Under Qingyun Mountain.
When Su Changyu saw Ye Ping again, his heart was filled with uncontrollable joy.
The reason being, all along, Su Changyu had been afraid that Ye Ping would encounter a mishap in Qingzhou Ancient City.
He had even braced himself for Ye Ping’s death.
However, now that an unharmed Ye Ping had appeared in front of him, Su Changyu naturally could not suppress the joy in his heart.
As long as Ye Ping was alive, that was better than anything else.
“Eldest Senior Brother!”
Ye Ping hurriedly walked over and bowed to Su Changyu.
He looked extremely respectful and his eyes were full of joy too.
“Forgo the formality.”
Although he was elated, Su Changyu’s expression was extremely calm on the surface.
“Eldest Senior Brother, who’s this?”
After returning to his senses, Ye Ping could not help but look at the person beside Su Changyu.
It was a middle-aged man who looked composed but was not as collected as Su Changyu. Instead, he seemed a little slow-witted.
“This is my new disciple, you can call him Disciple-Nephew Gu.”
Su Changyu said and introduced Old Gu to the crowd.
Su Changyu felt troubled at the mention of Old Gu.
Previously in Lizhou, he met Gu Jianxian whom he originally intended to take in as his disciple, but later on, he shook him off and then ran to the sect alone.
However, he didn’t expect Gu Jianxian to chase him and insisted on following him back to the sect.
He even said that since Su Changyu was once his master, he would always be like a father to him. In short, he clung onto Su Changyu.
In an instant, Su Changyu roughly figured out what happened.
Gu Jianxian had either been fooled by him or seen through his scheme and just wanted to tag along.
Be it the former or the latter, Su Changyu felt that it was troublesome.
‘If it is the former, then how should I explain clearly? If I end up delaying his progress in cultivation, it won’t be a laughing matter.’
Ye Ping had never practiced immortal cultivation before, and hence, no matter what, Su Changyu didn’t want to hold up Ye Ping, but he felt that Ye Ping was now living rather well.
However, Old Gu was different. He was a genuine immortal cultivator and was probably in a midlife crisis. If he found out that Su Changyu had fooled him, he would probably kill Su Changyu.
If it was the latter, it would be bad too.
If he knew that Su Changyu was a loser but still insisted on following him, what would that mean?
It would mean that he was just a loafer.
He wanted to sponge off Su Changyu.
That was unacceptable. The Qingyun Dao Sect could only afford to have one loafer and it must be none other than him, Su Changyu.
Hence, Su Changyu planned to have a showdown with Old Gu in a few days.
At this moment, Gu Jianxian’s eyes were finally livelier.
He immediately stared at the Great Purgatory Resentful Demon.
“A Nascent Soul realm Ghost King?”
Gu Jianxian saw through the original body of the Great Purgatory Resentful Demon at a glance, but he didn’t seem shocked at all. He was just a little curious as to why a Ghost King of the Nascent Soul realm appeared here.
However, in the next moment, Gu Jianxian immediately figured it out after seeing the golden hoop on the Great Purgatory Resentful Demon’s head.
Sensing Gu Jianxian’s gaze, the Great Purgatory Resentful Demon shot him a hostile look, as if to say, “What are you looking at?”
Gu Jianxian ignored the Great Purgatory Resentful Demon and instead turned to look at Xia Qingmo.
“The princess of the Great Xia Dynasty?”
This time, Gu Jianxian couldn’t help but have a trace of surprise in his eyes.
He really didn’t expect to see the princess of the Great Xia Dynasty here. However, Xia Qingmo didn’t know him.
However, Gu Jianxian was just slightly bewildered. As a supreme Sword Immortal, he wouldn’t be too astonished even if the king of the Great Xia Dynasty appeared in front of him.
Afterwards, Gu Jianxian looked at Xu Luochen again.
‘What a good-for-nothing.’
He was composed.
In the end, Gu Jianxian looked at Ye Ping.
‘Uh?’
Gu Jianxian could see through Ye Ping’s physique immediately.
Ye Ping was very, very strong, and he showed signs of having condensed the Blood and Qi Furnace. That was not all and Ye Ping seemed to be harboring a True Dragon in his body as his physique, physical body, Blood and Qi had all reached the extreme.
