After leaving the Setting Sun Mountains, Ling Xiao and the others went straight to Zhongguang City. They didn't stop and immediately went to Maple Flame Valley through the transmission array.
Maple Flame Valley was the Gu Clan's territory. It was a valley surrounded by mountains on all four sides. Bright red maple trees grew all over the place, creating a fiery red color. It looked extremely spectacular and peculiar.
All the buildings here were basically built along the mountains, and when paired with the maple trees, it was even more beautiful.
The Gu Family was quite famous in the Central Region. Although it couldn't compare to the 18 great forces, it was one of the top forces.
The Gu Family had been famous for its alchemy for generations. There were two seventh-grade alchemists in the Gu Family, more than ten sixth-grade alchemists, and even more fifth-grade and below alchemists.
Alchemists had always been the most popular and respected profession in the mainland.
Therefore, an alchemy family of the Gu Family's scale naturally had many experts following them.
In the Gu Family, Ye Yunfeng was arranged to stay in a high-class guest room.
After two to three months, Ye Yunfeng's strength had actually broken through to the strength of a low-level Heavenly Venerable.
His aura was already very different from before, and the majesty of a Venerable was gradually taking shape.
"That memory is really precious. Not only did it help me break through to the Heavenly Venerable level, but it also gave me a secret technique similar to the Ye Family's Ascension Technique. However, this secret technique can increase my combat strength by five times. Although it can only maintain my combat strength for an hour, there are no side effects. Military Advisor really has foresight. He knew that I would definitely gain something from this trip!" Ye Yunfeng muttered to himself as he sat cross-legged on the bed.
Previously, Ye Yunfeng's sea of consciousness had been invaded by a remnant soul in the Chaos Abyss of War. Fortunately, Ling Xiao had helped him disperse the remnant soul and allowed him to absorb its power. The remnant soul's memories had also been absorbed by him, and Ye Yunfeng had benefited greatly from those memories.
Without those memories, he wouldn't have been able to understand the remnant soul's understanding of breaking through to the Venerable level, as well as the secret technique similar to the Ye Family's. Of course, there were also some other precious techniques.
A series of light footsteps sounded outside the door.
Ye Yunfeng didn't have to guess to know that it was Gu Jiaojiao.
He opened the door, and sure enough, he saw Gu Jiaojiao's beautiful face. However, there was a trace of worry on her face, and her dimples weren't as charming as they used to be.
"Is there something on your mind?" Ye Yunfeng asked gently.
After spending some time together, the relationship between Ye Yunfeng and Gu Jiaojiao improved further, and Gu Jiaojiao gradually had a good impression of Ye Yunfeng.
"Yunfeng, there's something I want to talk to you about," said Gu Jiaojiao with a guilty expression.
"Okay, go ahead!" Ye Yunfeng seemed to know why Gu Jiaojiao was here and replied calmly.
"Actually … actually, the reason I brought you to Maple Flame Valley is because I want Ling Xiao to make a trip here." Gu Jiaojiao hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage to speak.
Ye Yunfeng clenched his fists, suppressing the rising anger in his heart, and asked, "Why?"
If the Gu Family or Gu Jiaojiao wanted to harm his Boss, he would never forgive himself, nor would he let Gu Jiaojiao off. Even if he liked Gu Jiaojiao, he would still kill her without mercy.
"Yunfeng, don't worry. I have no intention of harming Ling Xiao." Gu Jiaojiao quickly comforted Ye Yunfeng.
Ye Yunfeng's anger subsided slightly. Gu Jiaojiao continued, "Didn't you say that Ling Xiao is a Sixth Rank Alchemist?
I want him to help our Gu Family participate in the Medicine School's Alchemy Conference that's held every five years. Of course, we'll give him enough compensation. "
"Hmph, why would my Boss care about your family's compensation?" Ye Yunfeng snorted coldly. The anger in his heart had mostly dissipated.
He was really afraid that the Gu Family wanted to harm his Boss, but now it seemed that it wasn't the case.
Gu Jiaojiao said apologetically, "I know, but this Alchemy Conference concerns our Gu Family's reputation and our ranking in the Alchemy Alliance. That's why … that's why I came up with this plan." She paused for a moment before continuing, "However, I don't need Ling Xiao's help anymore. I don't need to feel so guilty anymore."
Ye Yunfeng looked at Gu Jiaojiao in astonishment. His eyes were filled with questions.
Gu Jiaojiao was just about to speak when she sensed someone walking over.
Three young people walked over, two men and one woman. The tall and skinny man on the right looked somewhat similar to Gu Jiaojiao, so he must be her older brother, Gu Li. The other man was wearing the unique clothes of an alchemist. He had an evil smile on his face, and his eyes were looking at Gu Jiaojiao without concealing his greed at all. This person was called Qi Tong. The young woman beside him looked like a fox, and her typical mean face was revealed. She was Gu Jiaojiao's cousin, Gu Tingting.
"Brother Tong, you insisted on seeing your cousin. I'm having a rendezvous with my lover. Why don't I take you around our Maple Flame Valley? It'll be more comfortable." Gu Tingting's mocking and flirtatious tone sounded so sharp.
From the moment she was born, Gu Tingting was destined to be Gu Jiaojiao's foil. Whether it was in terms of appearance, cultivation, or alchemy, she was suppressed by Gu Jiaojiao. This caused her to have a deep resentment towards her cousin since she was young.
The Gu family rarely interfered with the competition between the younger generation. This was also a relaxed system that allowed them to compete with each other. As long as one was strong and had a high Tenbin of Alchemy, they would be respected and have a corresponding status.
