: Alchemy

Song Meng paused, his gaze sweeping over Zhong Weiniang and Chen Qiaoqian. Seeing that they both nodded slightly, he continued:

"That demon was killed by Senior Lu. As for what to do with these things, it's best to leave it to Junior Brother Han, or you can pass them on to that senior for a decision. It's not appropriate for us to make that decision."

Han Li was still preoccupied with the information Lu Jianghe had revealed earlier, and for a moment he was lost in thought and forgot to reply.

Chen Qiaoqian looked at him and softly called out, "Junior Brother Han?"

Han Li then snapped out of his daze, looking at the thing Song Meng had handed him. "Oh, sorry, I was a little distracted just now."

Since the other party had already made such a statement, he no longer pretended to refuse when the item was handed to him. He simply reached out and took it, putting it into his storage bag.

"The most urgent task is to notify those inside the gate immediately. The commotion here is too great to be concealed. We must get the Enforcement Hall to handle the aftermath as soon as possible to prevent the news from getting out of control and causing further complications."

Chen Qiaoqian immediately nodded and said, "Junior Brother Han is right, I will send a message back to the sect right away."

As she spoke, she took out a communication talisman from her storage bag, whispered a few messages into it, and then activated her spiritual power with her fingertips. The talisman turned into a stream of light and disappeared into the sky.

Zhong Weiniang suddenly asked, "Why hasn't that Senior Lu returned?"

Han Li hesitated for a moment before replying, "After giving me a few instructions, Brother Lu left directly. It was just a coincidence that he happened to be passing by. Fortunately, otherwise we would have gone through so much trouble, and the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

Zhong Weiniang looked dejected, a bitter smile barely escaping her lips. She said in a low voice, "Actually, this isn't the first time I've met this Senior Lu. Years ago, near Tainan Mountain, he saved my and Jing-ge's lives, but..."

Her voice choked, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears: "It's just that Jing-ge's luck... seems to have been a little off this time."

Seeing her like this, Chen Qiaoqian reached out to comfort her, but hesitated and put her hand down.

The grief is so profound that words seem inadequate at this moment.

"Gentlemen, I must return to my family to report the deaths of my two cousins. I'm afraid I won't be able to stay here any longer."

Zhong Weiniang looked up at her, her eyes filled with self-reproach. "I'm so sorry, you didn't need to... get involved in this mess."

Chen Qiaoqian looked at her. Even though she had lost her beloved and was exhausted, she still felt guilty for involving others.

A surge of pity welled up in Chen Qiaoqian's heart. Without further hesitation, she stepped forward and embraced Zhong Weiniang, gently patting her back and whispering words of comfort: "Weiniang, you're too kind. Exorcising demons and protecting the righteous path is the duty of cultivators. Sacrifices are inevitable, and you are the one who has paid the price this time... It's already too high."

Han Li stood silently to the side, watching the two embracing, a subtle, complex sadness flashing in his eyes.

He once thought the cultivation world was a naked dog-eat-dog world, full of schemes and plots where the strong bully the weak and kill to steal treasures.

However, Liu Jing, a fellow disciple who hated evil and was even so "righteous" that he was almost evil, seemed so out of place, and therefore all the more precious.

Amidst high winds and raging waves, the pillar of strength stands even more steadfast.

Honestly, if he were in Han Li's shoes, he would never have been able to be so resolute, so selfless and fearless.

Looking at the two women, Song Meng didn't know how to comfort them. Being naturally simple and straightforward, he could only quickly change the subject and ask:

"Junior Brother Han, you don't seem to have a family or anything like that, so how do you know a senior in the Core Formation stage?"

Han Li habitually wore that harmless smile and waved his hand, saying, "Senior Brother Song is joking. I am a self-taught monk with meager cultivation. How could I be qualified to talk about knowing senior experts in the Core Formation stage? It was just that when I was traveling in my early years, I happened to help that Senior Lu with a small favor. I am grateful that he did not mind, and it can be considered that we have formed a little bond."

It was just a casual remark, and Song Meng didn't take it too seriously.

After all, someone who doesn't even have a family background in cultivation and is a pseudo-spiritual root can hardly be expected to be able to establish a foundation. How could he possibly know an elder in the Core Formation stage?

After answering, Han Li's mind was in turmoil as he silently pondered when he could finally set off for Yuanwu Kingdom.

It definitely won't work in the short term.

To think you could sneak away from the sect is simply wishful thinking.

Every disciple of Huangfeng Valley outside the sect possesses the sect's secret technique, "The Art of Attraction."

If one's whereabouts are unknown and one's escape is reckless, the consequences would be unimaginable if the sect's enforcement hall discovered it.

At best, their cultivation will be abolished and they will be expelled from the sect; at worst, they will be treated as traitors and their lives will be in danger.

Well, let's just take it one step at a time.

Lu Jianghe didn't ask where the main body of the ancient teleportation array was hidden, nor did he hand over a corner of the well-repaired array diagram.

The two of them must both be fully aware of this.

Both sides are holding onto crucial cards, unwilling and unable to fully stake their options on the other.

Ultimately, they are all intelligent people who know when to stop speaking and understand certain taboos without saying a word.

Sigh, it seems I need to think of a safer solution...

Han Li pondered to himself.

If there is no suitable opportunity to quietly escape, then the sect must be stabilized first.

Why not tell that cheap master Li Huayuan and find an excuse to go to Yuanwu Kingdom?

Anyway, one corner of the formation has been repaired.

The ancient teleportation array was located within the territory of Yue Kingdom, and it wasn't too far from Huangfeng Valley.

"I'll be right back."

It could take anywhere from a few days to ten days or half a month, which shouldn't arouse too much suspicion from Huangfeng Valley.

By the time Li Huayuan truly realized something was amiss, he would probably have already used that ancient teleportation array to escape far away from this world.

Thinking of this, Han Li felt somewhat at ease.

He was used to planning things out before acting, and the most important thing right now was to find an inconspicuous excuse to ask Li Huayuan for leave.

We need to act quickly.

time does not wait.

Without pausing for a moment, Lu Jianghe immediately returned to the Tianxing Sect Market in Yuanwu Kingdom.

He immediately purchased a "Seven-Star Alchemy Furnace".

The purpose of buying it is to stabilize the temperature difference during alchemy, making it easier to refine the essence of the medicine. Compared to cultivators relying solely on their own alchemical fire for refining, it is undoubtedly more reliable and suitable.

His current level of skill is still not what it once was, but he is no longer at his peak.

To be on the safe side, it would be more appropriate to use a pill furnace as an aid.

This alchemy furnace was quite valuable, costing him seven or eight hundred spirit stones.

Fortunately, during the destruction of the Fu family fortress, we obtained two storage bags belonging to Fu Tianhua and another Core Formation cultivator, which were filled with abundant spirit stones.

He still has several thousand spirit stones in his pocket, and after spending them several times, he still has a considerable amount left over.

There's no need to worry about spirit stones for the time being.

Back in that quiet courtyard, I saw Xin Ruyin meditating and regulating her breathing in the quiet room.

Noticing Lu Jianghe's return, she opened her eyes, a faint glint of light flashing within them before disappearing. She rose, curtsied, and said, "Senior Lu."

Lu Jianghe nodded slightly and said succinctly, "The necessary main ingredients are all ready."