When Liu Xi's words fell, the four remained silent. What he said was true—he owed none of them anything. On the contrary, each of them owed him favors.
Now that Liu Xi had returned as a Dou Zun, wherever he went, he would be treated as an honored guest. The fact that he was even willing to bring them along was more like a hero returning home to uplift his struggling homeland.
The mysterious Central Plains clearly held a strong allure for Hai Bodong. His eyes flickered with longing as he asked, "Little friend, what's the Central Plains like?"
Liu Xi replied calmly, "Dou Wangs are as common as dogs, Dou Huangs walk the streets, Dou Zongs barely have any standing, and only Dou Zuns can truly dominate a region."
"Barely have any standing…"
Hai Bodong gave a wry smile and muttered softly. His life's greatest achievement amounted to nothing more than a new starting point there.
Fa Ma, however, was more concerned with the art of alchemy. His gaze burned with expectation as he asked, "Nephew, to what level has your alchemy reached now?"
At that, a proud smile touched Liu Xi's lips. "8th Tier Alchemist. I refined an 8th Tier Pill with Seven-Colored Pill Lightning at the Pill Gathering—and took first place."
"8th Tier?!"
Fa Ma was both shocked and delighted, his expression filled with awe and satisfaction. Though confined to the Jia Ma Empire, he knew what that meant. The title of an 8th Tier Alchemist—let alone the Pill Gathering champion—was the pinnacle of the craft.
Liu Xi could read their thoughts easily. With Hai Bodong and Fa Ma on board, half the problem was already solved. The only ones left were Yun Yun and Jia Xingtian.
As for Yun Yun, Liu Xi intended to handle that personally—to make her understand exactly what would happen if she tried to oppose him.
Jia Xingtian, on the other hand, would depend on his own insight. Liu Xi owed no one and begged no one. Those who failed to adapt to the times would simply be left behind.
The Jia Ma Empire might have been vast, but to a Dou Zun, it was little more than a small corner. It didn't take long before they passed through another spatial rift opened by Liu Xi.
Below them lay the grand Jia Ma Sacred City. A faint smile curved Liu Xi's lips—he was eager to return. "Take your time to think things over. Discuss it if you must. When you've made up your minds, come find me."
With that, he descended with Qing Lin and Zi Yan, heading toward the familiar home that lingered in his memories.
Back home, he finally reunited with his parents and younger brother. Everything was well. The Liu Clan was under the city's full protection.
His younger brother Liu Cheng, having grown up hearing of his legendary elder brother's feats, was seen as a prodigy in the city—already a Dou Zhe at a young age.
But to Liu Xi's eyes, that talent was… average at best.
Still, the Dou Qi Continent was unreasonable in its own way. Once someone reached the Dou Di realm, their bloodline would feed back into their family. Liu Xi wasn't worried.
That same day, he summoned Xuan Hao. Master and disciple reunited warmly.
When Liu Xi spoke of his accomplishments in alchemy, Xuan Hao's eyes glistened with pride. He said that accepting Liu Xi as a disciple had been the greatest success of his life.
Liu Xi was equally pleased. After taking the Azure Spirit Life Extension Pill, Xuan Hao's body had regained its prime and even broken through to the Dou Wang realm. His vitality was fully restored, radiant and strong once more.
That alone gave Liu Xi peace of mind and more time to prepare for what was to come.
A few days later, as expected, Hai Bodong and Fa Ma arrived together. They declared that the Miteer Clan and the Alchemist Association would both support Liu Xi's plan to unify the empire's factions.
For the merchant-driven Miteer Clan, clinging to a Dou Zun's thigh was the smart move—and they were eager to show it.
As for the Alchemist Association, a neutral sacred ground for alchemists, it stood no chance of resisting an 8th Tier Alchemist like Liu Xi.
However, the Imperial Family and the Yunlan Sect both remained silent—two ancient factions unwilling to agree, yet too afraid to oppose him outright.
Liu Xi merely smiled faintly. After informing Qing Lin and Zi Yan, he went alone to Yunlan Mountain, intent on persuading Yun Yun himself.
Ascending the mountain, he was led by a Yunlan Sect disciple to the main hall. The young man was exceedingly respectful. "Master Liu, please enter. The Sect Master awaits inside."
"Mn."
Liu Xi pushed open the doors, utterly unbothered by the thought of danger. At this point, the Yunlan Sect posed no threat to him whatsoever.
Inside, a graceful figure stood before him, her curves accentuated by a light moon-white robe. As she turned, her soft voice carried through the hall.
"Master Liu, it's been a long time."
Liu Xi raised an eyebrow and replied lightly, "Indeed, it has. Miss Nalan—or should I say, Sect Master Nalan."
The figure before him wasn't Yun Yun, but Nalan Yanran. He had heard rumors—three years ago, she had emerged from seclusion having broken through to the High-Level Dou Wang stage.
Afterward, Yun Yun had passed the position of Sect Master to her and gone into closed-door cultivation. That was how Yun Yun had managed to advance so quickly after reaching the Dou Zong realm.
"Where's Yun Yun?" Liu Xi asked. "She doesn't want to see me?"
A flicker of disappointment passed through Nalan Yanran's eyes, but her expression quickly hardened with solemn dignity. "My teacher said that the Yunlan Sect now has only the two of us as its strongest. If you wish to take it by force, we would be powerless to resist."
"But if you truly insist on claiming the Yunlan Sect, then please—defeat me. Once you do, the sect will be yours."
"As for my teacher and me, as the sinners who lost the Yunlan Sect's foundation, we will wander the world seeking a way to restore its former glory."
"This foolish woman… why must she always be so stubborn?" Liu Xi muttered to himself. That kind of behavior was so like Yun Yun—when she couldn't resist, she would simply run away from the matter altogether.
He turned to leave, but before he could take a step—clang!—a sharp sound echoed behind him, followed by Nalan Yanran's cold, determined voice.
"Master Liu, please draw your weapon. Defeat me!"
Like master, like disciple. The stubbornness between them was uncanny.
Standing tall before her, Liu Xi looked into her resolute face and sighed helplessly. "Why are you both so stubborn? This isn't even bad for the Yunlan Sect. Forget it—I'll give you a chance. Strike me once."
"Go on. Stab me. Otherwise, with your half-step Dou Zong strength, you won't even be able to get close."
He stood there, completely exposed, as if full of openings. One strike would surely pierce through his heart—but even if it did, Liu Xi wouldn't be harmed in the slightest. Her sword couldn't even scratch him.
"Why aren't you dodging?!" Nalan Yanran's voice trembled, her sword quivering inches from his chest—less than a finger's width away. Liu Xi simply smiled, unmoving.
"You and your teacher are truly alike. Dodge? For what? Whether I dodge or not, what changes?"
"If you don't strike, I'll leave. I'll just go find Yun Yun next. None of you ever make things easy for me."
Grumbling to himself, Liu Xi turned and walked away.
With a soft clang, the sword slipped from Nalan Yanran's trembling hand. Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
"Teacher… won't be persuaded by you…"
(End of Chapter)
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