The doors of the hall had already been opened, and several people were standing before them.

Yin Zheng stood with his hands behind his back, a gentle smile on his face. When he saw Lai Li’an, he couldn’t help but stare for a moment before shifting his gaze to the white crane.

Ruan Se’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved beneath her veil.

Lai Li’an flipped down from the crane’s back and patted the wrinkles on his robes, striving to maintain a calm expression.

“Senior Lai is here.” Meng Qiuran hopped up from the steps to the side, his face beaming with smiles. “Senior, you arrived by crane? I thought you would fly through the air. It’s just that this crane looks a bit familiar.”

Lai Li’an’s expression stiffened for an instant, and he let out a light cough. “This Venerable… was in a good mood today and wanted to see the scenery.”

Meng Qiuran blinked but did not press further.

Yin Zheng gave a light chuckle and turned to push open the hall doors.

“Everyone, please.”

The hall was elegantly decorated, with portraits of successive Alchemy Dao Grandmasters hanging on the four walls. In the center stood a long table made of red sandalwood.

Yin Zheng came to a halt before the table and turned around.

“According to the rules of the Alchemy Conference, in addition to the Alchemy Order, the top three may choose any one item from this treasury.” His gaze swept over the three of them. “Of course, the champion has an additional opportunity to ‘Ask the Dao’.”

He extended a hand in a welcoming gesture. “Go ahead, take your pick. Take whatever catches your eye; there’s no need to be formal.”

Meng Qiuran was the first to dash inside. Clearly familiar with the place, he moved with practiced ease to the shelves on the west side. He picked up a white jade bottle, inspected it, and set it back down. Then, he picked up a crimson ore from nearby, weighed it in his hand, and shook his head.

“Martial Uncle, isn’t it about time to restock?” he complained, glancing back at Yin Zheng. “Last time I was here, I had my eye on that Sixth-Grade Purple Lingzhi, but someone else beat me to it. This time, there aren’t even many Fifth-Grade items.”

Yin Zheng smiled but said nothing.

After circling the room, Meng Qiuran eventually chose a Fifth-Grade Breakthrough Pill. This pill could increase the success rate of breaking through a bottleneck by twenty percent. Although he didn’t need it himself, it would make an excellent gift to bring back to the sect.

Shao Jiao stood before the shelves in silence for a long time. His gaze swept over the treasures one by one, yet he never lingered on any single item for more than a breath.

None of the treasures seemed to pique his interest.

In the end, he cupped his hands toward Yin Zheng and gave a deep bow. “Senior Yin, I… I still have some private matters to attend to. As for the reward, I will come to collect it another day. I shall take my leave now.”

Yin Zheng did not say much, merely nodding slightly. “Go on.”

Shao Jiao straightened up and turned his gaze toward Lai Li’an. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

He turned around and walked toward the exit of the hall, his departing figure carrying an indescribable sense of loneliness.

Lai Li’an’s brow furrowed slightly; he didn’t want to meddle in others’ business.

Shao Jiao’s affairs had nothing to do with him, and the matters of the Blood Lotus Sect had nothing to do with him either.

He was just a rogue cultivator, a fake expert who relied on his acting skills to survive. His disciple was still lying in bed waiting for him to save her, and he didn’t have the spare energy to worry about anyone else.

As long as nothing unexpected happened, it would be fine.

Still… what exactly was the Blood Lotus Sect planning? The previous strange occurrences tangled together in his mind, and he couldn’t make sense of them.

Forget it, don’t think about it.

Lai Li’an withdrew his thoughts and suppressed all those messy ideas.

Ruan Se did not spend time rummaging around like Meng Qiuran; her goal had been clear from the very beginning, the Azure Profound Root.

The stalk of Azure Profound Root was stored alone in a wooden box, its lid carved with intricate sealing formation patterns.

Yin Zheng personally broke the seal and handed the wooden box to Ruan Se.

“The Azure Profound Root,” Yin Zheng said, his tone tinged with solemnity. “An eighth-grade main ingredient, a rarity not seen in a hundred years. However, despite its high rank, it can hardly be used to refine any pills and is of little use to cultivators. Ruan Se, are you certain you want to choose this?”

Ruan Se took the box, her fingertips lightly brushing over the ancient patterns on the lid.

“I am certain.”

Yin Zheng nodded without asking further. Although he was somewhat surprised, the rules of the conference were the rules; what the top three finishers chose was their own business, and the judges had no right to interfere.

After receiving their rewards, the group walked out of the hall.

The clamor in the distant square had gradually subsided as the cultivators began to disperse.

“Ruan Se,” Yin Zheng’s voice called from behind her. “In three days, you will follow me back to the Alchemy Sect Main Branch. At that time, you may use your opportunity to ‘Ask the Dao.’ The Heaven-Peering Mirror only opens once a century; being able to catch it this time is your good fortune.”

Ruan Se turned around and bowed to Yin Zheng. “Thank you, Senior Yin. I will visit you in three days.”

Yin Zheng was slightly startled for a moment, then he smiled.

“Good. In three days, I will wait for you at the East Gate of the Market.”

Ruan Se bowed once more and retreated to her sister’s side.

The rewards had been collected, and everything that needed to be said had been said; in the end, all gatherings must come to an end.

Ruan Se bid farewell to Meng Qiuran and the several judges one by one.

Meng Qiuran was quite reluctant to leave, pulling at Ruan Se and saying several things like “Fellow Daoist Ruan, we must spar next time,” until Pei Changjing grabbed him by the back of his collar and dragged him away.

“Alright, alright, the girl still needs to go back and prepare.” Pei Changjing let out a yawn as he dragged Meng Qiuran down the steps, waving his hand back at Lai Li’an as they walked. “Fellow Daoist Lai, until we meet again.”

Yin Zheng gave a slight nod to the crowd. A cloud of mist rose beneath his feet, lifting him slowly into the air. The other judges also cast their respective hand seals, transforming into streaks of light that vanished into the horizon.

Ruan Qin stood where she was, looking first at her sister and then at Lai Li’an.

“I should head out too,” she said, her voice faint and devoid of emotion. “Handle your own business.”

She turned around and was about to depart via sword-flight, but her steps paused for a moment.

“Ruan Se.” Ruan Qin kept her back to her as she spoke slowly. “Come here, I have something to say to you.”

Ruan Se blanked for a moment before following Ruan Qin toward the distant corridor.

Lai Li’an stood on the steps before the hall, silently waiting as the surrounding people left one by one. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It was finally over. If he went back now to refine the Azure Profound Essence-Nourishing Pill and save Su Wan’er—and if everything went smoothly—Wan’er would be able to wake up tonight.

He straightened his lapels and was about to follow after Ruan Se, when—

“Senior Lai!”

An enthusiastic hand reached out from behind, firmly grabbing his sleeve.

Lai Li’an turned his head stiffly and met Meng Qiuran’s face.

“Little Friend Meng?” Lai Li’an struggled to maintain his composure. “You haven’t left yet?”

“Why would I leave!” Meng Qiuran’s eyes were as bright as two stars. “Senior, this junior has something important to discuss with you!”

He tugged on Lai Li’an’s sleeve, pulling him toward the shade of a nearby corridor. He lowered his voice, yet could not suppress his excitement. “Senior, have you considered joining the Alchemy Sect?”