Chapter 441

Xiao Yan was well aware of the Soul Palace's capabilities—it was backed by the Soul Sovereign and possessed the complete inheritance of the Soul Emperor, along with techniques passed down from the most ancient eras.

No one knew how terrifying the Soul Palace's methods were or how many varieties they had; not only could Xiao Yan not find Mu Gu, but if the Soul Palace's leader truly intended it, he could make Mu Gu unrecognizable even to a Pill Giant.

Of course, Xiao Yan didn't care about any of this—no matter how Mu Gu disguised himself, if his alchemy skill reached Eight Grade and he had no name or identity, he could be almost certainly identified as Mu Gu.

The process can deceive, but the result cannot.

After ten days of lively discussion, Sheng Dan Cheng finally reached the climax of the Pill Gathering: spirit refining!

Boom—one bell rang, and immediately, a series of stone platforms rose from the Guang Chang, all floating in midair.

These were the final stage platforms used by all alchemists; these special platforms floated in midair and blocked all soul perception, preventing spying or interference.

Moreover, because the platforms floated, nearly every citizen of Sheng Dan Cheng could clearly see the alchemists refining pills.

As the platforms rose, space channels appeared, and all contestants who passed the second round were randomly assigned to each platform.

The Champion would be born among these people!

At the Ye Family Mansion, Xiao Yixian and the others fixed their gazes on the platforms, their cheeks showing faint tension; though confident in Xiao Yan's ability, they knew enough about the brutal competition within the Dan Realm to feel some worry.

Heavenly Flame Zunzhe crossed his arms, calmly saying: "Heh, no need to worry too much—during this time, several contestants have already shattered their Space Stones and emerged; if Xiao Yan comes out too, he'll surely come find us."

Hearing this, Xiao Yixian's tightly clasped fingers unconsciously loosened.

Just as Xiao Yixian and the others stared intently at the figures appearing on the platforms, one platform rippled again, and a familiar figure slowly emerged from the channel, stepping onto the platform in one motion.

"It's Young Master Yan!"

Seeing the familiar figure, Qing Lin's face lit up with delight; she quickly pointed at one of the platforms and said:

Seeing Xiao Yan appear, Xiao Yixian and the others relaxed; their gazes quickly turned and confirmed the unmistakably familiar figure—everyone sighed in relief.

"Heh, I said so—how could Master Xiao Yan fail to pass the second round?" Ye Zhong had also been sweating nervously.

Xiao Yan suddenly turned his gaze toward the Ye Family Mansion and nodded with a smile; even from afar, he could see Xiao Yixian's figure.

Seeing Xiao Yan look over, Xiao Yixian smiled gently in his direction.

Xiao Yan then looked around—he hadn't expected so many alchemists in the third round; over a hundred had passed the second round, and not a single one was below Seven Grade—no Six Grade at all.

"Truly worthy of a contest gathering the top alchemists of the Dou Qi Continent," Xiao Yan mused at the sheer number, when suddenly his eyes caught a familiar figure.

And that familiar figure had also spotted Xiao Yan.

"Gu He?!" Xiao Yan's expression turned peculiar—the man was Dantian Alchemist Gu He!

Xiao Yan never expected to see him at the Pill Gathering, but it made sense—he had traveled the Dou Qi Continent since leaving Jia Ma Empire, and as an alchemist, attending the Pill Gathering was only natural.

Moreover, Gu He was now a Seven Rank Low Grade alchemist—he truly had the qualification to reach the third round.

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, then slowly turned his head as if he hadn't seen him; inwardly, he felt slightly uneasy.

Yun Lan Sect was a corner of the Yan Alliance, and the Xiao Clan resided on Yun Lan Sect's grounds; Xiao Yan had naturally heard rumors that Yun Shan once planned to marry Yun Yun to Gu He, to bind this alchemist to Yun Lan Sect, and that Gu He's disciple Liu Ling had long pursued Nalan Yanran.

The outcome, as everyone later knew, was that both Gu He and Liu Ling left Jia Ma Empire.

