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Chapter 181: Being Honest

As the eldest disciple of Huanglong Immortal, Ji Yifeng was well-regarded by those outside Huanglong Mountain, and known as an Immortal of high character.

Within just a quarter of an hour of conversation, Lan Chang\'an felt an unexpected sense of similarity.

He began to understand why Huanglong Immortal had focused on nurturing Ji Yifeng instead of someone like He Yuanwu.

Ji Yifeng’s personal charm was something that He Yuanwu could never match.

"Little friend Lan, these are the materials that my junior sister has asked me to deliver to you," Ji Yifeng said, getting straight to the point as he handed over a storage pouch.

"Thank you, Senior Ji, for personally making a trip to deliver these," Lan Chang\'an said, carefully checking the contents of the storage pouch to confirm that everything was in order.

He had intended to pay an additional ten percent as a delivery fee, but Ji Yifeng had declined. In the end, the cost of the materials was even lower than the market price.

In essence, Huanglong Mountain helped Lan Chang\'an acquire these materials at cost through its commercial channels, without any additional charge.

If Lan Chang\'an had attempted to gather these materials on his own, it might have taken him decades to complete the task.

"In fact, my junior sister sincerely wishes to meet little friend Lan in person, to fulfill a certain wish," Ji Yifeng said with a meaningful smile.

"There\'s always tomorrow. I’m sure there will be another opportunity for me to meet Lady Fu again in the future," Lan Chang\'an did not outright refuse.

As he reflected, he realized that the last time he, as Lan Chang\'an, had spoken face-to-face with Fu Xuemei was before he reached Foundation Establishment.

That had been five or six decades ago.

If and when he eventually reached the Core Formation Realm, Lan Chang\'an wouldn’t mind meeting Fu Xuemei again.

If that day really came, he wondered what it would be like.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, you live a carefree life here on Wuqi Mountian, raising turtles and tending to your garden—an existence that anyone would envy. But a life of contentment can also lead to complacency, causing a cultivator to lose their drive."

"Moreover, the cultivation world is on the brink of chaos. Have you not considered joining a particular faction?" Ji Yifeng smoothly shifted the conversation to the second purpose of his visit.

"A particular faction, such as Huanglong Mountain?" Lan Chang\'an’s eyes flashed with understanding.

"Haha! I appreciate your candor, little friend Lan," Ji Yifeng said with a hearty laugh, stroking his beard.

"Huanglong Mountain welcomes talent, especially individuals like yourself who are reliable and come from a clean background. Moreover, Fellow Daoist Lan, you built your foundation in Huanglong Immortal City, making it seem that our destinies are intertwined…"

Ji Yifeng not only appealed to emotions but also promised generous terms.

"Forgive me for disappointing you, Senior Ji, but I’ve grown too accustomed to my free-spirited lifestyle. I have no plans to join any faction at this time," Lan Chang\'an said after a moment of consideration, declining the offer.

If the cultivation world truly descended into chaos, someone like Lan Chang\'an, who possessed valuable skills, might indeed consider finding shelter under the wing of a major sect. However, Huanglong Mountain was far from an ideal choice.

Huanglong Immortal was nearing the end of his life. Once this mid-Core Formation cultivator passed away, Huanglong Mountain’s prestige and influence would likely plummet.

At that point, there would be power struggles and possibly a reshuffling of the core leadership at Huanglong Immortal City.

Lan Chang\'an had no desire to become entangled in such conflicts.

"Should you ever change your mind, Huanglong Mountain’s doors will always be open to you," Ji Yifeng said, unfazed by the rejection and without pressing the matter further.

After half an hour of pleasant conversation, Ji Yifeng, Huanglong Mountain’s most senior Fake-Dan Immortal, took his leave.

Naturally, this scene did not go unnoticed by the other two main peaks of Wuqi Mountian, as well as the numerous loose cultivators affiliated with the mountain.

Although the three peak masters of Wuqi Mountian had received invitations from various factions before, it was a rare occurrence for someone like Ji Yifeng, a Fake-Dan Immortal, to visit in person.

...

A few days later, Alchemist Lin Ye returned to Lan Chang\'an’s cave mansion at Little Turtle Peak to refine more pills.

This time, Lin Ye stayed at Little Turtle Peak for over a month.

With a sufficient supply of materials, Lin Ye successfully refined the "Xuanwu Pill," the "Blood Yang Pill," and the "Seven Fiend Pill."

