Immortal Crane Exits Seclusion

Above the azure sky, a pillar of energy over two zhang thick shot straight into the clouds, gathering into a strange patch of clouds that lingered for a long time.

Before the Medicine Cauldron, where the flames were gradually receding, Yan Kuan slowly sat up from the ground. He glanced at the pillar of light piercing the sky and furrowed his brow slightly.

With a wave of his hand, the crimson flames transformed into the dazzling Empyrean Flame. The light pillar then trembled violently as its radiance converged. Moments later, a faint wisp of rosy light drifted down from the pillar, finally hovering above Yan Kuan's palm.

As this rosy light gradually condensed, its true form was revealed—a dragon-eye-sized, multicolored Spirit Pill. Its surface was perfectly round, with faint colored pill patterns lingering on it.

As this wisp of colored light detached into Yan Kuan's hand, the pillar of light shooting into the sky and the rosy clouds above began to fade, growing illusory until they completely dissipated.

Yan Kuan watched all the phenomena vanish, then looked down at his palm. His face, brimming with joy, also showed a trace of exhaustion. Though tired, he was genuinely happy.

Being able to refine a Rank-Advancing Pill, a Sixth Grade Peak pill, meant his alchemy had reached a certain threshold—he could now attempt to refine Seventh Grade pills.

"Brother Li, is that the Rank-Advancing Pill you mentioned, the one that can help Four Extremities Realm experts break through to the Dragon Transformation Realm?"

The Third Valley Lord of Ten Thousand Demons Valley, Sun Wukong, stared at the round Spirit Pill in Yan Kuan's palm, his eyes full of curiosity. After Yan Kuan nodded, he reached out to grab it.

But the moment his hand closed around it, the Rank-Advancing Pill transformed into a streak of rainbow light, darting away to circle around Yan Kuan, brimming with intense spiritual nature.

Sun Wukong stared at the pill in astonishment. "Is this still a pill? It even knows how to dodge?"

"Third Valley Lord, that's a bit shallow of you. I told you before—pills above Fifth Grade all possess spiritual nature, though most only have a very vague awareness. Even ordinary Sixth Grade pills wouldn't have this much spirit."

Yan Kuan smiled and waved his hand. The Rank-Advancing Pill hovering beside him flew back into his palm. He took out a jade bottle and sealed it inside. "But this Rank-Advancing Pill of mine—I used the Empyrean Flame to help it coalesce at the end, pushing its quality close to Seventh Grade."

Yan Qiang, overhearing their conversation from the side, looked at the Rank-Advancing Pill, which made the jade bottle float, and clicked his tongue in amazement. "If a pill just close to Seventh Grade has this much spirit, could higher-grade ones even speak human words?"

Yan Kuan thought for a moment before replying, "That would probably require Ninth Grade or above. From what I know, pills above Seventh Grade are full of spiritual nature. Some pills, once out of the furnace, will fly away on their own if you're not careful, leaving the exhausted alchemist dumbfounded.

Eighth Grade pills can take the form of beast-like pill beasts. After successfully refining one, you still have to find a way to tame it. As for Ninth Grade pills, treasures of that level are rare in the world, and their intelligence is almost comparable to living beings."

A slightly aged voice suddenly rang out from outside the arena. "Such miraculous alchemy—I've never heard of it before. Brother Li's inheritance is truly extraordinary!"

"Big Brother has come out of seclusion."

The Third Valley Lord's face lit up with surprise, and he turned to look at a certain pavilion outside the square. From that direction, a figure was slowly approaching.

The figure looked like an old man, but his life force was vigorous. The First Valley Lord of Ten Thousand Demons Valley was an Old Crane who had attained the Dao, with six hundred years of life. His complexion was excellent—truly a case of white hair and a youthful face.

The three Valley Lords of Ten Thousand Demons Valley each had extraordinary origins. The Third Valley Lord was suspected to be a degenerate bloodline branch of the Fighting Saint Ape clan left on the Human Ancestral Star. When his cultivation advanced, he would evolve into a thunder-beak, Fiery Golden Eyes form, resembling a Fighting Saint Ape.

The First Valley Lord was a crane who had attained the Dao and taken human form. It was said he had once obtained part of the ancient Sword Immortal legacy at Shu Mountain. His strength was immense; after six hundred years of cultivation, he had reached the peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm.

Among the known sect leaders, this Old Crane was either the strongest or close to it. Unless a Great Divine Power Expert emerged, no one could suppress him. He had inherited part of Shu Mountain's Immortal Sword legacy and spent most of his time in seclusion, striving to break through to the Immortal Platform realm. He would not emerge unless a matter of life and death for Ten Thousand Demons Valley arose.

The Second Valley Lord was a Spirit Cat who had attained the Dao, born with an ancient demon god bloodline. He spent most of his time wandering, searching for immortal mountain ruins, and rarely bothered with valley affairs.

The first generation Valley Lord, his ancestor, was also the founder of Ten Thousand Demons Valley. He had departed during the Warring States period, leaving behind the Three Lives Art legacy, which the Second Valley Lord inherited.

Because the Second Valley Lord was wandering and the First Valley Lord was in seclusion, the Third Valley Lord managed all of Ten Thousand Demons Valley's affairs. Thus, Yan Kuan had mostly dealt with the Monkey, Sun Wukong, and this was his first meeting with the First Valley Lord.

"Greetings, First Valley Lord."

Yan Kuan gave a slight bow to the First Valley Lord. The Old Crane returned the greeting with a smile. His face was ruddy, his hair snow-white, and his spirit vigorous. His eyes were full of surprise as he looked at the jade bottle in Yan Kuan's hand, deeply shaken inside.

He had attained the Dao earlier than the Monkey. Though the world had begun entering the End of Dharma era of spiritual energy depletion, some powerful cultivators from the pre-Tang period had not yet died out. He had witnessed some grand scenes and had some understanding of pills.

Most of the pills he knew might have stronger medicinal properties than the Rank-Advancing Pill in Yan Kuan's hand, but few had such spiritual nature. The key was that Yan Kuan's Rank-Advancing Pill was not high in grade, and the materials used were not particularly precious—which was quite miraculous.

"First Valley Lord, I've heard you once received the legacy of the ancient Sword Immortals."

After exchanging pleasantries with the Monkey and the Old Crane, Yan Kuan felt it was time to discuss certain matters. He addressed the First Valley Lord, "Do you know where I spent the three years before coming to Ten Thousand Demons Valley to refine pills?"

"I'd be glad to hear it."

The First and Third Valley Lords exchanged glances, both somewhat puzzled, but they knew Yan Kuan's words carried meaning, so they followed his lead.

"I spent three years in seclusion at Shu Mountain's Immortal Sword Sky Pool."

Yan Kuan's calm words sent shockwaves through the two Valley Lords' hearts. They abruptly looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion.

Yan Kuan continued unhurriedly, "I inherited the legacy of Grand Sage Red Pine, counting as his disciple across generations. Naturally, I also wish to fulfill his last wishes. I've heard that you all of Ten Thousand Demons Valley once obtained something from the Hanging Coffins scattered across Ba Mountain."

The Monkey couldn't hold back first. With a dry laugh, he said, "Brother Li, who did you hear that from?"