After a brief greeting, the group entered the manor under Ye Zhong's guidance.
Walking through the manor, the delicate fragrance of medicinal herbs and the unique aroma of elixirs permeated the air, revealing the profound heritage of the alchemy family.
"Forgive me for my poor manners. Your Excellency and a few young friends have come to our Ye family with something important. I wonder if our family can be of any assistance? Your Excellency, please speak frankly, and we will do our utmost to help."
Ye Zhong spoke warmly, leading the way with a group of elders.
The other elders nodded in agreement.
The arrival of a Dou Zun powerhouse could be a stroke of luck or a catastrophe, but it couldn't be without reason.
Before they understood the purpose of their visit, the entire Ye family was filled with anxiety.
"Don't look at me. I'll just accompany them for a while,"
Hei Qing replied, rolling his eyes at the attention.
Seeing this, Ye Zhong was confused.
Looking at Xiao Yixian, then at Zi Yan, then at Phantom Poison and Chen Guan, it was unclear who was in charge.
Judging from their strength, Xiao Yixian and Phantom Poison were clearly superior, the two Dou Zong masters in disguise. However,
Xiao Yixian's demeanor showed she was more attentive. With a polite smile, she moved closer to Chen Guan.
"Master Ye, I recently heard from various sources that the Ye family possesses an ancient Yang Fire Altar, with countless uses. I've come here to utilize it and condense a poison pill for Xiao Yixian. Senior, please be kind. We would be grateful."
After all, he had a request, so Chen Guan stepped forward and stated his purpose directly, his manner humble.
Like a movie suddenly paused, the words "Yang Fire Altar" froze the previously relaxed members of the Ye family, their smiles strained.
Quickly recovering, Ye Zhong replied with a stiff smile, "Since you've been able to find out about the Ancient Yang Fire Altar, you must also know that it's a forbidden area within our Ye family, never lent to anyone."
Just as everyone thought they needed to change their approach, Ye Zhong suddenly changed the subject.
"However, rules are fixed, but people are alive. If you're only interested in borrowing the Ancient Yang Fire Altar, not possessing it, that's fine. My Ye family is happy to make new friends." Well
, the situation suddenly opened up.
The pedantic elders of the Ye family moved their throats slightly, about to say something else, but Ye Zhong silenced them with a glare. He glanced obliquely at Hei Qing, who was casually enjoying the occasion. His meaning was clear.
With this person present, it was no longer up to them to decide whether to lend the altar or not. If
someone gives you a favor, you should accept it and avoid a nasty outcome.
Compared to pedantic rules, using this opportunity to build relationships with a Dou Zun powerhouse and several promising young people was undoubtedly the best option.
The Ye family elders were no fools. After receiving this reminder, they cleared their minds and acquiesced to the decision.
"Thank you very much, Senior. Rest assured, our use of the Ancient Yang Fire Altar will not be in vain. Back at Canaan Academy, Junior Sister Xinlan also explained the Ye family's current difficulties. I can promise you that I will guarantee your seat on the Dan Tower Elders' Council."
It was well known that within the Dan Territory, there were five major families. These five families had been established long ago, and the patriarchs who founded them were all core members of the Dan Tower.
As a benefit for core members, if the five families met certain requirements in the future, they would all be able to occupy a seat on the Dan Tower Elders' Council.
Thanks to the benefits of the Elders' Seat, the five major families possess immense influence in the Dan Region. Furthermore, with the colossal reputation of Danta, they are essentially able to dominate the region. Even forces like the Three Valleys have to be quite polite when meeting them, demonstrating their power.
Similarly, one should possess the ability to match their position.
If one's virtue is unworthy of the position, they will inevitably be eliminated.
To ensure the quality of the Elders' Seat, Danta regularly assesses the five major families. Only those who pass the assessment can retain their seat on the Elders' Seat.
Because Danta prioritizes the development of its younger generation, the assessment naturally targets the younger generation—
that is, their alchemy skills!
During each assessment, the five major families must send a young member to undergo Danta's testing. If they pass, they retain their seat. However, if they fail three times in a row, they will not only lose their eligibility for the Danta Elders' Seat but will also be expelled from the five major families.
The five major families offer a shortcut to the upper echelons of Danta, so countless eyes are fixed on this place. If the Ye family is squeezed out, those eager to seize the throne will rush in immediately.
The Ye family has already failed the assessment twice in a row.
It's easy to move from simplicity to luxury, but it's harder to move from luxury to frugality.
