An extremely powerful aura was rapidly approaching.
Chen Xiao could feel it, and Yang Potian clearly could too.
He frowned, looking towards the powerful aura.
The aura came from the mountains, moving with incredible speed.
Whoosh—
A white light streaked through the air.
As the white light stopped, everyone realized that it was a person.
It was an old man with white hair and beard, wearing white robes and white shoes.
Upon seeing him, Zhu Xiao'e was overjoyed and shouted, "Grandpa!"
Zhu Xuanqing lowered his head in shame and called out, "Father!"
The other three Golden Core experts addressed him as Master.
Chu Luo respectfully called him Grandpa Zhu.
Chen Xiao smiled faintly. This was getting interesting. This old man was at least a Nascent Soul cultivator, his aura even more potent than Tu Junhou's.
However, upon closer inspection, Chen Xiao suddenly noticed something amiss...
The white-robed old man nodded slightly, acknowledging everyone.
Then, his gaze fell upon Yang Potian, his eyes filled with a calm indifference.
Yang Potian was also sizing up the white-robed old man. He didn't act rashly, as he sensed extreme danger emanating from the elder.
He had assumed the four Golden Core experts were the final trump card of the Medicine King Valley, but he hadn't expected such a formidable individual to be hidden here!
"So, a Divine Realm martial artist. No wonder you dared to trespass into my Medicine King Valley. It's been over thirty years since I last encountered a Divine Realm martial artist."
The white-robed old man spoke calmly.
He didn't show Yang Potian any particular respect for being a Divine Realm martial artist, nor did he display any contempt in his words.
"Elder, may I have your esteemed name?"
Yang Potian cupped his fist, retracting his killing intent.
"I am Zhu Hanshan, a nobody. It's not worth mentioning."
The old man stated his name, neither humble nor arrogant.
Yang Potian had indeed never heard his name, but to underestimate the elder because of it would be foolish.
"Elder Zhu, this junior meant no offense. I was merely eager to obtain the medicine, which led to my transgressions. I hope the elder will not hold it against me."
Yang Potian displayed his hypocrisy to the fullest, as if the arrogant and overbearing person from moments ago wasn't him.
"The elixirs in the Medicine King Valley are not for just anyone to obtain. Everyone, please return."
Zhu Hanshan's words were polite, yet they conveyed an immense authority.
Even Li Xun whispered, "Uncle Yang, perhaps we should leave..."
Yang Potian snorted angrily, "Hmph, I am entrusted with this task, and I uphold my promises. My word is worth a thousand gold. If I fail to accomplish this today, how can I still call myself the Hero of Guandong?"
"Elder, since you insist on blocking my path, then I shall offend you!"
Before he finished speaking, the purplish-blue aura around Yang Potian surged, and his hair grew several inches longer.
However, Zhu Hanshan merely waved his hand casually, and Yang Potian plummeted from mid-air, falling directly to his knees before Zhu Hanshan.
"Uncle Yang, what are you doing?"
Li Cun was utterly bewildered. She wondered why Uncle Yang, who was about to fight the old man, had suddenly knelt before him.
Li Xun, however, was intelligent. Seeing Yang Potian's struggling expression, he immediately suspected that Zhu Hanshan had forced Uncle Yang to his knees with a mere wave of his hand.
Thinking of this, his heart filled with dread.
Facing such a powerful opponent, Uncle Yang might be in trouble today!
Yang Potian's situation was much as Li Xun had guessed. He knelt on the ground, his mind struggling desperately.
But it was futile, as not a single muscle in his body obeyed him. He couldn't even speak.
Zhu Hanshan looked at Li Xun and said calmly, "You can take him away. Don't do anything foolish again!"
"Thank you for sparing our lives, elder!"
Li Xun quickly cupped his fists in gratitude, ordered the driver to get out, stuffed Yang Potian into the car, and then sped away.
Zhu Xuanqing asked in confusion, "Father, why did you let them go?"
Zhu Hanshan remained silent. Zhu Xuanqing's heart tightened, thinking he had angered his father.
"Grandpa, I've missed you so much!"
Zhu Xiao'e rushed towards her grandfather, wanting to embrace him.
But as soon as she touched Zhu Hanshan, his body suddenly began to dissipate, gradually turning into wisps of white smoke and vanishing.
"Grandpa? What's happening?"
Zhu Xiao'e was completely bewildered.
It was then that Zhu Xuanqing reacted, laughing heartily, "Xiao'e, this wasn't your grandfather's true body, just a wisp of his primordial spirit!"
Zhu Xiao'e suddenly understood, "That's right! Grandpa is in seclusion for at least another half year before he comes out. How could I have forgotten!"
"I didn't expect Master to scare away Yang Potian with just a wisp of his primordial spirit!"
"It seems Master's cultivation has advanced further. We are far behind!"
"Heh, Master is an unparalleled genius. You still want to compare yourself to him?"
The four Golden Core experts chimed in.
In truth, Chen Xiao had already realized that the old man was not his true form. As for the explanation of a wisp of primordial spirit, he didn't quite agree.
Because the Zhu Hanshan he had just seen was entirely an energy body. When he had immobilized Yang Potian, the energy had been almost depleted. That's why, when Zhu Xiao'e rushed over, he had turned into wisps of white smoke and vanished.
However, regardless of the explanation, this Elder Zhu was the most powerful person Chen Xiao had encountered so far. He wondered where his true body was in seclusion and if he would have a chance to see his true appearance this time.
"Young Master, the Valley Master will be very happy to see you return. Let's go meet him quickly!"
Zhu Xuanqing said excitedly.
Chu Qingsong's challenge to the Valley Master had cast a somber atmosphere over the entire Medicine King Valley in recent days.
He felt that Chu Luo's return would surely alleviate this, so he was eager to take Chu Luo to see the Valley Master.
"Yes, by the way, Uncle Zhu, I forgot to introduce you. This is my good friend from the secular world, Chen Xiao. I'm bringing him into the valley today."
Chu Luo introduced Chen Xiao to everyone.
Zhu Xuanqing's eyebrows furrowed slightly. He thought that it wasn't a good time for Chu Luo to bring a friend back.
However, he didn't say much, merely nodding slightly at Chen Xiao as a greeting.
Everyone entered the mountain gate and walked towards the Medicine King Valley.
The Medicine King Valley was vast. They walked for half a day without encountering any buildings, though they passed many medicinal fields.
However, these were ordinary medicinal fields, not filled with spiritual herbs as Chu Luo had claimed.
"Could that kid Chu Luo have been tricking me?"
Just as Chen Xiao was wondering, he suddenly sensed an extremely abundant spiritual energy.
And almost at the same moment he sensed this spiritual energy, the Yin Yang Jade on his chest began to vibrate uncontrollably...