Most importantly, according to Ye Ping’s Qi and Blood, Ye Ping should be about 22 years old.
He was a genius.
He was not an ordinary genius.
A trace of surprise appeared in Gu Jianxian’s eyes. Although Ye Ping was indeed a genius, he had seen countless geniuses in his life
Ye Ping was indeed very impressive to have condensed the Blood and Qi Furnace at the age of twenty-two, but it was not enough to make him feel astonished.
Unless Ye Ping cultivated for less than three years, he could only be considered a rare genius in the eyes of Gu Jianxian.
Retracting his gaze, Gu Jianxian bowed slightly towards Ye Ping.
“Greetings, Uncle-Master, I’m Gu Mingshi.”
Gu Jianxian spoke expressionlessly, without any emotion in his eyes.
Upon hearing Gu Jianxian’s voice, Ye Ping was a little surprised as he didn’t expect that he actually had a Disciple-Nephew now.
However, no matter what, Ye Ping immediately returned the greeting.
“Spare the formalities.”
At this moment, Xu Luochen couldn’t help but walk over, his eyes full of curiosity as he looked at Su Changyu.
“Eldest Senior Brother, why did you take in a disciple after taking a trip out? Have you told Master?”
“It’s hard to explain, we’ll talk when we go back to the sect.”
Su Changyu really did not want to answer this question and planned to go back to the sect before explaining it to Ye Ping.
However, Su Changyu soon couldn’t help but look at the Great Purgatory Resentful Demon and Xia Qingmo.
The Great Purgatory Resentful Demon looked like a good-for-nothing to him.
However, he did a double take on Xia Qingmo.
Su Changyu was obviously shocked. It wasn’t that he had never seen a beautiful woman, but she was a ravishing beauty and he couldn’t help but take a second glance at her.
However, Su Changyu simply took a glance. After all, Chen Lingrou and Xiao Muxue were gorgeous too.
“They are?”
Su Changyu looked at Ye Ping and asked in a very calm tone.
“Eldest Senior Brother, they are my friends.”
Ye Ping answered.
“Friends? Oh, in that case, let’s go up the mountain together.”
Su Changyu nodded. He then turned around and walked towards the mountain.
At this moment, six figures walked towards the mountain.
They all had different thoughts from each other.
The Great Purgatory Resentful Demon was walking behind.
His gaze kept hovering over both Xu Luochen and Su Changyu.
He was already certain that Xu Luochen was a good-for-nothing.
As for Su Changyu, he was indeed shocked in the beginning and subconsciously thought that Su Changyu was really a supreme Sword Immortal.
However, with some careful observation, he basically determined that Su Changyu was a good-for-nothing too.
Thinking of this, the Great Purgatory Resentful Demon couldn’t help but rejoice. He reckoned that if he informed Ye Ping of that at night, Ye Ping would be utterly grateful towards him.
Xia Qingmo would look at Su Changyu from time to time.
For some reason, she would feel an indescribable emotion whenever she saw Su Changyu. He seemed familiar to her but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Just like that, the group of them arrived at the Qingyun Dao Sect.
There were no changes in the Qingyun Dao Sect as it was still as shabby and plain as before.
There was an incense stick in the joss urn outside the sect.
Their frugality left others speechless.
“Changyu!”
“Ye Ping!”
“Luochen!”
At this moment, Daoist Tai Hua slowly walked out of the main hall. He planned to go and eat but didn’t expect to see the person he had been worried about as soon as he came out.
“Greetings, Master.”
At this moment, Su Changyu, Ye Ping, and Xu Luochen bowed to Daoist Tai Hua at the same time.
The blockhead-like Gu Jianxian slightly bowed to Daoist Tai Hua.
He was a true supreme expert who had a jaded and humble heart. Even if he was made to beg, he wouldn’t find it a big deal.
“Good, good, good, good that you’re back.”
Daoist Tai Hua’s eyes were full of warm tears.
He didn’t expect Su Changyu to have already returned, and all of a sudden, his heart was a lot less heavy.
“I don’t know why but your eldest Senior Sister and the rest are back. I’ll cook you guys a feast tonight. Go ahead and chat.”
Daoist Tai Hua answered excitedly.
“Muxue is back too?”
