When Lin Yuan's words reached Xiao Yan's ears, a surge of hot blood rushed through his heart like a torrent, instantly igniting the competitive spirit hidden deep within him.
"Since Brother Tianshu has such interest, I, Xiao Yan, will not disappoint you. In eight years' time, I will certainly catch up to you. Let us decide the victor at the Central Plains Pill Gathering," Xiao Yan said, his voice steady and resolute as it echoed through the air.
He stared intently at Lin Yuan, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes, his heart filled with eagerness to test himself.
Although the man before him far surpassed him in both cultivation and alchemical skill at present, Xiao Yan showed not the slightest hint of retreat.
Thinking back to three years ago, when he was merely at the third stage of Dou Qi, he had still dared to make the three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran. Now, three years later, with Yao Lao by his side, the Flame Mantra, and multiple Heavenly Flames, his confidence was at its peak. He firmly believed that he could catch up to and even surpass, the opponent before him.
Yao Lao quietly observed the two from the side. His beard trembled slightly as a satisfied smile appeared on his face. In his view, after fulfilling the three-year agreement, Xiao Yan needed a powerful rival to spur him forward and Lin Yuan was undoubtedly the most suitable choice.
Such a spirited agreement between youths was the best form of motivation for Xiao Yan, one that would drive his rapid growth.
Yao Lao patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, his eyes filled with approval and expectation. "Let's go, Xiao Yan. We still have matters to attend to."
Then he looked toward Lin Yuan and nodded slightly in farewell before turning and leaving the back mountain with Xiao Yan. Not long after, a pale streak of light shot into the sky, heading toward the Jia Ma Imperial Capital, quickly disappearing from Lin Yuan's sight.
"An eight-year agreement, huh? Doesn't feel too bad."
Lin Yuan stood where he was, straight as a pine, exuding an unshakable sense of composure.
Watching the direction in which the two had left, he smiled faintly and thought to himself, "With this, the cooperation is established. Today's objective has been smoothly accomplished."
This meeting had achieved all its goals—confirming Yao Lao's condition, building goodwill with him, and obtaining the secret method for refining a perfect body.
"Next, according to plan, I'll have my good friend Yun Shan put on a little show. Then the method for refining the perfect body will be mine."
"That's basically getting a secret method for free, not bad at all."
Yun Shan was never going to appear at the three-year agreement in the first place. This had long been arranged between Lin Yuan and Yun Shan. Using it as a bargaining chip to strike a deal with Yao Lao without any real cost put Lin Yuan in an excellent mood.
He then glanced toward a shadow not far away and said calmly, "Not planning to show yourself, my friend?"
As his voice fell, a pitch-black shadow suddenly peeled away from the darkness behind a nearby bluestone. A figure clad in black robes emerged, as if merging with the night itself.
Lin Yuan sized up the black-robed man with interest, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Peak Dou Emperor cultivation, and cultivating such a rare dark-attribute technique, who might you be?"
"You may call me Ling Ying," the black-robed figure said with a slight bow, revealing a somewhat aged, darkened face.
"Ling Ying?" Lin Yuan repeated softly before continuing, "A name I've never heard before. You're not from the Jia Ma Empire, are you? Also, you've been following Brother Xiao, yet that old gentleman showed no hostility. Are you their friend?"
"I'm merely a humble guard, acting under orders to protect that young fellow called Yan Xiao," Ling Ying replied calmly. Then his tone shifted slightly. "As for not being from the Jia Ma Empire, the same could be said of you. The Jia Ma Empire could never produce someone of your caliber."
"So, who exactly are you? And what is your purpose in approaching Yan Xiao?"
Hearing this, Lin Yuan smiled faintly. "A peak Dou Emperor serving as a guard, quite the impressive arrangement. As for me, I'm just a passing alchemist. You may call me Tianshu, or Mister Tianshu."
"Also, there's no need for concern. I'm something of a friend no, a collaborator of Yan Xiao—Xiao Yan. I won't do anything that would negatively affect your duties."
"A collaborator? I hope so," Ling Ying said indifferently. "Allow me to offer you a piece of advice, Mister Tianshu, do not harbor ill intentions toward Xiao Yan or do anything detrimental to him. Otherwise, you will certainly regret it in the future."
