A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

"Um?"

Qian Butong frowned. "Kid, what are you so afraid of?"

He looked at Luo Fan's sincere and fearful face, and his expression turned strange.

Has the ability, but doesn't want to flaunt it?

Feeling wronged, but only wanting to settle things peacefully?

This personality...

How come he looks exactly like Old Man Li when he was young?

That kind-hearted person, who never fought or competed his whole life, ended up...

Ugh!

"Alright, I agree!"

Qian Butong's voice was low and carried a rare seriousness, "But you have to tell me why?"

Is this kid really willing to be labeled a good-for-nothing? Isn't he afraid of being expelled from the sect?

"this...."

Luo Fan forced a smile, "To be honest, senior, what I said just now was all a lie."

"What do you mean?"

Qian Butong's eyes twitched; he had a feeling this kid was going to keep trying to fool him.

Luo Fan lowered his head and remained silent for a long time, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

When Luo Fan looked up, his red-rimmed eyes startled him so much that he almost blurted out...

What the hell!

"This disciple is incompetent. This elixir was actually prepared by my master, who knew his days were numbered, using his last strength to prepare a way out for me."

"My master said that after he left, Danfeng would be difficult to protect. Since I was useless, he refined some pills and hid them in various places on Danfeng."

He instructed his disciples that if they encountered difficulties, they could use this in an emergency, or perhaps... to ensure the continuation of the lineage.

Luo Fan's acting skills are superb, perfectly portraying the image of a disciple who relies on his master's legacy and feels guilty and helpless.

"As for the alchemy I just refined... Although I received my master's last teachings, my foundation is still too shallow, and the pills I refined cannot compare to my master's legacy."

"I only meant to avoid disgracing my master and the reputation of Danfeng, so I made a fool of myself before an expert. Please forgive me, Elder!"

Luo Fan bowed deeply, his shoulders trembling.

Qian Butong remained silent.

Yes.

With Old Man Li's personality, how could he not make plans for his only disciple?

Even if this disciple is not up to par, he is still the successor that Li Chishui has recognized.

It's perfectly normal to have some backup plans.

What's the point of being so aggressive and insisting on exposing someone?

Do we really want to prevent Old Man Li from finding peace in the afterlife?

But is it really as that kid said?

he does not know.

The evil fire and obsession in Qian Butong's heart suddenly dissipated.

He let out a long sigh, and his straight back hunched over a bit.

"Never mind..."

He waved his hand, looking tired and desolate. "Old Li, you've won. You've protected your disciple."

He turned and walked out, his steps heavy. When he reached the door, he paused, but did not look back.

"Danfeng, guard it well, lest your master in the afterlife still worry about you."

Xiong Chumo gave Luo Fan a deep look before following Qian Butong's footsteps.

He gave Luo Fan a thumbs up again and left with a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Not far outside the door.

Qian Butong stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance.

"Do you think that kid's story is believable?"

"What does Master think?"

Xiong Chumo blinked.

"I?"

He laughed. "I'm just a fool who thinks he's clever, aren't I?"

Xiong Chumo stared blankly at Qian Butong's laughing departing figure.

Qian Butong's voice came again, "You can't go wrong if you spend more time with your junior brother in the future."

Eh?

Is this something her master would say?

For the first time, Xiong Chumo felt that she could no longer understand her master.

yard.

The sorrow and shame on Luo Fan's face dissipated, replaced by a furrowed brow.

Something's not right.

"How could there be no side effects?"

Could it be that he can now refine normal pills?

It was absolutely impossible given the Great Dao Furnace and the characteristics of his physique.

Why did Elder Qian have no reaction after eating it?

Does this mean that side effects vary from person to person?

I need to go check it out.

What if the side effect is that Elder Qian has to do a striptease in front of everyone?

That would be a lot of fun.

He had to go and see what was going on... oops... get firsthand information.

Luo Bufan stayed far behind Qian Butong and his apprentice, maintaining a safe distance.

Qian Butong did not return to Qifeng, but went straight towards the direction of the sect leader's main peak.

"As expected... it's time to report back."

Luo Fan became even more careful to conceal his presence.

The next second, he transformed into King Gigi.

"Fly...fly...flyed away...holy crap!"

At this moment, the money between the master and apprentice transformed into a streak of light in the sky.

Luo Fan was on the verge of tears. As a weakling at the late stage of the sixth level of Qi Refining, he couldn't fly.

Only by breaking through the twelfth level of Qi Refining can one possess the ability to fly.

Although they cannot fly, their agility is just as impressive if they use their movements skillfully.

