Zhao Min's question hit Li Yan's ears, and his body shuddered. "Oh, oh oh... no... no, I thought you would only hold the wedding ceremony after you had formed your Nascent Soul..."
"Then you go back and tell Mother and the others yourself. She will definitely be very happy!"
Zhao Min had been out of seclusion for so many years and had not gone to find Li Yan, for fear of disturbing his cultivation. But every time she saw Zhao Zhi's somewhat forced smile, Zhao Min's heart would tighten. She knew that Zhao Zhi felt that she could not accompany her husband and daughter on the immortal path forever and was already somewhat disheartened, yet she did not want to make her sad.
But this was also the sorrow of cultivators. They were not like mortals, who, from the time they understood things, knew that without disaster or illness, they would at most live for a hundred years. In the following years, as they grew, they would begin to watch the people around them leave one by one. Although they could not accept this reality in their hearts, they were powerless to change anything, until one day they died of old age, ending this life's reincarnation.
Cultivators, however, knew the approximate lifespan of each realm and needed to constantly seek breakthroughs. When one day they found that they could no longer cross the peak, the sorrow of waiting for death was indescribable. Moreover, the higher a cultivator's cultivation, the longer their seclusion would be. Decades, even a hundred years, could sometimes be the blink of an eye. A seemingly long lifespan could not withstand a few sessions of meditation and cultivation. When they came out of seclusion again, things would already have changed, and their lifespan would have passed by unknowingly.
Seeing her mother again today, the look in Zhao Zhi's eyes was even softer. Zhao Min could read the meaning in her mother's eyes. It was a longing for family, a cherishing of her company for over a hundred years! In the future, once Zhao Min successfully formed her Nascent Soul, her lifespan would be even longer, while Zhao Zhi would no longer be able to see all this, no longer be able to have long talks with her daughter.
This made Zhao Min see a sense of the setting sun in Zhao Zhi's eyes. It was definitely not the way her mother should be. After a moment of thought, she finally made a decision... and sent a voice transmission to Li Yan!
It wasn't that the immortal path was heartless, but that the immortal path was too long. The pebbles of emotion could not pave a very long immortal road. A long-lasting companionship could only leave behind a lonely great Dao ahead!
...
Wei Zhongran and his wife sat back in the courtyard, talking in low voices. Occasionally, a hint of pity would flash in Wei Zhongran's eyes. Since Zhao Zhi had failed to break through, she would often sit alone quietly in the courtyard. It seemed as if she were closing her eyes to meditate, but she had not entered a state of cultivation. She would just sit there quietly, letting time flow past her...
Wei Zhongran saw this and felt pity. Although he had also tried to counsel her, it had little effect. In addition, as a Nascent Soul ancestor, besides handling some necessary sect affairs, cultivation was also indispensable. Even a single session of meditation could take several months or years. As such, Zhao Zhi's time alone became more and more frequent. She would sit alone with no joy or sorrow on her face.
Only when Zhao Min and Wei Zhongran were with her would a smile appear on Zhao Zhi's face. Her beautiful eyes would rest on them, as if it were an eternal moment in the mortal world.
"This is a five-thousand-year-old 'Yinglong Wood' root. It is the main ingredient for refining the 'Bright Immortal Powder.' I have also collected the other auxiliary materials. Tomorrow, I will officially begin alchemy. At most, it will take seven or eight years; at least, one year, and I can refine a 'Bright Immortal Powder.' At that time, you can take this pill and go into seclusion again. Based on your last situation, you should only be a line away from an epiphany. The great Dao is within reach!" Wei Zhongran said to Zhao Zhi, who was sitting on the other side of the stone table, holding a gnarled root about seven inches long.
Zhao Zhi looked at the root in Wei Zhongran's hand, which was suffused with a verdant spiritual rhyme and occasionally swayed gently with the rhyme like a spiritual snake. Then, she raised her head and looked at the slightly plump young man, a smile in her eyes. "There's no need. I feel that that one line of enlightenment should be some kind of opportunity. The 'Bright Immortal Powder' can only deepen my understanding of the wood attribute rules. I feel in my heart that this should not be the direction!"
Then, she shook her head slightly and sighed in her heart. 'Why waste this 'Yinglong Wood'!' She knew how precious a five-thousand-year-old "Yinglong Wood" was. Even with Wei Zhongran's wealth, buying this herb must have cost him half of his fortune. This item was hard to come by, something one could encounter but not seek. Wei Zhongran must have spent a lot of effort to obtain this material.
And the most crucial point was that although Wei Zhongran was also proficient in alchemy, he had only collected one set of refining materials, yet he had to refine a sixth-rank pill. Even their master, Great Master Dacen back then, would not dare to say that he could refine a sixth-rank pill with only one set of raw materials. There was a sixty to seventy percent chance of failing once or twice.
