“Thanks! Chief Master!” Hearing that, s.h.i.+ao Chen felt thrilled. Although he did not have too much affection for the s.h.i.+ao family, his father valued a lot about the family. From now on, as long as Luoyun Valley existed, s.h.i.+ao family would be in peace within a thousand years. If his father knew about it, he would be very happy.

Upon hearing that, Xuanqing felt discouraged. Knowing that it might be completely hopeless to have s.h.i.+ao, he looked at s.h.i.+ao Chen, then shook his head without saying a word.    

“Thank you for waiting for so long. Since the alchemy test is over, the Sect Tournament of Luoyun Valley begins formally.” Alchemy Taoist stroked his beard and smiled, but at the moment, two streaks of strong spiritual force were rolling overwhelmingly from the north straight to Luoyun Valley.

The spiritual pressure sent out by the force was so strong that all people in the hall were caught off guard.

Qingyun Taoist and Alchemy Taoist looked at each other, and instantly, the look in their eyes turned gloomy. They did not hesitate to stand up. The breath of Gold Core cultivators burst forth, which was opposite to the men who came from far away.

Xuanqing looked alerted slightly at first, then he curled up his mouth. Maybe he had recognized the one coming near, so he looked at Qingyun Taoist and Alchemy Taoist in amus.e.m.e.nt, waiting to see what would happen to them.

As for Ming Sha, he looked gloomier, with a stern look in his eyes.

However, disciples of Flaming Sect were overjoyed now. At the very beginning, their Chief Master was not present at Alchemy Taoist’s Core Formation Ceremony, and undoubtedly, they behaved themselves with modesty. But at the moment, strong and varied breath was slowly emanated from the young disciples of Flaming Sect, which made the Chief Masters of small sects surprised. 

“Haha, sorry for coming late! My friends, Qingyun Taoist and Alchemy Taoist, please forgive us.” The voice was loud, coming from the sky in the north direction. With the voice, two streaks of light flashed to fall on the hall, and after the light disappeared, they found two old men standing there.

One of them was wearing a purple robe and a gold band, and from whom, a strong imposing manner naturally exuded. Even in the main hall of Luoyun Valley, he did not restrain himself at all. He was no other than the Chief Master of Flaming Sect, Tianji Taoist, who had reached the prime middle stage of Gold Core.

The other one was a skinny old man, with a scar running through his face, and a horrible look in his eyes. Although he looked thin and weak, he had also reached the early stage of Gold Core in cultivation.

“My respect to Chief Master. My respect to grandmaster Mingxiao.” Three Xuan elders led the disciples of Flaming Sect to bow respectfully and shouted in a great pleasant surprise.

“Well, get up.” Tianji Taoist slightly raised his hand, then bowed with hands folded in front to all people around, laughing, “Mingxiao is just around the corner of core formation, and I’m engaged with some affairs, so I come a little later. Please forgive us.”

“That’s okay, Tianji Taoist, no need to apologize.”

“Tianji Taoist was guarding Mingxiao, and it’s just as well to come a bit late. It’s ok for us.”

“Long time no see, and Chief Master Tianji Taoist is still as elegant as last time I saw you and your cultivation is deeper, which deserves to be congratulated on.”

“Congratulations on the core formation of Mingxiao! I send congratulations to you on behalf of Water Sect!”

For a moment, many small sects in the hall rose up to their feet accordingly. Some tried to ingratiate themselves with Mingxiao.

Everyone knew that there was going to be a good show. Originally, they thought that the Flaming Sect would be trampled under the feet of the Luoyun Valley, but a Fake Core elder of the former one succeeded in core formation, too. Thus, in terms of force alone, the two sides had been in a state of equilibrium. In this way, the combat between two sects might start again.

Tianji Taoist and Mingxiao Taoist took their seats in Flaming Sect’s area, then their disciples quickly went to their sides and reported what just happened in the hall. When they knew Duan Huaming and Li Yuedu could refine Foundation Establishment Pill alone, they looked still calm, but slightly surprised when they heard Ji Yuewu refined Cultivation-bloating Pill, and full of shock when they knew s.h.i.+ao Chen was able to refine Life-prolonging Pill, and had refined two pills.

After a moment, until all the news was fully digested, Tianji Taoist regained his composure. Then he smiled and said, “It seems that I came a little late, and missed a lot of wonderful things. I wonder if Alchemy Taoist can summon the disciple who refines the Life-prolonging Pill, so I can also get to know the future alchemy master in Cultivation World of Beihua State.”

Hearing that, Alchemy Taoist thought for a short while, then nodded, “s.h.i.+ao Chen, since Tianji Taoist has asked, you should pay a respect to him.”

“Yes, Master.” s.h.i.+ao Chen answered, paid a respect first to Alchemy Taoist, then walked calmly to Flaming Sect and said, "s.h.i.+ao Chen, the junior, pays a respect to Chief Master Tianji Taoist.” Although facing the Gold Core cultivators, s.h.i.+ao Chen looked neither servile nor supercilious. Seeing that, Qingyun Taoist and Alchemy Taoist praised him in heart, and their impression of him was naturally better.

Tianji Taoist smiled, and his eyes fell on s.h.i.+ao Chen. After a long while, he smiled and said, "You’re composed in temperament. You deserve to be the Alchemy Master who can refine the superior three-grade elixirs. If I promise that as long as you are willing to join Flaming Sect, I will find a way to help you reach Foundation Establishment at all costs, are you willing to join us?”

What Tianji Taoist said was partly true, and you could not figure out what was on his mind. But inside the main hall, the cultivators could not help but feel a jolt in their hearts. No matter it was true or false, he wanted to get s.h.i.+ao Chen from the hands of Luoyun Valley for sure.

“Chief Master Tianji Taoist, please mind your manners. s.h.i.+ao Chen is my disciple, and there is no possibility for him to switch to other sects.” Alchemy Taoist looked gloomy, and said coldly.  

Hearing that, Meng Yuan was not angry, and said lightly, “Alchemy Taoist, my friend, no need to be so nervous. It’s just my proposal, and don’t take it seriously. But I really want to know, s.h.i.+ao Chen, what is your answer?”

To be honest, when s.h.i.+ao Chen heard what he said, he was really excited. After all, the biggest problem that troubled him at the moment was to get to Foundation Establishment, but he gave up the idea after some thought. Not to mention that at this point, all sects of Beihua State gathered together, if he agreed to join them for his own selfish interests, even if others did not say anything, he would disdain himself in his heart. What's more, with his status in Luoyun Valley now, presumably Master and Chief Master would also spare no effort to help him build a foundation. Why should he go so far?

“Tianji Taoist, thank you for your kindness. I have been blessed by my sect, and I will never join other sect my whole life. Please forgive me.” s.h.i.+ao Chen answered slowly, with sincerity and determination.

Hearing that, Meng Yuan did not get angry at all, but took a careful look at s.h.i.+ao Chen, and suddenly threw up his head with a big laugh, “Alchemy Taoist has gotten a good disciple, which is really admirable. But I’m here today for two things. The first one is to send congratulations on the success of Alchemy Taoist’s core formation; the second is for the centennial combat between two sects, and we should discuss the details of it.”