Tension and unease filled Chen Nan's heart.
After all, the person before him was a being at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining.
If such a powerful expert wanted to kill him, he would have no chance of survival.
Even if Elder Wu had given him a teleportation talisman.
He was confident he would be instantly killed by Nangong He before he could even retrieve it!
"Disciple Ye Ce, greets the Sect Master!" He forced down his inner anxiety and bowed to the other party.
The killing intent in Nangong He's eyes gradually faded, and he spoke with a cold voice, "What happened today must not be leaked. If anyone violates this, they die!"
In fact, even if Nangong He hadn't said it, no one would have revealed what happened today.
After all, having an alchemist could enhance the strength of Fire Cloud Cave.
If other forces learned that someone in Fire Cloud Cave could refine Foundation Establishment Pills, they would definitely pay a high price to poach Chen Nan.
"Ye Ce, come to my cave dwelling!"
Nangong He left these words and then soared towards the mountain.
Above was a cave dwelling, which was Nangong He's cultivation place.
"Father wants you to go over. Hurry up. He's very easy to talk to," Nangong Wan said with a smile.
Chen Nan felt like crying without tears.
Your father is probably not as kind-faced as you imagine!
Despite this, he still headed towards Nangong He's cave dwelling.
Even though Nangong He had shown killing intent towards him before, the fact that he hadn't acted directly meant there was still room for negotiation.
Nangong He's cultivation place was very simple.
It was an artificially excavated stone cave, containing nothing more than a stone bed and some daily necessities.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
Chen Nan bowed to Nangong He, who sat cross-legged, exuding an imposing aura.
Nangong He's eyes were not large but were piercingly sharp. "What should I call you? Ye Ce? Or Chen Nan?"
As soon as he said this.
Chen Nan's scalp tingled, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
He felt a sense of suffocation.
He had absolutely no idea how Nangong He knew his true identity!
An intense unease instantly enveloped him!
Pressure!
Chen Nan felt a pressure he had never experienced before!
Since Nangong He knew he was Chen Nan.
Did he also know he possessed a spiritual artifact?
After the initial tension, he calmed down.
Facing such a super expert, concealment was meaningless.
After all, the other party already knew his true identity.
It was better to be straightforward.
He reverted to his original appearance, with a handsome face, a distinguished demeanor, and extraordinary handsomeness.
Nangong He's heart was stirred for a long time.
He thought Ye Ce was already handsome!
But he never expected Chen Nan's true form to be even more handsome and dashing than Ye Ce!
This was simply a peerless beauty!
"May I be so bold as to ask, how did Senior know my identity?" Chen Nan cupped his hands, neither servile nor overbearing.
Nangong He: "I guessed!"
Chen Nan shook his head. "That reason is not very convincing!"
Nangong He sneered. "Your courage is quite impressive, daring to say such things to my face."
Chen Nan gave a wry smile. "What else? Kneel before you and beg for mercy? No, no, no, that's not it. If you wanted to kill me, you wouldn't have spoken so much to me."
"Even if you truly wanted to kill me, would groveling change your original intention?"
"An expert like you should detest those who grovel, right?"
Nangong He said indifferently, "Your disguise technique is indeed exquisite, but you cannot hide your cultivation at the early stage of the fifth level of Qi Refining."
"The moment you set foot in Fire Cloud Cave, I knew you were no ordinary person."
"I've been observing you!"
"Senior has already entered the Foundation Establishment stage?" Chen Nan's scalp tingled.
The cultivation techniques of the Witch Sect could conceal one's cultivation.
Unless one surpassed the Qi Refining stage, no one could secretly perceive his true cultivation.
Nangong He retorted, "Otherwise?"
"You've been hiding your true power remarkably well!"
Chen Nan felt no resentment in his defeat.
Since he had already successfully established his foundation, how could he not discover him?
"I don't know why you infiltrated my Fire Cloud Cave, so I could only monitor you from the shadows."
"When I discovered you had swapped the Minor Restoration Pills and Blood Toad Pills, I knew you must have come for Jiang Ye."
"The facts proved that all of this was within my expectations."
Chen Nan hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Then why didn't Senior kill me?"
Nangong He countered, "Why should I kill you? Just because you wanted to harm Jiang Ye?"
"Although Jiang Ye is a disciple of Fire Cloud Cave, does he have Fire Cloud Cave in his heart?"
"You should know this better than I do, shouldn't you?" As he said this, an unconcealable killing intent flashed in his eyes!
Chen Nan nodded. "Every man for himself."
"Jiang Ye wanted to seize my spiritual artifact and keep it for himself. This is understandable."
"However, he intended to inform the Qingyou Tea House after his death... Rather than benefiting Fire Cloud Cave, he would rather benefit others. This kind of behavior is truly disloyal!"
Chen Nan wasn't curious how Nangong He knew all this.
If he had been secretly monitoring him all along, he would have surely guessed the truth from the conversation between him and Jiang Ye.
For example, why he concealed his cultivation and infiltrated Fire Cloud Cave!
He felt so dejected!
He thought his acting skills had reached the level of an award-winning actor.
But in the end, he was like a clown.
"Your talent is indeed strong, especially in alchemy."
"If I'm not mistaken, this is your first time refining Body Tempering Pills and Foundation Establishment Pills, right?"
Nangong He suddenly asked.
"Yes!"
Nangong He nodded slightly and then said, "Hand over that spiritual artifact alchemical furnace!"
A hint of bitterness welled up in Chen Nan's heart.
Although unwilling.
He still conjured the Sky Burning Furnace, broke the blood contract, and handed it over.
Nangong He examined the furnace in his hand as if it were a treasure, his joy undisguised. "I thought you would be very reluctant."
"Even if I were reluctant, what then? Let alone this spiritual artifact, even a celestial artifact, I would have no luck enjoying it!" Fame and fortune are fleeting, and so are spiritual artifacts.
Compared to his life, they were worth nothing.
Nangong He said, "If this spiritual artifact were given to Wan'er, she should also be able to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, and her future achievements would not be too low!"
"However, a man's wealth is his own ruin, I understand this principle."
With that, he casually waved his hand.
The Sky Burning Furnace flew back to Chen Nan's shock.
"What does Senior mean by this?" Chen Nan was full of astonishment.
Nangong He said faintly, "Spiritual artifacts have spirits. Although I don't know why it fell into your hands, this is your serendipity! My Nangong lineage despises the act of plundering others' serendipity the most!"
"Moreover, this alchemical furnace shines brightly in your hands, so it is not a disgrace to this spiritual artifact!"
"Senior's noble character is admirable. I offer you a bow!"
Chen Nan bowed.
This bow came from the bottom of his heart!
After all, the cultivation world was a place where the strong preyed on the weak, and a spiritual artifact could completely change the destiny of a sect.
Nangong He's actions earned Chen Nan's respect.
Nangong He changed the subject and became benevolent. "Alright, let's talk about you and Wan'er. When do you plan to get married?"