Sending a Bell

The next day.

Pill Cauldron City remained as peaceful and bustling as ever. Smiling pedestrians filled the streets; even those with meager Dou Qi cultivation were no exception. They were all proud to live in the Medicine World. East Street was clearly A Bit livelier today, however, because Yao Ding, who had gone to the Imperial City to cultivate, had returned to visit his family.

Compared to an insignificant nobody like Yao Yan, Yao Ding was undoubtedly one of Pill Cauldron City's most dazzling geniuses in recent years.

At the age of twelve, he had been found to possess a Rank 6 Bloodline and had instantly become one of the Yao Clan's core members. That very day, an Elder from Pill Cauldron City had personally escorted him to the Imperial City. After studying there for several years, he had returned as a Dou Wang expert.

Having reached the Dou Wang level in his early twenties, he had great prospects of becoming a Dou Zun in the future. Even if his luck was somewhat poor, becoming a Dou Zong was all but certain.

Such a genius had already pulled far ahead of ordinary people and was someone they could only look up to.

Because of this.

Yao Ding's family status in Pill Cauldron City had risen accordingly. Their former home had been moved from the north side to the bustling East Street, and their small courtyard had become a luxurious manor.

Inside the spacious hall, people crowded together in a lively scene filled with festivity.

At the foremost seats on the High Platform, a middle-aged couple dressed in brocade robes clasped their hands in greeting to the guests coming and going below. The two seemed to thoroughly enjoy the countless envious gazes fixed upon them. Thus, the delighted yet faintly smug smiles on their faces had never faded.

This middle-aged couple was naturally Yao Ding's parents. They had lived in great splendor these past years, and even most of the relatives and friends connected to them had been taken care of, no longer needing to venture into the Shennong Mountain Range.

Beside them stood a cold-faced young man. Throughout the Entire Process, he greeted the passing guests with indifference, showing little Expression Change.

The guests had no complaints about this. Quite a few even approached with ingratiating smiles, hoping to establish a connection with him.

Yet Yao Ding ignored them all. To him, everyone present belonged to a different world from his. Ever since he had gone to the Imperial City, he was no longer an ordinary branch disciple, but a true Yao Clan disciple. The world he had seen was entirely different from before, as were the people he had encountered.

Having seen more, his horizons had naturally risen.

His future was destined not to lie in tiny Pill Cauldron City, much less among these people from the lower ranks.

"Elder Yao Sang from the clan academy has arrived!"

A loud announcement rang out from the entrance, causing the noisy hall to fall slightly silent. Then, shocked gazes swept toward the doorway. None of them had expected Yao Ding's return to draw the attention of an Elder from the clan academy.

Upon hearing who had arrived, a faint smile appeared on Yao Ding's face as well. He hurried forward to greet him. "Teacher, why have you come? I was planning to visit you at the clan academy this afternoon!"

"You've returned. How could your teacher not come and see you? Not bad. You've improved quickly over the years."

At the entrance, a simply dressed old man surrounded by a group of people walked in with a smile. He looked at Yao Ding and smiled.

"It is all thanks to your excellent teaching in the past, Teacher."

Yao Ding did not dare act arrogantly before him and spoke respectfully.

Yao Sang had been his first teacher in alchemy and had taught him many things during his childhood. Naturally, he remembered this well. Moreover, the other man was a teacher at the clan academy and held no low status, so Yao Ding could not possibly put on airs before him.

Seeing Yao Ding show him such respect, the smile on Yao Sang's face grew even broader. Over the years, he had taught many branch disciples, but only Yao Ding had met the standard to become a core clansman. A Rank 6 Bloodline talent was considered exceptional even among the Yao Clan's core disciples. That was why he had come today.

Teachers and disciples complemented each other. He did not dare hope to become Yao Ding's teacher now, but relying on their relationship as teacher and student from Yao Ding's early years, deepening their connection a little was still no problem.

"That is because you are clever as well... I came in a hurry today and did not bring any gifts, so I shall give you a pill formula scroll."

Yao Sang chuckled as he stroked his beard. After pondering briefly, he took a pill formula scroll from his Storage Ring and handed it over. To an alchemist, pill formulas were naturally the most valuable things. Although the Yao Clan possessed an immense number of pill formulas, they could not allow everyone to copy them for free, especially the valuable ones. Those could only be exchanged for Yao Clan contribution points.

The pill formula he had taken out was an extremely valuable Rank 6 Pill formula—the Dou Ling Pill. Its effect allowed a Dou Wang-level expert who consumed it to forcibly increase by one Star Level, making it perfectly suited to the current Yao Ding.

Yao Ding accepted the formula and glanced at it. Delight immediately surged onto his face, and he hurriedly clasped his hands toward Yao Sang. "Thank you, Teacher!"

The Dou Ling Pill formula was immensely valuable. Even in the Imperial City, he could not obtain such a high-level formula whenever he pleased.

Once the Yao Clan had trained its disciples to a certain level, they needed to make their own way. For example, they could refine pills for the Yao Clan to earn contribution points. Contribution points could be exchanged for anything: cultivation methods, pill formulas, medicinal pills, and more. Serving as a teacher at the clan academy could also earn contribution points.

However, most members of the Yao Clan chose alchemy, because refining pills was the fastest way to earn contribution points while also improving one's alchemy skills.

A pill like the Dou Ling Pill was enough to allow Yao Ding to grow rapidly at the Dou Wang level.

Whether he used it to trade with others or handed it over to the clan, it could bring him a large amount of cultivation resources.

"I'm glad you like it."

Yao Sang nodded with a smile. This was also an investment on his part. As long as Yao Ding grew stronger, he would surely repay him in the future. That was why he had remained at the clan academy all this time. He was no longer young, and his talent was nearly exhausted. Whether in Dou Qi or alchemy, he had already reached his limit. Wanting to break through further was simply too difficult.

He could only rely on the disciples he had taught.

"Thank you, Elder Yao Sang, for giving my son such a generous gift. Please come inside and have a cup of wine."

At this moment, Yao Ding's parents also came out and warmly welcomed Yao Sang.

Yao Sang naturally did not refuse. The two sides entered the hall with smiles.

Soon, the banquet began.

The guests took their seats one after another and began eating.

Meanwhile, outside the manor, things gradually grew quiet.

Yao Yan stood with Ling Er at the entrance to Yao Ding's residence, masks covering their faces. His dark eyes were unusually calm. At the same time, Yao Nong's voice sounded beside his ear. "The surrounding space has been sealed. The outside world will not hear what happens inside. One incense stick's worth of time!"

As his words fell, an invisible Space Ripple spread outward, enveloping the entire manor.

Boom!

Yao Yan did not waste a single second. Raising his hand, he took a Bronze Bell as tall as two people from his Storage Ring. Under the terrified gazes of the manor guards, he lifted it one-handed and smashed it into the main gate. The tremendous impact shattered the gate, and the bell crashed heavily to the ground, releasing a chime that rang throughout the entire manor.

"Yao Yan has come to send all of you a bell!"