Word Count: 3,340 Words
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As Xiao Yan departed, space warped nearby and two figures emerged from a wormhole. One was clearly Association Head Tian Lei Zi, who now stood with respectful deference. Beside him was what appeared to be a shepherd boy with bits of cow grass still clinging to his clothes.
Yet closer inspection would reveal that while this child possessed not a shred of Dou Qi, his eyes held exceptional depth, far from the gaze any child should possess.
When this boy appeared, Xuan Kong Zi immediately rose and bowed deeply. "Student Xuan Kong Zi pays respects to the Old Ancestor."
The shepherd boy waved dismissively, his profound gaze following Xiao Yan's departing direction as if his vision could pierce through space itself.
"He didn't accept it?" the child asked softly.
Xuan Kong Zi nodded. "Yes, Old Ancestor. From his manner, he showed neither urgency nor desire, not like someone sent by the Hall of Souls."
Had Xiao Yan been present, cold sweat would have broken out across his entire body. They had been testing him all along!
Fortunately, that girl Zi Yan had been eager to return to Dragon Island. Otherwise, with nowhere else to go, he might well have accepted the offer to enter the Small Pill Tower!
Tian Lei Zi voiced his agreement. "Xiao Yan helped the Pill Tower resolve the Three Thousand Burning Flame crisis and killed Mu Gu. That Mu Gu was an 8th-tier alchemist with high status in the Hall of Souls. Xiao Yan doesn't seem like their agent."
The shepherd boy smiled faintly and shook his head without comment. With a casual gesture, he tore open the void to reveal a grassland where a solitary cow grazed peacefully.
He crossed ten thousand miles in a single step, demonstrating his heaven-reaching cultivation. As the passage closed, his childish voice echoed from all directions: "The great tide cannot be stopped by our Pill Tower. Let nature take its course."
Both Pill Tower Giants looked utterly bewildered by these cryptic words.
"What does the Ancestor mean..." Xuan Kong Zi looked questioningly at Tian Lei Zi, thoroughly confused.
"I don't understand either. Let's just follow his guidance and let nature take its course." Tian Lei Zi shrugged.
…
Soon after leaving the Pill Tower, Xiao Yan returned to the Ye Clan manor, where he learned that Little Fairy Doctor was not in Holy Pill City but at the Ye Clan's Sun Fire Ancient Altar in Ye City, using it to refine that Poison Pill.
Xiao Yan contacted her through the Ghostly Poison Flame and learned she had reached a critical juncture in her refinement, so he decided not to disturb her.
If she successfully refined Venerable Bing's acquired Woeful Poison and the Heavenly Flame Poison Pill remained effective, her Woeful Poison Body problem would be completely resolved.
"Little Fairy Doctor is busy refining the Poison Pill and can't leave," Xiao Yan told the anxiously waiting Zi Yan.
"Then let's go first. Big guy!" Zi Yan shouted. Space warped as the massive Xiong Zhan appeared beside her.
Xiong Zhan scratched his head sheepishly. "Little Ancestor, could we wait a bit longer?"
Zi Yan's eyes narrowed with displeasure. "What, you want to stay here that badly?"
"No, no! It's just that I haven't gotten my pill yet." Xiong Zhan scratched his head helplessly, looking toward Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan was taken aback. No way—it's been half a year, and Cao Ying still hasn't managed to refine it? Was her performance at the Pill Gathering a fluke?
As they say, speak of someone and they appear. Just as he thought of Cao Ying, she arrived.
"Xiao Yan, you must leave quickly! The Profound Sky Sect has come looking for you!" A graceful figure rushed urgently through the main gate.
Cao Ying had clearly been running in haste. Her forehead was beaded with sweat, her cheeks flushed as she panted heavily, her tall, full, and perfectly proportioned body rising and falling with each breath.
"Profound Sky Sect?" Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, unable to recall how he had offended them. Then it dawned on him. He seemed to have killed Chen Xian, the son of the Profound Xuan Sect Leader, one of the Profound Sky Sect's three lower sects.
He shook his head helplessly. That fellow had died so easily that he had momentarily forgotten the incident.
The Profound Xuan Sect must have deduced that he was their Young Sect Master's killer. After all, among those with grudges against Chen Xian, only Xiao Yan possessed the ability to kill him.
In this world where might made right, evidence was unnecessary. If they believed it was you, then it was you.
Had Xiao Yan not spent the past half year in the Star Region, they would have come seeking revenge much sooner.
"Mm, those people are in Holy Pill City right now," Cao Ying confirmed.
Xiao Yan studied her. Today she wore not her usual black dress but a simple light-red one. Though it lacked some of its usual striking quality, it added a touch of tranquility to her appearance.
