"Teacher." Yun Yun bowed to Yun Shan.
"Elder Yun." Xiao Li clasped his fists in greeting. After all, Yun Shan had treated him fairly well before, though he always liked to keep a dark expression. Still, there was nothing to be done about it. After all, Xiao Li had taken someone else's precious cabbage—who would be in a good mood about that?
"Hmm—an Eight Star Dou King, and the Fire Attribute Dou Qi in your body is exceptionally dense. It seems you've had a fortuitous encounter, brat. 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 appeared beside Xiao Li. A Nine Star Dou Emperor had more or less touched upon the rudiments of the Power of Space.
"No matter what you achieve in the future, you must not let Yun'er down. If this old man learns that Yun'er has suffered any grievance at your hands, I will risk this life 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 a little excessive. But Yun Shan was not merely a teacher; he was more like a father. This was a father's warning.
"Rest assured, Elder Yun. I will never let Yun'er down," Xiao Li said earnestly.
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 out a Cold Jade Box that emitted an intense chill from his Storage Ring.
"This is?"
"It is indeed a Breaking Ancestor Pill! My Alchemy has improved greatly. Consider this Breaking Ancestor Pill one of the betrothal gifts I will offer when I marry 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 he had the best relationship with in the Jia Ma Empire.
The main reason was Yun Yun. As 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 destruction in the future? Please, that was many years from now, and Soul Hall had been pulling the strings 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 Zongs served as Guardians, while Dou Zuns were Venerable Elders.
Guardians were divided into Heaven, Earth, and Human ranks, corresponding to High-Rank Dou Ancestors, Mid-Rank Dou Ancestors, and Low-Rank Dou Ancestors.
Yun Shan had simply been unlucky back then. He had rashly attempted to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm and failed. Not only had his cultivation plummeted, but 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. There was no way they would refrain from planting something in him. 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 the Dou Ancestor realm ahead of time, Xiao Li calculated that there were around twenty years left. Twenty years—Yun Shan should be able to reach the Three Star Dou Ancestor realm on his own by then, right? When Vulture Protector arrived, he would not be able to clash head-on with Yun Shan.
There was a fundamental difference between a Dou Ancestor and a Dou Emperor. One Dou Ancestor had no need to offend another unless there was an enormous gap in cultivation. Otherwise, they would not fight to the death.
Besides, Xiao Li had confidence in his Alchemy. Once he broke through to the Dou Emperor realm, he would most likely be able to begin refining Rank 7 medicinal pills. The only trouble would be Pill Lightning. 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 Rank 7 medicinal pills, Xiao Li refused to believe that, with the support of a Rank 7 Alchemist like himself, Yun Shan would be unable to defeat some lousy errand-runner from Soul Hall.
"Hiss—"
Yun Shan sucked in a sharp breath. His trembling hand accepted Xiao Li's jade box. How long had he dreamed of a Breaking Ancestor Pill? And now it was in his hands just like that?
Yun Shan's original plan had been to wait until Yun Yun completed her training in the Gate of Life and Death and became Sect Leader, then enter seclusion and attempt to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. But breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm carried risks.
If he succeeded, then he succeeded, becoming a true expert of the continent. Dou Ancestors marked the dividing line of true experts—only Dou Ancestors could truly be considered experts!
If he failed, not only would he suffer the backlash of the breakthrough, but his cultivation would also fall.
Yun Shan had personally seen his teacher, Yun Yan, the Seventh Generation Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect, fail to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. Her cultivation fell to the Eight-Star Dou Emperor realm, and she died not long afterward.
At such a time, a medicinal pill like the Breaking Ancestor Pill became critically important. It 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 the Dou Ancestor realm. Moreover, even if the user failed to break through, it would ensure that their strength remained at the level it had been before the attempt, preventing any loss in realm!
Such effects made countless Dou Emperor Peak experts green with envy.
Many Dou Emperor Peak experts failed to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm because they lacked just one Breaking Ancestor Pill. Fear arising during the breakthrough could lead to failure, but with a Breaking Ancestor Pill as insurance, they could charge forward without hesitation and might instead find success more easily.
"This... I cannot accept it. I cannot accept a reward without merit. This old man is not someone who takes without working for it. If you give this to me so freely, I would be ashamed to accept it." Yun Shan's reason ultimately overcame his greed, and he pushed the Breaking Ancestor Pill back.
"Ah, Elder Yun, how can you say that? Your breakthrough to the Dou Ancestor realm will bring me great benefits. Once you become a Dou Ancestor, 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 time. The more so, the better. It meant 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, you know what kind of quality it is—it is a Peak Grade 6 pill. The next step in my Alchemy is to break through to Rank 7.
"However, Rank 7 medicinal pills have already begun to possess a degree of intelligence. More importantly, refining Rank 7 medicinal pills will draw Pill Lightning. This junior currently has no ability to withstand Pill Lightning.
"So I need Elder Yun to help me resist it. Of course, I will not ask you to do so for nothing. I will refine some medicinal pills suitable for cultivation to compensate you. What do you think, Elder Yun?"
Xiao Li's words tempted Yun Shan greatly. He had never even seen a Rank 7 medicinal pill, but the books did state that Rank 7 pills would indeed draw Pill Lightning, and that its power was considerable. A moment of carelessness could injure even a Dou Ancestor Expert. How could a mere Dou Emperor withstand Pill Lightning?
He wants me to help him withstand Pill Lightning after I break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. This brat has quite the plan. Forget it, he can't possibly mistreat these old bones of mine, can he?
Yun Shan thought to himself. After struggling for a while, he ultimately decided to help Xiao Li. After all, their relationship might grow even closer in the future. Going by Yun Yun's feelings, she had likely set her heart on Xiao Li for life.
Yun Shan glanced at Yun Yun's hand holding 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 the Dou Ancestor realm was not something that could be achieved overnight. Yun Shan felt that he had not yet reached the Dou Emperor Peak. After the Strongest Experts Convention, he would prepare to attempt the breakthrough. With the Breaking Ancestor Pill, his confidence had increased greatly.
Xiao Li smiled. He had finally completed a crucial step. Given Yun Shan's abilities, one Breaking Ancestor Pill should be enough, right? If not, Xiao Li could help him refine another one. As a Dou Emperor Expert on the verge of breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm, Yun Shan should have gathered the ingredients for a Breaking Ancestor Pill.
"Yun'er, take young friend Xiao Li around the sect. Your teacher needs to cultivate." Yun Shan waved his hand, his meaning clear: let the two of them deepen their relationship.
"Yes." Yun Yun clasped her fists and bowed to Yun Shan before leaving with Xiao Li.
The two arrived at Misty Cloud Plaza once more. The enormous stone monument in the plaza was particularly eye-catching.
First Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect: Yun Potian
Second Sect Leader: Yun Yanrou
Sixth Sect Leader: Yun Aokong
Seventh Generation Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect: Yun Yan
Eighth Sect Leader: Yun Shan
Yun Yun's name was not 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 Generation Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect.
"Hm? Yun'er, why is there such an extremely dense aura of Ice Attribute Dou Qi above us?"
Xiao Li suddenly sensed a dense icy aura from the summit of Misty Cloud Mountain. As someone who cultivated Fire Attribute Dou Qi, he was especially sensitive to this opposing attribute.
"Oh! It was created by a battle between Senior Ice Emperor and Teacher. That battle ended with Teacher's victory," Yun Yun answered.
"Oh~ so it was Refreshing Brother. My respects, my respects."
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