Chapter Thirty-One: The Alchemical Cauldron
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As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Linglong cast Mu Feng a smug smile, as though she were asking for praise.
Seeing this, Chang Qingjian’s expression darkened terribly.
As a disciple of the Sword Sect, how could he not know the background of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion?
The pavilion’s actions clearly meant to protect Mu Feng.
As long as Mu Feng remained in the Alchemy Hall, the Sword Sect would be powerless against him.
Even the Sword Sect had to think twice before provoking the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
“Since this place now belongs to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, there is no reason for us to remain.”
“As for what happened today, I hope Pavilion Master Yu will not take it to heart.”
Chang Qingjian stiffly cupped his hands in salute, then left without looking back.
Seeing this, the members of the Xiao family could only withdraw as well.
Just as she stepped through the entrance of the Alchemy Hall, Xiao Ruoxin turned back to look at Mu Feng.
Her gaze was unusually complicated.
Perhaps she regretted her decision. Perhaps she felt a pang of sorrow.
If only she had been willing to wait a few months back then, perhaps everything would have been different.
At that thought, Xiao Ruoxin’s expression abruptly darkened.
“How can I think like that? Only the Sword Sect can give me everything I want!”
“So what if Mu Feng is a genius? How could a tiny Mu family possibly compare with a colossal power like the Sword Sect?”
“Mu Feng, once I enter the forbidden ground and reach the Xuanhuang Realm, you will never be my match for the rest of your life!”
With that, she strode away.
Back in the Mu family’s Alchemy Hall, all the Mu family disciples breathed a long sigh of relief.
Mu Qingcheng, in particular, looked at Yu Linglong with a beaming smile, his face filled with gratitude.
“Thank you for coming to our aid today, Pavilion Master Yu. My Mu family has no way to repay such kindness!”
“There is no need. Someone has already repaid me on your behalf.”
Yu Linglong waved her hand lightly and turned toward Mu Feng with a smile, her eyes full of admiration.
Earlier, when Mu Feng noticed that the Xiao family had arrived at the Alchemy Hall, he had sensed that something was amiss.
He had therefore gone to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to seek out Yu Linglong.
In exchange for six Seven-Yin Separation-Flame Pills and twenty percent of the profits from the sale of the Mu family’s pills, he had arranged for the Mu family’s Alchemy Hall to join the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
That was why she had appeared when the Sword Sect came forward.
Her purpose was to hold the Sword Sect at bay.
Although the Mu family would have to hand over twenty percent of its future profits, gaining the protection of a behemoth like the Myriad Treasures Pavilion was an extremely worthwhile bargain for them.
But in truth, the main attraction had been those six Seven-Yin Separation-Flame Pills. Only pills of such flawless quality could arouse Yu Linglong’s interest.
Yu Linglong then waved lightly at Mu Feng.
“Now that everything has been settled, I should be going back.”
“Young Master Mu, if you come across anything good in the future, you must think of me first.”
With that, Yu Linglong swayed her slender waist and slowly left the Alchemy Hall.
Once everything had been explained, Mu Qingcheng finally understood.
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The way he looked at Mu Feng became one of utter disbelief.
“Xiaofeng, have you encountered some extraordinary opportunity lately? Not only has your cultivation recovered, it is even stronger than before. You also seem to have learned the art of alchemy.”
“What else is there that your uncle doesn’t know? Tell me everything.”
Mu Feng gave an awkward smile.
“It was nothing more than a minor opportunity, hardly worth mentioning.”
“I happened to catch the eye of an eminent expert, who took me as a disciple.”
An expert skilled in alchemy?
And one capable of guiding Mu Feng to such heights?
Upon hearing this, Mu Qingcheng could not help but rejoice.
“Excellent! Excellent!”
“To win the favor of such an expert is your good fortune, and the good fortune of our Mu family as well. You must study diligently!”
Mu Qingcheng patted Mu Feng on the shoulder, entirely lacking the sternness and tension he had shown earlier when the Xiao family had surrounded them.
“Young Master, I bought the osmanthus cakes.”
At that moment, Jia Zhuangxian entered the Alchemy Hall with a cheerful grin, carrying the osmanthus cakes.
The instant he saw him, Mu Qingcheng spoke up.
“Come here.”
At once, Jia Zhuangxian’s body trembled. He nearly collapsed to the ground, and could only approach on shaking legs with a pitiful expression.
“Patriarch, I admit I went a little too far with what I said just now. But I only spoke that way because I’m loyal to the young master.”
“I truly couldn’t stand by and watch those people insult him like that. Please be magnanimous and let me off this once.”
