Wu Gui, flipped over by the energy wave generated from a fight among several masters while kneeling on the ground, overwhelmed by a sharp pain in his ears and fluctuations in his energy and blood, but he remained silent out of fear.

Wu Gui was indignant to the brim as well.

But certainly, he was angry with himself instead of Lin Xiao, for he dared not.

His Master's flustered expression on hearing his prompt report on Lin's situation still registered with him.

The benevolent Master, who had never told Wu Gui off, threatened him that he would have to be buried with Lin Xiao if Lin had died. And even some leading seniors also appeared devastated, the grumpy third senior almost got him slapped killed.

Seeing the seniors restlessly hacking the ground to rescue Lin Xiao and temporally beefing up their capacities at the cost of consuming invaluable spiritual pills, Wu Gui got cold hands and feet. He couldn't help wondering about Lin Xiao's background.

Hardly had he made it out when something more startling happened.

Spaced out by a fleeting dizziness, Wu spotted a plain-looking old codger, whom he had met at the Elixir Furnace Hall just now.

The geezer's face was half hidden behind the furnace from Wu's eyes, now Wu found him exceedingly bizarre.

The geezer was only at the level of Wu's shoulders, wrapped in a scruffy motley Tao frock, stinking with an unpleasant herbal odor and sweats.

A tiny figure, slovenliness, and the herbal smell, with these features combined, something suddenly rang a bell to Wu and darkened his face.

"Suzerain Li, it took me ages to reach you!"

Giving a side-long glimpse at Wu Gui, the geezer greeted Li Taixuan with a smile. Wu almost bit his own tongue, pale-faced in quaver.

He suddenly figured out the identity of the geezer.

He was actually Shan Chengfeng, the primary senior of Danling (it literally means the Mount of Elixir) Clan, one of the most prestigious five clans in Chijing Prefecture.

The Danling Clan, a truly reputable great clan, was known for their alchemy skills in Chijing Prefecture. Though low profiled as they were, none of the other folk clans would challenge them.

The Danling Clan boasted a long history and ancient elixir prescriptions, and they were a household name and brand for elixirs as well.

The annual congregation of clans hosted by the Danling Clan was considered a carnival of the whole prefecture, where almost all the clans' delegators would show up, wishing to procure the elixirs they craved.

Hence the Danling Clan was widely respected by their equivalents, despite that their martial competence was not their strong suit.

Shan Chengfeng was obsessed with alchemy to an insane extent. He rambled about in Chijing Prefecture, assuming a read of the other clans' alchemy books, at which some clans grumbled a lot, but Shan merely apologized and simply went off with a cheeky grin.

But what happened next seized the other clans with remorse, as they hadn't been invited to the annual congregation ever since.

The other clans would reap the benefits of providing anything Shan craved, and they would be granted a discount on elixirs they purchased at the congregation.

No one could tell whether he had offended Shan or not, as he seldom spoke, which made him a scary figure in town.

Disciples of all clans would make a reference to the Danling Clan and Shan at their enrolment orientations.

On recalling himself having the heart to show off the Fire-control Mudra Techniques, Wu Gui blushed right up to the ears, wishing to be swallowed up by the ground.

Breaking out into a cold sweat, Wu Gui inwardly rejoiced that the vindictive Shan Chengfeng only focused on alchemy with no attention spared for murder, otherwise Wu Gui had been lying with a tombstone on his head now.

As a matter of fact, Shan Chengfeng didn't take any notice of Wu Gui, as he came for the purpose of a deal with Li Taixuan.