When she saw him looking at her, Cao Ying's heart fluttered like a startled fawn. In his presence, she had long since shed her 'Witch' demeanor. She couldn't help thinking: 'Could it be that he noticed I changed my hairstyle today?!'
Unfortunately, having refined the Bone Chilling Flame, Xiao Yan had become like Venerable Yao—inadvertently hurtful.
"Where's the pill? It's been half a year. Don't tell me you couldn't refine it." He extended his palm, immediately demanding the pill.
⊙▽⊙
Cao Ying's red lips parted and her eyes widened in disbelief. She was beginning to doubt her own charm.
Stomping her foot in anger, she pulled a pill bottle from her storage ring and threw it fiercely at him. "Take it!"
Xiao Yan caught the thrown bottle with one hand. After examining it and sniffing the fragrance, he nodded slightly. "A pill baptized by three-colored Pill Lightning. The quality isn't bad."
Before Cao Ying could even feel pleased, she watched as Xiao Yan tossed the pill to Xiong Zhan. The poor girl's fragile heart shattered repeatedly. Even Xiong Zhan felt sorry for her.
"You!! Just go die already!"
Xiao Yan smiled and walked calmly toward the main courtyard. "Don't worry, I won't die. I just emerged from seclusion without a chance to warm up. The Profound Sky Sect's timing is perfect."
…
Not far from the Ye Clan manor stretched a large square paved with smooth granite. Normally bustling with people, this place was one of Holy Pill City's most popular locations.
Now, however, the typically busy square had transformed. A massive crowd had gathered, forming a ring around an open space where nearly a hundred figures stood ramrod straight. The cold, grim aura they emanated caused many onlookers to blanch. This group was clearly no ordinary gathering, and their grand entrance suggested anything but peaceful intentions.
"They seem to be from the Profound Xuan Sect?"
"That gray-robed elder leading them… could he be Chen Tian Nan, the Profound Xuan Sect Leader? I heard he's already a 2-star Dou Venerate! To think even this old monster would come personally. What on earth are they planning?"
"Supposedly they're here for Xiao Yan. Rumor has it that half a year ago in the Pill Realm, he killed the Profound Xuan Sect's Young Sect Master. This old monster must be here for revenge."
"No wonder they're radiating such killing intent. Today's matter won't end peacefully."
The gray-robed elder at the group's head showed a slightly cold expression when he heard the low whispers. His gaze, filled with grim coldness, slowly swept over the crowd. Wherever his gaze fell, people felt a chill in their hearts and promptly shut their mouths. The Profound Xuan Sect was not to be trifled with. Drawing blades over disagreements was not uncommon, and with their vengeful nature, anyone who offended them would inevitably meet an extremely miserable end.
"Sect Leader Chen, this is the Pill Tower's territory. What exactly do you intend by bringing so many people here with such killing intent?" First Elder Qiu Ling flew over from the distance, blocking their path.
A timid, somewhat delicate young girl hid behind him; apparently, she had fetched him.
"Elder Qiu, you don't need to use the Pill Tower to pressure this old man. Others might fear it, but this old man does not." Chen Tian Nan stared icily at Qiu Ling. "My son died at Xiao Yan's hands. Today, this old man will put his harsh words right here: I am here to find him and make him accompany my son in death!"
Chen Tian Nan had had his son late in life, making Chen Xian the apple of his eye.
"W-what evidence do you have that Big Brother Xiao Yan did it?" Dan Chen asked weakly from behind Qiu Ling.
Chen Tian Nan's eyes narrowed, frightening Dan Chen into shrinking back.
Too terrifying!
"I didn't come here today to discuss evidence with you Pill Tower people. Hand over Xiao Yan, and I will leave immediately!" Chen Tian Nan's eyes were scarlet, clearly showing a somewhat crazed appearance.
"Hmph!" Qiu Ling's anger flared as he flicked his sleeve. "What do you take the Pill Tower for? Xiao Yan is a candidate for Pill Tower Giant. Your Profound Xuan Sect doesn't have the qualifications!"
"Hehe, Elder Qiu has such great prestige. Nevertheless, the Profound Xuan Sect is still one of the three lower sects under my Profound Sky Sect. If a sect leader's son cannot be avenged, who in the future will believe in my Profound Sky Sect?" Just as Qiu Ling's cold rebuke fell, a figure stepped out from behind Chen Tian Nan and continued with a faint smile, "Or is it that the Pill Tower wishes to push the Profound Sky Sect to the Hall of Souls' side?"
"You're Blood Asura Yi Chen!" Qiu Ling's pupils contracted upon seeing the newcomer. This was going to be trouble.
