The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron

Chapter 1706: Chapter 1803: Follow at the Risk of One’s Life

There was no doubt that in the end, Fang Lin had taken that unprecedented step forward, reaching a new pinnacle of the Alchemy Tao and becoming the only Pill Sovereign of his era.

Fang Lin’s ascension to Pill Sovereign brought unprecedented glory to the Pill Saint Palace. Everyone in the palace regarded him as the rightful successor to the position of Palace Master, gathering the adoration and gazes of countless admirers—the epitome of brilliance and prominence.

And what of Qi Liansheng?

Though he once stood shoulder to shoulder with Fang Lin, his brilliance nearly equal to Fang Lin’s, he ultimately failed. In the most critical confrontation, he lost, becoming nothing more than a stepping stone for Fang Lin’s rise to Pill Sovereign.

All the glory, all the attention, was taken by Fang Lin. If it were anyone else, there would undoubtedly be feelings of anger and jealousy stirring toward him.

After Fang Lin’s ascension to Pill Sovereign, Qi Liansheng became extremely low-profile within the Pill Saint Palace, rarely appearing in public. Many believed he had become utterly disheartened, losing all his former edge and ambition.

Later, when Fang Lin perished unexpectedly while refining the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill and the Old Palace Master passed away abruptly, Qi Liansheng attempted to steal the treasured cauldron left behind by the Old Palace Master. When his actions were uncovered, he was stripped of his cultivation by the Great Elder and expelled from the Pill Saint Palace.

When Fang Lin learned of Qi Liansheng’s fate, he felt a multitude of complex emotions and melancholy rise within him.

Fang Lin harbored no animosity toward Qi Liansheng; in fact, he felt a certain sense of mutual respect and understanding. After all, during those years in the Pill Saint Palace, Fang Lin had been so extraordinary that he lacked true friends. Only Qi Liansheng, equally talented, could be considered as someone Fang Lin shared a connection with.

Furthermore, Fang Lin’s impression of Qi Liansheng had never been a poor one. He found it hard to believe that someone of Qi Liansheng’s character would stoop to stealing the Pill Furnace.

Yet, Fang Lin remained silent. People change—who could know if a series of misfortunes had drastically altered Qi Liansheng’s nature?

“What exactly was that great calamity? I’ve never fully understood it,” Fang Lin asked again.

Upon hearing him inquire about the calamity, Yun Cuilian’s eyes instantly betrayed a look of fear, as though she wished to avoid recalling those terrifying scenes.

“Ten suns in the sky, scorching the land, draining the lifeforce of all living beings. The higher one’s cultivation, the easier it was for their lifeforce to be completely extracted, leading to death. I witnessed the Great Elder being drained dry by those ten blazing suns, dying a miserable death on the spot. Those around him also fell one after another,” Yun Cuilian said in a trembling voice. Even after so many years, it was clear she had not escaped the shadow of that calamity despite her miraculous survival.

Fang Lin furrowed his brows deeply. It seemed that this so-called ancient calamity was indeed the ten suns jointly absorbing the lifeforce of all living beings. Otherwise, Fang Lin could scarcely imagine what could have wiped out so much of ancient life, leaving behind less than one-tenth.

The higher one’s cultivation, the more vulnerable they were to losing their lifeforce. This explained why, during that era filled with countless powerful beings, so many had perished. As for those with weaker cultivation, even if they managed to survive by sheer luck, they could not escape the erosion of time. Very few had endured from ancient times to the present.

Take, for example, the three Sky Tower Sword Masters. Their cultivation was far from weak, yet they survived through despicable means, sacrificing the innocent lives of countless others to ensure their own survival.

“If not for Martial Lord Hou Yi shooting down nine suns, I, along with countless others, would have perished in that calamity. This land would have been left barren of any living beings. It’s a pity that Martial Lord Hou Yi also lost his life,” Yun Cuilian said, her tone full of sorrow and her face etched with grief.

“I understand. It’s all in the past now,” Fang Lin comforted Yun Cuilian.

Looking at Fang Lin, Yun Cuilian’s aged face revealed a hint of relief. “To be able to see Pill Sovereign Fang again, I no longer have any lingering regrets.”

Fang Lin heard the meaning behind Yun Cuilian’s words—she was prepared for death. Having finally found an old acquaintance from the Pill Saint Palace, how could Fang Lin let her die?

“You and I are both remnants of the Pill Saint Palace. Since we are still alive, we must shoulder the responsibility of restoring the Pill Saint Palace. Don’t you wish for the name of the Pill Saint Palace to once again resonate across the world?” Fang Lin asked.

Yun Cuilian smiled. “What Pill Sovereign Fang says is true. Old as I am, with little life left, I will still follow Pill Sovereign Fang and devote the remnants of my strength to him and to the Pill Saint Palace. Only then can I die in peace.”

Fang Lin disliked hearing her speak of death so frequently, but he said nothing more. In his heart, however, he resolved that once they returned to the Sky Swallowing Palace, he would treat Yun Cuilian’s ailments and extend her lifespan, at least long enough for her to see the majestic plaque of the Pill Saint Palace rise again.

“Follow me,” Fang Lin said.

“I will follow to the death!” Yun Cuilian replied solemnly, her expression resolute.

····

No further words were exchanged as Fang Lin brought Yun Cuilian back to the Sky Swallowing Palace.

During Fang Lin’s absence, the Sky Swallowing Palace had remained peaceful. The Sealing Sword Pavilion had not returned to provoke them, and the various factions of the Nine Countries seemed to have entered a state of delicate balance.

Upon arriving at the Sky Swallowing Palace, Yun Cuilian introduced herself to its members. However, it was little more than an introduction. Her reserved and distant nature, likely a result of millennia spent in hiding, caused her to maintain a cautious demeanor toward everyone except Fang Lin.

Apart from Yun Cuilian, another figure had joined the Sky Swallowing Palace—or rather, been dragged there by misfortune—Xu Yanbing.

Indeed, the very Xu Yanbing who had been taken away by the Eight Swordsmen of the Sealing Sword Pavilion alongside Fang Lin. Fang Lin had rescued him by chance in the Ten Thousand Mountains and brought him to the Sky Swallowing Palace.

The East Pole Heaven King had shamelessly visited the Sky Swallowing Palace several times, hoping to reclaim Xu Yanbing, an exceptional talent in the Alchemy Tao. Yet, he had failed to succeed.

Eventually, when the East Pole Heaven King visited again, Fang Lin finally returned Xu Yanbing to him. After all, the man had humbled himself repeatedly. Any further refusal might have led the Heaven King to simply camp at the Sky Swallowing Palace permanently.

“Oh, I almost forgot to mention. The Alchemy Tao families have been rather restless lately. Aside from the Long Family, more than ten other Alchemy Tao families have conspired to challenge your identity as a Master of Pill Tao,” the East Pole Heaven King cautioned Fang Lin before leaving with Xu Yanbing.

After the Heaven King’s departure, Fang Lin learned the details from Dugu Nian. Apparently, following their defeat in the contest against the Pill Alliance, the Alchemy Tao families had become divided. Several major families, led by the Ling Family, Wu Family, and Zhu Family, along with over a dozen second-tier families, sought to break away from the Long Family’s control. Their first objective was to strip Fang Lin of his title as a Master of Pill Tao.

ps: Second update completed. Continuing to write.

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