It seemed his action was completely correct and might even bring unexpected benefits to the Eight Gates.
"Sect Leader Yuan, you're too kind. We just happened to be passing through Black Seal City and bid on a few items that caught our interest. Please take this gift back!" Chen Yang chuckled.
"Your Excellency, where do such words come from? Consider this a token of friendship from me, Yuan. If you ever return to Black Seal City, just come find me, Yuan. I'll be sure to welcome you with open arms!" Yuan Yi was even happier than Chen Yang.
"I understand, Sect Leader Yuan. You're here for my brother. Unfortunately, he's a student of Jia Nan Academy and likely cannot join your ranks!" Chen Yang pointed at Xiao Yan beside him and said softly.
"So this Young Brother is actually an outstanding student of Jia Nan Academy! My apologies for the disrespect!" Yuan Yi immediately clasped his hands in salute. Jia Nan Academy stood out like a crane among chickens in the Black-Corner Region. Although their code of conduct seemed foolish to Yuan Yi, they had countless experts. His little Eight Gates was nothing but a fart in front of Jia Nan Academy.
"Sect Leader Yuan, you're too polite. Although I, Xiao, have no fate to join you, I'd be delighted to be friends with you!" Xiao Yan naturally understood the principle that more friends meant more paths. Although he and Yuan Yi could never be true friends, if they could cooperate and rely on Yuan Yi's connections to gather the medicinal herbs he needed, that would be even better!
"I, Yuan, am naturally willing. Young Brother Xiao, you flatter me!" The two exchanged compliments while Chen Yang watched with a cheerful smile.
"Sect Leader Yuan, my brother and I need to hurry to Jia Nan Academy in the next few days. If you have time, feel free to visit Jia Nan Academy. I, Xiao, will gladly share a drink and conversation with you!" Xiao Yan said.
"Of course, of course. I, Yuan, won't disturb Your Excellency and Brother Xiao any further." Yuan Yi nodded. Today, he was quite satisfied to have connected with a top student of Jia Nan Academy, one who might even become an Elder. Moreover, there was also an expert who was at least a high-level Dou Huang.
"By the way, there's something I, Yuan, forgot to mention. The Blood Sect's Sect Master Fan Lao has likely already arrived outside Black Seal City. If Brother Xiao plans to continue... you should be extra careful!" Yuan Yi naturally couldn't get involved in Blood Sect matters at the moment. Both he and the Eight Gates were somewhat weaker in overall strength compared to the Blood Sect.
"Just the Blood Sect..." Chen Yang waved his hand, "but still, thank you for the warning, Sect Leader Yuan."
With Yuan Yi looking stunned, Chen Yang added softly, "I have a message I'd like Sect Leader Yuan to ponder carefully. Although the Black-Corner Region isn't small, your influence isn't very strong, whether openly or secretly. Sometimes, paying more attention and leaving yourself a safe path is wise!"
"I hope Sect Leader Yuan will give it serious thought!" After speaking, Chen Yang waved his hand, sweeping over the storage ring Yuan Yi had brought. Then, with another gentle wave, Yuan Yi was sent flying like a kite in the wind, soaring toward Black Seal City.
As Yuan Yi regained control of his body mid-air and spread his Dou Qi Wings, only four words remained in his mind: "Dou Zong!!!"
...
"Brother Yang, this Yuan Yi is quite generous! This sixth-grade Medicine Cauldron is worth at least two million gold coins!" After re-entering the forest, Xiao Yan and Chen Yang checked the items in the storage ring. A sixth-grade Medicine Cauldron was extremely precious even in the Jia Ma Empire, likely only owned by Gu He and Fa Ma.
"This guy managed to establish Black Seal City in the vast Black-Corner Region with just Two-Star Dou Huang strength, not just through ruthlessness." In the original work, Yuan Yi wasn't described much, and his name only appeared twice, but his methods were undoubtedly effective.
If controlled properly, such a person could be a great help in collecting medicinal herbs and such in the Black-Corner Region.
"Brother Yang, are you planning to subdue this Yuan Yi and establish your own power in the Black-Corner Region?" Xiao Yan tossed the storage ring up and down repeatedly, asking softly.
"Although I'm powerful and skilled in Alchemy Skill, some medicinal herbs can't be found just with strength. The Black-Corner Region connects the Central Plains and the Northwest Continent, with many good things circulating here. Plus, there's the Ten-Thousand-Mile Mountain Range, full of treasures!"
"Relying on ourselves alone, when would we ever find those herbs?"
"So, having a loyal person to handle things saves a lot of effort!"
Chen Yang said.
"But this Yuan Yi doesn't seem like someone who'd be easy to manage?" Xiao Yan said worriedly.
"Combine kindness with authority, and add a little trick to the Medicinal Pills we give him. For an Alchemist, that's too simple!"
"Just a mere Dou Huang. As long as he serves me loyally, the trick in the pills will never activate. But if... hehe..."
Chen Yang said with a relaxed expression.
"That makes sense!"
Xiao Yan nodded. As an Alchemist, especially one who controlled a strange fire, it was too easy to plant tricks on others.
"Alright, get ready. The show is about to begin!" Chen Yang said with a smile.
"I'm really looking forward to it!"
...
After the Heavenly Serpent Mansion Dou Ling returned and reported to Elder Qing, she immediately "understood" Qing Lin's background: "So she's actually Elder Lü Man's Disciple. That explains everything. With that Senior's help, things will be much easier for us this time. Let's go, set off immediately and return to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion!"
Thus, Elder Qing and her group quietly left the inn. However, the Blood Sect had been monitoring them all along, so how could they leave easily?
As they traveled into the dense forest, Elder Qing wasn't very worried. After all, since that person had said so, there must be no problem.
But soon, trouble struck. Fan Lao of the Blood Sect personally attacked, snatching the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill from Elder Qing. Just as Elder Qing was about to be killed by Fan Lao, a figure suddenly appeared and killed Fan Lao with a single palm strike.
"Se... Senior?" Elder Qing asked cautiously.
"I was delayed by some matters. Are you all unharmed?" Chen Yang looked at Elder Qing and asked.
"Thank you for saving us, Senior. I am endlessly grateful!" Elder Qing quickly knelt on one knee to express her thanks.
"Keeping your lives is good enough. When you return, give my regards to Lü Man!" Chen Yang nodded, then turned and left.
Elder Qing hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn't ask Chen Yang to chase after Fan Ling to retrieve the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill.
"Elder, what about the Yin-Yang..." The Dou Ling from earlier looked at Elder Qing.
"The Blood Sect stealing the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill is a provocation against our Heavenly Serpent Mansion. Return and report this to the Elders, let them decide!" Elder Qing looked in the direction Chen Yang had left and said solemnly.
"Understood!" The Dou Ling nodded, then quickly headed toward the Heavenly Serpent Mansion with Elder Qing and the others.
After reuniting with Xiao Yan, Chen Yang saw Xiao Yan holding a box, smiling at him.
[Ding!]
[Detected that the highest-quality Medicinal Pill near Black Seal City is the Seventh-Grade Top-Tier Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill. host obtains the eight-grade nine-colored pill lightning Hunyuan Creation Pill!]
[Hunyuan Creation Pill: An eight-grade nine-colored pill lightning Medicinal Pill. After consumption, when facing a life-and-death crisis, one will surely break and then rise. Below Dou Sheng, after breaking and rising, one can directly increase cultivation by one to nine stars. A Nine-Revolutions Peak Dou Zun, after breaking and rising, can directly skip Half-Saint and Breakthrough to One-Star Dou Sheng!]
"Hiss... this thing... what a treasure..."
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