Chapter 168: Decision
"Have you heard of a Dan formation?" Yun Che said with a mysterious look on his face.
"A Dan formation?"
"A Dan formation is an intangible formation, a special kind of array used to refine pills. My master once said that using a cauldron and karma fire to refine medicine is the most common but also a very low-level method, because it leads to a massive loss of medicinal power and carries a high risk of failure. But using a Dan formation is different—extracting and fusing directly through the formation results in basically no loss of medicinal power, a very low chance of failure, and the time required is much shorter. What I just used was exactly this kind of Dan formation."
Yun Che finished speaking without a blush or a racing heart... However, this wasn't entirely nonsense. Such a thing as a Dan formation did exist in this world. His master from the Cang Yun Continent had been able to use one, and this Tian Xuan Continent might also have rare individuals who knew how to use a Dan formation. But no matter how skilled or advanced the Dan formation, its refining ability could never compare to the Mystic Heaven Supreme Treasure, the Heavenly Poison Pearl.
Xiao Xiannü's crescent-like brows furrowed slightly... The term "Dan formation" didn't feel completely unfamiliar to her; rather, it seemed to ring a faint bell. But the impression was so vague that it indicated Dan formations appeared extremely rarely, meaning the number of people who could use them was minuscule. At the very least, Gu Qiuhong, the number one divine doctor of the Cang Feng Continent, couldn't use one, nor could the chief alchemist of her own sect... They hadn't even mentioned it.
Yet this young man before her had casually refined a pile of materials into three pills exuding the aura of King Xuan... His mention of "Dan formation" made her unable to disbelieve, no matter how shocked she was.
"Let me take a look at your pill?"
Xiao Xiannü extended a snowy, jade-like hand toward Yun Che. Before he could agree, a surge of icy energy rippled, and one Dragon Blood Treasure Pill was drawn into her grasp.
Her slender fingers picked up the Dragon Blood Treasure Pill. Sensing the aura within it, Xiao Xiannü's gaze flickered slightly. The energy contained in this Dragon Blood Treasure Pill was unmistakably that of a dragon, and moreover, a King Xuan-level dragon.
The dragon was the supreme ruler of all beasts. Regardless of the various mundane dragons and lesser dragon species, among the divine beasts of ancient legends, the dragon held the highest status, surpassing even other divine beasts like the phoenix, the Celestial Wolf, and the Golden Crow. The dragon's physical body was so formidable that no creature in the world could compare. Its blood, bones, scales, organs, flesh, and skin were all supreme treasures of the world. But because of their overwhelming power, they could not be easily applied to the human body without complex refinement and harmonization; otherwise, they would bring harm rather than benefit.
This was especially true for things originating from a King Xuan-level dragon.
Yet the dragon aura in this pill was incredibly gentle, evenly integrating into the various medicinal herbs, making it very compatible with the human body's mechanisms. Although it was the aura of a King Xuan dragon, perhaps even a Spirit Xuan realm practitioner could refine it within their body.
This pill, even in her eyes, was no small matter.
With a flick of her finger, Xiao Xiannü sent the Dragon Blood Treasure Pill back to Yun Che. Her beautiful eyes fixed on him, she said calmly, "Let me ask you a question. You claim to be a divine doctor, and your medical skills are indeed remarkably high. You could easily dispel the life-source poison in my body, and you effortlessly detected the parasitic poison that the medical saint Gu Qiuhong planted in Cang Feng Emperor Cang Wanhe's body. You even know 'Dan formation' and can casually refine such high-grade pills... Any one of these abilities of yours is enough to astonish the world. If you wanted to enter a sect, I believe all the sects of the Cang Feng Empire would eagerly invite you, bestowing upon you high status and endless glory. So why do you lower yourself to a small place like the Cangfeng Mystic Palace? And just as an ordinary inner palace disciple at that?"
"Once I enter a sect, I can never leave for life; otherwise, it would be considered betrayal. I would have to live for the sect alone. To me, that's no different from entering a cage. What I pursue is absolute freedom..."
Yun Che didn't say the second half, which was... absolute control. And regardless of which, the prerequisite was possessing powerful strength. This wasn't because he craved power or looking down on others, but because he had already lost too much. After being reborn, he didn't want to lose anymore.
