"Yes."
"Brother, I'll wait for you out here. This Form-Giving Pill is said to be a miraculous creation — its effects are said to be immediate."
Han Qianzhan gave a hum of acknowledgment, clearly already beginning to take the pill.
Han Qiansui waited outside, every second an agony of suspense. Now that they had the Ancient Form-Giving Pill, it all came down to how effective it would be.
If the medicine worked well, his brother could recover fully. Once that happened, the overall situation of the Heavenly Sword Sect would be completely stabilized.
And if they could also use this opportunity to retain Young Master Shao, the Heavenly Sword Sect would be like a tiger with wings. The sect's rise would become unstoppable.
Time ticked away, second by second.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar of pure exhilaration echoed from within the cave, followed by a hearty laugh: "Hahaha, Qiansui, this Form-Giving Pill is exactly as you described — the effects are truly immediate!"
The words had barely left his mouth when a figure shot out from the cave. It was Han Qianzhan.
His rebuilt physical body lay fully exposed beneath the sunlight, without a single stitch of clothing to cover it, like some primitive savage.
Yet the explosive musculature and the lines that looked as though they had been forged from bronze and iron gave this body an appearance of absolute perfection.
"Brother, your clothes." Han Qiansui hastily tossed a set of garments toward Han Qianzhan.
Han Qianzhan laughed heartily. "No rush for that."
He broke into great strides and leaped directly into a lake in front of him.
"I need to wash away all this bad fortune. Qiansui, your contribution this time has been immense. I'll repay you properly in the future." Han Qianzhan's tone was brimming with excitement.
For hundreds of years, he had been suppressed and unable to show his face to anyone. At his worst, he had been nothing more than a skeleton wrapped in a layer of rotting flesh.
If anyone had seen him then, they would have thought him a demon rather than a normal human cultivator.
But now, all of that suffocation and misery was firmly in the past. He, Han Qianzhan, was back!
……
"What? Sect Master Qianzhan has emerged from seclusion and wants to hold a banquet for me?"
He certainly didn't believe that Han Qianzhan would come out of his death seclusion merely to host a banquet in his honor.
"Mm, my brother greatly admires Young Master Shao's talents. So he insists on holding a banquet for Young Master Shao. I hope Young Master Shao will do us the honor." Han Qiansui's tone was thoroughly sincere.
Though Jiang Chen didn't know why Han Qianzhan had come out of seclusion, since it was a banquet invitation, he had no particular objection. He nodded: "Since Sect Master Qianzhan shows such kindness, this humble Shao can only respectfully accept."
The news of Han Qianzhan's emergence from seclusion sent shockwaves through the entire Heavenly Sword Sect.
After all, the whole sect had gone far, far too long without seeing Sect Master Qianzhan. Some disciples who had joined later only knew that the Summer Rain Heavenly Sword Sect had a Sect Master Qianzhan — the sect's most powerful Great Emperor, and its undisputed foremost leader.
But as for what Sect Master Qianzhan actually looked like, they had no idea. By the time they had joined, Sect Master Qianzhan had already entered death seclusion.
The Peerless Great Emperor, upon hearing of the banquet invitation, was also mildly surprised.
Han Qiansui had just hosted a banquet, and now Han Qianzhan suddenly emerged from seclusion to throw another — something about it felt a bit odd.
However, considering that the Heavenly Sword Sect did not seem like the sort of dishonorable sect that would cross the river and burn the bridge, he agreed to attend.
Their strength was still far too low at this point. Facing the entirety of the Heavenly Sword Sect's senior leadership — especially Sect Master Qianzhan himself — they would inevitably feel quite a bit of pressure.
This was different from last time, when Han Qiansui had hosted the banquet with only himself as company. This time, it was said that the entire senior leadership of the Heavenly Sword Sect would be in attendance.
Lady Yun also declined, claiming she was feeling unwell.
Only Jiang Chen and the Peerless Great Emperor attended the banquet.
When Jiang Chen laid eyes on the legendary foremost sect master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, he was mildly surprised. Not by Han Qianzhan's cultivation level.
Rather, he was surprised to find that Han Qianzhan's physical body carried the unmistakable aura of someone who had just taken the Ancient Form-Giving Pill.
The Peerless Great Emperor had never encountered the Ancient Form-Giving Pill and knew nothing about it. Jiang Chen, having personally refined it, naturally understood certain things about the Ancient Form-Giving Pill.
Looking at Han Qianzhan, it was obvious he had just taken the Ancient Form-Giving Pill and rebuilt his physical body. That was why his body appeared so formidable and vigorous, brimming with a vital, flourishing energy.
All of these were benefits brought by the Ancient Form-Giving Pill.
But Jiang Chen did not bring it up. Since the other party hadn't mentioned it of their own accord, there were surely reasons they preferred to keep quiet. Jiang Chen saw no need to point it out and risk making things awkward for everyone.