The soul power Xiao Yan displayed was terrifying. That was a level only a Rank 8 Alchemist could possess. How many Rank 7 Alchemists fail to break through to the Spirit Realm in their entire lives? And Xiao Yan, at such a young age, had already achieved it.
"Little brother's soul power is truly terrifying. May I ask who your senior is?" Elder Sheng asked, his eyes fervent.
Xiao Yan didn't conceal anything. "My senior is Venerable Yao."
"Venerable Yao? Yao Chen?" Elder Sheng stroked his beard, his emotions somewhat agitated. "You are Yao Chen's disciple? How is he now? Why did he suddenly disappear for so long?"
Elder Sheng was clearly an acquaintance. Just as Xiao Yan was about to speak, Yao Lao's soul emerged.
"Long time no see," Yao Lao greeted.
Elder Sheng was startled when he saw Yao Lao's soul body. "How did you, old fellow, end up in such a state?"
Yao Lao sighed. "I chose the wrong person." He recounted some of the events that had happened back then.
After hearing everything, a hint of anger flashed in Elder Sheng's eyes. "The Soul Palace is becoming more and more reckless. During the time you disappeared, many alchemists in my Pill Tower also mysteriously went missing. They should all have been captured by the Soul Palace!"
Other forces had long noticed the Soul Palace's large-scale capture of individuals with outstanding soul talent. The Pill Tower, in particular, had been a frequent target. There were constant small skirmishes between the two, and the Pill Tower had long been dissatisfied.
After cursing the Soul Palace, Elder Sheng changed the subject, looking at Xiao Yan with undisguised envy. "Your old fellow's discerning eye is truly sharp. Enviable!"
Yao Lao chuckled. "Heaven finally didn't make me blind a second time."
"I don't know how you cultivated him," Elder Sheng said. "You were silent before, and now you suddenly let him come here. You must have some designs on the Pill Tower, right?"
Yao Lao didn't hide it. "That's right. I brought him here for the Three Thousand Blazing Flames. I hope you can give this child a chance to subdue it."
"If I'm not mistaken, you should be close to being unable to suppress it, right? And the Soul Palace should also be eyeing it. Letting this child subdue it is better than letting it fall into their hands."
Elder Sheng's expression became solemn. "You are right. And no one within the Pill Tower can subdue it. This boy is your disciple, and you once gave me guidance. If he can subdue the Heavenly Flame, I would naturally be happy to see it."
"However, I cannot make the final decision. I'm afraid I still need to consult with the President."
Yao Lao's expression relaxed. "That's naturally fine." His friendship with the Pill Tower's giants was deeper. They should not refuse his request.
…
Elder Sheng immediately began to contact the Pill Tower's giants using a secret technique. After a few moments, he received a response.
"The President happens to be here. I'll lead you to him."
He led Xiao Yan to the upper levels of the giant tower, finally stopping outside a spacious hall filled with bookshelves. A white-robed old man with no discernible aura was carefully cleaning dust off a shelf.
"Old fellow, your disciple is truly enviable," the old man said, slowly turning around. His hair and beard were white, and a gentle smile flowed from his eyes.
"Alas… Heaven's will plays tricks on people. Meeting Xiao Yan is also my good fortune," Yao Lao said as his form materialized.
This old man was Xuan Kong Zi, one of the Pill Tower's giants and Yao Lao's good friend.
Xuan Kong Zi sighed, looking at Yao Chen in his soul state. "You old fellow, you insist on pursuing freedom, refusing to form factions. If you had listened to my advice and become a Pill Tower giant back then, you wouldn't have been reduced to this state."
"It's the times, it's fate. I don't regret my choices," Yao Lao replied.
Xuan Kong Zi looked at Xiao Yan, a smile on his face. "Indeed, to have cultivated to the Dou Zun Realm at such an age, and your soul power has also broken through to the Spirit Realm. Looking across the continent, no one has ever achieved such an accomplishment."
His words were filled with envy. Previously, the Pill Tower had produced a Cao Ying, which made them incredibly happy. But compared to Xiao Yan, Cao Ying didn't even have the qualifications to carry his shoes.
Yao Lao smiled proudly. "You are also his senior. Shouldn't you show some appreciation? Anyway, you can't subdue that Three Thousand Blazing Flames, so why not give him a chance?"
