As soon as the words were spoken, Lu Xingzhou and Dugu Qingli instinctively exchanged glances, both inexplicably feeling as if they were having a secret affair right in front of everyone.

You really want the two of us to go out alone… How much trust do you have in us?

Ye Tinglan had truly never for a moment doubted that her cold-hearted, uninitiated, foolish disciple could ever be entangled in a romantic relationship. Even if a love tribulation were to appear one day, it wouldn’t involve her shigong, right? Qingli wasn’t that kind of person.

Moreover, although Lu Xingzhou was lustful, he had some bottom line and wouldn’t make a move on his disciple.

From both perspectives, there was immense reassurance.

Just as Qingli had been in Jing Shi for some time, she had never been seen seeking out Lu Xingzhou alone, and Lu Xingzhou likewise had never sought out Dugu Qingli alone. By all appearances, their relationship was very ordinary, just like regular friends.

Among them, Qingli often found Lu Xingzhou irritating. Not only did she usually speak to him with cold sarcasm, but she had even drawn her sword to strike him once. This was likely because the hateful man had captured her master’s heart. What child would like to have a stepfather? It was understandable.

Perhaps letting the two of them go out together would help mend their relationship, wouldn’t it?

The disciple had always disliked this shigong and strongly opposed their relationship, which was one of the main reasons Ye Tinglan couldn’t fully commit. It was something that ought to be resolved.

Dugu Qingli knew what her master was thinking and had a stomach full of grievances she wanted to vent.

This foolish master still didn’t know that her disciple was there first. When you were bouncing on that wheelchair and getting wet, you had no idea where I was. I, Dugu Qingli, was the first in the world to stick out my tongue, even earlier than Shen Tang. It was only later that you inexplicably got together with him, which brought that thread to an end.

Do you know the real reason why I strongly oppose you two? It’s not resistance to a stepfather; it’s that no one wants the boy who was pursuing them yesterday to suddenly become their stepfather.

You want us to be alone?

But she truly wished to go out and gain experience, not to be cooped up in Jing Shi. This was a good opportunity, so she found it hard to say anything, her icy face almost turning red.

It wasn’t from shyness, but from the overwhelming urge to complain.

In any case, times have changed; things are not what they used to be. I wouldn’t pay any attention to him now. It would be good enough if I didn’t cut him down.

Lu Xingzhou’s expression was also odd and strained. After a long moment, he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on Qingli.”

Ye Tinglan nodded with satisfaction, “Have you arranged the inspection route?”

“Yes. In a few days, Tangtang will return to Xiazhou. I will promote Yuan Yao to Zhenxi Jiangjun, to also guard the western frontier and look out for Tangtang. The practical significance of this is, firstly, to incorporate the entire western region into our sphere of influence, and secondly, to pressure Shiwan Dashan with our troops.”

Ye Tinglan quickly understood the implication, “You want to eliminate the future threat of Xuan Nü?”

“Yes. We can’t let her recuperate in peace. We must take her life while she is ill.”

“She knows that Chu Yun is aware of the sect’s location, so she most likely won’t continue to hide in Channü Hehuan Zong. You might find an empty nest.”

“Even so, we still need to flatten her old lair first.”

“Do you need my help?”

“A severely injured Xuan Nü still needs your help, then what are we here for? …Now, you still need to focus on Gu Yiheng.”

Ye Tinglan finally nodded and said to her disciple, “Since there is such important business, listen to your shigong on the road and don’t throw temper tantrums, do you understand?”

Dugu Qingli: “…Aren’t I shishen anymore? Can you perform that again? I want to see that.”

The little white-haired girl was bundled up and thrown down from the Guanxing Tai.

Around the same time, the Jiang family’s door opened, and several pieces of luggage were thrown out.

Jiang Duxu’s voice came from inside the house, “Get lost! If you linger in Jing Shi any longer, see how this old man will whip you!”

Jiang Yuan picked up his luggage and scurried out of Jing Shi.

Ye Tinglan on the Guanxing Tai inexplicably felt a sense of great change stirring, and habitually, she performed a divination.

The hexagram was surprisingly Ming Yi, which surprised Ye Tinglan somewhat.

The first line, “Ming Yi yu Fei.”

