Enchantress Cao Ying

Xuankongzi's thoughts drifted back to the days following that secret investigation.

Out of concern for Xuanyi and even greater curiosity about Su Baichen, he had spent several months secretly following Su Baichen.

And in doing so, he discovered a secret that could shake the Central Plains.

He had personally witnessed that Su Baichen was not merely skilled in alchemy and Dou Qi cultivation. On the path of the sword, he possessed attainments that were equally extraordinary.

The scene that shocked Xuankongzi most had taken place atop a secluded peak of Yunwu Mountain.

Su Baichen had stood facing a reclusive expert renowned throughout the Central Plains' swordsmanship world, a man known as Jianzun. Neither had employed overwhelming Dou Qi; they had merely used withered branches as swords to spar with their sword intent.

At first, Jianzun's sword moves had been fierce and domineering, displaying all the bearing of a grandmaster. Su Baichen's sword path, meanwhile, flowed like drifting clouds and running water. It appeared gentle, yet contained the profound principles of heaven and earth, thunder hidden in silence.

After countless exchanges, the withered branch in Jianzun's hand abruptly stilled. He let out a long sigh, tossed the branch to the ground, and cupped his hands toward Su Baichen in salute. "Young friend, your sword intent has reached the mysteries of heaven and attained perfection. This old man... is ashamed to admit he cannot compare."

The instant Jianzun conceded, his gaze swept like lightning toward the empty space where Xuankongzi was concealed. Calmly, he said, "President Xuankongzi, since you have watched for so long, why not reveal yourself?"

At the same time, Su Baichen smiled in Xuankongzi's direction, clearly having noticed him long ago.

Space rippled, and Xuankongzi revealed himself, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Su Baichen was not angered by being followed. Instead, he stepped forward and respectfully bowed to him. "Senior Xuankongzi, these little tricks of mine are hardly worth mentioning to outsiders. I hope you can keep this secret for me."

What kind of man was Xuankongzi? In an instant, he understood Su Baichen's concerns. A tree that rose above the forest would be battered by the wind. A Seventh-tier Alchemist and Dou Zong under twenty years old was already shocking enough. If he were also branded a swordsmanship genius capable of winning Jianzun's admiration, he would likely become the target of all eyes at once.

In the Central Plains, a land where dragons and tigers lay hidden, the Dou Zong realm was far from invincible. This young sapling, Su Baichen, still needed time to grow.

Thinking of this, then looking at the peerlessly elegant Su Baichen beside him, and recalling Xuanyi's possible feelings, Xuankongzi made up his mind.

Stroking his beard, he smiled. "Keeping your secret is naturally no problem. However, young friend, this old man has one condition."

His eyes shone as he looked at Su Baichen. "Join Danta. With your talent in alchemy, Danta can provide you with the finest resources and protection, allowing you to grow without distraction."

Su Baichen paused slightly at those words. His gaze inadvertently swept toward Danta, and an almost imperceptible tenderness flickered in his eyes.

Xuanyi was in that tower. Joining Danta seemed... not like a bad thing. He immediately cupped his hands and agreed openly. "This junior, Su Baichen, is willing to join Danta. In the future, I hope for much guidance from the President."

Boom!

Just as Xuankongzi was immersed in his memories, the long-suppressed aura within the cultivation chamber suddenly broke past its threshold. Like a sleeping dragon awakening, an immense and boundless force carrying the power of space erupted with a thunderous blast, instantly spreading through the area! This was the pressure of a genuine Dou Zun!

"It succeeded!"

"It succeeded!"

Xuankongzi and Xuanyi blurted out at almost the same time. They exchanged a glance, each seeing the unconcealable shock in the other's eyes.

A twenty-one-year-old Dou Zun! What kind of concept was that? Even among those ancient Dou God Clans with long legacies and powerful bloodlines, such an achievement would be exceedingly rare—truly the finest among the finest!

Creak—

The heavy stone door of the cultivation chamber slowly opened, and a tall figure stepped out. Having successfully broken through, Su Baichen's aura had become even more restrained and profound. Divine light gleamed in his eyes, as though they contained an endless starry sky.

The first person he saw was Xuankongzi. He immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Senior Xuankongzi."

"Ah, you finally came out!"

Xuankongzi suppressed the turmoil in his heart and smiled. Out of habit, he teased, "If you hadn't come out soon, I think someone would have been so anxious she'd tear this cultivation chamber apart."

At his words, two blushes instantly bloomed across Xuanyi's lovely face. She shot Xuankongzi an irritated glare, but she had no mind to argue with him now. She hurried to Su Baichen's side like a fledgling returning to its nest, her beautiful eyes examining him from head to toe, her concern impossible to hide.

"Little Chen, how do you feel? Did the breakthrough go smoothly? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

She even could not resist reaching out to lightly feel his arm and shoulder, checking for hidden injuries. That natural intimacy had long surpassed the ordinary boundaries between men and women.

Feeling her concern, Su Baichen's heart warmed. He smiled helplessly and allowed her to inspect him as he replied gently, "Xuanyi, I'm fine. The breakthrough went smoothly. I am now a genuine one-star Dou Zun. And..."

He paused, a confident light flashing through his eyes. "Perhaps because of all the accumulation finally bearing fruit, this breakthrough also greatly increased my Soul Power. My soul realm and Dou Qi cultivation have both caught up now, and I am confident I can attempt to refine simple eighth-tier pills."

"Now, I suppose I count as an entry-level Eighth-tier Alchemist."

"What?!"

"You're already an entry-level Eighth-tier Alchemist?!"

This time, Xuankongzi was far more shocked than before, his voice rising several pitches!

A twenty-one-year-old Dou Zun was already astonishing, but a twenty-one-year-old Eighth-tier Alchemist...

This simply overturned everything the Central Plains' alchemy world believed! In all of Danta's history, there had never been such a young Eighth-tier Alchemist!

Even the delicate little girl who had quietly remained beside Xuankongzi could not help widening her dark, round eyes. Covering her lips with her small hand, she let out a childish cry full of amazement. "So... so amazing!"

In her eyes, beyond surprise, there shone a clear glimmer of admiration.

Only then did Su Baichen and Xuanyi turn their full attention to the little girl.

Su Baichen looked at Xuankongzi and asked in confusion, "Senior Xuankongzi, who is this?"

Only then did Xuankongzi recover from the successive shocks Su Baichen had brought him and remember the other purpose of his visit.

Smiling, he gently pushed the little girl before Su Baichen and introduced her. "Here, this girl is the precious darling of the Cao Clan, the famous 'Enchantress,' Cao Ying."

"She pestered me today, insisting that she had to take a master. And her standards are incredibly high—she specifically named you, Su Baichen, as the one she wants to take as her master and learn alchemy from."

He patted Cao Ying's little head and continued to Su Baichen, "I'm telling you, don't underestimate this girl. Her talent for the soul is innately powerful."

"I heard that when she was born, her Soul Power was so strong and uncontrollable that she caused her mother no small amount of suffering. She is a natural-born seedling for alchemy."

Upon hearing this, Su Baichen understood. Cao Ying, the young alchemy prodigy the Cao Clan had devoted all its efforts to nurturing, the future "Enchantress" of Danta, possessed extraordinary soul talent.

If she had not later encountered that cheat-like Xiao Yan, she would undoubtedly have been the uncontested number one alchemist among her generation.

He looked at the little girl before him, who had tilted up her small face, her eyes filled with expectation and stubbornness. The corner of his lips rose into a meaningful curve. From this moment onward, the course of fate seemed to have quietly shifted by another subtle degree.