Chapter 601

In just these few months, Dan Chen and Cao Ying had come to understand that the pinnacle of alchemy on the Dou Qi Continent would one day come solely from Xiao Yan's hands—that is, whether Dan Tower or the Yao Clan, both would lose their title and status as the Holy Land of Alchemists, and the Yan Alliance would soon attract even more top-tier alchemists, becoming the strongest Holy Land of Alchemy, surpassing both Dan Tower and the Yao Clan.

All because the Yan Alliance had Xiao Yan.

Dan Chen's gaze suddenly hardened, and he nodded. "Yes, I'm joining too. I don't want you to pull ahead of me."

"Giggling, I remember three months ago you lost your elixir to me," Cao Ying instantly returned to her usual self, covering her mouth with a light laugh, her eyes flicking toward Dan Chen with a teasing challenge.

Provoked by Cao Ying's challenge to his alchemy, Dan Chen—who was usually meek—rarely showed resentment. "This time. This time, I won't lose."

"Heh, then let's have a contest. See whose elixir turns out better."

"Mm."

Cao Ying's beautiful eyes turned toward the direction of space, and she murmured softly to herself: "If only I had met you sooner, would the outcome have been different?"

At this moment, in the void, Xiao Yan naturally had no idea that right after he left, Cao Ying and Dan Chen had made such a bold decision.

Seeing Xiao Yan emerge from the void, Zi Yan twitched her nose and pouted unhappily. "Change that robe. I don't like that woman's scent."

For beasts, scent carries many meanings.

Xiao Yan laughed helplessly, but faced with the Dragon Emperor's Majesty's capricious moods, even he, little Xiao Yan, had no choice but to obey—he took off the Alchemist Long Robe and put on the Soul Robe.

Seeing Xiao Yan dressed in the Soul Robe, Zi Yan leapt onto his back, wrapping her arms and legs tightly around his body, resting her chin on his shoulder, and grinning. "So where are we going now?"

"First back to the Yan Alliance. Let Ya Fei investigate where this Dongtian Town actually is."

Searching for an obscure little town like this—probably even the Soul Hall doesn't know. After all, the Soul Hall gathers intelligence only for major affairs; they only have eyes in large cities. Such remote little villages couldn't possibly have any Soul Hall presence.

Fortunately, the Miter Corporation is a commercial organization, vast in number, spread across countless small cities—recall how even Wutan City had a Miter branch.

The Miter Corporation doesn't just trade goods in big cities. Most of their goods come from the corporation funding mercenary groups and organizing Medicine Gathering Teams to venture into forests and mountains, hunting beasts to obtain Magic Cores and Medicinal Materials.

Sometimes, if they discover hidden Secret Realms, ancient Ruins, perilous zones, or deadly lands, they notify headquarters, who then dispatch disciples from the Yun Lan Sect or powerful figures from the Jia Ma Empire to excavate.

The Yan Alliance has several missions involving assisting in such excavations.

This is the basic operational flow of a major faction—and this is only the tip of the iceberg. The Yan Alliance's daily operations are so complex that even Xiao Yan finds them headache-inducing.

"Hmph, that fox again," Zi Yan grumbled at the mention of Ya Fei's name.

Xiao Yan sighed helplessly, then tore through space and flew toward the Jia Ma Empire in a single step spanning ten thousand li.

Unfortunately, Ya Fei was not in the Jia Ma Empire at the moment—she was handling matters in another city. Fortunately, it seemed she had anticipated this, and had already prepared a highly detailed and complete map of the Dou Qi Continent.

It contained the locations of every Miter branch, as well as the positions of small cities and villages, with notes on strange events that had occurred in these towns over the years.

Just in case Xiao Yan ever needed to locate a place or search for something.

"Found it. On the edge of a small country in the Southeast Earth Domain." After searching, Xiao Yan finally located Dongtian Town—luckily, there was only one town on the entire Dou Qi Continent with that name. If there had been hundreds, Xiao Yan would have been driven mad.

Soon after, on the outskirts of Er City in the Southeast Earth Domain's Karai Empire, a plain-dressed man and a girl who looked no older than eleven or twelve suddenly appeared—no one knew how they had arrived.

