Wei Nanfeng clearly hadn't expected Yun Xi to prepare such a grand surprise for him. Grinning from ear to ear, he accepted the Rejuvenation Elixir, uncorked the bottle, and took a sniff. A pleasant floral fragrance wafted out immediately, so potent that even Wei Lingtao and Wei Lingyue, standing nearby, felt their spirits stir.
Yun Xi smiled and explained, "Ancestor, this elixir was reportedly crafted by a disciple of the Yixian Gate for his beloved. Her cultivation was too low, so she aged much faster than he did. Unwilling to watch her grow old and worry about her appearance, he used over a thousand kinds of spiritual flowers to concoct this elixir, allowing her to remain youthful and stay by his side."
She paused, then added with a slightly regretful tone, "To be honest, this is the last known vial of the Rejuvenation Elixir in existence. Even though I now have the formula, I can't make a second one."
Wei Lingyue blurted out, "Why not?"
Yun Xi replied patiently, "Father, crafting a single dose of the Rejuvenation Elixir requires more than a thousand types of spiritual flowers, and many of them have gone extinct in the Weiyu Realm. Even if they could be found again, they would have to meet strict age requirements."
She glanced at Wei Nanfeng and continued, "The longer you want the effects to last, the older the flowers must be. This particular vial is potent enough to preserve Ancestor's youthful appearance all the way until ascension to the Spirit Realm."
After hearing her explanation, not only Wei Nanfeng but even Wei Lingyue looked tempted. His cultivation had stagnated in recent years, and he was becoming increasingly conscious of his aging.
Yun Xi turned to Wei Nanfeng with a light laugh, "Ancestor, I'd like to see the effects for myself. If it really can reverse aging and grant eternal youth, I want to preserve this formula for the family. It could become a valuable source of income."
Wei Nanfeng was indeed tempted, though a trace of hesitation lingered. But one glance at the looks exchanged by Wei Lingtao and Wei Lingyue was enough to make up his mind. He believed Yun Xi was clearly trying to win his favor.
With his decision made, Wei Nanfeng didn't hesitate. He drank the elixir in one gulp. The liquid instantly transformed into a gentle warmth, which spread from his abdomen through his meridians and out toward his skin. In the stunned gazes of Wei Lingtao and Wei Lingyue, Ancestor Nanfeng truly began to reverse in age, his appearance shifting rapidly into that of a handsome young man in his twenties.
Even Yun Xi was quietly amazed. She hadn't expected "Huayan" to work so flawlessly. Calling it miraculous would hardly be an exaggeration—it had certainly been worth the effort.
She raised her hand and conjured a water mirror, placing it in front of Wei Nanfeng with a smile."Congratulations, Ancestor. Welcome back to your youth."
Wei Nanfeng could feel the changes in his body with perfect clarity. When he looked into the mirror and saw his youthful face staring back at him, his mood lifted, and his smile became genuinely joyful.
Yun Xi spoke again at just the right moment. "Ancestor, the Wei family has only just arrived in Haoran City and hasn't yet gained a firm footing. If outsiders learn we possess something this valuable, it will undoubtedly attract unwanted attention. I can't be around to protect the family at all times. For now, it's best if you enter secluded cultivation. Once you've taken the Longevity Pill and advanced to late Golden Core, then reappear in public with your new appearance. That way, it won't seem too abrupt and will be more believable."
Wei Nanfeng nodded. Yun Xi had clearly thought everything through. He turned to the two men beside him and ordered, "You must not speak a word of this to anyone."
"Yes, Ancestor!"
"Rest assured, Ancestor. This will be the Wei family's hidden trump card. It mustn't be exposed prematurely."
Their responses were swift and earnest. The allure of eternal youth wasn't something many could resist—especially not female cultivators.
Yun Xi then handed each of them a storage pouch. "These are cultivation resources I prepared for the family and for Father. They should be enough to sustain us until we're fully settled. Consider it my personal contribution to the clan."
Their faces brightened visibly. The mood in the main hall lightened, and with all pressing matters handled, Yun Xi prepared to return to her sect.
Wei Nanfeng, pleased, gave his consent and immediately withdrew to the rear courtyard to begin secluded cultivation. He planned to make his next appearance as a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, confident and radiant before the clan.
Before Yun Xi left, Wei Lingyue asked, "Yun Xi, why haven't we seen Yun Qing?"
"She's probably cultivating. I sent her a message talisman, but there's been no response. Since the four of us couldn't wait forever, we came to fetch you first. Maybe she's just avoiding me."
"Why would she do that?" Wei Lingyue looked puzzled.
Yun Xi replied with a show of restraint, "Yun Qing didn't perform well in the recent sect competition. She failed to advance from outer disciple to personal disciple. And then I formed my Golden Core before she did. It might have upset her. After all, her natural aptitude was always considered better than mine. Ever since we returned to the sect, she's been avoiding me and barely keeps in touch."
Wei Lingyue sighed like a disappointed father. "Ai! That child. I'll speak with her. You two are sisters—you should support one another."
Yun Xi didn't respond to that. Instead, she turned to Wei Lingtao. "Patriarch, I'll have Elder Han from the Inner Sect assist you with coordination. If you need anything, just let him know directly."
"Thank you, Yun Xi. I appreciate it." Wei Lingtao cupped his hands politely. Although Yun Xi was his niece, she was now a Golden Core cultivator. He wouldn't do anything to make her feel disrespected.
Yun Xi was satisfied with Wei Lingtao's attitude. At least he understood his position and knew how to act appropriately. As she was about to leave, she lightly touched the storage bracelet on her wrist and discreetly slipped a separate pill bottle into Wei Lingtao's sleeve.
Wei Lingtao felt it immediately. He glanced at Yun Xi, who simply gave him a small smile before walking away from the temporary Wei family residence.
That night, after finishing his duties, Wei Lingtao finally had time to check the bottle. Inside lay a single top-grade Golden Core Formation Pill. The rich medicinal fragrance caused his spiritual energy to stir the moment he opened it.
He swiftly sealed the bottle and tucked it into his personal storage pouch. He had decided that once the clan was settled, he would enter closed-door cultivation and form his core. Without that, even with Yun Xi as their support, the Wei family would lack true standing.
On the other hand, after checking his own storage pouch, Wei Lingyue's expression darkened. The pill he had hoped for wasn't inside.
Meanwhile, Du Ruolan remained upset that she hadn't seen Yun Qing. She sent a message talisman to her daughter, hoping Yun Qing would return even briefly, just to put her heart at ease. A part of her suspected Yun Xi had deliberately kept them apart.
That night, emotions among the Wei family were mixed. Some were joyous, some anxious. Some were full of energy, while others felt lost. But one thing was clear—Yun Xi had brought them to a new beginning.
When Yun Xi returned to Lingxue Peak, she immediately pulled Dian Dian out from her robes and asked, "Well? Did the Wei family show any signs of abnormality?"
Dian Dian twitched his tiny whiskers, then said, "Master, I completed a preliminary sweep. Your clan members seem clean. It's likely the evil cultivators have no interest in a minor family from a remote city, so they haven't planted any agents yet. However—"
Dian Dian paused, eyes narrowing slightly. "I did catch a scent on Wei Nanfeng. It's not the aura of an evil cultivator, but it's definitely… different."
Yun Xi froze mid-motion as she was sitting down cross-legged. "What kind of scent? Is it good or bad?"
"I can't say for sure. But Master, do you remember what happened in Taoyuan Village?"
"You're saying Wei Nanfeng might be involved to the Underworld?"
"No. I mean… it's a similar kind of situation."