"Will there be another little one to play with in a few months?"
Zi Yan loved teasing little Xian Le (Yue) and was excited at the thought of having another child to play with all day.
"Zi Yan, my pregnancy is different from a human's. It will take three to five years before I give birth!"
Seeing Zi Yan's excitement, Queen Medusa responded with a smile.
"What? It takes that long to have a baby?"
Hearing this, the excitement faded from Zi Yan's face.
"You two take good care of Cai'er. I'll go refine some nourishing pills for her."
"Get me some too!" Zi Yan blinked her big eyes, a hopeful look in them.
"That depends on how well you behave…"
"Okay, I'll be on my best behavior!"
After giving his instructions, Gu Fei left the mountain peak, went to a herb storehouse to gather a large quantity of medicinal herbs, and then returned to the peak to begin refining pills.
A cauldron appeared and a pile of herbs emerged from his storage ring.
Immediately, Gu Fei summoned his heavenly flame and began heating the cauldron.
Although it was Gu Fei's first time refining the Dragon Soul Sacred Blood Pill, he handled it with ease, quickly throwing two eighth-rank demon cores containing dragon bloodline into the cauldron.
The demon cores were instantly heated to a red glow by the flame.
Next, Gu Fei tossed several bottles of potent blood into the cauldron.
...
When the pill was completed, a seven-colored pill thunder descended from the sky. A pill that had undergone seven-colored pill thunder far surpassed the effects of the Heaven Soul Blood Bone Pill, the top-secret method passed down among the Snake-people.
"Seven-colored pill thunder… Gu Fei's pill-refining skills have advanced again. Do you think the people from the Yao Clan might start eyeing him like the Yan Clan, trying to marry their daughters to him?"
"It's possible. Gu Fei's talent in pill refining is abnormal even among their geniuses…"
As the seven-colored pill thunder appeared, several Dou Saint elders from the Gu Clan gazed from afar, their conversation filled with praise for Gu Fei.
Seventh-grade pills and lower eighth-grade pills wouldn't impress these Dou Saints, but a pill that attracted seven-colored pill thunder was something they took seriously.
Gu Fei was only twenty years old, yet he could already summon seven-colored pill thunder, giving him a high probability of reaching the rank of a ninth-grade alchemist in the future.
Ninth-grade pills were coveted even by many Dou Saint experts.
Aside from someone like Gu Yuan, who had already reached the pinnacle of power with no further room for improvement, all other Dou Saints would eagerly seek such pills. (TL/n: I don't think so, he's yet to reach Ban Di which is the Half-God stage. )
"You have an extraordinary grandson."
In a grand hall, Gu Yuan smiled as he spoke to Gu Lie, who was beside him.
Gu Lie didn't hide his smile either. Who wouldn't be proud of having such an outstanding grandson?
(TL/n: Again, who's the father?? Author, I feel like we're missing critical exposition here!)
"In the future, we must maintain a good relationship with Gu Fei. We may need his help with pill refining one day."
"Indeed, a ninth-grade alchemist is incredibly important to our Gu Clan."
Alchemists always held a special status, even within the Gu Clan.
The elders of the Gu Clan all expressed their opinions, beginning to take this young man, who was nearing the rank of a ninth-grade alchemist, more seriously.
...
"Cai'er, take this pill!"
On the mountain peak, Gu Fei had just finished refining the Dragon Soul Sacred Blood Pill and handed it to Medusa.
Although the pill had mild properties, it was still an eighth-grade pill with potent effects.
Absorbing it wouldn't be easy.
Thus, Cai Lin immediately went into seclusion.
While Gu Fei was in seclusion refining pills, Zi Yan took excellent care of Cai Lin, and she was rewarded with the candy pills she wanted.
Little Xian Yue was now six months old, and with Xiao Yi Xian's help, she was learning to walk and even beginning to babble.
Several months later, Cai Lin emerged from seclusion, a faint aura of blood surrounding her. It was clear that she had successfully absorbed the Dragon Soul Sacred Blood Pill.
Pregnant women are often more emotional, and Cai Lin was no exception.
After coming out of seclusion, Cai Lin frequently stared at her belly, lost in thought.
Xiao Yi Xian was the first to notice Queen Medusa's unusual behavior and asked, "Cai Lin, you've seemed a bit distracted lately. Is something on your mind?"
"It's nothing really… I just… miss the Snake-People Tribe. After all, I'm the Queen, and it's been a long time since I returned. I wonder how my people are doing."
