Support me at patreon for 60+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk
**
Although he had chosen Lin Feng, Yun Shan wasn't about to let this sixth-tier alchemist—who had spent nearly two decades in the Yun Lan Sect—walk away so easily.
With that thought in mind, Yun Shan softened his tone and tried to retain him with a hint of hope. "Gu He, don't be too disheartened. There are plenty of outstanding women in the world. Now that I have time on my hands, I can help you find a wife even better than Yun'er."
"Senior Yun Shan, I appreciate your kindness," Gu He replied calmly, "But as for a wife, there's no need."
Seeing that Yun Shan had already settled the marriage between Lin Feng and Yun Yun, Gu He gave a listless bow and said, "Senior Yun Shan, I once obtained a technique for rapidly advancing to seventh-tier alchemist from Xiao Yan.
Now that the Yun Lan Sect has no shortage of sixth-tier alchemists, I'll take this opportunity to go into secluded cultivation and make a breakthrough. I'll be taking my leave."
With that, Gu He didn't wait for Yun Shan to respond. He turned and left on his own, striding swiftly toward the exit.
As for the elders of the Yun Lan Sect, they exchanged glances, uncertain whether they should try to persuade Gu He to stay.
Hearing Gu He's words, Lin Feng suddenly recalled that Zi Yan had mentioned something similar before.
Then, thinking back to the alchemy techniques left behind by Han Feng—those specially marked methods—many of the doubts he'd had moments ago suddenly became clear.
"No wonder Gu He was so arrogant earlier. He must've believed those advanced and supposedly precious alchemy techniques had elevated him significantly, giving him a boundless future.
Considering how rare high-tier alchemists are in the Jia Ma Empire, combined with his lack of life-and-death tempering, it's no surprise he's become overconfident."
Muttering to himself, Lin Feng's gaze landed on Gu He, who was about to leave, and suddenly he called out:
"Wait."
Hearing that detestable voice behind him, Gu He frowned and turned back. "What is it? If you're here to gloat, spare me the nonsense."
"Heh, aren't you curious? Back then, you wanted nothing more than to kill Xiao Yan. Why do you think he never came back for revenge—and instead handed over such advanced alchemy techniques to you?"
Seeing Gu He's expression, Lin Feng didn't get angry. Instead, he smiled faintly.
Gu He froze for a moment. Then, thinking back to the situation back then, he casually replied, "He was probably afraid I'd try to steal his Heavenly Flame. After all, by that time, I already knew his identity. He couldn't just flee like before."
Having said that, he clearly didn't want to dwell on the matter further and attempted to leave this painful place behind.
But Lin Feng continued, "I once heard of a certain special alchemy technique. It allows a person to rapidly increase their alchemist rank at the cost of burning their own potential. After cultivating it, one's alchemy level increases at a speed far beyond normal."
"What are you trying to say?" Gu He's expression shifted sharply, a flicker of unease flashing in his eyes.
He thought about how, over the past few years, his alchemy skills had soared at an unnaturally fast pace.
In an instant, panic surged within him.
"What do I mean?" Lin Feng chuckled and continued, "If I were Xiao Yan, and I had such a technique, I'd definitely hide its side effects and give it to you—as repayment for you once hunting him down."
"This—!"
Gu He wasn't stupid. As soon as Lin Feng finished speaking, a cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
He had previously believed that the surge in his alchemy skill was due to inheriting a complete sixth-tier legacy.
But now, replaying the entire process from when he and Xiao Yan were enemies to their so-called "reconciliation," he began to realize something was off.
A chilling thought crept into his heart: Xiao Yan really might have given him some underhanded, shortcut alchemy method.
And the worst part—he had already cultivated it for years.
Even if his talent had been excellent back then, after such prolonged depletion, it must've been drained to nearly nothing—maybe even completely exhausted!
In his current condition, even if he managed to break through to a seventh-tier alchemist, the Pill Tower likely wouldn't accept someone in his state.
"Bastard! Xiao Yan, how dare you destroy my foundation?! This isn't over between us!"
The realization that he might never be able to step into the holy land of alchemy in his heart again…
Gu He's eyes instantly turned bloodshot as he let out a thunderous roar that shook the skies.
He completely ignored the fact that there were others present. The aura of a One-Star Dou Huang suddenly erupted from his body, spreading violently throughout the hall.
Other than Lin Feng, Yun Yun, and Yun Shan, the rest of the elders had to quickly circulate their Dou Qi to resist the crushing pressure.
At the same time, the others—aside from Lin Feng—were all dumbstruck by the earlier conversation.
None of them had imagined that the Xiao clan brat could be so deviously calculating.
He had pretended to reconcile by handing over advanced alchemy techniques, but in reality, what he gave Gu He was a sinister method that drained an alchemist's potential.
Under the allure of improving his alchemy, Gu He would naturally have practiced it without hesitation.
Even though they didn't know the full extent of the side effects, just judging by Gu He's current state…
Everyone more or less had a clear idea now.
"Gu He, you should be going after the one who harmed you—not raging around here like a mad dog," Lin Feng called out sharply, seeing how the hall was descending into chaos.
"Right! That little bastard ruined me so thoroughly… I don't care how much it costs—I'll hire experts if I must. I'll have him captured, skinned alive, and torn limb from limb to vent the hatred in my heart!"
Reminded by Lin Feng, Gu He suddenly snapped out of his blind rage. His bloodshot eyes instantly turned toward the direction of the Black-Corner Region.
Thanks to the Three-Year Agreement years ago, the Xiao Clan's enrollment in the Jia Nan Academy was common knowledge throughout the Jia Ma Empire.
Naturally, Gu He was well aware as well.
Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the hall, summoning his Dou Qi Wings and shooting into the sky, racing toward the Black-Corner Region like a bolt of lightning.
Watching the man's frenzied departure, Lin Feng smiled faintly.
The reason he had so "kindly" reminded Gu He just now… was simply to make the man cause Xiao Yan some trouble.
After all, that guy was always eyeing the Heavenly Flame on him. Better to have someone keep Xiao Yan busy for a while.
Xiao Yan had screwed Gu He over so hard—Lin Feng could only imagine what would happen when those two finally met again.
"Who would've thought that Xiao Yan brat could be so vicious… giving Gu He such a harmful alchemy technique," Yun Yun murmured with a shake of her head, clearly stunned.
"Judging from Gu He's state just now, I'd say that kid's in big trouble," Yun Shan added, a trace of relief in his tone.
If he had chosen Gu He earlier and given up on Lin Feng, that would've been an utter disaster.
From the look of it, Gu He's potential was practically spent. His future was likely crippled.
Compared to Lin Feng, a young sixth-tier alchemist with boundless potential, it was like heaven and earth.
Thinking that, Yun Shan had no intention of letting this rising star slip away.
Turning toward Lin Feng and Yun Yun, he smiled and said, "Now, let's return to the main topic. Since both of you are here today, it's the perfect time to settle on a date for the wedding."
---------------------------------------------------------
Support me at patreon for 60+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk