Yan City, Mo Family.
As Mo Yu's reputation gradually spread throughout every corner of the Jia Ma Empire with the Mo Family's downfall, the young man had been out of sight for quite some time in a quiet room within the Mo Family's compound.
"Young Master has been in secluded cultivation for so many days, he should be fine, right?"
Outside the room, the maid Qing Lin stared worriedly at the room. Five days had slowly passed since Mo Yu received the magic cores transferred from the Ye Family.
During these five days, there had been no news from the room except for occasional sounds, which made Qing Lin quite anxious.
Time slowly flowed by. Qing Lin, bored, sat on a step, propping her delicate chin with her small hand, and stared blankly at the room.
Ever since becoming Mo Yu's personal maid, the little girl had been wholeheartedly concerned about the young man. Although Mo Yu didn't need Qing Lin's service during his secluded cultivation, she dutifully remained at the door.
The little girl had maintained this posture for several days. Just when she thought today would be another day of painstaking waiting, like usual, a sound came from the tightly closed door.
"Creak…"
With a creak of the door, Qing Lin, who was sitting on the steps, immediately brightened her beautiful eyes and excitedly stood up. In the little girl's expectant gaze, a young man in green robes slowly walked out.
Sunlight poured over the young man's body. Although he had been in secluded cultivation for several days, he showed no signs of weakness; instead, he was incredibly vibrant. At the same time, an Aura far more powerful than before slowly emanated from him.
"Young Master, you've come out of seclusion?"
Looking at Mo Yu, whose Aura was even more refined, Qing Lin quickly stepped forward and smiled with a sense of honor.
She had naturally heard rumors about Mo Yu these past few days, and the little girl was immensely proud to be able to follow a Young Master with such powerful talent.
"Mm-hmm, I'm out of seclusion." Mo Yu touched Qing Lin's small head and chuckled, looking at her who had been waiting for him.
These past few days, he had successfully refined all the Mo Family's magic cores using the Vermillion Bird Sky-Burning Lightning, which not only allowed the Vermillion Bird Sky-Burning Lightning to rapidly grow by devouring vast energy but also caused his strength to surge.
Just a few days ago, he was a three-star Dou Shi; now, he was at the Peak of a six-star Dou Shi!
He was just one step away from breaking through to a seven-star Dou Shi.
Breaking through three stars in just a few days was an incredible feat in the outside world, yet it had become a reality in Mo Yu's hands.
Even Mo Yu, feeling his surging strength, couldn't help but become somewhat infatuated with this feeling.
However, Mo Yu also knew that his rapid Breakthrough was due to exploiting the Mo Family's decades of accumulated resources, and as the number one Family in the eastern provinces, such opportunities were rare.
Having consecutively broken through three stars, Mo Yu did not experience the common issue of unstable Dou Qi due to rapid Breakthrough, thanks to his Tian Gang Thunder Body.
However, Mo Yu felt that the limit accepted by his incomplete Tian Gang Thunder Body was three stars. If he were to force another Breakthrough, it would likely be more detrimental than beneficial.
At this moment, Mo Yu felt the powerful and solid Dou Qi within him, coupled with all his trump cards, he could probably contend with a Great Dou Master even without relying on his Soul Power.
Of course, Mo Yu's estimation of contending with a Great Dou Master was only against the lowest-tier one-star Great Dou Master. High-tier Great Dou Master could still overwhelmingly suppress Mo Yu, who only had Dou Shi strength. Nevertheless, to grow to such a degree after only a year of external tempering was incredibly fast.
"Let's go. We'll go see Old Master Ye. The matter in Yan City is settled, it's time to leave." Mo Yu rubbed Qing Lin's head and chuckled.
He hadn't forgotten the promise he made to Great Master Frank in Blackrock City. Now that the Mo Family had been successfully annihilated and his strength had surged, it was time to fulfill his promise.
Leading Qing Lin into the main hall, Ye Fan and other high-ranking members of the Ye Family were discussing matters. Seeing the young man emerge from his seclusion, a glimmer of light flashed in Ye Fan's cloudy old eyes.
"Young Brother Mo Yu has gained a lot from this seclusion, he must have made a big Breakthrough, right?"
Feeling the faintly surging Aura from Mo Yu, a hint of surprise flashed across Ye Fan's old face, and he then subtly probed.
Hearing Ye Fan's words, Ye Cong and the other high-ranking Ye Family members looked at the young man with curiosity and surprise. To possess the strength of a three-star Dou Shi at such a young age, and now to have another Breakthrough, he was truly a favored son of heaven.
