Chapter 25: Taking the Initiative

"Senior, is it true?"

Luo Yao and the other felt as if they were dreaming; they had thought Xu Zhanglao intended to renege, but unexpectedly, the situation took a dramatic turn.

Being a menial servant and being Xu Zhanglao's disciple are two completely different futures.

Put it this way: everyone currently envies Luo Yao for becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator's disciple, but if they knew Fang Qingyan also became Xu Zhanglao's disciple, they would not envy Luo Yao; instead, they would envy Fang Qingyan.

"Naturally, my word is my bond."

He could tell from the quality of the Pill that Fang Qingyan possessed talent in Alchemy; moreover, on her very first attempt, she successfully refined the Pill from an ancient text, failing only once. Such talent was something even he might not have achieved back in his day.

"This is the Clear Spirit Pill, a Pill from an ancient formula I have revived. It has the effect of nourishing the soul and spirit. Although it is merely targeted at the Qi Refining Stage, its effect on the Foundation Establishment Stage is not obvious."

Furthermore, once this spreads, which disciple of the Xuanyuan Sect would dare not show respect to Fang Qingyan?

As several disciples passed by, Luo Yao was surprised. "How did you know Sister Yan was taken in by Xu Zhanglao as a direct disciple?"

The crowd was shocked, and then felt envy and jealousy.

Clearly, his strength was greater than Luo Yao and the others, and his talent was better, yet not a single Foundation Establishment cultivator was willing to take him as a disciple. Was there any justice in the world?

Of course, they could not act within the Sect; when she went out, he did not believe Elder Gongsun would protect her in the shadows.

After the two were sent away, Fang Qingyan curiously opened her Storage Bag. Inside were many Pills; some she recognized, some she did not, totaling twenty or thirty bottles.

"This is the cultivation method I specialize in; it can be cultivated up to the Foundation Establishment Stage." Without hiding it from others, Xu took a Jade Slip and a Token from his Storage Ring.

"Yes, pre... Master."

Therefore, Zhao Yang could only consider acting directly against Luo Yao.

In a single night, rising from the mud to the clouds; how could one not feel envy and jealousy?

Zhao Yang had been watching Luo Yao and Fang Qingyan's movements, so when he heard this news, his first reaction was that it was impossible, absolutely impossible.

"Little Yao, take a look; are there any Pills you can use?"

Even the young attendant felt a bit of jealousy; a direct disciple is someone who will inherit Xu Zhanglao's legacy in the future.

"Thank you, Senior."

But in the end, Fang Qingyan still divided half of the Pills for Luo Yao.

Afterwards, Fang Qingyan took out the Token Xu Zhanglao had given her; this Token could not be forged.

And Pills that nourish the soul and spirit exist only in records and ancient legends.

"You, girl, thinking to refine them separately is indeed a unique approach. If you wish to come and refine Pills in the future, you may come at any time."

Sure enough, Fang Qingyan saw a Dharma Artifact in the Storage Bag. Although it was a low-grade Dharma Artifact, one could still see Xu Zhanglao's wealth and generosity.

Fang Qingyan is Xu Zhanglao's only direct disciple; if anything happened to her, Xu Zhanglao would absolutely not let her off, and she still needed Xu Zhanglao's help to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.

"On what grounds!" Zhao Yang roared, kicking the lackey beside him to the ground. "Just by bullying those few trash, they can gain the favor of a Foundation Establishment Elder. On what grounds!"

Thus, thanks to Luo Yao's unremitting efforts, soon all the disciples of the Xuanyuan Sect knew that Fang Qingyan had been taken in as a direct disciple by Xu Zhanglao, the Sect's only Alchemy Master and Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Xu Zhanglao waved his hand and looked at Fang Qingyan again. "Finish handling what needs to be done today; tomorrow, move to Ju Dan Peak. Starting tomorrow, you must begin learning from the most basic foundations of Alchemy."

Fang Qingyan immediately felt a bit embarrassed.

