Chapter 172: One Has Run Away

After leaving Long Aoyu's residence, Tu Youyou went straight to the front gate of Wang Jianqiang's residence.

She reached out and triggered the formation outside the door.

The next moment, a spatial portal emerged.

Tu Youyou lifted her long legs and walked into the spatial portal.

"Long Aoyu has completely torn his face off with me."

Walking into the Pavilion and seeing Wang Jianqiang, Tu Youyou told Wang Jianqiang directly about what had just happened.

After hearing Tu Youyou's words, a flash of disdain crossed Wang Jianqiang's face, and he sneered, "This Long Aoyu wants to force things when he can't get what he wants; how truly crude and classless. Unlike me, Wang, who is gentle and refined, treats Fairies with great politeness, and has always won people over with charm."

Tu Youyou glanced at Wang Jianqiang, "You win people over with Pills."

"Pills are also a part of my, Wang's, charm." Wang Jianqiang chuckled.

"Shameless~" Tu Youyou rolled her eyes at him.

Wang Jianqiang raised his eyebrows and looked at Tu Youyou with a smile.

"Fairy Tu still owes me, Wang, quite a bit of compensation."

"Since you are here today, let's repay some of it first."

……

Sixteen hours later.

Tu Youyou left.

Wang Jianqiang pondered for a moment and took out a Sound Transmission Talisman.

He sent a message to each of the six people: Bai Wuqing, Nancheng Kong, Luo Chen, Min Zhangkong, Mu Xiao, and He Yaoguang.

He asked the six of them to pay close attention to the changes in the Battle Stele.

So that they could learn of the other party's movements in time after Long Aoyu and the others headed to the North City District.

Afterwards, he began to focus on Alchemy with peace of mind.

……

Three days later.

Dan Lingzi and the others gathered at Long Aoyu's residence.

"What?"

"Daoist Friend Dan Lingzi, you say~ your Pill Tower ranking has dropped to fourth?"

Long Aoyu, sitting in the main seat, showed a look of surprise after hearing Dan Lingzi's bitter tone.

"That's right." Dan Lingzi nodded with a dejected face, "Just yesterday, Wei Zhongxian, who has rarely appeared in recent years and whose whereabouts are notoriously secretive, appeared inside the Pill Tower."

"After taking the Pill Tower assessment again, his rating reached Heaven Grade Lower Tier, pushing my ranking down."

Upon hearing this, Long Aoyu was speechless for a moment.

Are the Alchemy Cultivators in this Shenfeng City this competitive?

Compared to them, the top Alchemy Cultivators of Shenhuo City seemed far inferior.

Long Aoyu was silent for a moment, then said earnestly, "Daoist Friend Dan, do not be discouraged. I, Long, believe you will certainly be able to catch up."

"Catch up? How could it be that easy?"

Dan Lingzi gave a bitter smile, "With my current Alchemy cultivation, I'm afraid I won't have a chance to reach a Heaven Grade rating before this round of assessments ends."

As he spoke, his voice paused, "Today, I, Dan, contacted all you Daoist Friends to gather here at Daoist Friend Long's place in order to bid you all farewell."

Hearing Dan Lingzi's words, everyone was shocked and spoke up to dissuade him.

"Daoist Friend Dan is leaving?"

"Daoist Friend Dan, think twice."

"Daoist Friend Dan, you should consider it carefully again."

……

Many of the Pills they used for their daily cultivation were refined with the help of Dan Lingzi.

If the other party left, their cultivation speed would be greatly affected.

"I, Dan, have already considered it."

Dan Lingzi shook his head, his expression firm.

He had long since become a laughingstock in the circle of Alchemy Cultivators in this Shenfeng City.

Now, in the entire Shenfeng City, which Alchemy Cultivator doesn't mock him when they meet him outside?

There are even many who spit at him.

It has caused him to endure immense pressure.

When he was in Shenhuo City, he enjoyed the treatment of being second in the Pill Tower; upon arriving in Shenfeng City, it became third, and his treatment dropped significantly.

This gap between the two had already pushed his psychological endurance to its limit.

