Swish, swish, swish! Gazing at the figures that were sweeping into the illusionary barrier like a locust swarm, Xuan Kongzi on the high platform nodded slightly, his hands tucked into his sleeves. He said faintly, “This alchemy conference is indeed quite interesting. I never expected that even some of the old masters would come…”
“The Three Thousand Blaze Fire is far from ordinary; it has considerable allure to these old masters. It’s natural they would come to join in the fun,” the dark-skinned elder beside Xuan Kongzi remarked, his sharp gaze sweeping over the figures entering the illusion.
“Old waves push new ones, and today’s young generation isn’t any weaker than them. Even if they intervene, they might end up disgraced.” The beautiful woman in the qipao smiled and commented.
Xuan Kongzi chuckled and nodded, stroking his beard. “Indeed, the present young generation does have some remarkable figures, but what piques my curiosity most is just how far Xiao Yan can go…”
“Xiao Yan? Medicinal Chen’s disciple?” The dark-skinned elder was taken aback, glancing at the beautiful woman.
“Medicinal Chen…” The woman was momentarily dazed. She had been in seclusion for years, only emerging for significant matters like sealing the Three Thousand Blaze Fire. She was the most low-profile among the three giants of the Alchemy Tower, and many newcomers didn’t even know of her existence. To most, the Alchemy Tower seemed to have no female giant. But those with sufficient experience knew that the first female giant of the Alchemy Tower had appeared before Cao Ying, though she was much older…
The mysterious beauty was once a prominent figure on the Dou Qi Continent, her reputation not less than that of the other two giants. Although she had been in seclusion for years, when she heard the distant yet unforgettable name, a strange light flashed in her eyes…
“According to Xiao Yan, Medicinal Chen is now in the hands of the Soul Palace. After the alchemy conference, if possible, we might help this old fellow. After all, he did help us a great deal back then…” Xuan Kongzi said slowly.
Upon hearing this, the woman’s face changed slightly. Her usually calm heart now fluctuated wildly, and she said, “Who made him act recklessly back then, knowing full well the Soul Palace was after him? He deserves this fate…”
“You say it lightly, but who doesn’t know you are the most worried about him? You’ve been secretly sending people to search for his whereabouts, and both of us know that.” Xuan Kongzi sighed.
“He dead or alive, it’s none of my business!” The woman’s fine brows furrowed, her demeanor imposing. Yet, to Xuan Kongzi and the other, her words lacked conviction. They knew her stubbornness all too well and could only shake their heads in resignation.
The other elders of the Alchemy Tower exchanged glances and chose to turn a blind eye to the argument.
“After the alchemy conference, let me meet that little guy. I heard the people from the Soul Palace also want to capture him, but regardless, he is still his disciple…” Seeing Xuan Kongzi and the others silent, the woman, after gradually calming down, spoke with a complex tone.
Xuan Kongzi and the elder exchanged a glance, nodded, and said no more.
As Xiao Yan charged into the dark gray, twisted space, he distinctly felt a strange fluctuation from the rank badge on his chest. Under this fluctuation, as his body touched the twisted space, a powerful suction force burst out, pulling him in.
The sudden suction made Xiao Yan’s vision blur. When he regained his bearings, he found himself in an eerie, dark gray space. The air was thick with dense, dark gray gas, and his vision was limited to half a meter. Some parts of the space even seemed to be twisting, indicating this was the so-called illusionary barrier.
He stepped lightly on the dark gray gas, not rushing. Instead, he stood still, eyes closed, allowing his vast soul power to spread out like ripples. The dark gray gas had a suppressive effect on the soul, which Xiao Yan had anticipated. The suppression was not beyond his current strength, allowing him to sense his surroundings, though the range was significantly reduced.
As his soul power spread, Xiao Yan detected fluctuations in the dark gray gas, indicating new contestants were entering continuously.
“This is similar to the energy tides in Tianmu Mountain, but that was natural, whereas here, the space is artificially twisted, creating a maze. It’s more challenging…” Xiao Yan mused. This space was probably created by powerful Alchemy Tower seniors using their mighty strength. Filled with countless twisted spaces, anyone who entered carelessly would easily lose their way.
To navigate this illusion, one must discern the spatial twists and follow the curved corridors to exit. Despite its complexity, Xiao Yan, with his strong soul, could manage it. Most common alchemists would find it extremely difficult, but Xiao Yan was no ordinary alchemist. His soul power, even suppressed by the gas, was still formidable.
Swish, swish!
Hearing the sounds of breaking wind nearby, Xiao Yan smiled faintly. Relying on his soul perception, he saw many alchemists trapped in the twisted spaces due to their reckless actions.
Expanding his soul power, Xiao Yan walked calmly, following the path detected by his soul. This distorted space was surprisingly vast, making it easy to get lost. However, Xiao Yan maintained his composure, having seen many participants fall victim to impulsive actions.
As he advanced, Xiao Yan encountered numerous strong competitors, whose presence often alarmed him. Yet, they were cautious and retreated rather than engage. Their reactions were unsurprising, but Xiao Yan was impressed by their strength. Many of them weren’t hindered by the illusionary barrier.
In the dark gray space, Xiao Yan continued to advance. Almost an hour had passed since he entered, and the spatial twists were becoming increasingly complex, sometimes requiring detours to bypass obstacles.
“Clatter!”
Stepping on a patch of dark gray mist, Xiao Yan’s heart suddenly stirred. Looking up, he saw a familiar, aged figure approaching, his face the same as the captured Elder Medicinal Chen!
Elder Medicinal Chen stood not far from Xiao Yan, smiling warmly and beckoning to him. Staring at the familiar, kind face, Xiao Yan almost involuntarily stepped forward.
Just as he was about to step, a sense of danger surged, and he halted, taking a deep breath to regain his composure. “It’s an illusion. Deep within the illusionary barrier, these illusions are created based on one’s thoughts!”
Frowning, Xiao Yan gazed at the elderly figure for a long time before sighing and dispelling the illusion with a wave of his sleeve. As the figure dissipated, the hidden spatial twists were revealed, shrouded in a strange, eerie black gas.
“This illusionary barrier is indeed perilous,” Xiao Yan observed, understanding that the sudden appearance of the illusion was related to the black gas.
Shaking off the distraction, Xiao Yan heightened his vigilance. He felt he was close to the exit. Expanding his soul power, he carefully traced the spatial distortions and moved forward.
On his way, he encountered many more illusions: Xun’er, Cai Lin, Xiao Zhan, Yun Yun, and others dear to him. Remembering the previous trap, Xiao Yan resisted the allure of these lifelike illusions, turning away without hesitation.
After a series of illusions, Xiao Yan pressed on, and after about half an hour, the dense gray mist began to dissipate. Before him emerged a massive, twisted black hole, the entrance to the Alchemy Realm…
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