Chapter 281: Chapter 279: A Beautiful Future
Nightfall.
Moonlight spilled down, a brilliant silver radiance, washing over the cliff.
Above the cliff, the rushing waterfall shimmered and glowed, as dazzling as the Milky Way.
In contrast, tendrils of smoke rose from a fire in the distance.
It was Fang Yang and Sen Hui, tending to a bonfire.
"The view here is so beautiful," Sen Hui said, her eyes shimmering.
Then, she turned to Fang Yang and said with a gentle smile, "But I still don’t think it compares to the moment the Silverflower Firetree blooms."
The Silverflower Firetree...
Hearing Sen Hui suddenly mention this Spirit Plant, Fang Yang felt a sense of daze.
’Has it really been almost ten years since the Xuan-Yu War?’
"You’re right, but more than that, it’s because of your own dedication," Fang Yang said, snapping out of his thoughts and nodding.
An ordinary Silverflower Firetree is just a Tier Three Spiritual Object.
The one he had given Sen Hui back then was just like that.
But because Sen Hui treasured this particular Spirit Plant, she had paid a great price to help it break its limits, eventually raising it to the rank of a Tier Four Spirit Plant.
The bonfire crackled, smoke coiling into the air.
The two of them gazed at the scenery, speaking their hearts to one another.
Gradually, they drew closer.
Soon, they were leaning against each other, back to back.
They shared intimate words, mostly discussing their bright future, even mixing in some playful banter.
"Ah Yang, in the future, let’s establish a main branch that connects both Talismans and Pills, okay?"
"We will. I promise you."
"Hee hee, once I become a Saint, I’ll be able to use the Three-Plume Cyan Bottle Sacred Artifact."
"The Three-Plume Cyan Bottle?"
"Yeah, my brother gave it to me. When that time comes, and I’m a Saint, I’ll refine Pills for my brother and sister. That way, you won’t lack Immortal Essence Stones for your cultivation, and your path to becoming a Great Saint will be certain!"
"Haha, okay, okay. I’ll be waiting for that day to come, waiting for you to support me, Xiaohui."
"Of course! Not only will I support you, I’ll support our children too."
"Huh?"
"Hmph, I’ve already thought it all out. We have to let my father and mother name our first child. That way, your cultivation path will be smoother, too... Is that okay, Ah Yang?"
At this, Sen Hui looked up at Fang Yang, a hint of nervousness on her face.
Although she believed her arrangements were perfect, she still wanted to discuss them with him.
If he wasn’t willing, she wouldn’t force him.
Objectively speaking, Sen Hui had planned everything out perfectly: the Sacred Artifact, the Immortal Essence Stones, the children, the main branch, and his path to becoming a Great Saint.
Most importantly, it was a beautiful and entirely feasible blueprint for their future.
It was clear that Sen Hui had poured her heart and soul into thinking about this.
Fang Yang, of course, understood this as well.
Therefore, Fang Yang had no intention of spoiling her mood.
"Yes, of course."
Fang Yang smiled, his eyes crinkling, and pulled Sen Hui into his arms. "With you in charge, our beautiful future will absolutely become a reality, step by step."
"R-really?"
"Of course it is."
At that moment, Sen Hui’s eyes grew hazy and her body went soft as she leaned quietly against Fang Yang’s chest.
She believed in this beautiful future.
Slowly, the sound of soft breathing arose. She had peacefully fallen asleep.
The night was calm, the silver glow still brilliant.
A cool breeze blew past, rustling the new buds on the old tree.
As Sen Hui’s master, Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint had been watching over her the whole time.
When Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint saw Sen Hui sleeping peacefully in Fang Yang’s arms, a knowing, aunt-like smile appeared on her face, and she felt quite gratified.
* * *
「The next morning.」
Having rested for a night, Sen Hui was refreshed and full of energy.
Perhaps because of their heart-to-heart talk, her movements were noticeably crisper and her actions more methodical.
It was as if she had found her true goal to strive for!
Indeed, compared to the abstract goal of becoming an Alchemy Dao the Great Saint, working to realize that beautiful blueprint for their future was far more tangible.
"Ah Yang, I’m actually very good at Alchemy. I can also achieve ’pills formed in a single thought.’"
Sen Hui held her head high, her small, fair face filled with confidence.
At this moment, as she was refining Pills, her entire body began to radiate a peculiar, dazzling light.
WENG, WENG WENG, WENG WENG WENG...
The Pill Cauldron rumbled, and white smoke billowed out, twisting like a ferocious python.
Her expression was calm. With a methodical wave of her slender, fair hands, she sent out streams of cyan light.
As soon as she began the Alchemy, she felt as if she had divine assistance; every single movement was effortless.
What she didn’t notice was that as she began to enjoy the process of Alchemy from the bottom of her heart, the very world around her began to cheer for her.
Something miraculous happened:
A strange divine light, a mix of black and white, appeared and arranged itself in an orderly fashion with her every move.