He had assumed that Mu Qingcheng intended to rebuke him.
Unexpectedly, Mu Qingcheng reached out with both hands and helped Jia Zhuangxian to his feet.
“Although your cultivation is weak, you dared to act against the Xiao family. You do not bear the Mu name, yet you possess the spirit of a true member of the Mu family.”
“From now on, come to my Mu family and become an official disciple.”
“What do you say?”
Become an official disciple of the Mu family?
Jia Zhuangxian stood frozen in place.
A child born and raised in Yellow Sand Town, he had dreamed of becoming an official disciple of the Mu family and enjoying its cultivation resources.
Although he was overjoyed to receive such an opportunity, Jia Zhuangxian still shook his head and refused.
“Patriarch, my cultivation is too weak. I truly have no qualifications to become an official disciple of the Mu family.”
“So I think it would be better to forget it.”
Others began cultivating at a young age, and by their teens or twenties, they would have reached at least the fourth or fifth level of the Qi Condensation Realm.
He had only gained spiritual power two months ago.
Even now, he had reached merely the second level of the Qi Condensation Realm.
He was simply too ashamed to accept.
Seeing Jia Zhuangxian give up on himself, Mu Qingcheng snorted coldly.
“What nonsense! A man’s ambitions should extend in every direction. Before this, Xiaofeng’s cultivation had been crippled, his realm had fallen, and his meridians had been destroyed. He was despised and humiliated, yet he never gave up!”
“What right do you have to give up?”
Jia Zhuangxian nodded vigorously upon hearing this.
“The patriarch is right!”
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“I’m willing!”
“That’s more like it.”
Mu Qingcheng watched the scene with a broad smile.
Mu Feng, standing nearby, was speechless.
Was his uncle praising him or insulting him?
“By the way, Xiaofeng, the annual clan gathering is in a few days. Come back with us.”
“Although the Xiao family does not dare attack us openly, there is no telling what they might do in secret. Alone in Yellow Sand Town, you may find it difficult to stand on your own.”
Mu Feng had originally been sent away for the sake of tempering himself.
But now that his abilities had grown, there was no longer any need for him to remain in Yellow Sand Town.
Seeing this, Mu Feng did not refuse.
The entrance examination for the Taichu Martial Academy was only a short while away.
He should begin preparing properly.
At the same time, deep within the Snowmoon Mountains, a group of people made their way through the dense forest toward the Xiao family’s forbidden ground.
“Ruoxin, the Xiao family’s forbidden ground lies just ahead. You once absorbed the power of the Fire Spirit Stone here. By now, the Void Purple Flame has begun to take shape. If you can refine it…”
“Not only will you be able to enter the Xuanhuang Realm, you will also become the first genius in the entire Snowmoon Dynasty to possess an elemental spiritual power before reaching the Spirit Wheel Realm!”
“When that time comes, you will certainly be able to kill Mu Feng outright in the Taichu Martial Academy’s joint examination.”
In the dense forest, Xiao Jue spoke with undisguised smugness.
Although the Xiao family had suffered one upheaval after another recently, as long as Xiao Ruoxin refined the Void Purple Flame and firmly established herself in the Sword Sect, none of it would matter.
Chang Qingjian, standing nearby, let out a cold laugh.
“Of course. Possessing the Void Purple Flame means she can become Senior Brother Jiang’s cultivation furnace. That is a blessing countless people could never hope to receive.”
“Even we junior disciples can’t help but envy her.”
He called it envy, but the sarcasm in his words made Xiao Ruoxin feel extremely uncomfortable.
Jiang Wuying had agreed to marry Xiao Ruoxin precisely because he coveted the Void Purple Flame. This was no secret within the Sword Sect.
The Sword Sect was an orthodox and prestigious sect to begin with. Xiao Ruoxin had not only taken another woman’s place to marry Jiang Wuying, she was also willing to become his cultivation furnace.
Naturally, she was despised by everyone.
They did not dare provoke Jiang Wuying to his face, but they had no qualms about mocking Xiao Ruoxin.
Faced with Chang Qingjian’s sneering remarks, Xiao Ruoxin could only force down her anger.
“Once I completely absorb the Void Purple Flame and my cultivation soars, we’ll see whether you still dare speak to me like this!”
At that thought, the furrows between Xiao Ruoxin’s brows finally eased.
Just then, a Xiao family attendant came rushing out of the dense forest.
“Patriarch! Miss! Something terrible has happened! Something terrible!”
“The forbidden ground… The forbidden ground has been blown up!”