Chapter 666: Master of Shenxu Peak

Ye Lan found it hard to put her current emotions into words.

She had brought Shen Yi back originally only because he had joined the Jianyang Prefecture Demon-Slaying Office—efficient in his duties, yet equally skilled at causing trouble.

Thus, she had felt a pang of admiration for his talent, leading to this journey to Shenxu Mountain.

Between them, there had been little interaction; beyond their superior-subordinate relationship, they were barely acquainted, let alone friends, and she had never entertained any thought of using him for her own ends.

After all, before returning, even when Shen Yi had earnestly said, "I owe you a favor," during his time at He Mountain, Ye Lan had paid it no mind whatsoever.

Yet this very man had, within just a few days, utterly broadened her horizons.

Liu Ruifeng's composure was clearly forced, but Shen Yi's casualness stemmed from his unfathomable skills and cunning.

Simply glimpsing the Xuanyuan Pill formula and immediately producing a flawless immortal pill could only mean his mastery of pillcraft had long surpassed the imagination of herself and others.

But before today's furnace opening, whether Shen Yi had gone to the Scripture Library or later consulted Liu Ruifeng, his actions had deceived everyone else—and even deceived Ye Lan herself.

"..."

Ye Lan recalled her earlier anxious demeanor and felt no resentment toward Shen Yi for concealing his true abilities; perhaps it was precisely this appearance that had given the father-and-son duo on the Sixth Peak full confidence, preventing them from resorting to desperate measures.

Only when the flawless Xuanyuan Immortal Pill appeared before the disciples of all eight peaks did the situation finally settle—leaving the father-and-son duo with no chance of recovery.

The most absurd part was that this grand gathering of the eight peaks had been orchestrated entirely by this Mu Yang uncle.

Shen Yi appeared to have done nothing, yet everything had unfolded precisely as he had intended.

What meticulous planning!

"Big Brother."

Master Mu Yang's expression was grim, yet he made no move to save Liu Ruifeng.

Ruifeng's impulsive act not only looked like a sore loser, disgracing the Array Peak, but was also precisely the kind of thing Big Brother despised most.

As long as that young man in the ink-colored robe was still present, how could he escape scrutiny? What's the rush!

Thinking of this, he turned his gaze to the half-dead old man seated on the main seat.

The old man stared silently ahead, then after a long while, spoke in a softened voice: "Young friend, could you allow me a glance at that Xuanyuan Immortal Pill?"

His words fell.

The disciples gathered around the peak summit held their breath, their gazes unconsciously refocusing on him.

Although Liu Ruifeng's actions had been shameful, his doubts were not without merit.

After all, the whole affair sounded terrifying: the formula was taken the night before, and by the next day, such a flawless immortal pill was produced—where had Sister Ye found such a master?

And to make it worse, he was so young.

If he were a disciple of some other Great Luo Immortal Sovereign, how could they possibly let such a raw gem be given to Shenxu Mountain?

"..."

Shen Yi finally unclenched his five fingers.

Liu Ruifeng's entire face was blackened with ash; he collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, lifting his head as if to roar.

But the instant his eyes met those pitch-black orbs, his pupils trembled—he instinctively felt a deep, overwhelming fear, sat frozen on the ground, and involuntarily averted his gaze.

For some reason, the moment this young man's eyes turned cold, he seemed to become an entirely different person; the faint aura radiating from him was utterly unlike that of any sect disciple.

It made one dare not meet his gaze.

Shen Yi walked straight past him, first waving his hand to retrieve the remaining half of the medicinal herbs from the equally stunned disciples, then casually tossing the pill vial toward the old man.

The old man caught the jade vial and, unusually, made no comment on this disrespectful act.

He upended the pill into his palm, closed his eyes, and carefully sniffed it; upon sensing the pill's profound, harmonious calamity-force now thoroughly infused with the aura of the Grand Void Dao Fruit, he exhaled slowly.

"Fine pill."

These two simple words caused all the peak masters watching intently to change expression.

The three—Master Qian Feng and others—who had previously visited the Pill Peak for the ceremony now involuntarily turned their gazes back to Shen Yi, their eyes filled with astonishment.

Back then, they had merely seen a reserved young man, whose appearance was merely decent, with nothing particularly remarkable about him.

But now, upon re-examining him, they somehow sensed an unusual quality about him—not reserve, but quiet confidence.

After all, when one can speak through strength, there's no need to rely on words.

"Huh."

The last shred of hope shattered, Master Mu Yang stood rooted in place, his expression icy as he swept a glance over Liu Ruifeng.

Years of cultivation and investment, three batches of herbs, plus array assistance—and this was the pitiful result he received from his own son?

Then, silently, he turned his gaze toward Ye Lan and Shen Yi, clenching his fist slightly to conceal the killing intent within.