Is Gu He a wronged party? Probably not—he and Yun Yun had never truly been together; at most, there were some unmentionable little things in the cave.

"Have you found that black-clothed man?" Xuan Kongzi asked slowly from the high platform.

Cao Ying and Song Qing had already reported the matter; they both suspected the Soul Palace was behind it.

Xuan Yi and Tian Lei Zi both shook their heads—the Soul Palace's concealment techniques were undetectable even by them.

"Without doubt, that black-clothed man is a Soul Palace alchemist. Hmph—he killed so many alchemists; we cannot let this grudge go unanswered!" Tian Lei Zi's gaze swept sharply over everyone.

"Let's speak after the Pill Gathering ends—if a great battle breaks out in Sheng Dan Cheng now, this festive scene would become a human tragedy," Xuan Yi said softly.

Both agreed—due to the Pill Gathering, Sheng Dan Cheng was packed to bursting; a battle could not erupt now.

"The time is nearly here."

As Xiao Yan felt a twinge of guilt, Xuan Kongzi scanned the entire arena and declared loudly: "First, congratulations to all of you standing here—you've passed the second round. But you all know that what follows is the most crucial phase of the Pill Gathering; whoever stands at the end of this round will be this year's Champion!"

These few words ignited like a spark to gunpowder—the entire realm erupted in frenzy! Even the delicate girl Dan Chen now had fire in her eyes, brimming with battle intention.

Held once every thirty years!

Thirty years can signify so much—a alchemist's true potential is decided between ages thirty and forty.

The more talented an alchemist, the more they absorb predecessors' alchemy techniques and experience in youth, reaching high levels, then surpassing them and forging their own path.

Boom! Xuan Kongzi slowly scanned the floating stone platforms, then looked up at the sky and flicked his sleeve—immediately, a long, clear bell tone rang out across the realm.

"The time has come, everyone—raise your alchemy furnaces and begin spirit refining!"

Nearly a hundred alchemists simultaneously pulled out their personal alchemy furnaces from their storage rings—Boom! The sound of furnaces landing on the platforms echoed like thunder throughout Sheng Dan Cheng!

Xiao Yan naturally took out his Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron, then placed a large quantity of medicinal materials and a brocade box containing the main ingredient onto the platform; soon, the once-empty platform was completely filled with herbs.

The number of medicinal materials alone could roughly indicate who was refining an Eight Grade Pill, since Eight Grade Pills required nearly double the materials of Seven Grade Pills!

"Dan Chen, Cao Ying, and Xiao Yan all appear to be refining Eight Grade Pills," Xuan Kongzi stroked his beard and smiled faintly.

"Though Xiao Yan's main ingredient is hidden in the brocade box, the sheer volume of auxiliary herbs suggests this boy's grade is certainly high—at least capable of summoning Two-Colored Pill Lightning," Tian Lei Zi nodded; Xiao Yan was naturally one of the top figures they were monitoring.

The younger the alchemist, the greater their future—perhaps the future Pill Tower will rest on Dan Chen, Cao Ying, and Xiao Yan.

Only Xuan Yi's eyes flickered with doubt as he murmured: "This kid's alchemy skill has advanced so rapidly—who could be his teacher? Someone capable of training such a disciple must be famous across the entire Dou Qi Continent."

Hearing this, Xuan Kongzi and Tian Lei Zi both shook their heads—they had no idea who Xiao Yan's teacher was.

After retrieving all the medicinal materials, Xiao Yan paused in thought, deciding to use his Fused Strange Fire—the combination of Swallowing Flame, Earth Sub Flame, Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame, Yin-Yang Dual Flame, and Green Lotus Earth Core Fire; its power should approach the top ten.

Just as Xiao Yan prepared to inject the fused flame into his alchemy furnace, an anomaly occurred.

Xiao Yan suddenly froze, standing motionless on the platform, his eyes filled with surprise and delight!

"Huh? Why isn't Xiao Yan moving?" Heavenly Flame Zunzhe, who had been watching him closely, said.

"What's wrong with Young Master?" Qing Lin worried—just moments ago he was fine, now he suddenly stopped.