"Oh?" Lin Yuan replied with interest. "It seems Brother Xiao has quite an extraordinary background beyond being that senior's disciple. Good. That only makes things more interesting. Now it seems even more likely that, at the Pill Gathering eight years from now, he may truly become a worthy opponent for me."
"Pill Gathering? Opponent? What do you mean?" Ling Ying frowned slightly.
"No need to worry, it's nothing dangerous," Lin Yuan waved his hand, confidence evident in his smile. "It's simply a gentleman's agreement between Brother Xiao and myself. If you're curious, you can ask him or that senior directly."
"I don't mind telling you, but since it concerns both parties, I should respect their wishes."
Ling Ying did not pursue the matter further, deciding instead to ask Yao Lao about it later.
After all, they had already interacted when handing over the Heavenly Soul Branch. A bit more contact wouldn't hurt, and some information could be shared as well.
Just as Ling Ying was about to take his leave, Lin Yuan's voice, carrying a hint of amusement, sounded by his ear.
"Mister Ling, would you like to make a deal?"
"A deal?" Ling Ying paused, looking at Lin Yuan in confusion.
Lin Yuan's lips curled slightly as he said with a smile, "I can see your aura is strong—you've already reached the peak of the Dou Emperor class. In that case are you interested in a Mighty Hung Pill?"
The moment the words "Mighty Hung Pill" were spoken, Ling Ying's gaze sharpened as he looked at Lin Yuan.
With a flick of his finger, a jade bottle, smooth as mutton-fat jade, appeared in Lin Yuan's hand.
Inside the bottle, a pill the size of a longan could be faintly seen, it was none other than a top-tier Sixth-Grade medicinal pill, the Mighty Hung Pill.
Ling Ying stared at the jade bottle, a trace of heat flashing through his eyes, his heart inevitably stirred. To any peak Dou Huang, a Mighty Hung Pill was an enormous temptation.
However, he quickly steadied himself and asked calmly, "What is the deal you speak of, Mister Tianshu?"
Seeing this, Lin Yuan chuckled. "Impressive composure, even in the face of a Mighty Hung Pill. Rest assured, I won't ask you to do anything difficult. It's simply a fair exchange, mutual benefit."
As he spoke, he took out a booklet and handed it to Ling Ying, gesturing for him to open it.
Ling Ying opened the booklet titled "Compendium of Trades" and saw that under "Demand" were numerous high-tier natural treasures, cultivation techniques, and Dou Skills, while under "Supply" were many medicinal pills, including Dou Ling Pills, Mighty Hung Pills, and others.
Each item was marked with a value called "Mutual Aid Points."
After reading through it, Ling Ying looked at Lin Yuan in confusion.
Lin Yuan explained, "I am an alchemist, currently collecting medicinal ingredients, techniques, Dou Skills, and secret arts, while also selling pills. The prices are clearly listed. If you're interested, feel free to come find me."
Hearing this, Ling Ying stored the booklet into his storage ring, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice, "Mister Tianshu, I will consider your offer. Farewell."
With that, he spread his black Dou Qi wings and sped off in the direction Xiao Yan and Yao Lao had left. Soon, his figure merged into the night and vanished from Lin Yuan's perception.
Lin Yuan watched the direction in which Ling Ying disappeared, a trace of anticipation flashing through his deep eyes.
"I hope this trade channel can be successfully established. The forces the Gu Clan has stationed by Gu Xun'er's side are not to be underestimated. If I can cooperate with them, gathering rare treasures in the future will be much more convenient."
"However, although Ling Ying is close to Gu Xun'er and has access to many resources and secrets, he is not a suitable candidate for one of the Seven Star Lords. He lacks ambition and is far too loyal to Gu Xun'er."
"Gu Xun'er…" Lin Yuan murmured softly, a glint flashing through his eyes. "Hiding in plain sight, huh? Isn't she the perfect candidate?"
"She possesses a deep foundation and has real needs. Although she is a young lady of the Gu Clan, when it comes to helping Xiao Yan, the power she can mobilize becomes quite limited. If there is an additional channel to assist Xiao Yan, she would likely not refuse."