This matter was no longer within his power to alter; further words would only bring him more disgrace.

With that thought, Master Mu Yang closed his eyes.

"Disperse."

True to form, the old man appeared to have forgotten his earlier promise in the hall; he rose slowly, gave not another look to Liu Ruifeng, and turned toward the hall.

A flawless Xuanyuan Immortal Pill should bring the Master some slight comfort.

"Big Elder Brother..."

Liu Ruifeng suddenly panicked, scrambling desperately forward; his filial devotion, years of hard work—could they truly be erased by a mere two calamity-level difference?!

You old bastard—do you even have a conscience?!

The old man pretended not to hear, continuing forward.

At that moment, another soft voice called out behind him.

"Big Elder Brother."

Of all the peak masters, only Ye Lan used this address.

"..."

The old man paused, frowning.

He indeed said nothing, but the meaning of "scattered" was that the other peaks would no longer meddle in the affairs of the Alchemy Peak.

With a Peak Lord already in place and alchemy no longer problematic, naturally there was no need for others to interfere again.

This girl is relentless; what does she still intend to do?

Could she truly intend to humiliate her junior uncle and junior brother, and even herself as their senior uncle, before the juniors of the eight peaks?

"Is there anything else?"

The old man slowly turned his body and looked over with a calm expression.

Several Peak Lords glanced at Ye Lan with slight panic; they could all sense the eldest senior brother's displeasure. Lan'er should know when to stop.

Hearing this, Shen Yi finally turned his gaze sideways to look over.

The matter he promised to handle was finished; it was time to settle the account.

Yet he did not expect Ye Lan to look back; in her pair of moist eyes lay an indescribable flavor.

She pondered for an instant, and a bright smile appeared on her lips.

Ye Lan withdrew her gaze, stood upright on the spot while the surrounding disciples had not yet dispersed, then clasped her hands: "The Alchemy Peak is in decline, with only two disciples remaining. Today, Ye Lan wishes to transmit the Great Void Dao Arts to help junior brother Shen pluck the Dao Fruit."

Her words fell.

Only then did the Peak Lords breathe a sigh of relief; only Liu Ruifeng wore an expression of despair. Ye Lan had left him not a single path to survival. For this young man to transmit the Great Void Dao Fruit was equivalent to fixing the position of the successor... Then what was the meaning of his years of bitter cultivation in the Dao of Alchemy as a disciple of the Formation Peak?!

"This is our own family matter; no need for other peaks to inquire."

The old man nodded slightly. Such a master of the Dao of Alchemy, whose future achievements would not even lose to that former junior brother of the Alchemy Peak, must have some request when heading to the Divine Void Mountain.

So it was for the Great Void Dao Fruit that she came.

This would not make the disciples of the Divine Void Mountain feel displeased; on the contrary, being able to leave behind a piece of unpolished jade by means of this Dao Fruit would make people feel more at ease.

"Besides this." Ye Lan still clasped her hands, raised her head to sweep her gaze over all her peers around, and suddenly gave a self-mocking smile: "I know everyone feels Ye is unworthy of this Peak Lord position, and the fact is indeed so. Today, Ye will resign from this position and transmit it, along with the Great Void Dao Arts, to junior brother Shen."

Having spoken, she finally lowered her palms, waited for no one's response, and strode directly off the peak summit.

"..."

This time, even the old man was slightly stunned, let alone the others.

They stared in the direction where Ye Lan had departed.

"This girl." Master Jinxue suddenly let out a soft sigh. The Divine Void Mountain treated her thus, so resentment was inevitable in her heart, but even so, walking alone outside, she was still seeking a suitable successor for the mountain gate.

Especially with Ruifeng as a foil, this successor appeared even more precious.

Such a free and easy departure clearly showed she had never placed those Yang Mingli in her heart.

After a brief Tianyan Siji in the gathering.

The next moment, nearly all gazes converged like a tide toward that tall figure on the peak summit.

"..."

Shen Yi stood silently on the spot, suddenly feeling a bit of a headache.

Alchemy Peak, Cheng Xiaoyuan.

Many twists and turns arose regarding the alchemy matter, but at least it had come to an end.

Ye Jing poured tea while secretly casting a glance at the young man by the table.

She felt the scene before her eyes was somewhat familiar.

Having joined the Zhan Yao Si for only a few days, she was promoted to Zhan Yao Officer; coming to the Divine Void Mountain for a visit, she had actually become half a Peak Lord.

The reason it was said to be half was because this matter was settled by her elder sister, but Shen Yi had not yet truly plucked the Great Void Dao Fruit.

Placing such matters on anyone else would seem so bizarre, but falling upon Shen Yi, it made people feel it was actually normal.

"I apologize; this matter was my own doing."

Ye Lan took a sip of tea, raised her head: "But your journey was originally to seek a title; why not take this opportunity to secure a more stable one directly?"

