Deep within the mountain ravine.
Lin Fan jumped into a small stream and scrubbed himself repeatedly before the stench of feces finally faded away.
This trip could truly be called a resounding success.
Origin Qi Liquid, Rising Dragon True Fire, boundless longevity, and two Dragon Transformation Pills.
Taking out one Dragon Transformation Pill, Lin Fan carefully examined it.
All living things possessed their own unique destiny; all they needed to do was shed their mortal feathers and break out of their shells to leap into the ranks of the world's supreme beings.
Yet a destiny that could elevate one to the heavens in a single bound was not so easily grasped.
"Even someone as powerful as the Crimson Flame Crow Python failed. I must forge an incomparably formidable foundation."
Lin Fan tore open his shirt to bare his chest and slashed an open wound across his heart.
There were numerous ways to refine and integrate a Dragon Transformation Pill.
Different circumstances, different materials, and different refining methods resulted in a wide variety of fusion techniques.
According to the *Little Golden Man*, a Dragon Transformation Pill refined with boundless longevity was far too rare; the best approach was to fuse it directly into the heart.
Using one's heart to refine such a miraculous medicine made even Lin Fan's expression turn solemn.
Clenching his teeth, he slowly pressed the Dragon Transformation Pill into the bloody gash, then lay down and covered himself with thatch.
Gradually, a chilly sensation swept through him as the Dragon Transformation Pill began to melt.
Time passed, and the power began to erupt.
An itchy, agonizing sensation spread across his entire body, as though an army of ants were crawling from his chest toward his limbs and bones.
Lin Fan channeled the Book of Burials to suppress it, yet even so, he was shaken to the point of coughing up several mouthfuls of blood.
Within the pitch-black cave, spiritual light gradually began to rise.
A halo of brilliant light enveloped Lin Fan, and even the cave formed a whirlpool of spiritual energy.
A day later, cracking sounds began to echo from within his body, and at times, the roars of fierce beasts seemed to emanate from deep inside.
"Royal Father, I beg you not to make me marry into the Yun Family as a matrilocal son-in-law in exchange for the Six-Tusked Divine Elephant."
"Among all my sons, you are the most useless piece of trash. To be able to trade you for a divine elephant is something you should feel proud of."
"Lin Fan, my marriage to you is merely a transaction. Don't even think about touching me."
"Our young miss has already caught the eye of an immortal sect. Hmph, you can abandon that pipe dream."
"Mother, I won't marry Lin Fan. Some imperial descendant, my foot."
"You are the eldest daughter; you must be the one to marry."
"Mother, just let Su Xiaoqing go in my place. She and this trash are a match made in heaven."
Across the river of time, more images and experiences from the past surfaced before Lin Fan's eyes.
"I thought I had forgotten, but the scars those people left on me were carved into my soul long ago."
Rage surged in Lin Fan's heart. Those people, those factions—he was going to exact his revenge.
By the ninth day, the power brought by the Dragon Transformation Pill finally gave Lin Fan a sense of overwhelming explosion.
Moreover, the physical transformation was unimaginable.
Lin Fan felt a wondrous sensation, as though all things in nature were coming to draw close to him.
He knew this was an ability bestowed by his Spiritual Roots.
Affinity!
The stronger this ability, the greater one's perception of nature.
Not only could Lin Fan clearly see the ants walking several yards away, but he could even hear their footsteps.
Terrifying indeed!
By the thirteenth day, his cultivation realm broke through from the 4th Layer of Qi Refining to the 5th Layer of Qi Refining.
"The function of the Dragon Transformation Pill is to wash the marrow, establish the foundation, and elevate the spiritual body. My foundation has reached an unimaginable realm."
Lin Fan pushed aside the thatch and sat up cross-legged, the power within his body surging like ten thousand galloping horses.
Although he was only at the 5th Layer of Qi Refining, he was confident he could defeat the 6th Layer, and perhaps even exchange blows with a powerhouse at the 7th Layer.
"I finally have the power to protect myself."
"If I unleash the Rising Dragon True Fire, I can even fight someone in the Spirit Sea Realm."
"It's just that there is only a sliver of true fire left in my body, barely enough to use once or twice."
"Silly girl, I'm back, and I brought you the Dragon Transformation Pill."
He could hardly wait any longer.
...
The City Lord's Mansion.
The Chen Family banquet.
Seated in the primary seats were Li Hong and Grandmaster Lu, flanked by the City Lord, Chen Yuan.
At the secondary table sat important figures of the Chen Family; Chen Tiange and Su Xi were also among them, raising cups of wine to toast Grandmaster Lu.
The VIPs showered endless praise upon this pair of lovers.
"Grandmaster Lu, this junior has absolutely no relation whatsoever with that Great Master Pharmacist Ning. It was simply my ignorant and foolish younger sister being too silly and naive."
