Yun Yun's Panic

Within the sect leader's chambers on Misty Cloud Mountain.

Yun Yun formed hand seals with both hands and sat cross-legged on the bed in cultivation. Suddenly, she felt a churning in her abdomen, and the Dou Qi within her began to flow unevenly. Her delicate brows drew together slightly as she focused her mind and sensed everything within her body!

"Th-this is?" Yun Yun's eyes flew open, filled with panic!

Yun Yun murmured repeatedly, "This is impossible. How could I be pregnant? Could it be him?"

Just now, she had thought something had gone wrong with her cultivation. Yet to her surprise, she had sensed a faint trace of life within her abdomen. That aura definitely did not belong to her. The only explanation was that she was pregnant!

Yun Yun's face gradually turned pale. She had cultivated alone for so many years, yet she had never expected to fall into the hands of a young man in the end. Moreover, she knew almost nothing about that youth, except that his name was Xiao Shi Yi!

Her slender hands slowly stroked her lower abdomen. Yun Yun seemed to recall every scene from that day in the cave, and her formerly pale cheeks gradually flushed red.

Knock, knock, knock!

At that moment, a knock sounded from outside the door.

Yun Yun's heart jolted. After forcibly calming herself, she said, "Come in!"

With a soft creak, a tall figure entered from outside. It was none other than Pill King Gu He!

Seeing Gu He, Yun Yun recalled that he had previously mentioned making a trip to the Tagor Desert. It seemed he had come for precisely this matter.

Gu He looked at Yun Yun with a smile. "Sect Leader, Yan Ran's pills have already been refined for her, and she has now entered seclusion to cultivate. There are no major matters within the sect either, so I have decided to set out for the Tagor Desert tomorrow!"

Yun Yun nodded slightly as well. "Very well. I will make preparations, and we shall depart tomorrow!"

This was exactly what Gu He had hoped for. He nodded with a smile. "Then I must trouble the Sect Leader this time!"

"Since Elder Gu is an honorary elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, this is naturally part of Yun Yun's duty!" Yun Yun said coolly.

Gu He frowned slightly. He did not like Yun Yun's businesslike manner. However, seeing how pale she looked, he asked with some concern, "You look pale. Were you injured while cultivating?"

Yun Yun frowned faintly before saying, "It is nothing, merely some discomfort. Since we are setting out for the Tagor Desert tomorrow, Elder Gu, please return early and make your preparations!"

At her words, Gu He could naturally hear that she was seeing him out. Yet it was not convenient for him to linger, so he merely said, "Very well. If you need my help, I will certainly do everything in my power!"

Yun Yun nodded slightly, and Gu He turned and departed.

Yun Yun placed her small hand over her lower abdomen and murmured, "Your arrival has truly caught Mother off guard!" As she looked at the clouds in the distance, blazing like fire, a sudden unease rose in her heart over this trip to the desert!

Upon returning to Pill Hall, Gu He saw an old man standing in the main hall. The instant the old man saw Gu He, respect appeared on his aged face. He bowed to Gu He and said, "Master Gu He!"

Gu He smiled lightly as well. "Master Frank!"

Gu He's gentle smile made Frank feel quite at ease. Gu He had not become arrogant because of his status as a Sixth Grade Alchemist; instead, he had shown Frank the utmost respect.

"I invited Master Frank to come all the way to the Imperial Capital this time because I would like to ask you for a favor!" Gu He said softly.

Frank nodded slightly. "Master Gu He, you are too polite. What matter has caused even you to make such grand preparations?"

Gu He said, "This time, I intend to head to the Tagor Desert. I received news that there are traces of Heavenly Flames deep within the desert, so I wish to investigate. What do you think?"

After hearing Gu He's words, Frank thought for a while before saying, "The greatest power in the desert is the Snake People Clan. This trip to the desert will inevitably bring us into contact with them. If the Heavenly Flames you speak of are in the desert, they are likely within the Snake People Clan. This journey will not be simple!"

Seeing Frank's expression, Gu He was delighted. After all, Frank certainly knew more about the desert than he did, so he asked, "Then in your view, how strong is the Snake People Clan?"

Frank sighed softly. "The Snake People Clan likely has three or four Dou Wang experts. Aside from their elders, the Snake People Clan's heir apparently is also a Dou Emperor. With such strength, the Snake People Clan is more than capable of dominating the desert!"

Frank's words made Gu He's heart sink slightly. He had not expected the Snake People Clan to have a Dou Emperor. After pondering for a moment, Gu He said, "This time, I wish to invite Master Frank and Master Otto to come along. I have also invited Lion King Yan Shi and Windwalker Feng Li. I hope Master Frank will not refuse!"

Frank had understood the situation clearly. Before coming, he had already expected Gu He to invite him, so he said, "Since Master Gu He has extended the invitation, how could this old man refuse? However, the Snake People Clan has a Dou Emperor overseeing them, so..."

Gu He naturally knew that Frank was referring to Yun Yun, the sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect. He smiled and said, "Yun Yun will naturally be accompanying me as well!"

Frank glanced at Gu He and chuckled. "Good. Master Gu He truly makes grand moves!"

The two spoke no further and each went back to make preparations. After all, even with Yun Yun, a Dou Emperor, overseeing the group, it merely added another layer of security; it did not mean they could rest easy.

The next day, Gu He led the group toward the Tagor Desert. Such a powerful lineup—one Dou Emperor, three Dou Wangs, and six Dou Lings—was enough to make even the Snake People Clan wary. Yun Yun, dressed in black robes, stood at the front of a massive flying magical beast, seemingly lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu and Xiao Yi Xian had arrived at the Alchemist Guild in Desert City. Only a few people sat quietly at work in the hall. A single maid stepped forward, bowed to Kelei, and said, "Lord Kelei, do you need medicinal ingredients?"

Kelei cast the maid an arrogant glance, then pointed at Xiao Yu and said, "Not that. I came to accompany this kid for his alchemist assessment!"

The maid immediately understood. She then went to the counter and took out an ancient yellowed parchment. Holding a pen in her hand, she walked over to Xiao Yu and said softly, "Sir, this is the registration form. Please state your name, age, and mentor. I need to register you!"

Xiao Yu pondered briefly. "Xiao Yu, eighteen years old, mentor Dan Lao!"

After all, his mentor could be considered the Alchemy Canon, so he imitated the name Yao Lao had given himself and chose the title Dan Lao for his mentor.

When Kelei, standing nearby, heard the name of Xiao Yu's mentor, he immediately burst into laughter. "What the hell is Dan Lao? Why have I never heard of such an alchemist?"

The maid said somewhat awkwardly, "Sir, it seems your mentor's name is not listed in our Alchemist Guild's records!"

The maid's words made Kelei even more smug. Looking at Xiao Yu, he mocked, "Did you choose the wrong master? Or did you just crawl out of some backwater hole? Hahaha!"

Standing beside Xiao Yu, Xiao Yi Xian grew furious when she heard Kelei's words. "The way you speak is truly disgusting!"

However, Xiao Yu remained calm. "I'm just afraid that this alchemist who crawled out of some backwater hole might be better than you!"