“Betrayers?” Looking at the figure standing before him, Pharmacist Elder was silent for a few moments before he asked softly, “With Teacher’s extraordinary talent in pharmaceutical arts, in this continent no more than a handful may rival you. How could you ever have been cast away by the esteemed clan of herbs?”
“The Dragon Emperor血脉,” smiled the old master calmly before slowly collecting his emotions, revealing a steely determination in his voice, “Born into such a revered ancient clan, the pressure from its hierarchy is immense — more than elsewhere in the realm — where caste is judged solely upon how strongly the blood of Dragon Emperor flows. And just as you, my situation was pitiable and my Dragon Emperor dòng blood is thin indeed — barely sufficient for notice.”
“As I look back,” murmured the elder, rekindling an old bitterness within his being, “when I served within the clan of herbs, one bungled mission saw me exiled for ineptness. After leaving, filled with不甘, my fury fueled an unyielding dedication exclusively to herbal magic, to hone my skill relentlessly upon the middle continent over near a century, carving out reputation. All the while, foolish dreams of reinstatement persisted in my heart — that is until time cruelly robbed even that wishful thought.”
“Though that clan may claim birthplace, my loyalty or fondness towards them is scarce; my parents, the only ties to my origin, perished when I was naught but a child. Slow indeed were the years, yet eventually, even their name and mine were buried in silence, unmentioned by myself and hidden — now known perhaps only by a few remaining members of the clan, if that much, perhaps forgotten even by Hell’s Hall itself.”
Silent, Yan listened — clearly the Elder’s sentiment toward their origins was filled with bitterness. So many years had yet to see any reminiscence of that old allegiance.
“With Teacher’s current power, who might dare now resist your return to that herbal clan?”
“That is the beauty,” smiled the Elder serenely, shifting focus now to the younger soul before him, “what reason returns one to place once left? In the interim I came to understand and cherish being ‘Medius Dust.’ No— it’s no longer an issue of that first ‘Medius’ at all.”
“But if they deemed me discarded, unworthy and broken — let us show them I can rise in the Middle Continent’s view beyond all such limits, showing them the myth of ‘Blood of Dragon Emperor’ as insufficient explanation for might alone.”
The elder continued, a slight gleam lighting his gaze, now fully alight with purpose: “And, they’ll discover yet another wonder — that the boy who inherited this legacy, this disciple shall surpass even their dearest prodigies born bearing the fabled Blood. Such is my testament!”
Glistening in this fire, Xiao Yan nodded— the disdain towards a certain ‘clan of herbal’ within the hearts, deepening a sense that stirred something like disgust now within him too.
“But forget this chatter,” waved the pharmacist dismissively; such tales were meant less and spoken little, reserved for but an age-ready audience now prepared to wield the knowledge. Thus the topic closed.
“On to another,” changed subject the old sage now leaning, the glimmer unceasing in gaze now focused with new revelations. “There are eight ancient families of old, seldom heard of now across the land. But you stand among the privileged now fit with knowledge for our purposes here and now.
“You must know the name ‘Ignia’ — one of that ancient elite with more異世之炎flames than any gathered elsewhere. Among their bounty: at minimum, four異種炎are safeguard and of those, none are below even midrankings among the Ten Grand.”
“FOUR!” The younger man startled by these revelations — never until now had force or name borne such collection, as one faction claiming four rare炎flame artifacts — truly unprecedented to his understanding and amazement both.
“They hold two within Medicine Clan too.” Continuing thus, Pharmacist offered this detail coolly, unfazed: “Given generations past devoted exclusively to mastery in ancient herbal arts – younglings they raise are skilled. Likely, one meeting their future prodigies shall prove instructive, though by all estimations they’ll find even our little pupil’s flame-handling skills — even amidst their young — unchallenged by more than a paltry five perhaps.”
“Such a ranking?” Xiao Yan frowned inward — upon the great middle expanse’s young generation none stood above his craft in flame alchemy, and for his art to trail at ‘no higher than fifth’ amidst their clan meant a bitter drop in status indeed. Such standing left him unsatisfied, as if trailing at their backs rather than in lead!
“Nor should you entertain reckless ambition toward possessing these flames,” smiled the master warningly then, interrupting this rising fire brewing within younger’s mind too eagerly. “For they long passed — centuries old imprints binding these relics even further than that fiery curse bound ‘Hellfire Ravine Fire’. You possess them how?”
Cue nod — but one of resigned understanding — not yearning desire from a hothead. Xiao Yan was not mad after all!
“I know… I know.” Accepting this limitation for now was wiser — such ambitious moves reserved when forces less titanic than clans stood in opposition. Presently? One formidable enough to trouble him aplenty, let alone seeking additional enemies!
“Thus — I suppose patience until this mysterious Spatial Commerce Communion…” Xiao Yan muttered his reluctant assent. At that, Pharmacist merely chuckled — a knowing glint lighting eyes.
“You’ll await that time,” confirmed the old man, then adding, “But prior affairs call, for travel you must undertake before that fair festival.”