Wei Zhongran's actions were undoubtedly forcing the alchemy under insufficient preparation. This would make it impossible for the alchemist's state of mind to remain calm, making them more nervous and careful, which in turn could easily lead to failure in alchemy. Zhao Zhi did not want to waste the precious "Yinglong Wood" just like that. She knew that although she had a primary wood spiritual root, Wei Zhongran also had a wood spiritual root attribute. A sixth-rank "Bright Immortal Powder" would also be important for Wei Zhongran's advancement in the future.
Hearing this, Wei Zhongran smiled slightly. "I am a Nascent Soul cultivator. Whether it's my knowledge or my insights when I was at the Pseudo-Nascent Soul realm, they are much stronger than yours. I can see things that you can't. You just need to follow my arrangements. At that time, you should have a forty percent chance of finding the opportunity for a breakthrough. This I can guarantee!"
Zhao Zhi did not continue to speak after hearing this, and looked away. Wei Zhongran was helpless. Zhao Min's personality was inherited from Zhao Zhi. On some matters, she was resolute. To put it bluntly, she was a bit stubborn, but she would not argue with you, making it impossible to persuade her.
"During the few years I'm refining the pill, you must not slack off in your cultivation, lest the insights you retained before flow away with the water when I come out. Then there will be no way. Remember, remember!" Wei Zhongran could only continue to instruct. But what he said was indeed reasonable. Diligent cultivation not only increased magical power but was also a process of tempering one's state of mind, allowing a cultivator to maintain a peak state in all aspects. At the same time, Wei Zhongran also hoped that Zhao Zhi would maintain an unyielding heart, making the years of diligent cultivation worthwhile.
If she continued to cultivate diligently, perhaps before he succeeded in refining the pill, Zhao Zhi would be able to welcome the heavenly tribulation. It was not impossible.
Zhao Zhi also knew her husband's temperament. He seemed gentle and easy to talk to, but his disposition was extremely tough. So even if she tried to persuade him, it would be useless. It would be equally difficult to make him give up the idea of refining the pill.
'Let him refine it then. Maybe he can really succeed. When the time comes, I just won't take it. I'll leave it for his own use in the future!' she thought to herself. The two of them were each lost in their own thoughts.
Just then, Wei Zhongran raised his head in some confusion.
"What's wrong?" Zhao Zhi asked, seeing Wei Zhongran's expression.
"Why are Min'er and the others back?" Wei Zhongran was also puzzled as he looked toward the courtyard gate.
In the past, whenever Zhao Min and Li Yan finished talking with them and went out, they would basically not come back again.
"Oh?" Zhao Zhi's face also showed surprise upon hearing this.
Wei Zhongran had already gently waved his large sleeve, and the courtyard gate had opened. Two figures were already standing side by side at the entrance.
"Master, Martial Mother, I want to become Dao Companions with Senior Sister!"
Li Yan, standing at the door, bowed deeply. The moment his words came out, the expressions on the faces of Wei Zhongran and his wife were obviously stunned. Then the two of them looked at Li Yan's side, at Zhao Min, whose skin was as white as snow, but whose face was already flushed red, trying her best to pretend to be calm.
Zhao Min also lowered her head slightly, and with a rare shyness, she let out a low "Mm."
This time, Zhao Zhi's reaction was faster than that of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Really? Good, good... good!!" She shot to her feet, a long-lost, heartfelt smile blooming on her face in an instant. In the end, only one word was repeated over and over…
Li Wuyi ended his seclusion. A voice transmission talisman had forcibly entered his seclusion chamber, waking him up immediately. Seeing a voice transmission talisman forcibly enter his seclusion place, Li Wuyi was taken aback. This was something he had given to Miao Wangqing, with instructions not to use it unless it was a major matter.
After hastily immersing his Divine Sense into the voice transmission talisman for a few breaths, his face showed a mixture of shock and joy.
"Hahaha..."
Li Wuyi's unrestrained laughter echoed in the cultivation chamber!
...
In the main hall of Lesser Bamboo Peak, when Wei Zhongran, Li Yan, and the other three appeared, Li Wuyi had already hurried forward to greet them.
"Disciple greets Master, Martial Mother! Little Junior Brother, you're finally out of seclusion too! Hehehe…"
At this time, there were six people in the main hall, three men and three women. Besides Li Wuyi, Li Changting, and Miao Wangqing, there was also Yun Chunqu, whom they hadn't seen for decades, and then a pair of young man and woman standing with their hands clasped. The man was handsome and tall, with a humble aura; the woman was enchanting and charming, with a voluptuous figure and dazzling snow-white skin.
When Li Yan entered the main hall, a single glance was enough for him to see that Li Wuyi had already reached the Pseudo-Nascent Soul realm. Although he hadn't reached the peak, he was not far off. And Third Senior Brother Yun Chunqu's cultivation had also risen to the mid Golden Core stage. His aura was extremely long and drawn out, clearly not that of an ordinary mid Golden Core stage cultivator.
