In the quiet room, as Xiao Yan opened his eyes, a strange, invisible fluctuation suddenly spread out… The undulations slowly dissipated. Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan suddenly moved his hands, and odd imprints flashed, leaving behind afterimages as they danced. As his hand seals changed, an invisible soul power rapidly condensed in the palm of his hand, forming an invisible palm seal in the blink of an eye! Once the palm seal was formed, Xiao Yan flicked his finger, dispersing it, and then continued to change the seals. Shortly after, two more complex invisible seals appeared… Each of the three different palm seals were perfectly executed in Xiao Yan’s hands, with no trace to be found in the transitions. Such a level of proficiency was in no way inferior to Cao Ying’s performance back then. The three soul palm seals appeared and were all silently dispersed by Xiao Yan. A mouthful of turbid breath was then exhaled through his throat. As the turbid breath expelled, a soft glow appeared on Xiao Yan’s face, like a warm jade. However, it quickly faded away, and his figure moved, sliding off the bed. His body stood as straight as a spear on the ground, his eyes closed… Moments later, Xiao Yan’s eyes snapped open, a faint trace of joy flickering within them. He had discovered that the spiritual energy in his soul had unconsciously become even richer than before. Moreover, he felt a subtle obstruction within his soul. “Could this be the barrier to the Spirit Realm?” Pondering, Xiao Yan had a hunch. When he could pass through this obstructive feeling, his soul would surely step into the so-called Spirit Realm! And then, he would truly become a Master Alchemist! “It’s getting closer…” A smile surfaced on Xiao Yan’s face. At this rate, he was confident he could break through the barrier! With a chuckle in his heart, Xiao Yan straightened his robe and pushed the door open. His gaze swept over, noticing Xiaoyixian sitting cross-legged in the room. Due to the previous incident, she dared not leave Xiao Yan far, even though they were now in the Pill Tower, she stayed here whenever Xiao Yan entered his cultivation state.
As Xiao Yan came out, Xiaoyixian opened her eyes immediately, turning her head to see who it was, and upon seeing Xiao Yan, she breathed a sigh of relief, smiling, “Finished cultivating?”
“Yes, thanks for your hard work…”
Xiaoyixian smiled sweetly, but then, seeming to realize the possible implications of her words, her cheeks turned slightly red, and she hurriedly shifted the topic, “You’ve been in seclusion for a few days. During this time, Cao Ying came looking for you once, but I turned her back. You won’t blame me for disturbing you, will you?”
At the end of her words, Xiaoyixian’s clear eyes paused on Xiao Yan’s face. Hearing this, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, “I’m not familiar with her, what good could there have been? Besides, that woman is no ordinary person. I don’t want to get too close to her…”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s reaction, Xiaoyixian nodded in satisfaction, her beautiful eyes curving like crescent moons.
“When does the Pill Gathering begin?” Xiao Yan scanned the hall, casually asking.
“Tomorrow.”
“Already?” Xiao Yan was surprised. Time had passed so quickly, reaching the day of the Pill Gathering just like that.
“If you hadn’t awakened on your own today, I would have gone in to wake you up a bit later,” Xiaoyixian smiled gently.
Xiao Yan nodded and then frowned, saying, “There’s still one medicinal ingredient I haven’t managed to gather. It seems I must find a way to get it today.”
Since obtaining two ingredients at the Alchemist’s Exchange, there was still no news of the last one, the ten-thousand-year Green Spirit Vine. With the Pill Gathering approaching, Xiao Yan was somewhat flustered. After all, without this main ingredient, it would be impossible to refine the pill…
“Hehe, you don’t need to worry about the medicinal ingredients…” As Xiao Yan was frowning, the hall door was suddenly pushed open, and Ye Zhong, Xin Lan, and the Heavenly Fire Venerable walked in.
Ye Zhong came to Xiao Yan’s side with a smile. With a wave of his hand, several cold-imbued jade boxes appeared on the table in front, “Here are two ten-thousand-year Green Spirit Vines and one Blood Essence Demon Fruit. Combined with the ingredients you already have, it’s enough to make two sets. Even if you fail once, you can try a second time.”
