Chapter 198

Chapter 198: Visiting Dan Yang

After Hao Ran Sect’s sect competition ended, a wave of cultivation followed. Disciples who had gained insights during the competition, who had broken through on the spot, or who had realized their own shortcomings all began to go into seclusion, wanting to turn what they had learned into real cultivation.

Yun Xi also went into a short seclusion, mainly to study formations. She had to patch up that weakness.

But before she went into seclusion, she used “seeking advice on alchemy from Master Dan Yang” as an excuse and brought Dian Dian with her to Alchemy Peak. Zong Hao introduced her.

Master Dan Yang wasn’t surprised by Yun Xi’s visit. From his disciple Wei Zong Hao’s mouth, he already knew Yun Xi’s maternal family was an alchemy family, and she had come into contact with alchemy while she was very young.

On top of that, with the connection to True Lord Yu Ling, Master Dan Yang was very willing to befriend Yun Xi. It wasn’t true that technical cultivators didn’t need friends. In fact, it was exactly cultivators like them who needed to befriend strong cultivators.

Everyone knew alchemists were usually weak in combat. It was rare for a pill cultivator to both refine pills and have strong fighting power, because alchemy took a huge amount of time and effort. That meant they could usually only master one path, unless they were some kind of extraordinarily gifted all-around cultivator.

So once an alchemist’s skill rose, they were easily targeted by others. Pills were an indispensable aid for cultivators, so some people tried to seize alchemists and force them to serve.

In the past, the Cultivation World had even seen cases of alchemists being kidnapped. After that, the Vast Cosmos Realm specifically established the Alchemy Alliance.

Besides organizing alchemist assessments, rating alchemists, and researching new pill formulas, the Alchemy Alliance also supervised and protected pill cultivators who had obtained alchemist titles, preventing them from being controlled.

Of course, if a major clan, a sect, or even a powerful cultivator was willing to support a pill cultivator and provide corresponding protection, the Alchemy Alliance would not interfere. That was mutual consent and mutual benefit.

When Yun Xi arrived at Alchemy Peak, Wei Zong Hao was already waiting at the foot of the mountain.

The two of them walked and talked, discussing alchemy matters. Zong Hao, however, brought up the matter of taking a master on his own.

“Yun Xi, Fire-Commanding True Lord wants to take me as a disciple,” Zong Hao said.

“Oh? Didn’t you say Master Dan Yang wanted to take you as a disciple?” Yun Xi asked.

Zong Hao scratched his head. “Master Dan Yang has been the one teaching me alchemy, but the Peak Lord sometimes comes to the furnace hall too, so he knows I exist. This time, my ranking in the sect competition was pretty good, so the Peak Lord developed the intention to accept me as a disciple.”

“Does Master Dan Yang know about this?” Yun Xi asked.

“Master Dan Yang knows. He also suggested that I enter under the Peak Lord,” Zong Hao said.

“Then what are you hesitating for?” Yun Xi asked.

Zong Hao said awkwardly, “I just feel like I’d be letting Master Dan Yang down.”

That was how he truly felt.

Yun Xi smiled. “I also think you’ll learn more if you take the Peak Lord as your master.”

“But…” Zong Hao began.

Yun Xi lifted a hand to stop his explanation and sent a voice transmission instead. “Zong Hao, you’re already mid Foundation Establishment. Within ten years, you will definitely form your core. Once you form your core, you’ll be able to refine third-grade pills. Master Dan Yang is only a fourth-grade alchemist. There’s a limit to what he can teach you, and he might even restrict your development. The reason the Peak Lord wants to accept you isn’t only because of your cultivation speed, but also because you can protect yourself. Combined with your talent in alchemy, he thinks your future is promising, so he wants to bring you under his wing. All things considered, I suggest you enter under the Peak Lord. Also, I have a little selfish reason. Wei Yun Qing is the Peak Lord’s named disciple. This time, I don’t know whether the Peak Lord will formally accept her. If the Peak Lord accepts her too, then you can keep an eye on her nearby, so she can’t target me in secret again.”

