Chapter 434: Shocking Xiao Yan for a Hundred Years

Cao Ying sat back at her family's seat, her beautiful eyes gazing deeply at the retreating figure; she knew that Xiao Yan had not necessarily lost—he might have used some special spiritual soul illusion technique.

Some spiritual Dou Techniques can plunge opponents into illusions, causing them to lapse into daze; but since this was a contest of Soul Force, Xiao Yan could not employ other offensive methods, making such soul-controlling illusions appear clumsy, for they were merely auxiliary attacks.

Thus, Cao Ying understood that her victory came solely from the rules of the contest.

In truth, as Cao Ying had suspected, Xiao Yan had just used the second form of the Asura Soul Severance Technique: Sunken Abyss—by making contact with the opponent's Soul Force, it subtly induced spiritual illusions, sealing off the five senses, utterly covert.

Yet soon, a sly, demonic curve curled at Cao Ying's lips, and she turned away, walking toward the hall's exit; her languid, proud figure bewitched many men present.

"Since I won only because of the rules, then at the Pill Gathering, I, Cao Ying, will defeat you fair and square!" A battle intention ignited within her heart.

The outcome of this trial naturally shook the entire Sheng Dan Cheng—whether it was the Ye Family retaining its place among the Five Great Families, or the clash between Xiao Yan and Cao Ying, two eighth-rank Alchemists, both were major events.

"Tsk tsk tsk, a clash between eighth-rank Alchemists? I never expected the Pill Gathering to already be this heated before it even began."

"Sigh, pity that Xiao Yan still lost narrowly to Cao Ying—does that mean grassroots Alchemists truly can't match those from great clans?"

"What can you do? The Cao Family has stood in Sheng Dan Cheng for generations; their ancestors were among the founding elders of the Dan Tower—of course their lineage is powerful."

"Don't worry—I still believe Master Xiao Yan will bring glory to grassroots Alchemists and win the Pill Gathering Champion!"

Xiao Yan paid no heed to these rumors or cheers; in the days ahead, he planned to stay indoors, cultivating his Battle Qi and Pill Alchemy, preparing for the Pill Gathering!

The glittering world outside had nothing to do with Xiao Yan.

Time passed, and the Pill Gathering drew ever closer; as it neared, ever more terrifying crowds flooded into Sheng Dan Cheng—this vast Earth Domain was filled with countless figures everywhere; inns and lodges in Sheng Dan Cheng were utterly packed.

This region had become the focal point of countless eyes across Zhong Zhou.

Deep within the Ye Courtyard, in a quiet courtyard, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on a Stone Chair, eyes half-closed, slowly circulating the Fire Scripture to absorb the surrounding Heaven and Earth Power; within his body, the Heavenly Flame Spirit Pill slowly released energy, continually compressed by the Falling Heart Flame, accelerating his Cultivation Realm.

As turbid qi left his body, Xiao Yan slowly rose, hands clasped behind his back, then turned, his dark eyes fixed on a patch of Void Space, speaking calmly: "What, the Pill Gathering hasn't even started—do you plan to eliminate your rival first?"

"Gu guai xiao!" A withered voice echoed from the Void Space; a black-robed figure slowly emerged from the emptiness.

Even clad in a Soul Robe, Xiao Yan knew this man was his uncle, Mu Gu.

The instant Mu Gu appeared, Xiao Yixian and the Heavenly Flame Elder instantly locked onto him; Mu Gu removed his Hood, revealing a withered face, smiling warmly at Xiao Yan, utterly unafraid of Xiao Yixian and the Heavenly Flame Elder.

For the same reason Xiao Yan had never feared Mu Gu killing him—Hun Xu Zi had ordered that the two must settle their rivalry at the Pill Gathering to determine who would become the Alchemist for the Imperial Pill Plan.

Though Xiao Yan's power had grown, it still could not surpass the Soul Sect or Hun Xu Zi.

Hun Xu Zi had ordered that the two settle their rivalry at the Pill Gathering; if Xiao Yan killed Mu Gu beforehand, wouldn't that be telling Hun Xu Zi that his Pill Alchemy was inferior to Mu Gu's, hence he resorted to assassination?

If that were true, what value would Xiao Yan still hold? Moreover, Xiao Yan had no need to eliminate Mu Gu now—he was confident he could defeat Mu Gu fairly at the Pill Gathering.

