The unconscious Huang family brothers were quickly carried down the summit of Tianlan Peak by the helpers called by Yan Ran.
During this period, Mu Jinyu officially moved into the courtyard that originally belonged to Huang Daotian.
Huang Daotian's courtyard, in terms of both area and concentration of Spiritual Energy, far surpassed the one belonging to Huang Daochen.
The ordinary disciples' courtyards halfway up Tianlan Peak couldn't even compare.
Of course, the concentration of Spiritual Energy here was still inferior to Yinlong Mountain.
However, Mu Jinyu didn't feel any regret. Though the Spiritual Energy was low now, even a small residence for an Inner Sect disciple in the Heavenly Sword Faction had such a level of Spiritual Energy. In the future, when he went to better places for cultivation, Yinlong Mountain would be incomparable.
Moreover, the elixirs here were far beyond what Yinlong Mountain could offer.
"Phew... phew..."
With Mu Jinyu's permission, Yan Ran ran into the main building of the courtyard. After seeing Mu Jinyu brewing tea, he took a few deep breaths and smiled wryly, "Master Mu... Senior Brother Mu, I've already dealt with the Huang family brothers."
"Hmm," Mu Jinyu responded, not stopping his tea brewing. After finishing, he looked up at Yan Ran and divided the tea into three cups for him, Jian Ruyan, and Wen Rou. He moved one cup opposite Yan Ran.
He then said, "Senior Brother Yan, no need to follow their formality. Just call me Junior Brother Mu."
"No, it's the sect rules. You are now ranked forty-five on the Inner Sect List of Outstanding Talents, and though I entered earlier, I cannot call you Junior Brother," Yan Ran shook his head.
"Alright," Mu Jinyu replied, no longer insisting.
He knew this was indeed the rule of the Heavenly Sword Faction and of most sects in the Kunlun Ruins.
Just like Huang Daochen and Huang Daotian, who originally looked down on him, they must now respectfully call him Senior Brother if they encounter him on the road.
Otherwise, if Mu Jinyu was displeased, he could easily teach them a lesson without the sect punishing him.
This was the ethos cultivated in the Kunlun Ruins, whether intentionally or not: strength is supreme and the strong are respected.
If you don't want to be a junior, then strive to become stronger!
Yan Ran took a sip of tea, set the cup down, and nervously asked, "Senior Brother Mu, you've settled your residence, is there anything else you need to take care of?"
"No," Mu Jinyu knew why Yan Ran had come. He was continuing to carry out Elder Cheng's command to handle various entry matters for him and then take him to meet Elder Cheng.
"We can go now and meet the teacher," Mu Jinyu said, finishing his tea. He smiled at Yan Ran.
"Okay, then let's head out," Yan Ran replied, smiling brightly.
With his relatively low strength at the Fourth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, staying at the summit of Tianlan Peak, which was reserved for top-ranking Inner Sect seniors, made him feel very uneasy. He wanted to leave as soon as possible.
After giving a few instructions to Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou, Mu Jinyu left the summit with Yan Ran to find Elder Cheng on another peak where he resided.
Soon, Mu Jinyu followed Yan Ran to Elder Cheng's cave residence.
Though the cave residence was simple, it was filled with dense Spiritual Energy, medicinal fragrance, and Dan fragrance, along with numerous scrap alchemy furnaces scattered about.
"Here, everything's settled?"
Elder Cheng, seeing Mu Jinyu following Yan Ran into his cave residence, immediately put down his work and asked excitedly.
"Yes, teacher, carry on with your work; don't let me interrupt," Mu Jinyu said.
Elder Cheng waved his hands, "Ah, you agreed to be my student. I'm too excited to even focus on alchemy. I was merely sorting herbs, nothing important."
Yan Ran, perceptive, knew Elder Cheng would discuss many matters with Mu Jinyu, possibly imparting his true teachings. Thus, he quietly bowed and left without disturbing them.
Elder Cheng noticed Yan Ran's silent departure, though he did not speak, he kept it in mind and decided to teach him well.
"I heard from Yan Ran that you just entered the Inner Sect and defeated the Huang family brothers, now ranked forty-fifth on the List of Outstanding Talents?" Elder Cheng asked happily.
"Yes, they brought it upon themselves. I used the Sacred Wood Branch given by the teacher to teach them a lesson. I suppose they have woken up now and will soon challenge the list again," Mu Jinyu said calmly.
"Good, good," Elder Cheng patted Mu Jinyu's shoulder with satisfaction, "They are mere clowns, don't bother with them. Here, this is something I prepared for you..."
Saying this, Elder Cheng handed Mu Jinyu a storage bag.
Mu Jinyu initially wanted to refuse, but sensing it might contain the promised Pill Formulas among other things, he thanked the teacher and accepted it.
With his Divine Sense entering the storage bag, Mu Jinyu saw several items: a few alchemy furnaces, of better quality than his Shennong Cauldron.
There were several books and a mountain of various spiritual medicines.
Spiritual medicines and alchemy furnaces didn't interest him much; his concern was the Pill Formulas.
This was the reason he ultimately chose Elder Cheng as his teacher.
While he could explore elixir ingredients by consuming pills and master specific techniques through continual alchemy,
it was laborious, wasting spiritual medicines and consuming significant mental strength. A small second-grade elixir had already cost him a whole night; if he aimed for third or even fourth-grade elixirs later, the effort would be overwhelming.
With existing Pill Formulas to study, it was undeniably a delight.
Mu Jinyu took several booklets from the storage bag and began casually flipping through one.
Elder Cheng noticed Mu Jinyu didn't choose spiritual medicines or treasure furnaces first but instead the Pill Formulas and alchemy experience, silently nodding, more satisfied with him.
Only those truly yearning for knowledge in the Alchemy Dao would prioritize Pill Formulas and related scriptures.
Those common people would more likely value seemingly precious spiritual medicines and furnaces!
This was why Mu Jinyu managed to produce fine elixirs with Six Paths Elixir Patterns.
Thinking of the Six Paths Elixir Patterns' fine elixirs, Elder Cheng felt an itch, longing for Mu Jinyu to craft one himself for him to see.
Yet he knew Mu Jinyu still lacked trust in him, so he dared not make presumptuous suggestions, aiming instead to earn Mu Jinyu's trust with sincerity.
Mu Jinyu soon finished reading a Pill Formula, closing his eyes, then mentally deducing the alchemy techniques.
He quickly opened his eyes and sighed, "Sigh, what a loss."
"What happened?" Elder Cheng asked curiously.
Seeing Mu Jinyu sigh after finishing the Pill Formula, he thought perhaps he wanted to try crafting a pill, but his sigh intrigued him even more.