The following morning, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds like scattered gold, gently bathing the city of Saint Dan. The sleeping streets and alleys gradually awoke, and more and more pedestrians appeared on the bluestone pavement. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughter mingled into a vibrant symphony. The entire city shed the tranquility of the night and radiated a vigorous and enthusiastic energy, with bustling activity everywhere.

Not far from the Danta, in an elegant and quiet courtyard, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, and glistening dewdrops still clung to the grass and trees.

In the antique-style bedroom, the gauze curtains of the carved canopy bed hung lightly. Xiao Ling, who was naked from the waist up, slowly opened his eyes. His dark eyes still had a hint of languor from just waking up. His long eyelashes trembled slightly, washing away the remaining sleepiness.

His well-defined chest rose and fell slightly with his steady breathing, and two faint, elegant fragrances lingered around him, the afterglow of last night's tenderness, intertwining with the warm scent in the room, exuding a lingering and affectionate atmosphere.

With his palms pressed against two soft, boneless bodies, the delicate and warm touch spread from his fingertips to the depths of his heart, causing Xiao Ling's heart to flutter.

Last night's tender moments flooded his mind like a tide; the lingering kiss, the burning warmth of skin against skin, each scene as clear as yesterday, leaving him feeling completely relaxed and indescribably happy.

This ultimate enjoyment of being embraced on both sides was a taste I hadn't experienced in a long time. The restraint and forbearance I had endured in the ancient clan, and the tedium and loneliness of my cultivation journey, were all washed away by the tenderness and sweetness of last night, and all the accumulated boredom and tedium were swept away.

He took a deep breath, the lingering fragrance of the two women still lingering around his nose. He felt refreshed and invigorated, his entire body felt clear and his soul flowed more smoothly.

Seemingly sensing Xiao Ling's subtle movements, the two warm, delicate bodies beside her stirred slightly.

Half-asleep, Dan Chen and Cao Ying slowly opened their eyes. Their long eyelashes trembled like butterfly wings, and their eyes were still misty with sleep, adding to their charming and soft appearance.

Cao Ying's beautiful eyes were half-open and half-closed. She lazily turned over, clearly still lingering in the warmth of his embrace. She snuggled closer to Xiao Ling, her soft body pressed tightly against his chest, allowing Xiao Ling to once again experience that delicate, warm touch in his arms, and his heart stirred slightly again.

On the other side, Dan Chen slightly propped herself up, the brocade quilt on her shoulders sliding down her smooth skin, revealing her fair and delicate body with exquisite curves.

A few strands of her jet-black hair fell in front of her, unable to conceal the softness between her brows and eyes, but instead adding a touch of hazy allure, like a newly blooming epiphyllum, pure and beautiful.

She raised her hand to rub her sleepy eyes, still feeling a lingering languor, and looked at Xiao Ling with a charming and sweet smile, her voice soft and sweet as honey: "Good morning, Brother Xiao Ling."

Xiao Ling's eyes softened as he reached out and embraced Cao Ying's slender waist. Under her slightly shy and evasive gaze, he lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead. Then, turning to Dan Chen, his tone was both doting and tender: "Good morning, Chen'er. You worked so late yesterday, you must have had a hard day."

Upon hearing this, Dan Chen's cheeks instantly flushed an alluring blush. She lowered her eyes shyly, her fingertips gently twisting the brocade quilt beneath her. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet it carried utter sincerity.
"No, it's not hard work... As long as Brother Xiao Ling is happy, Chen'er is overjoyed, and... Chen'er is also very happy."

Seeing that Dan Chen was so shy that she almost buried her head in the quilt, Xiao Ling stopped teasing her. Instead, he reached out his fingertip and gently poked Cao Ying's forehead, who was still nestled in his arms and unwilling to open her eyes. A playful smile appeared on his lips: "Ying'er, don't stay in bed. It's time to get up."

His fingertips were slightly cool to the touch, but his tone was full of indulgence: "This morning we made an appointment with Elder Yao and Senior Xuan Kongzi to go to the Little Pill Tower to discuss important matters. We can't keep the seniors waiting and delay our important business."

Cao Ying let out a soft moan as she was poked, slowly opening her eyes. A hint of languidness lingered in her beautiful eyes as she glanced at Xiao Ling with a slightly reproachful look, her small lips pouting slightly, carrying a touch of coquettishness.
"Alright, alright, I know, I know, I'll get up and get ready now."

She reached out and rubbed her forehead where she had been poked, her voice soft yet tinged with a hint of accusation: "Honestly, after all that commotion last night, neither Chen'er nor I got a good night's sleep, and you, on the other hand, are urging us to get up so early. You're so mean!"

