27: Bluestone tripod

The Nether Dragon nodded heavily: "Then from now on, you are my companion. What is your name?"

"Lu Xingchen. And you?"

"The elders in my clan all call me Xiao You."

Lu Xingchen said with a bitter smile: "Alright, Xiao You. But you're so big and so conspicuous, it will be inconvenient to act in the future!"

The Nether Dragon grinned, then spread its wings, transforming into a wisp of purple light that merged into Lu Xingchen's body.

Xiao You's voice came from within: "This is a secret technique of our Dragon Clan. It can open up a space within a Human Race companion's body for dwelling and Cultivating. When you need me, just call me!"

"Alright, Xiao You."

Lu Xingchen checked the System panel.

【Host: Lu Xingchen】

【Realm: Six-Star Martial Master】

【Experience Points: 200 / 700】

【exchange points: 520】

【Talents: Eagle Eye (20), Strong Strike (20), Berserk (36), Blade Edge (20), Jade Shatter (30)】

【Mount: Nether Dragon (Tier 2)】

The 'Mount' section was added to the attribute panel, which was incredibly satisfying.

When he reached halfway up the mountain, Lu Xingchen finally saw Lin Wanqing.

Her eyes were swollen from crying, and her heart had grown completely cold.

Just then, she saw her man walking towards her.

"Big Strong One? You're not dead?"

Lu Xingchen walked over and flicked her forehead: "What nonsense are you talking about? How could someone as handsome and dashing as me die?"

Lin Wanqing winced in pain but wasn't angry; she just hugged Lu Xingchen tightly.

Feeling the softness against his chest, Lu Xingchen's mind raced, but he ultimately did nothing out of line, simply wrapping his arms around his future wife.

After a long while, Lin Wanqing slowly let go of Lu Xingchen, wiped her eyes, and looked at him with curiosity.

"Big Strong One, why are you completely unharmed?"

Lu Xingchen rubbed her head and said softly: "I took a scroll of flying Martial Skill from the Yunyin Kingdom treasury."

Lin Wanqing was surprised upon hearing this: "Then your luck is too good!"

Lu Xingchen chuckled: "Isn't it? I just got that flying Martial Skill, and it immediately came in handy."

"What about that giant Dragon? Did it fall to its death?"

Lu Xingchen smiled mysteriously: "That's a secret; you'll know in the future."

Lin Wanqing playfully punched Lu Xingchen's chest with her small fists, complaining that he wasn't telling her the truth.

But she didn't ask any more questions.

As long as her man was safe, she didn't care about the giant Dragon's fate.

Lu Xingchen brought Lin Wanqing back to the Lingxiao Sect.

The story of him single-handedly fighting the evil Dragon had already spread throughout the Lingxiao Sect, significantly boosting his reputation within the Sect.

All the new Disciples had been preparing for his funeral, and when they saw him return safely, they looked as if they had seen a ghost.

For a time, Lu Xingchen's prestige directly rivaled Hu Junfeng's.

Over the next half month, Lu Xingchen dedicated himself to Alchemy, maxing out his professional experience and becoming a Second-Grade Alchemist.

When Lu Xingchen told Lin Qingzhu that he intended to refine a second-rank pill, Lin Qingzhu was still full of disbelief.

"Lu Xingchen, you're being too impetuous. You've been studying Alchemy for less than a month; how could you become a Second-Grade Alchemist?"

Lu Xingchen chuckled: "Then, Peak Master, how about we make a bet?"

Lin Qingzhu was slightly taken aback: "What do you want to bet?"

"If I can successfully refine a second-rank pill, you'll give me the Medicine Cauldron you use. If I fail, I'll refine Medicinal Pills for you for free for one month."

"You're quite greedy."

Her Medicine Cauldron was profound rank low grade, more than enough for refining third-rank pills. The Medicine Cauldron she gave Lu Xingchen was only Yellow Rank Advanced.

Even if Lu Xingchen continuously refined first-rank pills for a month, it couldn't match the value of a Profound Rank Medicine Cauldron.

However, Lin Qingzhu didn't think she would lose.

How could an outsider become a Second-Grade Alchemist in less than a month?

It was a good opportunity to teach him a lesson and prevent him from being overly ambitious.

"Alright, I'll bet with you!"

Lu Xingchen stopped talking nonsense, took out his Medicine Cauldron, lit the fire, and began Alchemy.

One by one, medicinal herbs entered the Medicine Cauldron under his control, were refined into liquid masses, and then the liquids slowly merged.

Through the medicinal herbs Lu Xingchen used, Lin Qingzhu realized that the Medicinal Pill he intended to refine was the second-rank rejuvenation pill.

The second-rank rejuvenation pill was of moderate difficulty among second-rank pills to refine, but it sold very well and was always in high demand.

After all, who doesn't get injured sometimes?

Half an hour later, a greenish-blue Medicinal Pill appeared in the Medicine Cauldron.

The flames gradually extinguished. Lu Xingchen wrapped his palm in fighting Qi, took out the Medicinal Pill, and handed it to Lin Qingzhu.

Lin Qingzhu took the Medicinal Pill and examined it carefully.

After a long while, she took a deep breath and said with shock: "A perfectly refined rejuvenation pill! Even I couldn't refine such a perfect Medicinal Pill. Lu Xingchen, how did you do it?"

I can't exactly tell you I have a cheat, can I?

So Lu Xingchen could only say calmly: "Perhaps this is just talent."

"If your Martial Dao talent wasn't equally strong, I would truly want you to be a full-time Alchemist."

Lu Xingchen shook his head slightly.

"Alchemy is just my side hustle, a tool for accumulating wealth. I prefer to hold power in my own hands. Therefore, I will not give up Martial Dao Cultivation."

Lin Qingzhu nodded slightly, and with a wave of her sleeve, a greenish-blue Medicine Cauldron appeared in the Alchemy room.

"A bet is a bet. This is my Medicine Cauldron, the green stone cauldron, profound rank low grade. It belongs to you now!"

"Thank you, Peak Master."

Lu Xingchen didn't stand on ceremony, placing the green stone cauldron into his Storage Ring.

He had coveted this Medicine Cauldron for a long time, and now that it was finally in his hands, he was still a little excited.

Then Lu Xingchen asked curiously: "Peak Master, why haven't I seen Senior Sister Dongxuan these past three days? She's quite the Medicine fanatic."

"Oh, you mean Wang Dongxuan? She's already in secluded Cultivation, aiming to break through to Six-Star Martial Master. The Lingxiao Sect is electing a new Saint, and only the Chief Disciple of each Peak can participate in the selection."

"Although our Little Bamboo Peak is just going through the motions, we can't be too bad."

Lu Xingchen was even more puzzled: "Isn't the Saint Senior Brother Hu Junfeng? He's the popular choice."

Lin Qingzhu laughed: "Which Chief Disciple isn't a favored child of heaven? If there isn't a fight, who would obey Hu Junfeng? So this Saint selection is held once every year. But this time it was indeed moved up by a month."

"Why was it moved up?"

"I heard that the Five Elements Sect discovered a Secret Realm deep within the Sunset Forest. They originally intended to keep it for themselves, but the news leaked out prematurely. In the end, the five great Sects reached a consensus that Disciples from each of their Sects would go to contend for it."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xingchen's heart stirred.

Secret Realms were cradles for cultivating strong individuals. Anyone who could obtain a valuable treasure might soar to great heights.

He also wanted to try his luck in this Secret Realm!