Chapter 50

Xiao Yan had finally figured it out—he was determined to squeeze every last bit of benefit from the Soul Sovereign while he could; once this chance passed, it would never come again.

This challenge test only awarded Soul Points once; Xiao Yan suspected that if he withdrew now, future challenges wouldn't be like this at all.

Since it was you, Hun Xu Zi, who told me to take the Soul Token to the Soul Sovereign, you owe me at least a little something, don't you?

【Hehehe】

Hearing that eerie Soul Sound, Xiao Yan knew the old bastard of the Soul Sovereign had appeared. Youngsters didn't usually have this habit.

"You're not spying on me all the time, are you?" Xiao Yan, in his Soul Body, slowly sat up and said.

Hun Xu Zi's Soul Sound came from all directions: 【You used the Soul Token I gave you to challenge the Soul Path—I naturally know.】

Xiao Yan merely shrugged indifferently and said nothing. What could a mere Small Dou Practitioner say? Even if Hun Xu Zi suddenly reached out and slapped him dead, he'd just die in vain.

Having lived in this world for sixteen years, Xiao Yan understood clearly: this was a world where the strong ruled, and the weak had no rights whatsoever.

With a hum, a ripple appeared in the space before Xiao Yan, and Hun Xu Zi's Soul Projection slowly materialized.

Seeing Hun Xu Zi appear, Xiao Yan didn't bother with politeness—he pulled out the Soul Token and waved it a few times. "Didn't you say that if I could cure the poison, I could use this Token to claim a reward from the Soul Sovereign?"

"Hehe, I said if you didn't die, I'd consider taking you as a disciple." Hun Xu Zi cut straight through Xiao Yan's lie—he was old, but not senile; he remembered every word he'd spoken.

Xiao Yan shook his head and refused: "I've heard of your Soul Sovereign's deeds. I'll pass on being your disciple. I already have enough Pill Refining Methods. I didn't join the Soul Sovereign to learn Alchemy from you."

Hun Xu Zi burst into laughter as if hearing the greatest joke: "Hahahaha! Someone actually refuses my instruction in Alchemy!"

"Do you know I am the only Alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent capable of refining Nine Grade Profound Pills?"

Nine Grade Pills are the pinnacle of pills on the Dou Qi Continent. There are three types: Nine-Treasure Pill, Nine Grade Profound Pill, and Nine Golden Pill.

Forget the highest-grade Golden Pill—even the Profound Pill hasn't been seen on the Dou Qi Continent in a hundred years.

Hun Xu Zi's claim of being able to refine Nine Grade Profound Pills was no lie—he truly possessed that ability.

Xiao Yan scratched his ear, clearly unimpressed by Hun Xu Zi's boasting. Whether it was Eighth Grade, Ninth Grade, or even Emperor Grade—it was all too high for him right now.

Right now, Xiao Yan's mind was only on Cultivation Methods for Spiritual Soul, and collecting Heavenly Flames to evolve Swallowing Flame and boost his power. Other matters—he couldn't possibly manage them all.

"Enough. Even though I learned Alchemy on my own, I know the master-disciple relationship among Alchemists is vital—it's not something you just randomly take on, let alone a high-grade Alchemist like you. I'm not worthy." Xiao Yan flatly refused. He didn't believe for a second that Hun Xu Zi, an Alchemist of this caliber, would suddenly want to take him as a disciple.

Do you think I, Xiao Yan, am joking with you?

Hun Xu Zi's old eyes flickered with surprise—he hadn't expected a sixteen-year-old boy to be this shrewd. Any other Alchemist, if offered discipleship by a high-grade master, would be scrambling to beg at the door.

But Hun Xu Zi truly had a purpose in wanting Xiao Yan as a disciple. The Soul Sovereign needed to refine an extremely special Elixir. Even with Hun Xu Zi's Alchemy, unmatched on the Dou Qi Continent, and the aid of Swallowing Flame, ranked second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, they still had little chance of success.

So he needed another Nine Grade Profound Pill Alchemist to collaborate with him to have any hope of success.

And Xiao Yan's Alchemy talent was indeed exceptional—that's why Hun Xu Zi had set his sights on him.

Hun Xu Zi smirked slyly: "Boy, your temperament is good. Let me be straightforward: I need an Alchemist capable of refining Nine Grade Profound Pills to collaborate with me on a special Elixir. On the Dou Qi Continent, fewer than five Alchemists can refine Nine Grade Profound Pills—but none of them can collaborate with me."

Xiao Yan frowned in confusion. "You mean you want me to collaborate with you once I can refine Nine Grade Profound Pills?"

Seeing Hun Xu Zi nod, Xiao Yan thought the old man had lost his mind.

On the entire Dou Qi Continent, the number of Alchemists who can refine Nine Grade Profound Pills can be counted on one hand. He was only sixteen, hadn't even gone to the Alchemist Guild to certify his Alchemy Rank—how could he be so certain Xiao Yan would reach that level?

But he couldn't blame Hun Xu Zi—the Soul Sovereign's young members were naturally strong in Soul Force, yet their Alchemy talent was absurdly poor. Their Alchemy lineage was scarce; Hun Xu Zi himself had gone out and stolen knowledge.

Moreover, due to certain reasons, the Soul Sovereign had to constantly hunt Spiritual Souls, and the Spiritual Souls of Alchemists were the best. This had turned them into enemies of the Alchemist Guild's Dan Tower, making them universally despised.

They simply couldn't find a second Nine Grade Profound Pill Alchemist.

Xiao Yan's eyes darted, a plan forming—he smiled sweetly. "Fine. But my current Cultivation Realm is so far from becoming a Nine Grade Alchemist. If I had a Heavenly Flame, I'd progress much faster."

Squeeze! Xiao Yan planned to pull this wool until it bled. Even if Hun Tian Di, the Soul Clan Clan Leader, stood before him today—he had to get something out of it!

Besides, agreeing now cost him nothing. He didn't even know if he'd reach Ninth Grade—why not write a legal IOU?

Hun Xu Zi was an old fox—he immediately understood what Xiao Yan meant. "Heavenly Rank Treasure Hall has Heavenly Flames."

!!!!!!! Really?!

Xiao Yan suppressed his excitement, forcing a poker face. "Pfft. Heavenly Rank? By the time I reach that level, who knows when that'll be."

Hun Xu Zi smiled faintly, waved his hand—and the entire space vanished. The next second, Xiao Yan was back on the grassy plain, his Soul Body dissolved.

"This Soul Body is truly remarkable." Xiao Yan marveled inwardly. Big organizations really had advantages—like the Fentian Lianqi Tower of Jia Nan Academy. The Soul Sovereign's Soul Path made it far easier to comprehend the subtleties of the Spiritual Soul and enhance Soul Force.

Hun Xu Zi's Soul Projection stood quietly beside him. Xiao Yan understood perfectly.

To catch the fish, you must first lay the bait.

With a loud boom, a three-legged Alchemy Furnace appeared before Xiao Yan—the best bait, of course, was Alchemy talent!

Xiao Yan pulled several Medicinal Materials and a second-grade Magic Core from his Storage Ring—he was going to refine a Third-Rank Elixir!