A Mu Gu who had lost his value—when Xiao Yan wished to dispose of him, it would be but a word away.

Xiao Yan waved his hand, signaling the Heavenly Flame Elder and Xiao Yixian not to attack; then he walked to a pavilion in the courtyard and said, "Sit. Standing to talk is tiring."

Mu Gu sneered coldly, utterly unfazed, and took a seat beside Xiao Yan; Qing Lin obediently brought tea.

Xiao Yan first poured hot tea for Mu Gu, then for himself; in matters of etiquette, he was no less than a Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan—perfectly proper.

"Someone wants to strike at me?" Xiao Yan sipped the hot tea, asking casually.

In truth, even without Mu Gu speaking, Xiao Yan had already guessed who—it had been long since arriving in Sheng Dan Cheng, and the only person he'd offended was one, and that one was indeed the "crown prince" of a major Faction.

Mu Gu wasn't afraid of poison, so he drank the tea, glancing at Xiao Yan and speaking slowly: "Don't you already know?"

"Xuan Ming Sect."

Mu Gu smiled; his expression told Xiao Yan plainly—it was Chen Xian, the Young Clan Leader of the Xuan Ming Sect.

Chen Xian had surely never imagined that, intending to hire the Soul Sect to hunt down Xiao Yan the Alchemist, he had instead stumbled upon Xiao Yan himself being a Soul Sect Elder!

This flood had drowned the Dragon King's temple!

Xiao Yan twisted his teacup, his eyes flashing a cold, ruthless glint. He feared not theft, but a thief's lingering intent; this time he was lucky—the fool had stupidly hired the Soul Sect to confront him; next time, if he sent warriors from the Nine Underworld Earth Serpent Clan, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, or the Tian Ming Sect, Xiao Yan would be in danger.

Clearly, Chen Xian had already been added to Xiao Yan's blacklist.

His blacklist was like the King of Hell's Book of Life and Death—once entered, there was no exit.

"You didn't come just to find out how I offended Chen Xian, did you?" Xiao Yan refilled his cup, smiling.

"Gu guai xiao! The Bone Spirit Cold Fire of that old man—is it on you?" Mu Gu grinned.

Xiao Yan touched the Bone Flame Ring on his finger, speaking calmly: "You and Han Feng betrayed him—do you really think you can ask me for it so shamelessly?"

At these words, Mu Gu's eyes flashed with ferocity, as if recalling that day; he let out a sinister laugh: "Gu guai xiao! Then everything belonging to that old man should rightfully be my spoils!"

"Fine, take it." Xiao Yan removed the Bone Flame Ring and tossed it to Mu Gu without hesitation.

Seeing Xiao Yan actually throw the Bone Flame Ring, Mu Gu instantly suspected a trick—only when the ring landed on the table did he realize he'd overthought it; he hastily snatched it up and scanned it with his Soul Force.

Naturally, it was empty—Xiao Yan had transferred everything into the Void Space.

His pupils contracted; as Mu Gu's Soul Force probed the Bone Flame Ring, he naturally sensed the lingering spiritual traces within.

"He's truly dead." A faint flicker of sorrow passed through Mu Gu's eyes—gone in an instant.

Back then, he and Han Feng had acted together—Han Feng poisoned and stabbed from behind, while he struck directly; otherwise, how could Han Feng have assassinated the Pill Sovereign, a Dou Zun?

At the time, both he and Han Feng had witnessed the severely wounded Pill Sovereign's Soul Body fleeing into the Bone Flame Ring—so they had never known whether the Pill Sovereign was truly dead.

Now, he knew: his fellow disciple, his senior, was truly scattered into nothingness.

Whoosh—a wisp of pale-white strange flame wrapped around Xiao Yan's body; Mu Gu stared, eyes wide—this moment, Xiao Yan bore a striking resemblance to the Pill Sovereign!

"The Bone Spirit Cold Fire is inside me—so, are you going to attack me?" Xiao Yan sneered coldly, eyes filled with mockery.

Mu Gu's face twisted into a monstrous snarl, fists clenched; he let out a cold grunt and turned to leave. Once he won the Pill Gathering Champion, when Xiao Yan lost his value, that would be Xiao Yan's death date—then everything on Xiao Yan would be his!

"Hey, the storage ring."

Mu Gu glanced at the storage ring on his hand, flicked it—shoo! —and Xiao Yan caught it effortlessly.

