Chapter 41

"Uncle Yun, her name is Cao Ying, she is the disciple of Dan Tower President Xuan Kong Zi."

Dan Chen wore a beaming smile, her bright eyes darting back and forth between Cao Ying and Yun Yi, then she introduced them with great enthusiasm.

Upon hearing this, Yun Yi gave a slight nod.

"So it is Xuan Kong Zi's outstanding disciple, no wonder at such a young age you have reached the Spirit Realm soul!"

"To actually see through it at a glance……"

Cao Ying's originally charming beautiful eyes instantly widened, her heart even more certain of her previous guess.

If not for soul power far surpassing her own, it would be absolutely impossible to so easily see through her soul realm.

A trace of clear surprise also flashed through Dan Chen's eyes, but she quickly regained her calm.

It was only to be expected.

This Cao Ying had displayed extraordinary talent since childhood.

A few months ago even she herself had successfully broken through to the Spirit Realm; with Cao Ying's aptitude, reaching the Spirit Realm was naturally also very normal.

However, she knew very well in her heart that alchemy was by no means a simple matter that could be won relying solely on soul realm.

In the upcoming Pill Gathering, although she and Cao Ying were friends, they were also destined to become tit-for-tat competitors.

After all, everyone was in the prime of youth, and in their bones there was a streak of competitive spirit.

Even setting aside family interests, who would not want to take first place in this highly anticipated Pill Gathering, and prove their strength to everyone?

"Is Senior also an Alchemist?"

Cao Ying tilted her head slightly, a perfectly measured curious expression appearing on her bewitching face as she looked at Yun Yi.

In her understanding, a person possessing such powerful soul power, if they set foot in alchemy, would inevitably become a top-tier Alchemist.

However Yun Yi gently shook his head.

He increased his soul power purely to gain greater advantage in battle.

"Master, your return this time is truly timely."

"Two days from now is the Pill Gathering."

Yun Yun spoke softly at this moment, then intentionally or unintentionally positioned herself between Cao Ying and Yun Yi.

"Pill Gathering?"

Yun Yi frowned slightly.

He clearly remembered that Soul Hall people participated in this Pill Gathering.

Their purpose was the Three Thousand Yan Yan Fire.

Moreover, during the Second Gate's Dan Realm journey, Soul Hall's Dou Zun Mu Gu Lao Ren even wanted to catch all of Dan Tower's young geniuses in one net, and utterly destroy Dan Tower's future.

Now, given Yun Yi's relationship with Dan Chen, since he already knew such a thing would happen, he naturally absolutely could not let Dan Chen go take the risk.

After seeing Cao Ying politely take her leave and depart, Yun Yi took out a token and handed it to Dan Chen.

This token was pitch-black like ink throughout, its surface engraved with three blue-purple runes.

Within those three blue-purple runes, contained extremely strong wind-thunder Dou Qi.

"Niece Dan Chen, this competition may have unforeseen events."

"Inside are infused three strands of my wind-thunder Dou Qi, usable three times at critical moments."

"Once you encounter danger, just aim at the enemy, channel Dou Qi into the token to activate it."

"These three strands of wind-thunder Dou Qi can instantly erupt with powerful force to kill the opponent."

"You keep it properly, unless absolutely necessary, do not use it lightly."

Dan Chen accepted the token, able to sense Yun Yi's aura on this token.

Her fragrant lips pressed lightly together, the corners of her eyes carrying a trace of excited smile.

"Uncle Yun, this is…… you're worried about me?"

"Preparedness averts peril."

Yun Yi currently also could not directly speak of Soul Hall's matters, he could only use this kind of roundabout wording.

"Thank you Uncle Yun!"

Dan Chen held the token in both arms against her chest, the smile on her face even broader.

"When the competition starts, Uncle Yun, you must come watch me compete!"

"I will definitely win the championship!!!"

After speaking she immediately pulled Yun Yun's hand, "Sister Yun Yun, you also have to come watch me take first place okay!"

"Certainly."

Yun Yun nodded happily in agreement, an expectant smile also appearing on her face.

………

Two days' time flew by.

Amid everyone's eager anticipation, the highly anticipated Pill Gathering grandly opened.

In the Inner Region's northern district, as early as a few days ago, this place was already surging with crowds.

As if the entire Zhongzhou Continent's people had all gathered here.

Soon, the sky suddenly blazed with brilliant light, as if countless stars simultaneously burst forth with radiance.

The Dan Tower's Three Giants descended from the heavens, landing steadily upon the massive stone platform suspended in mid-air.

Xuan Kong Zi wore a spotless white long robe.

That long robe fluttered gently in the wind, making his whole person appear transcendent and extraordinary in bearing.

At this moment his expression was solemn and serious, his gaze sweeping over the densely packed crowd below, then he gathered his breath and announced the competition's start with a voice like a great bell.

"First Gate, Huan Jing Kong Jian!"

"Begin!!"

