"This... such talent in the Dao of Alchemy exists in this world?" Wu Fenghua was practically incoherent.
Dan Chengzi had used a pill recipe he himself had created to test Yang Kai, which meant no one besides Dan Chengzi should have known that recipe. Yet Yang Kai had reproduced it perfectly. Such a thing... was beyond imagination.
Dan Chengzi sighed. "If he didn't have this kind of aptitude, he wouldn't have been able to hear the Heavenly Dao's subtle resonance, nor comprehend the secrets of the Medicine King Cauldron — to say nothing of contributing so many pill recipes over the years."
Baili Yunsun stared blankly. "So you're saying... what happened back then was Little Gao's misunderstanding?"
Dan Chengzi nodded. "That kid back then was at the ninth level of the Earth Grade and desperately needed a Ten-Turn Heartless Pill to advance to the Heaven Grade. Unfortunately, despite his extraordinary talent in alchemy, he had no recipe. He just so happened to learn that Little Gao was heading to Tianwu City, so he found a way to get close, using the pretext of exchanging alchemy knowledge, and picked up the Ten-Turn Heartless Pill recipe from him. As for what happened after — you all know the rest. He was young and weak at the time, and Little Gao pressed him with questions on the spot, so he just went along with it. And somehow, he ended up being mistakenly identified as my disciple!"
Baili Yunsun and the other Elders exchanged bewildered glances, all wearing helpless expressions.
But in that situation, who could have imagined that the recipe Yang Kai possessed was freshly learned and being resold on the spot? The only plausible explanation had been that some expert from the Xuandan Sect had been secretly mentoring him — and that expert could only be Dan Chengzi, who had been wandering outside.
Baili Yunsun didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "No wonder he said joining the Sect was an accident. So that's how it was."
Yu Boyang mused, "If that's truly the case, then this is actually good news for the Sect. Our only concern was whether he was a spy or infiltrator sent by another faction, trying to steal the secrets of the Medicine King Cauldron. From the looks of it, he has no connection to anyone else. In fact, his identity as a disciple of the Xuandan Sect is beyond dispute."
Wu Fenghua nodded. "The Third Elder speaks truly. Moreover, in all his years with the Sect, he has never once displayed his martial prowess. If not for being pushed to the brink this time, no one would have known he was so powerful. It shows he's genuinely devoted to the Dao of Alchemy."
Dan Chengzi said, "Which is why the Medicine King Cauldron is immensely attractive to him — that's why he made that request yesterday." He turned to Baili Yunsun and cupped his fists. "Sect Master, I believe we should agree to his terms. But he should also agree to one condition of ours."
Baili Yunsun raised his eyes. "What does Junior Brother have in mind?"
Dan Chengzi replied, "In just a few years, he has already comprehended over a dozen pill recipes from the Heavenly Dao's subtle resonance within the Medicine King Cauldron. If he's willing to continue contributing within the Forbidden Grounds, that would be a great benefit to our Xuandan Sect. We can grant him ten years in the Forbidden Grounds, but if he comprehends anything further, he must share it with us! Since ancient times, the contest for Divine Artifacts occurs once every hundred years, yet throughout all of history, how many have truly comprehended their secrets? This may well be an opportunity for our Xuandan Sect — after all, apart from him, none of us can glean anything at all from the Medicine King Cauldron."
Baili Yunsun did not answer immediately. After a moment of silence, he spoke gravely, "This matter is significant. It requires careful deliberation."
Upon hearing this, Dan Chengzi did not press the issue, because he knew that aside from this path, the Xuandan Sect truly had no other choice — unless they could overpower Yang Kai in martial strength, which seemed unlikely.
While the group deliberated, Yang Kai went to meet with the members of the Xuling Sword Sect over in Xuandan City. Su Changfa was the same as ever — third level of the Earth Grade — and after several years apart, he seemed to have aged even more. Hongxiu and Gu Kangning, however, had improved considerably, both now at the sixth or seventh level of the Earth Grade.
When they had been brought to Xuandan City by the Xuandan Sect before, none of them knew exactly what was going on, though they all sensed something was off. The situation had simply been beyond their ability to resist.
Now that Yang Kai had appeared, they naturally had plenty of questions for him.
Yang Kai did not go into detail. He merely said that he had arranged for people from the Sect to bring them over — that even though Xuandan City was merely a satellite city of the Xuandan Sect, it was still far better than where the Xuling Sword Sect had been.
Su Changfa and the others remained half-skeptical.
Over the following days, Yang Kai accompanied Su Changfa and the others on tours around Xuandan City. The prosperity and bustle of the great city left the group — hailing from a small, remote place — utterly dazzled. Everywhere they looked, there was something new and wondrous to see.
Five days after the battle at the Xuandan Sect, Dan Chengzi personally came to the cave dwelling on Lockmoon Peak.
"Disciple greets Master!" Yang Kai stepped outside the cave to greet him, bowing with due respect.
Even though everyone knew the master-disciple relationship was entirely fabricated, Yang Kai still performed all the proper courtesies. This pleased Dan Chengzi, who gave a slight nod and said, "Come inside. We'll talk."
"Please, Master." Yang Kai gestured with his hand and ushered Dan Chengzi into the cave dwelling, instructing Wan Yingying to brew a pot of fine tea.
Three days earlier, Yang Kai had sent people to Tianwu City to bring back Hua Rong, Yang Huai, and Wan Yingying, who had remained there.
Host and guest took their seats and savored the fragrant tea.
Yang Kai said, "Master's visit today — does the Sect have an answer regarding that matter?"