Ye Tinglan frowned slightly. This hexagram was a neutral one, neither particularly auspicious nor ominous, and it was quite fitting for this situation of leaving Jing Shi…

However, Gu Yiheng was known as “Di Huo Ming Yi,” while her side was “Ming Yi yu Fei.” It was interesting to consider who was the host and who was the guest.

Interpreting this hexagram with a different subject, it indicated a time when a foolish ruler was in power and the enlightened suffered.

Leaving was actually the optimal solution, and Lu Xingzhou’s decision aligned perfectly with heaven’s will.

Ye Tinglan thought absently for a moment. Although the host and guest aspect of this hexagram was interesting, it didn’t seem to require any special treatment. It was more important to first help Xingzhou prepare the rings and alchemy materials for their journey.

On the other side, Lu Xingzhou returned home. The three new brides had all styled their hair as married women, and with Ah Nuo, they sat around the courtyard, inventorying materials and herbs.

Everyone planned to leave Jing Shi, so they naturally needed to bring useful items. The Huo family’s years of accumulation were truly vast. Ah Nuo had spent several days just counting them before. This time, useful good items were picked out, piling the courtyard full.

At a glance, a dazzling array of items filled the air with spiritual energy. Nothing below a first-grade item was qualified to be placed here, and there were plenty of super-grade items, making Ah Nuo grin like a laughing Buddha: “Shifu, Shifu, has old man Jiang returned the danlu? Can we take it out and try refining a pill first?”

Lu Xingzhou took out the danlu and chuckled, “Then let’s try. Let’s make a second-grade Po Jing Dan for your older sister Yao first to get a feel for it.”

As the danlu was brought out, the cheerful sounds suddenly ceased. Ah Nuo stared blankly at the danlu, then got up somewhat bewildered and walked over.

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

Ah Nuo caressed the danlu, circling it several times as if in a trance, “Shifu…”

“Hmm?”

“Can I sleep inside it?”

Lu Xingzhou rubbed his forehead.

“No, no…” Ah Nuo suddenly woke as if from a dream, backing away several steps in fright: “Take it away…”

This reaction was quite telling. It was both her “womb” of birth and the painful past of being shattered and merged—both intimacy and fear. But those were memories before her sentience, hazy and chaotic, which she herself couldn’t recall clearly.

Lu Xingzhou met the confused gazes of his three wives, unsure how to explain.

Actually, there was another thing: Long Qinghuang had previously suspected that the materials of the danlu contained elements related to Kui Niu. Now that the danlu was in hand, it was indeed possible to analyze it and confirm Long Qinghuang’s judgment. But this also meant that there might be other related elements inside. Whether other life forms also had the potential to suppress Ah Nuo still needed further analysis.

“Ah Nuo, don’t be afraid, shiniang is here.” Shen Tang hugged Ah Nuo, comforting her: “Shall we put the danlu away first?”

Lu Xingzhou shook his head, “There’s no need. This is just an inanimate object. Ah Nuo should use this to overcome some inherent fears. And, the best owner for this danlu should be Ah Nuo.”

Ah Nuo scratched her head, “So I’m really sleeping inside it?”

Lu Xingzhou smiled wryly, “How about this: you carry the danlu with you. When others set up tents on the road, you can sleep in the danlu.”

Ah Nuo’s mouth twitched, unable to smile.

“Alright, let’s try refining a pill first.” Lu Xingzhou selected several ingredients for a second-grade Po Jing Dan, tailored to Sheng Yuanyao’s Wind-Thunder Physique, and after mixing the herbs, he placed them into the danlu for experimentation.

Then he discovered that the bottom of the furnace came with its own furnace fire seed, meaning the alchemist’s own flame ability wasn’t even needed; the danlu itself solved this problem.

No wonder Huo Liancheng, who wasn’t even a Daoist cultivator, could seclude himself and refine pills with the danlu.

The flame was purple, somewhat similar to Shen Tang’s Huangji Jingshi Jing, even in its aura.

The family gathered around the furnace, studying it curiously for a long time, all saying, “Is that the Imperial Purple Qi?”

Shen Tang confirmed, “Yes, it’s qualitatively similar to the concept of the Huangji Jingshi Jing.”

