Chapter Forty-Nine: At Last, They Meet

Wang Haochen administered the pill given to him by Master Xu Jun to Fu Aoxuan, who was hanging on by a thread. The pill, about the size of a peanut, glowed a deep, blood-red and emitted a subtle, fragrant aroma. It was the Essence Blood Pill—a rare concoction forged from the vital blood of a hundred beasts and life-enhancing medicinal herbs. Its sole purpose was to invigorate the life force of those in the Golden Core stage and replenish their vital blood.

Fu Aoxuan’s predicament stemmed from his use of a forbidden technique that had burned away much of his vital blood. The depletion had left him near death, making the Essence Blood Pill just what he needed. As the pill’s power surged within Fu Aoxuan, color returned to his cheeks and his breathing grew steady. Even in his unconscious state, he instinctively circulated his cultivation method, absorbing the pill’s effects and accelerating the restoration of his vital blood. In moments, all that was lost had been restored.

Yet, the pill’s energy was far from exhausted. Still unconscious, Fu Aoxuan continued to circulate his technique, unaware that his vital blood had already recovered. The remaining medicinal power seeped into his body, gradually elevating his cultivation. Thanks to the pill’s immense energy, his cultivation soared: from early Foundation Establishment, to its peak, and then to the mid-stage. By the time the Essence Blood Pill was fully absorbed, his realm had stabilized at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

This catastrophe, in truth, became a blessing in disguise for Fu Aoxuan. Not only did he recover, but he also achieved a breakthrough in his cultivation—a double fortune indeed. Yet, all this was owed to Wang Haochen. Had Wang Haochen not risked everything to obtain the Essence Blood Pill, Fu Aoxuan would have perished long ago.

Conversely, it was only thanks to Fu Aoxuan’s desperate use of the forbidden art within the Dark Marsh of the Tianlong Mountains—risking his own life to carry Wang Haochen to safety—that Wang Haochen had not fallen prey to the alligators. In this light, Fu Aoxuan owed Wang Haochen nothing; Wang Haochen’s efforts to save him were but the proper response. As the Buddhist saying goes: all things in this world are governed by cause and effect. Fu Aoxuan’s selfless rescue set the cause; Wang Haochen’s salvation with the Essence Blood Pill, and Fu Aoxuan’s recovery and breakthrough, were the effects.

Word of these events soon spread throughout the Five Elements Sect. From the lowliest servant to the sect master, all learned the tale—especially as it involved Master Xu Jun, a figure of great renown. Many thought Wang Haochen a fool for refusing Master Xu Jun’s offer to take him as a disciple; to pass up such an opportunity seemed nothing short of madness.

Yet, beneath it all, people deeply admired and envied the brotherhood between Wang Haochen and his companions. They respected Wang Haochen for sacrificing his rare chance at apprenticeship for the sake of his brother, and envied him for having a companion willing to risk everything for him in return.

In the path of cultivation, practitioners lived by the law of the jungle—the strong devoured the weak. The harshness of the journey forced cultivators to harden their hearts, leaving no room for kinship, friendship, or love. The road to immortality was like a narrow bridge crossed by thousands, but only one would reach the other side.

Though the cold reality had long since taught them to distrust friendship, many still yearned for the life-and-death bond these brothers shared.

Chen Yi, too, found himself envious of the three brothers’ camaraderie. He believed that, with their help, the Ivory Quest he had undertaken would surely end in success. When Chen Yi arrived at the brothers’ mountain, he noticed at once the dense spiritual energy lingering in the air. According to the sect’s rules, any disciple who broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage and became an inner disciple was awarded a mountain rich in spiritual energy as a residence.

At the foot of the brothers’ mountain, Chen Yi sensed the strong aura—but all of it was contained by powerful arrays, allowing none to escape. He reached out with his divine sense, sending a message to announce his arrival.

Moments later, a strong, clear voice echoed from halfway up the slope.

“I do not know which fellow cultivator has come to visit our mountain. Forgive us if our reception is lacking,” came the greeting.

Chen Yi looked up to see three young men approaching along the path. The speaker was the handsome youth in black at the center, flanked by two others—one in white, the other in darker attire.

The youth in black seemed surprised to find only Chen Yi at the foot of the mountain. Chen Yi, in turn, understood the reason for his surprise: the youth must be wondering how a cultivator at the Qi Refining stage could possess divine sense.

“May I ask, was it you who used divine sense to send a message just now?” the black-clad youth inquired, still somewhat puzzled.

“Yes, it was I,” Chen Yi replied. “Through a fortuitous encounter, I awakened my divine sense early. There’s no need for concern.”

“I see. What brings you to seek out Aoxuan?” The youth, now introduced as Fu Aoxuan, didn’t press further about Chen Yi’s secret—after all, such matters were personal. Moreover, he sensed a faint but unmistakable aura of danger from Chen Yi.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Aoxuan,” Chen Yi replied politely. “I am here about the ivory quest posted in the Mission Hall. I have already accepted the mission, but heard that you, too, have taken it up. I hoped that we might join forces to see it through together—what do you think?”

Before Fu Aoxuan could respond, the white-robed youth beside him sneered, “A mere Qi Refining cultivator like you thinks yourself worthy to accompany us on such a mission? Even we risk our lives in the depths of the Tianlong Mountains. If you go, you wouldn’t even know how you died.”

“My apologies, Brother Chen,” Fu Aoxuan interjected quickly. “My younger brother Yu Ming is rather blunt. If his words offended you, I ask your forgiveness. Still, he only speaks out of concern. The mission is indeed extremely perilous. If we didn’t have our eyes on a particular item among the elephant herd, we would never have accepted it.”

He bowed in apology, gently trying to dissuade Chen Yi from pursuing the quest.

“Thank you for your concern, Brother Aoxuan,” Chen Yi replied with a smile. “Since I dared to accept the mission, I am confident in both completing it and ensuring my own safety. After all, I would not gamble my life needlessly.”

Unbothered by Yu Ming’s words, Chen Yi stood resolute—fully aware that, at his current level, others would doubt his ability to succeed.