A Normal Yun Shan Is a Delight

"Teacher." Yun Yun bowed to Yun Shan.

"Elder Yun." Xiao Li cupped his fists in salute. After all, Yun Shan had treated him fairly well before, though he did like to keep a dark expression on his face. But there was nothing to be done about that—after all, he had taken the man's precious daughter. No one would be in a good mood about that.

"Mm~ An Eight Star Dou King, and the Fire Attribute Dou Qi in your body is exceptionally rich. It seems you've had a fortunate encounter, boy. I fear it won't be long before you surpass this old man."

Yun Shan slowly rose to his feet. In the blink of an eye, he arrived beside Xiao Li. A Nine Star Dou Emperor had more or less begun to grasp the rudiments of the Power of Space.

"No matter what you achieve in the future, you must not wrong Yun'er. If this old man learns that Yun'er has suffered any grievance at your hands, I'll stake this life of mine to seek justice for her."

Yun Shan spoke sternly. As the Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect and Yun Yun's teacher, perhaps such words were going too far. But Yun Shan was not merely a teacher—he was more like a father. This was a father's warning.

"Elder Yun, rest assured. I will never let Yun'er down," Xiao Li said seriously.

Hearing this, the sternness on Yun Shan's face gradually eased.

"Elder Yun, since you approve of Yun'er and me, you may have use for this." Xiao Li took a Cold Jade Box radiating an intense chill from his Storage Ring.

"This is?"

"The Breaking Ancestor Pill! My alchemy has improved greatly. Consider this Breaking Ancestor Pill one of the betrothal gifts for my future marriage to Yun'er."

Xiao Li spoke with a grin. As an Alchemist, one had to know how to make more friends, especially powerful ones. In Xiao Li's view, aside from his family and teacher, Yun Shan was the person in the Jia Ma Empire with whom he had the best relationship.

The main reason was Yun Yun. So long as Xiao Li and Yun Yun remained together for a long time, Yun Shan would certainly become Xiao Li's support.

As for Misty Cloud Sect being one of the culprits behind the Xiao Clan's eventual destruction? Please, that was many years in the future, and Soul Hall had been pulling the strings from behind the scenes. At this point in time, Soul Hall had not yet extended its hand here.

Xiao Li remembered that Vulture Protector was an Earth Rank Protector. Within Soul Hall, Dou Zong were all Guardians, while Dou Zun were Venerable Elders.

Guardians were divided into Heaven, Earth, and Human ranks, corresponding to high-level, mid-level, and low-level Dou Zong.

Yun Shan had been unlucky back then. He had rashly attempted to break through to the Dou Zong realm and failed. Not only had his cultivation plummeted, he had also suffered backlash. Vulture Protector saved Yun Shan's life, leaving Yun Shan with no choice but to work for him.

And everyone knew Soul Hall's methods. Without planting something in him, there was no way they would let him go. Accepting Soul Hall's power naturally came at a price. Hadn't Yun Shan's soul, along with the souls of Misty Cloud Sect's Elders, been directly extracted?

By giving Yun Shan a Breaking Ancestor Pill now and allowing him to break through to Dou Zong early, Xiao Li estimated there were roughly twenty years left. In twenty years, Yun Shan should be able to reach Three Star Dou Ancestor on his own, right? By then, even if Vulture Protector came, he would not be able to clash head-on with Yun Shan.

There was an essential difference between a Dou Zong and a Dou Emperor. One Dou Zong had no reason to offend another unless the gap in cultivation was enormous. Otherwise, they would never fight to the death.

Besides, Xiao Li had confidence in his alchemy. Once he broke through to Dou Emperor, he would most likely be able to begin refining Grade 7 Pills. The only problem was that Pill Lightning was troublesome. Xiao Li needed a Dou Ancestor Expert to help him withstand it.

So, who in the Jia Ma Empire was suitable? Only Yun Shan, of course.

As long as he could refine Grade 7 Pills, Xiao Li refused to believe that with a Rank 7 Alchemist like him backing Yun Shan, Yun Shan would be unable to defeat some lousy errand boy from Soul Hall.

"Hiss—"

Yun Shan sucked in a breath. His trembling hand accepted Xiao Li's jade box. He had longed for a Breaking Ancestor Pill for so long, yet it had actually fallen into his hands just like that?

Yun Shan had originally planned to enter seclusion and attempt a breakthrough to Dou Zong after Yun Yun completed her training at the Gate of Life and Death and became Sect Leader. But breaking through to Dou Zong carried risks.

If he succeeded, then he succeeded, becoming a true expert of the continent. Dou Zong was the dividing line for true experts—only Dou Zong counted as powerful experts!

If he failed, not only would he suffer backlash from the breakthrough, but his cultivation would also fall.

