Dangu

"Do you know why Wei Cang and I are like fire and water?"

Long Chen's heart jolted. He had been very curious about this, but it was too awkward to ask. Now that Great Master Yun Qi had brought it up, his curiosity was naturally piqued.

Through Great Master Yun Qi's account, Long Chen was surprised to learn that Yun Qi and Wei Cang were actually Senior Brother and Junior Brother. Their Master had only taken three Disciples in his entire life.

Besides Yun Qi and Wei Cang, there was a female Disciple. That female Disciple, who was also Yun Qi's wife, was the person in the portrait Yun Qi had shown Long Chen. She bore a ninety-percent resemblance to Xia Baichi.

Their Master was a reclusive expert who had only taken the three of them as Disciples near the end of his life to teach them the art of Alchemy.

All three of them possessed extremely high talent for Alchemy, especially Yun Qi, who was the best of the three. He was deeply loved by their Master, who taught him with the utmost dedication.

However, people are always prone to jealousy. Wei Cang, who came from humble origins and had been cynical since childhood, felt this particularly intensely.

He kept it suppressed and never showed it, until one day, when their Master was old and his Lifespan was nearing its end, he called Yun Qi to his side and handed him a Nameplate.

"Heh, the grudge between Wei Cang and me started with this Nameplate."

Great Master Yun Qi sighed. A bronze Nameplate appeared in his hand. The moment the Nameplate appeared, the entire room's temperature instantly rose, as if it were a piece of red-hot iron.

Long Chen looked at the Nameplate. The front was engraved with an exquisite Alchemy cauldron, surrounded by rays of light, looking extremely lifelike.

The back of the Nameplate featured a landscape painting. Between the mountains and waters was a valley, surrounded by swirling Immortal Qi, misty and indistinct. Looking at that pattern, Long Chen felt his state of mind suddenly become clear.

"This is the heirloom left to me by my late Master. Because of it, we brothers turned against each other, and it implicated my beloved wife, leading to her death. Sigh."

Great Master Yun Qi caressed the Nameplate in his hand, his expression complex, filled with a trace of resentment and a trace of desolation.

Long Chen didn't know what to say. Great Master Yun Qi composed his emotions and continued telling the story to Long Chen.

Originally, when his Master handed the Nameplate to Yun Qi, it was just the two of them, and it was extremely secretive. However, somehow Wei Cang found out about the existence of the Nameplate and began demanding it from Yun Qi.

Yun Qi refused. After Wei Cang cajoled and pestered him to no avail, and seeing that he was no match for Yun Qi, he finally extended his dark hand toward their Junior Sister.

Great Master Yun Qi and their Junior Sister had long since developed feelings for each other. Wei Cang schemed against her and used her life to threaten Yun Qi.

But unexpectedly, although the Junior Sister usually seemed weak and gentle, she had a very unyielding core. In her anger, she committed suicide.

This panicked Wei Cang. At that moment, Yun Qi's killing intent soared to the heavens. It finally erupted, and he wanted to tear Wei Cang into ten thousand pieces to avenge his Junior Sister.

However, although Wei Cang's attainments in Alchemy were far inferior to Yun Qi's, his combat strength was only slightly inferior to Yun Qi's.

Knowing he was no match, Wei Cang fled the whole way. Yun Qi pursued him for ten thousand miles, but Wei Cang still managed to escape. Over the next thirty years, Yun Qi never stopped inquiring about Wei Cang's whereabouts, determined to avenge his Junior Sister.

But Wei Cang was extremely cunning and refused to show his face, frequently hiring experts to kill Yun Qi. During that time, Yun Qi was ambushed several times and nearly died.

Later, Yun Qi awakened from his hatred, realizing that if he continued like this, not only would he be unable to exact revenge, but he would also lose his own life.

Thus, relying on his formidable Alchemy skills, he joined the Alchemist Guild and became the Guild Leader, putting his hatred aside for the time being.

However, a few years ago, Wei Cang suddenly appeared, and his status was surprisingly also that of an Alchemist Guild Leader.

Although thirty years had passed, that hatred had not diminished in the slightest. The two had fought fiercely several times.

Over these years, Wei Cang had bitterly cultivated the Yin Fiend Poison Palm. In several intense battles, although Yun Qi was slightly superior, he could do nothing to him, and Wei Cang always managed to escape.

In the last two years, their conflicts had lessened, mainly because they both understood each other's bottom line. There was no need to waste effort; unless they could find a way to kill with one blow, neither was willing to make a move.

"Aren't you very curious about what this Nameplate actually is, that it's worth us fighting like this?" Having reached this point, Great Master Yun Qi asked.

Long Chen nodded. He was indeed very curious about the origin of this Nameplate and why it made Wei Cang so crazy.

A mocking expression appeared on Great Master Yun Qi's face. "Wei Cang actually doesn't know what this is. He originally thought it was a secret technique left to me because our Master was biased, but in reality, it is just an ordinary Nameplate."

"An ordinary Nameplate?" Long Chen was shocked. Just for an ordinary Nameplate, he had caused his own beloved to die?

"Yes, it is just an ordinary Nameplate. It has no use at all. But at the time, it was my Master's heirloom, and he ordered me to keep it, so I had no choice."

"I had originally started to be unable to resist Wei Cang's pestering and was prepared to hand the item over to him for safekeeping. Who would have thought that he would extend his dark hand toward our Junior Sister…" Yun Qi's face was filled with anger and killing intent.

At the same time, Long Chen also saw regret and self-reproach on Yun Qi's face. To have implicated his beloved for a piece of useless trash—if it were Long Chen, he would probably have gone insane.

