At dusk.

A group left Black Sand City, heading deeper into the desert under the blazing sunset.

Que’er, Liu Tang, and others watched Zhou Yu depart.

Even when Zhou Yu and his companions completely vanished into the desert, Que’er still was unwilling to return.

Seeing this, Liu Tang advised:

"Miss, let’s go back."

Que’er’s eyes carried a hint of sorrow as she said:

"Mr. Liu, when do you think Young Master Zhou and his party will return?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Tang’s eyes slightly narrowed, and he shook his head, saying:

"Miss, don’t think about him anymore."

"When it’s time for him to come back, he will!"

"Even if he doesn’t return, it’s normal."

Que’er’s body trembled; she turned to look at Liu Tang.

"Mr. Liu, what do you mean by that?"

Liu Tang smiled bitterly.

"Miss, don’t overthink it. I was just speaking casually."

Although Liu Tang said that, he knew in his heart that Zhou Yu leaving with Madam Fang and the others meant there was a high chance he wouldn’t return.

Of course, he wouldn’t seek revenge for Zhou Yu either.

Zhou Yu was merely an insignificant person in his life.

If he was gone, so be it.

As expected by Liu Tang, Zhou Yu indeed never returned after this departure.

Later, Que’er stayed in Black Sand City, waiting for a full two months. Failing to see any sign of Zhou Yu, she left Black Sand City with a broken heart.

...

In the blink of an eye, two years passed.

In the entire Primordial Realm, two years was merely a snap, hardly worth mentioning.

Tiangang City.

This was an ancient city.

It was named Tiangang City due to the cultivation technique known as the Heavenly Gang Body.

Tiangang City wasn’t considered a major city in the Heavenly Origin World, but it was well-known.

This is because many cultivators of the Body Refinement Path from the Heavenly Origin World gathered here.

For this reason, the trend of body refinement was very popular, and the resources needed for the Body Refinement Path were abundant.

At this moment, in an inconspicuous courtyard within Tiangang City.

A young man was sitting in front of a huge furnace.

At this moment, strands of enchanting herbal fragrance were continuously wafting from the furnace.

Not far beside the furnace, a slightly plump middle-aged man watched eagerly, rubbing his hands in anticipation.

A moment later, a faint sound came from within the furnace.

The next moment, the lid of the furnace opened suddenly, and several round beads emitting a yellow glow flew out.

At this time, the young man sitting in front of the pill furnace suddenly opened his eyes, and with a wave of his hand, he grasped those beads in an instant.

Meanwhile, the flames in the furnace before him gradually extinguished.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man could no longer contain himself; he advanced with an enthusiastic smile.

"Brother Zhou, your alchemy skills are becoming more and more advanced."

"Effortlessly refining such excellent Foundation Establishment Pills."

"Truly impressive."

This young man was Zhou Yu.

Two years ago, he went with Madam Fang and others to search for the Five Elements Yang Ginseng, but ended up escaping severely injured.

By chance, he was rescued by this middle-aged man.

Since then, he followed this middle-aged man to Tiangang City.

Upon reaching Tiangang City, Zhou Yu discovered that this middle-aged man was named Shen San, doing business in trafficking herbs.

Zhou Yu needed herbs, so he made a deal with Shen San: he would make pill medicine for him, and Shen San would provide him with spiritual medicine. They easily reached an agreement, and Zhou Yu stayed in this courtyard continuously refining pill medicine to recover his injuries.

During this time, Zhou Yu seriously studied the alchemy of the Heavenly Origin World, combined with what the old man taught him in the Human Clan Plane. He could effortlessly refine pill medicine of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

However, refining pill medicine of the Core Formation Stage was still somewhat challenging.

Nevertheless, even the Foundation Establishment Stage pill medicine was enough to exhilarate Shen San.

Since Zhou Yu arrived these two years, his business has expanded, gaining some reputation in Tiangang City.

