Chapter 777: Chapter 546: Entering the Dan Tower, a Rival in Love?
In the street-side café, sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the seats by the window.
Qin Tian and Dongfang Mingyue sat opposite each other, one tall and commanding with a serene demeanor, the other with gentle eyes and a pure, lovely appearance.
This striking pair immediately drew the attention of everyone in the café once they sat down.
And when everyone’s gaze fell upon Dongfang Mingyue’s pristine alchemist robe, the initial astonishment quickly turned into wonder.
The robe was prominently embroidered with seven gilded patterns.
No one living near the Dan Tower could miss what that pattern signified.
Seventh Grade Alchemist!
Such a young and beautiful Seventh Grade Alchemist was considered a rare gem even in the entire Empire’s alchemy world.
For a moment, the discussions in the café quieted a bit, and the gazes directed at the duo carried an extra layer of reverence and curiosity.
"Ming Yue, congratulations on successfully advancing to a Seventh Grade Alchemist," Qin Tian offered a slight smile.
In the past few months, Dongfang Mingyue had been secluded at the Dan Tower for intensive training, and the two had barely kept in touch.
It was only upon their meeting that he found out Ming Yue had smoothly passed the Seventh Grade certification and officially joined the ranks of high tier alchemists.
A Seventh Grade Alchemist in their twenties, such an achievement left countless people trailing far behind.
"Thank you, Qin... Great General." Dongfang Mingyue beamed, her eyes curving into crescent moons, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness.
At that address, Qin Tian was momentarily taken aback, then exchanged a glance with Dongfang Mingyue.
In the instant their eyes met, they both burst into laughter, the slight awkwardness from not seeing each other for months evaporating like mist under the sun.
"I must say, you’ve been quite busy these past few months." Qin Tian set down his cup, shaking his head helplessly, "Whenever I send you a message, it takes half a month to get a reply."
"What can I do?" Dongfang Mingyue’s voice was full of helplessness, "Ever since entering the Dan Tower headquarters, our communicators were all collected. Every day, apart from digesting vast amounts of alchemy theory, we had to practice techniques with different elders, barely finding time to sleep. It was only through persistent pleading that I could get the communicator back from time to time to contact the outside world."
"That strict?" Qin Tian slightly raised an eyebrow, marveling inwardly.
It was like the ’Hengshui model’ in the world of alchemy; he hadn’t expected alchemist training to be so intensive.
"Indeed," Dongfang Mingyue nodded with a smile, "But it’s precisely because of this rigorousness that I was able to break through bottlenecks and advance to the Seventh Grade within just a few months."
"Truly, strict teachers produce outstanding students." Qin Tian sincerely remarked.
After speaking, his thoughts involuntarily drifted away.
Many people grow complacent after achieving success, and he was no exception.
He still remembered when he first crossed over; during the ceasefire, he would spend over ten hours a day training — in combat, swordsmanship, spear technique, leaving none out.
But as his power grew and his responsibilities increased, while he could maintain his cultivation of spiritual energy and spiritual power, he had lost the prior diligence in other aspects of his training.
On one hand, military, intelligence, and commercial affairs occupied much of his personal time; on the other, he indeed had relaxed his demands on himself.
Watching Dongfang Mingyue talk about alchemy with eyes gleaming, Qin Tian suddenly realized he hadn’t sunk his heart into studying martial techniques and magic for quite some time.
Though with the assistance of the martial arts framework, his comprehension in martial techniques and magic surpassed ordinary people, he couldn’t overcome the limited variety he had mastered.
The weakness in his foundation had become a bottleneck restricting his advancement in these two fields.
Additionally, his evolution points were nearly exhausted in the Ice God relics, and though he’d replenished some by hunting demon armies and snow beasts, the total was just over thirty million now, far from enough to support his next plan.
"I still can’t slack off."
Qin Tian took a sip of his coffee, the bitterness spreading across his tongue while his thoughts became clearer, sounding a silent alarm in his heart.
"Qin Tian, would you like to take a look inside the Dan Tower?" Dongfang Mingyue suddenly looked up, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she softly asked.
Qin Tian’s eyes flickered, slightly surprised, "I can go in?"
Dongfang Mingyue smiled, her eyes arched, "Previously, it wouldn’t have been possible, but now that I’m a Seventh Grade Alchemist, I have the privilege to bring friends and family in for a visit."
"That certainly would be... a pleasure." Qin Tian’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes showing anticipation.
"Let’s go then."
The two rose and stood side by side, Dongfang Mingyue’s fingertips slightly moved, naturally taking Qin Tian’s hand.
Qin Tian paused slightly, turning his head to see her still gentle and calm face, though her ear tips were quietly tainted with a slight red.
A warmth surged in his heart, and he couldn’t help but recall the days and nights spent together in subspace — back then, they were inseparable, strolling hand-in-hand, embracing as they slept.
Yet upon returning to reality and the cosmos, constrained by their identities and daily affairs, such closeness had become rare.
This proactive holding of hands clearly expressed her feelings.
Tenderness spread in Qin Tian’s eyes as he tightened his grip on her hand.
The sight of this perfect pair leaving once again captured the attention of everyone in the café.
Seeing their intertwined fingers and harmonious closeness, the crowd was full of envy — to earn the affection of such a young and stunning Seventh Grade Alchemist, just who was this man?
The café was only a few hundred meters from the white jade Dan Tower, arriving in no time.
Seeing Dongfang Mingyue, the two cultivators guarding the main entrance of the Dan Tower immediately greeted her warmly, "Miss Ming Yue."
"Brother Wang, Brother Shi," Dongfang Mingyue smiled and nodded, shaking the hand holding Qin Tian’s, "I’m bringing a friend in for a visit."
