Chapter 926: The Heavenly Dao’s Darling Certified by the System

On the other side.

After obtaining the three keys from the Demon Sect, Qi Yuan didn't delay for too long and directly teleported to the Alchemist Association, preparing to find Pill God Liu to borrow the dog.

Even though that silly dog, the Howling Moon Celestial Dog, didn't seem very reliable, it was currently the only insider familiar with Immortal Lord Yuan Wu and his disciple.

Now that he was going to the Immortal Burial Valley to save Chu Xueqian, bringing along the Howling Moon Celestial Dog would undoubtedly be much more convenient.

Since becoming the Chief Daozi of the entire Righteous Path, Qi Yuan's status had risen accordingly, making him arguably the most sought-after and powerful figure in the world, without exception.

With his arrival, the entire Alchemist Association was in an uproar; even the president personally came out to welcome him with indescribable enthusiasm.

After a good deal of formal pleasantries, he was finally taken to Pill God Liu's residence as he wished.

In the Alchemist Association, Liu Qi's identity as the Reincarnation of a Pill Immortal was a top-secret matter among secrets, and he himself was under strict protection; an ordinary person really wouldn't be able to see him.

What Qi Yuan didn't expect was that after not seeing him for just a few months, Pill God Liu's cultivation had actually advanced by leaps and bounds, jumping from the Nascent Soul Mid-stage to the Soul Transformation Late Stage, as if he were on a rocket.

However, a certain someone's Alchemy techniques were still as wild and unconstrained as ever; one could smell a burnt scent from miles away.

It seemed that after losing the supervision over him, Pill God Liu had completely let himself go…

“Brother Qi, long time no see. I hope you've been well.”

Seeing Qi Yuan at his door, a smile of surprise and joy appeared on Liu Qi's face as he excitedly welcomed Qi Yuan into the Pill Room.

Unlike usual, he didn't show off the new Medicinal Pills he had painstakingly developed during this time, but instead asked with a face full of impatience:

“Brother Qi, I heard that Master Xu Fu is also a member of your Heaven and Earth Society. Could you take me to visit him?”

As he spoke, Liu Qi's eyes held a hint of anticipation; he clearly admired Master Xu Fu, who had helped him awaken his immortal soul, quite a lot.

In his mind, that master not only possessed shocking attainments in the Dao of Alchemy but was also indifferent to fame and fortune, transcending worldly matters—practically a god-like existence.

Now hearing that Master Xu Fu was a member of the Heaven and Earth Society, he naturally couldn't help but ask Qi Yuan, the Heaven and Earth Society Grand Helmsman, for news about him.

Seeing Liu Qi so full of admiration for his alias, Qi Yuan chuckled inwardly but said:

“Master Xu is indeed the chief alchemist of the Heaven and Earth Society, but he has always liked to wander around, elusive like a divine dragon showing its head but not its tail. Even I can't fully keep track of his whereabouts.”

“I can relay your request for a meeting to Master Xu Fu. As for whether he will see you, I can't guarantee it…”

He still had a lot of things to do right now, so he naturally had no interest in putting on the Xu Fu persona to reminisce with this kid.

“So that's how it is…”

Hearing this, Liu Qi seemed slightly disappointed, but he quickly cheered up and asked enthusiastically:

“Brother Qi, are you here to ask for pills this time? It just so happens that I've recently developed several new types of Medicinal Pills; you can evaluate them…”

“Stop right there!”

Before he could finish, Qi Yuan flatly refused, “I'm here to borrow the dog from you; it has nothing to do with Medicinal Pills!”

Judging from the victim Lin Zhen's experience after taking the macho pill, this guy's pills were becoming increasingly bizarre, with effects far exceeding the limits of human imagination—practically breaking through the heavens.

Even the Child of Destiny couldn't handle it; how could he, This person Qi, have the audacity to evaluate such overpowered pills…

“Borrow the dog?”

Hearing that the other party wasn't there for his Alchemy, Liu Qi clicked his tongue with some regret, but he didn't refuse either, nodding readily:

“Alright, I'll go call Fu Gui over for you right now.”

As Liu Qi spoke, he walked out of the Pill Room, muttering:

“I don't know what's up with that damn dog; whenever I'm refining pills, I can't find a trace of it. I don't know where it's hiding, but it shows up faster than anyone at mealtimes. It really needs a lesson…”

A short while later, the Howling Moon Celestial Dog was dragged before Qi Yuan by Liu Qi.