A Divine Void Mountain Peak Lord; this title, whether placed in the heavens or the mortal world, was enough to intimidate most scoundrels.

Anyone wishing to harm him would inevitably have to consider the existence of that third-rank Great Luo Immortal Venerable.

"Thank you."

Shen Yi naturally knew the other's good intentions; what he worried about was... that calamity.

As an outsider, coming to take the title of a disciple and then leaving with a slap of the buttocks was a completely different concept from becoming the Peak Lord of the Alchemy Peak.

If the calamity of those years arose again, would he not become the target?

"You..."

Ye Lan clearly saw his thoughts; helplessness surged on her delicate face: "Sometimes, you seem to love meddling in others' affairs; sometimes, this cautious appearance shows considerable slickness; it is truly hard to understand."

"Mainly to see if the benefits outweigh the risks."

Shen Yi was somewhat honest on certain matters; he indeed did not act for Ye Lan, but only wanted to have full confidence in securing that Dao Fruit.

"Rest assured, that calamity is temporarily unrelated to you. When the day truly comes that it is related, you likely won't need this title to conceal anything; just leave on your own then."

Ye Lan mentioned this and subconsciously looked toward the Divine Void Mountain surrounded by the eight peaks.

Shen Yi caught her gaze, sighed in his heart; it was indeed much the same as his guess, so he decisively skipped over this topic.

This grudge was not something he could participate in.

"The item." He reached out directly.

Ye Lan quickly withdrew her gaze and handed over a manual wrapped in cloth.

She watched silently as the young man before her browsed the Great Void Dao Arts, and her eyes gradually became dazed.

Since her master departed, she had truly not felt such a sensation of being cared for in a very, very long time; it was as if she needed to worry about nothing, and as long as she followed behind the other person, everything could be accomplished.

"Hiss!"

Ye Lan bit her fingertip hard, forcing herself to withdraw her mind from this terrifying sensation.

Besides her identity as a disciple of the Divine Void Mountain, she is also a titled General of the Zhan Yao Si of the Divine Dynasty; if she harbors thoughts of relying on others, she will likely die without even knowing how.

"Explain them to me."

Shen Yi raised his head and handed the two cultivation methods back.

【Sixth Rank: Free and Unfettered Transformation Sutra: Not Entered】

【Fifth Rank: Great Void Dao Art: Not Entered】

Ye Lan knew he was only at the Seventh Rank True Immortal cultivation and practiced a side-path, wild technique, so she had specially prepared the Heavenly Immortal Art passed down through the generations of the Divine Void Mountain range, which belongs to the Naishisan Sect and is not inferior to the Practitioner Art of the Puti Sect.

Only the Great Dao of twelve tribulations can accommodate the Dao Fruit of Great Void, which ranks among the top ten.

"Hmm?"

Ye Lan raised her head, looked at the two cultivation methods before her, and felt somewhat surprised.

In her heart, Shen Yi was entirely that kind of unparalleled cultivation genius, whose progress was merely slowed by his origins; she never expected that with his comprehension, he would still need her help.

"..."

Ye Jing tiptoed out of the room and closed the door for the two of them.

Just like that, three more days passed in a flash.

The two did not step out of the door even half a step, while the formation within the Cheng Xiaoyuan masked the sound of the elder sister transmitting the teachings.

In this transmission of teachings, besides comprehending the cultivation methods, what was more important was that Shen Yi finally filled in those common knowledge gaps.

"Dao Fruits and Fruit Positions are both distinguished by the number of tribulations; for instance, the Dragon and Tiger bear eighty-one tribulations, while the Great Void Dao Fruit requires one hundred and ninety-three tribulations."

"From these tribulation numbers, one can glimpse the specific differences in the supernatural powers."

"But it does not mean that an immortal cultivating the Great Void Dao Fruit will necessarily defeat the Dragon and Tiger Arhat; besides the mutual suppression relationships between supernatural powers, on the path toward the Fourth Rank, one can also bear more tribulation power."

"The Thousand Tribulations Dao Fruit is the threshold for the Fourth Rank."

"But it does not mean that possessing enough tribulation power guarantees unimpeded progress."

"The path is the road, tribulation power is the bricks and stones; they can pave a broad avenue, but without finding one's own path, no amount of bricks is of any use."

"In these years, while working in the mortal world, I finally transformed over six hundred tribulations, yet I fell into confusion and failed to find the true path; even with tribulation power in hand, I could not bear more."

"..."

Shen Yi listened in silence, yet his mind never stopped calculating.

To know, the Dragon and Tiger Fruit Position was already an abyss-like existence in his eyes, but having consumed it until now, it was merely over one hundred and sixty tribulations, which was even less than the consumption required to pluck the Great Void Dao Fruit.

How many demons and monsters would it take to fill that?

(End of Chapter)