Chapter 39 Departure for the Alchemist Conference: Meeting Acquaintances
At dawn, disciples of the Immortal Cloud Sect, both inner and outer, began their new day. Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, illuminating the various floating islands.
Before the teleportation array at Danque Peak, Qi Zibo looked up at the sky and then transmitted his voice to Song Yin.
"Are you done packing?"
A streak of light flew through the air and landed in front of Qi Zibo.
The young girl, dressed in the recently popular turquoise robes of Xianxiao City, arrived on her sword, her robes fluttering in the breeze. Her eyes were bright and lively, her teeth were white and her eyebrows were adorned with a cinnabar mole.
"Here we are, let's go! Are we going to Nine Star City ourselves, or will we be teleported there?"
Time flies, and several years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Fifteen-year-old Song Yin has grown much taller, and there is no trace of the dark and thin appearance she had when she first entered the sect.
This alchemist conference is being held in Nine Star City in the Northern Continent. This is Song Yin's first trip far from home since arriving at the Immortal Cloud Sect.
The Alchemist Conference is held every twenty years and serves as an excellent platform for alchemists to exchange ideas. Any alchemist who wishes to participate is welcome, provided they are not practicing heretical methods.
At each Alchemist Conference, participants include not only alchemists but also other cultivators who come to purchase elixirs. Highly skilled alchemists are rarely seen, so those seeking high-grade elixirs take this opportunity to find them. Many attendees also buy large quantities of low-grade elixirs to stockpile, as the Alchemist Conference has no shortage of elixirs and offers good value.
Several days before her departure, Song Yin had packed her travel essentials and tidied up her storage bag and jade bracelet space. She even informed Shi Heming and Xia Xining in advance about her upcoming competition, planning to return to the sect some time later.
Unexpectedly, Qi Zibo said that many people would be buying pills during the Alchemist Conference, and that they could prepare some pills they had refined on weekdays to sell. Song Yin immediately put the pills she had refined into her spatial storage, and then ran to Spirit Herb Peak to buy a large quantity of spiritual herbs, and hurriedly started refining pills.
She spent the night in the alchemy room refining pills, which is why she was late this morning.
She's serious about earning spirit stones! Not for anything else, but to save up for her future wife!
As a sword cultivator, how can she not have her own natal sword wife?! She must marry (crossed out) buy the best spiritual sword as her natal sword!
Qi Zibo: "If we're in a hurry, we'll teleport to Nine Star City. When we come back, you can choose to take a flying boat or fly on a sword, it's up to you."
The sects don't have long-distance teleportation arrays, but Xianxiao City does. They need to teleport to the Northern Continent first, and then teleport to Nine Star City again.
Song Yin didn't need to prepare anything for this trip; Qi Zibo would take care of everything.
"Junior sister."
Shen Yuzhu's voice came.
Song Yin turned around and saw Elder Wen and Senior Brother Shen.
Song Yin immediately smiled and waved, "Elder Wen, Senior Brother!"
Song Yin usually addresses Wen Zhiling as Elder Wen, and only calls her "Master's Wife" on rare occasions.
Elder Wen patted his head and said, "Good luck in the competition. If you win, I'll give you a gift."
Song Yin's eyes lit up: "Really!"
"How could this be fake?"
After Elder Wen finished speaking, he went to talk to Qi Zibo.
The two set up a soundproof barrier to talk, so Song Yin couldn't hear anything. She only saw her master's wife hand her master a piece of paper, which her master immediately put away after reading it.
Song Yin leaned closer to Shen Yuzhu and whispered, "What do you think Master and Mistress are whispering about?"
Shen Yuzhu knew a little about it, but he lied to Song Yin, saying, "I don't know. The two of them were discussing things at Wujian Peak yesterday. I didn't expect them to come back today."
Actually, it's about investigating the spiritual veins. Besides one of the five major sects, there are many other sects, large and small, in the Northern Continent, just like in the Eastern Continent. This time, they're going to the Northern Continent to participate in the Alchemist Conference. Junior Sister Song Yin is in charge of the competition, while Elder Qi is responsible for investigating the depletion of spiritual veins in the other sects. This is a secret mission, so naturally, Junior Sister Song Yin can't be told. She'll find out once her cultivation reaches a certain level and she participates in sect affairs.
