Slender willows sway in the breeze

Chapter 73 Quite Satisfied

Once past Chiling Peak, you can clearly see Yaohua Hall perched atop the highest peak. Flying southwest for half an hour will take you to Chengyun Peak, the residence of the Second Elder, Gao Yongxiu. After passing Chengyun Peak, flying southeast for about half a cup of tea's time will take you to Huangyan Peak, the residence of the Third Elder, Song Hongyuan.

Liu Sijun and Li Qing leaped down from their flying swords and waved to Cheng Feng and the others: "I've arrived. We'll keep in touch when we have time."

Suyou led them to continue flying southeast towards Huangyan Peak, where the Fourth Elder Yiwei's Green Pine Peak was located.

Green Pine Peak is the farthest from the main peak, even farther than Golden Glow Peak. With Su You's cultivation level, it would take him a full quarter of an hour to fly there.

As Liu Sijun watched them depart, a woman dressed in disciple's robes suddenly appeared beside him.

"Junior Sister Liu, right? My name is Kong Qianning. I am the third elder's fourth disciple. Now I will take you to see our master."

"Thank you for your help, Senior Sister Kong."

Kong Qianning looked to be in her early twenties. She had fair skin with a faint blush on her cheeks, slightly thick eyebrows that were neatly trimmed, bright and lively eyes, and her jet-black hair was styled high with a hairpin.

Thirty-five years old this year, with a single metal spiritual root and peak Golden Core cultivation.

Including Liu Sijun, the Third Elder has a total of five disciples. In the past month, they have heard a lot about Yougu Palace from Mu Ze and Yi Meng. Although they were in the outer sect before, they knew quite a lot.

Huangyan Peak is shrouded in mist, and a small path paved with bluestone winds its way up. Small temples come into view from time to time on both sides, and at first glance, they are much more magnificent than Jinxia Peak.

Further ahead is the main hall of Huangyan Peak, Qingxu Hall. The hall doors are wide open, and the Third Elder sits at the head of the table, with two attendants who look to be thirteen or fourteen years old standing behind him, and three men dressed in disciple robes sitting on either side.

Liu Sijun guessed that it must be those three senior brothers.

"Master, Junior Sister Liu has arrived."

Liu Sijun took two steps forward, lifted his robe, knelt down and kowtowed: "Disciple Liu Sijun greets Master."

"Get up."

Kong Qianning introduced the three disciples sitting there to Liu Sijun one by one.

After exchanging polite greetings, Liu Sijun sat down to the left of Kong Qianning, while Li Qing stood obediently and quietly behind her.

They had no attendants, so Liu Sijun stood out conspicuously in the main hall.

Song Hongyuan's deep gaze fell on Liu Sijun: "I heard from Uncle Ji He that you were able to refine a fifth-grade pill in just one month at Golden Cloud Peak?"

Liu Sijun: "...,"

Is this how Master Ji He relayed the message?

As mentioned before, she had studied alchemy before entering the Hidden Valley Palace.

Did you think of this beforehand and deliberately help her hide it from her by leaving her alone earlier?

"Ok?"

Seeing that Liu Sijun remained silent, Song Hongyuan was slightly dissatisfied: "Is there some hidden reason behind this?"

"There's no hidden reason, I just didn't know how to bring it up."

In a short time, Liu Sijun had already made a decision. Since Master Ji He was willing to help, why not go along with it?

"Is there anything you can't say?"

"Because this fifth-grade pill was not refined by me alone, it was only through the close cooperation of my younger brother that we were able to succeed."

"Junior Sister Liu, do you mean you need someone else to control the fire when you refine pills?"

The one who spoke was the first disciple sitting to Song Hongyuan's right. He looked to be about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. His eyebrows were sparse and slightly dark. His eyes were neither big nor small, but very bright. His face was round and had soft features. His appearance was really plain, with nothing outstanding about him.

As Kong Qianning just introduced, he is Song Hongyuan's eldest disciple, named Bai Feipeng. He is fifty-four years old this year, has a metal and wood spiritual root, and is at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Currently, he can refine high-grade fourth-rank pills.

One can imagine how shocked Liu Sijun must have been to be able to refine a fifth-grade pill with only the initial stage of the Golden Core realm.

What surprised them even more was that someone else needed to control the fire and cooperate when refining the pills.

The secluded valley palace has been around for so many years.

This is the first time I've ever seen anything like it. How could two people possibly coordinate so perfectly?

Bai Pengfei shook his head: "I still can't believe it!"

Liu Sijun: "It was just luck. If I were to refine the same grade five pill again, I might not be able to succeed."

"That's how alchemy is; no one can guarantee success every time."

The one who spoke was the second senior brother, An Ruiqing. His hair was casually tied up, and his disciple's robe was loosely worn. Just by looking at him, you could tell that he was very lazy. He had a pair of doe-like eyes that looked innocent at everything, which made his face look even younger, and he looked to be only in his early twenties.

But he was actually forty-seven years old, yet his cultivation level was the same as Bai Pengfei's.

Even with a single fire elemental root, one can refine a top-grade fourth-rank elixir.

It can be said that he is on par with Bai Pengfei.

Third Senior Brother Min Hanlin is forty-four years old, with the cultivation level of the early Nascent Soul stage and a single wood spiritual root.

In Yougu Palace, a sect that focuses on alchemy, the Wood Spirit Root is not considered an excellent aptitude. This has prevented Min Hanlin from making progress in alchemy, and so far he can only refine fourth-grade inferior products.

These are not secrets; Mu Ze had explained them to her when they were at Jinxia Peak.

However, I didn't look at the person at the time, but now I'm sure I'm right.

Song Hongyuan spoke up: "We don't have any special rules at Huangyan Peak. You just need to be familiar with the palace rules. If you don't understand anything later, just ask your fourth senior sister. Qianning, take Xiao Wu down to familiarize yourself with the place."

Kong Qianning gave Liu Sijun a brief tour before taking her to her accommodation.

"This is your yard. I live next door. Call me if you need anything!"

"Okay, thank you, Fourth Senior Sister."

Liu Sijun pushed open the exquisitely carved wooden door, and what came into view was a path paved with large bluish-gray stones, and the wall was also made of the same stones, covered with various emerald green vines.

Further ahead, there is a small pond with crystal-clear water, where a few colorful fish occasionally swim leisurely by.

There are also a few pink lotus flowers in the pond, swaying gently in the wind, their fragrance filling the entire courtyard.

Only in the secluded valley palace, where spiritual energy is abundant and the weather is warm like spring all year round, can you see flowers that never fade.

Not far behind the pond, there are two small wooden houses of different sizes. The larger one has the words "Wangyueju" written on the plaque above it, and the smaller one is right next to it on the left.

Pushing open the door, the furnishings are immediately apparent: a desk, several chairs, a wardrobe, and a wooden bed. The only decorative element is a pale green wind chime hanging by the window.

"This is my sister's."

"Yes, let's go check on Qing'er."

The other room was almost identical to hers, except for the green wind chime.

“Wind chimes.”

Liu Sijun: "Qing'er also wants a wind chime?"

"Ah."

"I think there was one in the bottle."

He opened the container to look for it, and finally found one, but it was pink.

"It's okay, you can just change it."

Finally, Li Qing was satisfied!
Liu Sijun was quite satisfied.

After a month in Yougu Palace, things have finally settled down.

Although the courtyard was not large, it was worlds apart from the cramped cave at Jinxia Peak.