Arc 3: Part 53
No matter the scenario, she remained composed and serene, showing no signs of impatience.
During her initial days, she had a bit of hesitation due to unfamiliarity with the customs and rules of the Alchemy Tower. However, as soon as she adapted, she gained proficiency quickly.
Whatever Elder Xuan taught, she would understand instantly. She not only understood but was also able to infer different outcomes from a single point. At first, Yue Yuan helped her, but it didn't take long for him to be unable to answer her questions, and he had to turn to Elder Xuan for help.
Her mastery of the Golden Crow Flame, under extensive practice, improved dramatically.
Elder Xuan couldn't contain his laughter.
It's not common to see someone so devoted to their art for ten years straight, hardly stepping outside their pill refining room, even amidst the prosperous and bustling environment of the City of Independent Cultivators.
There are hermits, of course, but they typically choose to live in cold chambers or desolate mountains. The harsh and barren environment naturally nurtures their self-discipline.
But Bai Tong was different.
Despite the vibrancy of the City of Independent Cultivators and constant clamor in the Alchemy Tower and Artifact Forge, she remained indifferent to her surroundings.
While surrounded by a world of opulence, all she focused on was the bright Golden Crow Flame right before her, never glancing aside. It's easy to be influenced by one's surroundings, but to maintain one's purity in spite of it requires immense self-discipline.
The apprentices in the Alchemy Tower and Artifact Forge didn't know this, and they couldn't accomplish it either.
Initially skeptical, they inevitably became awestruck by her diligence, progress, and applauded her in admiration.
"She's incredibly powerful," Yue Yuan admitted in his discussions with others, genuinely impressed. "Even without the Golden Crow Flame, her intuition, resilience, and persistence would take her farther than me."
Tong Su was oblivious to what others thought of her, and she didn't care either.
Tian Xuanzi left her after staying for three months. There was a disagreement between the righteous path and the demon realm due to certain events, forcing him to rush back to the demon realm. Not long after, the realm's gates closed completely once again.
Tong Su had explicitly told him through a communication mirror that he should not neglect his main duties. Tian Xuanzi was reluctant, but really had no choice due to his commitments. He haggled with Tong Su, promising to visit her as soon as the realm's gates would open next, and reluctantly stayed in the demon realm.
Before his departure, Tong Su had requested from Xuan Yan Pill's patriarch all the Ruiteng berries they had to heal Tian Xuanzi's injuries substantially. He could then recuperate fully in the demonic realm.
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Now, the time had flown by, and it was already fifteen years later.
In the cultivation world, fifteen years is like a fleeting moment, not even equivalent to going into a deep meditation for advanced practitioners.
On this particular day, auspicious clouds and a lucky aura gathered early in the sky above the Artifact Forge. Many artifact cultivators passing by looked up and smiled, saying, "Has a fellow Daoist advanced to the middle stage of the Golden Core?"
"Judging by the auspiciousness of the fiery aura, could it be Daoist Bai Tong?"
"Considering the time, she did indeed go into seclusion a year ago. Could she have succeeded in advancing? Wow, how young she still is!"
Bystanders were astonished, quickly making calculations and revealing expressions of amazement, "When Daoist Bai Tong came to the city of independent cultivators, wasn't she not even twenty years old? At this rate, she won't even need two hundred years to reach the Nascent Soul stage!"
They discussed excitedly by the roadside, not realizing that an ordinary-looking male cultivator walking by paused in surprise upon hearing their conversation.
Bai Tong?
...Wasn't that the same name as the junior sister of Immortal Lord Jing Yang who disappeared from their sect fifteen years ago?
No, that demon had long since ceased to be Immortal Lord Jing Yang. And besides, Bai Tong was known to be a simple-minded fool — how could she possibly be the genius everyone was talking about?
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