Chapter 277: The Action Begins

At this moment, the Pill Gathering venue is a sea of people, and what keeps the gaze of every spectator fixed without a moment's pause is the scene below on the plaza, where a thousand people are refining pills in unison; such a magnificent sight can only be found in the Central Plains when the Pill Tower hosts the Pill Gathering.

Unlike the spectators, the Three Great Heads on the high platform are chatting and laughing with another person.

"To think that Your Excellency Yi Huang would grace the Pill Gathering with your presence; it is truly an immense honor for us!" Xuan Kongzi says with a chuckle as he looks at the gentle woman before him.

At this time, Xuan Kongzi does not possess the majesty and imposing aura that outsiders see in the head of the Pill Tower Three Great Heads; instead, he is extremely courteous.

After all, everyone knows what kind of means and strength this seemingly easy-going woman possesses; her strength alone is enough to establish a sect and act as an ancestor in the Central Plains, not to mention the man behind her. If one were to put on airs in front of her, it would be asking for humiliation!

"I have come uninvited this time; I hope I am not intruding!" Yi Huang also says with an apologetic look.

"It seems Your Excellency Yi Huang is very concerned about your disciple!" To the side, Xuan Yi glances at Ye Xinlan, who is focusing on refining pills below, and says gently.

"What an outstanding little girl!"

Yi Huang says in a calm tone:

"Xin Lan's talent is no match for the beloved disciples of Senior Xuan Kongzi and the Medicine Saint; I fear the champion of this Pill Gathering will be a contest between those two little ones!"

"Your Excellency Yi Huang is too modest." Xuan Kongzi chuckles, "That girl Cao Ying still needs much more tempering!"

Immediately, Xuan Kongzi changes the subject: "In my opinion, Your Excellency's disciple is the truly excellent one! Especially that Soul Technique; it seems to have quite a bit of Your Excellency Yi Huang's style from back then!"

"I just don't know if Your Excellency Yi Huang would be willing to exchange pointers with us old folks..."

Yi Huang smiles inwardly, understanding the reason for Xuan Kongzi's praise of Ye Xinlan—could it be that he has taken a fancy to her Soul Technique?

Realizing this, she remains calm on the surface: "We shall discuss that later; for now, the Pill Gathering is what matters!"

The Three Great Heads exchange a look; seeing that Yi Huang has no interest in this, they cannot force the issue and can only let it go for now.

Yi Huang's guess is correct; the Three Great Heads are extremely covetous of the Soul Technique displayed by Ye Xinlan.

There are very few Soul Techniques and methods of soul cultivation passed down from ancient Alchemists, and the Pill Tower can say with extreme confidence that, apart from the Yao Clan, only their collection is the most complete.

But Ye Xinlan's Soul Technique is clearly a system completely different from the Pill Tower's collection; this was already confirmed when Sheng Yao reported to the Three Great Heads back then.

That method, which can rely on Soul Power to instantly pull someone into an illusion across cultivation realms, is far more profound than the Soul Techniques in their Pill Tower.

Bypassing Dou Qi cultivation to compete in Soul Power?

If this Soul Technique is truly as they imagine, then the combat power of Alchemists would definitely be greatly enhanced.

And as the gathering place for Alchemists in the Central Plains, if the Pill Tower obtains this kind of Soul Technique, their strength will inevitably see a surge, and they would not be afraid even when facing the Soul Hall!

It is for this reason that Xuan Kongzi was so impatient, even desperate, to obtain those Soul Techniques from Yi Huang.

They were even prepared to be taken advantage of by Yi Huang; Medicinal Pills, Cultivation Methods, Dou Techniques, pill formulas—anything would do, as long as it could enhance the power of the Pill Tower, what were mere material possessions?

Alas, it seems the current Yi Huang has no intention of trading!

This is also to be expected; their thoughts are almost written on their faces, and any normal person would think of holding out for a better price to maximize profits!

Moreover, although the Langya Pavilion and the Pill Tower rarely interfere with each other, in the end, there is still the possibility of a conflict of interest; enhancing the enemy's strength is not something this Vice Pavilion Master would do!

Just as the Three Great Heads were preparing to look for another opportunity later, another sentence from Yi Huang rekindled the hopes of the three: "If the Pill Tower is sincere, an exchange is not entirely out of the question!"

"Your Excellency can rest assured on that point; we are naturally full of sincerity!"

Even if the definition of sincerity is very "hollow," the Three Great Heads still attach great importance to it! There is no other way; after all, it is a seller's market now, and the other party is not begging the Pill Tower, so being fleeced is to be expected.

And while the four are conversing, a grand feast is also about to begin.

Central Plains, Zang Shi Shan Mai!

Led by Yao Lao, a group of four Dou Saints and four Half-Saints, including Huo Yun Lao Zu and the Supreme Elder of the Flower Sect, appear in the sky above.

Sensing the ghostly environment of Zang Shi Shan Mai, everyone cannot help but frown, and Huo Yun Lao Zu even mocks aloud: "Only those rats from the Soul Hall could stay here!"

Yao Lao also chuckles, clearly quite in agreement with the former's statement.

Then, his expression suddenly turns stern, and he points to the depths of Zang Shi Shan Mai: "The Ren Dian of the Soul Hall is in the depths of this mountain range, and there are spatial barriers set up on the outside; as long as an outsider enters, it will trigger a warning..."

"However..." Yao Lao changes his tone, his voice cold, "this kind of method is of no use against us!"

What they are about to do is not to sneak in, but to attack with great fanfare, declaring the birth of the Heavenly Mansion and the end of the Soul Hall in the most aggressive way possible.

Immediately, Yao Lao takes the lead and shoots into the distance, with several streams of light following closely behind.

This is a mountain range shrouded in endless black mist, and from time to time, one can see a towering giant hall hidden within the black mist through the fog.

There are quite a few pitch-black figures moving through the black mist; some shadows meet, and those who are familiar even exchange a few words, with only hoarse voices heard coming from the black energy,

"How has the harvest been lately?"

"Sigh!" Hearing this, the person being asked says gloomily: "What else could it be? The harvest has been poor for the past few years; last time because of this, I was almost killed directly by the Lord!"

It seems one can hear the lingering fear in the other's tone.

"Sigh, it's all the same, all the same!"

Another person comforts: "If it really doesn't work, let's take a longer route and try to stay as far away from those stars of disaster as possible."

"That's true!" This sentence draws unanimous agreement from the others.

"Let's go, let's go; the quota for this month hasn't been met yet!" Finally, after chatting for a while, everyone prepares to separate...

Just at this moment, a palm that covers the sky and sun suddenly emerges from the clouds and grabs the few people gathered together; then, with a slight squeeze, only bursts of screams are heard, and those people from the Soul Hall instantly turn into nothingness.

Following this, a handsome young man in white robes appears above the Ren Dian, and behind him, figures with terrifying auras walk out slowly.

Tomato Novel

"Is this the Ren Dian? It's quite different from what I imagined!" The red-haired old man behind the man in white curls his lip and says.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!..."

Hearing the commotion outside, the Ren Dian, which had been silent for a long time, falls into violent turmoil.

Yao Lao sneers, and a violent streak of Dou Qi shoots out from his palm; as if this were a signal, everyone strikes at once...

"Who dares to attack my Soul Hall?" At this moment, from within the giant hall shrouded in layers of black mist, a furious voice, as old and hoarse as withered branches, rings out.