"Enjoy your remaining days. After the Pill Gathering, I will reclaim the Bone Spirit Cold Fire and that Cultivation Method!"

Xiao Yan slipped the Bone Flame Ring back onto his finger, a faint smile on his face: "You may never get the chance."

"Isn't it fine not killing him now?" A figure in white robes approached; Xiao Yixian stared at where Mu Gu had vanished—given her current power, killing Mu Gu was no challenge.

"Xiao Yixian, when did you become so ruthless? You can't just kill people willy-nilly." Xiao Yan chuckled teasingly at her words.

Xiao Yixian was startled, then angry; she crossed her arms, her small chest rising and falling, slightly indignant: "Isn't it because I learned it from you?"

"You can't blame this on me—I only taught you Spirit Refining, not these things."

Just as Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian were bickering, a sudden surge of spatial power emanated from the adjacent room; both froze, then immediately knew—Zi Yan had finally woken up.

"That girl's finally awake. Let's go see—curious how much she's improved," Xiao Yan said, intrigued, since monsters' strength gains differ from humans'.

Monsters advance by Rank, not by Stars; it's about physical growth and bloodline.

Cultivators merely equate a monster's physical development to a certain number of Stars for convenience in comparison. After all, their cultivation system differs somewhat from ordinary Dou Qi—their bodies are far stronger.

With a creak, the door swung open; a sliver of sunlight poured in, dispelling the room's darkness.

"Zi Yan, what's your current strength—"

Suddenly, Xiao Yan's voice cut off. His eyes widened in shock—he stared, dumbfounded, as a breathtakingly beautiful body stepped down from the bed before him.

Long, silken purple hair, reaching her hips, cascaded over her shoulders; her snow-white skin glowed faintly under the sunlight, her figure tall and slender, waist like a willow, legs straight and pure as ivory—her mature form left Xiao Yan utterly transfixed.

Xiao Yixian beside him was likewise speechless with astonishment.

"Ohhh, Xiao Yan, hehehe—I'm stronger than you now!" Zi Yan stuck out her hips, grinning as she boasted of her increased power—and her growth.

Xiao Yan knew he should turn away—but his neck twisted, yet his head refused to move!

Shocked Xiao Yan for a hundred years!

She really has grown.

He'd forgotten—after Zi Yan took the Transformation Pill, she could assume human form. Even for the Ancient Dragon Clan, Seven Rank meant entering maturity—her body had fully matured; Eight Rank meant complete form.

But Zi Yan usually suppressed her true form, reverting to her original childlike shape. Xiao Yan had seen it once before—Xiao Yixian had been there too.

Isn't that just lucky.

Xiao Yan murmured: "Ultimate Form."

Xiao Yixian quickly covered Xiao Yan's eyes, then exhaled a wisp of gray mist that wrapped around Zi Yan, shielding the girl now advancing toward Ultimate Form.

"Zi Yan! Put some clothes on!" Xiao Yixian's cheeks flushed red as she hurriedly shouted.

Zi Yan looked down, scratched her head, and giggled: "Hehe, forgot."

Dragons naturally have scales, not clothes. When sleeping, Zi Yan had been in her shrunken true form—and upon waking, she'd simply forgotten.

Xiao Yan, still with his eyes covered, said: "Xiao Yixian, get her some clothes—no, Qing Lin! Bring one of your outfits!"

"Get out!" Xiao Yixian, feigning grievous injury, shoved Xiao Yan out the door, slammed it shut with a bang, and sealed the room with Dou Qi.

Why ask for Qing Lin's clothes and not your own? What's that supposed to mean?!

"Young Master Xiao Yan? Do you need clothes?" Qing Lin hurried over, hearing Xiao Yan's call, her face puzzled—why would he want her clothes?

Seeing Qing Lin approach, Xiao Yan sized her up, stroked his chin, compared them, nodded, and muttered: "About the same—monsters' bodies really are impressive. But Zi Yan seems taller."

Not long after, the door creaked open again. Zi Yan, now reverted to her child form, stepped out smiling. Xiao Yixian's expression was odd—she glanced at Qing Lin, then shot Xiao Yan a furious glare.

Xiao Yixian finally realized—Xiao Yu hadn't lied to her!

Zi Yan walked up to Xiao Yan with a bright smile. "Pretty, right?"

Xiao Yan gave her a thumbs-up. "Very impressive."