Lu Xingzhou said, “It’s the Shanhe Ziyan recorded in the alchemy manual. It has no special effects when refining other pills, just stable high heat, but its effect is doubled when refining pills related to Shanhe Qi Mai… Gu Zhanting must have taken related pills to take that final step.”

This is why refining various high-grade special pills later often requires specific flames with unique attributes. In fact, even the Wu Tian Hei Yan of the Soul Banner is a type of attribute, but Wu Tian Hei Yan’s destructive power is too strong. Few danlus can withstand Wu Tian Hei Yan, but this particular danlu can.

A high-grade alchemist often needs to possess many types of flames simultaneously. Lu Xingzhou’s Fire Bone laid the foundation for flames, without any particularly unique attributes, but it could accommodate all. Currently, Lu Xingzhou only had Po Mie Jin Huo and Hong Lian Jie Yan. Wu Tian Hei Yan and You Ming Gui Huo had both been fed to the Soul Banner.

Sheng Yuanyao, who had seen Lu Xingzhou collect the Po Mie Jin Huo, clapped her hands and laughed, “Then you should collect this fire seed. It’s too wasteful to have it as the danlu’s own fire. If you collect it yourself, you can also use it in combat.”

Lu Xingzhou nodded, “This furnace fire is strong enough to be split into two fire seeds. Both Ah Nuo and I can cultivate a portion. Huo Liancheng didn’t cultivate Dao, otherwise he wouldn’t have let this fire seed go to waste here, which benefits us instead.”

Shen Tang glanced at him, saying nothing. This fire seed carried imperial qi. If Lu Xingzhou were to also absorb the calligraphy given by Gu Zhanting, his Da Gan qi mai would probably be even stronger than Gu Yiheng’s.

If she were to then use dual cultivation techniques to transfer her Gu Yitang’s qi mai to him…

Lu Xingzhou’s thoughts on this were unknown; it would have to wait.

As they chatted, the elixir in the furnace gradually took shape. Now, refining a second-grade elixir was effortless for Lu Xingzhou, especially with such a danlu, making the success rate almost 100%.

The furnace opened, and a pill leaped out, exuding an ethereal aura.

Originally, only top-grade pills of first-grade or higher would attract a pill tribulation, but this pill, clearly refined from second-grade materials, spontaneously generated electricity in the void, and heavenly lightning struck down.

—Limited by the Dao of Heaven, “things that should not belong to this world” are subject to tribulation, typically being struck by lightning.

Sheng Yuanyao drew her blade and chopped upwards, “My pill!”

“Boom!” Wind and thunder raged. Sheng Yuanyao’s blade was like lightning, seemingly even more astonishing than the heavenly thunder. With one strike, the heavenly thunder dissipated.

The sisters looked at her with some admiration. Who would have thought, Ah Gua is this strong now?

Sheng Yuanyao happily sheathed her blade, took the pill, and her eyes widened, “First-grade?”

Second-grade materials had yielded a first-grade result, and the quality was superb.

“It probably can’t be entirely considered first-grade; it most likely has additional immortal-grade attributes,” Lu Xingzhou said, looking at the pill somewhat cautiously, “But it definitely won’t have any drawbacks. I’m just worried you might not be able to handle it… You take it first, and we’ll protect you.”

Sheng Yuanyao, with a reverent feeling, carefully swallowed the pill.

As the pill entered her stomach, it was like swallowing a clap of thunder.

Sheng Yuanyao felt her limbs and bones explode open, but it wasn’t pain; instead, there was an extremely comfortable sensation, like being massaged.

Then, her aura surged and grew rapidly, breaking through the second-grade barrier and continuing to soar, barely stopping after reaching the middle stage of second-grade.

Everyone looked at Sheng Yuanyao, their eyes like they were looking at an immortal.

“What’s wrong, what’s wrong?” Sheng Yuanyao asked curiously, “Although I’ve broken through a lot, shouldn’t that have been expected? This pill is first-grade, after all.”

“No, no, not that…” Ah Nuo’s voice stammered, “Sister Yao, you have wings!”

Sheng Yuanyao turned her head in alarm and saw illusory wings unfurling on her back. Wind and thunder circulated on the wings, like those of a celestial spirit.