The Most Powerful Bodyguard

Yang Yan quickly steadied his mind, silently cursing the monster, then said calmly, "Now that the spiritual medicine I’ve obtained is sufficient for alchemy, we only need to wait for this round of assessments to end. For now, we need to find a secluded place to proceed with alchemy."

Jian Mingyin had no objections and immediately nodded.

Upon seeing this, Yang Yan waved his sleeve, sweeping the Nine Nether Fire Bird’s nest into his storage space.

Jian Mingyin was momentarily stunned.

She evidently did not expect Yang Yan to be so greedy.

Moreover, doing so would inevitably provoke the Nine Nether Fire Bird’s rampage, causing upheaval within a thousand miles.

Yang Yan coughed awkwardly, offered no explanation, and silently flew away.

Although Jian Mingyin looked bitter, she quickly chased after Yang Yan’s footsteps.

The reason Yang Yan took the Nine Nether Fire Bird’s nest was simply that he felt its construction materials were precious, containing rich spiritual qi.

Since even items like the Nirvana Flower could grow there, Yang Yan naturally thought it would be suitable for cultivating spiritual medicine.

Five days passed quickly. Since obtaining the Nine Nether Fire Bird’s nest and its spiritual medicine, Yang Yan had spent the remaining time residing in a cave on a cliff a thousand miles away.

This was originally the dwelling of a group of Fire Monkeys, but Yang Yan drove them away after arriving.

Of course, Yang Yan wasn’t heartless. After a battle with the Fire Monkeys, he picked the Fire Separation Peaches growing on the cliff as temporary rent.

These were items the Fire Monkeys desperately desired, so they obediently took the rent and relocated.

In the cave, Yang Yan discussed the Alchemy Dao with Jian Mingyin daily and researched the Nine Nether Fire Bird eggs.

At the same time, Yang Yan used beast fire and immortal power to complete alchemy.

However, despite using more materials, the elixirs he refined, compared to those by Jian Mingyin, were vastly different in quality.

Not only was the medicinal potency vastly inferior, but the grade itself was a whole level lower.

Yang Yan understood the reason behind this—the refining of elixirs should primarily rely on spiritual power, with other elements serving only as support.

Now, he was putting the cart before the horse, and due to his lack of proficiency in controlling immortal power, the fact that he could successfully refine elixirs was quite remarkable, so naturally, he couldn’t expect too much.

Thus, Yang Yan provided herbs, asking Jian Mingyin to help him refine several elixirs that could cause short-term spiritual power outbursts.

With various precious herbs at hand, Jian Mingyin was more than willing to seize the opportunity.

So, in the remaining two or three days, Jian Mingyin nearly never closed her eyes, constantly refining various elixirs.

Yu Wuxing and Yun Yazi had anticipated Yang Yan to shine brightly again, but they had not expected this dark horse to lose its luster.

However, the results of the previous two assessments were so dazzling that Yang Yan remained highly regarded.

On the last day at dusk, Yang Yan and Jian Mingyin appeared at the Valley of Ten Thousand Herbs’ exit, not too early, not too late.

As a prolonged drumbeat sounded, Yu Wuxing and Yun Yazi appeared simultaneously. Just as Yu Wuxing stepped forward to announce the end of the Valley of Ten Thousand Herbs assessment, a faint disturbance rippled across the sky, nearly imperceptible.

The next moment, an elderly man with nearly white hair and beard stood proudly in the sky, dressed in plain hemp clothes, concealed within the void.

This elder was Ling Chongzi, the Sect Leader of the Feather Spirit Sect.

Ling Chongzi had been in secluded cultivation in a secret location within the Valley of Ten Thousand Herbs, and during a chance release of his divine thought, he sensed an exceptionally talented cultivator shining brightly in this assessment, compelling him to investigate personally.

With a gentle sweep of his spiritual sense, Ling Chongzi swiftly locked onto Yang Yan.

He discovered that Yang Yan, despite having only mid-Foundation Establishment-level spiritual power, exuded a pervasive scent of medicine, and his aura was stable, on par with Divinity Transformation cultivators, sparking great interest within him.

Therefore, he secretly transmitted to Yu Wuxing, "After the assessment, have the green-robed young man with only Foundation Establishment spiritual power meet me at the summit of Spirit Bamboo Peak in the Feather Spirit Sect three days from now."

When Ling Chongzi’s spiritual sense swept over Yang Yan, he immediately sensed it.

However, he realized the other party had no malicious intent, and given their cultivation had reached the peak of Divinity Transformation, he remained calm and composed.

In the next moment, Yu Wuxing’s secret voice transmission reached him, "Three days later, a great power at Spirit Bamboo Peak of the Feather Spirit Sect wishes to see you. Do not miss the appointment."

Yang Yan was taken aback.

A peak Divinity Transformation cultivator wanted to see him?

He couldn’t tell whether it was a blessing or a curse.

However, Yang Yan was acutely aware that such an invitation could not be refused.

Even if the spiritual power within him hadn’t been devoured by that immortal power, he had no chance of winning against a peak Divinity Transformation opponent.

The assessment results were quickly tallied, and naturally, Yang Yan and Jian Mingyin were both selected as outer sect disciples.

Yang Yan, filled with thoughts, was still pondering why a peak Divinity Transformation figure wanted to meet him, paying no attention to Jian Mingyin’s call.

Jian Mingyin hesitated, then gently nudged Yang Yan with her arm.

Like a reflex, Yang Yan swiftly grabbed Jian Mingyin’s wrist.

Huh?

This feeling...

Yang Yan subconsciously squeezed, suddenly realizing something.

He hurriedly let go of her wrist and awkwardly apologized to Jian Mingyin.

Jian Mingyin, having become familiar with Yang Yan’s character over this period, gradually understood him.

Yet, being only an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl, regardless of her strong will, she couldn’t help but feel her heart race when Yang Yan lightly squeezed her wrist.

Although approaching Yang Yan wasn’t her purest intention at first, being with him for this time had caused her feelings to change subtly.

In fact, she felt a bit jealous that Yang Yan had always remained indifferent to her stunning beauty.

She calmed her mind, casting aside her whims, and said calmly, "Just now, Elder Yu Wuxing summoned us to the side hall for a meeting. I just wanted to remind you."

Only then did Yang Yan notice everyone else had left, smiling as he explained, "I was just lost in thought about something else, let’s head over there together."

After saying this, Yang Yan made a gesture of invitation.

This stunned Jian Mingyin for a moment.

Because, in her memory, it was the first time Yang Yan had been so polite.

However, upon second thought, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of sweetness, turning and walking joyfully toward the side hall.

Watching her silhouette in the twilight, Yang Yan was briefly dazed, then gently shook his head, striding toward the side hall.

By the time Yang Yan and Jian Mingyin arrived, the others who had passed the assessment were eagerly waiting, seemingly anticipating the two of them.

Yang Yan nodded apologetically to everyone, then stood among the crowd.

However, when the others saw Jian Mingyin, who had removed her veil and possessed an incomparable beauty, silently following Yang Yan like a dependent bird, they couldn’t help but be taken aback.