Thinking of Mo Yu's mysterious, strange, and powerful Soul Power, it made them both amazed and wary.
Ignoring Ye Fan's probing, Mo Yu naturally wouldn't say much about his greatest secret, the Vermillion Bird Sky-Burning Lightning. So, he chuckled evasively, "It's just a minor Breakthrough. I came here to bid farewell to Old Master Ye."
From the conversation he had just overheard, Mo Yu also knew that the Ye Family planned to move their Family headquarters to Yan City.
Mo Yu expressed his understanding of this.
As the foremost large city in the eastern part of the Empire, Yan City was a necessary route for internal passage to the eastern provinces, making its strategic location excellent, and its commerce was also extremely developed.
The Mo Family had rapidly prospered by relying on Yan City, and for the Ye Family to replace the Mo Family as the top Family in the East, moving the Family to Yan City was undoubtedly a good choice.
Hearing that Mo Yu was leaving, Ye Fan nodded knowingly and chuckled, "Heh heh, Great Master Frank must be waiting impatiently for you. But when he learns that the Mo Family was destroyed by your hand, he'll probably be incredibly shocked."
Shaking his head, Mo Yu said indifferently, "The Mo Family wasn't destroyed by me, but by the combined efforts of our two Families."
The old man couldn't help but shake his head at the young man's humility and indifference. Anyone else with such a reputation would be eager for the whole world to know, but the young man acted as if it had nothing to do with him.
Ye Fan knew clearly that while the Ye Family did play a part in the Mo Family's downfall, the most crucial connecting part from beginning to end was accomplished by this young man, who was less than twenty years old.
Even he hadn't expected to successfully annihilate the Mo Family.
"If you wish to go to Blackrock City, our Ye Family happens to have a caravan heading to Blackrock City tomorrow morning to transport some goods. They can take you and your maid along," Ye Cong suggested from the side.
Upon hearing this, Mo Yu pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded.
If he were alone, riding Purple Fire or using his Dou Qi to form wings would both be good options, but now that he was with Qing Lin, it was safer to travel with the caravan.
Seeing Mo Yu agree, smiles appeared on the faces of the Ye Family's high-ranking members. As Mo Yu's reputation gradually spread throughout the Empire, they naturally wanted to establish a good relationship with the young man, perhaps even currying favor with a powerful backer in the future.
With the agreement made, early the next morning, Mo Yu and Qing Lin boarded a carriage bound for Blackrock City.
Following the Ye Family's caravan, Mo Yu and Qing Lin spent two days returning to Blackrock City.
Upon reaching Blackrock City, Mo Yu and Qing Lin parted ways with the Ye Family caravan.
Following the route described by the Ye Family members, Mo Yu slowly turned through several rather long streets. After a good while of turning, he finally stopped, looking up at the grand and imposing building that appeared before him.
This building had a rather unique design; its overall appearance roughly resembled a Medicine Cauldron. Around the building, windows resembling the fire vents of a Medicine Cauldron were set, and on the high roof, a massive cauldron lid lay prostrate, covering the rooms beneath.
His gaze fell upon the light purple sandalwood plaque outside the building, where five ancient characters, faintly blurred, shimmered with a faint glow.
"Alchemist Guild!"
Qing Lin, beside him, also stared in surprise at the majestic and extraordinary building before them. She turned her head and asked curiously, "Young Master, is this our destination? This is the first time Qing Lin has seen a building with such a unique design in her entire life."
Nodding, Mo Yu chuckled, "This is the Alchemist Guild. Inside are Alchemists, a group of people who are not short on money. The places they stay are naturally different. Let's go, I'll take you inside to have a look."
With that, Mo Yu strode forward, and Qing Lin obediently followed behind the young man.
As they approached the entrance, two fully armed burly men, who had been watching them for a while, extended their arms to stop them. They said in a booming voice, "Young brother, this is the Alchemist Guild. Do you want to enter? Do you have a letter of introduction from your mentor?"
Mo Yu was startled upon hearing this. A mentor's letter of introduction? He naturally didn't have one.
He shook his head helplessly. Just as Mo Yu was about to state his purpose directly, a fragrant breeze suddenly wafted from behind. In his perception, the owner of this fragrant breeze seemed to have no intention of avoiding him. Mo Yu frowned slightly and could only move his body, which was blocking the doorway, aside.
As soon as Mo Yu moved aside, a petite figure hurriedly stopped where he had been standing. Without acknowledging Mo Yu, she turned her head and sweetly called out to the back, "Teacher, hurry up!"
