Transmigration: The Peerless Immortal Husband

Many students, drawn to the scene, flew into the air on magical artifacts to get a clearer view. Once the spiritual energy fluctuations completely subsided, Gu Yao stood there, covered in dirt washed off by the impact of the spiritual energy. When everyone recognized it was him, they felt both surprised and unsurprised.

“Haha, wasn’t he already at the ninth level of Qi Refinement? With his alchemy skills, making Foundation Establishment Pills beyond his level isn’t that big of a deal. Besides, who else in this courtyard is even close to reaching the Foundation Establishment stage?”

“Wait, wait! No way—did Gu Yao really refine Foundation Establishment Pills himself before going into seclusion? Does that mean he’s already an eighth-grade alchemist?!”

“Do you think Alchemist Gu has already reached the level of an eighth-grade alchemist?”

“Maybe he got the Foundation Establishment Pills from another source. Hall Master Hu cares a lot about Alchemist Gu—giving him a couple of Foundation Establishment Pills wouldn’t be hard.”

“I think the pills were definitely refined by Alchemist Gu himself. Remember, he could already make advanced pills during the mid-stage of Qi Refinement. Why would making Foundation Establishment Pills beyond his level be a problem now that he’s mastered Qi Refinement?”

While the students debated fervently, Jiang Yan and others rushed directly to Gu Yao’s courtyard. They congratulated him in person on successfully reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, their gazes filled with anticipation as they looked at Gu Yao.

Gu Yao naturally understood they were here for the Foundation Establishment Pills. He took out a jade bottle and handed it over. “There are ten Foundation Establishment Pills in here. Senior Brother Jiang, take them for your use.”

Jiang Yan was overjoyed. Gu Yao had indeed become an eighth-grade alchemist and was destined to reach the seventh grade in the future!

Although the barrier blocked their voices, some people could read lips. Combined with the excited expressions of Jiang Yan and his group, it wasn’t hard to guess what had happened.

“They’re really Foundation Establishment Pills! Did you hear that? Ten of them—he handed out ten pills just like that! Ahhhhh!”

People were on the verge of losing their minds.

“I can’t take it anymore! I’m going to offer myself as a servant to Alchemist Gu—I’ll serve him tea and water! Don’t try to stop me!” On the entire Tianlin Continent, no other alchemist had ever advanced to the eighth grade at such a young age and with such speed. And now, here they were, witnessing a living, breathing eighth-grade alchemist genius!

A real one, not just a legend!

“Of course, we won’t stop you,” someone chuckled. “Just as long as you can survive Senior Brother Chi’s sword first! Go ahead, make your move!”

“The Cangkun Secret Realm?” Gu Yao hadn’t expected to hear this news immediately after coming out of seclusion. After learning the details about the realm, he became very interested. “It’s a good thing I came out in time; otherwise, I might have missed it.”

“I’ll wait for you,” Chi Changye said lightly. If Gu Yao somehow couldn’t make it into the secret realm, Chi was willing to stay behind with him. As miraculous as the Cangkun Secret Realm was, there were always other realms to explore.

Jiang Yan, thrilled with the Foundation Establishment Pills, quickly left. Shortly after, he sent a batch of supplies to Gu Yao, all of which would be useful in the secret realm.

—

Shifang City

The teleportation array, usually activated only once every ten years, lit up again—and not just once.

City Lord Meng stood with his people in front of the teleportation array. Once everyone had arrived, he escorted them to the City Lord’s residence for temporary accommodations.

Among the newcomers were two Foundation Establishment cultivators who had come with a Yan-surnamed cultivator during the last visit—Chen Yufeng and Liu Changhao. Both had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment and were poised to break through to the Core Formation stage, provided they had the right opportunities. Without such opportunities, however, they might never make that leap.

The two were clearly brimming with confidence. They had been well-prepared even before this journey, and now, with the help of the Cangkun Secret Realm, they were certain they would achieve Core Formation upon exiting the realm. As for the local cultivators in this barren land? They weren’t even worth their time.

If these locals were smart, they’d be spared. If not—hmph!

However, the leader of this trip wasn’t Chen or Liu. Instead, it was Lou Huaijing, a true prodigy of the Changxian Sect. City Lord Meng treated Lou with the same respect he’d shown the Yan-surnamed cultivator before. After settling in, Lou Huaijing left strict instructions not to disturb him until the day the secret realm opened.

Accompanying the group were several alchemists. The Cangkun Secret Realm was rich with spiritual herbs and resources, making it immensely attractive to alchemists.

One of these alchemists approached Chen Yufeng and Liu Changhao. “I heard there’s a genius alchemist here. Do you know him?”

Chen Yufeng didn’t dare show any disrespect to Lou Huaijing, nor did he want to offend Alchemist Ning. “A genius alchemist? How could a genius alchemist possibly come from this backwater place? It’s just a bunch of ignorant people with a little skill who dare to claim such a title. In the presence of someone like Senior Ning, they’re insignificant.”

Chen Yufeng and Liu Changhao didn’t take the cultivators of Tianlin Continent seriously and hadn’t bothered to investigate the situation there. Moreover, the ‘Qingchen Pill’ hadn’t been widely promoted within the Changxian Sect yet, so they had no way of knowing the true circumstances.

However, Ning Hui was different. From his master, he had learned the true origins of the ‘Qingchen Pill’ and had even refined it himself. He simply couldn’t believe that such a groundbreaking formula could have come from an unknown alchemist in a remote region. When he heard that the Cangkun Secret Realm was located on Tianlin Continent, he made sure his name was submitted for the expedition.

