In a valley within the Magical Beast Mountain Range of the Jia Ma Empire.
Under the night sky, Yun Shan stood atop a bluestone, gazing at the bright full moon hanging high above. From time to time, he would turn his eyes toward the distant horizon, countless thoughts swirling through his mind, anticipation, anxiety, and a trace of resolve.
This place was the agreed rendezvous point mentioned by the Alchemist. Tonight would also determine the fate of both him and the Misty Cloud Sect.
At a certain moment, his gaze shifted downward and landed upon the peerlessly beautiful woman standing not far away, causing a trace of confusion to flash through his heart.
"Although her appearance is identical is this person truly Queen Medusa?"
Under the cold moonlight, Queen Medusa seemed draped in a layer of silver gauze. Her breathtaking face and graceful figure appeared even more mysterious beneath the hazy lunar glow. Charm and seductive beauty intertwined perfectly around her, enough to intoxicate anyone who looked upon her.
Yet the indifference hidden within those star-like eyes made others hesitate, leaving them only daring to admire her from afar.
What concerned Yun Shan even more was that although she possessed the exact same appearance as Queen Medusa, her lower body was no longer a snake tail. Her aura was completely different from the Queen Medusa in his memories, and in terms of cultivation, she far surpassed the latter.
Just as Yun Shan was lost in thought, a streak of light suddenly tore through the sky and shot toward the valley.
Within only a few breaths after entering sight, the streak of light abruptly halted beside Queen Medusa without the slightest warning. The transition between extreme motion and complete stillness was perfectly natural, without even the slightest distortion.
At the same time, the icy indifference within Queen Medusa's eyes quietly melted away as she gently looked toward the arriving Lin Yuan.
After greeting the Queen, Lin Yuan dispersed his Dou Qi wings and turned around, revealing a youthful face before Yun Shan. It was a completely unfamiliar face.
"So this aura really belongs to the Alchemist?" Just as Yun Shan was still doubtful, Lin Yuan's next words immediately confirmed his identity.
"It has been a long time, Friend Yun Shan," Lin Yuan said with a smile.
After confirming his identity, Yun Shan's heart shook violently.
"It really is the Alchemist. Is this his true appearance? How can he be this young?"
Taking a deep breath, Yun Shan forcefully calmed the turbulent emotions within his heart. Then he looked steadily at Lin Yuan and said in a deep voice:
"It has indeed been a long time, my friend. Is this truly your real age and appearance?"
"It is." Lin Yuan nodded calmly. "To show my sincerity, I chose to meet you in person this time."
"Hiss…"
Receiving Lin Yuan's confirmation, Yun Shan involuntarily sucked in a cold breath and sighed.
"You truly have shocked me, my friend. Compared to you, I feel as though I've lived all these years in vain. I seem nothing more than a mediocre man."
"Rest assured," Lin Yuan replied confidently, "in the future, there will be many renowned experts across the continent who will share the exact same thought you have at this moment."
Hearing such confident words, Yun Shan could not help but smile bitterly.
"My friend, you truly are not humble at all…"
"Haha."
Lin Yuan chuckled softly before his expression turned serious.
"Although casual conversation and reminiscing are pleasant, we should first deal with the important matter at hand. Let me remove the Soul Hall restriction placed upon your soul."
Hearing this, delight instantly surfaced on Yun Shan's face as he cupped his hands respectfully.
"Then I'll trouble you."
"You're too polite." Lin Yuan waved his hand casually. "There's no need to thank me for this. We are helping one another, this was our agreement from the beginning. You've helped me greatly as well, so naturally I won't break my promise. Here."
As he spoke, Lin Yuan took out a jade bottle from his storage ring and handed it to Yun Shan.
After receiving the jade bottle, Yun Shan discovered a cyan-and-white medicinal pill within. Dense pill mist lingered around it.
"This pill is…?"
Lin Yuan smiled faintly.
"A medicinal pill capable of resolving your problem. A peak Sixth-Grade medicinal pill the Soul Cleansing Pill. It can cleanse all soul power within the body that does not belong to the user, while also nourishing the soul itself."
"The restriction Soul Hall placed upon your soul fundamentally originates from the soul power of vicious spirits from Soul Hall. Since it is also a type of soul force, naturally it falls within the pill's scope."
"Originally, I intended to use other medicinal pills together with sealing techniques to remove it. However, during this past year, I encountered some fortunate opportunities and obtained the formula for the Soul Cleansing Pill. Compared to my original method, this pill was far more suitable."
"So I spared no effort gathering the ingredients and personally refined this Soul Cleansing Pill for you."
Hearing this, Yun Shan cupped his hands solemnly.
"Thank you, my friend. You truly put in much effort for my sake."
But afterward, he gave Lin Yuan a deep look and spoke meaningfully.
"Although today is only our second meeting, you should understand something, I will not fall in the same place twice. Furthermore, I have learned quite a bit from you as well."
"As expected…" Lin Yuan's heart tightened slightly.
"There are very few true fools in this world. People merely lack perspective and information, they do not lack the wisdom to adapt."
