Yao Ye Wakes Up

For a period after that, the mountain gate returned to peace.

Zhang Nian did not touch the items inside the two Storage Rings, but on this day, someone unexpected arrived at the mountain gate.

"Gu He, a fourth-tier alchemist of the Jia Ma Empire, requests an audience with the Saint."

Zhang Nian, sitting in the main hall, was stunned for a moment. Pill King Gu He?

No, that wasn't quite right yet. He had no interest in a mere fourth-tier alchemist, and Gu He's potential wasn't particularly high; his talent for alchemy wasn't exactly stellar either. Furthermore, considering his long-term plans, building intimacy with a man...

Just thinking about it made Zhang Nian shudder with revulsion.

Besides, Gu He was likely here because of Yun Yun. If he remembered correctly, Yun Shan had long favored this young alchemist. Gu He had been quite ambitious, and with the support of the Misty Cloud Sect, he had successfully broken through and made significant improvements in his alchemy, which eventually led to him becoming the Pill King Gu He.

He immediately instructed the maidservant beside him: "Go tell that person I am in seclusion and to leave on his own."

Outside the mountain gate.

The maidservant said coldly: "You may leave. The Saint said he is in seclusion."

Huh??

If Zhang Nian had heard this, he would definitely have retorted: Is that how you show courtesy?

At this moment, Gu He was left in a state of bewilderment. The Saint said... he was in seclusion...

I mean, couldn't you have been a bit more tactful?

"Very well..."

With that, Gu He stopped pestering them. The other party was a Dou Sheng, after all...

For a place like the Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Sheng was an existence as high as the heavens.

"BOOM!"

Before Gu He could even leave, a surge of Dou Qi erupted from the mountain gate—clearly a sign of someone breaking through. Feeling this commotion, Gu He felt a sense of desolation. He had come here hoping to take a master and find an opportunity; he had always considered his future to be limitless. Having once received a few words of guidance from a high-level alchemist, he had ridden that momentum to become the youngest fourth-tier alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, enjoying unparalleled prestige for a time.

However, these trivial details meant nothing to a Dou Sheng, and to Zhang Nian, they were not even worth mentioning. His goal was not this tiny Jia Ma Empire, but the vast sky beyond. He had chosen to station himself in such a place only because he wasn't strong enough yet, and also to gain a better understanding of the Dou Qi Continent. This Jia Ma Empire could be considered a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided; not only was there Cailin, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, but in the near future, a Woeful Poison Body would also appear.

In the hall, Zhang Nian quickly locked onto the source of the aura. It was coming from Yao Ye in his room, and the aura of a one-star Dou Ancestor was gradually manifesting.

"Finally waking up, are you?"

With a faint smile, his figure flashed upward. During this time, he had considered that the Fire-Tipped Spear he had was better off given to Yao Ye. He had no use for it, and most importantly, it would boost her favorability!

Yao Ye's favorability was already extremely high. With the reinforcement from the Fangzhang Butian Pill, her future cultivation speed would certainly not be slow. Moreover, Yao Ye's personality was excellent; at the very least, she seemed far easier to win over than Cailin.

Her beautiful eyes fluttered slightly before slowly opening. The sight that greeted her was her master, Zhang Nian, waiting with his hands behind his back. A sense of sweetness filled her heart, and she smiled softly:

"Master, you..."

Zhang Nian waved his hand and said: "I just arrived as well, but you woke up faster than I expected. How do you feel?"

She nodded and carefully sensed her body. Having suddenly acquired such powerful strength, Yao Ye wasn't quite used to it yet. She only felt that this realm was one she had never touched before—it was mysterious, and she was exceptionally sensitive to the fluctuations of the surrounding space and the dissipation of energy.

"I can't quite describe it, but it feels very comfortable... very peaceful..."

He nodded slightly and said: "That is normal. After all, your original strength hadn't reached this level. Spend two days adapting; don't cultivate yet. During this time, you can carefully perceive the power of space. For a Dou Ancestor, this is a fine method of attack, and applying it to combat can produce excellent results."

As he spoke, Zhang Nian moved his palm slightly. A scorching red light appeared above his palm, suspended in the void. Following a surge of energy, the red light gradually elongated, and then, with a burst of intense heat, a silver spear stood in the void.

"This item is called the Fire-Tipped Spear. As for its grade... let's call it Divine Grade. It cannot be described by the grades of the Dou Qi Continent. It has a spirit. Today, I shall gift it to you. Remember to treat it well and cultivate a bond with it..."

There was one thing Zhang Nian didn't say out loud: if you cultivate a good bond, it will be stronger than you, and it might even save your life...

Looking at the Fire-Tipped Spear, which radiated an extraordinary aura, Yao Ye felt a strange connection to it, as if it were a treasure destined for her.

In truth, this was not strange. It was a treasure given by the system based on the truest reflection of each person's heart. As for why Zhang Nian had previously thought the reward for Yao Ye was meant for him, it could only be called a misunderstanding. Yao Ye's greatest ideal was to fight on the battlefield, to secure a long-lasting era of peace for the Jia Ma Empire, and to force the surrounding covetous empires to lay down their arms. Thus, her heart yearned for strength, and she yearned to let those lives that looked so resolute return home safely.

[Ding! Yao Ye's favorability +5]

Holy cow!

That was truly immediate. At this moment, Yao Ye's favorability had risen to 90! She was currently the disciple with the highest favorability among all his students!

Amidst the excitement, the Fire-Tipped Spear in his hand seemed to sense its destiny, flying straight toward Yao Ye and turning into a streak of red light that merged into her right wrist.

Accompanied by a slight burning sensation, a red lotus pattern appeared. Yao Ye was still stunned, only suddenly feeling as if something had been added to her body.

Zhang Nian reminded her:

"This is a divine weapon. You only need to focus your mind, and it will manifest on its own."

She nodded her little head, then excitedly bowed to Zhang Nian: "Thank you, Master, for the precious gift!"

Following that, Zhang Nian tentatively took out the Soul Nourishing Pill he had previously obtained from Hun Qing's Storage Ring. This pill was a seventh-tier intermediate pill and an excellent item for nourishing the soul. He had been lucky last time; such pills were rarely seen on the continent.

A force of space lifted the pill toward Yao Ye, and Zhang Nian's voice followed:

"This pill is called the Soul Nourishing Pill. It can nourish the soul. Your realm is unstable, so this pill will be of some help to you. Take it and consume it. If you feel any discomfort, you may tell me."

[Ding! Detected the granting of a seventh-tier high-grade pill, Soul Nourishing Pill, to disciple Yao Ye...]

[Calculating return...]

[Current return multiplier: 5000...]

[Returning...]

"Holy cow!"

Zhang Nian exclaimed in amazement. This was a good one!