Xiao Yixian tried to activate Soul Force Perception, but the platform blocked it.

Xiao Yan's odd behavior naturally drew the attention of the Pill Tower Three Giants; all three frowned, unsure what had suddenly happened to him.

A faint, satisfied smile slowly appeared on Xiao Yan's lips; he closed his eyes and stood still on the stone platform like a stone.

"Huh? What is Master Xiao Yan doing?"

"Why has he stopped?"

As one of the favorites to win, Xiao Yan naturally drew intense attention; all other Alchemists had already begun firing flames, and some had even started refining Medicinal Materials—but Xiao Yan, as if exhausted, sat with his eyes closed, cultivating his spirit!

The first to realize Xiao Yan's condition was not one of the Pill Tower Three Giants, but an old man on a nearby Stone Platform—he was Mu Gu!

"This... this kid is in Enlightenment?!" Mu Gu's aged eyes widened in shock; such a state of Enlightenment was rare and fleeting—wasn't that precisely why the legendary Bodhi Tree was so miraculous? It allowed one to enter a wondrous state of Enlightenment beneath its branches!

Immediately, Mu Gu twisted his face into a grim smile, his heart surging with joy: "Hahahaha, good! Even after reaching Nine Star Peak Dou Zong, entering Enlightenment takes a long time—if he misses the deadline, the Champion title is mine!"

The third stage was not unlimited in time—it lasted only one month, precisely the time required to refine an Eight Grade Pill.

If time were unlimited, you'd just keep retrying endlessly with infinite Medicinal Materials.

Soon, the Three Giants, Dan Chen, Cao Ying, and others also realized Xiao Yan had entered Enlightenment. The Three Giants were stunned—now? Of all times?!!

"Enlightenment?"

Ye Zhong nodded, his expression grave: "Yes, this is Enlightenment. Xiao Yan is now in it. This brings him immense benefit—many Alchemists experience a leap in their Pill Alchemy after a single Enlightenment—but why now? Of all times?"

For a moment, Xiao Yixian and the others had nothing to say. It was good that Xiao Yan entered Enlightenment—but why now? The timing was terrible!

Qing Lin glanced at Xiao Yan in confusion, murmuring: "Why has Young Master suddenly entered Enlightenment?"

Everyone shook their heads—they weren't Xiao Yan; how could they know?

Excluding this, in the past twenty-six years, Xiao Yan had entered Enlightenment only once—when he was refining the Lotus Fire of the Earth Core, and that single Enlightenment not only allowed him to advance two Stars in strength within seven days, but also led him to create the Buddha Fury Lotus.

At that time, Cai Lin, who had failed her evolution and transformed into a small snake, had been beside him—and this Enlightenment was connected to Cai Lin.

Their child was about to be born.

That soul connection could not be blocked even by the Stone Platform; even across half the continent, Xiao Yan still felt it.

It was his bloodline—his child!

Far away, within the imperial palace of the Snake Empire in Jia Ma Empire, a colossal Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent coiled, radiating a scorching rainbow glow, its belly visibly swollen.

Cai Lin had taken the Soul Pill and had entered the final stage.

Bloodline linked, souls intertwined.

At this moment, Cai Lin too entered a strange state—in their shared soul world, separated by half the continent, they met again.

Along the Soul Passage connecting them, Xiao Yan held Cai Lin's hand, walking slowly along this path; they moved with deliberate slowness.

At this moment, Cai Lin was breathtakingly beautiful—her beauty dimmed the entire world; her pure soul radiated elegance and nobility. As Xiao Yan walked beside her along this soul-road, their hearts were perfectly in sync.

Through this wondrous soul connection and fusion, each learned the other's past without any concealment.

Xiao Yan saw Cai Lin's past—how she carved a bloody path through the Ten Thousand Snake Pool, shredding countless opponents to forge an invincible route; how she fought through a siege by the Four Great Empires, wounded and bleeding, yet broke free; how she alone stormed enemy ranks, drenched in blood, entering and exiting seven times to sever enemy heads; he felt her loneliness, helplessness, sorrow—and the agony she endured when swallowing the Lotus Fire of the Earth Core.

