Yang Xin had gathered about a 100 people. They were all potential Alchemists and people she just didn't want to leave behind. After cleaning them up and understanding the situation of each of them better nothing else was said on the matter. It was her problem afterall.
Li Heng delivered a few herbs and several orders. With so many Alchemists at work, it was easy to get the work done. The Herbs and a few recipes gained from this exchange made Yang Xin really happy.
They were there for only two days. Spent making pills. It gave Shen Yue the time to think over matters. How to step forward with pushing a few people to higher levels. A few Legend Realm would make the issue with the Black Pond and dealing with Yu Yan.
Not to mention the two Legend Realm Demons that needed to be captured.
The 2nd officer did not take long in pulling a prank on the others. Resulting in the 1st and 3rd Officers running out of the room screaming. Shen Yue treated her after matters calmed down and the laughs were over.
While doing so he imparted a little understanding of the Laws to her. With the Blizzard Spirit Gem, her understanding increased at an unexpected level. This cemented her as a permanent Guard for Shen Yue. No way would he start raising another to replace as the spiritual Goddess for Snow Wind.
He made a note to make sure and obtain the piece of the previous Snow Wind God from the Snow Wind Family. The City Lord Mansion would just waste it after all.
Duan Jian, if he proves worthy would take the Earth Spiritual God's place. His memory was fuzzy on the others that were available. But it could wait for later considering the Laws were quite difficult all the same.
He did remember that the Death Law would be available. After dealing with the one hiding in the tomb.
Leaving was easy since Shen Yue just put everyone to sleep and activate the Light Stones once they made it back.
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Exchanging Information-
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Yang Xin left regretfully but the new Alchemist she had and people overall made everything ok in the end. They may be strangers but they had a passion for Alchemy. As well as just hardworking people that were happy to be out of the Abyss Prison Realm. A mark was placed on them by Shen Yue when he put them to sleep before.
They would be killed if they betrayed. No sense in letting such an unknown element move about. no matter how they acted on the surface.
A few times she wanted to get close to Shen Yue but the words of Chen Linjain echoed in her ear. He was dangerous and something was not right about him lately. The Black Star Tiger inside her only lamented the decision. Not trying to assure her of anything.
The Officers Three left to take care of matters. The 2nd Officer still giving them crap about their freak out. It was all in good fun. Shen Yue spread his Astral Sense out checking over several matters.
Not a single issue so far. He walked around taking a deep breath of fresh air. The Black Star Tiger cub wanted to take off to find something to amuse itself, but changed its mind after the feeling Shen Yue exuded.
The Beast Technique circulating as a little Flame Vortex Star Dragon Energy entered it. The power of the Legend Realm quality only required the tiniest of drops to soothe Demon Beast under the level.
"Master Shen Yue," Dian Rei had stopped him while walking herself. "..how was your trip?"
"Well enough." Shen Yue stopped to observe her. Her cultivation had not increased even a little bit. He said nothing about it as she made her choice on the matter of what was important. "Did anything happen while I was away?"
"Umm, no." It was a lie. A very weak one at that. "Aww, the Black Tiger cub looks so comfortable there." She was referring to the tiger sleeping on his shoulder now.
"Yup." Shen Yue walked off. He made the rounds checking over the place one last time. The Runes, Formation Arrays, and the Walls were in top shape. The various guards were training and the Officers were doing their job perfectly. 'Perfect time to work on my own matters.'
Months until the Demon Beast Horde arrived. Perfect time to lay some traps to get as many as he needed for his own cultivation. He thought about the fact the Snow Ape genetic profile was close to humans. It would have been a fantastic Spirit Demon Beast to combine with.
'I must not skip on Science and Medicine applications.' Shen Yue thought about the big Horde of the Apes he took care of before and then about how many would arrive in the coming months. 'They will number in the thousands! Perfect for my forces when I am through with them! Must capture a few alive!'
But someone else had a different plan before he hid himself away to get started.
"Shen Yue!" Huyan Lanruo yelled running over to him. Breasts bouncing around everywhere. She forgot to put on the sports bra he gave her. A mental note to make sure he introduces a few other clothing to improve the quality of life. "Wait up!"
"I am not even moving." Shen Yue turned to face the young teen. But then again, she was 17. Not to far from being an adult. "What is it?"
"SO.. did you and.. well.. umm.." Despite running to him as soon as he came back, she completely forgot that she did not have a plan to ask him really what happened. "So.."