When Ning Hui realized that Chen Yufeng and Liu Changhao were clueless, he didn’t bother questioning them further. Instead, he went directly to City Lord Meng and obtained detailed information about Gu Yao. The more Ning Hui read, the more convinced he became that Gu Yao must have inherited some extraordinary legacy, which included the formula for the ‘Qingchen Pill’. Otherwise, how could an alchemist from a place incapable of producing even a seventh-grade alchemist possibly create such a pill while still in the Qi Refinement stage?

Scoff! Just a fame-hungry fraud. Ning Hui vowed to teach this so-called “genius” what a true alchemist was.

—

The Cangkun Secret Realm

The Cangkun Secret Realm had finally stabilized, projecting various entrances across different regions. One of these entrances appeared in the Qiuqiu Mountain Range, located between Tianfu Academy and Qianxue Sect. Upon sensing the portal, the senior members of both factions led their disciples and students to the site to prepare for the teleportation.

Qianxue Sect had traditionally looked down on Tianfu Academy, but recently, several prodigies had emerged from the academy, significantly boosting its prestige. This sparked envy and resentment among Qianxue Sect’s disciples.

In the past, Qianxue Sect’s disciples would confront and suppress those from Tianfu Academy whenever they crossed paths. Now, however, they had to adjust their tactics, forging connections and even digging up distant familial ties just to ride the coattails of Tianfu’s newfound reputation and gain easier access to pills.

Privately, many Qianxue disciples grumbled about their elders’ failure to recruit Gu Yao into their sect. If they had, they’d now be the ones lording it over Tianfu Academy.

Even the Sect Master of Qianxue and the Dean of Tianfu personally escorted their disciples to the secret realm’s entrance. They greeted each other courteously upon meeting.

Sect Master Leng of Qianxue immediately spotted Gu Yao and Chi Changye standing beside Dean Yu. His pupils constricted slightly. So, the rumors were true—Gu Yao had indeed advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage. If that was the case, his becoming an eighth-grade alchemist was highly plausible.

Elder Gan transmitted a message: “Sect Master, it seems they really plan to let this Alchemist Gu Yao enter the secret realm. While his talent in alchemy is unmatched, who can guarantee that the cultivator Chi will stick by his side at all times once they’re inside? A ‘genius alchemist’? Only those who survive to the end can truly be called geniuses.”

In her view, there was no reason for Gu Yao to risk entering the secret realm. If he stayed safely at Tianfu Academy, he might one day become a seventh-grade alchemist. However, his growing fame must have already reached the cultivators from the Changxian Sect. Would they tolerate the rise of such a prominent young alchemist? If they were displeased, they might kill him without a second thought.

Sect Master Leng also transmitted a message: “Who knows? After all, youth is often reckless, and it seems no one could stop him. You’re right—there are countless geniuses, but only those who live to the end will be remembered. Otherwise, they’re like fireworks—brilliant but fleeting.”

Meanwhile, other disciples of Qianxue Sect pointed and whispered about Gu Yao and Chi Changye. Although Gu Yao felt the weight of their stares, he managed to endure it. He watched with a small smile as Chi scolded the little cat he held by the scruff of its neck, using a sound transmission as well.

Chi Changye had prepared various measures to ensure he and Gu Yao wouldn’t be separated, but there were still uncertainties about the secret realm. Fortunately, the presence of the little cat gave Chi a sense of relief. With its abilities, Gu Yao’s safety could be better guaranteed.

Chi was currently lecturing the cat: “If someone discovers your origins, leave no survivors—do you understand? Otherwise, there won’t be anyone else willing to supply you with top-grade pills.”

The cat, which had been about to protest, quietly lowered its paw. From its inherited memories, it knew that none of its predecessors had ever been supplied with an endless stream of top-grade pills. “Meow, meow, meow, got it. You’re so naggy,” it muttered, its communication skills improving noticeably.

Chi didn’t bother to hide this conversation from Gu Yao. While Gu Yao felt uncomfortable about the idea of killing witnesses, he understood the necessity. Without such precautions, endless trouble would follow. He nodded obediently.

“Keep the communicator with you at all times,” Chi reminded him. “If anything feels off, hide first, and I’ll come find you.”

Gu Yao didn’t find Chi’s repeated warnings annoying. He knew Chi’s concern came from genuine care. “Big Brother Ye, I understand. I’ll prioritize my safety above all else.”

Chi ruffled Gu Yao’s hair vigorously, wishing he could keep him close at all times. If only Gu Yao could shrink to the size of the little cat and fit into his pocket—it would be much less worrying.

Inside the spatial artifact, Xu Chen rolled his eyes. He spoke to Gu Yao: “Why don’t you just reveal my existence to this kid? It’d save him some anxiety. His behavior is nothing like the cold, aloof sword cultivators I’ve known—he’s completely overturning my image of them.”

“You’d agree to that?” Gu Yao asked, surprised.

“Why not? He’s a sword cultivator with no talent for alchemy. What use would the Pill Pavilion be to him?” Xu Chen replied.

Gu Yao nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll consider it.”

Just then, a beam of light descended from the secret realm suspended in another dimension. Both groups of cultivators grew excited. “It’s here!”

This phenomenon was happening in several locations, including places where the existence of the Cangkun Secret Realm had been completely unknown to some cultivators.