"Of course. But still, I can’t believe the White Cloud Mountain Range is actually able to communicate with Heaven-Burning Valley. It’s truly shocking."
"Haha, and not only that—once Nephew Zhou Lin enters Heaven-Burning Valley, our White Cloud Mountain Range will finally return to the true lineage."
······
The upper echelons of the White Cloud Mountain Range were all grinning from ear to ear. If they weren’t afraid of disturbing the Immortals inside Qingshui Pavilion, they’d surely be even more arrogant.
Thunder Cauldron stood among the crowd, his face wreathed in smiles.
Zhou Lin was the candidate they had pushed forward. You could say everything he’d achieved so far was thanks to their efforts. Once Zhou Lin entered the Immortal Sect, the rewards they’d receive would be beyond imagination. By then, even the Supre Profound Sect would have to watch their attitude around them.
But right at that mont, he saw a figure not far off, waving at him.
"What’s wrong? Everything handled?" Thunder Cauldron found an excuse to slip away, then eyed the looking-a-bit-worried C-D Hall steward.
A faint sense of unease suddenly arose in his heart.
"Did you fail?"
The steward panicked for a mont. His task this ti had two goals: one, to throw Lu Chang’sheng off his ga during the assessnt by leveraging his own status—that was secondary, though, since no one could guarantee it would work.
Originally, Thunder Cauldron had asked several people, but the others hesitated when they considered Lu Chang’sheng’s strength and reputation. He seized the opportunity and agreed right away.
He wanted to advance, refusing to be like so many other C-D Hall stewards, wasting years in diocrity.
So, any chance that ca his way, he grabbed onto tightly.
The other goal was to dig a pit for Lu Chang’sheng—if the guy fell in and missed the scheduled ti, it would be a win.
The Immortals of Heaven-Burning Valley inside Qingshui Pavilion were especially strict about the timing. If you missed it, no matter how well people from White Cloud Pavilion perford, they’d likely suffer for it.
But unfortunately, everything went sideways.
Still, soone else ended up taking the bla. The steward felt a bit lucky, even grateful toward Zhong Ming. If Zhong Ming hadn’t shown up, he himself would’ve failed anyway.
That Alchemist Lu had already seen through his sche.
Such keen insight.
"I... It wasn’t my fault! Alchemist Zhong Ming got in my way at every turn!" The steward knelt and begged for rcy.
Hearing this, Thunder Cauldron was montarily stunned. "Alchemist Zhong Ming is focused on cultivation—why would he bother with this?"
But seeing the steward’s expression seed legit, Thunder Cauldron’s face instantly darkened. He thought, Zhong Ming sabotaged my plans!
His expression flickered, but he managed to hold it in. No matter what, Zhong Ming was also taking part in the assessnt today—now wasn’t the ti to cause a scene.
After waving off the steward, Thunder Cauldron gathered a few friends, all higher-ups from White Cloud Mountain Range. Naturally, they knew what was going on.
"Alchemist Zhong Ming really dropped the ball, didn’t he?"
"No kidding. Then again, I heard he had so ties with Lu Chang’sheng. We doubted it before, but now it seems true."
"Don’t panic. You all know what Nephew Zhou Lin is capable of. Lu Chang’sheng is nothing—he can’t cause any waves."
At that, everyone nodded.
After all, they weren’t putting all their hopes on those little tricks. If it didn’t work out, so be it.
"Do you guys know what Elder Liu Jiu and the others said to the Immortals yesterday?"
Soone suddenly asked.
The rest shook their heads.
Only Thunder Cauldron knew a bit of inside info, but of course, he wouldn’t share it.
’The gates of Heaven-Burning Valley—only Zhou Lin can enter!’
he thought to himself.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, several figures appeared nearby.
"That’s him, Lu Chang’sheng!"
······
Lu Chang’sheng saw a group standing at the entrance and realized he hadn’t missed the appointed ti. He felt a surge of gratitude toward Zhong Ming.
Giving the group a once-over, he couldn’t help but notice Zhou Lin’s odd appearance, and subconsciously adjusted the alchemist hat on his head.
"Alchemist Lu, you should do as the others and take off your alchemist hat," Duan Ming whispered.
"Why?" Was there so secret to this? How did Duan Ming know and he didn’t?