Thinking of this, Lin Yuan carefully considered the feasibility, risks, and benefits of inviting Gu Xun'er to join the Seven Stars.
"The benefits are great, but the risks are not small either. This matter requires caution. I'll treat it as a backup option for now. When I return to Jia Nan Academy next time, I'll meet her in person before deciding the next step. The candidates for the Seven Star Lords cannot be chosen carelessly, they must be selected slowly."
"With everything done, it's time to head back. Yao Lao's condition has already been confirmed. Tomorrow, I'll contact my friend Yun Shan."
With that thought, Lin Yuan stretched lazily and walked toward the residence he shared with Qing Lin.
Within the Jia Ma Sacred City, in a quiet, unoccupied courtyard.
After returning from the imperial palace, Xiao Yan pushed open the door and headed toward the alchemy room in the courtyard. This residence had been purchased for him with Ya Fei's help.
Although Yao Ye had invited him to continue staying in the palace halls, he had politely declined. After all, the imperial palace was someone else's territory.
After sitting cross-legged in the alchemy room, Xiao Yan called out in his heart, "Teacher!"
As if having anticipated Xiao Yan's thoughts, Yao Lao's voice echoed directly in his mind, answering the question he had yet to voice.
"Xiao Yan, I know you want to ask about what Tianshu mentioned regarding those 'jie jie monsters.' But now is not the time. After the three-year agreement is over, I will tell you everything. For now, it is not yet time for you to bear such burdens."
"Focus your mind on the Alchemist Grand Meeting first. Since you intend to compete with that Tianshu at the Central Plains Pill Gathering, you must not lose at this mere Alchemist Grand Meeting."
"I understand." Xiao Yan nodded, then continued, "Teacher, do you think Tianshu can be trusted?"
Yao Lao chuckled lightly. "Whether he can be trusted or not doesn't matter. We can try—there's nothing for us to lose. Remember, Xiao Yan, when faced with such situations, do not place all your hopes in others. We must still make our own preparations."
"Yes, Teacher!"
At the Mittel Clan, within Hai Bodong's residence.
Under the moonlight, Hai Bodong and Mittel Tengshan sat across from each other at a stone table in a spacious courtyard.
Mittel Tengshan took out a Mighty Hung Pill from his storage ring and handed it to Hai Bodong, saying with delight, "Old Hai, I've carefully studied this Mighty Hung Pill. It can be considered top-grade among its kind. It should help your cultivation break through by one or even two stars."
Hai Bodong pondered for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "Are you sure, Tengshan? This pill was given to you by Tianshu."
Mittel Tengshan smiled. "Old Hai, you are the true foundation of our clan. Only when your strength increases can the Mittel Clan continue to expand and better serve Lord Tianshu. I believe this is also Lord Tianshu's intention."
Hai Bodong accepted the Huangji Pill and said calmly, "Tengshan, it seems you've already made your decision regarding that matter."
Mittel Tengshan nodded and said solemnly, "Although it means having a soul restriction planted on me, I've decided to become his subordinate force. Lord Tianshu's talent is truly monstrous. If we seize this opportunity, it will be the best chance for our Mittel Clan to rise."
"As for the restriction—if one is truly loyal, then it can also be seen as a mark of trust upon the soul."
At this point, Mittel Tengshan recalled the final section of that booklet, which described the cultivation techniques, Dou Skills, and medicinal pills one could obtain after becoming a subordinate force. His eyes couldn't help but burn with desire.
Hearing this, Hai Bodong looked at the Mighty Hung Pill in his hand and recalled the young face he had seen before. He then patted Mittel Tengshan's shoulder and said calmly, "Don't worry. I'll handle the rest."
After that, Hai Bodong stored the Mighty Hung Pill in his storage ring and took out the Purple Spirit Recovery Pill.
"Old Hai, you're planning to…?"
"Mm. Tengshan, guard me. After so many years, it's finally time for this old man to return to his peak."
Not long after, a vast and icy aura suddenly erupted from the Mittel Clan's residence, spreading throughout the entire Jia Ma Sacred City as if it intended to freeze the night sky itself.
"Hai Bodong…"
"That aura, it's Hai Bodong! Has he recovered to his peak?"