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was first taken aback, then hastily grabbed the boxes, lifting the lids. Indeed, inside was a branch-like plant, entirely green like a jade, emanating a rich vitality that gave a refreshing feeling.
“Really ten-thousand-year Green Spirit Vines. How did you get these things?” Xiao Yan was pleasantly surprised, then somewhat puzzled. These items were not ordinary, even with the backing of the Ye Clan, they wouldn’t normally be able to obtain them. So, it was strange that suddenly they had two ten-thousand-year Green Spirit Vines and one Blood Essence Demon Fruit.
“It wasn’t us who got them. I merely mentioned to one of the Elders of the Pill Tower that you needed these ingredients, and the next day, they delivered them to us…”
Nodding, Xiao Yan instantly understood. This must have been the doing of the mysterious Void Subduer. Otherwise, with his reputation, it wouldn’t be possible for the Pill Tower to treat him with such importance.
Thanking the Void Subduer in his heart, Xiao Yan didn’t hesitate. With a wave of his hand, he stored the ingredients in his ring. This was something he needed most, and he couldn’t refuse. It was like accepting a favor from the Void Subduer, and he would repay it when the opportunity arose…
“The number of participants in this Pill Gathering is likely to be the largest ever. It’s heard that the Inner Region is already swarming with countless contestants, including some renowned old monsters. It seems for the chance at the Heavenly Flame, they are willing to throw aside their dignity and join in…”
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, knowing well that this Pill Gathering would not be easy. He himself was not fixated on winning, as the difficulty was immense. All he could do was give it his all…
“But… if there’s a chance, I really want to compete with the heroes of the world. My teacher was once the champion of a Pill Gathering. As his disciple, I cannot let down his name, right?”
Xiao Yan’s lips curled, and a flicker of intense resolve passed through his dark eyes. Though he was calm, he was still young, and the youthful passion and determination also flowed in his bones.
Looking at the smile on Xiao Yan’s face, Ye Zhong and the others exchanged glances and all smiled. This Pill Gathering was going to be a show. Frankly, they were very curious. Could someone in this Pill Gathering truly stand against this fierce tiger, Xiao Yan?
This Pill Gathering would surely be a fight of dragons and tigers!
The next day, as the first rays of dawn broke through the darkness, illuminating the entire Holy Pill City, the city instantly erupted in excitement…
Today, the Holy Pill City would be the center of attention in the entire Central Region. Everyone’s eyes were gathered here, waiting for the ultimate champion to emerge. Whoever could stand out among the alchemists from all over the continent would surely be the true chosen one!
Every champion of the Pill Gathering left behind a glorious legacy, and because of this, the value of the event was immensely magnified. Whoever became the final champion would surely add a glorious chapter to the history of Dou Qi Continent.
This honor was enough to drive anyone crazy, as no one wanted to be just a faceless individual…
*Creak*…
A door in the Pill Tower opened slowly, and a slender figure stepped out, appearing in the sight of Xiaoyixian and the others who were already waiting outside.
Today, Xiao Yan was wearing a purple-robed alchemist’s outfit, with a badge given by the Pill Tower on his chest. The badge bore seven sparkling stars, symbolizing his rank. This attire was the most solemn he had worn in years, reflecting the Pill Gathering’s status in the hearts of alchemists.
Looking at Xiao Yan in his alchemist’s robes, which seemed to carry a hint of free-spirited grace, Xiaoyixian’s eyes flashed with a hint of amusement. She had never seen Xiao Yan dressed so formally before. Though, she had to admit, he looked quite striking.
Xiao Yan adjusted his robe gently and then, smiling at Xiaoyixian and the others, said, “Let’s go…”
Leading the way, he strode towards the hall. Behind him, Xiaoyixian and the others shared a knowing smile and quickly followed.
The Pill Gathering, the most revered assembly of alchemists, finally began, unveiling its curtain of glory and madness for the alchemists…
And for this day, Xiao Yan had waited for three long years!
The wind was stirring, and the storm was about to break!
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