Dashing Student

"Has there been a breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage?"

The old servant's eyes were so shocked they seemed to fly out of their sockets. He hurried back to the small courtyard and carefully felt the aura. Although his cultivation wasn't high, he could confirm that this was indeed the aura of the Golden Core Stage.

In the courtyard, apart from Chen Nan, there was only Qing Yao!

"Miss has achieved Golden Core? How long has it been?"

Even Qing Xuan believed Qing Yao would still need three to five more years to possibly achieve Golden Core. Now, not only has she broken through, but her aura is extremely stable.

Without waiting for the old servant to report, Qing Xuan dragged his sick body outside the small courtyard, his pale face gaining a bit of color from happiness.

"Congratulations to the master, congratulations, Miss has broken through to Golden Core, there's hope for the immortal path."

Laughing, Qing Xuan began coughing as if he would cough up his heart and lungs, yet he was still delighted.

"She broke through not sooner or later, but just after being with Chen Nan. It must be Chen Nan's contribution, seems like my choice of son-in-law was not bad."

"Had I not made a decisive move to match Chen Nan and Yao'er, could she have broken through so quickly?"

He felt somewhat proud as he said this.

The old servant nodded in agreement: "Master truly has the eye to recognize talent, Young Master Chen Nan is also exceptional."

He recounted what he had just seen.

"Oh? Foundation Establishment Level Four, with mana dense enough to rival the Peak of Foundation Establishment? This fellow is even more extraordinary than I imagined. Looks like we've bet on the right horse."

"Go inform the sect disciples to celebrate together and let other sects know that Yao'er has achieved Golden Core."

Due to Qing Xuan's poisoning and the subsequent decline in his realm, Medicine Immortal Valley also fell to an unremarkable status, with sect elders rushing to join other sects due to their treatment drastically lowering.

The nearby third-rate sects were all coveting Medicine Immortal Valley and Fairy Qing Yao.

They were just waiting for Qing Xuan to pass away to seize Medicine Immortal Valley.

Now, Qing Yao has achieved Golden Core, Medicine Immortal Valley returns to being third-rate, albeit the weakest, but having one Golden Core is enough to ensure the safety of Medicine Immortal Valley.

Such news, of course, Qing Xuan wanted known to all.

Feeling Qing Yao's breakthrough, Chen Nan in the courtyard also smiled slightly. It seemed Qing Yao was already at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, otherwise, it wouldn't have been so quick to breakthrough.

"Since she's already my woman, I should prepare some gifts."

Chen Nan thought secretly, walked out of the courtyard, and saw Qing Xuan and the old servant standing there, looking at him with smiling eyes.

"Uncle."

Thinking of Qing Xuan drugging him and Qing Yao, his expression became somewhat unnatural.

This parent is indeed unconventional.

"Hahaha, no need for politeness, we'll be family from now on."

Qing Xuan was delighted, stepped forward to pat Chen Nan's shoulder, more affectionate and warm than before.

"Whatever uncle says."

Chen Nan smiled bitterly, then looked up and said, "Uncle, I'd like to do some alchemy, so I'd like to borrow the alchemy room from Medicine Immortal Valley and some spiritual medicine."

"Haha, we're all family, saying borrow makes it seem distant." Qing Xuan took a jade token from his waist and tossed it to Chen Nan, "Just go ahead and use it, the spiritual medicines are all stored in the Medicine Pavilion."

"Thank you, uncle."

Chen Nan cupped his hands, then turned and left.

After a while, as Qing Yao stabilized her realm, she walked out of the courtyard and felt slightly disappointed when she saw Chen Nan wasn't there.

"Don't worry, that guy hasn't left; he's gone for alchemy."

Qing Xuan and the old servant walked into the courtyard, causing Qing Yao's face to instantly blush.

"Dad!" She ran to Qing Xuan's side, shyly pulling on his arm, "How could you do such things without discussing them with me first?"

"If I had discussed it, would you have agreed?" Qing Xuan smiled gently. "Now isn't everyone happy?"

"By the way, what method did that guy use to help you leap through Foundation Establishment?"

Hearing this, Qing Yao was so ashamed her head almost began to steam—how was she supposed to say this?

"Dad, don't ask!"

Seeing his daughter's shy appearance, Qing Xuan smiled and shook his head: "Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore."

"Yao'er, in the future you'll have to shoulder the responsibilities of Medicine Immortal Valley, and Chen Nan seems quite promising. You must hold onto him well."

"I... I understand." Qing Yao was like a little girl, continuously rubbing the hem of her clothes with her fingers, too shy to look up.

…

On the other side, Chen Nan arrived at the Medicine Pavilion and entered easily after showing Qing Xuan's token.

Inside were hundreds of medicine racks, each filled with hundreds of boxes. The boxes contained stored spiritual medicines, neatly organized by category.

Recalling the pill recipes recorded in the "Qingshan Pill Technique," Chen Nan selected quite a few spiritual medicines before heading to the Alchemy Room.

The Alchemy Room at Medicine Immortal Valley had been abandoned for some time, but its scale far surpassed that of the Qingshan Sect. Inside the Alchemy Room was an eighth-grade Pill Furnace, although not as good as those in the Qingshan Sect.

Chen Nan guessed that the reason his eighth and ninth-grade elixirs were always perfect was due to the contribution of the pill furnace.

With cultivation just advanced, Chen Nan was impatient to start alchemy, and soon the temperature inside the Alchemy Room rose.

The news of Fairy Qing Yao's breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage quickly spread to the surrounding sects within a thousand miles, including the Beast Taming Sect, Ten Thousand Array Sect, Luojian Mountain, and Undying Sect, all expressing amazement.

For years, they isolated and targeted Medicine Immortal Valley with the intent to take it over, wary of any sect monopolizing it, hence avoiding overly aggressive actions.

Now with Qing Yao reaching Golden Core Stage, it's nearly impossible for them to plot against Medicine Immortal Valley anymore.

The high ranks of several sects sighed, yet still dispatched elders to offer congratulations. Even if they couldn't obtain it, they didn't want to sour relations.

Three days later, Medicine Immortal Valley hosted a Golden Core ceremony, and elders from several sects arrived with gifts, for in this region, Golden Core Stage cultivators were considered great cultivators.

The entire sect was bustling, and although Medicine Immortal Valley lacked elders, it was lively.

The celebratory guests included familiar faces to Chen Nan: Luo Chao, Madam Hua, Yin Wuxing, and Tie Shan.

However, even after the ceremony began, Chen Nan did not appear.

If Qing Yao didn't know he was still in the Alchemy Room, she might have thought he had run away.

"Fairy Qing Yao, you're so young yet reached Golden Core Stage, seems the rise of Medicine Immortal Valley is near."

Luo Chao sat in his seat, smiling at Qing Yao.

"Indeed, such a youthful Golden Core cultivator, she is surely the leader among the younger generation here."

Madam Hua also praised.

"We'll need your guidance and cooperation moving forward."

Wearing a veil, Qing Yao maintained a demeanor of humility and confidence, exhibiting the dignity of a sect leader.