Chapter 496 - 506: Dragon Tiger Pill

The crowd was stunned. They didn’t understand why Wen Qingye, who had clearly failed, was being given another chance to challenge the Sword Forest.

Mingkong stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, "Elder, isn’t it true that only disciples from the other six peaks who possess a Cloud Concealment Order have the opportunity to challenge the Cloud Conceal Peak’s Sword Forest? That’s the ancestral rule!"

"How dare you question the way I do things?"

Jian Chunqiu’s eyes flashed, like two sharp swords piercing straight into Mingkong’s heart.

Mingkong’s heart pounded in shock. His face turned as white as a sheet, and he stumbled back several steps.

’So strong!’

Aside from a few disciples of Cloud Conceal Peak, everyone present wore a look of utter horror.

"This old man’s power is incredible," Gao Yang muttered to himself.

Mingkong was, after all, an expert in the Life and Death Realm. Just how powerful was this elder to force him back with a single glance? He had to be one of Cloud Conceal Peak’s old monsters.

Seeing this, Wen Qingye looked up and laughed. "Good. I just hope you won’t disappoint me next time."

Jian Chunqiu looked at Wen Qingye and sighed deeply. ’His bearing is truly extraordinary. A pity he doesn’t belong to my Cloud Conceal Peak.’ A bitter feeling rose in his heart, and he said no more.

"Hahahaha... *cough cough*... Hahaha!"

Suddenly, a booming sound reached the crowd’s ears, and they all instinctively turned to look.

They saw a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar slowly approaching. His face was somewhat pale, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

"Junior Brother Zhang?" Qii Yue said in surprise upon seeing the newcomer.

"Elder Jian," Zhang Zhilin said respectfully to Jian Chunqiu after walking to Wen Qingye’s side. Only then did he nod to Qii Yue, who was standing nearby.

Jian Chunqiu nodded, then glanced at Zhang Zhilin and took a deep breath. "After all these years, your old ailment still hasn’t healed. You’ve lived a hard life, but your eye for talent is quite good. You’ve taken in a fine disciple."

"Hahahaha, thank you for the praise, Elder Jian," Zhang Zhilin said with a laugh.

Jian Chunqiu watched him and sighed inwardly. ’Zhang Zhilin’s reply only addressed the second half of my sentence. He paid no mind to my comment about his hard life. His magnanimity and demeanor have truly changed over the years.’

Zhang Zhilin coughed a few more times and said, "If there’s nothing else, we’ll be taking our leave. I have some matters to discuss with this disciple of mine."

"Mm, go on," Jian Chunqiu said with a nod and a smile.

Zhang Zhilin nodded and led Wen Qingye and Sunx Li away.

The crowd watched the three of them depart, their hearts in turmoil for a long time.

The Third Elder of the Seven Elders of Cloud Concealment couldn’t hold back and asked anxiously, "Peak Master, why was the Sword Forest flickering in and out of existence just now?"

Qii Yue sighed softly. "Wen Qingye’s Sword Dao is simply heaven-defying. You will all understand in the future. And this is despite his meridians being severed."

Then, Qii Yue said with regret, "Ai, my old eyes have grown dim. I let Zhang Zhilin snatch up a bargain."

The people around them were utterly baffled, their hearts reeling in shock. It was the first time they had ever seen Qii Yue speak of someone with such gravity.

Hearing Qii Yue’s words, Lu Wushuang couldn’t help but lower her head slightly, her fists clenched tightly.

Jian Chunqiu walked towards Yuanchi’s wooden hut, shaking his head as he spoke.

"His future is limitless! What a pity for my Cloud Conceal Peak’s opportunity."

Jian Chunqiu’s words struck Qii Yue’s heart like a heavy hammer. A mix of complex emotions welled up inside him, leaving a bitter taste.

.......

「Life Peak, inside Zhang Zhilin’s Cave Mansion.」

Zhang Zhilin looked at Wen Qingye and said with emotion, "I never expected this. I never expected your talent in the Sword Dao to be so incredible. It has truly astounded me."

He was naturally aware of what had happened at the Sword Forest. He had originally just thought Wen Qingye’s aptitude was extraordinary, but he never imagined his qualifications would reach such a level.