Although her tone carried a hint of coquettish dissatisfaction, Cao Ying didn't linger in bed any longer and obediently got up. As the quilt slipped down, it outlined her exquisite figure, and her skin glowed with a radiant sheen in the morning light.

She rose gently, first casually dressed, then picked up a neatly folded plain-colored undergarment from the side. As she turned, her eyes still held a lingering tenderness, and she took the initiative to walk in front of Xiao Ling.

Cao Ying's slender fingers pinched the fabric and carefully put it on Xiao Ling. Her fingertips inadvertently brushed against his well-defined chest, carrying a warm touch that stirred a slight flutter in his heart.

The girl leaned down slightly to straighten his clothes and smooth out the wrinkles at the collar. Her movements were delicate and gentle, and the fragrance of her hair lingered around Xiao Ling's nose.

She then took his outer robe, draped it over his shoulders, and carefully tied the jade belt around his waist. As she gently tightened the belt, she glanced at him, her eyes revealing a hint of shyness and tenderness.

Throughout the entire process, Xiao Ling only needed to sit quietly to enjoy the meticulous care of the beauty. The tenderness and softness of being cherished, coupled with Cao Ying's captivating gaze and gentle movements as she leaned over, made him feel indescribably comfortable and relaxed.

After washing and tidying themselves up, the three of them slowly walked out of the bedroom together. The morning mist in the courtyard had dissipated, and sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows. The fresh fragrance of grass and trees wafted over, refreshing and invigorating.

Cao Ying held a brightly colored spirit fruit in her hand, took a crisp bite, and the sweet juice melted on her tongue.

As she chewed, she looked around the courtyard with a hint of curiosity. After her gaze swept over the several side rooms, she turned to Xiao Ling and asked with a questioning tone, "By the way, Xiao Ling, I heard that you brought your cousin with you this time? Why haven't I seen him all this time?"

She paused, then added, "Many elders of the Dan Tower have heard of his talent and have come to me several times to inquire about him, their words full of recruitment intent, all wanting to take him as their personal disciple."

"Look, he's in that room. That kid's quite diligent; he went straight to his room to cultivate as soon as he settled in." "I specially set up a barrier outside his room to isolate his aura, so that he wouldn't be disturbed by the outside world and could also conceal the aura that leaked out when he was cultivating. It's normal that you can't sense it."

Following her gaze, Xiao Ling raised his hand and pointed to a room with its doors and windows tightly closed on the west side of the courtyard, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"However, let's forget about those elders wanting to take him as a disciple."

“That kid already became a disciple of a senior in his early years and has a proper master. Besides, I personally guide his cultivation. Whether it's alchemy or the understanding of talismanic arts, I can give him the most suitable path. There is no need to find another master. Instead, he would be bound by more rules, which would not be of much benefit to him and would only delay his growth.”

"Is that so?" Dan Chen chimed in softly from the side, a hint of surprise flashing in her clear eyes, before she sighed softly.
"Then the Grand Elder will probably be disappointed. Ever since Senior Brother Song Qing died unexpectedly at the Pill Gathering, he has been looking for another outstanding disciple to inherit his mantle. Cousin Xiao Yan's aptitude is so outstanding that he is highly regarded by the Grand Elder, but unexpectedly... it seems that the Grand Elder is not so fortunate after all."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful smile playing on his lips. He laughed loudly, "Hehe, so there's such a connection. If you hadn't mentioned Song Qing's name today, Chen'er, I'd probably have forgotten about him."

The three chatted idly as they walked side by side toward the courtyard. The sun was shining brightly, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the bluestone path beneath their feet stretched into the distance, leading directly toward the Dan Tower.

The roadside was lush with vegetation, and the birds sang sweetly. The relaxed and pleasant atmosphere of their conversation blended perfectly with the serene scenery around them. As the group gradually disappeared into the distance, they slowly made their way towards the Dan Tower...

……

At the top of the Dan Tower, in a magnificent and spacious hall, seven figures stood solemnly.

Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Tian Leizi, the three giants of the Pill Tower, stood side by side, their auras calm and composed. Yao Chen, dressed in plain clothes, exuded a faint and ethereal aura, his expression indifferent. Xiao Ling stood to one side with Cao Ying and Dan Chen, exchanging a few words from time to time.

At this moment, Cao Ying and Dan Chen's gazes kept drifting towards Yao Chen's direction, their eyes filled with barely suppressed curiosity.

