Chapter 57: Hitting a Wall

Xu Zhanglao opened his mouth but did not argue with her; instead, he changed the subject, saying, "The Sect Master foresaw this matter long ago, so he specifically instructed me that, aside from you two, only five more disciples may remain at Ju Dan Peak..."

"Master, aren't there still five spots available?"

Fang Qingyan quickly realized what he meant.

However, Xu Zhanglao sighed, "Those spots have already been decided: the Great Elder's grandson, the Second Elder's nephew..."

Fang Qingyan fell silent; these past days she had learned that although her master was the only Alchemist in Xuanyuan Sect, his cultivation had stalled and could advance no further, and more importantly, his remaining lifespan was short.

Thus, although he was highly respected in Xuanyuan Sect, in terms of power and influence, he was inferior to the other Elders.

"Previously, I could have refused the Second Elder and the others, but now it is different..."

Therefore, rather than giving the opportunity to Luo Yao, it would be better to give it to someone else; this way, he could secure more benefits for Yan'er.

If Luo Yao were to betray Yan'er in the future, given Yan'er's deeply emotional nature, her Dao Heart would surely collapse, leading her to lose control and go mad.

Moreover, a trace of malice even arose in Xu Zhanglao's heart: if Luo Yao met with an accident on the battlefield, although Yan'er would be heartbroken, perhaps she would then be able to break free from such a mindset...

Even if he managed to return alive, compared to the power of the Second Elder and the others, his status was far too low.

"However, if I myself earn enough merit points, might I then request to exchange them for Cold Ice Jade?"

That was, after his lifespan ended, they would need to take care of Fang Qingyan for him.

His remaining lifespan was less than fifty years, and he knew very well that, not to mention Fang Qingyan, even other geniuses would find it difficult to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage within fifty years.

After all, they were just one material short of forging his innate Dharma Treasure, a treasure with the potential to become an Immortal Artifact.

After a while, she pulled herself together, "Since I cannot avoid it, I must steel myself and go; I have my Golden Finger and a Space Magic Treasure, so what is there to fear!"

Today's opportunity has not been used yet.

However, if speaking of shortcomings, it remains that old problem: her offensive capabilities are still somewhat lacking.

Fang Qingyan knew that matters had reached this point and there was no other way but to accept it, but the fact that her master asked her to deliver Pills to Little Yao made her feel that her master was also helpless; he was simply that kind of master who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

But this thought was quickly cast aside by him; if Luo Yao encountered trouble now, Yan'er would find it even harder to accept, so, after thinking it over, he still sighed.

When Luo Yao returned to her Cave Abode, Fang Qingyan followed up, first explaining the situation, and then producing some Pills her master had given her.

They were just one main material short: Cold Ice Jade.

Afterwards, Luo Yao asked Fang Qingyan how to repair the Puppet.

Although the sect did not have it, perhaps they could find a way to obtain it.

These were all high-grade Pills; in the Market, there was nothing that could not be bought for a few hundred Spirit Stones, so the fact that Xu Zhanglao was willing to give her these Pills made much of the ill feeling from being rejected disappear.

He did not want his only disciple to encounter such a situation.

Afterwards, she took out the Thousand-Li Teleportation Talisman and her Golden Finger.

Moreover, with this Dharma Treasure, she would have even more confidence in surviving this war.

Xu Zhanglao glanced at Fang Qingyan, a soft light appearing in his eyes, "A hundred years from now, when I am gone, you will be without support, without connections, and will find it difficult to take even a single step..."

"Go deliver some Pills to her; at the very least, they will ensure your survival on the battlefield. After you have said your goodbyes, return immediately; we need to forge a large quantity of Pills to supply the sect's needs."

Healing Medicine, Hui Ling Pill, and so on.

Moreover, his requirements were not high; even a few years' worth would suffice; compared to a thousand-year or hundred-year grade, a mere few years' worth of Cold Ice Jade should be quite easy for Xuanyuan Sect to provide.

Fang Qingyan naturally did not hide anything; she told Luo Yao everything she knew and also gave her some Jade Slips.

"Yan Jie, rest assured; you know my thoughts. Combat is the fastest way to improve one's strength; I am actually not afraid of going to the battlefield, and..."

If this path does not work, then we must think of other methods.

As Luo Yao spoke, she took out the Thousand-Li Teleportation Talisman and simply explained its principle to her, "I possess a Talisman Paper for survival; even if I face someone in the Foundation Establishment Stage, I can escape."

Therefore, they must be kept apart; at the very least, they should not meet until Yan'er can treat Luo Yao with rationality.

Moreover, he felt that Fang Qingyan and Luo Yao had become too close; their relationship was overly intimate; whenever there were Pills, she saved them all for Luo Yao, while she herself was reluctant to use them.

He needed to consider the future for his disciple.

And if one's strength has not reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, one has no say whatsoever, being nothing more than a slightly larger ant.

"Besides," Luo Yao continued, "my master also gave me a Dharma Treasure for survival when he left, so do not worry about me..."

After much persuasion, he finally made Fang Qingyan feel at ease.

Moreover, she discovered another shortcoming of her Golden Finger: it offered only one chance per day; once used, it was gone, and if not used, it would not carry over to the next day.

"Yes, Master."

In fact, she even felt a tiny bit of anticipation.

As for Luo Yao, to be honest, although she had Gongsun Ming, a newly breakthrough Foundation Establishment Stage backer, she had not only seen him from afar when Gongsun Ming went to retrieve Spirit Stones from the Spirit Stone Mine, but...

Thinking of this, Luo Yao was actually not so opposed to going to the battlefield.

So, thinking it over, it seemed there was actually nothing she needed to worry about.

The innate Dharma Treasure Luo Yao had always wanted to forge, "Thousand Illusion Ice Silk," had its materials almost fully collected.

After Fang Qingyan left, Luo Yao let out a sigh.

It was said that the Sect Master of Ziguang Sect possessed Cold Ice Jade; this was the only lead.

Indeed, she did not lack means of survival now; as just mentioned, with the Thousand-Li Teleportation Talisman and a Space Magic Treasure, even if surrounded or ambushed by someone in the Foundation Establishment Stage, she had nothing to fear.

Therefore, if there is an opportunity, it must be used; it cannot be waited until the next day.

If successfully forged, with Thousand Illusion Ice Silk in hand, if she encountered Zhao Yang again, she would not be unable to defeat him; she might even be able to counter-kill him.

This time, he agreed to the Second Elder and the others' request on the condition that, in turn, the Second Elder and the others must agree to his request.

Besides that, there were Healing Pills; Xu Zhanglao had just given quite a few.

Previously, he did not need connections because he had no successor and did not need to worry about matters a hundred years hence, but now that he had a disciple, things were different.

At that time, it was known that Gongsun Ming's state was abnormal; given his condition, facing the current situation of war between the two factions, whether he could return alive was uncertain.

As for restoring Spirit Power, she also had Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk, which could restore her Spirit Power instantly.

But it was said that the Sect Master of Ziguang Sect was in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage; she was only at Qi Refining Stage 6; the Sect Master of Ziguang Sect could crush her with a single finger.

Not long after, Xu Zhanglao sent a voice transmission urging Fang Qingyan to return.

When exploring the Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode, they either faced pursuit or fought over treasures, so there was no time to use the Golden Finger; she had thought she could save it, but upon exiting the Cave Abode, she discovered she had wasted so many days of opportunity for nothing.

This made Luo Yao extremely regretful, and she resolved that in the future, opportunities to use the Golden Finger must be seized immediately.

(End of this chapter)