Chapter 68: “Could It Be Ulterior Motives?”

“What?!”

Yao Shenzi was utterly horrified.

How could this be?!

That Pill Furnace had been stored in his study after being sealed and never moved.

Elder Wu took the damaged Wooden Box out from his Universe Pouch.

The surface of the wooden box bore traces of being scoured by Spiritual Qi. The marks were very fresh; it seemed the Pill Furnace had just been stolen.

Xuanyuan Mu sneered. “To avoid returning my Demon Core, you even put on such a clumsy play. Do you really think I’ll believe it?!”

She came today to demand the Demon Core. Yao Shenzi concocted an excuse that it had been refined by someone else, and then the sealed furnace just happens to vanish? How could such a coincidence exist in the world?

Xuanyuan Mu trembled with anger, thinking that if she didn’t use real force, these people would still think she was easy to fool.

Just as she was about to attack, a soft “Huh?” of surprise came from beside her.

“Why is it this box…”

Xuanyuan Mu turned her head to look at Yan Zhao.

Many experts with high cultivation and keen hearing were present; besides, with Yan Zhao captured by Xuanyuan Mu, she was already the center of attention.

Yao Shenzi and Nangong Yin also heard Yan Zhao’s mumbling at the same time.

Both their gazes simultaneously turned to Yan Zhao.

They saw Yan Zhao, still in the position of being held by Xuanyuan Mu, clap her hands.

A pitch-black Pill Furnace dropped from the sky, landing on Yan Zhao.

Because Yan Zhao had rarely taken the initiative to summon it, it was overjoyed and got carried away, bouncing and hopping straight onto her head.

When it jumped, its Furnace Lid clanged and rattled, causing Yan Zhao’s head to bob downwards with each bump.

Everyone present fell silent simultaneously.

Elder Wu’s beard trembled. “S-Sect Master…”

Yao Shenzi also witnessed this scene, but instead of Elder Wu’s terror, his eyes shone brightly.

Xuanyuan Mu: “…”

She released Yan Zhao, seized the Pill Furnace, and focused her senses for a moment. She opened her eyes in disappointment. “…Nothing.”

The Pill Furnace had contracted a new master; the residual aura from before had been cleansed away. Whether Yao Shenzi’s words were true or false could no longer be verified.

Xuanyuan Mu’s eyes moistened. The belief that had sustained her all this time suddenly collapsed.

Her body swayed, and she murmured to herself, “I just wanted to find my beloved pet’s remains. Why can’t such a simple wish be fulfilled?”

Yan Zhao heard her voice and turned to look at her.

Perhaps Xuanyuan Mu’s sorrow was too stark; Yan Zhao had never seen such an expression before.

She tilted her head, pondering. If someone took her Little Fox captive, she would be very angry too.

Suddenly, something flashed through her mind.

A Demon Core, she did have one, and it was something this Pill Furnace had spat out.

So she reached into her robes, felt around carefully for a while, and took out that multicolored Demon Core.

“Is this the Demon Core you want?”

A familiar aura washed over her. Xuanyuan Mu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She tossed the Pill Furnace aside and reached for the Demon Core in Yan Zhao’s hand, but Yan Zhao pulled back and stepped away, dodging.

Xuanyuan Mu calmed down and looked at Yan Zhao. “Give it to me.”

“I can give it to you.” Yan Zhao never forgot to haggle at any time. “But you have to trade another Demon Core for it.”

In Yan Zhao’s arms, the Little Fox covered her eyes with her paws.

Xuanyuan Mu also paused for a moment.

She found it incredible.

Yan Zhao clearly only had Foundation Establishment cultivation, yet captured as a hostage, she didn’t seem afraid at all.

She even dared to propose a transaction condition. Wasn’t she afraid of being killed for the goods?

Yan Zhao’s eyes were clear and bright, her gaze utterly frank, not having considered such a problem at all.

Xuanyuan Mu took a deep breath.

At this moment, her heart was still restless and uneasy, as if in a dream.

At first, she thought she wouldn’t get the Demon Core back today. She never expected that after wearing out iron shoes searching everywhere, it would fall into her lap without any effort.

In her heart, the value of the Colorful Phoenix Demon Core was incomparable to ordinary Demon Cores.

Xuanyuan Mu decisively pulled out a Universe Pouch containing over a hundred top-quality Demon Cores and casually threw it to Yan Zhao.