Xiao Yan turned his head and saw a massive stone stele, carved with the characters "Dongtian," casually lying on the ground.

"So this is Dongtian Town? It really does resemble Qingshan Town."

The town bustled with people, mostly mercenaries who lived on the edge of death. They gathered in groups, arms linked, loudly debating on the streets—who had the most alluring women, which tavern served the strongest liquor, which beasts were the fiercest, and who had struck it rich overnight after finding something valuable in the Shan Mai.

Zi Yan's big, watery eyes sparkled with curiosity. This was her first time visiting such a remote little town, and everything here fascinated her.

Walking along the paved green-stone streets, Zi Yan's petite and lovely appearance naturally drew many glances. From their clothing alone, it was obvious they weren't locals.

But when Zi Yan punched a large tree and shattered it, every mercenary shrank back, daring not utter a word.

This one's ruthless!

Xiao Yan and Zi Yan walked along the street, passing many shops. Thanks to its location, the place was surprisingly lively. Xiao Yan's gaze wandered curiously over the brightly lit stores, until it stopped at a spacious little eatery.

After exchanging a glance and a brief pause, the two stepped into the noodle shop named "Xiao Zhang Noodle House."

Because both Xiao Yan and Zi Yan had sensed an unusual aura from the tiny noodle shop—though well-hidden, it had not escaped Xiao Yan's Soul Force or Zi Yan's beast instincts.

There was a top-tier expert inside! Definitely a Sage Emperor!

Xiao Yan quietly prepared his Soul Token. This wasn't inside Xiao Dan Ta. The one they faced might be the Dan Tower's Ancestor—the very being even the Soul Hall's Master dared not provoke.

According to the information Xiao Yan had gathered inside Xiao Dan Ta, although the identity of this Dan Tower Ancestor—born from a Mystical Pill—remained mysterious, the last time he appeared, he had displayed terrifying power equivalent to a Five-Star Sage Emperor, clashed with the Soul Hall's Master, and driven him off.

Now, after so many years, who knew how much stronger the Dan Tower Ancestor had become.

Entering the noodle shop, Xiao Yan and Zi Yan paused, carefully observing the ancient establishment. To ordinary people, this shop was already ancient—certainly at least thirty or forty years old.

Though thirty-four years meant little to a Sage Emperor, in such a small town, it was unquestionably an old shop. The beams and roof tiles were coated thickly with soot from decades of smoke.

Above the shop hung a crooked signboard—not old at all, but freshly painted, likely installed not long ago. The four large characters "Xiao Zhang Noodle House" gleamed in golden lacquer.

The four characters "Xiao Zhang Noodle House" were written with solemn dignity. At least, the writer had clearly put great effort and seriousness into them. But they were just ordinary characters—no hidden sword intent, no Daoic power, nothing mystical. Just plain writing.

Xiao Yan and Zi Yan entered the shop and saw several tables inside. Though the five or six tables were aged, they were meticulously cleaned, spotless and hygienic—no hint of dirt or neglect.

Several mercenary tables were occupied, eating noodles. Xiao Yan sat down in a quiet corner. Behind the shop was a back room, but a cloth curtain hung at the entrance, obscuring the view.

"Noodles are ready."

Xiao Yan had barely sat down when a young man, seemingly in his twenties or thirties, pulled back the kitchen curtain and carried out several large rooster-patterned bowls on a wooden tray. Each bowl overflowed with noodles and large chunks of meat. Instantly, the rich, mouthwatering aroma of pork bone broth flooded the air, making Zi Yan involuntarily swallow.

Zi Yan usually ate mostly elixirs; human food was rare for her. The scent now made her mouth water.

"Finally! If I don't eat your noodles for a day, I feel weak—even hunting beasts feels exhausting."

"Exactly! Only your noodles are worth the price."

"Hahaha, Xiao Zhang, you've grown up so much! My daughter's at marriageable age now—interested?"

The young man blushed instantly and shook his head frantically. "I—I'll go attend to other guests!"

He fled like a cornered animal, hurrying over to Xiao Yan and Zi Yan's table, smiling nervously. "Two guests, what would you like?"

Looking at the blushing man, Xiao Yan studied him deeply, then smiled. "Bring us two bowls of your most famous noodles, and some side dishes."