Though countless thoughts flashed through his mind, the smile on his face remained unchanged.
"As expected, my friend prepared countermeasures in advance." Lin Yuan clapped lightly and directly exposed the matter. "If you learned this method from me, then I assume you recorded everything related to me. If anything happens to you, those records will be spread, correct?"
Looking at Lin Yuan's calm expression, one that even still carried a slight smile, Yun Shan asked in confusion:
"Aren't you angry? You've done so much for me, yet I still don't trust you and even prepared safeguards against you."
"What use is anger?" Lin Yuan asked in return.
Rather than hurrying to answer, he calmly said:
"Instead of wasting energy on anger, it's better to preserve one's mind and strength for handling future problems."
"And your distrust toward me is perfectly normal. Likewise, I do not completely trust you either."
"I had already anticipated your preparations and countermeasures to some extent. For now, you should remove the soul restriction first. We still have much to discuss afterward."
After a slight pause, Lin Yuan added one final sentence:
"Don't worry. I did not tamper with that pill. This is also one of the ways I'm showing my sincerity."
Hearing this, Yun Shan could not help but admire him inwardly.
If the Alchemist's appearance truly matched his actual age, then possessing such achievements at this age while still maintaining such composure and maturity meant that his future potential was practically immeasurable.
"Thank you for your understanding, my friend," Yun Shan said deeply.
Afterward, he took the Soul Cleansing Pill from the jade bottle and swallowed it in one gulp.
The instant the pill entered his mouth, vast medicinal power erupted from within and surged deep into Yun Shan's soul.
He felt a cool sensation rise from the depths of his soul, like a spring breeze brushing across his face, carrying away the hidden ailments buried within.
The black aura tangled deep within his soul—like dark mist—began gradually dissipating beneath the cleansing force of the Soul Cleansing Pill.
Each strand of black aura that vanished caused a tremor within Yun Shan's soul, as though something was being stripped away and purified.
As the black aura gradually disappeared, Yun Shan's soul also steadily regained clarity.
At the same time, he could clearly sense another medicinal force nourishing his soul. His Spiritual Strength even became somewhat stronger than before.
When the final trace of black aura was completely dispelled, Yun Shan suddenly felt his entire body lighten, as though a thousand-pound burden had finally been lifted.
Opening his eyes, a bright radiance flashed within them.
"Thank you, my friend!"
Yun Shan stood up and deeply bowed toward Lin Yuan, genuine trust now appearing within his eyes.
While consuming the Soul Cleansing Pill to remove the soul restriction, he had carefully inspected both his body and soul for any abnormalities. Yet the results matched exactly what the Alchemist had said, the pill was perfectly normal and had not been tampered with in the slightest.
Lin Yuan raised his hand slightly and smiled.
"With this, our agreement can be considered mostly fulfilled. Next we should discuss what comes afterward."
As he spoke those final words, Lin Yuan's tone was no longer as warm and gentle as before. Instead, it carried a trace of icy coldness, while his eyes became clear and indifferent.
At the same time, Queen Medusa silently walked to Lin Yuan's side with perfect tacit understanding. Extending her jade-like arm, she wrapped it around Lin Yuan's arm and stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
Immediately afterward, she cast a cold gaze toward Yun Shan as the aura of a near three-star Dou Ancestor pressed down upon him.
In an instant, killing intent filled the entire valley.
Feeling himself locked onto by the powerful auras of the two before him, Yun Shan's heart involuntarily sank.
After calming his emotions and pondering briefly, he asked in a deep voice:
"My friend, what is the meaning of this? Are you planning to eliminate me after crossing the river? Don't forget, I prepared countermeasures beforehand as well."
Lin Yuan shook his head calmly.
"You misunderstand. I have no intention of betraying you after using you."
"After all, if I truly intended to do that, why would I wait until after giving you a peak Sixth-Grade medicinal pill before making my move? The value of that pill is no less than a Breaking Zong Pill."
"I merely wish to ask you for a favor or rather, I wish to make a deal with you. I hope you will not refuse."
Recalling the medicinal pill he had just consumed, Yun Shan felt somewhat reassured. There still seemed to be room for negotiation.
Taking a deep breath, he asked:
"Speak. What matter? What deal?"
Lin Yuan looked directly into Yun Shan's eyes and spoke seriously:
"I hope Friend Yun Shan will lend me ten years of your life. Ten years from now, I will return you ten years or perhaps even a hundred years."
"What do you mean by that?" Yun Shan asked in confusion.
Lin Yuan pondered briefly before answering sincerely, "Friend Yun Shan, you now know things you should not know. And for the time being, I do not wish for those secrets to be exposed. Just as you cannot completely trust me, I also cannot completely trust you."
"So, in my eyes, you carry a tremendous risk of leaking those secrets. Under such circumstances, if I do not kill you, then the only option left is to have you sleep for ten years."
"For me, ten years is enough time to grow to a level where those secrets no longer matter. At that point, I will awaken you once more and repay the ten years you lost many times over, whether in terms of lifespan or strength."
