Before Yellow Dragon could speak, Xuandu's voice came from inside the hall. "Senior Brother Duobao, please make yourself at home. My batch of Nine-Turn Golden Elixir is at a critical stage, so I can't come out to greet you. I hope you won't mind."
Duobao smiled. "No need to stand on ceremony, junior brother." He turned to Yellow Dragon's avatar, his expression growing solemn. "Junior Brother Yellow Dragon, I've brought Lieshan here today to ask you and Senior Brother Xuandu to bear witness."
Yellow Dragon's avatar glanced at Lieshan.
The gifted young man of several thousand years ago had changed completely.
Inside and out, he was a different person.
When Yellow Dragon had sealed his cultivation several thousand years ago, his eyes had been anxious and lost.
Now his gaze was steady, reserved, and resolute. He seemed calm, but immense strength lay beneath the surface.
"Peak Taiyi, profound merit, and a solid foundation." Yellow Dragon's avatar nodded approvingly. "You didn't eat all those herbs for nothing."
Lieshan bowed, his voice steady. "Thank you for opening my eyes back then, Ancestor. Without your guidance, I still wouldn't understand the suffering of the Human Race."
Yellow Dragon's avatar waved a hand and smiled. "You needn't thank me. What you've achieved proves that you care for the Human Race."
Duobao could no longer hold back. He gave Lieshan a look.
Lieshan understood. "Please take a look, Ancestor!"
With a wave of his hand, thick stacks of animal hides appeared out of thin air and settled in neat rows across the jade square.
Layer upon layer, they covered nearly half the square. Every hide was packed with drawings of herbs and notes on their uses and contraindications.
"Look, Junior Brother Yellow Dragon!" Duobao pointed at the mountain of hides, his voice ringing with excitement.