Within the residence of Lin Yuan and Qing Lin, Qing Lin was fully focused on cultivating the soul secret technique Lin Yuan had taught her, the Soul Garment Consolidation.
This secret technique was created by Lin Yuan by fusing the Soul Hall techniques he had obtained from captured soul envoys with his own research into the soul.
The primary function of the Soul Garment Consolidation was to greatly reduce the energy consumption of soul avatars, thereby expanding their range of activity and significantly extending their duration.
Additionally, this technique possessed a certain defensive capability, allowing it to resist some soul and illusion-based attacks at critical moments.
The shadow clones created using soul avatars as a foundation would naturally benefit from this technique. In fact, Lin Yuan had originally created this technique specifically to strengthen his shadow clones in order to handle various complex situations.
Qing Lin closed her eyes lightly, calming her mind as she stood facing her shadow clone.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes, a faint green glow shining within her emerald pupils. Her hands swiftly formed several mysterious seals, and a wave of soul fluctuation spread through the courtyard.
"Soul Garment Consolidation — Soul Transfer."
With a soft shout, Qing Lin gently pointed at the crown of her shadow clone. A stream of pure soul power flowed from her fingertips, entering the clone through the crown.
Moments later, the shadow clone began to undergo a wondrous transformation. A pale green mist spread from within the clone, gradually enveloping its entire body. The swirling mist bore some resemblance to the soul envoys of the Soul Hall.
"Soul Garment Consolidation, Garment Formation."
With another shout, Qing Lin's hand seals changed again. The pale green mist surrounding the clone began to flow and contract. When the shadow clone reappeared clearly, its body was already covered in a layer of light green, gauze-like "soul garment," appearing extremely mysterious.
Seeing this, a trace of joy flashed in Qing Lin's eyes, and a delighted smile appeared on her face. "Great! I finally succeeded."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
At that moment, a crisp round of applause sounded. Lin Yuan walked in from outside with a smile. With a casual wave of his hand, he dispelled the soul barrier surrounding the courtyard, reconnecting it with the outside world.
Hearing the applause, Qing Lin turned around. Upon seeing Lin Yuan, her face lit up with joy. "Young Master, I succeeded…"
"Well done, Qing'er," Lin Yuan praised sincerely. "Although I knew you would master this technique quickly, I didn't expect you to succeed in such a short time. How did you manage it?"
Lin Yuan was genuinely surprised. According to his estimation, Qing Lin would need at least three days to initially grasp this technique.
"Hehe." Qing Lin smiled brightly, pointing to her eyes. "Young Master, the reason I cultivated it so quickly is probably because I used my Jade Serpent Triple Flower Pupils to activate the Heavenly Illusion Spiritual Insight Eyes. I gave it a try, and unexpectedly, it worked immediately."
"Heavenly Illusion Spiritual Insight Eyes… I see." Lin Yuan suddenly understood. "That should be the effect of the second stage Spiritual Clarity."
The Heavenly Illusion Spiritual Insight Eyes was a high-tier pupil technique manual gifted to Qing Lin by the two elders Qian Bai when she visited the Jia Nan Academy library.
This technique required special illusion-type pupils such as the Heavenly Illusion Eyes or the Jade Serpent Triple Flower Pupils to cultivate. Its second stage, Spiritual Clarity, enhanced one's control over Dou Qi and soul power, allowing the user to wield the same strength with greater efficiency and effect.
"To achieve this level, it seems your Heavenly Illusion Spiritual Insight Eyes has already been cultivated to quite a deep level," Lin Yuan praised.
"Hehe~" Qing Lin giggled, a hint of pride flashing in her eyes. "The Clear Mind Art that Young Master taught me has helped a lot in cultivating techniques and secret arts. Right now, I've already begun cultivating the third stage of the Heavenly Illusion Spiritual Insight Eyes, Illusory Soul Killing Domain."
Lin Yuan gave Qing Lin an approving look, then turned his gaze to the soul clone enveloped in the "soul garment," a trace of anticipation and excitement flashing through his eyes.
"Once Qing Lin fully masters this, with the assistance of the expanded Heavenly Network, I'll be able to control things remotely and seize the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade from afar."
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