"What in the blazes are you trying to ask me girl?" Shen Yue was somewhat annoyed and wish she got to the point. This behavior is not her usual. "Out with it!"
"Did you and Yang Xin get togethor?!"
"Nope. Not gonna happen. So yeah.. I am 0 for 2." Shen Yue said simply. "Must be my bad luck to not end up with someone."
*Woosh!* Golden Energy engulfed the area creating a slight buzz in Shen Yue's head. He was not the only one affected.
"I.. that.." Huyan Lanruo felt bad for a moment. Then her eyes glazed over. "That is not true at all." Her voice changed. Shen Yue would have attacked but he was completely spellbound by the silhouette that overlapped hers. "Have you forgotten me already?"
The silhouette was that of a woman he knew very well but was unable to spend time with. Mingye (Mingyu) of the Divine Sword Family from Star Martial God Technique Dimension. A woman he was unable to spend a long time with due to his job at the end.
"I have not forgotten.. I have to be delusional." Shen Yue felt himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. "You are really here." His hand reached out cupping her face. Tears momentarily building up before he stopped them. "How?"
"A Deity taking pity on us or maybe just wanting to give a little bit of joy for what you did previously." Mingye leaned into the caress. "Just a small little interaction time. I won't be able to stay long."
"Why not!?" Shen Yue frowned.
"I am not meant to. I technically died a year or so ago here. Saving a kid from getting run over by a crowd running from a small demon beast attack." Mingye couldn't help herself. She was always a believer in Justice deep down. "The demon beast gouged me pretty good but I saved the kid."
"I didn't find anything wrong with you before. So just let me think of something to fix it."
"You can't." She shook her head profusely. "I have enough strength to last this long after technically dying. Can't let Lanruo die to early. Either I go or she does in the end. And I am all about Justice! So I go!"
"Tch!" Shen Yue won't here it. "I can empower the Soul. Just give me a bit of time to get started."
"You cannot."Mingye held his hand firmly. Her eyes were resolute. "Deals were made, I can't let you do that. Just know.. you cannot trust the African Pantheon." That caused him to frown even heavier. "They have to think of the overall picture not just the desires of a single Champion."
"Let me augment the deal for you. Just.."
"No! You have to learn to let some matters be." Mingye was quite adamant. "Let's not waste time and at least talk. So much I want to share with you still. Be a good Ex-Husband now."
"I.. haaa. I understand." Shen Yue rubbed his temples annoyed. He felt helpless and also lost. 'Why won't she let me help her? Why did Shango tell me otherwise what happened about them?!'
"Before I go, just so you know, Tianyin is here. She has been watching you." With a wave, she vanished. Leaving Huyan Lanruo completely dazed and scared why she and Shen Yue were alone like this. "Umm, what's going on?"
*Flutter!* A few peacock feathers appeared behind her. Someone waving in the mix of it but Shen Yue missed the person. His mind on other matters.
"Nothing.. we were just talking and you had an odd moment." Shen Yue said sadly. More than anything he just wanted to go crawl in bed. "Be safe getting back home."
"Umm... sure. Bye." Watching him leave so depressed, Lanruo felt sad. A little heartache even. She touched her lips briefly feeling them a little wet. "No way did we kiss?" She was slightly giddy at the thought. It did not last several Sword Techniques assaulted her mentally. "Did he impart this to me?"
Taking off back home, she would close herself in secluded cultivation to digest the swordwork.
'Tianyin is here but who is she and is she dying just like Mingyu?' Shen Yue felt a rage building in him. Along with his desire to gain power to deal with the African Pantheon even more so. Black & Gold light circled around him before vanishing. 'Why doesn't she show herself to me or is it because what's going on with those around me?'
While he walked through the compound in thought, a woman watched him from the outskirts. If he would have used his Astral Sense, he might have been able to detect her. Walking away after a few minutes, she was satisfied he didn't do anything towards Huyan Lanruo.
"Soon I will know if it's still you in there." The woman vanished on the spot. The silhouette of Tianyin vanishing as well. 'It is getting her harder to resist this one. She is merging more and more with my own soul.'
The next few weeks in the Dark Moon Family were spent training, planning, making connections, and finding people to stand at his side for the darker method of work. He also spent a lot of time doing Medical Work. Performing surgeries gave him a nostalgic feeling that brought about a peace of mind that was hard to break.
As a plastic surgeon, the work depended a great deal on natural skill. He did not use any Star Energy or pills to Heal unless he had to. The post-op workers could use elixers if need be.