The Pill Came Back Full Circle? Gu He Visits Again with His Disciple

Question:

When your mature, beautiful master shuts the doors and windows to show you a treasure, what would you do?

Ji Changqing froze for three seconds, then hurriedly set up an isolation formation.

"You have to be careful when showing off a treasure. Let me see what this is!"

Yun Yun nervously took a jade bottle from her robes.

"Ta-da~~"

Her tone rose from the first syllable to the second.

The moment he saw that familiar jade bottle, Ji Changqing froze on the spot. Ten thousand alpacas galloped through his heart.

"Changqing, this pill was... ahem, obtained through your master's good fortune. Hurry and take it. It will be of great benefit to you."

Yun Yun looked at Ji Changqing with a faint smile on her lovely face.

She had asked that mysterious senior several times. The Profound God Pill could be taken by anyone below the Dou King realm, though it worked better for Dou Kings.

But that did not matter.

As long as Changqing was well, she was well.

Ji Changqing's mentality nearly collapsed.

The facts proved that fate really was a circle.

No, how had the pill he gave Yun Yun come full circle and returned to him?

Yun Yun thought Ji Changqing had yet to recover from his surprise.

She carefully poured the pill into her fair palm, then pinched it between two slender fingers and stuffed it into Ji Changqing's mouth without giving him a choice.

"Well?"

Yun Yun blinked her clear eyes and asked expectantly.

What kind of situation is this...

Ji Changqing sighed deeply to himself.

Still... he would be lying if he said he was not moved. For a Dou King like Yun Yun, a pill like the Profound God Pill that could raise one's cultivation held enormous temptation.

Yet she had given it to him without hesitation.

Meeting Yun Yun's expectant gaze, Ji Changqing's face suddenly flushed red, and thick white mist rose from the top of his head.

Under Yun Yun's delighted gaze, his aura abruptly swelled.

Three-star Fighter, Four-star Fighter... Eight-star Fighter.

Ji Changqing put on a confused expression, raised his slender hands to look at them, and stammered, "M-Master, my Dou Qi realm rose by so much all at once?!"

Yun Yun's eyes were both gratified and delighted.

She raised her hand, wanting to ruffle Ji Changqing's hair, but halfway through, she realized that Changqing had already grown up.

"Master, this pill is so powerful. Why didn't you take it yourself?"

"This pill is only suitable for Fighters."

Yun Yun answered with a smile.

A Dou King gaining three stars and a Fighter gaining six stars were worlds apart.

But Yun Yun did not regret it.

A sixteen-year-old Eight-star Fighter—he was unquestionably an exceptionally talented genius.

Let her see who dared call her Changqing mediocre in the future.

"Come on, Changqing. Elder Danxia should be here soon to teach you alchemy."

Yun Yun left the room with graceful steps.

But the instant her back was turned to Ji Changqing, a trace of bitterness appeared on her lovely face.

When she met that senior half a month later, how was she supposed to explain this?

That senior was kindhearted, so it should not be much of a problem...

Watching Yun Yun's slender figure recede, Ji Changqing helplessly shook his head.

To prevent the things he gave his master from somehow returning to him again,

he would have to give a warning the next time they met.

"Master, you forced me to do this..."

Over the next ten days or so,

Ji Changqing returned to his peaceful life.

However, his sudden surge in Dou Qi made Nalan Yanran complain to Yun Yun about her "favoritism" for quite a while.

Still, judging from Nalan Yanran's smiling eyes, the little girl was quite happy about his increased cultivation.

"But why are there always outside factors interfering with my Dog Path..."

His Dou Qi had risen from two stars to eight stars, directly turning Ji Changqing from mediocre into a genius.

But his guiding principle of the Dog Path would not change. He continued hiding in the courtyard and going nowhere.

However, Ji Changqing staying indoors did not mean trouble would not come knocking on its own.

That day,

"Sect Leader, Gu He has come to visit with his disciple!"

The sudden voice outside the courtyard instantly wiped the smiles from Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran's faces.

"Why has Elder Gu He come here?"

Yun Yun's calm words traveled outside. From the sound of it, she had no intention of letting Gu He enter.

The courtyard fell silent for several seconds.

"Gu He has something to discuss concerning the Changqing Holy Son."

"Come in."

