Chương 80: The Darling of All Powers

Qingxiaozi's weathered face smoothed out instantly, his deep-set wrinkles softening into a look of pure relief. With his lifespan dwindling and the Nascent Soul realm remaining a distant, impossible dream, he had poured his very soul into the prosperity of the Xuanxiao Sect. To discover that his sect had suddenly gained an Alchemy Master capable of refining Grade 3 High-Rank pills filled him with an irrepressible joy.

His gaze toward Reyn grew increasingly tender, as if he were looking at the sect's most precious, crowning jewel.

"Little friend Reyn is truly a dragon among men, to be able to refine a Grade 3 High-Rank Myriad Swallows Spring-Returning Pill at such a tender age. However, as far as this old man knows, you are merely a Registered Disciple of Daoist Dan Chenzi," Xuan Wuqing, the Sect Leader of the Diling Sect, suddenly rose to his feet. Ignoring the darkening expressions of Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi, he strolled forward with a composed air, his eyes fixed on Reyn with a gentle, inviting warmth.

"I am currently at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. If you are willing to join my Diling Sect, I shall personally take you as my Personal Disciple and immediately appoint you as a Sect Elder. What do you say, little friend?" Before his voice had even finished echoing through the hall, another voice cut in sharply.

"Count me in as well! Since Daoists Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi already have so many talented disciples to manage, they surely lack the energy to properly cultivate your potential. Why not join my Disha Sect instead?" Bai Sha's eyes flickered with intense anticipation. He was prepared to risk the enmity of the Xuanxiao Sect to take Reyn away at any cost. A Grade 3 High-Rank Alchemist was an invaluable asset to any sect.

"I guarantee that within a single year, you will reach the 8th level of Qi Condensation. Furthermore, you shall become the Great Elder of our Spirit Medicine Pavilion, enjoying the highest honors and respect." Having such an alchemist meant that the sect's disciples would find it significantly easier to cultivate and break through bottlenecks.

Moreover, during life-and-death battles, a sudden supply of high-grade pills could allow a disciple to reverse their fortunes and slay an opponent they previously couldn't match. Such an addition would elevate the entire sect's combat strength to a terrifying new level.

"Join the Qingyan Sect."

"The three of us can guarantee that our Sect Master will personally accept you as his disciple."

"You shall be appointed as a Sect Elder."

"We will issue a Thousand-Year Decree of Protection."

"Regardless of whether your descendants possess spiritual roots or not..."

"As long as the Qingyan Sect stands, we will ensure your clan prospers for ten generations!" The three Xuan brothers refused to be left behind. Their sect had long been at odds with the others, and with the Xuanxiao Sect currently holding the advantage, gaining Reyn would be a monumental boost to their power. The fact that the three major powers of North Yue State were willing to openly provoke the Xuanxiao Sect just to recruit him proved exactly how high Reyn's value had soared.

Within the Great Hall, the gazes directed at the young man shifted from mere curiosity to profound awe and reverence. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"I truly did not misjudge you, Junior Brother Reyn. You are hiding far more than I ever imagined," Ji Yueli murmured, her beautiful eyes shimmering with an extraordinary light as she stared at him, a captivating smile playing on her lips.

"How is this possible? How can Reyn refine a Grade 3 High-Rank pill?!" Duan Zhonghua's face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with a mixture of terror and disbelief.

"I've already offended him. After today, the sect will treat him like a god. If he decides to move against me, what will I do?" Deep within his pupils, a flicker of poisonous resentment remained, masked by his fear.

"To think Reyn was this powerful... It's a stroke of luck that while I had some friction with him, I wasn't as foolish as Duan Zhonghua. I didn't turn him into a mortal enemy," Li Zidu thought, his heart pounding with lingering fear as he glanced at Duan Zhonghua's trembling form.

"I must offer a formal apology later. Surely, a man of his status won't hold a grudge against me."

"This man is incredible. His insights into the Dao of Alchemy must be profound. I must find opportunities to seek his guidance in the future," Heishi thought, his eyes burning with fanatical heat as if he were staring at a legendary artifact.

"He really was hiding his true self. No wonder he could remain so calm and unyielding all this time; he possessed this level of alchemical skill from the start," Liu Junru watched Reyn with a complex expression, her mind a whirlwind of unspoken thoughts.

"Senior Brother Reyn is actually this formidable... and yet I deliberately distanced myself from him back then. Dammit!" Liu Shengsheng felt like slapping himself across the face. He knew that offering help when someone was at their peak was nothing compared to supporting them when they were down. His heart was consumed by bitter regret. In a corner of the hall, several Outer Sect disciples responsible for cleaning looked on with eyes full of envy.

"That's Senior Brother Reyn. I heard people saying he didn't even have a spiritual root and only got in because of dumb luck. I actually believed them and was jealous as hell! Now I see that whoever spread those rumors was a complete moron. A genius like Senior Brother Reyn was obviously hand-picked by Dan Chenzi long ago. Those people just love to wag their tongues!"

"Exactly! Senior Brother Reyn is the ultimate role model. Next time, I'm going to get some pill formulas and try refining myself. Maybe I have a hidden talent too. Even if I'm not as good as him, maybe I can become a True Inheritance Disciple."

"From now on, Senior Brother Reyn will be a legendary figure in the North Yue State cultivation world. A Grade 3 High-Rank alchemist... even Martial Uncle Dan Chenzi can only barely reach that level." Among the chattering disciples, one man stood with trembling shoulders, his lips pressed tight and his eyes shining with tears of excitement.

"It seems... I truly will have a day where I can return," Wang Bin whispered to himself. He was the one Duan Zhonghua had used as an excuse to kick out of the Hundred Herb Valley.

"Impossible... he can already refine Grade 3 pills?!" Lei Tianqi's face was ashen. He had been working himself to the bone this past year, barely reaching the 2nd level of Qi Condensation and spending all his spirit stones on low-grade talismans just to impress Reyn at their next meeting. He never imagined the gap between them had become an unbridgeable chasm.

"It seems that after the Sect Grand Tournament, I must have a serious talk with my father. We must do everything to win Reyn over. We cannot afford to offend him. If the Lei Clan is to prosper, he is our only hope. And if he can refine some pills for me... even if I can't reach Foundation Establishment, reaching the 7th or 8th level of Qi Condensation would be enough to..." Lei Tianqi's eyes flickered with calculation before settling into a firm resolve. His gaze toward Reyn became much more familial.

After all, they shared the same bloodline.

"Hmph! Have you all forgotten your status? Reyn is a disciple of my Xuanxiao Sect. I suggest you all show some self-respect!" Qingxiaozi let out a cold snort, stepping forward to shield Reyn behind him. Dan Chenzi's eyes flashed with a chilling light. His Golden Core cultivation erupted without reservation, his white hair whipping about and his luxurious purple Daoist robes snapping in the wind. His stance made it clear: if anyone dared to utter another word of recruitment, he would not hesitate to strike.