(The emotional scenes might be awkward, I can't write them anymore.)
Phew~
Xiao Li didn't know how long he had Cultivated before slowly opening his eyes. His Realm was now at the Peak of Great Dou Master, and he could Breakthrough to Dou Ling in a few days at the shortest, or half a year at the longest.
Xiao Li stood up and stretched, a faint smile on his face as he watched the Dou Qi slowly rise within his body.
'Cultivation is truly captivating.'
"Awake? Then sit down," President Wang's voice came.
Xiao Li looked over at the sound and saw a young girl, who didn't look very old, standing beside Yun Shan. This girl was extremely beautiful, with a captivating and serene countenance, yet carrying a hint of grace and nobility. She was destined to be a peerless beauty.
"Cough, cough."
Yun Shan coughed once, his face dark as he looked at Xiao Li. He had just finished Cultivating and was already staring at his Disciple. This brat!
Yun Yun, however, looked at Xiao Li with curiosity. She was pondering a question: why was this young man, who looked to be around her age, so much higher in Cultivation than her?
Xiao Li awkwardly scratched his cheek, then honestly sat beside President Wang.
'This old man Yun Shan is too petty. It's just a glance at your Disciple, why glare at me so fiercely? Can't I appreciate a beautiful girl?'
"Lier, this girl is Sect Leader Yun's Personal Disciple, Yun Yun. You two are similar in age, so get to know each other," President Wang said with a chuckle.
Listening to President Wang's introduction, Xiao Li looked at Yun Yun, who also looked at Xiao Li.
"I am Xiao Li, I greet the Young Sect Master," Xiao Li said, cupping his hands.
"Yun Yun greets Great Master Xiao," Yun Yun said, clasping her hands.
Both sides were very polite. Xiao Li was a Personal Disciple of a Sixth-Rank Alchemist and also a Rank 4 Alchemist himself, earning him the title of Great Master in the Jia Ma Empire.
Although Yun Yun was still young, she was the legitimate Young Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect.
After they introduced themselves, nothing else happened. They each sat beside their respective teachers, silent.
Yun Shan & Wang Ming:... "Cough, cough, Lier, your Realm is already a nine-star Great Dou Master. It's only a matter of half a year before you Breakthrough to Dou Ling.
And Sect Leader Yun's Disciple happens to need to continue her tempering in the Magical Beast Mountain Range for half a year. For this half year, you will accompany her.
Your master and Sect Leader Yun have important matters to attend to. Remember not to provoke the powerful Demonic Beasts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, remember!"
President Wang entrusted the upcoming matters, and Yun Shan nodded with a dark expression.
As for why Yun Shan agreed to President Wang's decision? Because President Wang offered too much! President Wang offered the price of a Huangji Pill.
The Huangji Pill, a Rank 6 top-tier Elixir, had a simple effect: it could allow a Dou Huang (Dou Emperor) powerhouse to advance by one to two stars in a relatively short period. Furthermore, the Huangji Pill had another effect, which was to strengthen meridians and refine bones. The residual Elixir power after the strength increase would help the user reinforce their body once.
Although President Wang's success rate in refining the Huangji Pill was not high, he had indeed succeeded in refining it before.
Yun Shan had not yet taken a Huangji Pill. Any Dou Huang (Dou Emperor) would be attracted by the Huangji Pill.
But Yun Shan was also an old and cunning fellow. His precious Disciple would most likely be in danger, so he raised the price! He added another Rank 6 Huangfeng Spirit Pill.
President Wang: Deal!
...After President Wang finished his instructions, he gave Yun Shan a look, then departed with Dou Qi (Dou Qi) wings.
Yun Shan's face was dark, but he quickly composed himself and said to Yun Yun: "Yun'er, your master and Great Master Wang have some matters to attend to. You will accompany young friend Xiao for tempering; listen to his arrangements for everything.
Young friend Xiao Li, Yun'er's safety is in your hands. If she gets hurt, you understand the consequences!"
Xiao Li quickly bowed: "This junior will definitely protect the Young Sect Master!"
Swoosh!
The next moment, Yun Shan also unfurled his Dou Qi (Dou Qi) wings and flew away.
