Xuanji Sect.
Elder Qingfeng lay leisurely on a rattan chair, dozing under the sunlight.
If it were in the past, he wouldn't dare to be so unrestrained.
But with the Sect Master in seclusion and his elder martial ancestors out traveling, no one in Xuanji Sect could rein him in. He decided to relax and enjoy himself as he pleased.
However, his tranquility was soon shattered.
Frowning, he beckoned his senior disciple from nearby and asked impatiently, "Has Shangyuan gone mad from alchemy, that he's so full of fire?"
From several mountain peaks away, one could hear the咆哮 of that fellow Shangyuan.
Ning Xiuzhu said gently, "This disciple does not know. If Master wishes to know, why not go ask Martial Uncle Shangyuan directly?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Qingfeng repeatedly shook his head. He had no desire to cross Shangyuan.
Yet, he couldn't help but be curious about what had happened.
Elder Qingfeng was not the only one with this thought.
The disciples of True Man Shangyuan cowered, enduring their master's tempestuous fury, secretly lamenting their misfortune.
Not long ago, their master had been gently guiding them, but after glancing at a communication disk, he had exploded like an alchemy furnace subjected to prolonged high heat.
They didn't even know the reason and could only hang their heads and receive the scolding.
Seeing his disciples all listless, True Man Shangyuan became even more incensed.
Individually, these disciples were passable, but compared to others, they were simply unbearable.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He waved his hand, dismissing all his disciples, and closed the door to ponder the refining method that his ancestor had sent him.
He had studied how to utilize waste materials from alchemy before, but he always failed to find a way.
His ancestor's method of refining with palm-imprinted spiritual fire gave him inspiration.
Thinking of his ancestor, who was out on a journey, True Man Shangyuan secretly lamented. If his ancestor had become an alchemist, she would have achieved great things, but unfortunately, her ambitions lay elsewhere.
He had personally witnessed his ancestor's astonishing comprehension. To speak a treasonous thought, if not for his ancestor's status, he would have directly abducted her to their Pill Peak to inherit the Dao lineage.
After a moment of sighing, True Man Shangyuan first cordially inquired about his ancestor's recent activities via the communication disk, then stated that he needed to study it first and would inform his ancestor once he had news.
After receiving a simple reply from Xu Yi, True Man Shangyuan closed his cave dwelling and plunged into the alchemy room in the backyard.
...
Beast Taming Sect.
After submitting her mission, Yin Li finally managed to escape the enthusiastic Senior Brother Zhou and returned to her residence.
Before she could even sit down, the communication token at her waist vibrated lightly. She glanced at it and then turned towards the cave dwelling of her master, True Man Changshou.
True Man Changshou's cave dwelling was located at the summit of Sky Dome Peak, next to a bottomless abyss.
When Yin Li arrived outside the cave dwelling, she didn't rush in. Instead, she bowed respectfully towards the deep pool and said reverently, "Martial Uncle Xuanwu."
After her voice faded, there was a long silence.
Yin Li's expression remained unchanged, and she continued to maintain her respectful posture.
After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn.
Swish—
The calm pool water rippled slightly, but soon returned to its placid state.
Yin Li knew this was Martial Uncle Xuanwu's response. After bowing again, she walked directly into the cave dwelling.
"Greetings, Master."
True Man Changshou was dressed in a dark cyan Daoist robe. He had short eyebrows, small eyes, and two long whiskers on either side of his mouth. His unremarkable appearance made it difficult to associate him with the Sect Master of the Beast Taming Sect.
Seeing Yin Li, the corners of his mouth turned up, and his long whiskers also perked up.
"Good, disc, i-ple, you, have, fi-nally, re-tur-ned."
He spoke each word slowly.
Yin Li was already accustomed to her master's sluggish way of speaking and nodded lightly.
True Man Changshou smiled for a while, then the smile on his face gradually faded.
He sighed mournfully, "Your, eld-est, bro-ther, has, left."
Yin Li was startled and quickly asked, "Where did he go?"
True Man Changshou said in a deep voice, "Myriad Beast Ridge."
Yin Li's brow furrowed slightly. As a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, she was well aware of the dangers of Myriad Beast Ridge.
Even the senior martial uncles and martial aunts in the sect had repeatedly warned disciples not to go to Myriad Beast Ridge lightly. Why would her eldest martial brother suddenly go there?
Her mind raced, and she thought of a possibility, exclaiming, "Could it be that Eldest Martial Brother went to Myriad Beast Ridge to find the Soul-Returning Demonic Fruit, which has been missing for a long time?"
True Man Changshou nodded heavily, confirming Yin Li's guess.
A rare look of urgency appeared on Yin Li's face. "How could Eldest Martial Brother be so impulsive? The Soul-Returning Demonic Fruit has been missing for hundreds of years. How can he be sure that Myriad Beast Ridge has it?
Even if it did, it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven for him to obtain the Soul-Returning Demonic Fruit alone. Master, why didn't you stop him?"
"He, sneaked, a-way, I, did, not, know."
True Man Changshou looked wronged.
It was only after his eldest disciple had been missing for seven days that he discovered the latter had already left the Beast Taming Sect.
Yin Li stomped her feet in anxiety, took out her communication disk, and sent several messages to her eldest martial brother.
After sitting for several hours without receiving a response from her eldest martial brother, Yin Li stood up and declared resolutely, "Master, I am going to Myriad Beast Ridge to find Eldest Martial Brother."
Upon hearing this, True Man Changshou could no longer sit still.
"Absolutely not. You have just advanced to the Golden Core stage. Myriad Beast Ridge is too dangerous."
In his anxiety, he could only blurt out words in pairs.
Yin Li said firmly, "The reason Eldest Martial Brother went to find the Soul-Returning Demonic Fruit was also because of me. I cannot stand by and watch him take such a risk alone."
The Soul-Returning Demonic Fruit not only enhanced the spirit but also replenished the depleted spirit of demonic beasts, making it a sacred healing item for them.
Due to its rare efficacy and its tendency to grow in demonic territories, it had not appeared for several hundred years.
And the reason Eldest Martial Brother Xiong Zhuang was willing to risk his life was to obtain the Soul-Returning Demonic Fruit to heal his contracted demonic beast, Xiong Da.
Xiong Da was an Earth Bear with extremely high bloodline purity. It was said that upon reaching adulthood, it possessed the power to move mountains and fill seas.
Xiong Da was currently still in its infancy, its strength comparable to that of a Golden Core cultivator. In an accident, it had suffered severe soul damage while protecting Yin Li and remained unconscious.
The Beast Taming Sect primarily practiced beast-taming techniques. Their most important source of strength was demonic beasts, and contracted demonic beasts were of paramount importance.
With Xiong Da injured, Xiong Zhuang, who was among the disciples with top combat strength, was also affected, drawing much criticism.
Fortunately, Xiong Zhuang was simple-minded and did not become dejected by this. He was only constantly worried about Xiong Da's injuries.
After learning from an unknown source that Myriad Beast Ridge might have the Soul-Returning Demonic Fruit, he immediately packed his bags and headed to Myriad Beast Ridge.
Fearing that his master and junior disciples would worry, he did not disclose his destination, but the truth could not be hidden forever.
Once True Man Changshou inquired, his whereabouts were exposed.
True Man Changshou had originally intended to ask the most intelligent and resourceful disciple, Yin Li, to come up with a plan to bring Xiong Zhuang back.
But now, the situation did not seem to be developing as he had expected.
He was momentarily crestfallen, unsure of what to do.