The Eternal Saint of Alchemy

Chen Yuan nodded in agreement.

The first three volumes of "The Great Void Collection" were completed before winter. The first volume was drafted and contained the basic principles of the Nine Towers Seal and the complete operational process of the Burning Bone Abyss Harmony System.

The fourth volume records the locations of the three array points, while the fifth volume details the journey westward, the Extreme Fire Abyss Technique, the Path of Sand and Fire, and so on. The sixth volume is still somewhat blank, and Xiao Fan plans to start writing it after the sacrificial ceremony is completed.

One late autumn evening, after writing at his desk all day, he put down his pen and stretched his limbs.

Light snow drifted down from the gray sky, landing on the ginkgo branches in the courtyard. A thin layer of frost covered the golden leaves, making them look quite beautiful.

He pushed open the window and grabbed some snowflakes.

Snowflakes quickly condensed into cool water droplets in his palm, dripping onto the windowsill and leaving a small, damp, black mark. Just as he was about to close the window and return, he saw a figure approaching through the thin snow.

Ye Ruolin, wearing a thick, frosty white cloak, walked in from outside the door, her footsteps leaving neat footprints on the snow.

She walked to the window, looked up at him, and a cloud of white mist formed in front of her.

"I heard you're writing a book, so I brought some samples. Is there anything I can add?"

Xiao Fan stuck his head out the window and took a heavy bag containing several kinds of fire-attribute ores.

Ye Ruolin stood by the window, brushed the snowflakes off her clothes, and smiled, "I wonder how you are? I haven't seen you since you came back from the West. I wanted to see if you were really injured."

Xiao Fan chuckled and let her go inside. Ye Ruolin shook the snow off her cloak, pushed open the door, and entered. Han Fei had already added some charcoal to the living room, making it warm and cozy.

When it was time to eat, Fen Guyuan, Yun Ruoxi, and the others sat around the brazier, eating and chatting. The heat from the tea and the warmth of the charcoal fire, along with the snowflakes falling outside the window, kept out the chill of the night.

When Ye Ruolin left, a layer of snow half a finger's width had already accumulated on the ground. She straightened her cloak, turned and walked outside. After walking a short distance, she turned back and waved to Xiao Fan: "See you at the end of the year."

Xiao Fan stood in the hallway watching her leave, rubbed his slightly cold hands, and turned to go back to his room.

The annual general meeting of the League was held as scheduled on the 18th.

Yuncang Mountain was covered with thick white snow, and the pine trees on both sides of the mountain road were covered with white frost, reflecting starlight under the sunlight.

When Xiao Fan arrived, the area outside the mountain gate was already filled with carriages and horses, with banners waving in the wind.

As he walked, people made way for him, some bowing respectfully, others stopping in their tracks with smiles on their faces.

The meeting place was in a large hall on Mount Yuncang. The hall was very large, enough to accommodate three or four hundred people, and it was already half full.

Xiao Fan sat in the very center, with people from the Three Flames Hall and the Ice and Fire Pavilion on his left and right sides, respectively. Further in front were the council seats of the elders.

The ceremony was conducted in a very simple manner. Elder Shen, as the Grand Elder of the Alliance, summarized and concluded the lineage of the Grand Void Pill Saint.

Although his contribution to Xiao Fan was not significant, his words were insightful and everyone present listened attentively, occasionally casting admiring glances at Xiao Fan.

The final and most important step is to officially include the four characters "Successor of the Great Void Elixir Saint" in the Daqing Elixir Daoist lineage register.

Elder Shen arrived in Taichung, holding a jade seal, and solemnly stamped it on the unfolded silk scroll, affixing the seal of the Grand Alliance. Then he turned to face the crowd.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Meng Boyuan was the first to stand up and applaud, followed closely by Old Zhao.

Ye Ruolin sat in the center right side, arms crossed, clapping her hands with a smile, looking very pleased with herself.

Zhou Yanzhi stood up excitedly and clapped vigorously. Someone next to him tugged at his sleeve, gesturing for him to sit down. The applause grew louder, some from familiar faces and some from strangers.

Xiao Fan stood up and clasped his hands in a salute. He hadn't prepared a long thank-you speech; he simply expressed his gratitude and said that the "Tai Xu Collection" was already being written and would be placed in Chen Yuan's library next spring for everyone's reference.

Compared to Xie Ci himself, the reaction from the audience was much more intense. Many people showed great interest in the "Taixu Collection" and began to whisper among themselves.

After the ceremony, a group of people escorted him downstairs, with people constantly coming up to greet him along the way. Ye Ruolin squeezed through the crowd, patted him on the shoulder, and only then did he excuse himself to go to the balcony for some fresh air.

The winter sun shone brightly on the snow, illuminating the distant mountains. From the hall behind, the sounds of voices—clinking glasses, laughter—could be faintly heard.

He leaned against the balcony railing, letting the cold wind blow against his face. Yun Ruoxi stood beside him, gazing silently at the snow-covered sky outside the window.

Neither of them spoke; only the sound of their clothes fluttering in the wind and the faint laughter coming from the distant palace could be heard.

After the ceremony, Xiao Fan was not in a hurry to return to the Pill Tower, but instead found an inn at the foot of Yuncang Mountain to stay in.

In the living room, Ye Ruolin, Zhou Yanzhi, and Meng Boyuan were sitting around the fireplace, sipping wine and chatting.

Meng Boyuan, having a rare moment of free time, pulled Zhou Yanzhi aside to discuss some basic knowledge with him. Zhou Yanzhi, looking serious, took out his notebook and answered each question one by one. The two chatted amiably.

Ye Ruolin sat in a chair by the fireplace, slowly sipping her red wine, occasionally offering a few comments, but not saying much.

Xiao Fan sat by the campfire, listening to his conversation, holding a cup of hot wine in his hand. He didn't rush to drink it, but quietly watched the people on the fire.

Sparks occasionally flew from the firewood in the stove, crackling and adding a touch of tranquility to the night.

As darkness fell, Meng Boyuan took his leave and returned to his room, while Zhou Yanzhi yawned and departed.

Ye Ruolin downed the wine in her glass in one gulp, stood up and said to Xiao Fan, "Be careful on the road tomorrow, the snow is very slippery."

"Understood," Xiao Fan said, raising his glass.

She pushed open the door and entered. In the living room, Xiao Fan sat alone; the fire in the fireplace was almost gone, with only a trace of warmth remaining in the ashes.

A moment later, he got up and went back to his room, opened the window to let in some fresh air, and saw that snowflakes had started falling again outside. The ground was covered with a thick layer of bluestone, and the entire guest room looked like a traditional Chinese ink painting in the snowy night.

He closed the window, lay down on the bed, and listened to the rustling snowflakes before drifting off to sleep.