117: Dan Ding and Dan Xiaoya

The System heard Lu Hao's question and immediately replied:

"Yes, Host, the System has a dedicated place to store Cultivation."

"That's great! From now on, unless I say I want to absorb Cultivation, you'll store all returned Cultivation!"

"Understood, Host."

Lu Hao chuckled, then asked:

"Um, if I store Cultivation with you, will there be any interest?"

"Interest? I'm sorry, Host, I don't understand what you mean."

"Like, if I store ten thousand years of Cultivation with you for one year, will it become ten thousand one hundred years of Cultivation after a year?"

"..."

Lu Hao scratched his head, embarrassed, looking at the silent System.

He dismounted the ox's back and began to carefully examine Danling State.

This state was the closest to Northern Barren State, but its terrain was quite different from Northern Barren State's.

Northern Barren State was mainly mountainous, with continuous mountain ranges visible everywhere.

The Qingxuan Mountain Range was one of them, and also a border mountain range of Northern Barren State.

Danling State, however, seemed to be primarily plains.

Lu Hao looked out from atop the Stubborn Ox, and it was boundless! He couldn't see the end.

There were no mountains obstructing his view at all.

He decided to find someone first to understand the specific situation of Danling State.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would likely stay here until he became an Alchemy Supreme Grandmaster.

He definitely needed to have a sufficient understanding of this place.

Perhaps he could take some time to participate in the Eastern Region Relic in between.

"Hey, Stubborn Ox, hurry, it looks like there are people ahead, let's go take a look."

"Moo."

Lu Hao quickly caught up to the two people ahead.

They were an Old Mister and a young girl.

The young girl was very cute, wearing a white dress and a high ponytail, exuding a lively and youthful aura as she moved.

The Old Mister also had a kind and benevolent expression, his hair almost completely white, and his eyes held deep affection as he followed behind the young girl.

He kept saying, "Slow down, slow down!"

When Lu Hao appeared before them, the two also looked at Lu Hao.

This young man was indeed handsome, but why was he traveling on a black ox, and holding a small boy? It was quite a strange combination.

Lu Hao dismounted, cupped his fists towards the two, and said:

"Greetings, Old Mister, young lady, I am Lu Hao."

Seeing Lu Hao so polite, the other party immediately cupped their hands in return and said:

"Young brother, this Old Mister is Dan Ding."

"Big brother, my name is Dan Xiaoya!"

They exchanged names, completing their introductions.

"Old Mister Dan, I am new to this place and don't know much about it. May I ask you some questions?"

The Old Mister laughed, just about to answer, when Dan Xiaoya directly interjected:

"No problem! My grandpa knows everything, from astronomy to geography! There's nothing in this Danling State that he doesn't know!"

"You child! How many times have I told you not to talk nonsense outside? As punishment, you will refine ten furnaces of Medicinal Pills tonight before resting!"

Dan Ding looked at Dan Xiaoya and said sternly.

Dan Xiaoya was scolded by her grandpa, and she pouted aggrievedly, saying:

"Oh, ten furnaces it is... Hey! This little brother is so cute, big brother, can I play with him for a bit?"

"Xiaoya, you..."

Dan Ding was truly about to be angered to death by his granddaughter.

"Hahaha, Old Mister Dan, there's no need to be angry. I actually think Miss Xiaoya has a very good personality."

Lu Hao said with a smile.

After speaking, Lu Hao put down Lu Xiaolong.

Dan Xiaoya immediately ran over and rubbed his chubby little face:

"Little brother, what's your name?"

"My name is Lu Xiaolong."

"What a nice name, you're so cute! Come, let older sister give you a hug."

"Okay, pretty older sister, hug!"

Lu Hao shook his head helplessly from the side, thinking, is his adopted son really that popular with other young girls?

Lu Hao quietly watched the two play from the side.

...

Dan Ding also shook his head helplessly. His granddaughter was truly too friendly; she could easily be tricked in the future...

Then he slowly turned to look at Lu Hao, smiling:

"Haha, of course you may. From our first meeting, I felt a great affinity with you, Little friend Lu. Feel free to ask."

Lu Hao asked:

"Old Mister Dan, how are the forces in Danling State divided?"

Dan Ding stroked his beard and smiled:

"Little friend Lu, you are indeed new here. In my Danling State, apart from the various small Sects in different areas, there are three most powerful forces."

"They are the Miao Dan Sect, the Lingdan Sect, and the Ancient Pill Sect. All of them are Sects that focus on Alchemy."

"The Three Great Sects all established themselves through Alchemy methods. Not only are the three Sect Masters unparalleled in Alchemy in the Eastern Region, but their Cultivation is also unfathomable! The Alchemy methods that guard their respective Sects are all different."

"Among them, the Miao Dan Sect's guardian Alchemy method is an Advanced Spirit Rank Alchemy method, 'Mysterious Pill Formation Method.'"

"The Lingdan Sect's guardian Alchemy method is called 'Spirit Yuan Heavenly Pill Method,' also an Advanced Spirit Rank Alchemy method."

"Finally, the Ancient Pill Sect's guardian Alchemy method is a Low Grade Dao Grade Alchemy method! But unfortunately, that Cultivation Technique is incomplete, with less than a fifth of it remaining in the world. It is called 'Sacred Profound Ancient Pill Method'!"

"The three forces have similar strengths, but if you really had to rank them, the strongest would be the Miao Dan Sect, and the weakest would be the Ancient Pill Sect."

"After all, it's an incomplete method. If one could comprehend even a move or two from it, it would surely benefit them for life. But unfortunately, no Disciple of the Ancient Pill Sect in this generation has yet been able to comprehend anything significant."

Lu Hao listened carefully and gained some understanding of the forces in Danling State.

Then he continued to ask:

"Old Mister, how are the Alchemy Realms divided?"

"Alchemy Realm? Little friend Lu, you don't even know this?"

"Alchemy is the foundation of my Danling State's existence. In the entire Eastern Region, when it comes to Alchemy, if my Danling State says it's second, no one dares to say it's first!"

"Almost all Medicinal Pills in the entire Eastern Region come from my Danling State. For example, only people from my Danling State can refine an Eight-Rank Pill."

"Medicinal Pills are divided into one to Nine Ranks. Alchemists who can refine corresponding Medicinal Pills are referred to by their rank."

"For example, an Alchemist who can refine a Three-Rank Pill can be called a Three-Rank Alchemist."

"If one can refine a Seven-Rank Pill, they will be respectfully called an Alchemy Grandmaster. An Eight-Rank Alchemist is an Alchemy Great Grandmaster! As for the Nine-Rank, if one can refine it, they will be called a Pill Dao Supreme Grandmaster!"

Lu Hao finally understood; his goal for the mission was to successfully refine a Nine-Rank Pill!

Lu Hao quickly pressed on:

"Old Mister Dan, how difficult is it to refine a Nine-Rank Pill?"