Therefore, even though Gu Tingting was mocking Gu Jiaojiao like this, she wasn't afraid that Gu Jiaojiao would dare to do anything to her. In any case, she didn't insult her elders.
Qi Tong smiled and ignored Gu Tingting. He only looked at Gu Jiaojiao and said gently, "Qi Tong, congratulations to Jiaojiao for obtaining the top hundred Battle Emperors. Now that your strength has reached the Half Venerable Realm, it is truly worthy of celebration!"
He directly ignored Ye Yunfeng, as if Ye Yunfeng was nothing in his eyes.
Gu Jiaojiao's beautiful eyes revealed a look of annoyance, but she didn't directly show it. She only returned the greeting and said, "Thank you for your concern, I was just lucky."
"Haha, there's no such thing as luck in the ranking of Combat Emperors. Ten years ago, I also risked my life to get into the 57th place, and I was only slightly higher than Brother Gu Li. I'm really ashamed," Qi Tong said with a chuckle.
Although he was ashamed, he didn't feel the slightest bit of shame. Instead, he was more proud.
Ten years ago, he and Gu Li had participated in the Imperial Ranking Battle together, but he had obtained the 57th place, while Gu Li had only obtained the 72nd place. This difference was not small, and it also represented the gap between the two.
Qi Tong also wanted to use this opportunity to show off and show his superiority.
Gu Li, who was standing to the side, had a slightly ugly expression on his face. He had indeed had fewer Imperial Pills than Qi Tong, but these few Imperial Pills were enough to pull the two of them far apart in the rankings. This could only be attributed to his bad luck and not to his inferior strength compared to Qi Tong.
Now that the two of them were both low-level Empyreans, if they were to really fight, he had absolute confidence in defeating Qi Tong.
However, he and Qi Tong were old acquaintances, and this time, it was their Gu family who had invited him to help, so it was really not good for him to shed all pretense of cordiality with Qi Tong. Furthermore, Qi Tong might become his brother-in-law this time, and in terms of status, he was also a level higher than Qi Tong, so he couldn't be bothered to argue with him.
Gu Jiaojiao had always regarded her big brother as a role model. Now that she heard Qi Tong use her big brother to mock her, she immediately said unhappily, "Fifty-seventh place is indeed quite a high ranking."
When Qi Tong heard this, he felt very comfortable in his heart. Gu Tingting, who was at the side, also raised her voice and said, "Of course, Brother Tong is not only good at alchemy, but even his cultivation of Tenbin is also amazing."
Gu Jiaojiao curled her lips and said, "Fifty-seventh place is amazing, but your sister also obtained twenty-third place this time, and my friend Ye Yunfeng even obtained fifteenth place, almost advancing to become a Slaughter Emperor."
When Gu Jiaojiao said this, Qi Tong and Gu Tingting's expressions both changed.
Gu Li, on the other hand, seemed to already know, and a faint smile hung on his face.
If it was said that Gu Jiaojiao being able to enter the top twenty was shocking to them, then Ye Yunfeng, who was infinitely close to becoming a Slaughter Emperor, was even more shocking.
"Just based on him, he can also obtain fifteenth place?
Cousin, I think you're just bragging for your lover!
If he has the ability, then let him prove that he has the ability. "Gu Tingting said disapprovingly.
She did not believe that Ye Yunfeng was truly someone who was close to becoming a Slaughter Emperor. If he really had that kind of strength, she did not believe that he would follow her cousin to their Maple Flame Valley. He should have long been taken away by other great powers.
"With your weak strength, of course I don't believe it. Yunfeng is already an Empyrean, so there is no need for him to prove anything to a mere Earth Emperor like you." Gu Jiaojiao angrily stared at Gu Tingting and said rudely.
The prestige of a Venerable could not be offended. Moreover, Ye Yunfeng was a guest that she had invited, and his boss's battle strength was unparalleled. She absolutely did not want her cousin to offend Ye Yunfeng. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain to Ling Xiao.
Gu Tingting did not expect that her cousin, who had always been gentle, would actually reprimand her like this. It was as if she had been ruthlessly slapped in the face, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Nonsense, he actually dares to call himself a Empyrean with just his strength of a mid-level Earth Emperor? I think there's something wrong with your eyes, cousin!" Gu Tingting pointed at Ye Yunfeng and scolded.
Currently, Ye Yunfeng had used the Concealing Breath Technique to suppress his aura to that of a mid-level Earth Emperor. He did not want to be too ostentatious and show off while sitting here as a guest.
However, this Gu Tingting refused to budge, which really annoyed him.
"I think there's something wrong with your eyes!"
Ye Yunfeng coldly snorted. His Venerable strength instantly burst forth, and the pressure of a Venerable pressed towards Gu Tingting.
"Brother Ye, please be merciful!" Gu Li shouted softly and immediately moved in front of Gu Tingting.
Gu Tingting, who was behind him, was already in a cold sweat. She really did not expect that the other party would actually conceal his aura, which made her feel extremely embarrassed.
At this time, Qi Tong began to seriously look at Ye Yunfeng. His eyes were filled with a bit of hostility and a bit of disdain.
"So it turns out that you are a hidden expert. Qi Tong has been disrespectful!" Qi Tong said lightly to Ye Yunfeng.
So what if Ye Yunfeng was close to the rank of Imperial Killer? He was ultimately not an Imperial Killer, while Qi Tong had the noble status of an alchemist.
Ye Yunfeng also had a look of hostility towards Qi Tong. He disapprovingly replied, "Likewise!"