125 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

Chapter 125 - The Rampaging Dragon Maiden Returning to the Chenghuang Temple, Bai Fan looked at the mortals entering for prayer and gently pinched the jade talisman in her pocket. As she turned to head into the courtyard, she immediately noticed Hui Haozi standing there, looking up at the old pagoda tree overhead. He turned only when he sensed Bai Fan, pinching his mustache with two fingers, seemingly awaiting her. Upon seeing him, Bai Fan called out, "Senior." "You're back," Hui Haozi replied calmly, to which Bai Fan responded, "Yes." He then asked, "What did you think of the Dan Appraisal Conference?" "I learned a lot. Thank you for your guidance, Senior." Hui Haozi nodded, then turned to lie down on a bamboo chair under the pagoda tree, taking a teacup in hand, gently blowing on the lid before sipping. After taking a sip, Bai Fan watched the scene, inhaling deeply before speaking, "Senior, I participated in the Dan Appraisal Conference." Hui Haozi nodded, continuing to enjoy his tea. "I won first place." Hui Haozi almost choked on his tea, startled by her sudden announcement. Turning to her with surprise, he asked again, "What did you say?" Bai Fan repeated, "I won first place at the Dan Appraisal Conference." Hui Haozi was stunned for a long while before setting down his tea and walking over to closely observe her. "What did you, little dragon, do?" Sighing, Bai Fan recounted her competition experience in detail, omitting her previous pill formulation success rates. The process was arduous, and hearing it, Hui Haozi was both shocked and delighted, finally giving her a hearty slap on the back, exclaiming, "Truly worthy of being taught by me, achieving such a feat on your first try." Bai Fan could only respond with an awkward smile, thinking to herself that her success was due to her innate talent in alchemy, and not his incomplete teaching methods. He hadn’t even finished teaching her when he sent her out alone to figure it out herself, and now he was claiming credit. However, she genuinely owed him for his help; otherwise, she wouldn't have discovered her immense potential in alchemy. "In fact, I wanted to discuss another matter with you, Senior." "What is it?" "Having taken first place, the Heavenly Alliance now invites me to join. However much I refuse seems to be in vain, and their offer is quite tempting." Hearing this, Hui Haozi's expression slightly changed. "Have they discovered your true identity?" "No," Bai Fan shook her head, deliberating for a while before showing him the bracelet on her hand. "This bracelet conceals my demon form. As long as I don't reveal my true shape, no one can discern my real identity." Hui Haozi was already aware of her advanced concealment techniques, unable to see through it himself until she revealed her true form. "What do they want you to do?" "It seems to be related to alchemy." Hearing that, Hui Haozi shook his head; the Heavenly Alliance wouldn't lack alchemists. But their operations are always shrouded in secrecy, and as an outlier, he couldn’t piece together any details. "Since you have a means to hide your identity, you should go. After all, soon I must enter seclusion, and by the time I emerge, I may have reached the divine transformation stage." Hearing this, Bai Fan felt a twinge of envy, as she was still struggling in the Golden Core stage while Hui Haozi was progressing towards a divine state. After speaking, Hui Haozi considered further and said, "The ones pursuing you have formidable cultivation. Once I’m in seclusion, you'll lack protection. Your best option is to join the Heavenly Alliance. If they ever expel you, return here to the temple and seek out the yellow-skinned one; he knows my whereabouts." His intentions weren't entirely altruistic, as taking the Heaven Piercing Seal wrongfully placed blame on Bai Fan, leaving him feeling guilty. Now that she had another destination, it was for the best. Bai Fan hadn't expected this level of kindness from Hui Haozi, knowing that as a cultivator advances, promises become binding. Failing to fulfill them deepens karmic ties upon ascension. "Thank you, Senior," Bai Fan expressed her gratitude. Waving it off, Hui Haozi closed his eyes again. With her doubts eased, Bai Fan departed from the Chenghuang Temple. She considered using the jade talisman at first but thought her current attire unsuitable. Changing into men's clothing and replacing her headscarf with a jade band, she appeared like an elegant young scholar, her eyes bright and face flawless. Drawing a green flute, she twirled it skillfully in her hand, reminiscing the guise of a carefree gentleman. "Perhaps the inspector would recognize me now." With that, she reached for the jade talisman, channeling her spiritual energy into it. The talisman transformed into a teleportation array, a flash of light shooting into the