"At this moment, everyone is running. No matter the reason — as long as you're not running, you'll be dragged into a room!"
"So this is the most dangerous time. You have to be careful — extremely careful. If someone starts running toward you, avoid them at all costs!" Zhao Qingxuan said seriously.
"We might not be able to avoid them this time!"
Over thirty people were running straight toward them, quickly surrounding them.
"Open your mouth!"
Danyangzi instinctively opened his mouth — and a pill was tossed inside.
It melted instantly.
The next moment, the group surrounding them covered their noses in disgust and quickly scattered away.
"What kind of pill did you just feed me?" Danyangzi asked, puzzled. "Why are they looking at me with such disgust? They're even covering their noses!"
"In their eyes, right now you've turned into something they absolutely hate — something so revolting they wouldn't even dare to get close," Zhao Qingxuan said.
"They're covering their noses… don't tell me, in their eyes, I'm dog shit?"
"I didn't expect you to actually be able to refine a pill like that! I've never even heard of such a thing before. Your talent is impressive. When we get out of here, I'll definitely have to ask you for some pointers on alchemy!"
Danyangzi's excitement rose. Then, as if suddenly making up his mind, he gritted his teeth and said, "Why don't I just take you as my master after we leave this place? No—actually, why wait? I can do it right now—"
"I don't take on disciples that old."
Zhao Qingxuan looked at him with distaste. "And stop talking to me right now. I'm struggling not to run away from you as it is!"
The figures running across the air finally stopped and faded away. The crowd running through the streets came to a halt as well.
The two of them spotted a courtyard nearby and slipped inside.
"Is the pill's effect over now? Can I talk to you again?" Danyangzi asked carefully.
"It's over," Zhao Qingxuan replied.
"Those dozen or so people just now didn't even have Yuan Ying cultivation. How did they learn about the refining furnace? And how did they even have the guts to come in?" Danyangzi asked, closing the door and sitting down on a stone chair.
It had to be said — Danyangzi adapted quickly. In such a short time, he'd already started acting like Zhao Qingxuan's assistant: opening doors, closing them, helping out where needed. No wonder he'd made it to the rank of elder.
"It's possible they killed their leader and joined another group," Zhao Qingxuan said.
"What makes you think that?" Danyangzi asked.
"Didn't you notice that among those who surrounded us earlier, there were people I'd already taken care of before?" Zhao Qingxuan said.
"Now that you mention it, I didn't really notice that! But how do you know they killed their leader and switched groups?" Danyangzi pressed.
"I guessed." Zhao Qingxuan said plainly.
Danyangzi froze for a moment. Then he muttered under his breath, "I thought you came to that conclusion through careful analysis or something…"
Zhao Qingxuan took out another pill and handed it to him.
Danyangzi flinched slightly, tense. "What, are we in danger again?"
"No danger," Zhao Qingxuan said. "It's just that you've lost your cultivation. You'll still need to eat. This pill keeps you from getting hungry."
"I'm not hungry yet," Danyangzi said, pocketing the pill. Then he asked curiously, "My Qiankun Bag stopped working, but yours still works — why?"
"I didn't store anything in my Qiankun Bag," Zhao Qingxuan said casually.
Danyangzi nodded, not asking further about where he kept his things. Instead, he asked, "When the wind starts blowing, we have to leave the courtyard. When a figure appears in the sky, we have to start running. Is there any pattern to this? If there isn't, living here must be nerve-wracking."
"There's no pattern," Zhao Qingxuan replied.
"What if we're too tired, fall asleep, or just fail to notice a shadow in the sky? What then?" Danyangzi asked.
"What do you think? You get caught and dragged into a room, of course!" Zhao Qingxuan said.
"To be honest," Danyangzi sighed, "I'm really shocked by this refining furnace. I never imagined such a thing could exist in this world."
"This mansion it turned into — how big is it? Is there a truly safe place? Somewhere that stays safe no matter if the wind rises or shadows appear in the sky?" Danyangzi asked.
"There is," Zhao Qingxuan said. "In the very center, there's a courtyard. As long as you enter that courtyard, no matter what happens outside, as long as you don't step out, you'll be absolutely safe."
"Then why don't we go there?" Danyangzi said quickly. "After taking those pills, our presence is faint. If we hide in a corner of that courtyard, no one will even notice us. We can just wait it out until it's over."
"That courtyard is dangerous," Zhao Qingxuan said. "The Holy Sons of Qianzhan Sect and Jiuxiao Sect are there."
"The Holy Sons are there?"
Danyangzi was shocked. Tianhua Sect was only a third-tier sect, while Qianzhan Sect and Jiuxiao Sect were both second-tier. The difference might seem small — just one level — but in truth, that difference was like a mountain. Tianhua Sect stood at the base, while those two stood at the summit.
"Wait, that doesn't make sense. If everyone knows those two Holy Sons are there, who would dare enter that courtyard? Aren't they afraid of offending them?"
"Of course they are," Zhao Qingxuan said. "But for a treasure like this refining furnace, people will still take the risk. Those two sects are powerful, yes — but here inside the furnace, no one has their cultivation. Even if they can gather followers, the rest of us still have a chance to compete."
Danyangzi studied Zhao Qingxuan carefully. "So you plan to fight them for it? Think carefully — even if you succeed, if they see your face or trace your identity, once we leave this place, Tianhua Sect won't be able to protect you."
"You probably think second-tier sects are just a bit stronger," Danyangzi continued, his tone turning serious. "But you've never really experienced their power firsthand. You have no idea just how terrifyingly strong they are."
"They might not even make it out alive," Zhao Qingxuan said quietly.
Those words made Danyangzi's eyes light up with excitement. "You're going to kill them!"
"You sound… a little too happy about that," Zhao Qingxuan said, puzzled. He couldn't understand what exactly was making this old man so thrilled.
"I've hated those bastards for a long time!" Danyangzi said through gritted teeth. "Every time they come to Tianhua Sect, they strut around like peacocks, showing off! Especially their Holy Sons and Holy Daughters — acting as if their asses are pointing at the heavens!"
"I'm older than them, I've cultivated longer than them, and yet they don't show me the slightest respect! If you're planning to kill them, I'll fully support you!"
Zhao Qingxuan said nothing. He just stared at Danyangzi for a long moment before finally saying, "I used to be alone here. But now that you're with me, I think I finally understand what happens to people after they've been stuck here too long."
"What happens?" Danyangzi asked.
"Have you really not noticed?" Zhao Qingxuan said. "You're the Third Elder of a sect. The things you just said to me — would you have ever said them outside the furnace?"