Xiao Xiannü's expression remained unchanged, completely unaffected by his proud words. She asked again, "Since you pursue freedom, why did you let me know about these abilities of yours? Aren't you afraid I'll spread the word? If those sects find out you possess such remarkable medical skills and alchemy abilities, and you lack the means to protect yourself or resist, then even if you want freedom and stability, it will be impossible. You'll either submit or be forced to submit."
"Because I trust you," Yun Che said with a smile. "Someone like me, at your level, doesn't need to spare me a second glance. But I, such an insignificant person, after suffering a serious injury, you didn't just leave. Instead, you watched over me for several days and used your mystic art to heal me... Then, as promised, you returned after two months, and last night, you even saved my life when I was in danger. All of this shows that although you may appear cold on the outside, you're kind-hearted on the inside. Besides, with someone as beautiful as you, Xiao Xiannü, even if others said you were a true fairy, I would believe it. You just don't look like a bad person."
"... Hmph, glib tongue." Xiao Xiannü turned her beautiful eyes away. Her tone was dismissive, but her gaze unconsciously softened a little.
"Xiao Xiannü, may I ask you a question?" Yun Che suddenly said.
"??"
"You're... from the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, right?" Yun Che asked tentatively.
Xiao Xiannü didn't answer. She neither admitted nor denied it.
"Your silence, I'll take as confirmation." Yun Che chuckled, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "Then do you know someone named Xia Qingyue? She should be a disciple of your Bing Yun Fairy Palace as well."
Xiao Xiannü's gaze sharpened. "You know Qingyue?"
The reaction to the name "Xia Qingyue" startled Yun Che a bit. He nodded and said, "Yes, I've known her since we were very young. Because she and I were both born in Liu Yun City. But I heard later that she got married, and not long after marriage, she left Liu Yun City and went to the Bing Yun Fairy Palace."
"That's correct. Qingyue is indeed a disciple of our palace. But you don't need to inquire further about her matters." She paused, glanced at Yun Che, and said, "If you represent the imperial family in this year's Cang Feng Ranking Battle, you might be able to see her."
"She'll participate in this year's Cang Feng Ranking Battle?" Yun Che was surprised. "But she's about the same age as me, just turned seventeen. Isn't it too much of a stretch for a seventeen-year-old to participate?"
When he had parted from Xia Qingyue, her mystic power was at the Initial Xuan realm, level ten... Even if she had been hiding her true level, it was at most the Xuan Entry realm. From the Xuan Entry realm, after a year and a half, to participate in the Cang Feng Ranking Battle—that was far more than just "a stretch."
"Hmph, naturally, others cannot, but Qingyue can! In the last tournament, Ling Yun—at the age of seventeen—managed to rank seventh. And now, Qingyue's talent far surpasses Ling Yun's. What's so strange about her participating in the Cang Feng Ranking Battle at seventeen?"
"She's already that powerful? ...Uh, Xiao Xiannü, do you know which man was so lucky as to marry such an impressive girl?"
"She married to sever her worldly ties and to prevent her family from bearing the stigma of breaking a promise. The Palace Master was astonished by her talent, moved by her sincerity, and also wanted her to have no lingering attachments... Besides, the man she married had a naturally crippled profound vein and would be a useless cripple for life. Qingyue also swore she had never felt a shred of emotion for him. Therefore, she was allowed to become the first married disciple in our palace. After the wedding, she immediately returned to the Bing Yun Fairy Palace and will never see the man she married again."
Yun Che: "..."
"As you said, he truly is a lucky man. Even if there were ten thousand of him, he could never match Qingyue, yet he shared the name of husband and wife with her. It can be considered a great favor from heaven." Xiao Xiannü glanced at Yun Che and continued, "This is all I can tell you about Qingyue. You've revealed many of your secrets to me; consider these words as repayment."
Knock, knock.
A gentle knock sounded at the door, and Lan Xueruo's voice came from outside: "Junior Brother Yun, are you in there?"
As the knock echoed, a flurry of icy light swirled before Yun Che's eyes, and Xiao Xiannü vanished like a dissipated dream.
Yun Che walked over and opened the door. Before Lan Xueruo could speak, he said with firm determination, "Senior Sister, I've made my decision. I will participate in this year's Cang Feng Ranking Battle!"