Suddenly, Jiang Lingyue turned around in surprise to look behind her...
However, behind her was nothing but emptiness. Could this wind have blown in from the door crack outside?
Or from the window gap?
She shook her head in resignation. As there was nothing peculiar in sight, Jiang Lingyue didn’t dwell on it further.
Aware that many were waiting outside at the moment, Jiang Lingyue didn’t rest long in the alchemy room before stepping out shortly after.
Just as Jiang Lingyue rose and prepared to leave, a gentle breeze had already swept away ahead of her.
Seeing the alchemy room door open, the high-ranking members of the sect, led by the Sect Leader of the Wuxiang Sect, immediately turned their faces in delight.
...
Meanwhile, in a small town beneath the Wuxiang Mountains.
Lu Ye and Qing Yu had temporarily taken residence in a local inn.
Qing Yu was aware that Lu Ye had just left the inn.
Curious about what her brother-in-law had gone off to do, Lu Ye unexpectedly returned shortly thereafter, having spent very little time away.
Thinking it over, Qing Yu opened her room door and stepped out, coincidentally meeting Lu Ye on his way to the superior guest rooms on the second floor.
"Brother-in-law, where did you go just now, and why did you return so quickly?" asked Qing Yu, driven by her inclination to ask questions.
"Quickly?," Lu Ye laughed at the remark: "I went for a look at the Wuxiang Sect. Next, we’ll just wait for the show to begin."
The wind Jiang Lingyue felt in the alchemy room earlier...
It was actually Lu Ye deliberately causing a stir.
This was intended to test Jiang Lingyue’s reaction.
Otherwise, with his control over his body technique, not a single gust of wind would have escaped.
Having visited the Wuxiang Sect, Qing Yu immediately understood.
Brother-in-law seems truly attentive to his sister-in-law.
After speaking, Lu Ye’s expression shifted, sensing that the elderly Martial Arts Grandmaster of the Fifth Layer was leading a group to the location at the Wuxiang Mountains’ back forest, as previously planned.
Intending to retreat immediately after securing their objective!
This operation is very risky. If exposed, the Zhou Family’s reputation in the Northern Territory would be completely ruined.
Therefore, the elder proceeded cautiously, leaving the town without alerting anyone.
"Let’s hurry,"
The elder brought along only two companions: one was the Zhou family’s most talented youth today, Zhou Lan, in the Innate Fourth Layer Realm.
The other was an elder servant of the Zhou Family in the Innate Realm.
The trio quickly reached a deserted area and took a detour toward the back forest of the Wuxiang Mountains.
"Ancestor, if we succeed this time, should I soon be able to reach the Martial Arts Grandmaster Realm?" Zhou Lan of the Zhou family asked, eager to broaden his horizons this time.
But at this moment, despite being acclaimed as the Zhou family’s genius, Zhou Lan was still incredibly excited.
After all, he knew if the female disciple of the Wuxiang Sect was truly a Tier Five Alchemy Master, she was far beyond his capabilities!
Moreover, rumors spoke of this Wuxiang Sect female disciple being extraordinarily beautiful...
Thinking of this, a faint glint flashed in Zhou Lan’s eyes.
Incredibly beautiful... such a formidable figure in Alchemy Dao. If under control, once he had established communication with her, would he have the chance to secure her?
This way, he could have a partner who was a Tier Five Alchemy Master.
As for confidence, Zhou Lan was quite assured of his own capabilities.
Indeed, once under Zhou family’s control, being cared for by Zhou Lan would be more pleasing than otherwise.
"Ancestor, I heard this Wuxiang Sect disciple is a female cultivator. Though her cultivation is said to be low, with such achievements in Alchemy Dao, I think...she could be assimilated into our Zhou Family."
Upon hearing this, the Zhou Family Ancestor paused.
He pondered over this promising young great-grandson before asking, "Oh...what do you mean?"
Zhou Lan expressed an eagerness to contribute to the family: "I think this task should be entrusted to me; I will do my utmost to secure her, making her part of our Zhou Family."
The Zhou Family Ancestor considered for a moment, did not refuse, and nodded: "Since you have this intention, you may try once we succeed. If successful, it would be ideal; otherwise, even if achieved, if she is determined not to refine pills for us, it’s troublesome."
Such figures, once captured and controlled, regardless of cooperation, are impossible to release.
Allowing her to re-enter society would quickly enable her to rally a strong network far exceeding that of the Zhou Family!
Should she then crush the Zhou Family, it would be an effortless task.
Therefore... if the outcome is ultimately unsatisfactory, the ideology that if "I can’t have it, no one shall" would be the last resort!
With this thought, a fierce look appeared in the eyes of the Zhou Family Ancestor.
And after the conversation between the two, suddenly, the forest temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.
It immediately left these cultivators of their caliber feeling a chill all over.
"Hm?"
In an instant, the Zhou Family Ancestor vigilantly looked around, yet the surroundings were utterly silent. In the visible range, there were only the three of them.
Through spiritual sense, there was no anomaly detected.
Very confident in his powerful spiritual sense, the Zhou Family Ancestor believed it to be slightly stronger than his cultivation, comparable to the sixth or seventh layer of the Martial Arts Grandmaster!
Since there was no problem sensed, it must be excessive caution.
However, this indeed concerned the Zhou Family’s millennial fate, so being tense was logical.
Moments later, the trio reached a predetermined location at the back mountain, waiting quietly.
Meanwhile, in the Wuxiang Sect.
Jiang Lingyue declined the sect’s proposal to hold a grand banquet for her and intended to return to her secluded courtyard after bidding farewell.
She didn’t have the heart for hosting a banquet, especially since her troublesome brother-in-law still hadn’t responded!
"Forget it. Since Nephew Jiang doesn’t want to cause a stir, let’s not force her. Let her rest alone for a while."
Outside the Alchemy Hall on Dan Peak, seeing the slender female silhouette slowly heading down the mountain, the Sect Leader of Wuxiang Sect contemplated before making the final decision.
Sect Leader of Wuxiang Sect understood clearly.
The urgent need is to adhere to Jiang Lingyue’s wishes.
Contradicting her desire might provoke dissatisfaction toward the Wuxiang Sect, which would be counterproductive and unnecessary.
Upon hearing the Sect Leader’s words, a few elders who advocated for holding a grand banquet to invite the Northern Territory elders simply nodded helplessly.
On the other hand, as Jiang Lingyue walked, stepping down the peak was a Tier Two Alchemy Master from Dan Peak, seemingly heading down the peak together...