The 41st Chapter

After savoring it, Xiong's eyes sparkled: So delicious! Big Brother was right, this Golden Elixir is much tastier than bamboo shoots.

Lin Fan chuckled and shook his head, finding the two of them to be the very embodiment of foolishness.

Xiong Aotian licked his lips and sidled up: "Big Brother... do you have any more Golden Elixirs?"

Xiong Batian smacked him away: "Dream on! There were only three spiritual elixirs in total. Big Brother gave us both two, what more do you want?"

Xiong Aotian sheepishly shut his mouth and grabbed a bamboo shoot, biting down hard and trying to imagine the taste of the Golden Elixir.

"Cultivate diligently," Lin Fan said with a smile in his eyes. "If you can break through to the Grand Unity Realm, I'll reward you with another one."

The two brothers' eyes immediately lit up, and they patted their chests, making a vow: "Big Brother, don't worry, we will definitely cultivate without slacking!"

Lin Fan raised his hand and gently tapped the center of their brows. A stream of light split into two and entered them.

Two streams of spiritual light entered Xiong Batian and Xiong Aotian's brows. A profound ** appeared in the sea of consciousness of both brothers simultaneously.

This Yin Yang Heaven Swallowing Profound Technique was created by Lin Fan, merging the Devouring Law and the Yin Yang Law. It complements the Heaven Swallowing Art and perfectly suits the physique and foundation of the Xiong brothers.

"Many thanks, Eldest Brother, for bestowing this technique!"

The two Xiong brothers bowed respectfully.

Lin Fan waved his sleeve and said, "Now that you are the Black and White Twin Fiends who shake the Great Desolation, do not disgrace this name."

Before his words had even fallen, the Xiong brothers were sent into the Primordial Pearl. Having devoured numerous heavenly treasures in Laozi's dojo and with the help of the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir, breaking through to the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm was just around the corner.

Lin Fan took out the remaining Golden Elixir and meditated quietly, Dao Charm swirling and laws intertwining in his mind. Suddenly, he heard a system notification. He had actually comprehended the method for refining the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir. The medicinal properties of this method were mild and most suitable for the Human Race's cultivation. He immediately erected a stone tablet with the words "Alchemy Hall" next to the Scripture Pavilion.

As the hall was completed, a glow suddenly erupted from a side hall. Lin Fan looked over in surprise, not expecting Empress Houtu to have already condensed her Primordial Spirit.

Is Sister on the verge of a breakthrough?

Lin Fan instantly appeared before her.

Houtu lightly pinched his cheek and smiled, "It's all thanks to your Golden Elixirs."

"It's all thanks to you, otherwise my Primordial Spirit wouldn't have formed so quickly."

With her previous comprehension, it would have been difficult for her to grasp the profound mysteries of the Hunyuan Nine Revolutions Heavenly Technique in such a short time.

However, Lin Fan had specifically sent a clone to explain the intricacies to her in detail, which allowed her to quickly condense her Primordial Spirit and greatly increase her cultivation.

At this moment, her heart was filled with gratitude towards Lin Fan.

Not only was he pleasing to the eye, but he was also so thoughtful. Anyone would naturally be drawn to him.

"Empress Houtu, you're too kind. It was just a small gesture."

Lin Fan shook his head, his expression calm.

The Witch Race had helped him many times, even gifting him half of their treasure hoard. Moreover, a powerful Witch Race would be able to better restrain the Demon Race, which was also a good thing for him.

"Lin Fan, you're the best."

Houtu's eyes were filled with a smile. Her movements were so fast that Lin Fan couldn't react. She pulled Lin Fan into her embrace and affectionately rubbed against his cheek.

Lin Fan grabbed her fair wrist, feeling a slight dizziness.

Looking at his young and adorable face, Houtu's smile deepened, her heart about to melt from sweetness. She softly suggested, "Will you come back to Buzhou Mountain with me?"

"Didn't we just go last time?"

Lin Fan was slightly helpless.

"We stayed for too short a time last time," Houtu said enthusiastically. "There are still many places on the mountain you haven't seen. This time, I'll take you to see them all carefully."

"Perhaps not. I plan to go into seclusion for cultivation recently," Lin Fan politely declined.

He had obtained many treasures from Laozi's dojo this time and needed time to digest them. Furthermore, he had enough spiritual herbs on hand and planned to refine a batch of Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs to help the Three Ancestors of the Human Race break through to the Grand Unity Realm.

"Please go, consider it my request,"

Houtu held his arm, her tone gentle with a hint of coquettishness.

Lin Fan became even more helpless, not expecting Houtu to have learned this clingy tactic as well.

Seeing that he still wouldn't agree, Houtu's eyes flashed, and she suddenly said, "Actually, Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother also want to see you."

"Really? That's unlikely." Lin Fan was half-believing.

The last time they met on Buzhou Mountain, he had given Zhurong and Gonggong, those two hotheads, quite a hard time. What was supposed to be a spar turned into a one-sided thrashing. They were like two mobile punching bags, and the entire mountain echoed with their wails of surrender during every match. Later, those two didn't even dare to stay in Pangu Hall and hid in their respective tribes, afraid of running into him again.

