480 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama

In a sudden turn of events within the small secret realm, news spread rapidly: Bai Li Ming had been spotted. Not only had he appeared, but he had done so openly, with his recently recovered daughter by his side. They boldly made a home for themselves at the very center of the realm—constructing a wooden cabin. Furthermore, Bai Li Ming issued a proclamation: anyone who brought concrete and effective information regarding the life-and-death herb would be rewarded with a celestial-grade pill upon verification of its authenticity. Indeed, it wasn’t a mere mystic or earthly-grade pill, but a celestial one. This announcement sent shockwaves through the community. Celestial-grade pills were notoriously difficult to refine, often requiring a multitude of materials and the caution of accepting potential complete loss. And one couldn’t dare blame the alchemist if things went awry—such an alchemist’s connections could be vast and influential, making it foolhardy to offend one. Yet, here was the Bai Li family, seemingly willing to exchange information about the life-and-death herb for celestial-grade pills. Did that imply they had a celestial alchemist in their service? And would this alchemist agree to Bai Li Ming’s terms? Curiosity piqued, the majority of those within the secret realm gathered at its center to witness the truth behind Bai Li's audacious claim. Soon, the area around the wooden cabin was swarming with people. Emperor Lian Yun, observing the massive crowd, couldn’t help but marvel, “It seems every cultivator in the secret realm is here!” Ye Linglong glanced over, satisfaction evident on her face, and she remarked with a smile, “That’s exactly the result we want. Gathering everyone here is the quickest way to uncover the whereabouts of the life-and-death herb.” “But doesn’t this mean Fu Changming will also show up? Even suppressed to a Sovereign Immortal’s level, his power is still formidable,” Bai Li Ming expressed his concerns. Ye Linglong glanced towards Long Shuo, a slight smile playing on her lips, “No worries. If his power is suppressed here to only a Sovereign Immortal, do we really have anything to fear?” Indeed, not to mention Long Shuo's formidable dragon physique, but coupled with the power of spatial laws, even if he faced Fu Changming alone, he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage. With her father’s help, the odds were firmly in their favor. As they chatted casually, a sudden commotion outside caught their attention—it was the arrival of the Fu family, led by none other than Fu Changming himself. His face was inscrutable, betraying no hint of joy or anger, making it impossible to gauge his thoughts. “The Bai family boy, if you’re not dead, come out quickly. This crowd is all here for you,” Fu Changming’s voice rang out. Ye Linglong’s lips curled into a subtle smile. “The show is about to begin~” she said, stepping out confidently, with the others following her lead. The crowd outside watched as the first person emerged from the wooden cabin. Expecting Bai Li Ming, they were taken aback to see an extraordinarily beautiful woman instead. Some recognized her as Ye Linglong—after all, the incident when Bai Li Ming found his daughter had been quite the uproar. But now, seeing this freshly reunited daughter walk out at the forefront, seemingly taking charge, left the crowd in astonishment. Fu Changming’s eyes narrowed sharply at the sight of Ye Linglong. His gaze shifted to her right hand as if searching for something, but he found nothing there. “Bai family boy, making such bold claims without consequence is reckless. Using celestial-grade pills as a reward—can you truly back that up?” Fu Changming directed his challenge towards Bai Li Ming. Everyone else also turned to Bai Li Ming, curious to hear his response. After all, we’re talking celestial-grade pills here. Before Bai Li Ming could respond, Ye Linglong intervened, “It’s absolutely true. An oath is sacred; if you find the life-and-death herb’s whereabouts, we will honor our promise with celestial-grade pills.” “How interesting. Since when does the Bai family allow a young girl to speak out of turn? Elders speak, children should hold their tongues!” Fu Changming retorted, dismissing her lack of seniority. “That’s right! The patriarch speaks the truth. Why should a young girl interject? And who’s to say the pills exist at all? What if they renege on the promise after getting the information?” a member of the Fu family shouted from behind him. The crowd nodded in agreement; after all, who’s to guarantee that after delivering the information, the promised pills would truly be given? Ye Linglong remained unruffled, exuding an air of calm confidence. “Whether I can speak for the Bai family doesn’t matter. What matters is that I can speak for your pills.” As people still processed the meaning behind her words, Ye Linglong casually waved her hand, and a colossal alchemical furnace appeared before them. This wasn’t any ordinary artifact; it left the onlookers puzzled about the spectacle unfolding. Long Shuo and Feng Li stood guard on either side of the furnace, preventing anyone from approaching. At this crucial moment, everyone’s focus was riveted on the magnificent furnace, scarcely noticing that Emperor Lian Yun and others stood aligned with Bai Li Ming. Curiosity piqued, the crowd watched as Ye Linglong tossed the Heart of the Ice Phoenix into the furnace. The ice-blue flames ignited, and the surrounding temperature noticeably dropped. With practiced ease, Ye Linglong began throwing celestial herbs into the furnace, one after another. To the untrained eye, it appeared haphazard, yet connoisseurs detected an intricate and flawless alchemical technique. Gradually, a faint fragrance wafted through the air as more celestial herbs entered the furnace. Before long, tribulation clouds began forming in the sky. Ye Linglong swiftly struck the furnace, propelling five pills into the air. Lightning tribulation followed swiftly, engulfing the pills within its furious embrace. Everyone held their breath—the appearance of a pill tribulation solidified the truth that Bai Li Ming’s daughter was a celestial-grade alchemist. Even if today’s pill tribulation wasn’t successful, the crowd was now convinced the Bai family could deliver on their promise. The presence of a celestial alchemist ensured access to celestial pills. As the thunderous storms abated, the sky glowed with a serene light, and a golden drizzle showered down like a blessing. A single thought unified the hearts of all: The celestial-grade pills! Success! Producing a jade box from her spatial repository, Ye Linglong elegantly gestured, and the five perfectly formed pills were collected into the box. “Now, I wonder, do I have the right to speak?” Ye Linglong inquired, her gaze sweeping the assembly as she lightly held the jade box, her tone carrying the serene authority of one assured of her position.