"Inside here are the cultivation resources you need; your cultivation is too weak."

"This is my Token; with my Token, you may enter and leave Ju Dan Peak at will."

They didn't ask anything, okay!

However, those who reacted were suddenly surprised. "Is it true or false?"

Twenty or thirty bottles, regardless of quality, would cost at least several hundred Spirit Stones at the lowest; would Pills from the hand of a Foundation Establishment Alchemy Master be ordinary, inferior Pills?

Absolutely impossible.

"Nourishing the soul and spirit?"

Since Fang Qingyan was taken in as a disciple by Xu Zhanglao, his scheme had failed before it even began.

It was even more explosive than Luo Yao defeating Zhao Lili and being taken in as a disciple by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

But hearing those lackeys say they had personally seen Fang Qingyan holding Xu Zhanglao's Token forced Zhao Yang to accept it.

However, he also knew clearly that Xu Zhanglao had given him a chance, and the trial was even simpler than Fang Qingyan's; unfortunately, he had not passed it.

Fang Qingyan handed the Storage Bag over, letting Luo Yao choose for herself. "Take that Defense Magical Treasure as well; you need it more than I do."

Luo Yao and the other were startled in their hearts. Although they were novices in cultivation, they had read many records; a cultivator's soul and spirit are the most fragile, and almost all cultivation methods focus on cultivating Spirit Power, not the soul and spirit, so the strength of the soul and spirit only increases during breakthroughs.

Therefore, the value of these Pills was at least several thousand Spirit Stones.

This made Luo Yao and the other startled in their hearts, but they soon realized; it was common knowledge that Alchemists were the wealthiest, let alone the Sect's only Alchemy Master.

Xuanyuan Sect Disciples: "..."

Without exception, the entire Xuanyuan Sect was shaken.

Xu Zhanglao nodded, stroked his beard, and smiled, obviously happy to have received such a good disciple, then handed Luo Yao another Storage Bag.

And as the only direct disciple of an Alchemy Master, one could imagine that Fang Qingyan would surely not lack cultivation resources in the future.

"If not for your help, I could not have been taken in as a disciple by Master; moreover, if these Pills are gone, I can ask Master for more."

One could imagine how precious they were.

Luo Yao felt no envy or jealousy; instead, she felt happy for Fang Qingyan. This way, Fang Qingyan could go higher and further.

The more precious the Pill, the higher the difficulty of refining it.

Whether it was his sister's revenge or reclaiming the Spirit Herbs needed to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, he could delay no longer.

The attendant beside him was envious; he had been here for so many years and was still just an attendant, but Fang Qingyan had...

This was also why Luo Yao and the other had to cooperate to barely complete the refining, and also why Xu Zhanglao was willing to take in Fang Qingyan.

Luo Yao did not make a fuss; after the two descended the mountain, Luo Yao immediately began spreading the news everywhere.

Moreover, that was a Token representing Xu Zhanglao's identity; in other words, Fang Qingyan was not an ordinary disciple, but held the status of a direct disciple.

Hearing Xu Zhanglao's words, Luo Yao's eyes immediately lit up; this way, when she herself broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, could she not ask Xu Zhanglao for help?

With the help of a Foundation Establishment Stage Elder, the success rate of refining Foundation Establishment Pills would surely be high, and all the Foundation Establishment Pills of the Xuanyuan Sect were crafted by Xu Zhanglao.

"We must still take the initiative."

Although it is only useful for Qi Refining cultivators, it is still incredibly precious.

Luo Yao did not accept it, stating that this was given to Yan Jie by her master, and she could not accept it.

"Go investigate what thing could draw that Luo Yao out of the sect."

Previously, as long as they captured Fang Qingyan, they could draw out Luo Yao, but now Fang Qingyan's backer is too powerful; if the two of them encountered trouble, suspicion would definitely fall on them.

PS: The trial recommendation did not pass (﹏)

(End of this chapter)