"You're going too? Don't be ridiculous!"
Yun Shan swept out of the room, leaving Nalan Yanran kneeling by the door.
A few years ago, Yun Shan hadn't been particularly fond of this stubborn granddisciple. Her headstrong nature and the temperament of a noble young lady both displeased him, a man devoted to quiet cultivation.
But ever since Yun Zimo had asked him to teach Nalan Yanran, he had come to accept the young disciple in his heart over the past year they'd spent together. She had shed her childishness and arrogance.
So when Nalan Yanran asked to study at Jia Nan Academy for a year, he flatly refused. Not only was she the Misty Cloud Sect's young sect master, but with her strength, she would only be able to get by in the Outer Academy. She wouldn't learn much and would merely waste a year.
But if she really got in and studied for several years before returning, he wasn't sure he could bear to let her go.
"Break through to Da Dou Shi, and I'll let you leave the mountain. Whether you go to Jia Nan Academy or travel the world, I won't interfere."
Yun Shan spoke softly.
"Don't say I'm deliberately making things difficult for you. Zi Mo didn't leave the mountain until he'd become a high-level Da Dou Shi."
Nalan Yanran sighed inwardly. By her estimate, she probably wouldn't break through to Da Dou Shi until the Three-Year Agreement.
"How much of my skill have you actually learned? Focus on your cultivation. Don't fill your head with other things."
"Yes, Grandmaster."
"Hall Master! Hall Master!"
Yun Zimo had just finished arranging the trial and was inspecting the sect when Gu He found him, looking extremely excited.
"That Flying Dou Technique you gave me—the method of crafting it! I've completely deciphered it!"
"What?!"
Yun Zimo's expression grew serious. He hadn't expected Gu He to bring him such a pleasant surprise.
"Look!"
Gu He unfurled the scroll in his hand and poured his soul power into it. The shadow of a pair of broad, purple wings appeared.
"These are the wings of a fifth-rank Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle. The person who crafted them must have been at least a master alchemist. First, they dispersed the Purple Cloud Eagle's Magic Core, then forced all the Dou Qi and blood essence from its body into its wings. At the instant they extracted its soul with a secret method, they severed the wings. Then, using alchemical techniques, they perfectly fused the two together, eventually refining a pair of Eagle Wings no more than ten inches long."
"The user only needs to refine these wings and endure the violent surge of the Purple Cloud Eagle's soul, and they'll be able to fly with them!"
There was no hiding the excitement in Gu He's voice. With this Flying Dou Technique, his own alchemical skills would let him draw on similar principles and craft a Flying Dou Technique of his own!
"The only pity is that the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle is one of the most ferocious fire-attributed magical beasts. Anyone with a weak will or an incompatible soul attribute has a very high chance of failing to cultivate it. Either the Purple Cloud Eagle's violent aura will reduce them to an idiot, or the black flames will burn them to ash."
Gu He sounded regretful. Clearly, he felt sorry that Yun Zimo had obtained the technique but couldn't use it.
But Gu He's regretful words struck Yun Zimo differently. No wonder Xiao Yan had managed to cultivate the Purple Cloud Wings...
"To decipher the method of crafting the Eagle Wings in just over half a year—Master Gu, you've worked hard."
Yun Zimo inclined his head in thanks. More than half a year ago, he had hurried back to the Misty Cloud Sect and asked Gu He to analyze the technique. At last, it had paid off.
"Think nothing of it."
To Gu He, anything related to alchemy held an irresistible allure. There was no need to mention thanks.
"Oh, right. I've nearly finished organizing that Seven-Colored Poison Scripture you asked me to examine, too. I've added notes to the parts that don't make sense. Though it records the methods of poison doctors, some of its ideas can also be applied to alchemy."
"Hall Master, I don't recommend that you study these poison-doctor methods. The path of harming yourself before harming others has consequences, as you know. I also hope your friend will become a proper alchemist, not one of those misfits from the Chu Yun Empire."
