âA guest?â Huang Xiaolong found that surprising.
Shi Xiaofei nodded, âYes ah, it seems to be someone from the Vermillion Bird Galaxy, but what that personâs identity is exactly, I donât know.â
âVermillion Bird Galaxy.â That information was another surprise for Huang Xiaolong. There were actually people traveling over a hundred thousand li to Wintry North World to visit Shi Xiaofeiâs Master, Yang Yi. This undoubtedly roused Huang Xiaolongâs curiosity.
With doubt in his mind, Huang Xiaolong followed Shi Xiaofei to Crazy Lady Yang Yiâs cultivation courtyard.
When the two of them reached the hall, Crazy Lady Yang Yi was sitting on the hostâs seat, and further down was a young man clad in white brocade robes, with elegant good looks, exuding a high-status noble aura.
However, what drew Huang Xiaolongâs attention was the fire phoenix emblem on that young manâs chest.
âSomeone from the Vermillion Bird Institute?â Huang Xiaolong deduced. Moreover, it was a Grand Elder from the Vermillion Bird Institute! The Vermillion Institute Grand Elder robe was precisely this white brocade robe.
In the short time these thoughts ran through Huang Xiaologâs mind, he and Shi Xiaofei already arrived in front of Yang Yi, paying their respects.
Seeing that it was Huang Xiaolong, despite her surprise, there was a faint smile on her face, âXiaofei has been missing you every day these few years, but I didnât expect your strength to have grown to this extent in just a few years.â
Hearing her Masterâs words, a crimson blush crept up Shi Xiaofeiâs cheeks.
Huang Xiaolong grinned, âMany thanks for Senior Yang Yiâs praise.â
After Huang Xiaolong and Shi Xiaofei both took a seat, Yang Yi said to Shi Xiaofei, âXiaofei, come greet your Senior Brother He.â Yang Yi said, indicating the Vermillion Bird Institute young man.
Huang Xiaolong was stunned.
âSenior Brother He?â Shi Xiaofei was slow to react, she had never heard anything about her Master having received other disciples before.
Noticing her confusion, Yang Yi explained, âI and the Vermillion Bird Instituteâs Principal are apprentice brother-sister, and this is He Feifan, your Senior-Apprentice uncle Qiuâs eldest disciple.â
This piece of news like a thunderclap to Huang Xiaolong: Yang Yi was actually the Vermillion Bird Institute Principalâs Junior Apprentice-sister!
Clearly, Shi Xiaofei also wasnât aware that her Master had such an apprenticeship relationship with the Vermillion Bird Institute Principal, and it showed on her face. It took her a moment before regaining her manners, greeting the young man as her master instructed.
He Feifan slightly nodded, and cordially returned Shi Xiaofeiâs greeting.
Although He Feifan concealed it well, it did not escape Huang Xiaolongâs keen eyes; when looking at Shi Xiaofei, there was disdain, condescension, doubt, as well as fervid desire in his eyes.
Huang Xiaolong inwardly sneered, he understood that He Feifanâs disdain was because Shi Xiaofei was just a meager Saint realm cultivator, his doubt was because he couldnât understand why Yang Yi would take someone of this level to be her personal disciple. Yet, he was also taken with Shi Xiaofei. She was a beauty, hence the fervid desire.
After Yang Yi introduced Huang Xiaolong, He Feifan was obviously astonished, and at the same time, a fleeting sharp glint flickered in his eyes.
âSo, this brother is actually the Black Warrior Institute Principalâs personal disciple, Huang Xiaolong.â He Feifan showed an elegant smile as he continued, âBrother Huang Xiaolongâs name has been spreading far and wide after defeating the Azure Dragon Instituteâs Xiang Mingzhi. On many occasions, Iâve heard disciples of the Vermillion Bird Institute discuss Brother Huang Xiaolongâs monstrous talent.â
Huang Xiaolong merely gave a perfunctory lukewarm reply.
Huang Xiaolongâs indifferent attitude toward him triggered another flicker of killing intent in He Feifanâs eyes. However, he concealed it well enough that neither Yang Yi nor Shi Xiaofei noticed any misgivings.
âSince I have delivered Masterâs message, Senior-Apprentice aunt Yang Yi, I shall take my leave now.â He Feifan stood up at one point, respectfully saluting Yang Yi.
Yang Yi nodded. She too stood up, personally sending He Feifan out the door. Only after He Feifan left did Yang Yi return to the main hall with Huang Xiaolong and Shi Xiaofei.