Could they miss him? Although these two were reckless, they weren't truly stupid. Who in the world would enjoy being beaten?

"Why wouldn't they? Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother admire you greatly," Houtu lied without batting an eye. She said that after you left, they couldn't find any worthy opponents and hoped you would come back to Buzhou Mountain for another three hundred rounds.

If Zhurong and Gonggong knew that their little sister had sold them out to trick Lin Fan back to Buzhou Mountain, their hearts would probably turn cold – this sister was too much of a schemer.

"Did they really say that?" Lin Fan was skeptical, pondering that their thought processes were indeed quite peculiar. Seeing Houtu nod seriously, he agreed: "Alright, I'll definitely go in a while." He mused that the Twelve Ancestral Witches had deep affection for each other, and Houtu wouldn't lie. If it was a genuine invitation, he shouldn't refuse. He would definitely... when he went next time.

A cunning glint flashed in Houtu's eyes. Thinking of Nuwa's furious expression when she tricked Lin Fan away, she almost couldn't suppress her laughter.

"Houtu! Let go of my brother!" Nuwa suddenly appeared, shielding Lin Fan in her arms, her eyebrows furrowed. Although Houtu was intimidated by her imposing manner, she didn't show it on her face: "Sister Nuwa, Lin Fan is free to associate with whomever he chooses. It's not appropriate for you to interfere like this."

"So what? My brother just likes sticking close to me."

Nuwa's expression was cool and clear, her words leaving no room for doubt.

As for a place like Buzhou Mountain, he shouldn't even think about it.

Houtu's brow furrowed slightly, and she retorted indignantly:

"I'm afraid that's just wishful thinking on your part. Lin Fan has already agreed to come with me."

"My brother has always listened to me the most. Does that even need to be said?"

Nuwa's tone was certain.

Houtu, however, wasn't buying it and directly threw the question to Lin Fan.

"Lin Fan, you tell me, whose side are you on?"

"Of course, I'll listen to the oldest,"

Lin Fan replied casually, glancing around.

"What do you mean, oldest?"

Nuwa and Houtu exchanged glances.

Nuwa pinched her brother's cheek, and snorted with annoyance.

This little brat is getting harder and harder to figure out,

always saying such strange things.

She turned to Houtu and said coldly, "What are you, an Ancestral Witch, doing lingering around Shouyang Mountain? It's unbecoming."

Houtu rolled her eyes, "Why are you minding my business?"

If she hadn't been unable to defeat Nuwa, she would have really liked to punch this brother-complex woman.

Then, she said softly to Lin Fan, "Brother, don't forget our agreement.

You must come find me at Buzhou Mountain."

"Don't worry, Sister Houtu, I definitely will."

Lin Fan smiled and waved.

Only then did Houtu's expression brighten. She snorted at Nuwa and left with a flourish.

Nuwa narrowed her eyes as she watched Houtu's retreating back.

That Houtu has ill intentions.

How dare she set her sights on my brother?

I'll definitely teach her a lesson next time.

She turned to Lin Fan and asked sternly, "Do you really like Houtu that much?"

Lin Fan replied without hesitation, "Of course! Sister Houtu is fair-skinned, beautiful, ** and tall.

It's so pleasing to the eye to be with a beautiful woman."

Nuwa felt a pang of jealousy, and her face instantly darkened.

Sweet-talking Brother

Is that older sister not as good as me?

Lin Fan secretly glanced at Nuwa's expression and felt a chill run down his neck.

The woman before him, who was so jealous and petty, was a far cry from the Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal who ruled the Great Desolation.

He quickly tried to mend the situation: "Sister's beauty is unparalleled, how could Houtu compare? Of course, Sister is far superior."

Nuwa's tightly drawn lips revealed a hint of a smile. She pinched the young man's cheek, "Such a glib tongue! Did you say the same thing to Houtu?"

"Heaven and Earth can bear witness!" Lin Fan swore to the sky.

Her slender arm suddenly tightened, and the woman pulled him into her embrace, "You little rascal, don't think you can fool me!"

After Nuwa left, Lin Fan collapsed in the Alchemy Hall, catching his breath.

As his sleeves unfurled, Innate Spiritual Roots he had looted from Laozi filled the void. Amidst myriad rays of auspicious light, he summoned the Eight Trigrams Furnace—its body was enveloped in Saintly Might, and it took three days of confrontation with the Primordial Pearl to erase its mark.

On the peak of Kunlun Mountain, thunderclouds churned instantly, and Laozi's roar, which shattered the Jade Palaces, echoed forth:

"Lin Fan, you scoundrel! This Saint will refine your soul for ten thousand years!"

Inside Kunlun Mountain, the disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect and the Intercepting Sect were all bewildered.

Their Senior Uncle Master's furious roar echoed through the heavens once more.

The wrath of a Saint was boundless; its frequent eruption made them tremble with fear.

