Another month passed.
Today was the day to celebrate the graduation of the first group of disciples from the Xianlu Forging Shop.
From today onwards, they would enter Xianlu Forging Shops all across the world.
They would put to use the knowledge they had learned over the past two months.
The time had come to descend the mountain.
“When you first came up the mountain, it was your own choice. You didn’t want to muddle through life aimlessly—you longed to shine, to burn, to fight… This is the path you chose!”
“I respect your decision, and that’s why the Xianlu Forging Shop was established.”
As the Sect Master, before sending the students down the mountain, it was necessary for me to make an appearance and give them a few words.
Even though it seemed my words didn’t carry much weight.
But after two months together, they no longer measured my authority as Sect Master by my apparent age.
“You still have a chance to regret, at any time. Maybe you’ll find a new direction, a new desire; if you’re tired or weary… you can always regret, resign, and rest.
Don’t worry, Xianlu Company will always respect your choice.
You can leave at any time, and you can return at any time—as long as you haven’t forgotten your skills.
Now, go.
Go and conquer your own ocean.”
After sending off the students, it was time to quietly await good news.
But I didn’t idle around.
Instead, I had Master Lu issue a public announcement.
“Master Lu, go and put out a notice. Anyone who has experience in magic potion crafting, anyone with Magic Potion Crafting Skill, can join the pharmaceutical department of Xianlu Company, with a salary twice what they get at the Potion Alliance.”
“Ah, this… that’s ruthless.”
Master Lu expressed the highest praise.
So this is what they call taking away the firewood from under the cauldron?
The Mu Family was still able to barely hang on, and a big reason was that the Xianlu Magic Potion Shop had put potion makers worldwide out of work.
To resist the Xianlu Magic Potion Shop, they had no choice but to join the Mu Family-led Potion Alliance.
If I could get those potion makers on board, the Mu Family would lose all support in the potion industry, and they’d never be able to make a comeback.
“They just need a way to make a living, so I’ll give them one,” I said.
“But… with their level… do we really need them to make potions?”
Even in a different industry, Master Lu knew how big the gap was between those potion makers and Xianlu.
“They can be trained. We’re only selling Fivefold Potion now. Later, let them research at their own pace; when they figure it out, we’ll sell the next generation.”
“Only Fivefold?” Master Lu’s mouth twitched as if he’d had a stroke. “Just how many folds are you hiding?”
“The number’s too big—I can’t even calculate the exact figure.”
Master Lu was numb.
The little one in front of him must be an alien.
What Qilin, that’s just a cover!
If a Qilin could do this, all life on Earth would’ve ruled the galaxy back in the prehistoric era—who would need to wait until now?
“All right, all right, go put the word out.”
Master Lu left, completely numb.
Not long after Master Lu left, two powerful surges of energy erupted from the Main Peak.
It was the aura of the Golden Core stage.
“Oh? A breakthrough?”
As expected of the Sacred Body.
I flew back to the Main Peak and saw two people beaming with joy, with Cluru beside them clapping and cheering.
“Junior Brother and Junior Sister have broken through! From now on, you’re Golden Core too!”
Cluru seemed even happier than they were.
“Next time we ascend, we’ll have two more companions!” Cluru rose up on tiptoe and patted their shoulders.
The two, feeling the difference in their powerful new auras, exchanged a look.
Suddenly, the two knelt down in unison.
“If we disciples could reach this day, it’s all thanks to Master Sister and Master’s guidance! Master, Master Sister, please accept our tea!”
The two used flames in their palms to heat the teacups, brewing the tea leaves in an instant.
With both hands, they raised the tea over their heads, respectfully offering it to Cluru and me.
“You two are thoughtful.”
Cluru and I thought nothing of it. After lowering the temperature with Bingling, we drained the tea in one gulp, completely unguarded.
“Master, Master Sister, when can we go down the mountain?” Linno asked expectantly. “All the Shizhi went down today…”
“What do you want to do down there?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I… I want to thank those who helped me before.” Linno looked away shyly, bowing her head.
“You just want to show off now that you have power, don’t you?”
“Hehe…” The two lowered their heads, looking embarrassed to have been seen through.
“With your current Golden Core cultivation, as long as you don’t provoke the likes of Candle Nine Yin or Kun Kun, you can basically go wherever you like. So going down the mountain… isn’t out of the question.”
The two looked up in surprise. “Really?”
They’d been holding back for two months.
“Mm, you’re very strong now. Although you just advanced to Golden Core, your strength is already on par with Master Sister and me. In the mortal world, nothing can threaten you anymore.”
They couldn’t hide their excitement.
“But if you want to go down the mountain, there’s one more thing to take care of.”
I walked to the tea table and collapsed limply onto a bamboo stool.
“What will you do with the corpses of me and your Master Sister?”
The two looked at each other again, lowering their heads in a panic.
“Disciple doesn’t know what Master is saying.”
“Stop pretending. The poison’s already taken effect. The poison I taught you… how could I not know? Sigh…”
I let out a soft sigh.
At this moment, Cluru also collapsed to the ground in shock.
She was horrified to find that she couldn’t use the Lingli in her body!
It was as if it had been drained in an instant… leaving her a mortal!
“You two… why?” Cluru stared at them, unwilling to accept it.
The despair and disbelief in her gaze were so intense, the two couldn’t even look up to meet her eyes.
“Master… Master Sister… we’re sorry…”
Their voices were choked with sobs.
“Mm, you should be sorry.” My tone was weak and icy. “You have no idea how cruel you’ve been.”
“Cruel? No… the cruel one is this damn world!” Zhang Yin shouted hoarsely. “We just want to live—with dignity!”
“So you’d poison the Master and Master Sister who’ve been so kind to you?”
“We’re sorry, Master, Master Sister. We really are!”
They knelt and kowtowed, their heads thumping repeatedly on the ground.
“Speak. Why?”
“Because… we’re different.”
“How are you different?”
“You haven’t been through it! You’re too lucky—you could cultivate, you could rise high while you were still so young… You and Master Sister never suffered the way we have, so… you’ll never truly empathize with us! You don’t know how deep our scars run after all these years!”
“So that’s it? That’s why you want to kill us?”
“No… We’re just so afraid…”
The two wept bitterly.
“Because you can’t empathize, you keep hurting us, even if you don’t mean to. Your happiness, calm, and light… everything you have just makes us feel distant and afraid.”
Like sheep in wolf’s clothing, we’re afraid that sooner or later, our true selves will be discovered—that the difference between us will be exposed.
And then… maybe you’ll take everything from us… even if it’s only a one percent chance…
Sorry, Master… Master Sister… we’re sorry…