111: Chapter 110 Five Years

Yun Ming slowly opened the golden light in his hand.

The light gradually faded, and an ancient-looking classic book lay quietly in his palm. The cover was made of some unknown beast skin, warm to the touch, with faint dark golden patterns flowing across it. On the cover were four large characters in ancient seal script—

Secret Volume of Qingwei Alchemy

Yun Ming's pupils shrank slightly.

A fifth-grade High Grade alchemy scripture.

He took a deep breath and slowly flipped open the pages.

The first page was the general outline. It contained only a few hundred words, yet every word was a gem, pointing directly to the essence of the Dao of Alchemy. The difficult problems he had struggled with in the "Introduction to Alchemy Scripture" were explained here in just a few sentences. Yun Ming became engrossed, unknowingly flipping through over a dozen pages.

It wasn't until he closed the book that he realized a thin layer of sweat had broken out on his back.

This wasn't cold sweat; it was excitement.

Compared to this "Secret Volume of Qingwei Alchemy," the "Introduction to Alchemy Scripture" was like a firefly next to a bright moon, or a grain of sand next to the stars. That book was merely a basic introductory read, while this one was a true Legacy of the Dao of Alchemy.

From the first to the fifth grade, from basic pharmacology to high-level Alchemy seals, from medicinal ingredient compatibility to heat control, from the nurturing of the Pill Furnace to the final opening of the furnace—it covered everything, and with absolute mastery.

Yun Ming closed his eyes, silently feeling the massive amount of information flooding into his mind.

With the cultivation manuals and secret books he drew, he could achieve basic mastery instantly. Those obscure and difficult Alchemy seals and complex, exquisite pharmacology were now turning into streaks of light, merging into his Sea of Consciousness and becoming a part of him.

After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

Fifth-grade High Grade.

Although he could currently only understand the first and second-grade portions, the higher-level content was already etched into his mind. He only needed to wait until his cultivation and Alchemy attainment were sufficient to unlock them one by one.

It was truly like being handed a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.

A smile touched the corners of Yun Ming's mouth as he carefully put away the "Secret Volume of Qingwei Alchemy."

The days that followed finally turned peaceful.

He no longer needed to fight desperately for a way home, no longer needed to Cultivate day and night for a Breakthrough, and certainly didn't need to worry about being cut down one day. He only needed to stay safely within the Qingxuan Sect, accompany his mother, and do the things he wanted to do.

He hadn't lived such days in a very long time.

Every day, he would sleep until he woke up naturally and then head over to Qin Wan's place for a meal. Qin Wan's cooking had improved over the years; although it was just ordinary farmhouse fare, Yun Ming found it more delicious than any mountain delicacy or sea treasure.

After eating, if Yun Xi was there, he would guide her cultivation. This girl's talent was average, but she made up for it with diligence. With the help of the Medicinal Pills Yun Ming left for her, her progress wasn't slow. Occasionally, she would pester Yun Ming to tell stories about the outside world. Yun Ming would pick things he could share, making her eyes light up as she clamored about wanting to go out and venture for herself in the future.

Yun Ming only smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Most of his afternoons were spent on Alchemy. With the guidance of the "Secret Volume of Qingwei Alchemy," his Alchemy skills progressed at a lightning pace. Problems he had repeatedly pondered in the past now seemed clear as day. Pill Formulas that he used to fail at were now tried again with a greatly increased success rate.

The evenings were for cultivation. As his Dao scripture operated, his five Golden Cores slowly rotated, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Although his Realm increased slowly, his Foundation became increasingly solid. Occasionally, he would take time to study the Magic Treasures he had drawn from the System or ponder advanced uses for the Purple Cloud Divine Thunder Curse.

The days passed one by one.

Five years.

It wasn't long, but it wasn't short either.

In five years, his Alchemy skills broke through to the second-grade High Grade. He could refine ningzhen pills with extreme proficiency and could occasionally challenge the third-grade Low Grade jinyuan pill; though the success rate wasn't high, he could at least produce them now.

The Cold Spring Jade Quenching Record also broke through to the second-grade High Grade. His cultivation at the Peak of the second layer of Body Refining made his Physical Body increasingly powerful. He had once quietly tested it: with just the strength of his Physical Body, a single punch could shatter a thousand-jin boulder.

Yun Xi had also fully grown into a young woman.

The little girl who used to chase him five years ago asking about everything was now a graceful young lady. The childishness had faded from her features, replaced by a touch of heroism. Relying on the foundation establishment pills Yun Ming refined, she successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and became an Outer Sect Disciple of the Qingxuan Sect.