âMaster, Senior Brother came to look for your for..?â Shi Xiaofei couldnât contain her curiosity.
Yang Yi did not conceal the matter, âYour Senior-Apprentice uncle Qiu invited me over to the Vermillion Bird Institute, saying thereâs something he wants to discuss with me.â
âMaster wants to go to the Vermillion Bird Institute?â Shi Xiaofei was surprised.
Yang Yi nodded, âBut this matter is not urgent. Wait till your Moon Summoning Rhyme reach the third stage, I can leave at that time.â
Hearing this, Shi Xiaofei relaxed, whereas Huang Xiaolong felt that the purpose of the Vermillion Institute Principal inviting Yang Yi over was probably not so simple. However, since Yang Yi did not mention it in detail, Huang Xiaolong wouldnât step over the line to inquire. Still, Huang Xiaolong had remembered that He Feifan. He didnât miss the killing intent in the otherâs eyes, he had to guard against this person if they were to meet again later.
As for why this He Feifan would want to kill him, he was probably jealous of his âmonstrous talentâ. After the news of his âmonstrous talentâ spread even further, the number of people wanting to kill him would only increase. Then again, the Black Warrior Instituteâs relationship with the Vermillion Bird Institute had never been good.
Among the four institutes, their Black Warrior Institute was on better terms with the White Tiger Institute, while the Azure Dragon Institute was closer to the Vermillion Bird Institute. Not forgetting that competition had always existed between the four institutes.
A while later, Huang Xiaolong finally broached the purpose of his trip to Yang Yi.
âYouâre looking for Ascending Moon Old Man?â Yang Yi looked at Huang Xiaolong in amazement.
Huang Xiaolong nodded, saying, âMy parents and some others have reached peak half-step Saint realm in their cultivation, I heard that if one consumes the Rising Tide Ascending Moon Divine Pellet, it could increase oneâs chances of breaking into the Saint realm by eighty percent, and only Ascending Moon Old Man knows how to refine it.â
Yang Yiâs brows wrinkled into a tiny frown, âSo, itâs like this. I do know where the Ascending Moon Old Manâs cultivation cave is, but that old monsterâs temperament has always been strange. More than ten thousand years ago, a large number of disciples from some top forces came to request him to help refine some pills, but they were instead refined into pills by him. In the last thirty thousand years, people no longer dared to come requesting him for pills anymore, even the Zhang Familyâs Ancestor would take a detour if he ever came across that old man.â
Huang Xiaolong was both shocked and delighted at the same time; delighted because the Ascending Moon Old Man was still around instead of having ascended to the Divine World, and shocked due to his extremely strange behavior, actually refining the people who came to request for pills into pills themselves!
Shi Xiaofei became worried and anxious hearing what her Master said, âXiaolong, that Ascending Moon Old Manâs temperament is so strange, I think itâs better not to go and ask for pills from him. Thereâre still many other kinds of pellets that can help people break through to Saint realm!â
Huang Xiaolong shook his head. Although there were other choices other than the Rising Tide Ascending Moon Divine Pellet, their effectiveness was too low, barely passing thirty percent. Since he had already come this far, regardless of how strange the Ascending Moon Old Man was, he had to go and try.
Seeing that Huang Xiaolong had already decided, Yang Yi reminded solemnly, âThen I will bring you over to that old monsterâs place personally. For my sake, he probably wonât make things too difficult for you.â
Joy spread over Huang Xiaolongâs face and quickly thanked Yang Yi.
Yang Yi joked playfully, âIf that old monster really gives you some Rising Tide Ascending Moon Divine Pellets, then you can give me another sacred grade immortal spirit stone as thanks.â
Huang Xiaolong laughed good-naturedly, âNaturally.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Hence, Yang Yi led Huang Xiaolong and Shi Xiaofei toward the Ascending Moon Old Manâs cultivation cave. In fact, it wasnât very far from the land of new moon where they were. Barely a day later, the three of them arrived at the Ascending Moon Old Manâs cultivation cave.
The Ascending Moon Old Manâs cultivation cave was right next to a volcanoâs crater. One must admit, this old monsterâs taste was really unique.
However, before they could approach any closer, their path was blocked by the Ascending Moon Old Manâs medicine boy, who lectured with a snobbish demeanor, âOur Ancestor is in the midst of pill concoction right now. The Ancestor said that no matter who it is, heâs not seeing anyone! Quickly scram! Otherwise, if you disturb our Ancestorâs refining process, even dying a hundred times cannot pay for your crime!â