"Cough!" Xiao Yixian's gaze turned sharp and threatening toward the two.

Xiao Yan quickly changed the subject. "By the way, what's your current strength?"

"Hmm… roughly equivalent to an Eight Star Dou Zong's Dou Qi cultivation," Zi Yan said, translating her physical strength into Dou Qi terms.

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. This guy—no wonder he's from the Ancient Dragon Clan. With enough Medicinal Material, his body and bloodline grow fast—jumping levels like this.

With Xiao Yan and the Yan Alliance's current resources, supporting a Seven Rank Ancient Dragon was no issue—Zi Yan's Medicinal Material supply had never stopped.

In the days ahead, Xiao Yan calmly awaited the Pill Gathering.

Time passed swiftly. Then, just days before the Pill Gathering, Xiao Yan received an invitation from a Pill Giant to visit Dan Tower.

Xiao Yan broke into a cold sweat—he'd once broken into the Star Domain with Zi Yan, and used the Soul Robe to hide before an Elder Giant. If discovered, the consequences—

But he couldn't refuse. This was an invitation from a Pill Giant; to join the Pill Gathering, he'd eventually have to meet one anyway. Refusal would invite suspicion.

"Probably not discovered. My Soul Perception range is vast, and that place was warped by Three Thousand Yan Flame—no way the Pill Giant knows." Xiao Yan nodded. Knowing he couldn't avoid it, he followed Elder Sheng toward the inner city of Sheng Dan Cheng.

Dan Tower stood at the heart of Sheng Dan Cheng's inner city—this area, the holy land of countless Alchemists. With the city now crowded, the inner district was heavily guarded, ready to respond to any sudden emergency.

Xiao Yan followed Elder Sheng through Sheng Dan Cheng for over half an hour before gradually entering the inner district. As he crossed the gate and passed through the Barrier, the clamor outside faded sharply.

Only factions tied to Dan Tower or high-rank Alchemists were permitted to reside in the inner city—thus, the Alchemists here vastly surpassed those in the outer city in quality.

Stepping into the inner city, Xiao Yan looked up—and his gaze locked onto the center, where a black tower nearly a hundred meters tall rose like a miniature mountain, radiating majestic grandeur.

"That's Dan Tower—the Alchemist holy land that rivals the Soul Palace."

Gazing at the colossal black tower, towering like a pillar holding up the heavens, even Xiao Yan's composure cracked—he couldn't help but stare in awe. This tower carried meaning far beyond its form.

Elder Sheng smiled and nodded, guiding Xiao Yan into the bustling street, heading straight for Dan Tower.

With Elder Sheng's escort, Xiao Yan passed the strict, multi-layered inspections with ease and entered the vast Dan Tower.

Inside, Elder Sheng led Xiao Yan straight to the upper levels. After a long while, they stopped before a spacious hall.

"Xiao Yan, the Chairman, Xuan Kongzi, is inside. I won't go in," Elder Sheng smiled.

"Thank you, Elder Sheng, for guiding me," Xiao Yan nodded slightly, then stepped in slowly.

His face showed nothing, but his heart was uneasy.

Was this how he ended up as a spy inside their core stronghold?!

Xiao Yan's footsteps landed softly on the stone tiles. His gaze swept the room, then settled on a bookshelf—where an old man in white robes carefully brushed dust from the books.

The white-robed elder emitted no aura whatsoever—he looked like an ordinary old man. But when Xiao Yan used Soul Perception, he was stunned: the space before him was utterly empty—the elder seemed not to exist at all.

Could he be a Heavenly Realm?

"No—he hasn't reached it. If he had, I'd be dead that night," Xiao Yan thought silently.

"Heh, you must be Xiao Yan. Impressive—for your age, you're already a Rank Eight Alchemist. Far surpassing me at your age," came the old man's gentle voice.

He sat down slowly and poured Xiao Yan a cup of clear tea. Xiao Yan sat calmly, but inside, he was ready to shatter his Soul Token for rescue at any moment.

Senior Brother, you're joking—I merely got lucky. I wonder why Senior Brother summoned me here?

Xuan Kongzi also sipped tea, moistening his throat, then spoke slowly: "I summoned you here to speak with you about the Soul Sect."

Puff! Cough, cough.

Xiao Yan choked on the water and began to cough. His heart sank sharply.

Is he testing me?!!

(End of Chapter)