Meanwhile, Tianlong looked at the Lamp with a curious expression. The chilling presence coming from it was extremely similar to Long Qianmei's own.
He would've sent his spirit sense inside it to check but refrained from doing so. For all he knew, the thing might contain some sort of message. He didn't want to risk it.
Lost in his thoughts, he slowly walked towards the elder's courtyard. A place which he had never visited before.
"Zhu Yin, Zhu Long or Candle Dragons as we call them are sacred solar deities. They have the head of a human and the body of a serpent. It is said that their race is born when the world's fortune gains the blessings of the sun and moon.
"They incubate inside their egg for 999 years. Anyone who dares to harm them in this period would be struck by the Five Yang and Four Yin disasters. Even if the person who kills them manages to survive, they would forever bear the curse of the sun.
"From their birth, they'll have a Half-step Spiritual Fusion realm cultivation. It is said that whenever they open their eyes, the sun will rise on the horizon. Subsequently, when they close their eyes, the world will fall into darkness...
"With their eyes, they control day and night and with their breath, they control the seasons. When they exhale, it will mark the coming of summer. Conversely, their inhaling will bring winter...
"It is said that their eyes can dispel all types of darkness. That's why they are also called the Torch Dragons. Not only was their race powerful, but they were also eccentric. Very few could understand what these dragons are always thinking…
Some of these details were recorded in the clan's records while others were something he had learned from his father. This astonishing demon race went extinct in the lower worlds during the era-ending war.
"Sadly, all the bloodline from my mother's side was devoured by my Immemorial Storm Dragon Blood. Oh well, to gain something, you need to lose something as well."
While Tianlong was lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice that another person had approached him.
"Tianlong, we need to talk."
Ever since he had given the medical manuals to Ji Cangyue, he stopped visiting her. There was no response from her side either.
Even Qingxue who would come to meet him often stopped contacting him. In fact, she didn't leave her house once. For an extroverted girl like her, this was an unusual phenomenon.
However, it was all within Tianlong's expectations.
"Congratulations, you are just a step away from reaching the next stage of Alchemy!"
Now that he was seeing Ji Cangyue again after three months, he could feel that the smell of herbs around her had become much more refined.
However, she didn't respond to his words and just looked at him with a complicated expression.
Under Tianlong's astonished eyes, she a second revolution alchemist who had taught him for years cupped her fists and bowed towards him.
"I am just a small alchemist who barely knows anything about my subject. With my meagre talent, the furthest I could reach was the peak of the third revolution. But you gave me the hope of breaking my limits and reaching the next rank. Please accept my bow!"
"Senior there's no need to…"
"Although I never formally accepted you as my disciple, besides you, only my daughter has ever obtained my guidance. So, I can be considered half your master. As half-master, I could never teach you anything important but you still gave me such a gift. Even though I don't have the right to accept such a huge present, I won't refuse your good intentions."
Taking a deep breath, she bowed even lower and continued in a resolute voice, "I Ji Cangyue, swear that if I ever become a fourth revolution alchemist, I will pass on all my knowledge to you. No matter what you ask me to do, I would fulfil your request. Even if I don't reach the fourth revolution status, you would always have a karma of gratitude with me!"
Without letting him speak, she completed her oath. Looking at him with serious eyes, she waited for his reply.
The last time Tianlong had come to their house, he had left behind a few manuals which he said contained his questions.
Due to his urging, she only looked at them when she had free time. But once she looked at the contents, she could no longer maintain her calm.
The theories, arts of concoction, pill recipes etc. were far more advanced than what she had ever seen. Some of them were so high ranked that she couldn't understand them at all. The person who pinned down everything must be at least a peak 4th revolution alchemist or possibly even higher!
With her understanding, how could she not know the meaning behind Tianlong's action?
It was especially evident when she remembered the previous questions that he had asked her regarding Grand Xia's Imperial Academy.
After seeing the theories, she had almost jumped in excitement. It made her feel like the first time when she had fallen in love with alchemy. However, after sensing their content, the books seemed to become heavy in her hands.
Her pride as a senior didn't allow her to take this charity but her alchemist side didn't want to give the manuals back. Due to the unrest in her heart, she felt her cultivation base getting unstable.
It was only after she said everything to Tianlong and let go of the knots in her heart that she felt relieved.
Although Tianlong knew that she would have a violent reaction after seeing his gift, he didn't expect her to take an oath. Clearly even after learning from her for so many years, he didn't expect her to make such an oath.
The power of oaths in this world was especially vicious. If someone broke their oath, their cultivation bases would suffer irreparable damage and they would find it hard to progress.
He had just felt that it would be a waste if a talent like Ji Cangyue remained a nobody in this clan. Moreover, she was also his benefactor who had taught him the basics of medicine over the years.
The reason he was so knowledgeable in medical arts could be partly contributed to her who had helped him at every step despite not being his master.
His gift was just repaying the kindness over the years. He never expected that her reaction would be so extreme that she would swear an oath.
He had underestimated her love for alchemy as well as the value of his gift. What seemed like random stuff for him that picked from the things his father was in fact a peerless treasure for someone like her.
In the end, he could only wryly smile and shake his head. "Senior, I don't need you to do anything for me. But if you really want to repay me, then go and join the Alchemy palace of Grand Xia."
"I…"
Cutting her off, he continued, "There's no need to say anything else. All you need to do is participate in Xia country's competition and be amidst the top 100 alchemists! Since you consider yourself as half my master, there's no way you can just be a mere second revolution alchemist!"
With that one sentence, she was at a loss for words. That one line also showed his domineering attitude which only Qingxue was aware of.
Silence engulfed the two of them. It was only after a long time that Ji Cangyue assembled her thoughts. Giving a thoughtful look at Tianlong she nodded.
Once she walked back towards her home, a fire was burning in her heart which had been cold for many years. It was the same excitement she had felt when she turned a Yin Yang Cleanser or when she became a second revolution alchemist.
If someone asked a cultivator what was the comfortable thing in the world, they would immediately answer it was the feeling of reaching a higher level of cultivation. Alchemists and Formation masters would similarly feel excitement when they make a breakthrough in their craft.
After her confrontation with Tianlong and hearing his words, her interest in alchemy was even more ignited.
"Six more months huh? I will reach the peak of the second revolution!"
Unfortunately, she couldn't see the slightly disappointed look on his face or she would've been confused.
"Oh well, it was her choice…"
No longer paying attention to her, he once again started to move towards the elder's courtyard. His mind flashing through all the different possibilities why his mother wanted him to come here.