With the wood demon gu worms in He Hongshu dealt with, it didn't mean everything was over.
However, this yin sha energy had arrived in a most peculiar manner. After examining it, Jiang Chen determined that it likely didn't share the same origin as the wood demon gu worms.
In other words, after He Hongshu entered the barbaric lands, he hadn't just been targeted once — he had been marked by two separate forces.
And this yin sha energy felt somewhat familiar to Jiang Chen, giving him a vague sense that this matter was far from simple.
But without more clues, he couldn't draw any further conclusions.
Alchemy King Lu Feng came over and asked: "Master, you sealed these wood demon gu worms inside rather than killing them. What do you plan to do with them?"
"Once sealed, they can't cause trouble for now. When the time is right, I'll destroy them." Jiang Chen actually had the means to kill them right then and there, but it wasn't something he was about to reveal in front of Alchemist King Lu Feng and the others.
The Primordial Sun Fire was something one could only encounter by chance.
But for Dragon Saliva Water, Jiang Chen had ways of obtaining it. Dragon Saliva Water was essentially saliva from a True Dragon mixed with ordinary water.
As it happened, Jiang Chen just happened to have a True Dragon by his side. Getting a bit of a True Dragon's saliva would be a matter of minutes. So Jiang Chen wasn't worried about how to deal with them.
Having resolved He Hongshu's situation and obtained the map and detailed information, Jiang Chen hastily departed from Alchemist King Lu Feng's alchemist palace.
At this point, he had no interest in sitting around to listen to flowery words of gratitude. If He Hongshu was truly a grateful person, he would naturally keep it in his heart.
Watching Jiang Chen leave in such a hurry, He Hongshu couldn't help but feel a pang of regret: "Old Lu, your master really is a dragon that shows only its head but not its tail — quite the air of a transcendent expert!"
Alchemist King Lu Feng replied proudly: "Of course! My master's own master is a transcendent expert too. A disciple taught by a transcendent expert naturally has to carry a certain transcendent air. Oh, right — Old He, take a look at me. Do I have a bit of that transcendent expert air about me now?"
He Hongshu was rendered speechless, stammering: "Old Lu, we've been friends for decades. You really want me to be honest?"
Alchemist King Lu Feng, who had been puffing with pride moments ago, immediately deflated at these words: "When you say it like that, I don't even need to hear the answer to know what you mean."
He Hongshu chuckled: "Old Lu, you should just be yourself. The transcendent expert style doesn't suit you."
Alchemist King Lu Feng waved his hand, looking dejected: "Stop trying to comfort me. In any case, for the rest of my life I'm sticking with my master — sooner or later I'll learn to carry that transcendent air."
"I wouldn't hold my breath." He Hongshu's conversations with Alchemist King Lu Feng were always thoroughly casual.
Alchemist King Lu Feng gnashed his teeth: "I say, Old He, you've recovered now, so what are you still doing squatting at my place? I'm telling you right now — if you ever need someone to watch your kids or anything, don't come looking for me. I have zero interest in being a nanny."
He Hongshu knew that this old fellow's mischievous streak was acting up again and smiled helplessly: "Old Lu, after what happened this time, I've had a real change of heart. I'm planning to wash my hands in a golden basin — retire from the world of martial affairs and peacefully take care of my child. In the future, I'll be coming around here quite often."
Alchemist King Lu Feng snorted: "Come if you want. But I'm telling you right now — I'm not providing meals."
He Hongshu knew that old Lu wasn't truly angry. Between the two of them, this was nothing more than harmless banter.
But this time, He Hongshu had genuinely been given a wake-up call. After walking through the gates of death, he had come to see everything differently.
"Old Lu, I truly envy you a little now," He Hongshu sighed.
"Envy me for what?" Alchemist King Lu Feng bristled, eyes bulging.
"Envy you for your foresight, your boldness. What I can't figure out is — if you say you became a disciple of Pill King Zhen, that must have been before he made a name for himself. How did you have such sharp judgment back then?" He Hongshu was genuinely curious about this question.
Given Alchemist King Lu Feng's eccentric personality, he shouldn't have been particularly sharp-eyed. How had he managed to latch onto such a golden thigh so perfectly?
This was no exaggeration. Given Pill King Zhen's current standing in Liuli Royal City, he was absolutely a golden thigh. In all of Liuli Royal City, how many people could even the Peacock Great Emperor treat as honored guests?
Moreover, he was still so young. Given time, he was destined to become a major figure — this unstoppable rise was something no one could prevent.
And such a genius was Alchemist King Lu Feng's own master. Before he had made his name or fame, Alchemist King Lu Feng had already clung tight to his thigh, crying and begging to become his disciple.
Speaking of this, Alchemist King Lu Feng grew proud again: "Old He, that's exactly why I say you've been blindly busy your whole life. Look at me — I never went anywhere, just stayed in Liuli Royal City, waiting for the noble person to appear. And see? My master appeared right under my nose."
This was something Alchemist King Lu Feng was immensely proud of. He felt his judgment was beyond exceptional.
At the time, Pill King Zhen had indeed had some reputation in Liuli Royal City. But it was mainly from a single clash with the Royal Court Clan when the Taian Pavilion first opened.
And that clash had only involved a Sixth-Rank Alchemist sent by the Royal Court Clan.
If you wanted to talk about potential, yes, people had seen it then. But it was merely potential — it hadn't reached the level of making all of Liuli Royal City sit up and take notice.
It was only at the battle at Peacock Sacred Mountain, where Jiang Chen crushed the Pill Fire City and sent the arrogant Alchemist King Jilang home in disgrace, that he truly became famous throughout the world.