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM). However, about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense past the mark, Senior Yao Shenzi still had not appeared.
The guests had all arrived, and even more cultivators, drawn by the news, had come to the Medicine God Sect to join the excitement. On the high platform, Elder Wu, who was maintaining order, was wiping cold sweat from his brow round after round.
Left with no choice, he decided to proceed with the ceremony’s schedule first.
The opening of the furnace for the Yang Marrow Pill was the highlight of the ceremony, naturally to be placed at the very end.
But one activity to warm up the atmosphere after another concluded, and yet the key figure was still nowhere to be seen.
To prevent the guests below from growing suspicious, Elder Wu had to temporarily add another item to the proceedings. He retrieved several treasures from the sect’s treasury that were impressive enough to hold the scene and arranged an auction first, to buy some time.
“How is it? Have you found him?” Elder Wu temporarily handed the stage over to a sect disciple. Every time he saw a fellow Elder, this was the question he asked.
After asking around, the answer came back: “The Sect Master is not in his Cave Abode.”
“…”
~
After the Pill Furnace exploded, Ren Qingyue, seeing that the situation was unfavorable, was the first to duck into Yan Zhao’s robes.
Anyway, the contract was already formed. No matter what, Yan Zhao was now Yao Shenzi’s disciple. She could consider her mission accomplished.
The room fell silent.
Yan Zhao was also completely blackened, staring wide-eyed at Yao Shenzi, who stared back.
“Ah, this…” Yao Shenzi opened his mouth, but suddenly felt a choking sensation in his lungs and coughed several times.
Not far away, the little red fox, who had been sleeping groggily, was jolted awake by the loud bang. It jumped three feet into the air, its ears still ringing upon landing. It took a good while to figure out what had happened.
Turning its head, it saw two humans with soot-blackened faces.
Then it looked left and right, but didn’t see Fox Immortal Sister.
Yao Shenzi stared at Yan Zhao for a long time, meeting her eyes, which still held a childlike quality. The corner of his mouth twitched.
The words already on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down. He changed his tune, “It’s fine, it’s fine! Diligence compensates for clumsiness. Good disciple, as long as you obediently follow this old man’s teachings, this slight gap in innate talent is nothing to worry about!”
Yan Zhao seemed to understand only partially.
Just then, Yao Shenzi suddenly remembered something. “Oh dear! This old man has forgotten an important matter!”
He slapped his thigh, stood up, and walked toward the door, but stopped just as he reached it.
With a flip of his wrist, he produced a Small Notebook, about the thickness of a thumb, walked back, and shoved it into Yan Zhao’s hands. “Disciple, your master will be back in a moment. First, study this Alchemy Book. When I’ve finished handling the sect’s mundane affairs, I’ll come back and test you.”
Having said that, Yao Shenzi hurried away.
Yan Zhao looked down at the booklet in her hand.
The title on the cover read: Elixir Dao Masterclass.
“…”
The little fox poked its head out of Yan Zhao’s robes and looked at it too.
She saw the small booklet opened, containing both text and illustrations, with detailed content that explained profound concepts in simple terms. It was extremely easy to understand.
Upon closer inspection, this booklet was a handwritten, unique copy, and likely personally annotated by Yao Shenzi. Outside this place, it would be a priceless treasure.
Yao Shenzi had just given it to Yan Zhao like that.
Ren Qingyue’s eyes lit up. She was reading with great interest when the booklet suddenly snapped shut.
Then, smack—
Yan Zhao tossed it onto the floor.
Yan Zhao had never had the habit of reading books. After casually flipping through two pages, she started feeling drowsy, utterly bored.
She looked down at the little fox. “Reading is boring. Let’s go out and sunbathe?”
Ren Qingyue: “…”
~
Yao Shenzi left the pavilion and was about to head to the Sect Main Hall.
On the way, a figure appeared out of thin air on the mountain path, forcing him to stop.
A moment later, Yao Shenzi focused his gaze and frowned. “Who goes there?”
The man wore a dark purple Daoist robe and held his hands behind his back. He responded, “I am Daoling of Xuanjing Peak, Fuyun Sect. It is an honor to meet Senior Yao Shenzi.”
“Fuyun Sect, Xuanjing Peak?”
Yao Shenzi’s demeanor changed instantly from the amiability he’d shown before Yan Zhao. A shrewd glint flashed beneath his puffy eyelids.
Today was the grand Medicine Ceremony, with numerous guests. It wasn’t strange for a cultivator to get lost on the mountain paths and end up in the wrong place.
But clearly, this man was here for a specific purpose.
Yao Shenzi said coldly, “May I ask why you are blocking my path?”
Daoling didn’t address his business directly but instead said, “Senior Yao Shenzi, do you still remember Yan Yuanqing?”
“This old man remembers her, of course.”
Daoling sighed. “Since Immortal Venerable Yuanqing was murdered by someone from the Devil Clan and met her end, the strength of my Fuyun Sect has steadily declined. Now, Devil Venerable Cangli has finished healing her wounds and come out of seclusion once more, seeking revenge against Fuyun Sect.”