Qiu Ling squinted as he studied the figure. The newcomer appeared young, tall and slender, with a face so handsome it seemed almost feminine. Yet the faint ruthlessness between his brows added a sinister coldness to his otherwise outstanding appearance.
"Yi Chen? Could he be the one known as Yi Asura from the Profound Sky Sect?"
"Holy shit! I heard this Yi Chen is very likely to become the next Profound Sky Sect Leader!"
"I understand now. Yi Chen wants to win over the Profound Xuan Sect to recommend him as the next Sect Leader!"
The crowd erupted in commotion at the handsome man's name. The gazes directed at him filled with fear as people retreated several steps, as if Yi Chen were some primordial beast.
The name Yi Asura was extremely well-known in the Central Plains. Moreover, this reputation was a fierce one accumulated through countless slaughters and bloodshed. In regions ruled by the Profound Sky Sect, Yi Asura's name alone was enough to make people tremble.
Compared to his fearsome reputation, had Xiao Yan not won the Pill Gathering championship, his fame in the Central Plains would have fallen far short of this man's.
"Are you threatening my Pill Tower?!" Qiu Ling's expression darkened. To the Pill Tower, the Hall of Souls was their mortal enemy.
If the Profound Sky Sect joined the Hall of Souls, it would be equivalent to declaring war!
"Alas, Elder Qiu, these years the Pill Tower has opposed the Hall of Souls while my Profound Sky Sect has maintained neutrality. If some matters aren't resolved properly, it might push certain secret allies toward the opposition. Such an outcome would hardly benefit the Pill Tower," Yi Chen sighed lightly.
Qiu Ling's eyes narrowed, suddenly finding himself in a difficult position. Compared to the Hall of Souls, the Pill Tower stood at a disadvantage, and the Profound Sky Sect was one of the two great sects, even showing signs of suppressing the Flower Sect.
If they truly joined the Hall of Souls, it would deal a fatal blow to the Pill Tower.
"What kind of random cats and dogs are the Profound Sky Sect and Profound Xuan Sect? Good dogs don't block the road."
A domineering voice suddenly rang out from behind.
"Big Brother Xiao Yan!" Seeing that the newcomer was indeed Xiao Yan, Dan Chen trotted over to him.
"Thank you. Don't worry, I can resolve this matter." Xiao Yan gently stroked Dan Chen's head.
"Mm-hmm."
When Xiao Yan appeared, Chen Tian Nan's face twisted with ferocity. The enmity of his son's murder meant they could not live under the same sky!
"Xiao Yan! Was it you who killed my son?!" Chen Tian Nan roared furiously.
"That Chen Xian, right? I killed him. What about it?" Xiao Yan glanced calmly at Chen Tian Nan, directly admitting the deed!
Many people were shocked that Xiao Yan did not try to deny it but confessed outright. They exchanged glances in disbelief. This was naked provocation against the Profound Xuan Sect and even the Profound Sky Sect. How could they possibly swallow such an insult?!
"Good! Good! It's good that you admit it! Today, even if you are a candidate for Pill Tower Giant, my Profound Xuan Sect will fight you to the death!" Chen Tian Nan shouted, his face filled with madness. With his son killed by Xiao Yan, he had lost all restraint, thinking only of vengeance.
Yi Chen frowned at these irrational words. He didn't want to make an enemy of the Pill Tower, as it wouldn't benefit his ascension to Profound Sky Sect Leader. His earlier threats had been merely a bluff. Joining the Hall of Souls? That would be like sending a sheep into a tiger's mouth.
"Do not be hasty." Yi Chen stepped forward and looked at Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan, you are a candidate for Pill Tower Giant, and I am a candidate for Profound Sky Sect Leader. Our involvement runs too deep. Why don't we both discard our statuses for a battle? Whoever loses—"
Before Yi Chen could finish, Xiao Yan interrupted him.
"You're mistaken. First, I am not a candidate for Pill Tower Giant. Association Head Xuan Kong Zi did propose this matter to me, but I refused. So you needn't worry about the Pill Tower. This has nothing to do with them."
"Second, you think too highly of your Profound Sky Sect. Don't forget—I, Xiao Yan, represent the Yan Alliance!"
Once these words were spoken, all the spectators present were dumbfounded. They had forgotten that Xiao Yan was not only the Pill Gathering champion but also the initiator and a founder of the Yan Alliance!
After Xiao Yan won the Pill Gathering championship, the crisis was naturally resolved. Furthermore, after Cai Lin successfully gave birth, relying on the Half-Saint essence blood she had absorbed and Xiao Yan's Zong Breaking Pill, she successfully broke through to the Dou Venerate realm.
