"..."
They really were a group of cowards who are afraid of death!
Under Yan Shanyi's gaze, Pei Xianqiao curled her toes in embarrassment, her face flushed. She wished she could dig a hole with her finger and escape from this place!
"This is the Cangling Snow Sword, Lord Yan. Are there no sword cultivators in Yan Family Fortress?" Mu Jialing casually shifted the topic, helping Pei Xianqiao out of her awkward situation.
"Then what about this guest's twin hammers?" Yan Shanyi grinned at He Huatao, seemingly unbothered by the question.
All eyes focused on the twin Thunder Hammers. He Huatao's eyes flickered as he suddenly swung the hammers over his shoulders, smashing them into his own sturdy back. "Wow, these hammers are incredible! The itch is gone, my back doesn't hurt anymore!"
Hiss—
Everyone inhaled sharply.
The twin Thunder Hammers were famous Fifth-Rank treasures. Even without spiritual power infused, a single strike could punch a hole in the ground.
He Huatao lowered his head, his face hidden in shadow, gritting his teeth in pain, yet forcing himself to remain silent.
"Damn, it hurts so much!"
Mu Jialing's gaze casually swept over He Huatao's tense arms. The trembling hammers, hands clasped together, drew everyone's attention as he asked, "Lord Yan, is the sacrificial ceremony ready?"
Yan Shanyi smiled broadly. "Soon, soon. Fairy Ranran is still inside, right? I didn't expect Elder Yang also likes this girl. That black smoke in the courtyard earlier, it must have been created by Fairy Ranran!"
Black smoke caused by Fairy Ranran?!
So the Fózǐ's story about the furnace explosion… was it because Fairy Ranran failed at alchemy inside?
Everyone suddenly understood. Mu Jialing and Yan Shanyi's words were not far apart in meaning. They realized that the earlier fear had been a misunderstanding!
Their eyes shifted from Mu Jialing to Pei Xianqiao.
She was the reason this enormous embarrassment happened!
Pei Xianqiao felt a prickling unease. How did things end up like this?
A trace of panic crept into her expression as she repeatedly tried to contact Elder Shang with her divine sense. The ring had clearly cracked—how could the thick smoke come from a furnace explosion?
As Pei Xianqiao tried to connect with Elder Shang, a hand gently rested on her left shoulder.
"Junior Sister Pei, do not blame yourself. Senior Brother Yu and I still believe in you," Shen Fang comforted softly.
Yu Wei hesitated a moment before silently standing by her side.
Pei Xianqiao glanced at the remaining loose cultivators.
Except for He Huatao, everyone else had kept their distance, looking at her coldly.
Pei Xianqiao's heart ached. After all she had done for them, why did they regard her this way?
Bang!
Another tremor shook the courtyard.
All cultivators shivered in fear.
Yan Shanyi was no exception; his pupils contracted, shoulders trembling, and the previously tense atmosphere dissolved instantly…
"This… even for a first attempt at alchemy, this situation is…"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"…understandable!" Yan Shanyi's smiling face twitched.
Alchemy was not easy. Failure was normal.
But continuous furnace explosions…
How bad must her alchemy talent be?!
A glint passed through Pei Xianqiao's eyes. She stepped past Yu Wei and Shen Fang, solemnly fixing her gaze on Yan Shanyi. "Lord Yan, I am also an alchemist!"
Not only was she an alchemist, but she was also a talisman maker. Among all the arts of cultivation, the three most sought-after were alchemy, artifact creation, and talisman crafting. They were also the hardest to master.
Pei Xianqiao was confident. Among the many cultivators here, no one's alchemy could surpass hers.
"Ah, Pei Xiaoyou is really impressive!" Yan Shanyi praised cheerfully.
Pei Xianqiao slightly frowned and spoke proactively. "My alchemy cannot be called mastery, but I can produce Sixth-Grade pills. If Yan Family Fortress needs alchemy, I can assist."
"Then Pei Xiaoyou is remarkable indeed!" Yan Shanyi looked amazed. In the Black Pearl world, alchemists were not easy to find.
"She's only this young and can produce Sixth-Grade pills?" loose cultivators whispered behind, clearly astonished by her ability.
Pei Xianqiao brimmed with confidence. Once she could get inside, she would discover what happened to Elder Shang. She would not give up and would overcome this challenge.
"However, Yan Family Fortress does not require an alchemist. Pei Xiaoyou, you need not trouble yourself. Rest well to preserve energy for cultivation!" Yan Shanyi smiled kindly.
Pei Xianqiao doubted her hearing. "Lord Yan, but Fairy Ranran is clearly inside studying alchemy…"
"Yes, perhaps the sacrificial ceremony has not officially started. She may have been a little bored and decided to practice alchemy inside to pass the time," Yan Shanyi replied cheerfully, glancing at the sky. "Ah, I cannot delay. I must return to preside over the ceremony!
Guests, if you have nothing to do, you are welcome to join the sacrificial ceremony. Fairy Ranran will be there as well!" Yan Shanyi smiled warmly and departed for the square.
Pei Xianqiao stood dumbfounded, as if a bolt of lightning had exploded in her mind.
Why could Fairy Ranran enter Elder Yang's home? How could anyone not need a Sixth-Grade alchemist? What on earth happened to Elder Shang inside?
"Sigh, Yan Family Fortress is too strange. They don't need a Sixth-Grade alchemist. What do they rely on for cultivation?"
After Yan Shanyi left, the loose cultivators could not resist whispering among themselves.
"It seems their cultivation doesn't rely on meditation, just worshiping Buddha is enough!"
"But what does it mean when Lord Yan said Fairy Ranran will also attend the sacrificial ceremony? Have you noticed, everyone in Yan Family Fortress likes Fairy Ranran?"
"Yes, it's normal to like Fairy Ranran, but everyone in Yan Family Fortress liking her is a bit much…"
"I know why!" Yu Zhenyan put away her Fiery Sun Fan, proudly raising the corners of her mouth, her dimples showing.
"What reason?" The murmuring stopped, eyes burning toward her.
Even Mu Jialing, who was no longer transmitting words to Fairy Ranran, looked at her.
Yu Zhenyan's eyes darted, carefully choosing her words. She said coquettishly, "Because she is more sincere than all of you!"
In her heart, Yu Zhenyan thought: "She is better at pretending than all of you. How could she be sincere?"
Everyone suddenly realized. "Yu Daoyou is right!"
"All along, only Fairy Ranran never searched Yan Family Fortress!"
"She seems unconcerned with Yan Family Fortress's secrets!"
"It must be her pure sincerity that touched the people of Yan Family Fortress. That is why Lord Yan likes her so much. Even the peculiar Elder Yang, who prohibits entry, lets Fairy Ranran come and go freely, even allowing her to practice alchemy!"
Soon, someone concluded why Fairy Ranran was so beloved by the Yan Family.
Although Yu Zhenyan felt disdain in her heart, she nodded in agreement outwardly.
Once outside, she planned to scold Fairy Ranran harshly!
Yu Zhenyan clenched her fists, listening to the praise of Fairy Ranran, unable to tolerate it further.
"Enough!"
She truly could not stand it anymore.