Chapter 70: Following

“If… within three years, you can obtain a Divine Grade Elixir Formula and provide me with various supreme alchemy materials, I will vow to follow you!”

Leng Yao used her usual, cool yet pleasant voice to speak slowly, then added, “Of the elixirs I refine, aside from the portion I use myself, the rest will all be under your control!”

Ahu looked deeply at Qin Li, suddenly bowed deeply and said, “Brother Qin, this is the last time I call you that. From now on, you are my lord!”

“This will not do, Brother Ahu. No matter what, I will always consider you my good elder brother! Moreover, I have nothing right now. Don’t you need to think about it further? And Leng Yao, I can agree to your request, but I still say—I hope you reconsider. Because agreeing to you is simple, just a few words, but whether I can actually achieve it, I cannot guarantee at all. However, I will do my best!” Qin Li said sincerely as he helped Ahu up, speaking earnestly.

Ahu smiled and said, “I am already over thirty years old. Although my mother and foster father no longer worry about food and drink… I want to give them something better! I hope that one day, those people who once looked down on my parents will feel uneasy and awed just hearing their names! I want them to live with more dignity and status than they have now! And these things… are what I, in this lifetime, could never give them. Besides money, I cannot give them anything else.”

Ahu became emotional. This man in his thirties, with red-rimmed eyes, continued, “But I believe that you can!”

Qin Li was deeply moved and said, “Brother Ahu, just because of this trust you place in me, Qin Li in this life… will never let you down! Also, please continue to call me Brother Qin. We are friends who have shared hardships; that is fundamentally different from those who come later!”

The hearts of Ahu and the other two were warmed by Qin Li’s words. Who doesn’t wish to be respected and valued?

Leng Yao looked at Qin Li and said calmly, “Since I agreed to follow you, I won’t change my mind. And since I agreed, naturally I believe in you!”

“Mad, you are all mad!” Bu Yunyan stared at the blazing bonfire, mumbling, “I might as well join in the madness too… Brother Qin, can I always call you that from now on? Calling you that feels very intimate!”

Qin Li felt both amused and exasperated and said, “As you wish!”

“That’s what you said! Don’t forget it, hehe…” Bu Yunyan laughed like a little imp who had gotten her way. This beautiful woman only in her twenties was a natural enchantress.

Qin Li looked at Leng Yao and asked, “Sister Leng Yao, if we want to refine Yuanli Pills, aside from this One Leaf Hundred-Year Grass we have, what other things are needed?”

Leng Yao did not hesitate and replied directly, “Besides this, we need a few supplementary medicinal herbs. None are particularly hard to find. As long as we have the One Leaf Hundred-Year Grass, refining Yuanli Pills isn’t a problem. But… are you really sure you want to refine Yuanli Pills?”

Leng Yao’s words made Qin Li somewhat puzzled. He said, “Is refining Yuanli Pills not good? At least the few of us can significantly boost our strength in a short time!”

Both Ahu and Bu Yunyan nodded in agreement. They were all straightforward people, there was no need for pretenses. What martial artist doesn’t want to enhance their strength? Those who claim that improving strength must rely solely on one’s own hard training either can’t afford elixirs or have something wrong with their heads.

If there’s a shortcut available and you don’t take it, what else could it be but foolishness?

Leng Yao said indifferently, “Improving strength is naturally a good thing. However, I feel it’s somewhat wasteful to use this One Leaf Hundred-Year Grass just like that. When I was young, I read some ancient texts passed down through generations. Among them were descriptions of this One Leaf Hundred-Year Grass, stating it is a main ingredient for many Divine Grade Elixirs! So, I think we should keep it for now and cultivate it. If within a few years we still haven’t obtained a Divine Grade Elixir Formula, then refining it into Yuanli Pills wouldn’t be too late.”

Qin Li and the others nodded upon hearing this, thinking it made sense. However, Qin Li very keenly picked up on something else in Leng Yao’s words. For instance, this icy beauty’s origins and background were unknown even to Ahu and Bu Yunyan. For example, her speech and demeanor didn’t seem like those of a child from an ordinary family. Moreover, where would a child from an ordinary family get to see ancient texts?

But these matters ultimately belonged to Leng Yao’s personal privacy. If she wasn’t willing to talk about them, no one would press further.

Since they had decided to follow Qin Li, the three naturally looked to him as their leader. Anyway, they all wanted to see Phoenix Lake for themselves. Even if they gained no benefits, experiencing the world was good too! After all, such opportunities weren’t common; one could even say they were once-in-a-lifetime!

In the past, the Imperial Family usually sent out a portion of their experts very discreetly to search various places across the nation. This time, however, the Emperor personally dispatched a large number of experts to openly participate in the struggle for the treasure. This was indeed the first time since the founding of the Azure Dragon Kingdom!

So, the journey to Phoenix Lake certainly wouldn’t be lonely.

Early the next morning, after paying respects to Old Third and Li Jian, the four left the place with a touch of sorrow and continued their journey towards Phoenix Lake.

Actually, the straight-line distance from Huangsha City to Phoenix Lake wasn’t particularly far, only a few hundred li. However, there were several large mountains in between, with peaks towering into the clouds, and two very wide rivers. So, traveling in a straight line to reach Phoenix Lake was almost an impossible task. Fortunately, the group had a detailed map, plus Ahu was an experienced hunter. The four of them gathered medicinal herbs along the way, proceeding at a leisurely pace towards Phoenix Lake.

On the way, they encountered some individual and groups of martial artists, but they merely passed by each other. Clearly, everyone’s focus was on the ruins at Phoenix Lake; they showed little interest in other matters.

Both Bu Yunyan and Leng Yao had used Disguise Pills to make their appearances considerably plainer. So, their group of four traveled without any alarms or dangers. Three days later, they saw the mountain range outside Phoenix Lake.

“Ah, we’ve finally arrived. It seems having many people does have its advantages; the paths have been cleared. We didn’t even encounter a single decent Spirit Beast along the way!” Bu Yunyan said with some relief.

“It might not be as optimistic as you think.” Qin Li, who had bickered with her often during the journey, narrowed his eyes, his gaze flickering as he looked ahead, seemingly deep in thought.

“There seem to be many people up ahead.” Ahu also narrowed his eyes and spoke softly.

Bu Yunyan looked at the two with some confusion, not quite understanding their meaning. Her strengths didn’t lie in this area anyway; she had always been responsible for the team’s logistics, sales, and distribution of money.

“Let’s go take a look.” Qin Li said, leading them forward a bit further. At that moment, the sound of bustling noise gradually reached them.

Qin Li and Ahu exchanged a look, showing expressions that said “just as expected.” Seeing Bu Yunyan still looked puzzled, Qin Li smiled and said, “The Emperor sent people here so openly to search for treasure; how could he easily let others enter?”

Bu Yunyan was taken aback. Those from the Jianghu were used to thinking in Jianghu ways, but they had forgotten that the biggest player eyeing the ruins at Phoenix Lake this time was the Imperial Family!