"Greetings, Master, Martial Mother!"
"Greetings, Martial Uncle Wei!"
"Greetings, Martial Grandfather, Martial Grand-aunt! Greetings, Aunt!"
Yun Chunqu, Li Changting, and the others in the hall immediately followed Li Wuyi's lead and bowed. Yun Chunqu was as concise as ever. He also bowed to Wei Zhongran and his wife, then looked at Li Yan. He had been out training since before Li Yan had formed his Nascent Soul. Although he had been shocked to learn of Li Yan's advancement to the Nascent Soul stage upon his return, Li Yan had been in seclusion all this time, and it still felt a bit unreal to him, making it hard to believe that all of this was true.
Seeing him today, he couldn't help but size him up carefully. Li Yan also leaned forward slightly.
"Greetings, First Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Sister!"
Then, just as he was about to greet Li Changting, he saw that Li Changting wasn't looking at him at all, but had already run over to Zhao Min. Li Yan smiled to himself. Li Changting's personality was true to herself, never with a hint of politeness!
"Little girl, so you're really going through with the wedding, huh? Hehehe…"
Hearing this, Zhao Min's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and she shot Li Changting a fierce glare.
Wei Zhongran and his wife were also stunned by Li Changting's words. Li Wuyi, on the other hand, quickly interjected awkwardly. He never knew what Li Changting was going to say or do next.
"Master, Martial Mother, please take your seats!"
Li Yan, who was long used to Li Changting, simply ignored her. His gaze fell on the young man and woman. He had clearly heard how the two had addressed them just now.
"This... could it be..."
Li Yan already had a guess in his heart.
After greeting them, the handsome and charming young man and woman had been curiously staring at Li Yan, especially the charming, watery-eyed young woman, whose beautiful eyes were constantly sizing him up.
"Fuge, Lichou, quickly greet your Little Martial Uncle. Where are your manners?" Li Wuyi saw the young man and woman staring at Li Yan like this and couldn't help but scold them immediately.
Hearing this, the young man and woman's bodies trembled, and they finally came to their senses, quickly bowing deeply.
"Fuge (Lichou) greets Little Martial Uncle!"
In fact, they hadn't known why they had been called over today. But when Li Wuyi had said "Little Junior Brother" just now, they immediately realized who the person before them was. They were extremely shocked and had forgotten their etiquette for a moment.
"Little Junior Brother, this is your nephew, Fuge. You met him once when he was little. And that is your niece, Lichou, whom you haven't met yet. The children are ignorant and have been impolite! Hehehe…" Li Wuyi then chuckled at Li Yan. Li Yan also smiled.
"First Senior Brother is not a pedantic person. Why are you being so formal today!"
When Li Yan heard the two of them address Zhao Min as "Aunt," he had already had his suspicions. Li Wuyi was not only Wei Zhongran's eldest disciple but also like an adopted son.
"They are indeed First Senior Brother's children!"
Li Yan had indeed met the young man named Fuge once. That was decades ago when he had gone to check on Miao Wangqing's injuries and saw an eight or nine-year-old child crying incessantly. At that time, he had also come out of seclusion in a hurry, and the Nascent Soul Formation Ceremony was held the next day. He had originally planned to have a small gathering with his senior brothers and the others later, but he was met with a fierce battle instead, so he had not had a chance to look at the child carefully. Now he was all grown up.
Li Fuge actually didn't have a deep impression of Li Yan either, or rather, he couldn't remember what Li Yan looked like. Even with Li Wuyi's status back then, with his age and cultivation, he had not been able to attend the Nascent Soul Formation Ceremony. So, when Li Yan came over later, Miao Wangqing was seriously injured and unconscious, and his Second Martial Uncle was also covered in blood. He was so scared that he was in a state of terrified tears. How could he have seen Li Yan clearly?
Li Yan stepped into the hall and continued, "Li Lichou? She must be Changting Senior Sister's daughter then."
This time, before Li Wuyi could answer, someone interjected.
"What do you think? Isn't she a great beauty just like her mother!" Li Changting was holding Zhao Min's arm with one hand, giggling. Since giving birth to this daughter, her mood had greatly improved, and she no longer clung to Li Wuyi all the time.
Li Yan smiled and nodded. In fact, without even guessing from the name, just by looking at the girl's innate charm, which was almost identical to Li Changting's, it was not difficult to guess.
Li Fuge was already at the late Foundation Establishment stage, while Li Lichou was still at the initial Foundation Establishment stage, and looked as if she had just established her foundation a few years ago.
While they were talking, Wei Zhongran and his wife had already walked toward the main seat, but Li Yan had stopped in front of the young man and woman.
"Little Martial Uncle!" Li Fuge and Li Lichou bowed again, but their expressions were somewhat uneasy.