Unbeknownst to Shen Yuzhu, Song Yin also had a secret mission.
Song Yin's secret mission is to find the ancestral master, a task that no one has been able to complete for thousands of years. Naturally, she will have to keep an eye on him when she goes to the Northern Continent.
The master and apprentice were equally cunning.
Qi Zibo and Wen Zhiling's conversation ended quickly.
Qi Zibo said to Song Yin, "Let's go."
Song Yin: "Goodbye Elder Wen, goodbye Senior Brother."
Elder Wen smiled and watched them leave, saying, "Go well, have a safe journey."
After watching the master and disciple leave, Elder Wen took Shen Yuzhu back.
...
After several teleportations, Song Yin and Qi Zibo successfully arrived in Nine Star City.
Nine Star City is neither too big nor too small, considered a medium-sized city in the cultivation world. Due to the Alchemist Conference, the streets were crowded with people. Upon arriving in Nine Star City, Qi Zibo led Song Yin to their next resting place.
The Alchemist Conference provides accommodation for participants, but participants can arrange their own accommodation if they are not satisfied.
Qi Zibo's cultivation level and the Immortal Cloud Sect behind him are things that the Alchemist Conference dare not easily offend. Their accommodations were carefully prepared and were not far from the competition venue.
"Lord Shanyuan!" A man walked out from the opposite side of the accommodation prepared for this alchemist conference and greeted Qi Zibo as soon as he came up.
"I heard that Lord Shanyuan will not be participating in this alchemist conference. It's such a pity. We will no longer be able to witness Lord Shanyuan's masterful alchemy skills."
Qi Zibo said politely, "It's been a long time. How have you been, Lord Danhua?"
This Mr. Danhua has white hair and a white beard, and looks like an elderly man.
The Song Yin of today is not the Song Yin of yesterday. She looked at this Danhua Jun and wondered if he really looked like this or if he deliberately made himself look older.
Danhua Jun: "Haha, everything is fine." His gaze fell on Song Yin behind Qi Zibo, "And who is this?"
Qi Zibo: "My disciple Song Yin will be participating in the competition this year. Song Yin, this is Dan Huajun of the Tiangan Sect, a powerful alchemist."
Upon hearing this, Song Yin stepped forward and gave a junior's greeting, "Junior greets Lord Danhua."
One of the five major sects in the cultivation world, the Northern Continent Heavenly Stem Sect.
Danhua Jun stroked his white beard, his face crinkling with wrinkles as he smiled, and said in a kind tone, "I didn't expect that Shanyuan Jun would also take on a disciple. You didn't even tell us old folks. Is the little girl going to participate in the Foundation Establishment group competition?"
Qi Zibo: "Her cultivation level is not high enough to participate in the Foundation Establishment group competition. I heard that Dan Huajun's disciple is also participating this time?"
Dan Huajun: "Yes, this year I'll take my disciples out for some training so they'll know there are always people more capable than themselves. A few years ago I also took on a new disciple. If we meet in the Foundation Establishment group competition this year, Nephew Song Yin, you'd better give my unruly disciple a good beating."
Not knowing the relationship between the other party and her master, Song Yin thought for a moment and said, "Senior's disciple is naturally excellent. I have only been studying alchemy for a short time, Senior, you flatter me."
Danhua Jun laughed heartily, "Shanyuan, Shanyuan, you have taken on an interesting disciple." He then said to Song Yin, "My new disciple is also a female cultivator. Perhaps you two can play together. It's a pity she went to the city early this morning, otherwise you could have met her."
"Danhua-jun, are you referring to the disciple you took in decades ago? Shanyuan is a disciple you only took in less than ten years ago. She's still young, just a child. Are you sure they can get along? They're even from different generations among mortals."
A familiar voice rang out.
Song Yin turned around and saw an old acquaintance.
Song Yin: "Greetings, Elder Xin."
Elder Xin nodded slightly to Song Yin as he passed by, then stepped forward.
Song Yin was slightly surprised. Elder Xin was actually very kind to her this time, without the regretful or out-of-touch expression he used to have!
Danhua Jun: "Qingmu Jun is here too. I didn't expect you two didn't come together."