Yan Zhao caught the Universe Pouch and was dumbstruck upon seeing its contents.

Wow, so many!

Her original intention was just for Xuanyuan Mu to exchange it for something comparable, so she wouldn’t lose out. She never expected to make such a large profit.

As she lowered her head to check the Demon Cores, the multicolored one in her hand was naturally taken by Xuanyuan Mu.

Her goal achieved, Xuanyuan Mu crushed a Teleportation Jade and escaped.

Yan Zhao was left alone on the main hall roof, busily counting the Demon Cores.

The Pill Furnace Xuanyuan Mu had tossed aside came bouncing over to her again, wanting Yan Zhao to pat its head too, but Yan Zhao found it in the way and swatted it aside.

The chaos had come quickly and ended just as abruptly. An indescribable sense of absurdity rose in the cultivators’ hearts.

Reality was truly fantastical, even more thrilling than what was sung about in storybooks.

In the crowd, someone softly exclaimed, “The Devil Venerable Cangli is gone!”

The cultivators came to their senses and turned their heads simultaneously. Sure enough, the spot where Nangong Yin had briefly stood was now empty.

Earlier, Xuanyuan Mu and Nangong Yin had briefly exchanged words; it seemed they also had grievances. Had Nangong Yin gone to hunt down Xuanyuan Mu?

The reason was unknown, but the many cultivators who had come to participate in the Medicine Ceremony collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

The greatest threat was lifted. Recalling the previous events still filled them with lingering fear. None dared to stay long on the mountain, afraid Nangong Yin might return. So, one after another, they gave their excuses and bid farewell to Yao Shenzi.

But even when going down the mountain, they feared accidents happening if they traveled alone. Thus, they called friends and companions, forming groups of two or three, before taking their leave.

The venue, bustling with noise not long ago, fell quiet within less than half an hour.

Elder Wu was deeply grieved. Today’s Medicine Ceremony had gone terribly wrong. How much gossip and after-dinner amusement would these continuous farces become?

Looking around, there were still two corpses on the ground, temporarily untouched.

One was the Coachman killed by Daoling; the other was the Immortal Alliance Deputy Envoy, Xie Xinrong.

The Coachman was easy to deal with; after all, he was killed personally by Daoling. It was an internal problem of Fuyun Sect; the conflict between the Demon Clan and Fuyun Sect had little to do with the Medicine God Sect.

The key was the other one.

The Immortal Alliance Deputy Envoy died at the Medicine God Sect. Even though the killer was Nangong Yin, the Medicine God Sect would not escape blame when the Immortal Alliance pursued the matter later.

Elder Wu was extremely anxious.

Disaster loomed, disaster loomed!

At least they hadn’t yielded to Nangong Yin in the end, and Nangong Yin hadn’t gone on a killing spree. This was truly a blessing amidst great misfortune.

Although the last Yang Marrow Pill hadn’t been auctioned off…

Ah, right, the Yang Marrow Pill!

Elder Wu hurried back to the auction platform, but the Jade Box on the wooden stand containing the Yang Marrow Pill was gone. In its place was a Universe Pouch filled with one hundred million Spirit Stones.

Undoubtedly, it was Nangong Yin who had taken the Yang Marrow Pill.

Elder Wu’s face turned pale as a sheet, feeling as if the sky was about to fall. He hurriedly went to report this to Yao Shenzi.

Turning around, he found the space below the auction platform empty. Aside from the siblings Tushan Yu and Bai Jin, only one female disciple from Fuyun Sect remained. Where had Yao Shenzi gone?

Where could Yao Shenzi be?

As Elder Wu looked left and right, he caught a glimpse of the Sect Main Hall’s roof from the corner of his eye.

Yan Zhao had finally finished counting the Demon Cores: a total of one hundred and twenty-seven.

She beamed with joy, fully satisfied, and contentedly tucked the Universe Pouch into her own robes.

“Disciple.” The Old Monster’s voice suddenly appeared. Yan Zhao turned her head to see Yao Shenzi crouched beside her, examining her meticulously for a moment. He smiled until his features scrunched together. “My disciple hides great depths; this old man nearly misjudged you!”

Yan Zhao had exploded a Pill Furnace right upon meeting him, so he thought she had no Alchemy talent.