Zong Hao nodded. “I understand. I’ve never been lax in cultivation. I want to become an alchemist who can protect myself.”

“Of course. I believe you can do it,” Yun Xi said.

The two of them exchanged a look of shared understanding. They both knew those words weren’t empty. With their cultivation speeds, it was impossible for them to be slow.

When the two reached Master Dan Yang’s residence halfway up the mountain, they began a new round of exchange.

Yun Xi discussed some little alchemy tricks with Master Dan Yang, then turned to Zong Hao. “Zong Hao, I have some private matters to discuss with Master Dan Yang. Can you help my spirit pet refine some Beast Spirit Pills?”

As she spoke, she pulled Dian Dian out of her robe and handed him over to Zong Hao, even blinking at him.

Zong Hao understood Yun Xi’s meaning. He took Dian Dian and left the cave dwelling first.

Master Dan Yang smiled. “Junior Sister Wei, do you have something you want to ask of me?”

Yun Xi chuckled. “I do have some matters to discuss, about Zong Hao taking a master…”

Hearing that it was about Wei Zong Hao taking a master, Master Dan Yang waved his hand. “The Peak Lord already told me. I have no objections. Zong Hao is a good seedling. Not only is he talented in alchemy, he also never lets cultivation fall behind. It doesn’t surprise me at all that Fire-Commanding True Lord took a liking to him.”

“Master is broad-minded. Zong Hao’s alchemy foundation was laid by you. Even if he doesn’t take you as his master, you are still his enlightening teacher,” Yun Xi said.

Master Dan Yang laughed. “You little girl. You’re so young, yet you still want to speak on behalf of your brother. No wonder Zong Hao always talks about you.”

Yun Xi smiled in embarrassment. Compared to Master Dan Yang, whose bone age was three hundred, she truly was a little girl. Even so, she still took out a jade slip and handed it to Master Dan Yang.

“This is…?” Master Dan Yang asked.

“Senior Brother Dan Yang, this is an alchemy method taught to me by my maternal family. It’s slightly different from the alchemy method I learned in the sect. Today I want to exchange notes with Senior Brother, and I hope it will help Senior Brother improve your alchemy,” Yun Xi said.

At the mention of alchemy, Dan Yang was interested, but before he accepted it, he confirmed again, “This is your clan’s alchemy method. Can it be shared outside?”

Yun Xi nodded. “Of course. Ancestor agreed that I could exchange alchemy methods with seniors in the sect.”

That wasn’t something Yun Xi made up. When she had stayed with the Feng Family after returning to Kun Yu City, she had exchanged notes with Ancestor Feng. She had also shared some techniques from the sect’s alchemy method with Ancestor Feng.

Coming from an age of exploding information, Yun Xi deeply understood the importance of technical exchange. Working behind closed doors would not lead to long-term progress or development. Instead, it would restrict a clan’s growth.

After being persuaded by Yun Xi, Ancestor Feng was also willing to exchange the clan’s alchemy method, though Yun Xi would inform Ancestor Feng in advance.

After hearing Yun Xi, Dan Yang accepted the jade slip. His regret at not being able to accept Zong Hao as a disciple lessened a bit. Improving alchemy was still very tempting.

On the other side, Zong Hao tucked Dian Dian into his sleeve and brought him to the herb fields on Alchemy Peak. He didn’t have the spirit herbs needed to refine Beast Spirit Pills on hand, so he had to exchange for some first.

After Zong Hao explained the situation to the senior brother guarding the herb fields, he handed over his identity jade token for registration.

Once the senior brother finished registering it, he let Zong Hao enter the herb fields to pick what he needed. Afterward, he could come back to have points deducted or pay with spirit stones. Zong Hao thanked him politely and entered the herb fields.

The herb fields were divided into sections. The spirit herbs Zong Hao needed for Beast Spirit Pills were in the northwest corner, so he walked in that direction.

Dian Dian squeaked. Zong Hao kept walking, but as if casually, he flicked his sleeve. Dian Dian took the chance to drop to the ground and burrow into the soil.