Exchange

"Yao Chen, Venerable Yao!"

The name rang out like a thunderclap, making all three of them freeze at once.

Lin Yuan was only pretending to freeze.

Elder Yao froze because his identity had been guessed by a strange kid.

Xiao Yan froze because of his teacher's title as the Continent's Foremost Alchemist and a venerable. He knew his teacher was an important figure, but he hadn't expected him to be an important figure of this level.

Since his identity had already been recognized, Elder Yao could no longer bring himself to play dumb in front of a junior. He only hoped this kid's faction was not hostile to him.

Elder Yao's soul slipped out of Xiao Yan's body and hovered beside him, while Xiao Yan's eyes returned to the sharp, spirited gaze of a youth.

Elder Yao looked at Lin Yuan and asked, "Who are you, and how did you recognize me?"

Lin Yuan seemed to steady his mind again. The expression on his face turned composed once more, and he gave Elder Yao a junior's bow before saying with a smile, "Just now, this junior saw Senior make a move. After vanishing without a trace for so many years, you can still unleash such powerful strength even after losing your physical body. That sort of Soul Realm, together with the signature Bone Chilling Flame—when so many coincidences come together, it is not that hard to guess, is it? As for who I am, that is information. Does Senior wish to purchase this intelligence?"

Lin Yuan did not explain why he was certain the flame Elder Yao had just used was the Bone Chilling Flame. He believed Elder Yao surely understood as well.

Elder Yao gave Lin Yuan a deep look. At such close range, he had already sensed the other party's Heavenly Flame. Though it was inferior to his own Bone Chilling Flame, it was without a doubt a Heavenly Flame. The special resonance between Heavenly Flames was extremely difficult to mistake, and that was enough for the other party to confirm his identity through the Bone Chilling Flame.

"This place is not suited for conversation. Senior, and this friend as well, please come with me!" Having said that, Lin Yuan took the lead and turned toward the waterfall. He was not worried that Elder Yao and Xiao Yan would leave at once. Before confirming which side he belonged to, they would not be at ease leaving.

Xiao Yan watched Lin Yuan walk into the distance and sensed the powerful aura emanating from his body. He sighed with some emotion. "Teacher, that person just now looked about the same age as me, but he was so strong. I could feel that it was the aura of a high-level Da Dou Shi. Is this what they mean by there is always someone better, and a sky beyond the sky? Compared to him, even Nalan Yanran is..."

Elder Yao glanced at Xiao Yan. This was actually a good opportunity to broaden his field of vision and let him understand how vast the world was, so that his horizons would not be confined by the tiny pond that was the Jia Ma Empire.

Thus, Elder Yao said in a deep voice, "Da Dou Shi? He is not. He used some kind of secret method to conceal his cultivation, which is why he appears to have the cultivation of a Da Dou Shi. Unfortunately, that secret method cannot fool your master. His true cultivation is Dou Wang."

Elder Yao's words shook Xiao Yan's mind. Only after losing focus for a moment did he come back to his senses. A bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He knew the world outside was vast, but he had not expected it to be this vast. Such a young Dou Wang—the gap truly was so great it made one feel somewhat hopeless.

Elder Yao did not interrupt Xiao Yan's thoughts. He was waiting. This was part of growing up. His disciple would not shrink back just because there was a gap. With Xiao Yan's resilient nature, this kind of gap would instead better ignite his fighting spirit.

And just as Elder Yao had expected, Xiao Yan quickly raised his fighting spirit. He also understood Elder Yao's painstaking intentions. A trace of determination appeared on his delicate face as he said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Teacher, for giving me the chance to know how vast the outside world is. I believe that one day, I will also be able to step onto that stage."