Now that Wei Zhongxian has returned and replaced his ranking, his ranking has dropped by another spot.

This matter was like the final straw that broke the camel's back, causing his heart to completely collapse.

He felt that this Shenfeng City was cursed for him.

He didn't want to stay here for even another moment.

A moment later.

Dan Lingzi cupped his hands to everyone to say goodbye, then left without looking back.

Everyone looked at each other in dismay and turned to look at Long Aoyu.

"Daoist Friend Long, this..."

"It's fine, it's just one less Dan Lingzi."

Long Aoyu shook his head, "Within this Shenfeng City, there are three Alchemists of Heaven Grade alone."

"Aside from Wang Jianqiang, who is destined to be an enemy, there are also Wei Zhongxian and Yang Wanxin who can be befriended."

"Once Long ascends to the first place on that Battle Stele, I will go to befriend these two."

……

The next day.

Wang Jianqiang was Alchemy on the third floor.

Suddenly, he sensed that the Formation outside his residence had been triggered.

Seeing that the person waiting outside the main gate was the diligent and studious Yang Wanxin, he immediately opened the spatial portal.

"Daoist Friend Wang, Senior Brother has already returned safely."

"And yesterday, he went to the Pill Tower to undergo the Pill Tower test."

"His rating was successfully raised to Heaven Grade Lower Tier, and he has reclaimed the third-place spot in the Pill Tower."

After arriving at the third floor of the Pavilion, Yang Wanxin told Wang Jianqiang a piece of news.

Hearing this news, Wang Jianqiang was stunned.

Wei Zhongxian's Pill Tower rating had actually reached Heaven Grade?

Others might not know about Wei Zhongxian's situation over these past few years, but he was very clear about it.

It was spent almost entirely between getting beaten up and recovering from injuries.

Under such harsh living conditions, his Alchemy cultivation could actually still improve?

Or was it that this guy had some special constitution, where getting beaten up could improve his Alchemy?

Just then, Yang Wanxin's voice, carrying a hint of emotion, suddenly entered Wang Jianqiang's ears, pulling Wang Jianqiang's attention back.

"I don't know what Senior Brother has been doing all these years; the change from before is too great."

"Especially his voice."

"I don't know why it turned into what it is now."

Wang Jianqiang nodded in deep agreement, "Actually, I saw Daoist Friend Wei two days ago; the change in his voice is indeed a bit too great."

Yang Wanxin sighed.

Then, as if remembering something, she said to Wang Jianqiang, "That's right, Daoist Friend Wang, do you still remember that Dan Lingzi I mentioned to you before?"

"The one who snatched Senior Brother Wei's third-place spot in the Pill Tower."

"I remember, what about him?" Wang Jianqiang raised an eyebrow.

This Dan Lingzi was one of Long Aoyu's accomplices; how could he possibly not remember?

"I heard he has already left Shenfeng City."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Jianqiang's expression shifted, "He left on his own?"

"It seems so." Yang Wanxin nodded.

"Why did he suddenly think to leave Shenfeng City?" Wang Jianqiang said calmly.

Yang Wanxin pursed her lips and smiled, "It is said that when he first arrived in Shenfeng City, he once boasted outside the Pill Tower that he would definitely be able to take the first-place spot in the Pill Tower."

"I guess he made those harsh claims too early; now that he hasn't even managed to get first place and has instead fallen to fourth, how could he have the face to continue staying here?"

Wang Jianqiang smiled upon hearing this, then stopped paying attention to this minor character, and looked over Yang Wanxin's pretty face, "Fairy Yang, you came to see Wang here this time; it shouldn't just be to chat with Wang, right?"

"Naturally." Yang Wanxin gave a shy smile, "Wanxin has kept Daoist Friend Wang's previous words of encouragement in mind; how could I continue to be slack in my cultivation?"

"Very good, your drive for improvement is becoming increasingly strong; this is a good sign." Wang Jianqiang smiled with satisfaction, then continued, "Then when shall we begin?"

"Let's do it now; same old rules, let's resolve the Karma issue first."