sky, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone. Teleportation hadn't taken place for a long time; now experiencing it again, Bai Fan felt the sensation of crossing space. Previously dizzying, she now detected a unique power within. Although brief, she grasped a feeling akin to her previous encounters with the Dao, yet distinct from the Time Dao. When her feet touched solid ground again, Bai Fan was amazed by the scene before her. Enveloped in clouds and mist, real yet fantasy-like, a pure white palace resembling the celestial realm unfolded, beneath a clear blue sky with numerous palaces suspended in the firmament, more majestic than the celestial city. Standing on a teleportation platform, two guards approached, asking, "Who are you here to see?" "I was summoned by the inspector. Please look at this jade token." Presenting the jade token for inspection, the guards scanned her with glowing blue eyes before allowing her to proceed. "Please wait here; we’ve sent word. Someone will come to fetch you soon." "Thank you." Leaving the platform and walking on the jade stone path, Bai Fan felt enveloped in the rich spiritual energy, soothing her thoroughly—a sensation unmatched elsewhere. Though the Eastern Continent was abundant, it came with impurities, and here, everything felt purified, evoking a desire to linger eternally. Absorbed in the spiritual energy, a young boy approached, piloting a jade ship, landing softly before her, resembling a child from a new year's painting. "Are you Master Bai the Alchemist?" Bai Fan nodded, though the boy furrowed his brows at her attire, recalling the inspector mentioning a female visitor. "Are you a female cultivator?" Surprised, Bai Fan confirmed with a nod. "That’s correct; I feared I had mistaken. Master Bai, please follow me." Boarding the jade ship, they swiftly flew toward a distant pavilion. Once landed, the young attendant instructed, "Please wait here while I announce your arrival inside." Nodding, Bai Fan stood alone outside, examining her surroundings. The architecture radiated an ancient aura, with carvings of mythical beasts on the railings, most of which she didn’t recognize. The young boy returned, accompanied by a young girl with two small horns tied in her hair, eyes round like a fawn, tender and cute, akin to matching figurines. "Master Bai, please follow us inside." Entering, the main hall appeared vast and empty, save for a massive pill furnace burning intensely, its flames not ordinary green fire, and the wood fueling it even more extraordinary. As Bai Fan observed the furnace, voices echoed from inside, gentle yet even more subdued than those of He Yiman. "You are Bai Fan." "Yes," Bai Fan replied, looking up toward the figure in the hall. Reclining on a seat was a woman veiled in light gauze, with a glance and a smile so enchanting that it could stir anyone's heart. Bai Fan had once thought her own appearance was unparalleled. Yet, upon seeing this woman, Bai Fan realized her own limited understanding of beauty. The woman resembled a celestial maiden from a mural, her delicate drapery seemingly embodying compassion for all beings. Her gaze met Bai Fan's with no hint of emotion. This sobered Bai Fan considerably. Despite the woman's ethereal beauty, something about her seemed familiar, and Bai Fan felt she had encountered her before. Rummaging through her memories, Bai Fan recalled a night at Qingxu Sect, in a pavilion, where she had seen someone similar. But how could it be her? Wasn't she an upper sect disciple before? How did she end up in the Heavenly Alliance? "The inspector said he found me an assistant. It appears that assistant is you," the woman remarked. Bai Fan paused, surprised. She was summoned as an assistant? Could this woman also be an alchemist? The woman slowly descended from her seat, the gauze trailing elegantly behind her. With a swift motion, she appeared right in front of Bai Fan. "Why aren't you dressed in feminine clothes?" she asked, her eyes taking in Bai Fan's men's attire with a look of impatience. Bai Fan, puzzled, wondered if the woman disliked men's clothing. Before Bai Fan could inquire further, the woman flicked her sleeve, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the air. Instantly, Bai Fan's men's attire transformed into a flowing white gauze dress. "Uh..." Bai Fan murmured. The woman scrutinized Bai Fan, finally satisfied. Only then did she introduce herself. "I am Guan Shan, an alchemist of the Heavenly Alliance and the master of this alchemy chamber. I dislike men, so you are not to wear men's clothes in my presence. Apart from the two attendants, there's no one else in this palace. I've been the sole alchemist supplying the whole Heavenly Alliance, but with the ongoing war in the Southern Continent, many officials have been dispatched, and the demand for elixirs has surged. You will now assist me in crafting them."