But this Pill Furnace she’d contracted had long ago developed a powerful Spiritual Intelligence and could choose its own master. It chose Yan Zhao, indicating her limitless potential.

It was a pity its previous master had strayed onto the wrong path, causing the furnace to also develop evil thoughts. No one in the sect could subdue it anymore, so Yao Shenzi had no choice but to seal it.

He’d never imagined that after he left for just a short while, Yan Zhao would actually manage to tame this spiritual object.

Yan Zhao’s eyes were clear and pure, pristine like a blank sheet of paper.

The more Yao Shenzi looked at Yan Zhao, the fonder he became.

Heh, as expected of my disciple, truly outstanding.

At that moment, Elder Wu arrived beside Yao Shenzi and glanced at Yan Zhao with a solemn expression.

Lowering his voice, he began, “Sect Master, this woman…”

He wanted to ask about Yan Zhao’s identity, but considering the discussion between Daoling and the Immortal Alliance Deputy Envoy during the ceremony, he dared not speak openly.

“Elder Wu, good timing. I was just about to discuss this with you in detail!” Yao Shenzi’s brows and eyes were full of delight. “Take a good look; this is this old man’s Closed-Door Disciple. You must remember her face!”

After saying this, he poked Yan Zhao. When she turned around, he piled on a smile and said warmly, “Good disciple, this is your Martial Uncle Wu. In the future, if Master is away from the sect, you can go to Martial Uncle Wu for anything.”

Elder Wu was silent for a moment.

Then, he sharply inhaled.

“Sect Master, you actually accepted this woman as a disciple?!” He was so anxious his two eyebrows knitted together, forming a knot at his brow. “If she truly is Yan Yuanqing’s daughter, and if Yan Yuanqing stealing the Immortal Realm’s treasure is true…”

And the Immortal Alliance Deputy Envoy had, by terrible coincidence, died at the Medicine God Sect. Just thinking about it suffocated Elder Wu.

Unexpectedly, the person who should be most worried about this matter shrugged it off carelessly. “What does Yan Yuanqing stealing the Immortal Realm’s treasure have to do with my disciple?”

Elder Wu: “…”

At that moment, Yan Zhao looked up and called to Yao Shenzi: “Master.”

Yao Shenzi froze, then was overjoyed. He suddenly jumped up, grabbed Elder Wu, and shook his shoulders vigorously: “Martial Brother Wu, did you hear that? Did you hear that? My good disciple just called me Master!”

“…” Elder Wu was speechless, choked with frustration. He replied, “I heard it.”

Before his words faded, Yao Shenzi was already back in front of Yan Zhao, rubbing his hands together with a smile so wide the wrinkles piled up on his face, like a blooming old chrysanthemum.

“Good disciple, what did you call your master for?”

This kind, amiable demeanor was like two completely different people from the crazy old man he’d been a moment before.

Yan Zhao stated her request. Remembering Ren Qingyue’s instructions before speaking, she said, “Please, Master, help me refine a batch of Soul Nourishing Pills.”

“Soul Nourishing Pills?” Elder Wu was puzzled.

The grade of Soul Nourishing Pills was not low. Elder Wu couldn’t help suspecting that Yan Zhao’s apprenticeship to Yao Shenzi might have ulterior motives.

But in the next instant, his doubt was dispelled.

“Of course, of course.” Yao Shenzi nodded repeatedly, sweeping his sleeve to bring Yan Zhao onto his Flying Sword. “Come, good disciple, your master will go prepare the furnace now.”

His attitude was exceedingly attentive, without even asking a single ‘why’.

Elder Wu recalled an event from many years ago.

When Yao Shenzi chased after Yan Yuanqing trying to make her become his disciple, it was probably much the same.

He never expected that after so many years, nothing had changed.

Elder Wu sighed. “So be it.”

Yao Shenzi flew Yan Zhao back to his loft and brought her into his personal pill chamber.

Yan Zhao curiously surveyed the room.

The four walls of the room were lined with wooden shelves, and jade medicine boxes stuffed the shelves full. There were herbs of every grade.

Yao Shenzi said with a big grin, “Good disciple, this is your master’s personal medicine storehouse. The herbs placed out here aren’t particularly precious; you can use them freely.”

Before he’d even finished speaking, he saw through his squinting eyes that Yan Zhao had casually grabbed a stalk of spirit herb.

She took a bite and chewed.

“…”