Having experienced the previous electrotherapy, the Howling Moon Celestial Dog had completely shed its former arrogance in front of a certain someone. Wagging its tail, it greeted him obediently:

“Master Qi, do you have some business with this humble one?”

Qi Yuan didn't beat around the bush and said straightforwardly:

“Come with me to the Immortal Burial Valley; I want to search for Chu Xueqian's whereabouts there.”

Hearing this, the Howling Moon Celestial Dog's eyes widened, revealing a human-like expression of shock:

“You… you're actually going to look for the Little Great-Aunt?!”

The next moment, it shuddered violently and shook its head like a rattle:

“No way! The Little Great-Aunt isn't that easy to see. Once the Heavenly Dao targets us, we'll die a very ugly death.”

While Liu Qi was completely confused, Qi Yuan's eyes narrowed, feeling that he had indeed come to the right place.

This stupid dog really does know something!

Thinking of this, his face darkened, and he asked bluntly:

“Cut the crap. Let me ask you, how is Chu Xueqian's current situation? Also, why did she get tainted by Heavenly Punishment?”

Faced with Qi Yuan's questioning, the Howling Moon Celestial Dog hesitated for a moment before finally sighing human-like and answering honestly:

“I don't know the specifics either. I only know that the Little Great-Aunt killed a group of Immortal pursuers in the Immortal Burial Valley. During the battle, she used a Forbidden Technique that defied the Heavenly Dao, thereby attracting Heavenly Tribulation.”

“Fearing she would implicate the living beings of this world, she did not hesitate to Seal herself, preparing to withstand the Heavenly Tribulation alone…”

Fearing that the person before it didn't realize the gravity of the situation, the Howling Moon Celestial Dog swallowed hard and added seriously:

“In short… the sin the Little Great-Aunt committed is very, very serious. As long as one has even the slightest connection to her, it could provoke the Heavenly Tribulation.”

“Heavenly Tribulation is no child's play. If even a tiny bit touches you, even an Immortal will have to face the consequences.”

“Unless that man returns, this humble one advises you not to wade into these muddy waters…”

“Forbidden Technique?”

Hearing this vague answer, Qi Yuan frowned, his confusion deepening.

Originally, he thought the reason Chu Xueqian suffered Heavenly Punishment was that she had cut off the path to Ascension for the Cultivators of this realm.

Now it seemed things weren't that simple.

Even the Immortal Emperor had personally admitted that he couldn't transcend the Heavenly Dao and had to act within the scope of its rules. For a mere sword Immortal in the True Immortal Realm to be able to defy the Heavenly Dao seemed unreasonable no matter how one thought about it.

More importantly, judging from the Howling Moon Celestial Dog's tone, the reason Chu Xueqian chose to Seal herself was actually to save this world…

After some thought, Qi Yuan still couldn't find a single clue, but this didn't affect his determination to investigate.

After all, he had even obtained the keys to enter the ruins now; one could say this side quest was already half-finished, and there was absolutely no reason to give up halfway.

However, since the Howling Moon Celestial Dog mentioned Heavenly Tribulation, if he brought along a certain Heavenly Dao's Darling certified by the System, might it produce unexpected results…

Thinking of this, Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow and quickly pulled out a Communication Jade Talisman from his storage space.

After activating it, quite a while passed before a stuttering voice came from the other side:

“B-Brother Qi, do you have some business with me?”

It was indeed Lin Zhen's voice.

Realizing the other party's tone was a bit off, Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow and asked in a low voice:

“Lin Zhen, where are you right now?”

The other side seemed to hesitate for a moment, and after a brief silence, answered haltingly:

“Uh… I-I'm currently in a place focusing on my cultivation; I probably won't be coming out for a while…”

Immediately after, another sentence suddenly popped out of the jade talisman:

“I'm fine, don't worry…”

The next moment, the communication, which had been flickering with spiritual light, quickly extinguished, as if Lin Zhen had actively hung up.

Looking at the Communication Jade Talisman that had suddenly gone dim in his hand, Qi Yuan's expression changed slightly, and a hint of solemnity flashed in his eyes:

My little brother is in trouble!