Another day quietly passed.
The Ancient Golden Gate still floated above Lan Mao City, shining with an endless golden radiance.
Its ancient aura had not weakened in the slightest.
Instead...
As time passed...
The pressure released by the gate seemed to become even more profound.
No one knew whether it was merely an illusion...
Or whether the gate was truly beginning to awaken.
...
Early the next morning...
A faint medicinal fragrance suddenly drifted through the air.
At first...
No one paid much attention.
However...
Within a few breaths...
The fragrance spread across almost half of Lan Mao City.
Many cultivators subconsciously took a deep breath.
Immediately...
They felt the spiritual energy within their bodies become much calmer.
Even the fatigue accumulated over the past several days seemed to disappear.
"What a pure medicinal fragrance..."
"Could it be..."
"An Alchemy Sect has arrived?"
Before anyone could finish speaking—
A graceful spirit airship slowly appeared above the clouds.
Unlike the majestic vessels of the Azure Cloud Sect...
Or the simple Buddhist airship...
This one resembled a floating jade palace.
Its body was crafted from emerald jade infused with spirit crystals.
Countless spiritual flowers bloomed along its edges.
As it slowly descended...
Flower petals gently drifted through the sky.
The entire scene looked like something from a painting.
"The Myriad Herb Palace!"
"It's the Myriad Herb Palace!"
"They've actually come as well!"
The crowd instantly became excited.
Everyone knew...
Among all the alchemy forces on the continent...
The Myriad Herb Palace stood at the very top.
Countless high-grade pills circulating throughout the cultivation world originated from this very place.
Even the leaders of major sects treated their Alchemy Grandmasters with respect.
...
The jade airship slowly landed outside the city.
The first to step down were several elderly Alchemy Masters.
Each carried a jade medicine box.
Their robes were embroidered with golden herb patterns.
Behind them...
Dozens of young disciples followed in neat formation.
Some carried ancient pill furnaces.
Others held precious medicinal herbs.
Their movements were elegant and disciplined.
Finally...
A young woman slowly stepped onto the jade stairs.
The bustling surroundings suddenly became quiet.
She wore a flowing light-green robe decorated with delicate silver flowers.
Her long black hair reached her waist.
A simple jade hairpin held part of it in place.
Her face was breathtakingly beautiful.
Gentle...
Elegant...
And completely free from arrogance.
In her clear eyes...
One could only see calmness.
She seemed less like a cultivator...
And more like an immortal fairy who had descended into the mortal world.
Someone swallowed nervously.
"Mu... Mu Qingxue..."
"The Saintess of the Myriad Herb Palace!"
"I heard she became a Fourth-Grade Alchemist before turning twenty!"
"And she can already refine pills that countless elders struggle to create!"
The young cultivators stared at her with admiration.
Many couldn't even bring themselves to blink.
...
Mu Qingxue slowly surveyed the city.
Her gaze eventually rested upon the Ancient Golden Gate.
A faint surprise flashed across her usually calm expression.
"So this..."
"...is the Ancient Yin-Yang City's gate."
Beside her...
An elderly woman smiled gently.
"Saintess."
"Our Palace Master instructed us not to force anything."
"We are here to observe first."
Mu Qingxue nodded.
"I understand, Elder Mei."
"The aura surrounding this gate..."
"...is older than any record preserved within our palace."
Even she...
One of the greatest young alchemy geniuses on the continent...
Could not understand it.
...
At that moment...
Grand Elder Jiang once again personally welcomed the distinguished guests.
"Hahaha!"
"Welcome to Lan Mao City."
"Myriad Herb Palace truly honors our city with its presence."
Elder Mei returned the greeting politely.
"We've troubled the Jiang Family these past few days."
"The appearance of an Ancient Gate concerns the entire cultivation world."
"We naturally had to come."
Grand Elder Jiang smiled.
"The Jiang Family has already prepared a quiet area for your Palace."
"If the Saintess wishes to study the gate..."
"Our disciples will provide every possible assistance."
Mu Qingxue cupped her hands respectfully.
"Thank you, Grand Elder."
Her gentle voice immediately made many people secretly sigh.
"As expected of the Saintess..."
"Beautiful..."
"And humble as well..."
...
Soon...
The Myriad Herb Palace established its temporary residence.
Unlike other sects...
They didn't construct defensive formations first.
Instead...
They arranged dozens of medicinal gardens using portable spirit soil.
Rare herbs were carefully transplanted into the ground.
Several disciples immediately began refining pills inside temporary alchemy pavilions.
Soon...
The rich fragrance of medicinal herbs spread throughout the surrounding area.
Many injured cultivators quietly gathered nearby.
Some hoped to purchase healing pills.
Others simply wanted to witness the legendary alchemy techniques of the Myriad Herb Palace.
Within only a few hours...
Their camp had become one of the busiest places in Lan Mao City.
...
From the highest floor of the Heavenly Cloud Inn...
Luo Qiki quietly watched everything through the window.
Even Situ Ee couldn't help laughing inside her mind.
"Looks like every extraordinary genius of this era has started gathering."
Luo Qiki's eyes calmly swept across the camps of the Azure Cloud Sect...
The Heavenly Sword Sect...
The Beast Taming Valley...
And finally...
The Myriad Herb Palace.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"It seems..."
"The truly interesting part..."
"...is about to begin."