Xuan Kong Zi's expression became slightly solemn. "The Three Thousand Blazing Flames is extremely powerful. It is almost equivalent to an immortal body. Even we can only seal it; we cannot kill it. Because it has been sealed for a long time, it harbors considerable resentment. Once released, it will retaliate with destructive force."
"Our seal can no longer restrain it. We indeed want to resolve this trouble as soon as possible," he sighed. "The Pill Gathering is about to be held. We originally intended to use it to select talent to subdue the flame."
At this point, his gaze met Yao Lao's. "Why not let Xiao Yan participate in the Pill Gathering, and have him subdue it after he wins the championship?"
Yao Lao was stunned, then chuckled mockingly. "You old thing, you're still not giving up, are you? I've seen that little girl; her talent is good, but she can't be Xiao Yan's opponent."
"Xiao Yan became my disciple four years ago. At that time, he was only at the third stage of Dou Qi and knew nothing about alchemy. Now look at him."
"Wait a few more years until your Pill Gathering starts, that Heavenly Flame might even be useless to him!"
Xuan Kong Zi was completely dumbfounded. "What? Four years ago? In four years, he grew from an alchemy outsider to a Rank 8 Alchemist?"
He had selfish reasons for wanting Xiao Yan to participate. He and Yao Lao had a bet to see whose successor was more amazing. His was Cao Ying. It didn't matter if she lost, but they had to compete. Now, he was being told that Xiao Yan had spent four years transforming from a layman into a potential Rank 8 Alchemist. How could they compete? By the time of the Pill Gathering, Xiao Yan might be a Rank 9 Alchemist.
"Alas… you really deserve to die!" Xuan Kong Zi looked at Yao Lao with distress. Seeing him take on such an amazing disciple made him feel worse than being killed.
Yao Lao smiled. "You understand me. If it weren't truly necessary, I would never ask."
"Xiao Yan's alchemy talent is outstanding, but his combat power is even more terrifying. Don't think he's only just entered the Dou Zun Realm; in a real fight, you, a Dou Zun Peak, or even a Half-Saint, are no match for him."
Xuan Kong Zi frowned. Just entering the Dou Zun Realm and he can fight a Half-Saint? Are you joking?
"You're getting ahead of yourself, aren't you? Do you know how big the gap is?" Xuan Kong Zi looked at Yao Lao disdainfully. "You didn't even break through to Half-Saint before you lost your body. Do you know their power?"
He admitted Xiao Yan was amazing, but this was too much. Could all the good things in this world be taken by one person?
Yao Lao was displeased. So what if he didn't reach Half-Saint? With Xiao Yan as a disciple, Dou Di was just the beginning. Do you understand the value of a cheat?
He snorted. "Little Yanzi, let your senior here witness your strength. Give him some fireworks."
The so-called fireworks were naturally the Buddha's Angry Fire Lotus.
Xiao Yan had been listening quietly. Hearing his master's words, he remained silent and simply began summoning and fusing Heavenly Flames.
Xuan Kong Zi watched in astonishment as several Heavenly Flames appeared in Xiao Yan's hand. Feeling the terrifyingly powerful lotus forming, he seemed to smell death.
"Stop, stop, stop! I believe you now. Throwing that out would kill even a Half-Saint, let alone an old man like me who isn't good at fighting," Xuan Kong Zi softened, his gaze towards Yao Chen becoming even more envious.
"How did such a good disciple end up with you, old fellow?" Xuan Kong Zi said, directly trying to poach him. "Xiao Yan, why don't you become my disciple? I'll give you the position of Pill Tower giant candidate right now!"
Xiao Yan smiled and simply replied, "Once a teacher, always a father."
Xuan Kong Zi's heart ached even more. He looked at Yao Chen's smug expression and gritted his teeth. "You can be smug, but I can give Xiao Yan a chance. However, you need to get the consent of the other two."
"Elder Tian Lei… and… Xuan Yi."
The Pill Tower had three giants: Xuan Kong Zi, Xuan Yi, and Elder Tian Lei. Xuan Kong Zi and Yao Chen were close friends and rivals. The relationship between Xuan Yi and Yao Chen, however, was even more complicated.
She liked him. There were emotional entanglements.
Upon hearing Xuan Yi's name, Yao Chen's expression immediately became serious.
[Inorin Note:
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