Yun Yun's Panic

Misty Cloud Mountain, within the sect leader's bedchamber.

Yun Yun formed seals with both hands and sat cross-legged on the bed, cultivating. Suddenly, she felt a churning in her abdomen, and the Dou Qi within her body became sluggish. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she calmed herself and sensed everything within her body!

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

Yun Yun murmured repeatedly, "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 at 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 once-pale cheeks gradually flushed red.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

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

Yun Yun's heart jolted. After forcing herself to calm down, 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 that very reason.

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

Yun Yun nodded slightly. "All right. I will make preparations, and we shall depart tomorrow!"

That was exactly Gu He's intention. He smiled and nodded. "Then I must trouble the Sect Leader this time as well!"

"Since Elder Gu is an Honorary Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, it is naturally within Yun Yun's duties!" Yun Yun said coldly.

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, then said, "It is nothing. I merely feel somewhat unwell. Since we are setting out for the Tagor Desert tomorrow, Elder Gu, please return early and make your preparations!"

Hearing this, Gu He could tell that Yun Yun was sending him away. However, it was inconvenient 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 faintly, and Gu He turned and left.

Yun Yun placed her small hand over her lower abdomen and murmured, "Your arrival has truly caught Mother off guard!" Looking at the clouds in the sky, red as burning flames, Yun Yun suddenly felt a sense of unease about this journey to the desert!

When Gu He returned to the Pill Hall, 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 and said, "Master Gu He!"

Gu He smiled lightly. "Master Frank!"

Gu He's gentle smile put Frank at ease. Gu He had not become arrogant because of his status as a Sixth-grade Alchemist; instead, he showed Frank the utmost respect.

"I invited Master Frank to the imperial capital this time because I wished to ask you for a favor!" Gu He said softly.

Frank nodded slightly. "Master Gu He, you are too kind. What matter could require you to go to such lengths?"

Gu He said, "I plan to head to the Tagor Desert this time. I have received news that traces of a Heavenly Flame have appeared deep within the desert, so I wish to investigate. What do you think?"

After hearing Gu He's words, Frank pondered for a moment before saying, "The Snake People Clan is the greatest force in the desert. If we go there this time, we will inevitably have dealings with them. If the Heavenly Flame you speak of has appeared in the desert, it is likely within the Snake People Clan. This trip will not be simple!"

Seeing Frank's expression, Gu He was secretly delighted. After all, Frank certainly knew more about the desert than he did. Thus, 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 inheritor also appears to be a Dou Emperor expert. With such strength, they are 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 expert. After pondering for a moment, Gu He said, "This time, I would like to invite Master Frank and Master Otto to come along. I have also invited Lion King Yan Shi and Wind Walker Feng Li. I hope Master Frank will not refuse!"

Frank had already considered this before coming, expecting that Gu He would invite him. He said, "Since Master Gu He has invited me, how could this old man refuse? However, the Snake People Clan has a Dou Emperor expert guarding it. I wonder..."

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 coming with me as well!"

Frank glanced at Gu He and chuckled. "Good. Master Gu He truly has grand methods!"

The two said no more and went back to make their preparations. After all, even with Yun Yun, a Dou Emperor, overseeing things, it merely offered an extra 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 formidable lineup—one Dou Emperor, three Dou Wangs, and six Dou Lings—was enough to make even the Snake People Clan wary. Yun Yun, clad in a black robe, stood at the front of the massive flying magical beast, seemingly lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu and Xiao Yi Xian had arrived at the Alchemist Guild in Mo City. Only a handful of people sat quietly working in the hall. A maidservant stepped forward, bowed to Ke Lei, and said, "Lord Ke Lei, do you require medicinal ingredients?"

Ke Lei cast a haughty glance at the maidservant, then pointed at Xiao Yu. "No. I merely came to accompany this brat for his alchemist assessment!"

The maidservant immediately understood. She then went to the counter and took out an ancient, yellowed parchment. Holding a pen, she came to Xiao Yu's side and said softly, "Sir, this is the registration form. Please state your name, age, and mentor so that I may register you!"

Xiao Yu pondered for a moment. "Xiao Yu, eighteen years old, disciple of Dan Lao!"

In any case, his mentor could be considered the Pill Codex, so he imitated the title Yao Lao had given himself and named his own mentor Dan Lao.

Upon hearing the name of Xiao Yu's mentor, Ke Lei, standing to the side, burst into laughter. "What kind of bullshit Dan Lao is that? Why have I never heard of such an alchemist?"

The maidservant said somewhat awkwardly, "Sir, your mentor's name does not seem to be listed in the records of our Alchemist Guild!"

The maidservant's words made Ke Lei even more smug. Looking at Xiao Yu, he sneered, "Did you perhaps choose the wrong master? Or did you crawl out from some backwater corner? Hahaha!"

Standing beside Xiao Yu, Xiao Yi Xian immediately said angrily upon hearing Ke Lei's words, "The way you speak is truly unpleasant!"

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