A series of footsteps sounded as Gu He and his disciple entered the courtyard.

The moment they stepped inside, both of them looked toward Ji Changqing, who was standing in a corner of the courtyard.

Why did Ji Changqing like standing in corners?

Because this spot was inconspicuous and made him feel safe.

Gu He's gaze carried a trace of doubt.

Was Yun Yun not spoiling this disciple of hers a little too much?

Liu Ling's gaze carried a hint of scrutiny.

His master had learned that Ji Changqing could already refine Third-grade Pills. How long had it been? How was that possible?!

"What is this matter concerning Changqing that Elder Gu He mentioned?"

Yun Yun asked blandly.

Gu He fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"I heard that the Changqing Holy Son can already refine Third-grade Pills. Gu He has come especially to present a bottle of Clear Spirit Pills and congratulate the Changqing Holy Son."

As soon as he finished speaking, a porcelain bottle floated toward Yun Yun.

Yun Yun did not reach out to take it. Instead, she used Dou Qi to guide the porcelain bottle before Ji Changqing.

"Changqing, quickly thank Elder Gu He."

Clear Spirit Pills were Fourth-grade Pills that could clear away the fatigue of the soul. They were among the most beloved pills of alchemists.

Yun Yun was rather pleased.

As long as it benefited Changqing, she was happy.

"Thank you, Elder Gu He."

Ji Changqing accepted the porcelain bottle, looking very excited.

But honestly, Fourth-grade Pills were really low-tier. Even the system's worst rewards were better than this crap.

Yun Yun said flatly, "Does Elder Gu He have anything else?"

The smile on Gu He's face froze.

He had thought that after Yun Yun accepted the pills, her attitude would at least improve somewhat.

Fine, fine, fine. She accepted the gift and immediately turned her back on him, was that it?!

Gu He slowly exhaled and said in a muffled voice, "My unworthy disciple Liu Ling and the Changqing Holy Son are both Third-grade Alchemists. How about letting them learn from and exchange pointers with each other today?"

Liu Ling immediately took three steps forward, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit as he stared at Ji Changqing.

"Ji Changqing, let's have a contest between real men!"

Before Ji Changqing could speak,

Nalan Yanran, his strongest spokesperson, snorted coldly. "Why should my senior brother compete with you?!"

"How old are you? How long have you been studying alchemy? Hmph, and you still have the nerve to challenge my senior brother?"

Nalan Yanran's words choked Liu Ling until his face turned bright red.

But with Yun Yun watching coldly from the side, he truly did not dare say anything harsh. After stammering for a long while, he gritted his teeth and said, "Ji Changqing, don't just hide behind Yanran. Do you dare compete with me in alchemy or not?!"

Ji Changqing stood in the corner.

Under everyone's stunned gazes, he pulled a white flag from his pocket and skillfully waved it back and forth.

He gave Liu Ling a peaceful smile. "Senior Brother Liu Ling, you win."

The veins on Gu He's forehead bulged.

There it was. That exact feeling.

When he had tried to assess Ji Changqing before, he had seen Ji Changqing wave a white flag more than once.

Gu He simply could not understand it. How could the dignified Holy Son of the Misty Cloud Sect have so little fighting spirit?!

Liu Ling stared blankly at Ji Changqing.

After a while, he clenched his fists tightly, and his body began to tremble faintly.

Ji Changqing seemed to be humiliating him.

No, it did not just seem that way. He was fucking humiliating him!

"Enough. Changqing will not compete with you. If you have no other business, please leave."

Yun Yun issued an order to leave.

Left with no choice, Gu He departed with Liu Ling.

"Ji Changqing, you're going to the Alchemist Association to certify your grade soon, aren't you?"

Before leaving, Liu Ling stared at Ji Changqing and said through gritted teeth, "On the day you certify your grade, I will also certify as a Fourth-grade Alchemist. I absolutely will not lose to you."

Gu He's footsteps paused slightly as he spoke. "Sect Leader, I have one more matter to discuss today."

"Traces of Heavenly Flames have appeared in the Tagor Desert. During this time, I will gather the heavenly treasures needed to absorb Heavenly Flames. When the time comes to search the desert for the Heavenly Flames, I hope the Sect Leader will lend me a hand and stop Queen Medusa."

"I will give the Sect Leader satisfactory compensation."