Chapter 201: The Soul Palace

"You actually passed the Trial of that Elder! Are you his disciple?" Guardian Wu's tone even shifted slightly, his voice carrying a hint of respect.

Xiao Yan was not worthy of such respect from Guardian Wu, a Five-Star Dou Zong—even if Xiao Yan were a Fifth-Rank Alchemist, it still wouldn't suffice. But Hun Xu Zi, the one who could bestow Soul Tokens, was an existence infinitely stronger than Guardian Wu.

Guardian Wu himself did not know just how strong Hun Xu Zi was, only that when he had gone to report earlier, even the Great Heavenly Venerable had bowed in reverence to Hun Xu Zi.

Guardian Wu only knew Hun Xu Zi was an Alchemist, and that he had once appeared in Tian Gang Hall when a certain great figure had spent a massive amount of Soul Points, requesting him to refine a certain Elixir.

It was no wonder Guardian Wu thought this—after all, Xiao Yan was also an Alchemist who possessed a Strange Fire, and had achieved Fifth-Rank Alchemist status at such a young age, a feat Guardian Wu had never heard of before.

Perhaps only the supreme prodigies of Dan Tower could match such speed; it made perfect sense for Hun Xu Zi to take him as a disciple.

Xiao Yan cast a cool glance at Guardian Wu's terrified expression, slowly fastened the Soul Token to his waist, and said calmly, "He did want to take me as a disciple, but I have no such intention."

"Refining Pills is merely my side pursuit, done at whim—Cultivation is the true path."

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Guardian Wu inwardly cursed him for putting on airs. That was an Alchemist even a Great Heavenly Venerable had to beg.

A Great Heavenly Venerable is at least a Star Seven Dou Zun—what kind of demons and monsters are Star Seven Dou Zuns?!

The Elixirs they require are at least Eighth-Grade High-Level Elixirs, capable of summoning Pill Lightning of seven colors or more—such Elixirs could rightly be called Immortal Pills.

An Alchemist whom even such a person must treat with utmost courtesy must surely rank among the top ten on the Dou Qi Continent.

And yet you're not even pleased to be taken as a disciple by such a person!

"Of course, of course, Elder, your Alchemy is peerless, your Cultivation unmatched—even Nalan Yanran, who received the Dou Zun inheritance, was effortlessly defeated by you." Guardian Wu chuckled, rubbing his hands like a fly, his fawning demeanor so strange even Yun Shan beside him felt bewildered!

Is this really Guardian Wu?!

Xiao Yan said, "I came to Yun Lan Sect not only to complete the Trial given by Hun Xu Zi, but also to learn more about the Soul Palace and exchange Soul Points for some items."

"Tell me about the Soul Palace."

Xiao Yan stood with his hands behind his back, glancing left and right as he surveyed the interior of the Soul Palace—he still wanted to know more about it.

"Of course, of course, Elder, this way, I'll immediately explain everything about the Soul Palace." After learning Xiao Yan possessed a Soul Token, Guardian Wu's attitude became that of a eunuch.

Xiao Yan took two steps, then turned back to glance at Yun Shan, still frozen in place, stunned—he smiled faintly. "Guardian Yun Shan, what's wrong?"

Hearing Xiao Yan address him as "Guardian" rather than "Sect Master," Yun Shan's eyelid twitched violently—the implication was unmistakable.

Guardian Wu glanced at Yun Shan, and Yun Shan had no choice but to suppress his emotions, whispering, "Nothing… Elder."

Yun Shan, the former Sect Master of Yun Lan Sect, a Dou Zong powerhouse of the Jia Ma Empire—when had he ever called an eighteen-year-old boy "Elder"?!

And this morning, Xiao Yan had even let Mei Du Sha beat him up!

Hearing this, Xiao Yan secretly relished it—what did it matter if he was a Dou Zong? Now he still had to obediently follow behind him!

Guardian Wu led Xiao Yan onward, guiding him deeper into the Soul Palace.

Rather than calling this a Hall, it was more like a massive prison!

But those imprisoned here were not criminals—they were Soul Bodies and Alchemists.

Xiao Yan saw several Soul Bodies imprisoned by special black Spiritual Energy Sealing Chains, and others who clearly were Alchemists, even wearing Alchemist Long Robes.

"All those imprisoned here are Soul Bodies of Dou Wang or higher. Those below Dou Wang rarely form Soul Bodies—if their bodies are destroyed, they're left only with fragmented souls and spirits, which can only be absorbed into Soul Stones."

"Every so often, Enforcers come to collect Soul Bodies. Each level of the Soul Palace must deliver a set number of Soul Bodies each month," Guardian Wu explained.

"Different levels?" Xiao Yan sharply caught the key term.

Guardian Wu nodded and explained, "Yes, the Soul Palace has three tiers: the highest is Tian Gang Hall, then Di Sha Hall, and then our own branch halls. There are only three Tian Gang Halls—Tian Dian, Di Dian, and Ren Dian—each governed by the Hall Master, Deputy Hall Master, and Great Heavenly Venerable respectively. Tian Dian is naturally the headquarters, located in Zhong Zhou."

"Beneath the Three Tian Gang Halls are the Twenty-Four Di Sha Halls, all situated on the periphery of Zhong Zhou, encircling the entire Zhong Zhou, each governed by an elder."

"As for our branch halls outside Zhong Zhou, their number is countless—each branch hall has at least one Guardian, whose main tasks are collecting Soul Bodies and capturing Alchemists."

Xiao Yan frowned tightly—Guardians were all Dou Zong or higher, yet these branch halls were the weakest?! And there were so many they couldn't be counted?!

This power was terrifying!

That meant even the weakest branch hall could utterly destroy the Jia Ma Empire!

Xiao Yan thought to himself: "No wonder all Alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent banded together to form Dan Tower—even distant nations like the Jia Ma Empire have Alchemist Guilds under Dan Tower's protection."

"The Soul Palace's sphere of influence is utterly absurd."

Even such a powerful and influential group as Alchemists had been forced by the Soul Palace to band together for self-preservation!

"Are these Alchemists being captured to refine Elixirs?" Xiao Yan noticed none of the Alchemists had been killed—if only Soul Bodies were needed, they could simply be slain to extract them.

Since they weren't being killed, it must mean they were needed to refine Elixirs.

To Xiao Yan's surprise, Guardian Wu shook his head and said, "Besides the fact that Alchemists naturally possess strong Soul Force and easily form Soul Bodies, the more important reason is that the Holy Land needs to select talented Alchemists to help refine a certain Elixir."

Xiao Yan's eyes flickered—he recalled Hun Xu Zi had told him the same thing, though the exact nature of the Elixir would only be revealed once Xiao Yan had advanced his Alchemy to a certain level.

"So this Elixir must be extremely important—requiring the entire continent to hunt down and cultivate Alchemists for selection."

After walking for a long while, the three finally emerged from the long prison corridor. Perhaps because this branch hall was newly built, few were imprisoned here.

After walking a short distance with Guardian Wu, a vast Hall appeared before Xiao Yan—in the center stood something resembling an Altar, and the surrounding walls were densely lined with glowing orbs wrapped in light.

Xiao Yan recognized these orbs—he had seen them before in the Treasure Hall; each orb contained a Treasure, Elixir, or Cultivation Method or Dou Technique.

(End of Chapter)