Su Changyu was a little surprised. In the entire Qingyun Dao Sect, Xiao Muxue was the one whom he was the most afraid of.
It was not that he was afraid that Xiao Muxue would replace him as the future Sect Leader, but rather, she was very sharp-tongued and would insult him mercilessly whenever they met. Hence, he couldn’t help but subconsciously feel resentful towards her.
“She came back this morning. You guys continue chatting while I go cook for you guys.”
Daoist Tai Hua was in high spirits.
To be frank, it had been a long time since there was a reunion in the entire sect, and it was a coincidence that Xiao Muxue, Su Changyu, Xu Luochen, and Ye Ping had all returned today.
“Is Eldest Senior Sister back?”
Ye Ping couldn’t help but be a little scared after learning that Xiao Muxue had returned.
However, he did not say much and waited for Daoist Tai Hua to leave before taking Xia Qingmo and the Great Purgatory Resentful Demon to the room for some rest.
Soon, everyone left. This time, Su Changyu felt that he had had a close shave with death and he wanted to rest well too. He wanted to get a good sleep before anything else.
Five minutes later.
After Ye Ping settled Xia Qingmo and the Great Purgatory Resentful Demon down, he went directly to see Xu Luochen.
He still remembered clearly the instructions that Elder Xu Chang gave him.
Soon, Ye Ping arrived at Xu Luochen’s residence.
At this moment, Xu Luochen, who was in the room, was still recalling what happened today.
He was extremely displeased about the matter and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Xu Luochen planned to write a letter of complaint.
At this moment, Ye Ping’s voice sounded.
“Second Senior Brother, it’s me.”
Hearing Ye Ping’s voice, Xu Luochen couldn’t help but recall what he had to do.
At that moment, Xu Luochen got up and opened the door of the room, allowing Ye Ping to enter the room and talk about it.
Inside the room, Xu Luochen was also very polite and took the initiative to pour Ye Ping a cup of tea.
He then asked with a look of bewilderment, “Ye Ping, when we were at the bottom of the mountain, you said that you came back this time to see me. What exactly happened?”
Xu Luochen was curious.
He couldn’t figure out why Ye Ping came back from Jin Nation Academy just to see him.
That was strange.
“Second Senior Brother, here’s what happened. A few days ago, I was studying the art of alchemy in the Jin Nation Academy, and the elder who was teaching us claimed that there is no non-poisonous pill in this world.”
“Second Senior Brother, it’s not that I can’t take some provocation, but it’s mainly because that elder insisted that anyone who can refine a non-poisonous pill must be a conman. Hence, I contradicted him in a fit of anger.”
“I then refined a non-poisonous pill in front of everyone.”
“However, I didn’t expect that elder to say that this non-poisonous pill is a priceless treasure that can help the entire Jin Nation or even the Great Xia Dynasty. So, he wanted me to give them the formula for the non-poisonous pill.”
“However, you taught me the refinement method of this non-poisonous pill so I had to come back to ask for your approval. However, the elder also said that if you’re willing, they can grant me any condition.”
“Of course, if you don’t want to, I can go back and turn them down immediately. At most, I’ll come back from the Jin Nation Academy. I can’t learn much from them anyway.”
Ye Ping told the whole story to Xu Luochen.
After he did, Xu Luochen froze.
‘Huh?’
‘All because of this matter?’
‘Non-poisonous pill formula? Someone believes this?’
He had nothing to say about Ye Ping since he was a rookie immortal cultivator and would be tricked easily.
Yet, the elders of the Jin Nation Academy believed it too.
‘Must you be so outrageous?’
“Who is this elder you are talking about?”
Xu Luochen snapped back to his senses and was suddenly filled with curiosity.
He just wanted to know who the elder was. How could there be such an ignorant elder?
“Xu Chang.”
Ye Ping answered seriously.
“Xu Chang? Xu Chang?”
Xu Luochen frowned slightly, the name was familiar to him, but all of a sudden, he couldn’t recall it.
‘Wait…’
‘Xu Chang?’
‘The best alchemist in Jin Nation?’
In an instant, Xu Luochen remembered who Xu Chang was and his eyes were full of shock.
“Junior Brother, is this Xu Chang that you’re talking about the best alchemist of Jin Nation?”
Xu Luochen swallowed his saliva and couldn’t help but ask.