The Xuanwu Pill, a top-grade second-rank pill used for breaking through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, yielded two pills.

Due to Lin Ye’s limited cultivation, his performance wasn’t perfect, and he failed to achieve the expected three pills.

Five Blood Yang Pills were produced.

Four Seven Fiend Pills were also successfully refined.

In addition, Lin Ye also refined several other high-quality second-rank pills for Lan Chang\'an, including those for healing, energy recovery, and detoxification.

"Here is your payment, Fellow Daoist Lin," Lan Chang\'an said, presenting Lin Ye with another supreme-grade magical weapon and a dozen mid to superior-grade second-rank talismans.

For the two rounds of pill refining, Lan Chang\'an had been somewhat generous in his compensation, offering more than what was typically expected.

Part of this was out of respect for their past relationship, but it was also because Lin Ye had allowed him to observe the pill-refining process and provided explanations.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, I must thank you for your hospitality since I returned to Wuqi Mountian. This second-rank alchemist’s inheritance is a token of my gratitude," Lin Ye said, handing over a jade slip.

Having spent several months recuperating at Wuqi Mountian and now equipped with a complete set of protective means, Lin Ye was ready to leave the mountain.

After Lin Ye departed, Lan Chang\'an examined the jade slip with his spiritual sense and nodded slightly.

It contained a superior-grade second-rank alchemy inheritance. While it didn’t include any core techniques, it was a solid, well-rounded guide.

Though the inheritance didn’t reveal Lin Ye’s most closely guarded secrets, it was still a rare opportunity for anyone aspiring to alchemy.

Considering this inheritance, Lin Ye had given more than he had received from Lan Chang\'an, making the exchange more than fair.

Two days later.

Alchemist Lin Ye left Wuqi Mountian, with each of the three peak masters giving him a small token of their appreciation.

As they bid farewell, Lin Ye took a deep breath and shared his life’s greatest aspiration:

He intended to devote the rest of his life to nurturing an outstanding successor in the Dao of alchemy.

"Lin Ye’s true alchemy skills may have reached the level of a quasi-third-rank alchemist. The fact that only two Xuanwu Pills were produced might have been his way of holding back…" Lan Chang\'an pondered as he watched the elderly figure of Lin Ye gradually disappear into the distance, feeling a twinge of uncertainty.

...

More than half a year later.

Inside an elegantly scented chamber in a cave at Xiao Pan Peak, Lan Chang\'an sat up, feeling refreshed. His hand rested on Shi Manrong’s smooth, jade-like back.

Beneath the disheveled silk blanket woven from ice silkworm threads, her soft and voluptuous body lay bare, her curves and long, slender legs faintly visible—a sight that evoked boundless imagination.

"Lan Lang, we’ve been so open and honest with each other, yet you still have so many secrets you’ve kept from me?" Shi Manrong said, her face glowing with a blush, her hair cascading like a waterfall as she rested her head on Lan Chang\'an’s waist.

"What do you mean by that? Our relationship runs deep. If you’re unhappy about something, there’s no need to keep it to yourself," Lan Chang\'an said with a smile, looking at the slightly pouting and resentful female formation master.

By now, rumors of their possible relationship had quietly spread within certain circles at Wuqi Mountian.

However, neither of them acknowledged the relationship publicly, nor did they have any intention of becoming dual cultivation partners.

"You’ve kept many things hidden from me," Shi Manrong said in a soft, sultry voice tinged with the laziness of a mature woman.

"For example, you kept the ‘Youth Retaining Pill’ to yourself and didn’t share it with me."

"Huh? You figured that out?" Lan Chang\'an feigned surprise.

During the process of absorbing the Youth Retaining Pill’s effects, he had unintentionally—or perhaps intentionally—let the effects show.

Ye Fei, being well-versed in pharmacology, must have noticed it, but had chosen not to mention it.

"Humph! I’ve been maintaining my appearance for years and have taken a Youth Retaining Pill before. How could I not recognize the effects?" Shi Manrong said as she also sat up, using only the thin silk blanket to cover her fair, rosy body.

"It’s not that I intentionally kept it from you. This involves some of Alchemist Lin’s private matters…" Lan Chang\'an explained with a wry smile, offering an excuse.