Adding Venerable Tian Huo, who had returned to the Yan Alliance from Holy Pill City, they already had two Dou Venerates openly in their ranks!
And during that incident in the Star Region, Little Fairy Doctor had revealed her terrifyingly matchless strength. The Yan Alliance now possessed not just a Pill Gathering champion alchemist but, in reality, three Dou Venerates!
This did not even count the 1-star Dou Venerate serpent slave that Qing Lin possessed.
During the half year that Xiao Yan had been refining the Three Thousand Burning Flame, Cai Lin, who had been suppressed for so long, had gone on an absolute killing spree!
The Yan Alliance, which had been bullied for so long, advanced like splitting bamboo, slaughtering in all directions. Under the leadership of the two women, Cai Lin and Qing Lin, they fought their way from the North-Western Region to the Central Plains.
The Northern Region on the Central Plains' outskirts, once controlled by the Wind Lightning Pavilion, had become almost entirely Yan Alliance territory. Of the Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern Pavilions, only Venerable Lei's Eastern Pavilion remained. The other three had been completely destroyed by the Yan Alliance and transformed into branch sects of the Misty Cloud Sect!
The Miteer Auction House had spread throughout the entire Central Plains' outskirts. Backed by the Yan Alliance, it had become the largest trading company in the Western and Northern Regions.
The territory once controlled by Ice River Valley, thrown into chaos after Venerable Bing's fall, had also been smoothly absorbed by the Yan Alliance over the past half year.
Just imagine Cai Lin's temperament. If not for her pregnancy, she probably would have led the snake-type magical beasts of the Snake-People Tribe and the Sky Serpent Empire back to the Beast Region to fight.
The Yan Alliance's sphere of influence had grown to astonishing proportions. What's more, their strength matched their territory. With Xiao Yan's Pill Gathering champion reputation as their shield, they had flourished in every aspect, becoming the Central Plains' most formidable rising power.
Like a sharp sword, starting from the North-Western Region on the Central Plains' outskirts, it pierced straight through the Wind Lightning Pavilion, annihilated the Ice River Valley, and now naturally had its blade pointed at the Profound Sky Sect!
And Cai Lin's ultimate target was naturally the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe in the Beast Region beyond. She intended to rewrite the three great magical beast tribes as the Ancient Void Dragon Tribe, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe, and the Heaven Swallowing Python Tribe!
She would return her tribe to the Beast Region to command the Dou Qi continent's millions of serpent races!
Xiao Yan looked at the astonished Yi Chen with a cold smile. He, Xiao Yan, needed to rely on the Pill Tower? He was confident that before long, the Dou Qi Continent would be dominated by One Hall, One Tower, One Alliance!
"You must be an idiot. My Yan Alliance hadn't even come looking for your Profound Sky Sect, yet you delivered yourselves to our door. Fine then, in that case, you might as well stay." A sharp killing intent flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes.
Perhaps it was his soul fusion with Cai Lin, but he had become as decisive in killing and as ruthless as she was. Once he discovered someone intended to be his enemy, he gave his opponent absolutely no chance to breathe or react.
Whoosh!
Xing Tian flew out of his storage ring. Zi Yan patted Xiong Zhan's shoulder. Receiving the Dragon Queen's instruction, Xiong Zhan erupted with astonishing beastly might, staring deadly at Chen Tian Nan.
"You miss your son that much? Then I'll send you to see him." Originally, Xiao Yan had not even thought of looking for trouble with this Profound Xuan Sect. After all, every grievance has its source, every debt its debtor. Chen Xian was already dead, and the grudge should have been settled.
But when he saw this Chen Tian Nan, when he saw his inability to resolve his hatred, Xiao Yan knew he had to cut the weeds and pull out the roots. Otherwise, it would be trouble for the Yan Alliance.
If hatred was not severed, it would only snowball and grow larger.
Boom!
Xing Tian bent its legs and launched a fist straight at Chen Tian Nan's face. This punch even shattered space itself. As fellow 2-star Dou Venerates, Chen Tian Nan could only defend, let alone with Xiong Zhan present!
Both Chen Tian Nan and Yi Chen were dumbfounded when they saw a Rank 8 magical beast and a 2-star Dou Venerate puppet suddenly appear around Xiao Yan! Venerable Tian Huo wasn't even in Holy Pill City, so how did Xiao Yan still have so many Dou Venerates protecting him! What the hell was that Dou Venerate puppet!
"As for your one-on-one? If you can take one move from me without dying, I'll spare your life." As soon as Xiao Yan's voice fell, he released his soul concealment, and his 1-star Dou Venerate cultivation was completely revealed before everyone.
"You're a Dou Venerate!!"