Lu Zaiye walked out of the Ascending Tower, ignoring the constant ringing of the communication disk at his waist.
Only after returning to courtyard number forty-four did he open the communication disk. Elder Qingfeng’s resonant voice immediately emanated from within.
“Lu Zaiye, is it convenient to speak now?”
“What is it?”
Lu Zaiye replied indifferently, a faint gleam flashing in his eyes.
“Cough, speaking of which, this matter is somewhat related to you. There is a girl named Nalan Yan in Kunlun Academy, do you know her?”
Lu Zaiye understood.
Ever since Nalan Yan’s battle with Wanyan Xue, he knew someone would eventually come looking for him.
“Did Nalan Jiade come to ask for a favor?”
“That’s right, that old fellow used to ignore us, but now he’s finally willing to back down.”
Elder Qingfeng of the Xuanji Sect was in high spirits, his face beaming.
The Nalan family, as the largest hidden family on the Nine Provinces Continent, although not widely known, was not to be trifled with due to their two Great Ascension ancestors.
However, the Nalan family was proud and refused to associate with any sect, not even giving face to the Five Great Sects. Now that they were finally seeking them out, how could Elder Qingfeng not feel pleased?
After Elder Qingfeng finished speaking, seeing Lu Zaiye’s prolonged silence, he continued, “Nalan Jiade initially wanted a Spirit Replenishing Great Return Pill, but that pill was already used on our Ancestor. So, he changed his request to a Vitality Cultivation and Creation Pill.”
True Master Shangyuan of the Xuanji Sect was one of the few eighth-rank alchemists on the Nine Provinces Continent. Both the Spirit Replenishing Great Return Pill and the Vitality Cultivation and Creation Pill were his creations.
However, the higher the grade of the pill, the more difficult it was to refine. It required perfect timing, favorable conditions, and precious ingredients. Even the Xuanji Sect did not have excess stock.
“What does he intend to exchange for it?”
“Nalan Yan’s condition seems extremely critical. Nalan Jiade is really willing to pay a high price this time, with over ten types of eighth-grade spirit herbs, nearly a hundred types of seventh-grade spirit herbs, and more importantly, he owes our Xuanji Sect a favor.”
From Elder Qingfeng’s voice alone, one could tell how delighted he was at the moment.
Lu Zaiye pondered for a moment, “The Vitality Cultivation and Creation Pill is unavailable…”
“Ah? Why?” Elder Qingfeng exclaimed in shock. “Although the Vitality Cultivation and Creation Pill is rare, the Xuanji Sect has other spiritual items with similar effects that can be used as substitutes. If we miss this opportunity, not only will we not get the favor of the Nalan family, but we might even incur their resentment. This is too disadvantageous.”
“Listen to me. The Vitality Cultivation and Creation Pill will not be given, but I have something that is more suitable for Nalan Yan than the Vitality Cultivation and Creation Pill.”
Lu Zaiye’s eyes were deep. “Tell Nalan Jiade that if he is willing to represent the Nalan family in establishing an alliance contract with the Xuanji Sect, I have a petal of the Nine Revolutions Golden Lotus he can have.”
The Nine Revolutions Golden Lotus could help Nalan Yan reshape her physical body, a more miraculous treasure than the Vitality Cultivation and Creation Pill, but in return, the Nalan family would have to pay a greater price.
“Nine Revolutions Golden Lotus!”
Elder Qingfeng cried out in surprise.
Even he did not know that Lu Zaiye possessed such a treasure.
“Do you want to reconsider?”
Elder Qingfeng hesitated instead. In his opinion, the Nine Revolutions Golden Lotus was more important than the friendship of the Nalan family.
“No, I have my own plans.”
Lu Zaiye made this decision after careful consideration and would not be swayed by Elder Qingfeng’s words.
He believed that the ultimate outcome of this decision would far exceed the value of the Nine Revolutions Golden Lotus.
“Yes.” After Elder Qingfeng agreed, he muttered, “Nalan Jiade will definitely agree. It’s really cheap for him.”
After hanging up Lu Zaiye’s communication, Elder Qingfeng immediately relayed the message to Nalan Jiade. As expected, Nalan Jiade agreed in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Upon learning that the Nine Revolutions Golden Lotus was within Kunlun Academy, Nalan Jiade invited an elder who was in seclusion within the family to temporarily manage family affairs and rushed to Kunlun Academy with Nalan Hen Zhu.
…
Within Kunlun Academy.
As Yu Chun Dao went to visit Nalan Yan, Liu Yin Xiao, who was left alone, listlessly passed by the stone tablet and was then drawn to a scene completely different from usual.
“It’s not yet the end of the ranking period, why are so many people gathered here today?”
Liu Yin Xiao turned and walked towards the stone tablet. Before he even got close, discussions reached his ears.
“This is too terrifying!”
“Yes, how are we supposed to live now!”
“My heavens, I really wish this person cheated!”
“…”
The air filled with resentment only intensified Liu Yin Xiao’s interest.
He really wanted to see who had incurred the general indignation.
He eagerly scanned the stone tablet. After just a few lines, he froze.
Sixth place, Xu Yi, 368 merit points.
Liu Yin Xiao worried he had misread and even looked a few more times.
It was indeed sixth place!
My Ancestor, you are too formidable!
Liu Yin Xiao finally understood what these people were looking at.
They were looking at a monster.
Who would have thought that a new disciple who had just entered Kunlun Academy would be in the top ten in the first month?
Although this achievement was not the final ranking, it was enough to demonstrate Xu Yi’s strength.
Liu Yin Xiao stood under the stone tablet for a while, and his excited emotions slowly cooled.
Although he didn’t know how his Ancestor obtained nearly four hundred merit points, he figured she must have cleared the most important towers. It would be difficult to achieve significant increases in merit points from the remaining ones.
Later, as other disciples exerted themselves, his Ancestor’s ranking would eventually drop.
He shook his head and was about to leave when he heard a disciple beside him say sourly, “Xu Yi hasn’t come out of the Endless Trial yet. If she goes to the Ascending Tower, her ranking might even surpass Yue Hantian and Xue Qi.”
Yue Hantian and Xue Qi were currently ranked first and second, and were recognized as the strongest in Kunlun Academy. The first place on the monthly leaderboard was always decided between the two.
Their strength had already reached the peak of the Soul Division stage. It was said that they could break through to the Body Integration stage at any time.
However, Kunlun Academy’s regulations stipulated that once cultivation reached the Body Integration stage, one must leave Kunlun Academy. Therefore, the two had been suppressing their cultivation and not breaking through.
And there were many others who did the same.
After all, the things learned in Kunlun Academy could not be learned outside, especially mystical existences like the Time Realm, which were hard to give up.
Liu Yin Xiao, who was already planning to leave, was stunned on the spot.
He reached out and grabbed the disciple beside him, “You said Xu Yi hasn’t gone to the Ascending Tower yet?”
“Who the hell… Liu, Teacher Liu?”
The disciple whose arm was grabbed was about to get angry, but upon seeing Liu Yin Xiao, his expression immediately changed.
“Answer my question earlier,” Liu Yin Xiao urged, frowning.
“What were you asking me just now?” After the disciple blurted out this sentence, he immediately corrected himself, “Oh, oh, you were talking about Xu Yi. She hasn’t come out of the Endless Trial yet. Many disciples are already waiting at the entrance of the Endless Trial, preparing to see who this divine person is.”
After hearing his words, Liu Yin Xiao turned and headed towards the Endless Trial without another word.