After Gu Yao and the others returned to Tian Shuifang Market with the news from outside, the organizers and the team of cultivators in the market became busy. They began to build defensive fortifications and called for more cultivators to join in resisting the sea creature tide. At the same time, they took out the powerful disposable artifacts that they had stored. There were too many uncontrollable factors in this tide of creatures, but they must resist it no matter what.
The power of several disposable artifacts was indeed astonishing. When they were thrown into the chaotic sea creature group, they caused explosive sounds and created enormous waves. The waves were filled with fragments of sea creature bodies.
After several consecutive times, the previously riotous sea creature group became disrupted and even more chaotic. This was advantageous for the cultivators because, due to the chaos, the number of deaths caused by trampling among the sea creatures themselves was extremely large. Some sea creatures lost their direction and instead ran towards the sea, while the remaining ones continued to advance. The organized cultivators could barely hold their ground against them.
Jiang Yan and Chi Changye went in and out of Tian Shuifang Market several times to participate in the battle. Occasionally, Gu Yao would also join the fight. This time, more cultivators witnessed Gu Yao's combat power, and no one questioned his actions anymore.
With the united efforts of the cultivators, this large-scale sea creature tide caused by human factors finally receded. The cultivators who had been fighting continuously also breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Hu Gu, the Valley Lord of Cuiyan Valley, brought a group of alchemists to ensure the supply of pills. Under the pressure of public opinion, some shops slightly reduced the prices of pills.
Tian Feiyang looked gloomily at the bodies in the detention room. The elder in charge immediately arrested and imprisoned the accomplices of Ba Yuankui. However, before obtaining any interrogation results, these people became corpses due to an unintentional negligence.
Needless to say, disciples of the Tianhai Sect were bribed. They took advantage of the chaos and silenced them. "Where are the people who did it? These disciples who buttered both sides..."
The elder sighed, "They ran away. They left the market early and probably won't return to our Tianhai Sect. They must have anticipated this outcome before they made their move." Since it was easy to identify the person who took action, this person couldn't wait to flee before the hand was revealed.
"It's also possible that they were silenced by someone. Unfortunately, this disciple did not leave a soul lamp in the sect, so we can't tell if he is alive or dead." There was no way to know if this disciple was bribed this time or if the other side had long ago planted a mole in the Tianhai Sect. "Be honest with Gu Dan Shi."
Tian Feiyang returned to the Tianfu Academy and explained the situation in the Tianhai Sect. However, he did not see any surprise or anger on Gu Yao and the others' faces. Instead, his younger brother wore an expression of "I knew it" on his face. Tian Feiyang was perplexed. Was there something he didn't know about in this situation?
"Tian Ge, don't worry, you've worked hard. Whether or not there will be a result in this matter, we will be more cautious ourselves. Tian Ge, be careful when you're out and about." There are too many uncontrollable unexpected situations in the cultivation world. Who would have thought that when he just arrived in Tianshui, he offended Miss Ruan because he refused to listen to her instructions? Of course, she was only offended on the surface. He didn't believe that the Elder He from the City Lord's Mansion wouldn't be aware of it.
"Yes, Big Brother, our safety is the most important thing." Tian Fei Rong reminded him with concern. In fact, he felt safer following Gu Yao and Chi Changye. Moreover, now he and Xiao Pangzi were in charge of Gu Yao's pill list, so it was even more respectable for him to go out.
Tian Feiyang temporarily put aside the things he couldn't understand and was delighted to see his second brother really grow up.
Gu Yao didn't pay much attention to this matter. After the wave of beasts receded, he sent someone to deliver a letter to Hu Guzhu, the master of Cuiyan Valley, to see when the other party would be available for him to visit. This time, he should take the initiative to meet Hu Guzhu. The other party was both an elder and a senior, and had a sense of guidance and encouragement towards him.
Hu Guzhu responded, and after Gu Yao made some preparations, he set off with Chi Changye, Tian Feirong, and Xiao Pangzi. To outsiders, the four of them seemed to be a group, so their actions were not particularly noticeable.
When they arrived, the disciples of Cuiyan Valley invited Gu Yao and the others in. Gu Yao didn't pretend not to see it. There were too many disciples guarding the entrance. Did they really need more than a dozen people to greet them even though only four of them came? And they kept casting furtive glances at him?
Chi Changye turned a blind eye to them. As long as Gu Yao didn't mind, he acted as if those glances didn't exist. Xiao Pangzi's thoughts were not on this, and Tian Feirong's mouth twitched uncontrollably. Could these disciples of Cuiyan Valley be any more obvious? Did they really think their subtle actions had gone unnoticed?
Oh dear, Gu Yao is amazing. Even the alchemists of Cuiyan Valley secretly admired him.
In fact, there would have been more people coming out, but they were stopped by a steward responsible for menial tasks. There was a suspicion of losing face for Cuiyan Valley. They weren't secretly admiring Gu Yao for this kind of scrutiny, but rather wanted to see what the legendary genius alchemist from outside was like and what the difference was between him and them. Did he have an extra pair of eyes or two extra hands?