One day, Yun Xi came to Yun Ming's Immortal Cave.

“Master.” She stood at the door with a serious expression, “I want to go out for a trial.”

Yun Ming put down the Alchemy scripture in his hand and looked up at her.

Yun Xi felt a bit guilty under his gaze, but she still summoned her courage and said: “I... I have already reached Foundation Establishment. I can’t stay in the Sect forever. I want to go out and see the world, to make a name for myself like Junior Martial Uncle Ye Chen.”

Yun Ming was silent for a moment.

“Have you thought it through?”

“I have.”

Yun Ming nodded and did not stop her.

He took out a Jade Slip from his sleeve, pressed it to his forehead to imprint some things inside, and then handed it to Yun Xi: “If you encounter danger, crush it. I will know where you are.”

Yun Xi took it, her eyes turning slightly red.

Yun Ming added: “Take Jiu Jiu with you.”

Jiu Jiu flew over from a corner, landed on his shoulder, and tilted its head to look at him.

Yun Ming rubbed its head: “Follow her. If anything happens to her, I will hold you responsible.”

Jiu Jiu let out a cry, and its youthful voice rang in Yun Ming's mind: “Don't worry, Master! I will definitely protect Big Sister!”

Yun Ming then took out the taiqing wanderer—the cloud-shaped flying Spiritual Artifact—and handed it to Yun Xi: “Take this to use for travel.”

Yun Xi took it and carefully put it away.

Yun Ming thought for a moment and then took several items from his naxu ring: a Flying Sword, a piece of soft armor, several spirit talismans, and a few bottles of Medicinal Pills. These were all things he had randomly drawn over the years; although their grade wasn't high, they were more than enough for Yun Xi at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

“Take them all.”

Holding the pile of items, Yun Xi's nose crinkled, and she almost burst into tears.

Yun Ming patted her shoulder: “Alright, don't be so tearful. When you're away from home, remember: if you can win, fight; if you can't win, run; and if you can't run, say you are the Personal Disciple of the Old Ancestor of Qingxuan Sect.”

“Master, aren't I your Disciple?”

“Who knows me out there? Use the Old Ancestor's name to intimidate them first. If the Old Ancestor blames you later, I'll take the fall for you.”

Yun Xi nodded vigorously and put the items away.

Yun Ming suddenly remembered something and took out a small green bottle from the map of mountains and rivers.

The bottle was entirely emerald green and only the size of a thumb, with several faint patterns carved on it. Yun Ming looked at it for a while before handing it to her.

“This is...?”

“Your grandfather left this for you,” Yun Ming said. “I obtained it from him back then. I studied it for a long time but couldn't figure anything out. It might be some special Magical Artifact, or it might just be an ordinary medicine bottle. Now, I'm returning it to its original owner.”

Yun Xi took the small green bottle, clutching it gently in her palm, her eyes reddening again.

“Master...”

“Alright, alright.” Yun Ming waved his hand. “Go on.”

Yun Xi took a deep breath, gave him a deep bow, and turned to leave.

Jiu Jiu flapped its wings and followed, landing on her shoulder.

Yun Ming stood at the entrance of his Immortal Cave, watching the figure gradually recede until she disappeared into the horizon.

Without Yun Xi, the days suddenly became much lonelier.

Although Qin Wan didn't say it, Yun Ming could tell she wasn't used to it. Yun Xi had never left her side since she was a child, and now that she was gone, there was a void in her heart.

So, Yun Ming spent more time accompanying her.

He talked with her, ate with her, and basked in the sun with her in the courtyard. Occasionally, he would tell her interesting stories about cultivation to make her happy.

But most of the time, he was still cultivating.

After his Alchemy skills broke through, he began to study those third-grade Pill Formulas. Although the success rate for jinyuan pills was still not high, it was at least much better than five years ago.

The Cold Spring Jade Quenching Record had been stuck at second-grade High Grade for a long time, and he still couldn't touch the threshold of the third grade. He wasn't in a hurry, just slowly refining it.

He had also refined those Magic Treasures one by one. The array-breaking sword, xuanming heaven-covering umbrella, blood-melting eerie glow, zhoutian yuan-magnetic realm-suppressing tower, Nine Heavens Sky-Net Sword Array, and jiuyou soul-capturing banner—he had tried using each one and familiarized himself with their functions.

The days passed in such a mundane fashion.

Until this day.

A voice suddenly rang in his mind.

“Yun Ming, come to the Great Hall immediately.”

It was the Old Ancestor of Qingxuan Sect.

Yun Ming opened his eyes, his brow arching slightly.

He stood up and left the Immortal Cave.