"Sigh, girl, don't be so impetuous." An aged voice sounded helplessly from behind.
Mo Yu slightly turned his head, his gaze sweeping towards the old man who was slowly walking over with leisurely steps. His eyes shifted, finally settling on the badge on the old man's chest. On the surface of the ancient Medicine Cauldron, four silver ripples were meticulously drawn!
"Four-grade Alchemist."
Mo Yu was slightly surprised to find that there was another four-grade Alchemist in Blackrock City besides Frank. He then turned his head back, looking at the purple-clothed woman standing not far beside him.
The woman was perhaps in her early twenties. Her pretty face was quite beautiful and charming, and her figure was slightly petite, but her development was quite surprising. On her full and mature body, she wore a tight-fitting purple Alchemist uniform.
As if sensing Mo Yu's scrutinizing gaze, the woman slightly turned her head. Seeing Mo Yu's handsome face and the equally charming and lovely Qing Lin beside him, she couldn't help but take a few more curious glances.
Although Blackrock City was not small, as the City Lord's daughter and the personal disciple of Great Master Otto, a four-grade Alchemist, she was always quite familiar with the outstanding figures among the younger generation. However, she wondered when such a person had appeared in Blackrock City.
Slowly withdrawing her gaze, Lin Fei's heart was filled with a sense of curiosity. However, she shifted all her attention away from Mo Yu. As it was their first meeting, she naturally wouldn't commit the impolite act of staring intently at others.
"Girl, why aren't you moving?" At this moment, the old man behind finally walked over lazily and teased the woman.
"Great Master Otto!" Seeing the old man, the two guards quickly bowed respectfully to him.
"Heh heh." Nodding with a smile at the two, the old man, known as Great Master Otto, took a step forward. His sweeping gaze suddenly stopped on Mo Yu, who was standing nearby. Noticing the young man's unique Aura, as if he had thought of something, he couldn't help but be slightly startled.
"You are… Mo Yu, right?" The old man's face showed a thoughtful expression, then he tentatively asked.
Mo Yu was startled upon hearing this, then nodded and said, "I am Mo Yu. Does Great Master know me?"
"Heh heh, your deeds have been circulating everywhere these past few days, and I've heard about your agreement with Frank. There hasn't been such an outstanding figure as you among the younger generation in Blackrock City, so when you appeared here, I guessed a few things," Great Master Otto chuckled.
Upon hearing the explanation, Mo Yu suddenly understood. He then pointed at the guards at the entrance and said helplessly, "It's a pity they don't recognize me, and I don't have a letter of introduction. Now I can't even enter the Alchemist Guild's door."
Hearing Mo Yu's complaint, the old man smiled and said, "Frank is always careless. He probably forgot to give you a credential. But with such a major feat accomplished by you, you certainly won't be stopped by this small door." As if knowing something, Great Master Otto looked at Mo Yu with admiration, then waved his hand and said, "Let's go, I'll take you in to find Frank."
Noticing the old man's expression, Mo Yu felt a bit speechless. It was just destroying a Mo Family, yet these old fellows looked at him as if he were a little monster, which was indeed a bit over-the-top.
However, on the Fighting Qi Continent, although a four-grade Alchemist's status was higher than a Dou Ling, Mo Cheng was not only a five-star Dou Ling, but the Mo Family behind him was also a powerful large Family. Therefore, even though Great Master Otto was a four-grade Alchemist, he was still quite surprised by the Mo Family's downfall.
Shaking his head, Mo Yu held Qing Lin's hand and slowly entered the main hall with the old man.
And with Great Master Otto's instructions, the guards at the door naturally dared not obstruct them, so Mo Yu led Qing Lin into the Alchemist Guild.
Lin Fei, the young girl beside him, curiously watched Mo Yu, who was being treated kindly by her teacher. It was her first time seeing a young junior who was so highly regarded by her teacher, a four-grade Alchemist.
"Mo… Yu…" Lin Fei softly murmured the name, and a thoughtful expression slowly appeared on her pretty face. The next moment, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on the young girl's face, and her beautiful eyes stared in shock at the young man's back.
Because she suddenly remembered the news her City Lord father had casually revealed a few days ago, which seemed to include the name Mo Yu.
And in that news, Mo Yu was the primary culprit leading to the Mo Family's demise.
If there were no surprises, this Mo Yu in front of her was that Mo Yu!
While Lin Fei was surprised, Mo Yu followed Great Master Otto's footsteps, slowly entered the Alchemist Guild, and met Great Master Frank, with whom he had an agreement…