Lu Chang’sheng was puzzled, but then he spotted Zhong Ming removing his own hat too, revealing those stubborn tufts of hair atop his head.
Fluttering in the breeze—quite impressive, really.
His curiosity grew even more intense.
Duan Ming explained, "A full head of hair is proof of an alchemist’s strength."
Duan Ming also cultivated Alchemy Dao and was fairly gifted—otherwise, Elder Xiao Feng wouldn’t have taken him in—so he knew these inside details.
Lu Chang’sheng chuckled awkwardly but didn’t comply. Duan Ming was clearly trying to make them look presentable to the Immortals, but it felt too stiff for Lu Chang’sheng.
"In the end, alchemy relies on skill."
"Duan Ming is enlightened!" Duan Ming quickly responded. No way he’d go against Lu Chang’sheng’s will—at least, not here.
As ti passed, another person from White Cloud Pavilion hurried over. Seeing Lu Chang’sheng, a hint of complex emotion flickered in his eyes.
It was none other than Mo Ran.
Fan Shou, Luo Ji, and Mo Ran had all been vying for a spot in this assessnt. In the end, it was Mo Ran who secured the other slot.
"Much thanks, Alchemist Lu." After a mont’s thought, Mo Ran still felt compelled to express his gratitude.
Lu Chang’sheng nodded. "No need for thanks—this was ultimately the Elders’ decision." He actually knew why Mo Ran was thanking him—each of them had their own strengths.
Mo Ran’s advantage was youth and a bit more talent, but it wasn’t a huge edge—so the Elders had trouble deciding who to pick.
However, once Lu Chang’sheng took one slot, Mo Ran’s youth beca a bigger advantage.
Lu Chang’sheng was already past seventy—so for the second slot, being older was a big disadvantage.
The Elders certainly didn’t want two people whose attributes overlapped.
You could say Mo Ran scored this spot without even trying.
He felt a bit grateful toward Lu Chang’sheng, but there was also a lot of curiosity.
He only learned yesterday that the other person wasn’t Fan Shou or the others, but this older Alchemist Lu.
Elder Xiao Feng and his group had done a stellar job keeping it secret.
’Yiya!’ (creak!)
The doors of Qingshui Pavilion suddenly swung open, and a chilly voice ca from inside.
"Everyone’s here? Then let us begin!"
An old man with downcast eyelids appeared at the threshold, faint pressure radiating from him—a clear sign that he was a Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
Lu Chang’sheng’s face imdiately turned serious as he adjusted his state of mind.
"Those participating in the assessnt, co with ."
Lu Chang’sheng and Mo Ran hurried after him. The old man didn’t bother verifying their identities—at this stage, no one would dare impersonate a candidate. If they did, the old man surely wouldn’t be rciful. No one dared provoke the sharp edge of a Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
"Just these few? None look like much," In the Alchemy Room of Qingshui Pavilion, a handso young man sat slouched in a chair, sweeping his gaze over them.
"Not a single one at Foundation Establishnt, and one with an astonishingly old bone age."
Zuo Lin frowned, then shook his head and picked up a Jade Scroll to study.
"That’s Master Baiyun’s Alchemy Dao Jade Scroll."
Lu Chang’sheng could sense Master Baiyun’s aura from the Jade Scroll. He’d studied Baiyun’s alchemy legacy for years and was naturally very familiar with it.
But rembering that the White Cloud Pavilion’s Jade Scroll was just a copy, he understood.
No wonder—Heaven-Burning Valley cultivators ca and within no ti had gotten their hands on the sect’s finest inheritance from White Cloud Mountain Range!
Lu Chang’sheng was filled with envy, focusing even more intently on the upcoming assessnt.
Still, the two Immortals before him didn’t seem to think much of him.
Lu Chang’sheng glanced at their furrowed brows and felt a little uncomfortable, though he knew it was normal human nature.
These two had co from Heaven-Burning Valley to pick out the most gifted, and now faced a candidate as old as he was—naturally they weren’t pleased.
"For a tiny backwater city, it seems it’s not easy for them to even scrape together this lot." The old man chuckled and looked at Zuo Lin. "You want to go first, Senior Brother Zuo Lin, or shall I?"
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