"In other words, if you agree to this deal, then ten years later will be the day the Misty Cloud Sect truly rises."
At this point, Lin Yuan paused, giving Yun Shan time to digest his words.
A moment later, he continued, "However, if you refuse this transaction, then we will no longer be friends or partners, we will become enemies."
"And when facing enemies, I never show mercy."
"If it truly comes to that, then I can only ensure that you die here tonight, and the Misty Cloud Sect will naturally be buried alongside you. As for your backup plans…"
"While they may require some time and effort to deal with, I have many ways to handle them. Friend Yun Shan, I hope you do not doubt my resolve in this matter."
"The reason I am negotiating with you is simply because I do not wish to waste resources and energy. Rather than squander them in that manner, I would prefer to invest them into our transaction. After all, mutual benefit through cooperation has always been my style."
"Now, I have already presented the choices available to you. The rest depends on your own decision."
"Friend or enemy, choose."
After speaking, Lin Yuan fixed his burning gaze upon Yun Shan, waiting for his final answer.
Having heard Lin Yuan's explanation, Yun Shan fell into deep thought.
From Lin Yuan's candid words and icy gaze, he understood clearly, there was no room for negotiation in this matter.
Realizing this, Yun Shan's thoughts raced as he rapidly weighed the pros and cons.
'Whether or not I agree to the Alchemist's proposal ultimately depends on whether I am willing to trust this partner once again. Should I continue believing in him and entrust both my fate and the future of the Misty Cloud Sect to him? Or should I risk everything in a desperate struggle and try to cause him some trouble before dying?'
'But speaking of it, during our previous cooperation, the Alchemist truly did pull the Misty Cloud Sect out of the crisis of destruction. As a partner, he has indeed been exceptionally reliable.'
'More importantly, his cultivation advances at an astonishing pace. Ten years from now, he will undoubtedly stand at an entirely new height. And when that day comes, the returns he gives us will surely bring unprecedented benefits to both myself and the Misty Cloud Sect.'
'I'll gamble on it. His character, talent, and alchemy skills placing a bet on him won't be a loss.'
Suddenly, Yun Shan snapped back to his senses. He realized something—throughout his calculations, he had been focusing almost entirely on the potential benefits of agreeing to Lin Yuan's proposal, while barely considering anything else.
Thinking this, he inwardly sighed.
'It seems I've already made my choice. That fellow Alchemist saw through me too clearly. In this matter, the firmness of my resolve and his are simply not on the same level.'
Looking at Lin Yuan, he saw that the latter still wore a smile despite the killing intent radiating from him.
Recalling his past cooperation with Lin Yuan, Yun Shan shook his head and thought to himself, 'This man truly excels at coercion, temptation, and calculated manipulation. Even our last partnership seemed to have been formed under similar circumstances.'
He then glanced at Queen Medusa and confirmed one thing—she was someone he absolutely could not defeat.
In the end, Yun Shan finally made up his mind. Staring into Lin Yuan's eyes, he said, "Since you've already spoken to this extent, then I agree to this transaction. I only hope you will keep your promise and awaken me ten years from now."
Hearing Yun Shan's answer, Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction.
He placed his hand over Queen Medusa's jade-like hand, and the two of them silently withdrew the killing intent enveloping Yun Shan.
"Trust me. One day, my friend, you will feel fortunate for the decision you made today," Lin Yuan said with a smile.
"I hope so," Yun Shan replied bitterly. "I've already agreed to your conditions. So how exactly do you plan to have me sleep for ten years?"
Lin Yuan pondered for a moment before answering seriously, "There are many methods, but the one I recommend most is the separation of body and soul. You might even be able to use it to advance even further. Take a look at this."
As he spoke, Lin Yuan handed Yun Shan the scroll detailing the method for refining a perfect body.
Yun Shan accepted the scroll and quickly skimmed through it. A strange light appeared in his eyes.
"This method it's truly ingenious beyond compare. But…"
"Don't worry. Gathering the necessary materials is not difficult for me," Lin Yuan interrupted before Yun Shan could voice his concerns. "Your willingness to accept my conditions is already a great act of trust toward me. I will not betray that trust."
"Ten years from now, my strength should be sufficient. By then, I may even be able to help you obtain a Dou Venerate body. I believe that would greatly enhance your future potential."
Looking at Yun Shan, Lin Yuan began painting a grand vision of the future ten years ahead.
"Then what about my original body?" Yun Shan asked.
"To prevent any unforeseen complications, I suggest that you self-destruct your physical body and complete the act of Yun Shan's 'fake death.' That way, you can completely sever ties with the Hall of Souls and Protector Wu."
"With your corpse obliterated beyond recognition, the Misty Cloud Sect heavily damaged, and a mysterious external enemy appearing, the Hall of Souls will likely lose interest in using the Misty Cloud Sect as a future partner."
Afterward, Lin Yuan enthusiastically explained the various advantages that would come from Yun Shan's self-destruction.
"Your reasoning does make some sense," Yun Shan said after a period of contemplation, ultimately agreeing with Lin Yuan's proposal. "It does seem necessary to self-destruct once."
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