As if casually, Xiao Yan placed a small card labeled "Dongtian Town" on the table. The instant the young man saw it, a flash of light darted through his eyes—but vanished instantly, as if nothing had happened.

Only Xiao Yan and Zi Yan, both at Sage Emperor level, could have detected it.

Xiao Zhang, of course, noticed nothing. He noted the order and nodded. "Please wait a moment—it'll be right out."

Undoubtedly, this young man known as Xiao Zhang was the legendary guardian of Dan Tower's safety—the very Dan Tower Ancestor who made even the Soul Hall's Master wary. Hard to imagine that a being standing at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent, a Nine Grade Profound Pill with independent consciousness, would be running a noodle shop in such a tiny town.

"Xiao Yan, that man is extremely powerful," Zi Yan frowned slightly, her expression grave as she sensed the young man's true identity and strength, whispering to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan, however, remained calm, saying, "Since the Dan Tower's Elder Ancestor deliberately arranged this empty warehouse to draw us here, he surely doesn't intend to fight us."

"Have some noodles—only the Elder Ancestor of the Dan Tower could cook them; no one else in Xiao Dan Ta has this honor."

Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh. The mercenaries here were truly lucky—given a Nine Grade Profound Pill for their own cooking. Who knows if eating this noodle might extend their lifespan?

Of course, the Elder Ancestor of the Dan Tower likely sealed away all his memories and power; the Elder Ancestor we see now is just an ordinary young man, nothing more.

Even if someone killed him, his power wouldn't awaken to protect him, for the Elder Ancestor of the Dan Tower seeks to experience a human life—birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of it.

Only when this body's life ends completely, when death arrives, will the Elder Ancestor of the Dan Tower revert to a Mystical Pill.

Xiao Yan wasn't in a hurry; after eating the noodles, he and Zi Yan strolled through Dong Tian Town until late at night, when Xiao Zhang's Noodle Shop closed.

Xiao Zhang, who always slept early as usual, suddenly opened his eyes, and a strange ripple spread from within him.

At this moment, Xiao Zhang's eyes grew profoundly deep; his expression was no longer youthful and naive—he now bore a coldness, his gaze steady and seasoned. Such eyes should never belong to a young man.

Dong Tian Town had no shortage of cultivators, but the highest among them were only Dou Masters; only Xiao Yan and Zi Yan could sense this ripple.

On a peak of a mountain range outside Dong Tian Town, Xiao Yan and Zi Yan appeared from Space. There, dressed in pajamas, Xiao Zhang stood with his hands behind his back, a powerful aura exploding from within him.

Six-Star Dou Sheng!

This power was far stronger than even the Lord of the Soul Hall!

Sensing Xiao Yan and Zi Yan's arrival, "Xiao Zhang" slowly turned around—though now, he should more accurately be called the Elder Ancestor of the Dan Tower.

"Two-Star Saint Late Stage, Heavenly Realm Late Stage Soul Force. And the Dragon Emperor of the Void Ancient Dragon Clan," Xiao Zhang's voice carried a tone of age, clearly having seen through Xiao Yan and Zi Yan's strength and identities.

Xiao Yan wasn't surprised the Elder Ancestor of the Dan Tower could see through him; he smiled faintly and said, "Xiao Yan of the Yan Alliance, greetings, Elder Ancestor."

"Xiao Yan... sigh, this is truly the last person I wished to meet—you're a Soul Hall Alchemist." The Elder Ancestor of the Dan Tower sighed; now, he was nearly certain of Xiao Yan's identity.

When he first saw Xiao Yan, he'd felt something strange—mainly because Xiao Yan's Soul Force had risen too quickly. Though Yao Zunzhe's Pill Alchemy was powerful, and Xiao Yan had inherited his arts, Soul Force doesn't increase so easily.

Xiao Yan's Soul Force had always been absurdly strong, far exceeding his own Rank—even Alchemists couldn't possess such immense Soul Force.

Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly and said, "Though I am the Heavenly Venerate of the Soul Hall, this is merely a transaction—I have never actively hunted the Spiritual Soul of any Alchemist."

I'll post two more chapters tonight—I'm going out to eat. I'll finish the remaining one when I return.

(End of Chapter)