This "Number One Alchemist of the Continent," whom I had only heard about in legends and casual conversations with my elders, was a legend that lingered in my ears during my childhood. Such a brilliant and extraordinary person, who had experienced ups and downs, had only existed in distant rumors before, but now he was standing right in front of me.

The two women's supposedly discreet glances did not escape Yao Chen's keen perception.

With a slight movement of his soul power, he took in the two's subtle movements. He then turned his head, his gaze falling on Cao Ying and Dan Chen beside Xiao Ling. He raised an eyebrow and spoke with a playful, old-fashioned tone.
"You two little girls, do you think I'm hiding some kind of treasure? Why are you always sneaking glances at this old man?"

He changed the subject abruptly, stroking his non-existent long beard and feigning smugness, saying, "Although I consider myself as handsome as ever and as dashing as ever, I am also aware of my own limitations. Compared to Xiao Ling's appearance, I am still slightly inferior. If you want to see someone, you should look at him. Staring at this old man like me makes me a little uncomfortable."

As soon as he finished speaking, the solemn atmosphere in the hall dissipated considerably. Xuan Kongzi and the others couldn't help but chuckle, and even Xiao Ling shook his head with a smile, looking at the two women with a strange expression.

When Yao Chen pointed it out so bluntly, Cao Ying and Dan Chen's cheeks instantly flushed slightly. They shyly looked away, their eyes darting around, unsure of how to respond.

Cao Ying was the first to regain her composure and break the slightly awkward atmosphere. She looked up at Yao Chen and spoke respectfully with a hint of sincerity: "Senior Yao Chen is a legend in the continent's alchemy world, and he was also the benchmark and role model for me and my sister Chen'er when we were young. I had only heard of him before but never met him. Now that I have the honor of seeing him in person, I am extremely curious. I was quite impolite just now, so please don't take it to heart, Senior."

Upon hearing this, Yao Chen burst into hearty laughter, his voice carefree and unrestrained: "Haha! I never expected that my name would still circulate in Zhongzhou after disappearing for so long. It seems that this legendary name cannot be easily faded by time!"

He turned to look at Xuan Kongzi beside him, his tone teasing: "Xuan Kongzi, your precious disciple has a sharp eye. Back then, he actually took me as his role model. It seems that your usual teachings are ultimately no match for my reputation. You're not a very good master!"

Xuan Kongzi, who had been watching the show with amusement, was caught off guard by Yao Chen's sudden retort, and his expression immediately stiffened, his smile freezing on his lips.

He thought to himself, "Sure enough, I made a few jokes at that old guy yesterday. Given his vengeful nature, he'll definitely find a chance to get back at me today. This revenge came really fast."

On the other side, Cao Ying saw that Yao Chen had misunderstood her meaning, and she immediately panicked. She wanted to explain herself, but she didn't know where to start. She had absolutely no intention of offending her master or elevating outsiders.

Fortunately, Xiao Ling noticed her embarrassment in time and intervened to defuse the situation. He gently stroked her hair and said in a gentle tone with a hint of teasing, "Alright, Ying'er, the old doctor was just joking. Don't take it to heart."

"Don't be fooled by Elder Yao's seemingly superior demeanor. He is actually very easygoing and fiercely protective of his own. If you ever encounter any difficulties in alchemy or setbacks in your cultivation as a talisman master, feel free to ask Elder Yao for guidance. He is always happy to mentor younger generations and will certainly share all his knowledge with you."

After a relaxed chat, the atmosphere in the hall gradually quieted down, and everyone finally got down to business.

Yao Chen's previous carefree smile faded, his gaze falling on Xuan Kongzi, his tone becoming more serious.
“Xuan Kongzi, tell me, do you think those old guys in the Little Pill Tower will agree to my proposal to reopen a hall within the Pill Tower and manage it separately? You know, this would mean dividing up a considerable portion of the Pill Tower's power, and they might not be willing to give in.”

Faced with Yao Chen's question, Xuan Kongzi also put away his joking expression, his face becoming serious, and slowly said,
"If anyone else had made such a request to the Pill Tower, not only would the old folks of the Little Pill Tower not have agreed, but even I would have to think it over carefully and would never have agreed so easily."

He paused and changed the subject:
"But this time is different. The cultivation method of talisman masters is of extraordinary significance and has immeasurable value for the long-term development of our Pill Tower, so it should be considered separately. Moreover, although I still don't know the reason, those old guys in the Little Pill Tower really value this kid Xiao Ling highly. They even directly granted him the position of elder of the Little Pill Tower before, which is an unprecedented treatment. With this relationship, this matter should have great potential, and the success rate is not low..." (End of this chapter)

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