Amidst their apprehension, curiosity burned even stronger.

What exactly had Lin Fan done to provoke their usually serene and detached Senior Uncle Master into such a rage?

Lin Fan, oblivious to this, was focused on deciphering the profound mysteries of the Eight Trigrams Furnace's restrictions.

A clear voice suddenly rang out in his sea of consciousness: "Congratulations on comprehending the Hunyuan-level divine ability, Yin-Yang Bagua Diagram. You have been gifted Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood."

This Yin-Yang Bagua Diagram could be called a peerless divine ability, capable of deriving the heavens and earth. Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood was an even more potent body-tempering sacred item, each with its own merits alongside Kirin Marrow.

The Eight Trigrams Furnace's restrictions vanished in an instant.

The Xuanhuang Pill Furnace materialized in the hall, its ancient and heavy body radiating Dao Charm. Lin Fan flicked his fingers, and Samadhi True Fire immediately blazed within the furnace.

This time, he was to refine a Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir.

Such a divine elixir was effective even for Great Luo Golden Immortals, but its refinement was unimaginably difficult. It required perfect control over the proportions of spiritual herbs, the intensity of the fire, and the infusion of magical power. A single mistake would render all efforts futile. Even if Saint Laozi himself refined it, the success rate would be merely one in ten million.

The colorful clouds churned, and golden light surged, a radiant golden elixir's phantom hovering above Lin Fan's head.

With a slight movement of his mind, thousands of spiritual materials were placed into the furnace in sequence. With each added ingredient, the elixir's aura grew stronger.

Suddenly, Dao Charm flowed within the furnace, and a strange fragrance filled the air, instantly enveloping Shouyang Mountain.

Time flowed like water, and the immortal energy above the palace grew more substantial. The abundant spiritual energy nourished the plants and trees on the mountain, causing the spiritual plants' leaves to unfurl.

Suddenly, purple qi from the east surged across the sky, and amidst ten thousand feet of radiant light, the vision of a golden elixir reappeared. Vast Dao Charm surged like a tide, drawing the gazes of all living beings in the Human Race.

It's coming from the direction of the Alchemy Hall!

It must be the Holy Venerable refining an immortal elixir!

Everyone's faces showed reverence, and discussions erupted.

Hongyun, who was in the midst of teaching, suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with undisguised shock—that sky-piercing elixir glow clearly indicated the imminent completion of a Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir. Such a feat, besides Taiqing Saint, who else possessed it?

"Little Friend Lin is truly..." Hongyun sighed softly as he gazed at the elixir glow. With such alchemical mastery, even the Great Powers of the Great Desolation would be ashamed.

Inside the alchemy room, a sharp glint flashed in Lin Fan's eyes, and he smiled, gently patting the furnace lid:

"The elixir is complete."

The furnace lid suddenly flew open, and radiant cascades of light erupted. Several golden elixirs, carrying vast spiritual energy, leaped into the Purple Gold Gourd. At this moment, the celestial phenomena outside the hall gradually subsided, and the spiritual energy returned to tranquility.

Six golden Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs lay quietly in the gourd, their medicinal power fully condensed, having reached a state of ultimate perfection. Lin Fan examined the elixirs, a look of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.

With a thought, Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi were summoned. The three bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Holy Venerable."

Suddenly, Hongyun rushed in, and before he could even greet them, he urgently asked, "Little Friend Lin, has the golden elixir been refined?"

"So-so, only six of them," Lin Fan poured out the gourd, his voice laced with regret.

Hongyun stared at the golden elixirs, his lips trembling—these were Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs capable of helping mortals directly reach the Grand Unity realm. Even Laozi himself might not achieve such a result. And Lin Fan was still not satisfied?

"Fellow Daoist, you've arrived at a good time." Lin Fan distributed the golden elixirs to everyone. "Six of them, just enough to give you one, and one for each of the Three Ancestors."

Hongyun happily accepted, and the Three Ancestors, holding the golden elixirs, knelt and thanked him emotionally: "We thank the Holy Venerable for this gift! This is a treasure from legend, one that only Saints can refine. The Grand Unity realm is within reach!" Their reverence for Lin Fan deepened even further.

"This elixir's spiritual power is immense yet gentle. You should all return and cultivate diligently to break through to Grand Unity as soon as possible," Lin Fan instructed.

The Three Ancestors responded in unison: "We will surely not fail the Holy Venerable's nurturing!"

Hongyun held the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir, examining it closely.

As his fingers traced its surface, his astonishment was palpable.

This elixir was naturally formed, subtly aligning with the true meaning of the Great Dao.

Its patterns were like constellations densely packed, and its mere emanating aura caused his cultivation to subtly loosen.

"Little Friend Lin's alchemical methods..." Hongyun's gaze was fervent.

"They are perhaps on par with Taiqing Saint."

"You flatter me," Lin Fan smiled and shook his head.

"The refinement of this elixir was indeed thanks to Laozi's assistance.

Most of those rare and precious medicinal herbs came from the Eight Views Palace."