"So, it was Alchemist Lin who helped you refine the Youth Retaining Pill. Ye Fei doesn\'t have experience refining this pill yet," Shi Manrong said, pursing her lips with a light smile as she spread out her delicate hand.

"Didn’t you say you’ve already taken a Youth Retaining Pill?"

"A second-rank Youth Retaining Pill only maintains its best effects for about a hundred years, after which its effects begin to wane," Shi Manrong said with a bright smile.

After all, the Youth Retaining Pill cannot alter the essence of life; it only maintains a superficial youthful appearance.

No matter how powerful a second-rank pill is, its effects cannot last for hundreds or thousands of years.

With a sigh, Lan Chang\'an retrieved a Youth Retaining Pill and handed it to Shi Manrong.

Shi Manrong, with a rare expression of joy, her eyes sparkling, immediately took the pill.

"Based on this, I suspect you’ve kept secrets from me about the ancient ruin as well," Shi Manrong said as she got up, dressed in her robes, and tied up her hair, returning to her dignified and graceful demeanor as she looked at Lan Chang\'an with a knowing smile.

"At this point, there’s no need to hide anything from you, Fairy Shi," Lan Chang\'an said, straightening his clothes as he returned to a more formal tone, stepping away from their clandestine relationship.

He then recounted in detail the events leading up to Shi Manrong’s memory loss.

Given the relationship they now shared, revealing this long-kept secret felt like a matter of course.

Lan Chang\'an didn’t know much about the specifics of the ancient ruin, but Shi Manrong listened intently, her expression thoughtful.

"I won’t hide it from you either, Fellow Daoist Lan. Due to my memory loss, I’ve been searching for the location of that ancient ruin for years, and I’ve only managed to find a few clues," Shi Manrong said, a hint of frustration in her voice.

She then suggested, "Since you know about this, why don’t we work together to find it?"

Lan Chang\'an shook his head. "Unlike you, Fairy Shi, who is already at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, I’m still uncertain whether I can even reach the late Foundation Establishment stage. Let’s not discuss this matter for now."

In truth, the "Yin Yang Water" and "Xuanmu Vine" within the ancient ruin were of great interest to Lan Chang\'an.

Yin Yang Water could improve the quality of the core by shattering and reshaping it.

Xuanmu Vine was an exceptional heaven and earth spiritual treasure for crafting a wood-based life-bound magical treasure.

"But I believe that you will successfully advance to the late Foundation Establishment stage, Fellow Daoist Lan," Shi Manrong said, her clear eyes gazing at him. Whether she was testing him or genuinely confident in him was unclear.

"Let’s hope so," Lan Chang\'an replied noncommittally, glancing at her, he tested the waters, "If Fairy Shi achieves the skill of a third-rank formation master and I’m fortunate enough to advance to the late Foundation Establishment stage, then we can discuss this matter."

"Due to the limitations of my cultivation, reaching the level of a quasi-third-rank formation master is already my limit. Most third-rank formation masters are at least Fake-Dan Immortals," Shi Manrong sighed, claiming difficulty.

Lan Chang\'an couldn’t tell if she was being truthful, even though their relationship was deep to the point where they were familiar with every inch of each other.

However, today’s candid discussion had brought them closer, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.

"Here’s the payment for the Youth Retaining Pill," Shi Manrong said, handing Lan Chang\'an a brocade pouch filled with spirit stones before leaving.

Their ideas aligned, and they had mutual feelings of goodwill. What began as a fleeting romance had developed into a way to ease the loneliness of their cultivation paths.

Shi Manrong never felt like she suffered a loss.

In their transactions, they kept their personal feelings separate, offering each other discounts at most.

...

Three months later.

Lan Chang\'an turned one hundred and thirty years old.

It had been four years since he had reached the sixth level of Foundation Establishment. He estimated it would take another ten years or so to reach the seventh level and become a cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

On this day, the Earth Burrowing Rat delivered a letter from Jin Yun Valley to his cave mansion.

The letter was from Zhao Siyao’s disciple, Zhao Tan’er.

Before setting out, Zhao Siyao instructed that any news from the frontlines be sent to him through her disciple.

Zhao Tan’er was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, with excellent talent, a lively temperament, and a wide range of friends in the sect, so she was well-informed.

"It’s been nearly two years since the second wave of Liang Kingdom’s sects set out. I wonder how Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan are faring on the battlefield in the neighboring country," Lan Chang\'an thought with a solemn expression as he opened the letter.

...