Well, it seems that there is not much difference between him and them. He is still a Four Spiritual Roots talent. How did he become a high-ranking Grade Nine alchemist at such a young age and advance to the ninth level of Qi Refinement? It's really unbelievable. Maybe he has some special bloodline or physique that is particularly suitable for alchemy.
Initially, the disciples of Cuiyan Valley were not convinced that a mediocre little cultivator was surpassing them. Because whenever someone mentioned him, they would say that he wasn't cultivated by Cuiyan Valley, but he was better than the disciples of Cuiyan Valley. Which disciple of Cuiyan Valley wouldn't be annoyed when they heard such comparisons? Did he want to step on them to rise to higher positions?
But later on, the Valley Master had lengthy conversations with Gu Yao for more than ten days and personally acknowledged Gu Yao's superb alchemy skills. Then there was the development of the Red Profound Pill, where the success rate and quality of the pills surpassed them by far. They had to admit their defeat with a humble heart and mouth.
The people outside looking for Gu Yao to refine pills have never made a mistake, and the pills they refine are mostly top-grade, with very few intermediate-grade pills. The gap is too big, so they don't have the intention to compete with him.
With a calm expression, Gu Yao walked into Hu Guzhu's private reception room under such gazes, completely unlike a teenager in his teens. He offered spiritual tea and fruit, and Hu Guzhu suppressed his excited feelings and waved at them, and the disciples immediately dispersed.
Now that they are far away, they don't know what Gu Yao and Hu Guzhu will communicate about, but that doesn't stop them from gossiping.
"Finally met him in person. I thought he would be an especially arrogant alchemist, just like Senior Sang and Senior Wan before."
"Why bother mentioning them? Back then, they looked down on us alchemists, but they never consider that they could also have accidents. Who can guarantee that they will always be the last ones standing? I think alchemists should be more like Gu Alchemist."
"No, what I mean is not all alchemists can be like Gu Alchemist. When facing Hu Guzhu, what is our situation? And what about Gu Alchemist?" They were nervous, anxious, and respectful towards Hu Guzhu, unlike Gu Alchemist, whose relationship with Hu Guzhu seems to be more equal. Of course, this doesn't mean that Gu Yao doesn't respect Hu Guzhu. They posted a message to meet them as soon as they had free time.
"You have a point."
In the reception room, Xiaopangzi, no, Hu Weicai, felt a little at a loss when faced with Hu Guzhu's gaze. When he saw his grandfather pointing at his face, he realized that it was his mask. He quickly reached out to remove the mask on his face. Gu Yao and the other two also saw it at the same time. Tian Fei wanted to exclaim but was pulled by Gu Yao into a room next to the reception room. Let the grandfather and grandson spend some time alone for now.
Hu Guzhu has already set up a prohibition to isolate themselves from the outside world. After Gu Yao and the others went next door, they also set up a prohibition layer and didn't go to listen.
Tian Feirong then let out a suppressed exclamation, "I didn't expect Xiao Pangzi to look like this. This... is too tender and cute, right?"
Gu Yao couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't expect it either. He never deliberately wanted to see Xiao Pangzi's true appearance. As long as it was still Xiao Pangzi himself, it was fine. At first glance, Gu Yao had an impulse to reach out and pinch Xiao Pangzi's cheeks. It really looked like a soft and fluffy bun, so white and tender, probably due to a lack of sunlight, making it even whiter.
Gu Yao really couldn't imagine that back then, Xiao Pangzi, with this face, was accused by his fellow disciples and that female cultivator of offending her. Didn't those people have any pity in their hearts? Didn't they feel like bullying a child?
Hu Guzhu wanted to pat his grandson's head, but he was worried that his grandson wouldn't like it. Thinking about how his grandson had suffered in Cui Yan Valley all these years because of his blind trust and partiality, he hesitated with his hand half-raised in the air.
Hu Weicai actually didn't mind anymore. He had already calmed down. When he looked back with a cold eye, he became even more aware of what kind of person his grandfather was. Those people just took advantage of his grandfather's character. And indeed, his talent was poor. Even if he had joined another power, his situation wouldn't have been much better. His original sin was having poor talent and a powerful background that made people jealous.
He heard Tian Feirong say that Gu Yao had also been greatly bullied in his original family and his situation was not much better than his. In the end, he was forced to leave the family under manipulation, and as a result, he exchanged for freedom with a token from Changxianmen. Thinking about this, he considered himself fortunate. At least, under his grandfather's watchful eyes, those people would let him live well.
Hu Weicai's eyes turned red, he walked closer and grabbed his grandfather's hand, saying, "Grandfather, it's the grandson's filial piety..."
"Nonsense, it's grandfather's fault. It caused you to suffer a lot and go through many hardships," Hu Guzhu interrupted his grandson's self-deprecating words. As a result, tears immediately welled up in Hu Weicai's eyes. Hu Guzhu, who was known as the first alchemist in Tianlin Continent, was actually flustered at this moment. He hurriedly wiped his grandson's tears and spoke in a comforting tone, "Don't cry, it's grandfather's fault..."