"Haha—good, good." Elder Yao laughed heartily. What satisfied him most was Xiao Yan's resilient temperament. He said meaningfully to Xiao Yan, "Xiao Yan, remember this. This is what the Dou Qi Continent is like. There are countless geniuses. Once you know the gap, you need only pursue them steadily. The road of cultivation is very long. In the end, what matters is not who walks fastest, but who walks farthest."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded thoughtfully and looked at Elder Yao. "Teacher, then what do we do?"

Elder Yao pondered for a moment, pointed at the Ice Frost Sky Wolf he had killed, and said, "Go take out the magic core from that Ice Frost Sky Wolf over there. A fourth-rank ice attribute magic core will be useful for refining the Blood Lotus Pill. Then we will go over. Your master has some matters to confirm."

After Xiao Yan took out the magic core as instructed, he and Elder Yao came to the side of the water pool. Seeing the surrounding environment, his eyes could not help but brighten. The waterfall's current rushed down into a vast, deep pool. The water was clear as green jade, the grass beside the pool was lush, and the area was surrounded by mountains and full of verdant life. Occasionally, some Magic Beasts could be seen shuttling through the forest. It was a good place for cultivation.

As for Lin Yuan, he was currently standing not far away in front of them, watching the two with a searching look in his eyes, as though he was quite curious about their state.

Under Elder Yao's lead, Xiao Yan walked toward Lin Yuan. When he reached him, the gaze he gave Lin Yuan carried some wariness, but even more of it was fighting spirit.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan felt some admiration for both Xiao Yan and Elder Yao. In the original course of fate, the fact that Xiao Yan could reach that step, though it involved many twists of karma, luck, and opportunities, undoubtedly had his temperament and talent as the foundation of everything. And Elder Yao, who could polish this piece of unpolished jade into something useful, was undoubtedly among the finest kind of teachers.

Thinking of this, Lin Yuan asked, "It seems this friend is Senior's newly accepted disciple. A dragon and phoenix among men indeed."

Elder Yao stroked his transparent beard and nodded. He gave Xiao Yan a look. Xiao Yan understood and stepped forward, cupping his fists as he said, "Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan. Greetings, brother."

Lin Yuan returned the greeting. "Due to certain reasons, I cannot say my name. You may call me by the code name I use when traveling outside: Hidden Dragon. It is truly my honor to meet you two. Consider this cup of wine my apology."

Having said that, Lin Yuan gathered aura and condensed it into matter, using Dou Qi to form two delicate wine cups. Then he took a pot of wine from his storage ring and filled the two cups, handing one of them to Xiao Yan.

Although Xiao Yan was a bit surprised by Lin Yuan's move of void creation, he had already steadied his mind and did not show anything unusual. In front of outsiders, he could not embarrass his teacher.

Xiao Yan glanced at Elder Yao. Elder Yao slightly nodded. He had secretly inspected it; there was no issue with the wine. On the contrary, this wine still had some benefits for the current Xiao Yan.

The person before him seemed very friendly. From the looks of it, he should not be a talented figure from a force hostile to him, and Elder Yao relaxed slightly.

After receiving Elder Yao's signal, Xiao Yan took the wine cup and smiled. "To meet someone like Brother Hidden Dragon is also Xiao Yan's honor."

"Then let us drink to our acquaintance." Having said that, Lin Yuan drained the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan also drank the wine in one gulp.

The green wine entered his stomach, and a strange energy emanated from it. Following his own feeling, Xiao Yan immediately sat cross-legged and formed the hand seal for cultivation. His aura began to rise steadily. Not long after, Xiao Yan broke through to five-star Dou Practitioner, and his physique also seemed to have strengthened slightly.

Standing up, Xiao Yan gave Lin Yuan a bow. "Many thanks, brother."

Elder Yao watched from the side, revealing an expression that said it was just as expected. He asked with great interest, "Young friend, do you perhaps have Earth Core Body Tempering Milk in your possession?"

"Oh? Senior's perception is truly keen. You could sense even Earth Core Body Tempering Milk diluted to this degree in the wine. And since you specially mentioned Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, it seems there are some matters we can discuss."