Even in his excitement, Gu He didn't forget to warn Yun Zimo. He still remembered Yun Zimo's condition in the Mo Clan's secret chamber, and whenever he got the chance, he reminded him about it. As he spoke, he handed over the items in his hands.
Yun Zimo felt a little warmth in his heart, and couldn't help marveling at Gu He's efficiency. He took the Eagle Wings and Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, then suddenly said, "Master Gu, you're still searching for a Heavenly Flame, aren't you?"
Gu He's excited expression froze, and then his eyes dimmed. He had searched for Heavenly Flames for most of his life. He had even accepted Yun Shan's invitation to become an honorary elder of the Misty Cloud Sect so he could search with the sect's help. But all these years later, he hadn't found a single trace.
"I've heard there's a Heavenly Flame in the Chu Yun Empire," Yun Zimo said softly.
Gu He's aura jolted. A flash of wild delight appeared in his eyes, followed by doubt and suspicion. As a sixth-rank alchemist, he had never heard a word about a Heavenly Flame in the Chu Yun Empire all these years. How had this kid found out? Was he pulling his leg?
"Number sixteen on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, Fire Cloud Water Flame. Born where cloud and water meet, its form as elusive as clouds and its flames as gentle as water. It's the gentlest flame on the ranking, surpassed only by the Life Spirit Flame."
Yun Zimo quietly shared the basic information about the Fire Cloud Water Flame, number sixteen on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. He was sure Gu He knew far more about it than he did.
Gu He's handsome face grew grave. He had heard that a Heavenly Flame had appeared in the Chu Yun Empire more than twenty years ago. But back then, he'd been a mere Second-Rank Alchemist and had never dared hope to obtain such a wondrous treasure of heaven and earth. He'd only heard people say it might have been the Fire Cloud Water Flame. Later, somehow, the matter had simply faded away.
Now that Yun Zimo had mentioned the Fire Cloud Water Flame, Gu He's buried memories resurfaced.
"I heard that someone carrying a peculiar flame has recently been seen at the medicinal herb merchants' outposts in the Chu Yun Empire," Yun Zimo said as if in passing. Seeing the ruthless glint in Gu He's eyes, he said no more.
"Master Gu, you've worked hard for more than half a year. Why not go down the mountain and clear your head? When I saw the old sect master last time, he seemed to be thinking about traveling through the Chu Yun Empire..."
At Yun Zimo's words, a glint flashed in Gu He's eyes as he hesitated. He clasped his hands in a solemn salute, then turned and strode off, bound for who knew where.
Yun Zimo shook the scroll in his hand and once again sighed at how right his decision had been.
Thirteen years ago, Yun Shan, then sect master, had gone down the mountain to invite the renowned Gu He to become an honorary elder of the Misty Cloud Sect. Yun Zimo had been eight that year, and he'd already started setting his sights on Gu He. Under the pretext of studying the classics, he'd deliberately drawn close to earn his trust, then secured resources to help Gu He break through to sixth-rank alchemist...
As for that Heavenly Flame, Yun Zimo had spent years planting informants in the Chu Yun Empire, openly and in secret, and had long since gotten to the bottom of that man's identity.
More than twenty years ago, that man had indeed been lucky enough to obtain the Chu Yun Water Flame. But he'd been hunted ever since, hiding in one place after another and never daring to show his face. After searching high and low, Yun Zimo had finally found him.
Now that Gu He was firmly tied to the Misty Cloud Sect's cause, and with the debt of gratitude over the Heavenly Flame added to that, Yun Zimo believed Gu He would become one of the sect's own for good. After all, Gu He was a true gentleman...
"If I remember right, Gu He's brother, Gu Te, is a treasure dealer. He's got quite a collection!"
Thinking of Gu Te, Yun Zimo couldn't help feeling envious of his vast collection. He wondered whether he should go "rob the rich to help the poor," but abandoned the terrifying idea after only a moment's thought.
"I'm still too kind. I'm really not cut out to be a mastermind!"
Yun Zimo sighed, got to his feet, and prepared to head for the Magical Beast Mountain Range. He was going to meet someone.
Someone he'd made an agreement with six years ago...
Before you continue