socalfunplaces 14. Reunion with an old friend
14. Reunion with an old friend
As soon as Su Zhang finished speaking, a hint of doubt flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes, and his expression gradually turned gloomy as his fighting spirit began to condense within his body.
Yao Lao had been his biggest trump card from the beginning, but now that someone had pointed it out, it was unclear whether Su Zhang was friend or foe, so Xiao Yan could not afford to underestimate him.
Su Zhang seemed oblivious to Xiao Yan's change, instead taking out a box from his storage ring. Inside the box was a small, slightly yellowed booklet. The moment he took out the booklet, Su Zhang's expression became extremely solemn. Although the booklet was yellowed, Xiao Yan could tell that Su Zhang had protected it very well.
"These are the alchemy insights bestowed upon me by the Venerable One, and everything I have today is also thanks to the Venerable One's guidance."
The spirit form of Yao Chen emerged from the ring, looking at Su Zhang with a strange sense of familiarity, but mostly with confusion.
"Who are you?"
Upon seeing the old alchemist, Su Zhang's eyes filled with tears. He slowly knelt down and said in a trembling voice, "Venerable One, Su Zhang has finally seen you again. Back then, when you advanced to the seventh-grade alchemist, you were already famous throughout the Central Plains, while Su Zhang was just a lowly servant in the Pill Tower. When you advanced to the seventh-grade alchemist, the servant boy beside you was Su Zhang."
Su Zhang choked back tears, wiping them from his face, completely disregarding his image, and continued, "When the Venerable One successfully advanced, he bestowed this insight upon Su Zhang, saying that I shouldn't have stayed in the Pill Tower for my entire life, burying my talent. Since then, Su Zhang has practiced diligently and achieved what I have today. Everything Su Zhang has is thanks to the Venerable One."
Immediately, Yao Lao's mind cleared, and memories of the past flooded his mind. He had been so excited about advancing to the seventh rank that, seeing Su Zhang's impressive soul power, he had given him his notes from his sixth-rank days. He never expected Su Zhang to truly regard those notes as infallible law, and he certainly never imagined they would meet again in Tianlan City today.
"What I did casually back then unexpectedly made you a master alchemist. Don't take it too hard. Your achievements today are still due to your own efforts," said the old alchemist, waving his hand.
Su Zhang finally stopped crying and looked at the spirit form of Yao Lao, saying, "Why has the Venerable become like this? I also returned to Zhongzhou, and at that time, everyone was saying that the Venerable had passed away. Su Zhang thought that he would never see the Venerable again."
"Sigh." The old apothecary also let out a long sigh. The better Su Zhang did at this moment, the more he regretted that he had misjudged people and was killed by Han Feng and the Soul Hall.
"It's a long story, and I guess it's just my fate to suffer this calamity." The old doctor's eyes dimmed a bit.
When Xiao Yan saw Yao Lao's expression, he knew that Yao Lao was thinking about Han Feng again. His teacher had been hurt too deeply by Han Feng. After capturing Han Feng, Yao Lao also talked to Xiao Yan about the past.
"I still need to become stronger so that my teacher can be resurrected as soon as possible," Xiao Yan thought to himself.
"Now that Your Excellency has arrived in Tianlan City, please move to the Echo Sect so that I, Su Zhang, can express my gratitude to Your Excellency," Su Zhang continued.
"It's alright, I'm already in this state, my external conditions are no longer important." The old apothecary continued, "Did you refine the Imperial Supreme Pill of the Myriad Medicines Pavilion?"
The old alchemist paid special attention to alchemists, so he remembered the three pills on the counter and their authors even though he only saw them once.
Su Zhang then revealed a hint of embarrassment, like a student facing a teacher. "Replying to Your Excellency, it was I who refined it. Su Zhang is ashamed, having been at the sixth rank for seven years, I still haven't been able to grasp the key to further advancement."
"The art of alchemy lies in the mind and spirit. I observe that the pills you have refined are quite precise in terms of heat control and the extraction of medicinal materials is also very efficient. You must have spent a lot of time refining them. However, there are still flaws in your ability to control your mind. When you reach the pill condensation stage, your battle qi is slightly insufficient. Although we alchemists do not regard battle qi as the most important thing, it is still essential for advancing to the seventh rank of cultivation." The old alchemist accurately pointed out Su Zhang's shortcomings.
Upon hearing this, Su Zhang fell into deep thought. He had been stuck at the sixth-grade alchemist level for so long mainly because of the old alchemist's insights; despite repeated study, he couldn't grasp the meaning. Now, with the old alchemist's guidance pointing out his shortcomings, Su Zhang immediately recognized them.
"Let's go out first," said the old apothecary. "He's been stuck at the sixth rank for many years, probably because he hasn't fully figured it out. I just reminded him that it might take him a few days to fully comprehend this enlightenment."
Xiao Yan then slowly walked out of the door and closed it.
Yang Yue, who had been waiting outside the door, was also taken aback when he saw Xiao Yan come out. He looked at Xiao Yan and asked, "Is my old friend alright?"
"Master Su has gained some new insights, and I'm afraid he won't be able to come out for a while," Xiao Yan replied truthfully.
Yang Yue nodded. Although he knew nothing about what had happened inside, the moment the door opened, he knew that his old friend was not only unharmed, but had probably indeed gained some new insights.
The more this happened, the more complicated his gaze became when looking at Xiao Yan. At first, when he saw Xiao Yan arrive at the Heavenly Serpent Mansion and that he was a Dou Huang, he thought that Xiao Yan was just someone who relied on his cultivation to act arrogantly.
"I originally thought that Qinglin's background was just too tragic, so she couldn't leave you even if someone did her a little favor. I didn't expect you to be so good at surprising people."
Xiao Yan chuckled. Neither he nor Yao Lao had expected Su Zhang's situation. Yao Lao was easygoing and always willing to offer guidance to promising talents. As for Qing Lin, it was entirely due to her environment. Only Xiao Yan himself knew how difficult those years he was treated as a waste were. Seeing Qing Lin, who was also being mistreated for no reason, he was naturally willing to help her.
"You flatter me, Lord Yang."
"You flatter me?" Yang Yue shook his head: "You are definitely not even twenty years old yet, and you are already a powerful Dou Huang who can dominate a region, as well as a top-level alchemy master who can refine sixth-grade alchemy. No amount of praise is too much for you."
"Just lucky," Xiao Yan replied. Everyone could only see his glamorous side, but how many people knew the hardships he endured?
"Actually, my reason tells me that I should let you take Qinglin away. With you by my side, the heights Qinglin can reach in the future are probably beyond my imagination."
Although Yang Yue said that, Xiao Yan's face remained expressionless, because he knew that such words often meant the important part was yet to come.
"But Qinglin is also of great significance to the Heavenly Serpent Palace. Even if you search the entire continent, you might not be able to find a second one with the Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupil, not to mention that she is so young."
"So, what does Lord Yang mean?"
"Wait until my old friend wakes up, then I'll tell you the answer."
Xiao Yan nodded. In fact, Qing Lin probably wouldn't suffer any mistreatment here, but he knew the importance of freedom. However, if Qing Lin wanted to follow him, Xiao Yan wouldn't refuse. Although the Heavenly Serpent Mansion was powerful, Xiao Yan didn't hesitate.