Those familiar with Qi Zibo and Xin Huailiang know that the two are now mortal enemies, so how could they possibly set off together? Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Song Yin sensed an unfriendly tone in Dan Huajun's words.
Thinking of this, Song Yin silently retreated behind her master.
"Junior Sister Song Yin." Shao Yangtian, who came with Elder Xin, greeted Song Yin.
Behind Shao Yangtian were two other people, his senior brothers and sisters, both of whom were acquaintances.
"Senior Brother Lü, Senior Sister Cheng, Senior Brother Shao," Song Yin greeted them one by one.
Shao Yangtian glanced at the three people in front of him with a keen sense of cunning, then waved for Song Yin to follow them and leave together.
Song Yin glanced back at her master, then turned and followed Shao Yangtian out the door.
Shao Yangtian and the others led Song Yin away from their residence until they reached a crowded street, where Shao Yangtian finally relaxed.
Shao Yangtian: "Junior Sister Song Yin doesn't know about Lord Danhua yet, does she?"
Song Yin: "This is the first time I've learned this."
To avoid being overheard or perceived by those powerful beings as someone speaking ill of him behind his back, Shao Yangtian directly referred to Dan Huajun as "that person from the Heavenly Stems Sect".
"The one from the Heavenly Stems Sect was very competitive when he was young, and now that he's old, his competitiveness is even stronger than before. Unfortunately, he has never been able to surpass our Immortal Firmament Sect, whether it's my master or your master, he can't beat them. What's more, the Heavenly Stems Sect only has one lineage of alchemy practitioners, which is the one he leads. In order to surpass our Immortal Firmament Sect, he keeps taking on disciples, thinking that since he can't beat his master and the others, he will make his disciples beat his master's disciples."
Elder Xin's second disciple, Cheng Linlin, said, "He used to have his disciples fight against us, but now that he knows you are Elder Qi's disciple, he has included you in his target list. His youngest disciple's target this year was originally only Shao Yangtian, but now you have been added to the list."
"Ah, this..." Song Yin said, finding it difficult to comment.
Shao Yangtian said helplessly, "Don't be fooled by the fact that my master and your master don't get along. When it comes to people outside the Immortal Cloud Sect, they'll join forces against them. Honestly, these elders are so boring. They fight among themselves within the sect, and then they fight with outsiders after they leave the sect."
Song Yin: "I have a question. What caused Master and Elder Xin to become the way they are now?"
The steady eldest disciple, Senior Brother Lü, spoke up, patting Song Yin on the shoulder, "Take my advice, don't dig too deep into their past falling out, or you'll be the only one left speechless."
Song Yin blinked: "Okay, okay." No way, the more she said that, the more curious she became.
Shao Yangtian: "Let's stay outside for a while before going back. They're going to argue for a long time."
Song Yin: "My master isn't participating in the competition this year. Will Elder Xin participate?"
Shao Yangtian exclaimed in the street, "What? Not participating?!"
It attracted many people on the street to turn their heads frequently.
Senior Brother Lü and Senior Sister Cheng both covered their faces, feeling utterly ashamed.
Senior Brother Lü reached out and grabbed Shao Yangtian by the back of his collar, leading him to a less crowded area.
Shao Yangtian didn't care at all and continued to tell Song Yin, "Master must be furious. He's still thinking about getting a good ranking in the group competition this year and surpassing Elder Qi."
Although Xin Huailiang and Qi Zibo are at different stages of cultivation, one is in the Nascent Soul stage and the other in the Deity Transformation stage, Xin Huailiang is determined to win first place in the Nascent Soul group. Since Qi Zibo isn't participating this year, who will Xin Huailiang brag about if he wins first place?
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Author's Note: Qi Zibo: You didn't expect that, did you? I'm not participating. [Sunglasses]
Xin Huailiang: [Angry]
The two apprentices got together.
Shao Yangtian: Let me tell you, my master blah blah blah...
Senior Sister Cheng: That's right, that's right, blah blah blah...
Senior Brother Lü coughed a few times with restraint: Cough cough, actually there's more, blah blah blah...
Song Yin's eyes lit up: Really? Such a thing? My God! ...
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[Empty bowl]
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