Whispering next with weighty import:
“A call that calls to—Gu Clan. ‘Gu Jie’ Realm.”
At hearing name that struck deeper into soul now shudder — memory ignited, that visage of transcendent purity arose — her delicate lotus visage, serene as drifting mist — etched unfading into his mind’s innermost chamber.
“Hee-er…”
Breath seized — fire flaring deep in eyes dark as night skies once more as longing stirred deeper in heart — her. He’d never stopped thinking. Not even once.
“One month,” began Master again — “until Gu Clan holds their ceremony granting full adulthood, an event hinged in utmost importance — for this rite, only the finest among clan’s rising generation gather in glory. This, our Xiao Hee, attends.” A beat paused the elder — letting those final three weighty syllables settle: “…as shall you.”
“To hold invitation,” continued the elder pulling now forth a carved obsidian token, intricate sigils etched over it like ancient runes that thrummed with an enigma — “means rare honor reserved not for the common — were it not my advancement lately to the Half-Sage rank itself elevating Starfall Pavilion to standing among great realms, not a whisper from such exhalted summons had ever been directed hence.”
“This,” the elder extended forth now the relic, “will admit one bearing it safe into the Gu Jie’s domain. Were affairs not thus urgent here, old Master himself would make this return journey instead. Given current affairs however…”
His voice now hinged upon solemn choice — gaze unblinking met gaze, and slowly that obsidian token passed into other hands.
Clutching that artifact now within his palm, Xiao Yan’s chest tightened. The great enigmatic blood-line clan intertwined with Xiao ancestry was soon—soon—to be encountered full circle… The weight pressed against flesh as chill warmed with inner flame rising slowly in heart and veins both.
“Know this,” cautioned then the aged mentor further. Such gatherings of the Gu realm often hosted top forces, famed immortals even from the landmass’ every province, an opportunity as much as a challenge: testing one soul against the realm’s strongest young talents. The aged mentor chuckled then:
“Now then—boy, you’ll not shrink behind others?”
“Tsk!” Xiao Yan’s hand now closed over obsidian token — grip fierce with resolve kindled in depths.
“Rest assured, venerable one — none I shall disappoint.”
“A fact I need no oath nor vow for. That I doubt not!” Laughter shook the air once again as Pharmacist slapped hearty on the younger shoulders — yet warning now darkened the gaze once more with grave wisdom.
“Yet once arriving in Gu lands…” Voice dipped serious: “Caution, mind restraint at every turn — for her — Xiao Hee — within their realm, is not but simple girl — she is something even further: bearer most complete amongst the blood-dragon dòngline. She stands at threshold — possible ascension to level mere legend speaks of… securing her as your own will not come without price.”
Still nod, silent but grave.
Long had such suspicion lingered unspoken, unvoiced… buried beneath the tender moments that etched in fire. Xiao Yan’s thoughts — unswerved! Her presence — her smile! — forever fixed deep soul’s chamber no blade, no force of ancient god himself could sever — even one mighty beyond gods — like Gu clans might!
“Apart,” advised the mentor next, voice returning to lighter counsel, “from taking this token, you must accompany as well your elder ‘Immortal Fire’—my Heavenly Venerable brother—as you seek passage into sacred ground!”
He went on: “With recent aid in potion crafting over many weeks he had achieved stability at sixth level, and of small Healer, while my task with taming her ‘Calamity Poisoning Blood’ concluded — I had instead directed her now upon pilgrimage seeking final solution for full mastery at a site even most forget. It was from such place, that the ancient ‘Poisoning Alchemy’ you’ve come to learn originated — my prior knowledge derived therefrom.”
Incredulous expression danced briefly across Xiao Yan’s youthful face as comprehension dawned.
“The ‘artificial poison’ mastery… is not from your mind originally?!”
“You marvel,” chuckled the wise old soul knowingly stroking whiskers while continuing: “Few understand how that lost technique came to be, unless one knew it’s origin — she being one so tormented with her own poison affliction — she, the ancient one who endured like SmallHeal but without fortune — and at deathbed brink birth this salvation for all cursed thereafter — the ultimate refinement of all such curses ever born.
“So it now stands,” eyes gleaming bright again in quiet triumph: “Our small Healer’s destined triumph lies upon retrieving that ultimate method — where even she shall achieve what none have ever truly achieved, thus attaining dominion over that most fearsome poison!”
“Is that why…”
Breath barely contained by ribs straining with thoughts alight as truths crystallized.
“When that moment comes,” concluded wise one final, laying forth the final directive: **“At that appointed hour, when Healer returns from that forgotten sanctuary, YOU depart! YOU enter Gu Clan Domain together. Together, you reclaim destiny!”
Xiao Yan slowly straightened himself now — mouth pressed firmly in silent promise, eyes burning with renewed fire of unshakable decision — the fingers upon token trembled — and yet held fast.
“Shee…” His whisper rising into the space between like vow cast skyward, heart leapt with singular purpose unfettered once again.
*I SAID — NEXT we MEET again, it is IN THEIR LAND — and I promise — I am coming for you*
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