Chapter 333

Xiao Yan was even impressed—daring to poach Alchemists from the Yan Alliance?

Don't talk about the Five Great Alchemist Families of the Dan Domain—even the Dan Tower itself won't get away with it!

Although the little princess isn't Xiao Yan's disciple, Xiao Yan, while staying in Jia Ma Sheng Cheng, taught her a few techniques—this four-flame pattern control method for the Four-Strip White Spirit Pill was taught by Xiao Yan himself.

Even if not her master, he's at least half her senior brother.

At this moment, although Xiao Yan's tone was casual, his spiritual pressure was overwhelming—he now exerted even greater pressure than Master Qiu Ping, making it seem as if he were the true native of the Dan Domain.

This wasn't surprising; in fact, even if Xiao Yan were aggressive, arrogant, and brazen, the spectators around him felt nothing wrong with his words.

First, the Five-Grade Alchemist Long Robe Xiao Yan wore alone silenced everyone else; if Yue Er could produce a Five-Grade Four-Strip White Spirit Pill and earn the respect of the Medicine Pill Sect and the Qiu Family, then Xiao Yan—only one year older than Yue Er—certainly had the same qualifications.

Moreover, at such a young age, Xiao Yan had already driven the formation of the Yan Alliance and issued the Yan Alliance Covenant—he was effectively the alliance's secret leader and spokesperson, and thus had every right to stand on equal footing with the Yao Gu Sect.

And all this was merely what was visible on the surface—let alone the true depth of Xiao Yan's backing.

He possessed the legacy of the previous Pill Gathering Champion, the Alchemy Sovereign; after killing Han Feng, he became the sole inheritor of the Alchemy Sovereign's teachings. Added to that, even Hun Xu Zi had given him some alchemical guidance and had already listed Xiao Yan as a key candidate in the Soul Palace's Emperor Pill Plan.

The Qiu Family? What the hell are they?

Of course, the most important thing was Xiao Yan's own strength: a Seven-Grade Alchemist—at twenty-three!

Even without considering his actual achievements, his public accomplishments alone were enough to be proud of.

"Youngster, such achievements at your age are indeed remarkable—you truly qualify as a genius," Qiu Ping replied coldly to Xiao Yan's dismissive words: "But a Five-Grade Alchemist is still just a Five-Grade Alchemist. I won't deny you might one day reach the Seven-Grade tier. Yet geniuses often perish young—I've seen countless geniuses along the way who believed talent alone granted them everything, only to end up as withered bones."

"Not to mention Zhong Zhou is teeming with hidden dragons and tigers, home to countless alchemists far more talented than you."

"The hidden dragons and tigers, the abundance of geniuses you speak of—do you mean your own Qiu Family?" Xiao Yan interrupted with a smile: "I don't know how many geniuses or strong ones your Dan Domain Qiu Family has, nor do I care what's so special about your Qiu Family's alchemists—it has nothing to do with me."

Qiu Ping said sternly: "My Qiu Family's geniuses and strong ones can stand shoulder to shoulder with—and even surpass—all the supreme forces in this tiny Northwest Region!"

Qiu Ping's words sounded arrogant and domineering, even treating the entire Northwest Region as insignificant—but in truth, that's exactly how it was. In the Northwest Region, no sect, empire, or genius, no matter how powerful, dared to underestimate the Qiu Family.

The Five Great Families of the Dan Domain in Zhong Zhou carried enough prestige to look down on all others. As an alchemist family gathered from across the Dou Qi Continent, the Qiu Family might not be the oldest or strongest in the Dan Domain—but in the Northwest Region, they were unquestionably the most powerful and terrifying.

As Qiu Ping said, with their foundation, the Qiu Family had every reason to be confident in sweeping away all enemies in the Northwest Region.

"Hmm, quite a domineering tone," Xiao Yan rubbed his chin and smiled: "But even if your Qiu Family stood here today, even if the Dan Tower came, no one would dare poach my Yan Alliance's Alchemists."

Qiu Ping's eyes instantly turned icy; the Bone Child Elder beside him, quick to read the atmosphere, coldly said: "Honest advice is bitter to hear. Your achievement as a Five-Grade Alchemist at your age is indeed formidable—you're a rare prodigy. But such a temperament will lead you to no good end. Even if you're the greatest genius, you're destined to perish. Wise enough to bow now and yield, while there's still time."

Xiao Yan waved his hand, cutting him off: "If you're here to evaluate the pills, then evaluate them properly. If you lack the eyesight, go sit over there. An old immortal pretending to be a child."

Hearing Xiao Yan call him a child, the Bone Child Elder's face twisted into a grotesque expression—it was his sore point!

The reason was simple: the Bone Child Elder's body was now equivalent to that of a ten-year-old. While this didn't affect his Dou Qi or strength, it did affect certain functions.

He had long sought a solution, and to fix it required a Eight-Grade Alchemist's intervention—that's why he attached himself to the Dan Domain's Qiu Family.

"Fine, fine, fine—I'll see what your Yan Alliance is truly capable of!" The Bone Child Elder didn't strike immediately; though a Seven-Grade Alchemist, his cultivation was only Dou Zong Yi Xing.

But alchemists never fight with their own hands—this truth had always held.

Finally, as the judge, Qiu Ping delivered a scathing critique, dismissing Yue Er's Four-Strip White Spirit Pill as worthless—ultimately, Jian Feixue of the Yao Gu Sect's Xiuyuan Pill won first place.

But anyone with eyes could see Yue Er was the most talented alchemist, destined for immeasurable heights.

