Hearing Heavenly Venerable Ziyang’s words, Master Longbrow didn’t hesitate and immediately opened his mouth.
“Whoosh!”
Ziyang flicked his finger, and a pill shot into Master Longbrow’s mouth.
The pill dissolved instantly into a warm current, flowing into his abdomen.
Then, the warmth rose from his abdomen to his head, finally settling around his eyes.
“Could this pill possibly…”
Master Longbrow suddenly realised something, his heart pounding with excitement.
Moments later, a sharp pain stabbed through his eyes, as if someone were pricking them with needles.
About half a minute passed.
Master Longbrow suddenly found his vision crystal clear; his blind eyes had regained sight.
Overcome with excitement, he laughed skyward, “Hahaha, I can see again…”
Whoosh!
Another pill flew into his mouth, abruptly silencing his laughter.
“What’s with the racket over something so trivial? Annoying,” Ziyang said impatiently.
Master Longbrow reached to remove the pill, but it melted, transforming into a vast surge of power that coursed through his body, cleansing his meridians.
Shocked and delighted, he exclaimed, “This is…”
“Circulate your energy quickly,” Ziyang ordered. “Waste this pill, and I’ll end you.”
Master Longbrow immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began circulating his energy.
Five minutes later, a terrifying aura erupted from him.
Eight strands of true qi appeared behind him, glowing brilliantly, making him look like an ancient immortal.
Moreover, his aura grew stronger, as if on the verge of a breakthrough.
Ye Qiu, Ye Wudi, and the others watched with envy, their admiration for Ziyang’s methods deepening.
“One pill restored Longbrow’s sight, another boosted his cultivation. Master Ancestor, you’re incredible,” Ye Qiu flattered.
Ziyang said, “He gave me his wine. I don’t like owing favours.”
“Master Ancestor, if you want wine, come to me. I have plenty of century-old brews, far better than monkey wine, and as much as you want,” Ye Qiu offered.
Ziyang’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Absolutely,” Ye Qiu said. “Master Ancestor, I’ll have the wine sent over…”
“Hold on!” Ziyang interrupted. “Kid, you’re trying to get something out of me, aren’t you?”
Ye Qiu, unfazed, said, “Master Ancestor, you misunderstand. You saved my father and gave my mother a pill. I just want to show some filial respect.”
“Is that so?” Ziyang was skeptical.
“Truly,” Ye Qiu said earnestly.
Thud!
Ziyang flicked Ye Qiu’s forehead, scolding, “Kid, I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. You think you can fool me with your little schemes?”
“Fine, since you call me Master Ancestor, it wouldn’t do if I didn’t give you a meeting gift.”
“Kid, what do you want?”
Ye Qiu said, “Master Ancestor, I genuinely just want to show respect, not ask for benefits…”
“Cut the nonsense. Tell me what you want.”
Ziyang was straightforward, disliking beating around the bush.
Ye Qiu said, “Since you insist, Master Ancestor, refusing would be disrespectful. Please give me some pills, techniques, divine artifacts…”
“The more, the better!”
Ziyang, exasperated, glared, “You little rascal, young but with a big appetite. Why don’t you just ask for me too?”
Ye Qiu grinned sheepishly, “Master Ancestor, if you were a beauty, I might consider it.”
“Qiu’er, don’t be rude!” Ye Wushuang interjected, reprimanding Ye Qiu, then said to Ziyang, “Master, Qiu’er is young and ignorant. Please don’t take offence.”
“Hmph!” Ziyang snorted. “As the leader of Kunlun, I won’t stoop to a junior’s level.”
Ye Wushuang added, “Master, since you’re not upset with Qiu’er, how about giving him a few meeting gifts?”
Ye Qiu glanced at his father in surprise, thinking, Father’s so direct. Isn’t he afraid Master Ancestor will get angry?
To his surprise, Ziyang didn’t get mad. Instead, he chuckled at Ye Wushuang, “He’s your son. I won’t shortchange him. The meeting gift is already prepared.”
With that, Ziyang pulled a small wooden box from his pocket and tossed it to Ye Qiu.
“Thank you, Master Ancestor!” Ye Qiu thanked him, quickly opening the box to find a dark, round pill the size of an egg.
Ye Qiu sniffed it but detected no scent.
“Master Ancestor, what’s this pill?” he asked.
“Qiu’er, return the pill to Master Ancestor!” Ye Wushuang’s expression turned grave. He bowed to Ziyang, “Master Ancestor, the Heaven-Avoiding Pill is too precious and vital to you. Please take it back.”
Ziyang laughed, “What’s given can’t be taken back.”
Ye Wushuang persisted, “Qiu’er is a junior. A few simple gifts would suffice. There’s no need to give him the Heaven-Avoiding Pill.”
Ziyang said, “Wushuang, do you think I’d give your son the Heaven-Avoiding Pill for no reason?”
Ye Wushuang paused. “What do you mean, Master?”
Ziyang looked at Ye Qiu. “Within a year, you’ll face a life-or-death tribulation. This pill will help you survive it.”
“Master Ancestor, what does this pill do?” Ye Qiu asked.
Ziyang replied, “It’s called the Heaven-Avoiding Pill. Taking it allows you to evade a heavenly tribulation.”
What? A pill that can evade a heavenly tribulation?
That’s beyond incredible!
Ye Qiu could hardly believe it.
Ye Wushuang said, “Master, the Heaven-Avoiding Pill is Kunlun Mountain’s treasure, the only one. It’s crucial to you. Please take it back!”
“As for Qiu’er’s tribulation, with me here, who’d dare touch him?”
“Master…”
“No more!” Ziyang cut him off. “I have my reasons.”
“Ye Qiu, keep the Heaven-Avoiding Pill safe.”
“Don’t use it for ordinary tribulations. Save it for when you break through to become a cultivator to ensure success.”
“Thank you, Master Ancestor!” Ye Qiu knelt and kowtowed.
Ziyang pulled another item from his pocket, tossed it to Ye Qiu, and said, “This is for you too.”
