The two youngsters walked away from the hall, but the eyes of the seven elders followed them, their gazes filled with a mix of astonishment and uncertainty. They were not only shocked by how calm Wen Ran had remained in the face of such a volatile situation, but also by the revelation that he was the disciple of one of the most important people in the entire sect—the Pill Immortal. Such an event hadn’t occurred in many years, and the implications were immense.
Everyone in the sect knew how stubborn the old man was. He had never taken on many disciples, and the few who had earned his attention were individuals of extraordinary potential. There had only ever been two others before Wen Ran who had managed to capture his interest. But those two had grown up, left the sect, and as time passed, the Pill Immortal had become somewhat isolated, retreating into his own space, no longer bothering with the sect’s lectures or day-to-day affairs. His withdrawal from the sect had been a silent one, and it was as if the old man had become a shadow of the past, only to be remembered by the few who had once been his students.
So, for a new junior to draw him out of his seclusion—it was unprecedented. It was something that had never been seen in decades, and it made Wen Ran’s status in the sect soar higher than they had expected. His connection to the Pill Immortal alone would give him influence, but the truth of his abilities was even more intriguing. Wen Ran wasn’t just the disciple of the master; he was an alchemist in his own right. And with that, he would gain even more respect. His status would undoubtedly change when word of his talents spread, and with it, would come friends who would support him and enemies who would fear him.
In this world, there were certain factions that, though they may not wield much physical power, commanded respect and were revered across the lands. Alchemists were one such group. The same held true for Array Masters, Forgers, and Music Crafters—each had a unique and irreplaceable role that made them indispensable in battles. Wen Ran’s position in the sect would undoubtedly make him a valuable asset, someone whose loyalty and talents could change the tides in both the political and physical struggles within the sect.
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"Just where did that junior pop out from?" one of the elders asked, his voice low but filled with genuine curiosity.
"All that is known is that he possessed an invitation from one of our recruiters," another elder replied, his tone thoughtful. "But ever since then, her whereabouts have been unknown. No one knows whether she’s alive or dead. She disappeared as if swallowed by the very air itself."
The elder’s words lingered in the air, and as they spoke, they couldn’t shake the nagging sense that there was more to Wen Ran than they could see. Now that they thought about it, everything about Wen Ran’s appearance felt strange, mysterious, and disjointed. He seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, with no clear background or explanation. The more they dwelled on it, the more they realized just how little they knew about this young man, who had already captured the attention of their most powerful and revered alchemist.
A shiver of unease passed through the group, but no one dared to speak it aloud. They all felt the tension rising, a growing need to dig deeper into Wen Ran’s origins. But at the same time, they were too cautious to provoke him. After all, the young man had earned the favor of someone as powerful as the Pill Immortal, and no one wanted to make an enemy of him—at least, not without understanding what lay beneath the surface. Yet, the curiosity gnawed at them, and they couldn’t ignore the unsettling feeling that something much larger was at play. If they were to uncover the truth behind Wen Ran, it would surely stir the entire sect.
As the elders rushed to uncover the mysteries surrounding Wen Ran, the young man himself was making his way toward the massive building ahead, its name written in bold letters: Armory.
"Brother Wen Ran, I know I said I’d have Junior Mo take you here, but considering what happened today, I thought it would be better if I accompanied you myself," Luo Feng said teasingly, his voice filled with an odd mix of amusement and something Wen Ran couldn’t quite place. "Hope you don’t mind."
Luo Feng’s words carried an undercurrent of mischief, and his expression—one of almost perverse enjoyment—gave Wen Ran an unsettling feeling. It wasn’t the first time Luo Feng had looked at him that way, but today, the intensity was different. Wen Ran felt a slight shiver down his spine but quickly dismissed it. Right now, he had other things on his mind.
"Not at all," Wen Ran replied, his voice calm but with a hint of dry humor. "I’m excited to get a new weapon. After all, I have a quest from my master. I need to leave the sect and head for the mountains."
He didn’t hide the mission he had been given; after all, it wasn’t a secret. And if Luo Feng knew he was about to leave the sect, maybe—just maybe—he would offer some valuable advice or even help. Wen Ran could see the flicker of interest in Luo Feng’s eyes, but there was something about the way the other man was looking at him that unsettled him. For a brief moment, Wen Ran could have sworn he saw a fox tail flick out from behind him—an illusion, surely—but the thought left him cold for a second.
"Brother, you should’ve said something earlier!" Luo Feng exclaimed, his voice more animated than usual. "The mountains are dangerous, and you’ll need some protection. Let me buy you a protective talisman today in the armory. After all, I need you to cause more havoc in the sect."
Luo Feng hadn’t realized that he had spoken his last words out loud, and as the words hung in the air, Wen Ran’s expression turned slightly darker. Was he just some entertainment for Luo Feng? A tool to cause trouble and bring amusement to his so-called sworn brother? The thought annoyed him, but he held his tongue. For now, all he cared about was getting a new weapon. The rest of the world could wait.