Xiao Yan, Dan Chen, Cao Ying, Song Qing, and the other young contestants all unleashed their movement techniques without the slightest hesitation, streaking toward that patch of gray twisted space in the sky emitting a mysterious aura.

This Huan Jing Kong Jian was permeated with deep gray gas.

This gas was born from within the bodies of a kind of magical beast called Illusion Soul Beasts.

It could not only obscure vision, but also create a certain obstruction to soul perception.

Moreover the entire space was layered upon layer, like a maze.

Once inside, one would lose their sense of direction, and thus become lost within it.

If one failed to exit within a set time, they would lose their qualification to participate.

This first gate's test was extremely harsh, directly eliminating the vast majority of contestants swiftly.

Then came the second gate.

The Dan Realm's assessment!

Those who passed gathered at the Dan Realm entrance.

Dan Tower elders had long been waiting here; their expressions were solemn, and they distributed each arriving contestant's respective task in an orderly manner.

A map and a list enumerating various rare medicinal ingredients. All second-gate contestants had to find several specific medicinal ingredients on the list within the allotted time.

Just then, a person wrapped tightly in a black robe from head to toe caught Xiao Yan's attention.

The black robe completely concealed his figure, making it impossible to see his face; only a pair of gloomily cold eyes could be faintly glimpsed, leaking threads of chill from the gaps of the black robe.

Xiao Yan discovered that, for some reason, upon seeing this black-robed person, Yao Lao actually instantly severed his connection with him.

This caused a strong unease to surge in Xiao Yan's heart.

Not only that, the black-robed person also glanced toward him from time to time, intentionally or not, and those eyes held an indescribably eerie quality.

This strangeness persisted until after entering the Dan Realm.

Only when Xiao Yan entered the Dan Realm did Yao Lao's voice appear in his mind again.

But the voice was filled with irrepressible anger.

"Xiao Yanzi, be careful of this black-robed person!!"

Xiao Yan's heart shook violently, and he hurriedly asked in his mind, "Teacher, do you know him?"

Yao Lao let out a cold snort, gritted his teeth, and his soul trembled slightly at this moment because of anger.

"His aura, I absolutely would not mistake."

"My junior brother, Mu Gu Lao Ren!"

"Back then, it was he and that wolf-hearted, dog-lunged traitorous disciple Han Feng who colluded together to scheme against and murder me, which led to my current plight."

"Now I am but a wisp of soul, unable to take revenge; you must be extra careful of him, absolutely do not fall for his schemes."

"Once there is the slightest carelessness, the consequences are unthinkable!"

Hearing that this was actually the culprit who caused Yao Lao to become like this, rage instantly flickered in Xiao Yan's eyes as well.

"Teacher, rest assured, I will be careful."

………

Not long after entering the Dan Realm, the many contestants arrived at the Wan Yao Shan Mai one after another.

This mountain range was permeated with a rich medicinal fragrance; medicinal ingredient resources were rich beyond imagination.

Most people's task ingredients needed to be found here.

However, precisely because many rare medicinal ingredients gathered in this mountain range, the magical beasts here were also exceptionally ferocious.

If one entered alone rashly, they would likely be torn to pieces by these ferocious magical beasts in an instant.

To ensure their own safety and increase the odds of completing the task, the youngsters of the Dan Tower's several great clans began roping in others one after another.

They planned to form teams and venture into the mountains together to search for medicinal ingredients.

But Xiao Yan was accustomed to acting alone; he had his own pride and was unwilling to join their teams.

Group action could increase safety, but would also be subject to many restrictions, tying one's hands and feet.

When encountering danger one still had to consider others' safety.

Xiao Yan did not like this.

Moreover with Yao Lao present, Xiao Yan felt that searching for medicinal ingredients alone might be even more efficient.

The others did not press the matter.

Then everyone began to move out.

However, not long after, that black-robed person who had been hiding in the dark, taking advantage of when Cao Ying and the others were engaged in a great battle with a pack of ferocious magical beasts in a basin, silently appeared without a sound.

His appearance aroused no one's detection, as if he was originally a part of this space.

Then, his hands danced rapidly, ten fingers flying, muttering incantations, and streaks of black light burst from his fingertips, weaving in the air into an eerie rune.

As the rune took shape, a black soul barrier rose from the ground like a black canopy in an instant, sealing the entire basin tightly shut.

That soul barrier exuded a sinister aura, as if it were a gateway to death.

"Things don't seem right over there!"

Under Yao Lao's guidance, Xiao Yan also rushed quickly toward the basin's direction.

When he saw that soul barrier emitting an eerie glow, he couldn't help but stare with his mouth agape, his eyes full of disbelief.

Choosing to be a lone wolf instead kept him from being trapped by Mu Gu Lao Ren.

Yao Lao gazed at that pitch-black soul barrier from afar, an ominous feeling shrouding his heart like dark clouds.

He let out a helpless long sigh, "These Dan Tower youngsters are probably done for!"

(Chapter End)