BACK AT SWORD PALACE
Palace Master Eun-Woo sat on his high throne, in a lotus position, exuding an air of immaculate authority, much like an emperor. Beside him were the top peak elders, each at the eighth-level heavens master cultivation level, the pinnacle of the sect's power.
As Eun-Woo's gaze settled on the center of the hall, a kneeling disciple caught his attention. The disciple's aura marked him as a fourth-turn core disciple.
"Elder, we have found information about the Heavenly Sun Flower you asked for," the disciple said, his voice low.
"Oh? And why haven't you brought it here?" one of the elders asked, his tone skeptical.
"Elders, its guardian is a Demon Beast King at the sixth level. We do not have the manpower to retrieve it," the disciple explained, his eyes downcast.
One of the elders stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, "Sect Master, why not send a team of disciples to retrieve it?"
"If we can refine the Silent Comprehension Pill with it, it could help you break through your current bottleneck and reach the Celestial Master realm, or sword heart realm" the elder continued.
Eun-Woo sat in silence, his gaze contemplative. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"Gather six disciples, one from each peak. All must be at the sixth level of the Heavenly Master realm. And take Xing'er with you. I want her to gain more worldly experience," Eun-Woo commanded.
"Yes, Sect Master," the inner disciple replied, bowing before leaving the hall.
After the disciple departed, the remaining elders turned to Eun-Woo. One of them stood up, clasping his fists respectfully.
"Sect Master, the Void Dragon Hall has forged an alliance with Dragonspire Sect, greatly increasing their combined combat power. I foresee that in the coming years, they will begin to target other sects to expand their influence and seize resources."
Eun-Woo listened intently, his eyes narrowing. The elder continued.
"I recommend we form an alliance with the Tyrant Sword Sect. It is the only other sect in this province capable of standing toe-to-toe with us."
Another elder added, "Yes, Sect Master. The Tyrant Sword Sect is the only viable ally. The other two sects are too powerful, with multiple Heavenly Master peak realm experts among them. They have no qualms about uprooting other sects."
Eun-Woo pondered the situation. "Form a connection with the Tyrant Sword Sect. Learn what their terms are for an alliance. Until then, you are dismissed."
"Yes, Sect Master," the elders replied, bowing before exiting the hall.
With the room now empty, Eun-Woo remained seated, lost in thought about the challenges his sect was facing.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the Sword Palace…
Xing'er felt a presence approaching her courtyard. Slowly, she opened her eyes and extended her divine sense to investigate.
She rose from her meditative seat and opened the door to find an inner disciple standing nearby.
"Senior Sister, the Sect Master has called for you. He requests your presence in the Great Hall," the disciple said respectfully.
"The Sect Master is looking for me? I wonder what it could be," she thought. Out loud, she responded, "I will be there shortly."
She entered her quarters, quickly changing out of her martial robes from the previous day before making her way to the Great Hall.
Upon reaching the main peak, she pushed open the doors and entered. Inside, she found nine core disciples, each representing one of the sect's peaks. As she walked into the room and joined them in line, she addressed Eun-Woo.
"Master, what is it that you need of me?"
Eun-Woo looked at her, his voice calm and steady. "I have a mission for you all. In the northern Endless Forest, there is a Heavenly Sun Flower, but it is protected by a Demon Beast King at the sixth level. Your task is to retrieve the flower and bring it back."
He paused before continuing, "You may prepare for a week. After that, you are to leave immediately."
Back in her quarters, Xing'er made her way to her room, her mind already racing with thoughts of the mission. As she passed by Li Hao's room, curiosity got the better of her, and she used her divine sense to check on him.
However, as soon as her divine sense reached the threshold of his door, it hit an invisible barrier. The barrier was so strong that her divine sense couldn't even pass a single centimeter before it was blocked, as if a powerful force had marked the boundary.
"What's going on here?" Xing'er thought, her curiosity piqued. She had never encountered a barrier so potent before.
As her curiosity got the best of her, she knocked on the door. After a few seconds, the door opened.
Li Hao stood at the entrance, his shirt off, displaying his well-toned physique.
As her eyes landed on his six-pack, she noticed an alchemist furnace in the corner of his room. Her eyes widened as she asked, "Why do you have an alchemist cauldron? Do you know how to refine pills?"
"Not much, it's just a hobby of mine," Li Hao said, scratching his cheek. "I'm only a Grand Apprentice Alchemist, nothing too impressive."
"So you do alchemy? Can you make a Revitalizing Spirit Pill? I want to test it out," she asked with a composed smile.
"Sure, come in," Li Hao said, inviting her inside.
As her feet crossed the threshold, she felt as if she had just traversed thousands of miles, as if that single step stretched across an endless distance.
"You can sit on the bed," he offered before sitting in a lotus position before the cauldron, taking out medicinal herbs.
With a flick of his left hand, a Yang Flame ignited, its intense heat causing the cauldron to burn with a brilliant glow.
His hands moved with delicate and precise motions, tossing in herb after herb, each one radiating spiritual energy. As they entered the cauldron, his fingers weaved intricate symbols and array diagrams in the air, each movement seamless and controlled.
Steam billowed from the cauldron, filling the room with a fragrant aroma capable of enchanting the senses, making one crave whatever was inside.
Inside the cauldron, the medicinal herbs melted, their liquid forms merging into a glowing mass before splitting into ten small pills.
Li Hao watched the process with intense focus, his body drenched in sweat. Finally, a small explosion erupted from the cauldron, smoke billowing out as he extinguished the Yang Flame.
He stood up and lifted the lid, revealing ten radiant pills, their energy fluctuating within.
Examining them carefully, he sighed. "This is the best I can do. They're not perfect, but they should still be useful."
He handed the pills to Xing'er, who examined them closely. The moment she saw them, her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
In her hands were three perfect pills and seven quasi-perfect ones. She recalled that the top alchemist of their sect, a Heaven Master Alchemist with unparalleled experience, could barely produce quasi-perfect pills—even with the best pill refinement technique in the province.
Yet here was her disciple, the one who had stolen her heart, now displaying remarkable alchemy skills. "What can't you do in this world?" she blurted out.
Li Hao chuckled. "Hahaha, there are plenty of things I can't do, but practice makes perfect."
"Oh yeah, I need to prepare. I'm going on a mission in seven days," she said with a smile.
"What's the mission about?" he asked.
"Some senior disciples from the other peaks and I are heading to the Northern Endless Forest to retrieve a Heavenly Sun Herb," she explained.
"Mm, then stop by here before you leave. I have a surprise for you," Li Hao said.
"Okay, I'll see you then," she replied before getting up to leave. Li Hao watched her depart, his eyes thoughtful.
With focused determination, he took out the core of a demon beast and sat down, refining it with other metals...