At this moment, seeing Zhou Yu refine a few more Foundation Establishment Pills, Shen San could not hide his joy and hurriedly stepped forward.

Zhou Yu casually tossed the Foundation Establishment Pills to Shen San.

Shen San carefully caught the pills, placing them into the jade bottle, then cautiously tucked them into his bosom before feeling at ease.

After doing this, Shen San looked at Zhou Yu and smiled flatteringly:

"Brother Zhou, as usual, I’ve already placed the collected spiritual medicine over there for you."

However, hearing this, Zhou Yu suddenly looked at Shen San and said:

"Brother Shen, from now on, don’t send any more spiritual medicine."

Hearing this, Shen San was stunned, looking at Zhou Yu in confusion.

"Brother Zhou, what’s wrong?"

Zhou Yu replied calmly:

"Two years ago, you saved my life and brought me to this Tiangang City."

"I promised back then to refine pill medicine for two years as gratitude. Now that the two years are up, I have very important matters to attend to. Let us part ways here."

Upon hearing Zhou Yu’s words, Shen San froze. Only then did he remember it had indeed been two years.

The past two years had been so comfortable for him that he even forgot about the time.

He didn’t expect the two years to pass so quickly.

Shen San opened his mouth, immediately wanting to persuade Zhou Yu to stay.

However, Zhou Yu’s figure flickered, instantly transforming into a black shadow, disappearing from the courtyard.

Shen San was stunned. By the time he reacted, Zhou Yu was already gone.

He hurried out to chase after him, but not even a shadow was visible.

Shen San sank down, sitting on the ground dazed and confused.

Without Zhou Yu, it meant he no longer had a stable source of pill medicine, which was an enormous blow to him.

However, Zhou Yu wasn’t concerned with any of that.

His relationship with Shen San was purely transactional; he fulfilled his commitment, so naturally, he had no guilt about leaving.

At this moment, Zhou Yu left Tiangang City at a high speed, heading northward.

This direction was actually the way to Black Sand City.

But, Zhou Yu’s purpose this time was not to return to Black Sand City but to go somewhere else.

Traveling at full speed, Zhou Yu reached the edge of the desert in about half a day.

Here was a massive canyon, filled with countless trenches and scattered with rock caves.

Arriving here, Zhou Yu couldn’t help but recall the action two years ago with Madam Fang and others to find the Five Elements Yang Ginseng.

That operation, considered, went quite smoothly.

Madam Fang and her group were well-prepared and quickly reached the demon beast’s cave.

As Madam Fang foretold, there was indeed a formidable restriction there, requiring a physically strong Body Refining Master to break it.

Zhou Yu went ahead as per the agreement to break the restriction.

Successfully breaking the restriction, Madam Fang and others obtained the Five Elements Yang Ginseng as they wished.

However, just then, they suddenly hatched malicious intentions, planning to kill Zhou Yu and destroy the evidence.

In Zhou Yu’s eyes, Madam Fang and others were merely juniors of the Foundation Establishment Stage yet dared harbor malice toward him.

Naturally, Zhou Yu didn’t hesitate to kill them easily, taking everything from their bodies, including the Five Elements Yang Ginseng.

But later, he accidentally disturbed that terrifying demon beast.

Escaping from the beast, Zhou Yu was severely injured, but fortunately, he managed to flee and later met Shen San, staying in Tiangang City for over two years.

In these two years, not only did Zhou Yu’s injuries fully heal, but he also took the opportunity to visit the Golden Wind Sect, soaking in the Golden Sun Spring.

In the Golden Sun Spring, Zhou Yu reaped plentifully.

Since then, while refining pills, Zhou Yu ingested a large amount of pill medicine. His progress in the Body Refinement Path advanced rapidly, now reaching the Seventh Layer.

Today, Zhou Yu came here to consume the Five Elements Yang Ginseng, entirely restoring his meridians’ injuries...