Yun Shan had once witnessed his teacher, Yun Yan, the Seventh Generation Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect, fail to break through to Dou Zong. Her cultivation had dropped to Eight-Star Dou Emperor, and she had died not long afterward.

At such a time, a pill like the Breaking Ancestor Pill became critically important. This pill did not increase one's strength, but it could give a Dou Emperor Peak expert an additional ten percent chance of success when advancing to Dou Zong. Moreover, even if the user failed to break through to Dou Zong, it would stabilize their strength at its pre-breakthrough level and prevent their realm from dropping!

Such effects made countless Dou Emperor Peak experts green with envy.

Many Dou Emperor Peak experts might fail to break through to Dou Zong simply because they lacked a Breaking Ancestor Pill. Fear arising during the breakthrough could lead to failure. With a Breaking Ancestor Pill as insurance, they would have no worries, charge forward bravely, and find success easier to achieve.

"This... this old man cannot accept it. One should not accept rewards without merit. This old man is not someone who takes things without working for them. If you give this to me, I would be ashamed to accept it." Yun Shan's reason ultimately overcame his greed, and he pushed the Breaking Ancestor Pill back.

"Ah~ How can Elder Yun say that? Your breakthrough to Dou Zong would bring me enormous benefits. Once you become a Dou Zong, this junior will have to rely on you greatly in the future."

Xiao Li had not expected Yun Shan to be so principled at this point. The more so, the better. It showed that Yun Shan was even more worth investing in!

"What do you mean?" Yun Shan asked in confusion.

"I refined this Breaking Ancestor Pill. Elder Yun knows its quality, right? It is a Peak Grade 6 pill. My next step in alchemy is to break through to Rank 7.

"But Grade 7 Pills have already developed a trace of intelligence, and more importantly, refining Grade 7 Pills will draw Pill Lightning. This junior currently has no ability to resist Pill Lightning.

"So I need Elder Yun to help me withstand the Pill Lightning. Of course, I won't ask you to do it for nothing. I'll refine some pills suitable for cultivation to compensate you. What do you think, Elder Yun?"

Xiao Li's words moved Yun Shan greatly. He had never even seen a Grade 7 Pill, but the books did say that Grade 7 Pills would draw Pill Lightning, and that its power was formidable. Even a Dou Zong expert could be injured through carelessness. How could a mere Dou Emperor withstand Pill Lightning?

He wants me to break through to Dou Zong and help him resist Pill Lightning afterward. That stinky boy has quite the plan. Forget it, he can't possibly mistreat these old bones of mine, can he?

Yun Shan pondered for a while before ultimately deciding to help Xiao Li. Their relationship might grow even closer in the future, and judging by Yun Yun's intentions, she had likely set her heart on Xiao Li for this life.

Yun Shan glanced at Yun Yun's hand clasped with Xiao Li's, feeling somewhat displeased.

"Since that is the case, this old man will shamelessly accept it." Yun Shan put away the Cold Jade Box containing the Breaking Ancestor Pill.

Breaking through to Dou Zong was not something that could be accomplished overnight. Yun Shan felt that he had not yet reached Dou Emperor Peak. After the Strongest Experts Convention, he would prepare to attempt a breakthrough to Dou Zong. With the Breaking Ancestor Pill, Yun Shan was much more confident.

Xiao Li smiled. He had finally completed a crucial step. With Yun Shan's ability, one Breaking Ancestor Pill should be enough, right? If not, he could refine another one for him. As a Dou Emperor Expert on the verge of breaking through to Dou Zong, Yun Shan should have collected the medicinal ingredients for a Breaking Ancestor Pill.

"Yun'er, take young friend Xiao Li around the sect. Your teacher needs to cultivate," Yun Shan said with a wave of his hand, his meaning clear: he wanted the two of them to deepen their relationship.

"Yes." Yun Yun cupped her fists and bowed to Yun Shan, then left with Xiao Li.

The two returned to Misty Cloud Plaza, where the enormous stone monument in the square was particularly eye-catching.

First Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect: Yun Potian

Second Sect Leader: Yun Yanrou

Sixth Sect Leader: Yun Aokong

Seventh Sect Leader: Yun Yan

Eighth Sect Leader: Yun Shan

Yun Yun's name was not yet on it. She was still the Young Sect Master. Once she passed the final test to become Sect Leader and completed the trial of the Gate of Life and Death, she would become the Ninth Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect.

"Hmm? Yun'er, why is there such an incredibly dense Ice Attribute Dou Qi above us?"

Xiao Li suddenly sensed a dense icy aura at the summit of Misty Cloud Mountain. Since he cultivated Fire Attribute Dou Qi, he was especially sensitive to this opposing attribute.

"Oh! It was left behind by the battle between Senior Ice Emperor and Teacher. That battle ended with Teacher's victory," Yun Yun replied.

Oh~ So it was Refreshing Brother. My respects, my respects.