“Yes, but he is definitely not the true best alchemist of the Jin Nation.”
Ye Ping nodded. He didn’t think that Xu Chang was the best alchemist in the Jin Nation, because the actual best alchemist in the Jin Nation was sitting in front of him.
However, Ye Ping didn’t say it because after all, he knew that his Senior Brothers liked keeping a low profile. Hence, he didn’t say anything.
He inhaled sharply.
At this moment, Xu Luochen was astounded.
‘Xu Chang?’
‘Xu Chang.’
Xu Chang, who was the best alchemist in Jin Nation, was his idol.
In fact, he was the idol of the alchemists in the entire Jin Nation
Yet, such a powerful existence was asking for his pill formula?
It was really… a huge glory.
A great glory.
Xu Luochen was shocked and excited. In order to curb his emotions, Xu Luochen picked up the cup of tea and chugged it.
“Second Senior Brother, if you think it’s not possible, I”ll go and turn them down in a few days.”
Seeing Xu Luochen’s reaction, Ye Ping didn’t think much of it and simply thought that Xu Luochen was just displeased.
“No.”
In the next moment, Xu Luochen immediately shook his head, calmed himself down, and then said, “We can give them the formula, but the Jin Nation Academy must promise me three things.”
He definitely couldn’t reject them.
It was a good thing to bring glory to his ancestors and it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity too. If he said no, he would be retarded.
“Senior Brother, the non-poisonous pill refinement method has a huge significance. If you’re doing this for my sake, you don’t have to. After all, you put your heart and soul into this…”
Ye Ping did not expect that Xu Luochen would actually be willing to hand over the pill formula.
To be honest, Elder Xu Luochen’s request made him displeased. He felt that he was not a saint and the world had nothing to do with him. Besides, the pill formula was Xu Luochen’s lifelong efforts.
Ye Ping couldn’t share it with others.
He had come back this time, mainly to see his Senior Brothers and learn something too. After all, he didn’t learn anything in Jin Nation Academy so he might as well come back to the sect.
After hearing Xu Luochen’s words, Ye Ping was indeed shocked.
“Ye Ping, you thought wrongly.”
At this moment, Xu Luochen spoke up.
He looked at Ye Ping and said calmly,
“Two minds are better than one. I may have researched and invented the non-poisonous pill formula in my lifetime, but this formula still has many flaws.”
“However, with my skills alone, the effects of this non-poisonous pill cannot be maximized. We need more people to research.”
“A lineage will cease one day. Besides, the Dao of alchemy is to bless the world in the first place. True alchemists would know to sacrifice and dedicate selflessly.”
“Besides, a true alchemist sees not just a formula but a world. Do you understand?”
Xu Luochen’s voice was calm, but his words were indescribably noble.
Ye Ping was suddenly shocked.
He stared at Xu Luochen.
For some reason, Xu Luochen suddenly looked rather noble and great.
At this moment, Ye Ping suddenly understood that he was the true peerless expert and a true supreme alchemist.
When other alchemists knew a little something that others did not, they would wish to get a share.
However, true alchemists did not care about the spread of their formulas. They cared about how many people the formula they invented could benefit.
At this moment, Ye Ping really wanted to say to Xu Luochen, “You are really a great man.”
However, Ye Ping held it in because he knew that Xu Luochen did not need any praises because too many people had praised him before.
“I thank you on behalf of everyone in this world, Second Senior Brother.”
At this moment, Ye Ping came back to his senses and bowed to Ye Ping, his heart full of admiration.
Hearing Ye Ping’s touching words, Xu Luochen was even more satisfied.
‘Good, this is the feeling.’
“Little Junior Brother, sit down. We can give the pill formula to Jin Nation Academy, but there are a few things I want to make clear.”
“Firstly, the pill formula still belongs to me, there is no doubt about that.”
“Secondly, I still have to have the rights to the pill. It shall be signed off by me.”
“Thirdly, the pill formula is not a free gift, and the Jin Nation Academy must agree to three of my conditions. However, they won’t be hard to fulfill.”
Xu Luochen told Ye Ping to sit down.
He could give the pill formula away for free, but if he could make demands, he wouldn’t waste it.
Xu Luochen had already thought of the three conditions.