Only Xiao Li and Yun Yun were left in the cave, staring at each other.
"Cough, cough, uh, Young Sect Master, let's not stand. Please sit down. It's not too late to rest for a day before going out to gain experience," Xiao Li coughed and said.
Yun Yun hadn't quite processed what was happening. Why did her master just leave like that? Her tempering was not yet complete.
Xiao Li scratched his head. He wasn't good at finding topics for conversation, so he decided to do his own thing. Since his master had arranged for him to protect Yun Yun, he might as well do some thorough preparation.
Xiao Li took out the blue flame cauldron, then retrieved some of the medicinal herbs he had collected, preparing to refine Elixirs.
"Are you going to refine Elixirs?" Yun Yun asked, watching Xiao Li's series of actions.
"Mm."
"I just heard President Wang say that you have the Cultivation of a nine-star Great Dou Master? How old are you this year? You don't look much older than me," Yun Yun continued to ask.
"Fifteen, almost sixteen."
"I'm fourteen. You're only one year older than me? Yet your Realm is so far ahead of mine." Yun Yun felt a bit discouraged, because ever since she began Cultivating, she had displayed astonishing talent.
Yun Shan often praised her, saying she would surpass all previous Sect Masters of the Cloud Mist Sect in the future.
"It's all thanks to my master's nurturing. Elixirs were never in short supply. Even so, my talent is only so-so in the center of that Continent."
Xiao Li shrugged and said. He believed he had some talent, but he didn't deserve to be called a Genius. He might be overthrown by someone one day. Anyway, he was here to lie flat and wait for Xiao Yan to rise.
Xiao Yan was the Genius rectifier; he just needed to enjoy his retirement.
"My master said that the Northwest Continent is barren, and the Central Plains is the gathering place for Geniuses. Our Cloud Mist Sect's Ancestral Master, Venerable Potian, came from the Central Plains.
I will take Ancestral Master Potian as my goal and lead the Cloud Mist Sect to a new Peak!" Yun Yun's eyes seemed to be filled with flames.
"Then I wish you good luck. As for me, I also have things I want to accomplish. You defend your Sect, and I want to protect my Family. In that case, our goals are very similar, so let's encourage each other!"
Xiao Li said with a smile. The Xiao Family was his current home, and it was a good home. He didn't want any evil spirits to destroy it.
"Encourage each other!"
Xiao Li smiled. Little Yun Yun was truly adorable. Then he put the medicinal herbs into the blue flame cauldron, released purple flames from his right hand, and began Alchemy.
"Oh, right, Young Sect Master..."
Yun Yun interrupted Xiao Li: "Calling me Young Sect Master is a bit too formal. You can just call me Yun'er. Great Master Xiao is one year older than me, so may I call you Elder Brother Xiao Li?"
"Is that so? Of course, you can. And don't treat me as some Great Master; I don't deserve that title. We can interact as peers," Xiao Li said with a smile.
"Mm." Yun Yun revealed a sweet smile, which made Xiao Li feel a bit dazed.
"Cough, cough, uh, Yun'er, your current Cultivation seems to be a five-star Dou Practitioner, and you primarily Cultivate the wind attribute, right?" Xiao Li felt like he was about to be captivated by this girl. No wonder Gu He loved her so much.
"Yes."
"Then you're in luck. Some time ago, when I was gathering herbs, I found a Wind Spirit Fruit. It would be perfect to use it as the main ingredient to refine a Rank 4 Elixir, the Wind Spirit Qi Gathering Pill.
Now, I'm just missing a Rank 3 wind-attribute Demonic Beast core."
Xiao Li said with a smile.
"Rank 4 Elixir? I'm only a Dou Practitioner right now. Taking a Rank 4 Elixir should be dangerous, right?" Yun Yun suddenly spoke.
Although she could take some Elixirs, the grade absolutely could not be too high. A Rank 4 Elixir was a bit too high; most of that level were for Great Dou Master to take.
"That's not a big problem. I'll further condense some medicinal liquid that will help you absorb the Elixir. Soaking in a medicinal bath and taking the Elixir is the best effect, and it won't harm your body."
Xiao Li patted his chest and guaranteed. What a joke! He was an Alchemist; could he not solve such a problem?