For a while after that, the mountain gate settled back into peace.
Zhang Nian didn't touch the items in either of their Storage Rings. But one day, someone he never expected showed up at the mountain gate.
"Gu He, a fourth-grade alchemist from the Jia Ma Empire, requests an audience with the Saint."
Zhang Nian, seated in the hall, paused in surprise. Pill King Gu He?
No, not yet. He had no interest in a fourth-grade alchemist, and Gu He's potential wasn't all that great. His talent for alchemy wasn't particularly impressive, either. And considering the future, raising his intimacy with a man...
Just thinking about it gave Zhang Nian a chill.
Besides, Gu He had probably come because of Yun Yun. If Zhang Nian remembered correctly, Yun Shan had taken a liking to the young alchemist long ago. Gu He had lived up to his expectations, too. With the Misty Cloud Sect's support, he had successfully advanced and made significant strides in alchemy. That was how he had eventually become Pill King Gu He.
He turned to the maid beside him and instructed, "Go tell him I'm in seclusion. He can leave on his own."
Outside the mountain gate
The maid said coldly, "You may leave. The Saint said he's in seclusion."
Huh??
If Zhang Nian had heard that, he would definitely have complained: Couldn't you be a little more polite?
Gu He stood there, stunned. The Saint said... he was in seclusion...
I mean, couldn't she have put that a little more tactfully?
"Very well..."
With that, Gu He didn't press the matter. His visitor was a Dou Sheng, after all...
In a place like the Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Sheng was as powerful as the heavens.
"Boom!"
Before Gu He could leave, an overwhelming surge of Dou Qi burst from the mountain gate. It was clearly a sign that someone was about to break through. Feeling the disturbance, Gu He's heart sank. He had come hoping to take the Saint as his master and gain an opportunity. He believed his future was limitless, especially since a high-ranking alchemist had once given him a few words of guidance. On the strength of that advice, he had advanced by leaps and bounds, becoming the youngest fourth-grade alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire and the talk of the town.
But such trivial details meant nothing to a Dou Sheng Expert, and they mattered even less to Zhang Nian. His goal wasn't this tiny Jia Ma Empire, but a much wider world. He had settled in a place like this only because he wasn't strong enough yet—and because he wanted to learn more about the Dou Qi Continent. The Jia Ma Empire could be considered a place full of hidden talents. Not only was Cailin, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, here, but someone with the Woeful Poison Body would appear in the not-too-distant future as well.
In the hall, Zhang Nian quickly pinpointed the source of the aura. It came from Yao Ye's room. The aura of a One-Star Dou Zong was gradually revealing itself.
"She's finally waking up."
He smiled faintly and shot upward. He had spent some time thinking it over, and decided that the Fire-Tipped Spear he'd received would be better off with Yao Ye. He had no use for it, and more importantly, giving it to her could raise her affection for him!
Yao Ye's affection for him was already extremely high. With the Fangzhang Butian Pill strengthening her, her cultivation speed would surely be impressive from now on. And Yao Ye had a wonderful temperament, too. At least for now, she seemed much easier to win over than Cailin.
Her beautiful eyes fluttered, then slowly opened. The first thing she saw was her master, Zhang Nian, waiting with his hands behind his back. A sweet feeling welled up in her heart, and she smiled warmly.
"Master, you..."
Zhang Nian waved a hand. "I just got here, too. But you woke up sooner than I expected. How do you feel?"
She nodded and carefully sensed her body. Having suddenly gained such great power, Yao Ye still hadn't adjusted to it. She could only tell that this was a realm she had never touched before, something profound. She was unusually sensitive to the space shifting around her and to the energy dispersing through it.
"I can't really explain it, but it feels comfortable... peaceful..."
He nodded slightly. "That's normal. Your strength was never at this level before. Spend a couple of days adjusting to it, and don't cultivate. In the meantime, take your time sensing the power of space. For a Dou Zong, it's a useful way to attack, and it can be quite effective in combat, too."
As he spoke, Zhang Nian moved his hand slightly. A blazing red light appeared above his palm, suspended in midair. Energy surged around it, and the light stretched longer. Then scorching flames poured out, revealing a long spear, its entire length gleaming silver, suspended in the air.
"This is called the Fire-Tipped Spear. As for its grade... you could call it divine. The grading system of the Dou Qi Continent can't really describe it. It has a will of its own. Today, your master is giving it to you. Remember to treat it well and build a bond with it..."
There was one thing Zhang Nian didn't say aloud: if she formed a strong enough bond with it, the spear was stronger than she was—and could even save her life.
Looking at the Fire-Tipped Spear, which radiated an extraordinary aura, Yao Ye felt, for some reason, that she was deeply connected to it, as if it were a treasure destined to be hers.
This was hardly surprising. The system had given each person a treasure that reflected their innermost self. As for why Zhang Nian had initially thought Yao Ye's reward was meant for him, that had simply been a misunderstanding. Yao Ye's greatest dream was to wage war on the battlefield and secure an era of lasting peace for the Jia Ma Empire, making the surrounding, watchful empires stand down. Deep down, she yearned to grow stronger and wanted the steadfast soldiers around her to make it home alive.
[ Ding! Yao Ye's affection +5 ]
Holy crap!
It really worked instantly! Yao Ye's affection had now risen to 90—the highest among all his disciples!
In his excitement, Zhang Nian felt the Fire-Tipped Spear in his hand respond to its destined master. It shot toward Yao Ye, turned into a streak of red light, and sank into her right wrist.
A faint burning sensation followed, and the pattern of a red lotus appeared. Yao Ye was still stunned. She simply felt as if something new had suddenly appeared inside her body.
Zhang Nian reminded her, "This is a divine weapon. You only need to will it, and it will appear on its own."
She nodded, then excitedly bowed to Zhang Nian. "Thank you for the precious gift, Master!"
Next, Zhang Nian tentatively took a Soul Nourishing Pill from his Storage Ring—the one he had obtained from Hun Qing's Storage Ring. It was a seventh-grade, mid-tier pill and an excellent aid for nourishing the soul. He had just been lucky to find one last time; pills like this were rare on the continent.
A force of space lifted the pill and carried it toward Yao Ye. Zhang Nian's voice followed.
"This pill is called the Soul Nourishing Pill. It can nourish your soul. Your realm is unstable, so it should help you. Take it, and if you feel any discomfort, let me know."
[ Ding! Detected that the host awarded disciple Yao Ye a seventh-grade, high-tier pill, Soul Nourishing Pill... ]
[ Processing refund... ]
[ Current refund multiplier: 5000... ]
[ Refunding... ]
"Holy crap!"
Zhang Nian stared in amazement. This was a real treasure!
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