“A few days ago, when Yuanqing’s Cave Abode appeared, Devil Venerable Cangli somehow got word and took the opportunity to gravely wound our Sect Master’s direct disciple. This young man was also a Shizhi whom Immortal Venerable Yuanqing held in high regard. Now, his sinews and bones are shattered, and he has become a Cripple.”
After a lengthy discourse, Daoling clasped his fist toward Yao Shenzi. “Therefore, Junior pleads with Senior, for Immortal Venerable Yuanqing’s sake, to set aside one Yang Marrow Pill. Fuyun Sect will certainly pay the full price it fetches at auction. I beg Senior to grant this request.”
“For Yuanqing’s sake?” Yao Shenzi raised an eyebrow, his expression mocking.
Daoling saw Yao Shenzi’s expression, his heart sinking. He immediately wanted to explain.
But Yao Shenzi didn’t give him the chance. He coldly interrupted, “When Yan Yuanqing died, Fuyun Sect didn’t even hold a memorial ceremony, nor did they ever send an invitation to this old man. How is it that three hundred years later, you have the audacity to come asking this old man for a favor?”
Immortal Venerable Daoling was left speechless, his mouth agape.
Yao Shenzi might appear muddle-headed, but his heart was like a clear mirror.
If the people of Fuyun Sect truly treated Yan Yuanqing like family, why would Yan Yuanqing’s disciple send Yan Zhao to the Medicine God Sect?
Yao Shenzi swept a cold glance over Daoling and snorted. “Rather than pester this old man, you should go to the front hall and secure a spot. Since you can afford the auction price, go and bid for it. Why waste time here?”
Daoling’s face was ashen, a dark, unreadable light in his eyes.
He did not erupt in anger. His gaze passed over Yao Shenzi’s shoulder toward the pavilion at the mountain peak. A moment later, he surprisingly saluted Yao Shenzi again. “Senior’s words are true. This Junior was presumptuous.”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and left.
Yao Shenzi’s expression remained foul. Long after Daoling had gone, he still spat toward the spot where the man had stood. “Lazybones! Shameless!”
~
Having casually tossed aside the Alchemy Book, Yan Zhao stood and stretched her back and legs.
Well-fed and well-rested, she suddenly found herself with time to spare and nothing to do.
She was just about to push the door open to go play when the little fox jumped out of her robe and bit the hem of her trousers.
She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but the little fox seemed stronger now. With its teeth gripping her trouser leg like that, her foot felt as if it were nailed to the ground, unable to move.
Hearing the commotion, the little red fox ran out from the inner room. Seeing Fox Immortal Sister biting Yan Zhao’s trouser hem, it immediately followed suit and grabbed Yan Zhao’s other trouser leg in its mouth.
Yan Zhao: “…”
She was forcibly dragged back into the room by the two foxes.
The little fox pulled her into the room, pressed her down onto the Prayer Mat to sit properly, and then winked at Bai Jin. Using Fox language, she instructed Bai Jin to pick up the booklet from the floor.
Bai Jin had now been honorably promoted to being Fox Immortal Sister’s loyal fangirl. Whatever Fox Immortal Sister said, she would do.
As soon as Fox Immortal Sister’s words fell, she happily scampered over to pick up the small booklet, then ran back in short, bouncing steps, her big tail wagging.
The White Spirit Fox raised a tiny paw and patted Bai Jin’s head. Bai Jin immediately tried to nuzzle against Fox Immortal Sister in delight.
But before she could make contact, Fox Immortal Sister’s pink paw pressed against her head and gently pushed.
She spun in a circle on the spot, and the two foxes were now half a zhang apart.
Bai Jin: Whimper.
The little fox tossed the Alchemy Book back into Yan Zhao’s hands and even considerately opened it to the first page for her.
She pressed her tiny paw against the first line of text, looked up, and projected her intention toward Yan Zhao.
The little fox’s eyes, like emeralds, were bright and sparkling.
Having once experienced being tutored by a fox, Yan Zhao miraculously understood her meaning. “You want me to study?”
The little fox looked earnest and nodded.
“Hmm.”
Yan Zhao frowned in difficulty, her cheeks puffing out.
The room fell completely silent, where one could hear a pin drop. Yan Zhao lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought, not responding for a long time.
Seeing this, Ren Qingyue felt uncertain.
From the process of Yao Shenzi accepting a disciple, it was obvious that Yan Zhao was truly impervious to reason.
When she didn’t want to do something, no one could force her.
The more Ren Qingyue thought, the heavier her heart became. She couldn’t help but reflect: Was she wrong to have Yan Zhao become Yao Shenzi’s disciple? Was it a mistake to place so many expectations on Yan Zhao?
After an unknown amount of time, Yan Zhao’s shoulders dropped slightly.
The little fox sighed, her paw loosening its grip.
A strange weariness rose in her heart.
Yan Zhao had always been free-spirited. How could she change so easily?
Maybe she shouldn’t be so strict. Perhaps letting Yan Zhao live a simple, straightforward life was also a choice.
As this thought crossed her mind, she suddenly realized that she too had grown accustomed to Yan Zhao’s carefree and unrestrained nature. She almost couldn’t imagine what Yan Zhao would look like cultivating diligently.
It was at that moment that Yan Zhao picked up the book.
“Alright. I’ll read it.”