The Sect Grand Meeting had one advantage: the judges weren't just one person—they were the entire Northwest Region. Everyone had eyes. The Sect Grand Meeting was merely a platform to let these sects and factions truly "see clearly."

The battles among the young generation were even more dramatic: Nalan Yanran broke through to Dou Huang overnight and shockingly defeated Shi Nian, a genius from the Nether Lion Sect—one of the Top Ten Sects. Qing Lin, living up to the expectations of the Snake Race, defeated Lei Jun, the Young Sect Master of the Thunder Sect, representing the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

"Th-this-this-this—Lei Jun lost?!"

"How is this possible? In the last Sect Grand Meeting, Lei Jun reached Dou Zong Yi Xing at twenty-five and defeated the Snake Emperor of the Heavenly Snake Mansion to win first place—how could he lose this time?!"

This was also why the Northwest Region whispered that the Thunder Sect was quietly surpassing the Heavenly Snake Mansion—everyone strongly believed Lei Jun would inevitably become a Dou Zun.

"Is that the Heavenly Snake Mansion's new Holy Maiden? So strong! How did she cultivate so fast? Is the Heavenly Snake Mansion really going to fulfill its ambition—to unify the Northwest Region?!"

"Hey hey, don't be so short-sighted. Haven't you noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"The Yan Alliance! Whether it's that young alchemist or this Female Sword God—they're both from the Yan Alliance! And they're both incredibly young!"

Sssss!! At this moment, some latecomers suddenly realized—the Yan Alliance was about to rise!

At this time, on the back of the Deep Sea Serpent Beast, at Xiao Yan's strong insistence, the group was holding a grilled fish feast.

Hai Bodong stood on the back of the Deep Sea Serpent Beast, gazing down at the final stage—where Nalan Yanran faced Qing Lin.

"Is that really the little girl from before? How could her cultivation have risen so fast!" Hai Bodong stared intently at Qing Lin—even if the Heavenly Snake Mansion had constantly given her pills, her cultivation couldn't have risen this quickly.

Hai Bodong was now Eight-Star Dou Huang—Qing Lin had already reached Six-Star Dou Huang! Only five years had passed! What kind of pills could cause such speed?!

Xiao Yan held a sea fish roasted by Yun Yun, walked beside Hai Bodong, and stared at Qing Lin's figure. After taking a bite, he said slowly: "She didn't use pills—not even the Imperial Ultimate Pill."

"Not using pills?!"

"At least unlike those whose Dou Qi is hollow and rely entirely on pills to boost their strength, Qing Lin's Dou Qi is solid. And for some reason, her combat techniques, application of Dou Techniques, and awareness are all exceptional—it's as if she's been fighting her entire life."

Xiao Yan had also watched Qing Lin's battle against Lei Jun—it was a complete, all-around domination.

Lei Jun's cultivation was higher than Qing Lin's—he was already Star Seven Dou Huang—but in combat experience and Dou Technique usage, he was far inferior. In the end, he was defeated without doubt by Qing Lin's perfected Earth-Rank Dou Technique.

Not only did the Thunder Sect stare in shock—even Xiao Yan found it unbelievable.

There are many ways to boost cultivation quickly—like Xiao Yan, who relied on the Strange Fire and the Burnt Decree. But Dou Technique cultivation and combat awareness can't be rushed. In just one battle, Qing Lin used four Earth-Rank Snake Race Dou Techniques—and none were beginner or minor levels; all were perfected or even fully mastered.

Xiao Yan himself needed a long time to master a single Earth-Rank Dou Technique—how could Qing Lin have learned so many? It was impossible.

"Could the Qi San Hua Tong have other abilities?" Xiao Yan only knew Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong could control snakes, allowing her to store controlled snake races inside her three-flower pupil's spiritual space.

"The one with the sword is done for," Zi Yan said, mouth full of grease, walking over to Xiao Yan and wiping her hands and mouth on his Alchemist Long Robe.

Both Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong agreed with Zi Yan's assessment—Nalan Yanran had no chance of winning even if only cultivation levels were considered.

The outcome was no surprise: had Qing Lin not spared Nalan Yanran because she was from the Yan Alliance, she would have already defeated her outright.

"Holding out this long against Qing Lin is already impressive," Xiao Yan said, barely suppressing his laughter.

Nalan Yanran didn't argue—she lost, and she truly couldn't beat Qing Lin.

"Do you know her?" Nalan Yanran asked.

Xiao Yan didn't hide it—he nodded: "The Qing Lin who was captured by Mo Cheng back at the Mo Family—later, two Heavenly Snake Mansion Snake Emperors broke in and took her away."

After Xiao Yan's reminder, Nalan Yanran suddenly came to her senses, stunned. Back then, Xiao Yan had indeed said that his family's maidservant had been captured by Mo Cheng and demanded Mo Cheng hand her over, and in the end he had beaten Mo Li into a cripple and killed Mo Cheng.

And in the end, an unfamiliar Dou Huang Spiritual Pressure really did appear and took the person away!

So that's what happened!

Suddenly, Nalan Yanran gave a violent start, looked at Xiao Yan in surprise, and asked: "Back then at the Mo Family you said she... she is your maidservant???"

Xiao Yan cast a sidelong glance and said: "What maidservant or not, Qing Lin is a member of my Xiao Clan. You're the one who said back then that the loser would become a slave or a maidservant — you're the maidservant."

"I-I am not, hmph!"

Hai Bodong, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li couldn't help casting sidelong glances at Xiao Yan — this guy was something else, how were they all his people.

(End of chapter)