Supreme Emperor of Mist

Yunshan Province.

It was said to be a resting place for Millenial Years Old Cloud Dragon once upon a time. At that time, Demonic Beast flourished. It was an era where human lives like a herd of livestock running for their life.

Luckily, Cloud Dragon was fond of mankind. Ignoring the threat from Demonic Legion, the mythical beast protects humankind. The body of a hundred mountains long created a safe haven for humans at that time.

The body of a hundred mountains comes with a hundred valleys and a hundred hills, brimming with vegetation and lives that could support mankind for a long time.

Thus, a legend was born and inherited from one generation to another until three hundred years ago, when Yang Yunzi became the strongest cultivator that emerged from this place.

Honoring the sacrifice from the Cloud Dragon, Yang Yunzi named his sect Cloud Plucking. The mountains are the foundation, the valley as its pillars, and the hills as its base. The horns of the dragon have now become the entrance to the Cloud Plucking Sect named Yunlong Pass.

On the base of the Yunlong Pass is where Hundred Wealth Basin is located. It was said to be filled by the dragon's saliva when the Cloud Dragon is still alive. And surrounding the basin is where Fuyun City was established.

...

"Dearest husband, why do you suddenly wanted to listen to this story that all of us know since young?" Hu Jia asked as she enjoyed Qin Lan's skinship while they're riding together on a stallion.

The couple has been talking with one another without stopping on their trip to the Cloud Plucking Sect.

"Of course, it was due to my dearest wife's voice. Listening to your version of the story sounds so much better than the storyteller out there." Qin Lan gives Hu Jia a peck on her neck as he answers her question.

"Big liar..." Hu Jia gave him a kiss back and rested her head on his chest.

Three weeks later, they finally joined with Qin Fan's group that departed a week before them. With Qin Fan and Qin Chan leading them, they ride their horses through a slightly less busy street across the Fuyun City until the Yunlong Pass is right before them.

"How majestic..." except for Qin Fan and Qin Chan, the others are awed by the beauty of Yunlong Pass. It was a wall of thirty meters high at no lesser than sixty meters wide. Merely the appearance itself is enough to explain why the Demonic Legion unable to threaten mankind under the Cloud Dragon's protection.

"Let us continue." Qin Fan said. He led the way as the eight of them descended from their horses and started to walk.

"All of you have to always remember. Since there's no dress code in the Zaiyun Men, you're allowed to dress however you want. It is required by the sect law that you move around with the Outer Disciple Token wherever you go."

"In total, there are two peaks, four valleys, and twelve hills are open to the Outer Disciples. They're the Ceremonial Peak and Disciple Peak. These two are often used for official reason." Qin Chan continued after Qin Fan.

"As for the four valleys, they're the Scripture Valley, Mission Valley, Treasured Valley, and Outer Market. Just like their name, the valley is where disciples like us will go when we have something we needed to do."

"The twelve hills is where the twelve Outer Elders established their dwellings. There's no restriction for the disciple to move around, and you may also contribute to their dwelling to earn some contribution points."

"Each elder has their own specialties. You may choose to learn from a few or follow one as their direct disciple. For example, the eighth elder's Dan-Xin Dwelling for Pill knowledge, the eleventh elder's Le-Xin Dwelling for Offensive Treasure knowledge, and our twelfth elder's Min-Ren Dwelling." Qin Fan explained something else as they're approaching the entrance to Dan-Xin Dwelling.

"Third brother, this is where you'll have to go. If there's anything else you need us, just keep going straight from here. You'll eventually reach the end, where our Min-Ren Dwelling is located." Qin Fan held Qin Lan's shoulder firmly.

"Make us proud," he added.

"Your third brother will," Qin Lan smiled.

"Husband, I'll wait for you to come once you're done. Don't worry about us and do your best." Hu Jia said.

"En. Let's meet again soon." Qin Lan nodded.

"Eldest brother, what does our Min-Ren Dwelling focused on?" Hu Jia asked after Qin Lan had gone further up the hill leading to Dan-Xin Dwelling.

"Just like the name Min-Ren, we're focused more on the Department of Peace. Monster hunting, commerce, and politics are what we're good at." Qin Fan smiled and explained what he did not do to Qin Lan.

"Ah..." Hu Jia chuckled.

"Is there something bothering you, third sister in law?" Qin Chan asked.

"I think... Getting into Min-Ren Dwelling might be the correct decision for me." Hu Jia smiled.

(Wasn't that's what I've been taught to do since young by my grandfather? This is much better than following Qin Lan and learning about the boorish pills and dismembering Demon Beast...)