"This Nameplate is actually a credential for seeking knowledge," Great Master Yun Qi took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and continued.

"A credential?" Long Chen couldn't help but be stunned.

"Yes, this is a proof of enrollment for the Holy Land of Alchemy—Alchemy Valley. As for Alchemy Valley… never mind, I won't say it; it's too far away."

"You only need to know that it is the highest belief in the hearts of Alchemists. In these barren lands of ours, absolutely no one knows about that place."

"I have carried this item for decades. Now, I am handing it to you." After speaking, he handed the Nameplate to Long Chen.

"Great Master, this absolutely cannot be done. This is something your Master left for you. I cannot possibly accept it." Long Chen hurriedly waved his hands.

"This was not left specifically for me by my Master; he intended for me to pass it on. Besides, even if I give it to you, you might not necessarily be able to use it," Great Master Yun Qi smiled and said.

"How so?"

"Although this Nameplate is a stepping stone, without strength, you won't even be able to find the door, let alone knock on it," Great Master Yun Qi said with a bitter smile.

"I told you just now that Alchemy Valley is the Holy Land in the hearts of all Alchemists. How could it be so easy to enter?"

"Even with this Nameplate, you still need to have the corresponding strength to use it; otherwise, it is still useless."

"What kind of strength is required?" Long Chen asked.

"Before the age of twenty, achieve the rank of Alchemy King. Then you can use this Nameplate to register," Great Master Yun Qi sighed and said.

Upon hearing this, Long Chen opened his mouth wide. Alchemy King? Before the age of twenty? Was this a fairy tale?

A figure like Great Master Yun Qi, who had Cultivated for nearly a hundred years, was only at the Peak of Alchemy Master. An Alchemy King at twenty? Wasn't that a joke?

No wonder Great Master Yun Qi had that expression. To have sacrificed his wife's life for such an item—anyone would go crazy.

Long Chen suddenly understood. Ever since his Junior Sister died, Great Master Yun Qi had guarded this secret tightly, all to take revenge on Wei Cang.

He kept Wei Cang thinking about the "supreme treasure" in Yun Qi's hands, tempting him so much that he couldn't sleep, constantly plotting against him.

The appearance of Xia Baichi was very likely aimed at this supreme treasure. When Long Chen appeared, and given Great Master Yun Qi's attitude toward Long Chen, it made them alert.

Therefore, they wanted to kill Long Chen to ensure Great Master Yun Qi had no successor. If he, Wei Cang, couldn't have it, he would let that "treasure" rot completely in Great Master Yun Qi's hands.

Thinking of this, Long Chen couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration. What was all this for? Truly, fate plays tricks on people.

"Although your talent is extremely high, it is a pity that you were born in this remote, barren land without the Legacy of a major sect. The chance of you being able to use this Nameplate is infinitesimal."

"But as long as there is a sliver of a chance, it is good. When my Master gave me this Nameplate, he instructed me to find someone to pass it on to."

"His ancestors had once entered Alchemy Valley, and this Nameplate was their honor. Therefore, he hoped that one day in the future, a Genius would take this Nameplate and enter Alchemy Valley once again."

"For this promise to my Master, I have paid far too high a price. Now that I am passing it to you, I can finally shed this burden," Great Master Yun Qi said with a complex expression.

It could be said that this Nameplate changed his life, but this change was a tragedy from beginning to end.

Or even, he felt a trace of resentment, but he didn't know whom to direct this resentment toward: his Master? Wei Cang? Himself? Or the Heavens?

Fate was like a bored manipulator playing a huge joke on him, but this result was not something one could laugh about.

Reaching out to take the Nameplate, achieving the rank of Alchemy King by twenty—if others had no hope, that didn't mean Long Chen had no hope.

"Thank you, Great Master," Long Chen said respectfully.

"I should be the one saying thank you. By handing over this Nameplate, I have completed my Master's task, and I can finally let go and do some things," Great Master Yun Qi smiled.

Long Chen was startled. "Great Master… you…"

As if seeing through Long Chen's thoughts, Great Master Yun Qi smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's not as bad as you imagine. I won't perish together with Wei Cang; wouldn't that mean I've lost?"

Hearing Great Master Yun Qi say this, Long Chen felt much more at ease. If he took the Nameplate and Great Master Yun Qi went all out in a battle with Wei Cang, ending up in mutual destruction, he himself wouldn't feel comfortable.

To sacrifice a figure like Great Master Yun Qi for that old lecher would truly be like using fine blue-and-white porcelain to smash a rat.

"Child, there isn't much I can teach you, but you are the person I have seen in all these years most likely to be able to use the Nameplate. You must work hard," Great Master Yun Qi said. Although he didn't want to say too much, he couldn't help but nag a bit.

If Long Chen could enter Alchemy Valley, for an Alchemist, it would be equivalent to Ascension and becoming an Immortal. Was there anything more worth looking forward to than this?

"Great Master, rest assured, this Disciple will definitely continue to work hard."

Although Great Master Yun Qi had not taken Long Chen as his Disciple, before, it was because he feared bringing a fatal disaster upon Long Chen, as Wei Cang was watching like a tiger stalking its prey.

Now that the relationship between Long Chen and Wei Cang was known to the world, Long Chen simply addressed him as Master to express his respect for this elder.

Before leaving, Great Master Yun Qi urged Long Chen to be careful at all times to prevent the other party from doing something desperate. Long Chen nodded in agreement.

After coming out of the Alchemist Guild, he headed straight for home. Now that his body had fully recovered, he could safely return home.

When he turned the corner ahead and looked at his own front gate, Long Chen couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"What is going on?"