Raise a sword!

After hearing Jiang Peng's explanation, Sun Yinxi, who didn't know much about alchemy, tensed up a little.

Knowing that this was the Liu family's home turf, she lowered her voice, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone.

"Is Liu Xian secretly forcing you to hand over Danyangzi's alchemy techniques?"

Jiang Peng shook her head, gently patted Sun Yinxi's hand, and gave her a reassuring look.

"Senior sister doesn't understand alchemy, but Liu, who is eager to train alchemists, certainly does."

Jiang Peng narrowed her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible arrogance.

"What is the inheritance of alchemy techniques? It's just a matter of an ancient book and a jade slip, hundreds of thousands of words long, covering all kinds of pills from the selection of spiritual materials to the control of fire."

"The Liu family would not be unable to collect such inheritances. They probably even have the alchemy techniques of Danyangzi that I, their junior brother, have learned. Back then, Senior Danyangzi left behind several disciples in the Southern Mountain Region! He never said that he would never allow his disciples to pass on what they had learned to others."

Jiang Peng tapped his fingertips lightly on the table. Meeting Sun Yinxi's curious gaze, he continued, "The inheritance of alchemy requires someone to guide you at all times... If an apprentice is left to figure out a simple fire control technique on his own, he may never figure it out in his entire life."

"But if a teacher is watching over you and gives you a few words of guidance, you can save an apprentice a lot of hard work."

Upon hearing this, Sun Yinxi finally understood what Jiang Peng meant.

"So, to learn alchemy, one must have a master to guide them; self-study is not possible?"

"good."

Sun Yinxi looked Jiang Peng up and down as if she were seeing him for the first time.

"And what about you, junior brother?"

Jiang Peng countered, "How many people like me have you seen, Senior Sister?"

This statement was rather arrogant, but Sun Yinxi nodded in agreement.

She didn't know much about alchemy, but she knew the significance of Qin Yuan, a second-level alchemist, searching for a successor for decades before finally choosing Jiang Peng.

With Jiang Peng's explanation, Liu Xian's words can be understood in a different light.

"So Liu Xian isn't forcing the Cangshan Sect to hand over Danyangzi's inheritance, but rather wants to recreate the event of Elder Liu Zhi's visit to the sect, so that Liu's disciples can come to the Cangshan Sect to learn Danyangzi's alchemy techniques and bring them back to the Liu family?"

Sun Yinxi muttered to herself, "Is this a trade of Xuanxin Leaves for Danyangzi's alchemy technique? What if, after the Liu family disciples have mastered it...?"

She didn't finish her sentence, but Jiang Peng already understood the meaning of the second half.

Jiang Peng thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "The training of an alchemist is not something that can be done overnight, but every two or three years the Liu family has to provide the sect with a few Xuanxin Leaves. This matter still seems to have some suspicion of coercion, but in fact the initiative is in our hands."

"Because both the Liu family and we know that the Xuanxin Leaf is not exclusively produced by the Liu family, and the sect does not necessarily have to follow the Liu family's path."

"After they mastered the alchemy techniques of the Cangshan Sect, they never lacked the sect's supply of Xuanxin Leaves... Thinking about it, there must be some connection involved."

Jiang Peng pointed to the banquet hall filled with distinguished guests and whispered, "The Liu family, which has been operating in the southern foothills for many years, is clearly not short-sighted... It's not a bad thing to be on good terms with the Cangshan Sect. What difference does it make who we sell the Xuanxin Leaf to?"

"Elder Liu Zhi was still alive in the past."

"So, aren't they going to send a new Elder Liu Zhi to the sect to learn martial arts?"

Sun Yinxi understood, as if she had thought of something, and looked at Jiang Peng with a light smile.

The plot is heating up: Update! Come check out Cola Novels!

"Senior Brother Qin Yuan is getting old, so the burden on my shoulders will be even heavier."

Jiang Peng smiled noncommittally.

If this succeeds, Jiang Peng's position in the Cangshan Sect will be completely secure.

Even if he is unable to establish his foundation like Qin Yuan in the future, not a single person in the entire sect will regard him as an ordinary Qi Refining disciple.

Even a Golden Core cultivator would have to treat him with some courtesy.

Because Jiang Peng replaced Liu Zhi, becoming a new bridge between the sect and the Liu family.

...

As the bells rang three times, the Liu family patriarch, dressed in a festive red robe, appeared in the venue.

The patriarch of the Liu family looked very old, but always had a smile on his face.

He did not appear from the back hall, but entered through the front door, greeting the guests along the way and pausing from time to time to exchange a few pleasantries.

Regardless of the guest's cultivation level, this patriarch always treated them all equally.

Soon, the ancestor arrived at Jiang Peng's table.

Liu Xian, who was standing beside the patriarch, whispered at the opportune moment, "These two are guests of the Cangshan Sect."

But then the Liu family patriarch waved his hand, looking at Sun Yinxi with a smile in his eyes.

"Why would I need you to introduce her? She's Lu Lin's apprentice, I just heard her mention her a few years ago... Sun Yinxi, right?"

Sun Yinxi bowed respectfully, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Sun Yinxi wishes Senior Liu a happy birthday."

"No need for such formalities!"

The Liu family patriarch personally helped Sun Yinxi up and said with a smile, "Yinxi, go back and tell your master that she is not young anymore. Don't think that just because she has a baby face, she is a little child."

"She has also passed the Nascent Soul stage. Judging from her amazing talent, she will be one of us in a few years... Seniors should restrain their temper and not be reckless just because of their high cultivation."

At this point, the Liu family patriarch seemed to realize that his tone was a bit harsh. He looked around and saw that all the guests were looking in his direction.

He then smiled with a hint of relief.

"I have no grievances against the Cangshan Sect, and I am also on very good terms with Master Lü... These words may sound unpleasant, but I am referring to that girl Lü Lin."

Some people are still confused.

The Liu family patriarch then said, "It is Ni Chang!"

Upon hearing this, a chorus of sudden realizations arose among those present, with some even beginning to recount the various misdeeds of Ni Chang.

Jiang Peng, who was standing to the side, found it amusing.

He knew that the Peak Master of Ni Chang often traveled to the southern foothills and the outer sea, but he never knew that she had such a great reputation here.

And it doesn't seem to have a good reputation.

The Liu family patriarch's gaze fell on Jiang Peng again.

Liu Xian then introduced Jiang Peng's identity.

After listening to Liu Xian's introduction, the Liu family patriarch laughed and said, "Very good, very good. The Cangshan Sect is indeed blessed. I have heard Liu Zhi mention the name of young friend Qin Yuan before. Now that young friend Qin Yuan has a successor, this is a fortunate thing."

Jiang Peng bowed respectfully.

After he stood up, the Liu family patriarch nodded slightly and then went to the next table to exchange pleasantries.

After a good half hour of this, the Liu family patriarch finally sat down at the main table, raised his wine cup, and expressed his gratitude.

The guests raised their glasses, and for a moment, everyone was in high spirits.

Amidst this lively atmosphere, the birthday banquet officially began.

Urgent! Major plot twist! Watch now!