Chapter 40: Gu He: In the Jia Ma Empire, is there anyone whose alchemy skills could possibly surpass mine?

Yunlan Sect.

As the most powerful sect force in the Jia Ma Empire, the Yunlan Sect is situated directly upon a majestic mountain range just over ten miles away from the capital of the Jia Ma Empire.

Because of the name of the Yunlan Sect, this mountain is also called Misty Cloud Mountain.

A mountain that is actually named after a sect shows just how extraordinary it is.

Misty Cloud Mountain has steep terrain and is surrounded by cliffs on three sides, with only one road leading to the summit, making it a dangerous place that is easy to defend and hard to attack.

Furthermore, all over the mountain, there are Yunlan Sect disciples patrolling strictly at all times; the entire mountain range is effectively a small fortress.

Just two miles from the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain, there are fifty thousand iron cavalry stationed by the empire.

Although these fifty thousand iron cavalry are nominally there to guard the capital, anyone can see.

This is the ruler of the empire guarding against this tiger near the capital.

The sheer scale of the Yunlan Sect can be seen from this.

At this moment, outside the main hall of the Yunlan Sect, a middle-aged man with a rather refined appearance walks in with some urgency.

This person is an Elder of the Yunlan Sect, Gu He, and at the same time, he is ostensibly the most formidable Alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire.

Upon hearing that Yun Yun had returned to the sect, Gu He rushed over.

"Sect Master!"

At this time, Yun Yun is also in the main hall.

As soon as Gu He enters and finishes his hurried greeting, he turns to look at her.

"Sect Master, did you obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal on this trip? I heard that a terrifying battle broke out in the Magical Beast Mountain Range a few days ago; it must have been you and that Purple Crystal Winged Lion King."

Yun Yun's eyes flicker, she shakes her head, and remains silent, indicating that she did not obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal.

Ever since she left the Magical Beast Mountain Range, she has been somewhat absent-minded.

Hearing this, Gu He sighs, thinking that the emotion Yun Yun is displaying is because she failed to obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal.

If he had the Purple Spirit Crystal, he could refine the Purple Crystal Pill for Nalan Yanran to take.

However, the next moment, Yun Yun blinks, a hint of a smile suddenly appearing on her face as she says, "Although I did not obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal, I accidentally obtained a pill better than the Purple Crystal Pill from a young Alchemist."

Hearing this, Gu He cannot help but raise an eyebrow, feeling somewhat skeptical, and just as he is about to ask Yun Yun, he is interrupted by her words.

"I have already given that pill to Nalan Yanran to take; at least, as far as it looks now, the effect is very good, there have been no side effects, and her cultivation growth is very solid."

"It is so perfect that it doesn't even seem like a pill."

Yun Yun's tone carries deep admiration.

After all, every medicine has its poison.

Although most pills have mild medicinal effects, they all contain more or less medicinal toxins.

Taking them occasionally is fine, but long-term, heavy consumption can easily damage one's foundation.

Yun Yun does not encourage Nalan Yanran to take pills, but she is determined to quickly improve her cultivation, and she trusts Gu He's alchemy skills, which is why she took the initiative to help him find the Purple Spirit Crystal.

But the pill that Gu Fei gave her is different; she did not sense any toxicity.

It is mild and harmless, as if it has no side effects at all.

It is estimated that in less than a month, once she has digested the power of the pill, Nalan Yanran will be able to successfully break through to the Great Dou Master realm.

Seeing Yun Yun's high regard for another Alchemist, Gu He cannot help but frown.

How powerful could a pill refined by a young person be? Moreover, for a Dou Master wanting to touch the Great Dou Master realm, his Purple Crystal Pill is the best choice.

Where did this young person's pill formula come from?

However, Gu He subsequently checks for himself and sees that after Nalan Yanran took the pill, her cultivation progress was indeed very significant.

The aura on her body is clearly much more composed, and that Dou Qi seems as if it were cultivated through solid effort, very stable.

This pill indeed exceeds the expected effect of the Purple Crystal Pill. "..."

Such a result makes it difficult for Gu He to say the words he has been holding back.

Previously, when Yun Yun asked him to refine a pill, he set a condition: that Yun Yun accompany him to the Tagor Desert to search for an Exotic Fire.

Yun Yun agreed readily at the time, promising Gu He that once he successfully refined the Purple Crystal Pill and gave it to Nalan Yanran, she would help him go find the Exotic Fire.

But now, before he has even refined the Purple Crystal Pill, Yun Yun has already obtained a better, milder pill from someone else, which makes it somewhat difficult for Gu He to speak up.

After all, this counts as him breaking his word; how could he have the face to ask for the reward?

Gu He's lips twitch; although Yun Yun is somewhat slow, she has seen enough to know what he wants to say.

"Elder Gu He, don't worry, I will still help you with what I promised before!"

"Consider it thanks for all the help you have given the Yunlan Sect in the past."

Yun Yun says coldly.

After all, Gu He has made great contributions to the Yunlan Sect; one must know that the Pill King's pills are hard to come by in the outside world.

When Gu He helps them refine pills in the Yunlan Sect, he usually only charges a very small fee, or, like this time, makes a request for the other party to accompany him on an outing.

After all, although Gu He is skilled at alchemy, his strength is still insufficient for self-protection.

Choosing a few powerful "bodyguards" in exchange for the pills he refines is his best option.

As Sect Master, even though Gu He could not help her this time, it would be unreasonable and unjustifiable for her not to help him out.

"Then many thanks, Sect Master!"

Gu He is overjoyed and then says, "This matter should be done sooner rather than later; let us depart tomorrow."

Yun Yun readily agrees.

In Shi Mocheng.

With Gu Fei's help, Hai Bodong finally recovers his Dou Huang cultivation.

He breaks the Seal and feels the long-lost fullness of power throughout his body.

Yet Hai Bodong still dared not make a move against Gu Fei, and with great heartache, he handed over that half of the Fragmented Map as he had originally promised.

Furthermore, he additionally gave Gu Fei a map he had drawn himself that might contain the location of an Exotic Fire.

Of course, Gu Fei did not actually need the location of an Exotic Fire.

Because he knew that at this time, the Exotic Fire had already been taken by Medusa.

Going to search for it now would only be a wasted trip.

What Gu Fei needed was merely a map of the desert.

"Very good! Many thanks."

Gu Fei smiled as he took it, then left the Gutu shop with Xiao Yixian.

Next, it was time to truly enter the desert.

Shi Mocheng could only be considered the outer edge of the desert, while the place they were going to was the depths of the desert where no humans truly lived.

The climate there was poor, extremely hot, and water resources were scarce, so Gu Fei began taking Xiao Yixian to purchase some supplies in Shi Mocheng.

In the desert, water was indispensable, and they also purchased some food.

Xiao Yixian obediently followed behind Gu Fei; Gu Fei did not let her help carry things, instead storing everything into his Storage Ring.

And after gathering the supplies, they left the city, sat on the back of the Lion King, and set off once again toward the depths of the desert.

(End of this chapter)