Su Xi offered a toast to Grandmaster Lu to apologize and make her stance clear.
With the Xuanji Pavilion's public announcement, the whole world knew that Great Master Pharmacist Ning was a fake.
"It is of no consequence."
Grandmaster Lu said with a faint smile.
Even if he didn't care to give face to the Su Family, he still had to give face to the Chen Family.
"My son's pill refining matters will trouble Grandmaster Lu."
Chen Yuan motioned to Chen Tiange, who joined in to toast Grandmaster Lu at the same time.
"Give it three days, and I shall successfully refine the King-grade Qi Refining Liquid. City Lord need not be anxious."
Grandmaster Lu's tone brooked no argument, treating the matter as if it were a trivial task easily accomplished with a wave of his hand.
King-grade Qi Refining Liquid!
Among those present, whose eyes were not shining with greed?
After the banquet concluded, Chen Yuan and his son personally escorted their distinguished guests out the front door.
"Since you have already betrothed yourself to Su Xi, Father will find a way to elevate her Spiritual Roots along the way."
In the reception hall, Chen Yuan spoke with deep earnestness, casting a stern look at Chen Tiange.
"This Grandmaster Lu Fan is the truly accomplished master. It is truly fortunate that we didn't become entangled with that fake Great Master Pharmacist Ning."
Chen Tiange said with suppressed delight.
Chen Yuan's expression shifted.
"Such ungrateful insolence!"
He couldn't help shouting in anger.
Chen Tiange hadn't expected Chen Yuan to still be brooding over this matter.
"To ignore you is to ignore me."
Chen Yuan's expression turned ashen to the extreme.
"No matter what, as the Lord of a city, he should have come to pay a visit—that is basic courtesy. Yet he refused my invitation in public."
Chen Yuan calmed down again, his tone shifting.
"You now possess Heavenly Spiritual Roots, bringing glory to our Chen Family. Even our ancestor only possessed Earth Spiritual Roots back then."
"The ancestor has already notified the Taiyi Sect. You are the chosen true dragon, and the quota for an inner sect disciple is definitely yours."
His voice grew gentle and patient.
...
The Su Family.
"Father, Mother, Grandmaster Lu Fan is the real master. He is a towering figure famous across numerous cities!"
Su Xi, who had just returned from the Chen Family banquet, spoke with radiant excitement.
Su Yuanshan and Zhao Yingrong listened with rapt attention, not even daring to breathe too loudly.
"Our daughter has truly amounted to something."
Zhao Yingrong floated on air, then glared at Su Yuanshan: "When Lin Fan first married into our family as a matrilocal son-in-law, you even muttered about his match with Xi'er. If not for me, could we have become in-laws with the true dragon of the Chen Family?"
"Yes, yes."
Su Yuanshan hastily agreed, giving a thumbs-up: "This household still relies on Madam to run it."
Zhao Yingrong looked thoroughly pleased with herself: "As a father, you should just bask in your daughter's glory. Your future son-in-law is none other than a true dragon chosen by the heavens."
A sweet smile hung on Su Xi's lips, and at this moment, she was the brightest pearl in the hall.
"Master, the Yang Family has sent a reply!"
The steward Xu Zhan appeared covered in sweat, his broken hand not yet fully healed.
"What did Yang Xiong say?"
Zhao Yingrong asked impatiently.
"The Yang Family agrees to drop the matter of the Life-and-Death Stage, on the condition that the Third Young Miss must be married off to Fifth Master Yang within three days."
Xu Zhan handed over the letter.
This sudden news caused everyone to let out a collective sigh of relief.
When they learned that Great Master Pharmacist Ning was a fake pharmacist, the Su Family had immediately tried every possible means to sever ties with him.
Their prior hopes of relying on Great Master Pharmacist Ning to suppress the Yang Family had also evaporated into thin air.
If Lin Fan went up to the Life-and-Death Stage, he certainly wouldn't be a match for the Yang Family.
Dead was dead either way, and Su Xiaoqing was destined to be married into the Yang Family sooner or later, so it was better for the Su Family to willingly yield.
For this reason, Su Yuanshan had been busy negotiating with the Yang Family over the past few days.
"Mother."
At this moment, Su Xi exchanged a meaningful look with Zhao Yingrong.
Immediately afterward, Zhao Yingrong nudged Su Yuanshan's hand: "Strike while the iron is hot. Inform the Yang Family tomorrow morning to come and fetch the bride."
A trace of shock flashed across Su Yuanshan's face, and his hand trembled slightly.
Zhao Yingrong warned him: "If you make any more blunders and Yang Xiong challenges you to a Life-and-Death Stage duel, would you dare accept? Or what if Yang Xiong is driven to desperation and insists on avenging the Yang Family's youngster..."
Hearing this, Su Yuanshan's entire face stiffened.
"Then... let the marriage take place tomorrow."