382: Meeting my mentor

Inside an absolutely secure secret chamber in the Sound Valley, Jiang Donghua finally saw his son for the first time.

When Red Silk held a swaddling cloth and carefully handed the little one

—who was fair and delicate, opening a pair of bright, curious eyes to observe the world

—to him, this peak Nine Revolutions Dou Venerate expert, capable of tearing space and forcibly resisting Pill Lightning, was flustered like a child for the first time in his life.

His outstretched hand trembled slightly, afraid that his rough fingers might hurt this tender young life.

He awkwardly imitated Red Silk, holding the little one in his arms. The soft and warm sensation evoked an unprecedented, indescribably marvelous feeling in his heart.

The little one didn't seem afraid of strangers. Held in his father's arms, he not only didn't cry but instead reached out his chubby little hand, grabbed a lock of Jiang Donghua's hanging hair, and giggled.

"He smiled!"

Jiang Donghua looked at Red Silk in surprise and delight, his eyes filled with the excitement and novelty of new fatherhood.

Red Silk covered her mouth and chuckled, looking at her husband's clumsy yet adorable appearance, her eyes full of happiness.

"Yes, he likes you very much. This little one is still small and can't distinguish anything yet; he only knows to gravitate toward whoever is kind to him."

Jiang Donghua cautiously paced slowly inside the secret chamber, holding his son and savoring this warmth of kinship.

He secretly vowed in his heart that he must protect his wife and child and ensure they would never suffer any harm again.

Time flies, and years pass quickly.

Jiang Donghua and Red Silk lived a peaceful and happy life in the Sound Valley.

While instructing his son in cultivation, he continued to refine his Alchemist skills. Occasionally, he would also craft some high-grade pills for the Sound Valley, and under his presence, the Sound Valley's influence grew increasingly prosperous.

During this time, he went out multiple times, either traveling the continent searching for opportunities or inquiring about the whereabouts of his Master, Mo Xuan, but unfortunately, he always came up empty-handed.

His Master seemed to have vanished into thin air.

In the blink of an eye, thirty years had passed.

On this day, Jiang Donghua was at the Pill Tower exchanging Alchemist insights with several elders when he suddenly heard earth-shattering cheers from outside.

Upon inquiring, he learned that the new Pill Gathering had just concluded, and the champion was a young man named Yao Chen!

"Yao Chen..."

Jiang Donghua silently recited the name, feeling no disturbance in his heart; looking at the timeline, it was still too early.

The Pill Gathering, held once every thirty years, saw many talents emerge, so someone winning the championship was normal.

He did not pay much attention and continued with his own affairs.

Several decades passed again.

Jiang Donghua's cultivation steadily improved, having already reached the peak of Nine-Star Dou Sheng. His Alchemist skills were even more profound, subtly touching the threshold of the Dou Di realm.

His son had also grown into an adult, possessing remarkable talent and holding an important position within the Sound Valley.

Meanwhile, Yao Chen, the most promising First Alchemist of the Central Plains, died after suffering a backlash and furnace explosion while refining pills!

It was just that his Disciple named Han Feng also disappeared from the Central Plains in the following years.

Time flew like an arrow, and the sun and moon rushed by.

Nearly a hundred years had quietly passed since Jiang Donghua won the Pill Gathering championship and reunited with his wife, Red Silk.

During this century, the Central Plains saw shifting fortunes, the emergence of numerous experts, and the alternation of old and new powers.

Jiang Donghua and Red Silk oversaw the Sound Valley, focusing on cultivation and instructing their descendants. Under their management, the Sound Valley had truly become the undisputed overlord of the Central Plains' Northwest Region, its prestige immense.

His Alchemist skills had also become increasingly unfathomable. Although he had not publicly refined a Ninth Grade Pill, everyone within the Pill Tower knew that his level had reached perfection.

During this period, some new stars occasionally rose in the Central Plains. Among them was a young man named Xiao Yan, who seemed to have made a name for himself in the Northern Region, but upon checking, it turned out he was not that man.

After all, the Central Plains was vast, and geniuses were as numerous as fish crossing a river; he had long passed the age of being surprised by rising stars.

However, over the past century, Jiang Donghua always held an unresolved concern in his heart: his Master, Mo Xuan, remained completely unreachable.

The rewarded Eighth-Rank supreme venerable pill still lay quietly within his storage ring.

Just as Jiang Donghua was about to assume his Master might have met with misfortune, feeling deeply saddened, a great piece of news he had anticipated for a century arrived without warning!

On this day, Jiang Donghua was in a quiet courtyard in the rear mountains of the Sound Valley, discussing the Dao while tasting tea with his wife, Red Silk, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.

Suddenly, the Elder in Charge outside the Valley rushed to report, his voice carrying a trace of unbelievable excitement.

"Reporting to Ancestral Martial Uncle! There is an old man outside the Valley claiming to be Mo Xuan seeking an audience! He says he is your Master!"

"Clatter!"

The teacup in Jiang Donghua's hand instantly slipped, fell to the ground, and shattered.

He was completely unaware, rising abruptly from the stone stool as if struck by lightning!

"What did you say? Who? Mo Xuan?!"

His voice became hoarse from extreme excitement, and his body trembled slightly.

Red Silk also rose abruptly, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise.

"Husband! It's Master! Master has come!"

"Quick! Invite him in! No! I'll go greet him myself!"

Jiang Donghua spoke incoherently. His body flickered, transforming into a streak of light, rushing toward the entrance of the Valley!

Red Silk quickly followed.

Outside the Sound Valley mountain gate, an old man dressed in a simple gray robe, with white hair and beard but vigorous spirit and clear eyes, stood with his hands behind his back, looking slightly curiously at the magnificent Sound Valley entrance.

The faint soul fluctuations emanating from his body had clearly reached the level of a Seventh-Rank Alchemist!

It was Mo Xuan!

When Jiang Donghua's figure appeared at the mountain gate like a phantom, Mo Xuan's gaze instantly fixed upon him.

Their eyes met!

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Mo Xuan looked at the black-robed young man before him

—whose aura was as deep as the sea, whose appearance was virtually unchanged from a century ago, but whose eyes were deeper and whose majesty was restrained

—his cloudy old eyes filled with extreme shock, bewilderment, and a hint of disbelief!

"Dong... Donghua? Is that really you?!"

Mo Xuan's voice trembled. He scrutinized Jiang Donghua up and down, as if confirming this wasn't an illusion.

"Are you truly that boy from the Jia Nan Academy back then?"

He vigorously patted Jiang Donghua's shoulder, feeling both excited and proud, with old tears streaming down his face.

"Good lad! Such a good lad! I never imagined you would reach such heights! The champion of the Pill Gathering held once every thirty years! Your Master can truly die without regret!"

At this moment, Red Silk also rushed over and bowed gracefully to Mo Xuan.

"Your daughter-in-law, Red Silk, greets Master!"

Mo Xuan looked at Red Silk, becoming even more overjoyed.

"Red Silk girl! You are still alive too! Good! This is wonderful! It's great that you are both well!"

The Master and Disciple, separated for nearly a century and having endured life and death, were finally reunited. Both were teary-eyed, with a thousand words in their hearts but unsure where to begin.

Jiang Donghua held Mo Xuan's hand and said excitedly.

"Master, this is no place to talk. Quickly follow your Disciple into the Valley! We Master and Disciple must properly catch up today! How have you been these years? Why was there absolutely no news?"

Mo Xuan was also filled with emotion. He wiped away a tear and smiled, saying.

"Good, good, good! Let's go inside and talk, let's go inside and talk! For this old man, to live long enough to see a brat like you achieve such success, this life was worth it!"