’Is this the legendary Dao Rhyme of Success and Dao Rhyme of Failure?!’
Fang Yang’s pupils contracted sharply.
In processes like Alchemy or Artifact Refining, no one could ever guarantee a one hundred percent success rate.
Therefore, both success and failure always existed.
But a vague rumor circulated in the world: if heaven and earth contained the Dao Rhymes for ten thousand different schools of practice, then naturally, there must also be Dao Rhymes for success and failure.
The so-called Dao Rhyme of Success and Dao Rhyme of Failure were, obviously, key factors that could determine a Pill Master’s success in Alchemy!
Now, as Fang Yang stared at the black and white divine light surrounding Sen Hui, inspiration struck him, and his face lit up with faint excitement.
If he wasn’t mistaken, these two intermingling Dao Rhymes of black and white had to be the legendary Dao Rhyme of Success and Dao Rhyme of Failure!
’So, is this why the period after a Refining Dao Convention is often a boom time for Sacred Artifacts...’
He was astonished. ’Xiaohui’s talent is truly outstanding. No wonder the Sen clan entrusted her with creating an entirely new lineage for Alchemy Dao Saints.’
Sen Hui, on the other hand, hadn’t noticed any Dao Rhyme of Success or Dao Rhyme of Failure.
Completely absorbed in the process of Alchemy, she seemed to have entered the legendary state of object-self-oblivion.
She was indeed performing Alchemy, but it looked more like she was dancing.
On a corner of the cliff, the morning sun cast its rays.
She wore a gentle smile as a rain of light, like fluttering butterflies, drifted from her fingertips, elegant and holy.
Tier Two Pills, Tier Three Pills.
She had done what she said she could: she achieved "pills formed in a single thought."
As soon as the time was up, she would have certainly passed this first round of the assessment.
But now, she wasn’t content to just meet the requirements of the first round; she wanted to explore greater possibilities.
She wanted to break through the suppression of this world and use the Wind-Imprisoning Python Blood Vine materials on hand to try and break through the barrier to becoming a Tier Five Pill Master!
Unfortunately, even the most skillful housewife can’t cook without rice.
She didn’t succeed in refining a Tier Five Pill, but she did manage to create a half-finished product.
At this moment, Fang Yang’s gaze burned with intensity. Sen Hui had truly surprised him once again.
"Ah Yang, what is it?" Sen Hui tilted her head, her spirit-like eyes blinking in confusion.
Fang Yang said, "You did an amazing job. Truly incredible."
Sen Hui didn’t understand, but she was delighted to receive Fang Yang’s praise.
Afterward, Fang Yang led Sen Hui down from Liuxi Cliff to explore the surrounding area as if they were on a spring outing.
Their calm and unhurried demeanor was a stark contrast to the panic and disarray of the other contestants.
The sun rose and the moon set.
That night, heavy, dark clouds obscured the moon.
The first round of the Refining Dao Convention had come to an end.
People gathered again in small groups and rushed toward the spatial gate to return to the Thunder Saint Academy.
As Fang Yang and Sen Hui stepped out of the spatial gate, the sky-piercing pillar of light in the center of the square began to rumble.
It turned out that this pillar of light was connected to the contestants’ Tokens and served as a sort of ranking board.
"It’s rising! It’s still rising!"
"Hiss... They’ve already surpassed Yu Qingyun and the others."
The crowd was shocked.
Because Fang Yang and Sen Hui’s names were ranked the very highest.
It was no exaggeration to say that the two of them were in a league of their own.
They had visibly left even Yu Qingyun behind by half a tier; it was an incredible feat.
Thanks to their temporary first-place ranking, Fang Yang and Sen Hui were each awarded three thousand points.
These points were extremely useful, and their benefits would become apparent once the Refining Dao Convention concluded.
For example, the first-place winner of the convention three terms ago had gone all-in with their points to obtain the right to use a Sacred Artifact for ten years.
That winner ultimately used the Sacred Artifact to transcend the mundane and enter sainthood, becoming a true Saint!
"I’m in first place..."
At that moment, Sen Hui stared at her name, her eyes twinkling like stars.
For some reason, she suddenly felt that with Fang Yang by her side, she might actually be able to break through the barrier to becoming a Tier Five Pill Master during this Refining Dao Convention!
Meanwhile, Fang Yang, standing beside her, felt the scrutinizing gazes of several Saints.
There was Master Lanwen, Bai Zhi the Medicine Saint, Layman Shuqing, and others.
Strangely, all of these Saints were nodding at him in approval.
This situation startled Fang Yang, and he thought:
’No way. With such a friendly attitude, could it be that these Saints see me as a candidate for the champion of the righteous path?’
As he calmed down and reviewed the situation, he realized it wasn’t impossible.
Because Sen Hui was vouching for him!
Thinking about it, he found it somewhat... comical.
Comments