What just happened was clearly a phenomenon that could only occur when the Sword Dao Origin within the Sword Forest had been completely absorbed.

Suddenly, Zhang Zhilin’s brow furrowed. He asked, "Did you kill any of the disciples from the Three Realms Sect or the Flowing Cloud Sect?"

Wen Qingye shook his head. "No."

"Good. With those words from you, I, as your master, will definitely ensure your safety. I won’t let you suffer an unjust accusation," Zhang Zhilin said, glancing at Wen Qingye before nodding heavily.

"By the way, Miaoxuan from Danxuan Peak came by a few days ago. He said he was very grateful for your guidance and asked me to give this to you."

Wen Qingye was slightly taken aback. ’Miaoxuan has something for me? Could it be that my words that day led him to some kind of epiphany?’

Zhang Zhilin took out a black Pill Furnace and handed it to Wen Qingye.

Zhang Zhilin said with a smile, "This is a Junior-Level Emperor Grade Pill Furnace. It was Miaoxuan’s most precious possession seventeen years ago. However, after he obtained a High-Level Emperor Grade Pill Furnace, he put this one into his collection. It’s truly a rare thing for him to give it to you. Truly rare."

He didn’t ask for the specifics of what had happened between Wen Qingye and Miaoxuan. He knew that a genius like Wen Qingye was bound to have his own secrets. ’My job is just to protect his path. There’s no need to ask about every little thing until it’s crystal clear. That would just be tiring for me, too.’

Wen Qingye accepted the black Pill Furnace with a silent smile. He was in dire need of a Pill Furnace at this very moment, and unexpectedly, Miaoxuan had sent one to him.

Zhang Zhilin continued, "Alright, since you didn’t kill the disciples from the Three Realms Sect and the Flowing Cloud Sect, my mind has been at ease these past two days. Go back and consolidate your Sword Dao Cultivation."

"I have made Master worry," Wen Qingye said, standing and cupping his fist. The gratitude in his heart was sincere and deeply felt.

Zhang Zhilin waved his hand. "It’s nothing. Go back. You just came out of the Sword Forest... *cough cough cough*... You urgently need time to stabilize your cultivation. Go."

Wen Qingye slowly backed out of Zhang Zhilin’s Cave Mansion, shaking his head helplessly. Of course he could see the severity of Zhang Zhilin’s injuries. It was precisely because he knew that he felt so helpless.

Zhang Zhilin’s injuries had already damaged the very foundation of his body. To repair it would be incredibly difficult.

"Junior Brother Wen, you’re out."

Sunx Li hurried over as soon as he saw Wen Qingye emerge.

Wen Qingye smiled. "Senior Brother Sunx, what is it?"

"Yes," Sunx Li nodded, looking troubled.

"That day on Danxuan Peak, I felt that Junior Brother’s Alchemy Dao was also extremely impressive, so I was thinking..." Sunx Li gritted his teeth and said, "I was hoping Junior Brother could help me refine a pill. I want to give it to the Absolute Peak Master for his birthday."

’A gift for Hua Lie?’ Wen Qingye’s interest was piqued when he heard Sunx Li’s words.

"Yes," Sunx Li nodded emphatically.

Wen Qingye smiled, nodded, and readily agreed, "Alright, I’ll refine one for you, Senior Brother. What kind of pill are you looking to have made?"

Sunx Li looked at Wen Qingye cautiously and said, "I want to refine the Mid-Level Emperor Grade pill, the Dragon Tiger Pill."

The Dragon Tiger Pill was a Mid-Level Emperor Grade pill with life-extending properties. Although it was only a Mid-Level Emperor Grade pill, it was considered an extremely precious treasure even when compared to High-Level Emperor Grade pills.

Even Miaoxuan had a low chance of successfully refining a Dragon Tiger Pill. In truth, Sunx Li didn’t hold out much hope that Wen Qingye could create it either. However, Wen Qingye was the only person he knew with any knowledge of the Alchemy Dao, so he was treating a dead horse as if it were still alive—subconsciously pinning all his hopes on him.

"Alright, no problem," Wen Qingye said nonchalantly.