She was concerned for her people, having been away for so long, and worried about their condition.
Mentioning the Snake-People reminded Xiao Yi Xian of the Jia Ma Empire: "Actually, I'd also like to visit that little valley where it all began."
That small valley was where she and Gu Fei had met and where they had formed a deep bond.
She wanted to take little Xian Le to see the valley and remember that place.
"I wonder how the Desert Metal Mercenary Company is doing now…" Qing Lin added softly.
"Why don't we all go back and have a look? We don't have much going on right now anyway."
Seeing their homesickness, Gu Fei supported the idea of taking them back for a visit.
Hearing this, Zi Yan jumped up and said, "I'll also go back to Jia Nan Academy to show the old man my strength now!"
The old man Zi Yan referred to was naturally the First Elder of the Inner Academy, Su Qian.
"Lately, I've been worried about my child too. I wonder if he's successfully absorbed the Amethyst Lion Birth Essence. I might as well go check."
The Lion King had his own plans as well.
Gu Fei looked at the last person who hadn't spoken, the Sky Fire Venerable (Yao Tian Huo).
"If you're all leaving, what am I, an old man, supposed to do here alone? Of course, I'm coming with you."
After discussing their plans, everyone agreed to return to the Jia Ma Empire together.
When leaving, Gu Fei remained very low-key and didn't inform his clan of his whereabouts.
They successfully left the Gu Realm, traveling through the spatial passageway just as they had when they arrived.
The environment inside the spatial passageway was as dark and desolate as ever, but fortunately, they were used to it.
It was little Xian Le's first time in a spatial passageway, but with Gu Fei protecting her, she felt no discomfort.
As they approached the Jia Ma Empire, everyone felt increasingly anxious and excited.
...
Jia Ma Empire, Misty Cloud Sect.
Deep within Misty Cloud Sect, in a secluded hall, soft candlelight flickered in the breeze, casting a gentle glow that dispelled the cold within the hall.
The vast hall was empty, except for a lone figure in a white dress sitting in the center, bringing a touch of life to the otherwise desolate space.
Yun Yun sat cross-legged on a mat, her noble and beautiful face filled with an unusual anger.
Earlier, her master, Yun Shan, had spoken words that left her body cold as ice.
"Yun'er, prepare yourself. I will arrange a wedding for you."
"A wedding? With whom?"
"The only person in the entire Jia Ma Empire worthy of you is that boy, Gu He."
"You want me to marry Gu He?"
"Of course."
"I refuse!"
"Then stay here until you've thought it through!"
That was the conversation between Yun Shan and Yun Yun, simple and direct, with no trace of affection.
Recalling the words spoken by her master, Yun Yun felt an even deeper chill in her heart. The Yun Shan she once knew, the kind and caring teacher, seemed to have disappeared entirely.
In the past, Yun Shan had always been kind and protective of her. It was under his careful guidance that she became a Dou Emperor and successfully took over as the Sect Leader.
But now?
Yun Shan seemed devoid of any warmth or emotion. He was like a cold, wooden puppet, and the love he once had for her had vanished, replaced only by cold manipulation.
It was unbelievable!
What had happened during Yun Shan's advancement to Dou Ancestor?
What had caused him to change so drastically?
And those elders who suddenly advanced to Dou Emperor, why had their strength increased so quickly?
The entire Sect seemed shrouded in a mysterious gloom, one that Yun Yun couldn't dispel.
"Do I really have to marry Gu He?"
Yun Yun slowly raised her hand.
Her Dou Qi was unable to circulate within her body because Yun Shan had sealed it before leaving.
Because she refused to marry Gu He and defied Yun Shan, he sealed her Dou Qi in anger and confined her to this place.
The room was also sealed by Yun Shan, making it impossible for her to leave.
In moments of helplessness, people often think of the one they most wish to rely on.
At that moment, Yun Yun's mind conjured the image of a tall, young figure.
"Where are you?"
A sense of regret accompanied the image of this figure.
The person she longed for was none other than Gu Fei.
In the past, she had given up pursuing a happy life to stay with Misty Cloud Sect.
She was the Sect Leader, determined to lead the sect down the right path, to make it revered and respected, and to take it to new heights.
But now?
Yun Lan Sect had become something unrecognizable.
If she could do it all over again, Yun Yun would not hesitate to resign from her position as Sect Leader and follow Gu Fei instead.