...

...

...

"Senior brother, can I know which way to go if I wished to study in this Dan-Xin Dwelling?" Qin Lan politely asked one of the few outer disciples with a sash written (Pill) on their arm. It was like an identity tag for those not wearing one to know who to look for if they have a question.

"Study in Dan-Xin Dwelling? Are you new here?" the outer disciple asked.

"Yes, senior brother." Qin Lan politely replies to the question. But following that, he was given a few clicks on the tongue in return. Such an irregular reply puzzled Qin Lan.

"Guys! We have somebody new who wanted to join our Dan-Xin Dwelling. Let's bring him over to our senior brother to test him!" Qin Lan was treated as a joke even before he officially steps inside the Dan-Xin Dwelling.

Still, he followed them closely as he was directed to a smaller hall with four other disciples waiting for someone to arrive. From how they're dressed and their belongings aside, Qin Lan can guess that the reason they're here is likely the same as his.

About an incense stick of time later, another well-dressed youth about a year older than Qin Lan came out from the inner door.

"I've heard that you're looking to join our Dan-Xin Dwelling." the youth asked. "If that's the case, refine something out from the materials you have. I'll be evaluating what you can do and if you're an asset or trouble to us."

Not even introducing himself, the youth proceed to take a seat on the nearby chair and took a set of teaware from his Purple-Dragon Storage Jade. To possess a piece of spatial jade-like what Qin Fan got for Qin Lan shows his importance in this establishment.

The four other disciples quickly prepare the ingredient for their concoction and are seated on the spot to start refining using what they have. It was even weirder when they took out a small cauldron with engravings all over.

"Don't tell me they're using that small little cauldron to concoct pill?" Qin Lan suddenly realized that the world he has known has been modernized by a big gap. Not a single one of the disciples actually uses the method he's familiarized with to concoct a medicinal or cultivation pill.

It was like comparing cooking in the wild using a slab of stone and cooking in the home using earthenware. Both still produces a similar result. But in terms of appearance, Qin Lan's method will be seen as "ancient" in their eyes.

"Hey! Are you going to concoct something or not? If not, get the hell out of the testing hall." one of the few spectators on the upper level made fun of Qin Lan. For them, it was not rare to have a few freshmen that came unprepared and empty-handed.

In fact, the Dan-Xin Dwelling used to examine the quality and skills of the examinees thoroughly. But after rows of disappointment, the strict test becomes lax and hardly something to be concerned about. These days, as long as one willing to pay a few pills to exchange for information, many "arrangements" could be made before the examination.

For example, who's the examiner for today's evaluation test.

"Have you gone deaf and mute from not knowing what to do?" the youth took a sip of his tea as he asked Qin Lan. There's not a single hint from Qin Lan's scholarly appearance that exhibits his familiarity in preparing a medicinal pill.

"This senior brother. I'm afraid I came without the medicinal ingredients and a medicinal cauldron. Perhaps, there's something I can borrow from the fellow senior brothers around here?" Qin Lan cupped his hand together and gently apologized.

But his apology without a hint of backing down somewhat pissed the youth seated on the chair.

"Get lost or go back and prepare your ingredients if you really want to join the Dan-Xin Dwelling and leech the knowledge from us. It was one thing if you're inexperienced or lack of skills. But I can't accept those people that thought you can talk through everything without effort!" the youth threw the cup on the floor as he speaks.

The youth throwing his tantrum attracts the attention of another lazy individual on top of a wooden beam. Turning his head around and looking below him, Leng Ching chuckled.

Qin Lan quietly takes a look at his surrounding.

Then, he evaluates the condition of this Dan-Xin Dwelling. Feeling that there's more good than bad if he stayed, Qin Lan decided to swallow this "unjust" treatment from the senior brother and asked the spectators above him for a little help.

"If there's any senior brother here is kind enough to provide a little assistance for this junior brother, I'll make sure to repay your kindness tenfold." Qin Lan cupped his hands and made a light bow at them.

"Here! Take this!" a pill cauldron, pitched black with red veins slithering like the artery graph of a human body, falls onto Qin Lan's hand. It was followed by another bag of medicinal herbs.

The moment the pill cauldron made its appearance, all mocking voice from the disciples stopped.

"That's the Obsidian Dragon Cauldron belonged to Eldest Senior Brother..."

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PS: Now you know why Leng Ching is introduced in chapter 43. Do you like what you're reading? If you do, please leave a review and also drop me your powerstones. A comment would help too as that would make me know there are people actually read my book! We're on the way to contract, so more exchange between author and reader's would keep me motivated!