"Senior, your immortal bearing and dignified presence, could you be True Person Yiqing!?" Lu Fan and Zhuge Xian appeared before the Taoist temple's gate. They bowed to the old Taoist sweeping the ground and asked.
"Oh? It's been a long... long time since anyone mentioned this name! It's fortunate that two young people actually know my Taoist sobriquet." The old Taoist slowly turned around, his movements sluggish, as if afraid of straining his back.
"Are you sure this old man is the Yiqing True Person we're looking for?" Zhuge Xian tugged at Lu Fan's sleeve beside him, asking in a low voice. This old man looked so frail, could he really be that reclusive master of the Super Soul Realm?
"True Person Yiqing is afraid that if he turns too quickly, he'll blow you away!" Lu Fan said with a slight smile.
"Tch... you don't think so?" Zhuge Xian pouted...
*Whoosh...* Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past them. The wind was like a sharp blade, making their faces sting.
*Clack...* The broom in the old Taoist's hand flew past Zhuge Xian and landed steadily in the corner of the wall.
"Holy... crap..." Zhuge Xian suddenly covered her mouth, realizing that a young lady shouldn't curse. But she was indeed startled just now.
"You two youngsters should be Hua Thirty-Five, who is famous in the martial world, and the girl from the Zhuge family, Zhuge Xian! Please follow me!" True Person Yiqing said, then walked towards the Taoist temple. His pace was unhurried, very slow, yet in an instant, he was inside the temple.
Lu Fan and Zhuge Xian exchanged a glance. It was quite unexpected that he recognized their identities at a glance.
The two followed him into the Taoist temple. True Person Yiqing had already poured two cups of tea for them.
"How did you know our names, True Person?" Lu Fan asked with a smile.
"A fellow Taoist, who was somewhat eccentric and unkempt, told me! He also asked me to help you fight against Han Shi Xuan!" True Person Yiqing said plainly.
"The unkempt old Taoist? How did this old fellow know so clearly? It seems he truly is adept at deciphering heavenly secrets!" Lu Fan was slightly taken aback, not expecting the unkempt old Taoist to be so prescient.
"True Person Yiqing! So... you've agreed to help us? Are there... no conditions?" Lu Fan asked with some surprise. Those who cultivate in seclusion are pure and desireless, and are generally difficult to tempt. He wondered what method the unkempt old Taoist used to persuade True Person Yiqing!
"Of course, there are!" True Person Yiqing smiled slightly. Then he added, "I know I need Hua Thirty-Five to help me with one thing: refining a pill!"
"What pill?" Lu Fan asked urgently.
"The Yuan Guard Pill!" True Person Yiqing glanced at Lu Fan and continued, "The Yuan Guard Pill is a pill for stabilizing the Soul Realm. After taking it, it can increase the chances of transforming from a False Immortal to a True Immortal by twenty percent. You might not be able to refine it now, but I only ask that you promise me, when you are capable of refining this pill, you will definitely help me refine one!"
Names of the Yuan Guard Pill and some medicinal ingredients gradually appeared in Lu Fan's mind, but not the refining method. Lu Fan knew that this was likely because his realm was not high enough to refine it.
It was similar to how, before his transformation, he had no idea about the refining methods of certain pills, but after his transformation, they inexplicably appeared in his mind. It seemed that the Shen Nong Health Cultivation Art also needed continuous upgrades to unlock more of its contents.
"Alright! This is not a difficult matter!" Lu Fan immediately agreed. He often refined pills to help the people of Hua Rong Prefecture and the young talents of the training team. His pill-refining skills didn't seem to be a secret. It was quite normal for the unkempt old Taoist to use this method to persuade True Person Yiqing.
"Don't underestimate the Yuan Guard Pill. Even the ancestor of the Murong family, who has the best pill-refining skills among the six hidden families, finds it difficult to refine. However, since you've promised, I believe you! Someone who can cripple the Shadow Organization with their own strength is trustworthy." True Person Yiqing became somewhat excited. If he had a Yuan Guard Pill, he would have a twenty percent greater chance of becoming an immortal. Who wouldn't want to become an immortal!
"Yes! The pills I casually refine are not comparable to those of the Murong family!" Lu Fan smiled slightly. In Hua Rong Prefecture, his pills were in no way comparable to those of the Murong family.
"Alright!" True Person Yiqing gave an embarrassed smile. It was precisely because of Lu Fan's great reputation in pill refining that he had believed the unkempt old Taoist. If he were to remind Lu Fan, wouldn't it become a joke?
"My Brother Fan is amazing!" Zhuge Xian looked at Lu Fan with adoration.
*Gulp...* Lu Fan swallowed. Little sister, could you stop talking? Well, a Taoist of over a hundred years old probably wouldn't understand!
"Then... Senior? May we proceed to Han Shi Xuan now?" Lu Fan asked urgently.
"No rush! With my strength alone, it is still difficult to contend with the Duanmu family's power. We still need to wait for two more people." True Person Yiqing said unhurriedly.
"Who?" Lu Fan suddenly had a premonition. Could it be the unkempt old Taoist...
"Master Haidu from Mount Putuo. Elder Nun Suzhen from Mount Emei!" True Person Yiqing indeed said with a slight smile.
"This old fellow!" Lu Fan smiled. This old fellow was truly helpful at crucial moments. If he had to go so far to invite two people, by the time he returned, Duanmu would have probably already annihilated the six great families. This was also why he was eager to go to Han Shi Xuan.
"You two can enjoy a day's tour of the mountain. Tomorrow, those two fellow Taoists will arrive, and then we can all head to Han Shi Xuan together to purge some scum from Huaxia!" True Person Yiqing said.
"Alright!" Lu Fan nodded. He took Zhuge Xian to wander around Mount Wutai, admiring its steep peaks and the splendor of the Golden Hall.
The next day, Master Haidu and Elder Nun Suzhen arrived. Master Haidu was a stout old Taoist, so plump he didn't look like a reclusive master at all, but rather like a complete foodie. Elder Nun Suzhen, on the other hand, had some charm, and it was evident that she was a beauty in her youth.
After some conversation, Lu Fan learned that these two were also persuaded by the unkempt old Taoist with the promise of the Yuan Guard Pill. However, regardless of how they were brought here, they now had to go to the Duanmu family at Han Shi Xuan to resolve the matter!
On Qingcheng Mountain, atop a peak, within the Laojun Pavilion, five people were seated. One had yellow skin and black eyes, and four had white skin and blue eyes. The five sat facing each other, all cultivating, and all using the Chinese cultivation methods.
"Brother Duanmu! Qingrong has been to the six great families for several days, why hasn't he returned? Could something have happened?" One of the foreigners suddenly opened his eyes and said to Old Ancestor Duanmu.
"Hmph! Even if the six great families are unwilling to hand over Hua Thirty-Five, they wouldn't dare to do anything to Qingrong." Old Ancestor Duanmu snorted coldly, then added, "There is a young girl in the Zhuge family named Zhuge Xian. She's quite attractive, and Qingrong is very fond of that girl's muscular physique! Hahaha! Perhaps he's lingering for beauty, staying a few extra days. Don't worry about it, everyone.
Besides, the ancestors of the six great families are all in our hands, so they will obediently listen to us. Find a way to send that brat Hua Thirty-Five over. If they dare to touch my grand-nephew, hmph! I will personally destroy the six great families!"
*Whoosh...* *Bang...* As soon as Old Ancestor Duanmu finished speaking, suddenly, a figure shot through the air and crashed to the ground with a thud. It was Duanmu Qingrong's corpse!
"Bastards! The six great families... I'll destroy you!" Old Ancestor Duanmu roared instantly.