Before long, Qian Butong and his apprentice arrived at the square in front of the sect leader's hall.

The sect leader, Fairy Yunxi, dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, was stunningly beautiful. She was talking with several elders under an ancient pine tree.

Besides the Dan Hall elders and outer sect elder Kong Lingfei whom Luo Fan had met, there were also two female elders.

One of them is Elder Liu Linglong of Medicine Peak, who has a gentle and graceful demeanor.

The other was Elder Lengyue of the Discipline Hall, whose name reflected her cold and beautiful appearance and sharp, piercing gaze.

Qian Butong strode forward, his voice booming.

"Sect Leader! Fellow disciples!"

Everyone looked over at the sound.

Fairy Yunxi's gaze swept over Qian Butong's face, and she nodded slightly, her voice clear and melodious like a spring.

"Elder Qian, it seems you've obtained the Heart-Clearing Pill? Has your injury improved?"

Her tone was concerned, carrying the sect leader's routine greetings to the elders.

however--

The moment the words left his mouth.

Qian Butong, who was standing in front of her, trembled almost imperceptibly.

He looked up at Fairy Yunxi and gave her an extremely bright, sincere, and slightly fawning smile.

Then, in an unprecedentedly clear, loud, and emotional tone, he spoke aloud.

"Thanks to the sect leader's good fortune! I'm completely healed!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder they say the sect leader is the pillar of our Peach Blossom Temple, a goddess descended from the heavens!"

Look at your complexion, your makeup, your figure today…it's simply…um…

He paused for a moment, as if racking his brains for an adjective.

Immediately, her eyes lit up, and she blurted out, "She's absolutely radiant and breathtakingly beautiful!"

Fairy Yunxi: "...?"

The elders: "???"

Hiding behind the artificial hill in the distance, Luo Fan strained his ears and his eyelids twitched violently.

coming!

It is coming!

Side effects may be late, but they'll arrive eventually!

Could this be a truth or dare mode?

Qian Butong was completely unaware of the inappropriateness of his words and continued to speak, his gaze burning as he looked at Fairy Yunxi's face.

"Look at the powder and rouge on your face, how evenly applied, the bright colors, just like a freshly fired, top-quality porcelain piece, except..."

Qian Butong stroked his chin, lost in thought.

He leaned closer and lowered his voice, but everyone could hear him.

"It's just that they applied a bit too much paint, and their face and neck aren't the same color. It looks okay from a distance, but up close it looks a bit... cough, like a mask."

Snapped!

Qian Butong snapped his fingers. "Sect Leader, next time I'll have the girls from Weapon Peak mix some colorfast spiritual colors for you, guaranteed to look natural!"

Dead silence.

The square was deathly silent.

Only the mountain breeze rustling through the ancient pines makes a soft, rustling sound.

The gentle and dignified smile on Fairy Yunxi's face froze completely.

Her eye twitched almost imperceptibly, and the knuckles of her hand behind her back turned white.

An awkward, suffocating atmosphere filled the air.

"Junior Brother Qian!"

Elder Qingxiao of the Dan Hall was the first to react. His face darkened, and he shouted sternly.

"What nonsense are you spouting! Apologize to the sect leader right now!"

His intention was to stop them, to give them a way out if they wouldn't listen to money.

Who knew—

Qian Butong immediately turned around, looked at him sincerely, and fixed his gaze on the top of his head.

"Ah! Senior Brother Qingxiao!"

Qian Butong greeted him warmly, "Your new hairstyle... oh no, this new hair accessory suits you so well!"

He stretched out his large hand, seemingly wanting to pat Qingxiao Shangren on the shoulder, or perhaps he was gesturing.

"Look at how well this hairline is drawn, the curve, the texture... wow, it's way more realistic than the wig you wore last month!"

Qian Butong asked earnestly, "Which shop made this? Can I get one too? My scalp's been feeling a bit cold lately..."

Master Qingxiao's face instantly turned from black to a deep liver color.

He covered his head, trembling with anger, his lips quivering, unable to utter a single word.

"Money! Not! Acceptable!"

A chilling, murderous shout suddenly rang out.

It was Elder Leng Yue from the Discipline Hall.

Her pretty face was frosty, her beautiful eyes blazing, and her hand was already gripping the hilt of the sword.

"You have insulted the sect leader and mocked your fellow disciples. What is your punishment?"

Normally, if Qian Butong were to be glared at like that by Leng Yue, he would at least restrain himself a bit, even if he was unwilling.

But today…

Qian Butong turned around at the sound, saw Leng Yue, and his eyes lit up.

His gaze softened inexplicably.