To protect the weak Snake Empire, she had abandoned everything.

Cai Lin, too, through Xiao Yan's soul, saw his past—learned the secret that he was not from the Dou Qi Continent; saw how, as a child, he received the inheritance of the Medicinal Sage and trained his Pill Alchemy alone.

She also saw his bond with Xun Er, and the inner struggle within him.

This Enlightenment was profoundly strange—even the Three Giants had no idea what Xiao Yan was experiencing at this moment.

"Sigh, it's over—Xiao Yan's Enlightenment is lasting too long," Xuan Kongzi sighed helplessly. Why now? Why not earlier or later?

Tian Lei Zi and Xuan Yi both slowly shook their heads; they all agreed Xiao Yan had lost his eligibility—the time was running out, and Xiao Yan had been in Enlightenment for nearly half a month.

Several days ago, Seventh-Rank Alchemists had already successfully refined Elixirs; in recent days, more Seventh-Rank Alchemists had succeeded, triggering the spectacular spectacle of Hundred Thunder Fall.

With a thunderous boom, a deep sound rang out; before anyone could turn their gaze, a massive surge of energy erupted like lightning from one of the Stone Platforms. As this energy surged, the clouds above instantly gathered, countless silver serpents darting everywhere.

"It's Song Qing!"

Someone spotted it—there, beneath the dark clouds, Song Qing, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly rose, gazing proudly at the heavy clouds above—this was his creation!

The Pill Lightning that appeared was fiercer than any before—enough to make him proud.

"It's a Seventh Rank Peak Breakthrough Pill! It increases the chance of a Nine Star Peak Dou Zong breaking into Dou Zun by twenty percent—the hardest of all Seven-Grade Pills—and he succeeded!"

Before Song Qing could celebrate, a stronger Pill Fragrance and Pill Lightning appeared than his own.

Suddenly, Dan Chen, who had seemed frail, opened her eyes, changed her hand seals, bit her tongue, and shot a drop of blood glowing with Spiritual Light into her Alchemy Furnace.

She possessed an extremely rare physique—her blood could enhance a Pill's Spiritual Nature! Without doubt, Dan Chen was refining an Eight Grade Pill!

With a hum, a green pillar of light erupted from Dan Chen's Alchemy Furnace, shooting straight into the heavens. Song Qing's Pill Lightning, as if encountering its nemesis, hastily retreated.

This sight turned Song Qing's face pale, his expression utterly defeated.

"Two-Colored Clouds!!"

"Kuang! The first Eight Grade Pill has appeared!"

At the sight of the two-colored clouds in the sky, the entire Guang Chang erupted in chaos!

Many present had never seen Pill Lightning with two colors in their lives!

Tian Lei Zi nodded approvingly—Dan Chen was younger than Cao Ying, barely twenty, yet she had refined an Eight Grade Pill that summoned Two-Colored Pill Lightning.

The audience below could not help but stare at the timid, delicate girl—no matter what, Dan Chen's name would soon echo across the entire Dou Qi Continent.

"Gekke, Dan Chen sister, you've truly improved these past years—but don't think I'll surrender so easily."

As a smile appeared on Dan Chen's cheeks, a light laugh rang out from nearby; she turned her head and saw Cao Ying slowly rising, her enchanting face now pale—but even so, her beautiful smile remained as alluring as ever.

Though Cao Ying was three years older than Dan Chen, her Alchemy talent was certainly no weaker!

A proud, phoenix-like curve appeared on Cao Ying's cheeks; her Jade Hand swiftly formed hand seals, then she softly cried: "Rise!"

The moment her words ended, a massive pillar of light erupted from the Alchemy Furnace before her, shooting straight into the heavens!

"What?! Three colors!! Cao Ying refined an Eight Grade Pill that summoned Three-Colored Pill Lightning!!!"

Above Cao Ying's head, three colors of storm clouds churned violently—the entire Guang Chang erupted completely. Countless eyes turned red, staring at the brilliantly colored clouds above, hearts pounding, blood boiling in this very moment!

(End of Chapter)