The Ye family naturally doesn't want to lose this position, but
unfortunately, there's a lack of successors. Although the requirements for passing the assessment are relatively easy, none of the younger generation of the Ye family can carry the banner. Each generation is weaker than the last, as if their alchemy talent is gradually being eroded, even to the point of being inferior to some outside alchemists.
Among the younger generation, only Ye Xinlan, a student at Canaan Academy, has decent talent. When Chen Guan last saw her, she had barely reached the fifth rank
. Regardless, with only the third assessment left in less than two years, the Ye family's chances of survival are essentially zero.
Seeking external assistance is the only way out!
It was precisely for this reason that upon hearing Chen Guan's assurance, Ye Zhong's eyes lit up, his face filled with hope.
"Young friend Chen Guan, are you saying you're willing to help our Ye family participate in the alchemy assessment?"
Under Ye Zhong's intense gaze, Chen Guan shook his head slightly, leaving him bewildered.
If he hadn't been wary of Hei Qing's presence, he would have likely burst into a swear.
"I know you're anxious, senior, but wait. Listen to me. The next Danta assessment is still over a year away. I personally have no interest in such an assessment, but I have a friend named Xiao Yan. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll be coming to Zhongzhou soon. We can ask him to help out on behalf of the Ye family."
"My promise is that if something unexpected happens and Xiao Yan refuses to help, I'll personally help you pass the assessment. I won't leave you without
someone to rely on." This kind of dirty work—no, this kind of training—was useless to him. Brother Xiao Yan was the perfect choice.
After listening to Chen Guan's story, Ye Zhong nodded in understanding.
To the Ye family, Chen Guan and Xiao Yan didn't matter; as long as the result was good, it mattered.
"In that case, I would like to thank Young Chen Guan. When your friend arrives in Zhongzhou, please inform the Ye family, and I will personally visit them."
"Of course, of course."
The social etiquette ended, and Chen Guan didn't want to drag it out any longer.
"Little Medical Immortal's condition is not stable. Senior, how about we go directly to the Ancient Yang Fire Altar?"
"Yes, yes, Venerable, and a few other friends, please follow me."
After dismissing the other elders, Ye Zhong led the five people deeper into the Ye family compound.
About ten minutes later, a remote gravel square appeared before them.
In the center of the square stood an altar that looked quite ancient. The huge stones used to build it bore the marks of time, clearly indicating its age. As
Chen Guan and the others approached the altar, they immediately noticed the exceptionally bright light. Furthermore, the closer they got to the altar, the more intense and pure the energy of the surrounding heaven and earth grew.
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Rays of light, seemingly tangible, poured down from the sky, finally reflecting off the smooth stone walls and converging on a pitch-black stone tablet at the center of the altar.
"Under this tablet lies a ceremonial eye leading deep into the earth. When the tablet is moved, sparks of inner-earth fire often burst forth, igniting the sunlight gathered here, forming Yang Fire. Of course, this was only the case in the past,"
Ye Zhong said to the group with a wry smile, gazing at the ancient altar.
Such a unique location, yet such expressions, left Hei Qing, Little Medical Immortal, Phantom Poison Old Monster, and the others slightly puzzled.
Chen Guan, however, was not surprised but delighted.
There was only one explanation for this situation at the Yang Fire Ancient Altar:
the Earth Core Pearl had formed!
It was blocking the ceremonial eye.
Chen Guan had originally planned to use the Yang Fire Ancient Altar to condense a poison pill for Little Medical Immortal, and then refine a Sect Breaking Pill himself to overcome the Dou Zong barrier.
However, if he had the Earth Core Pearl, he could save on the Sect Breaking Pills. It
would be the straw that broke the camel's back, a gentle push to help him break through! Furthermore, the immense energy accumulated by the Earth Core Pearl could save him a considerable amount of time in consolidating his energy! It's like
someone offering a pillow when you're sleepy, nothing more than that.
"You may not know, but in recent years, the Earth Core Flame has become increasingly scarce. I wonder if it's dried up. I hope this can help you,"
Ye Zhong explained to Hei Qing and the others.
Hei Qing glanced away, then looked away, indicating that it had nothing to do with him.
Xiao Yixian and Zi Yan looked at Chen Guan.
"It's fine, it won't affect me,"
Chen Guan nodded in agreement.
This extremely yang and strong land is merely a supporting environment, and it won't have much impact on the so-called Yang Fire.
"That's good. In that case, Venerable and friends, please do as you please. I'll go prepare refreshments for everyone..."
"Don't bother. I'll just take a look."
Hei Qing shook his head, showing no interest.
Ye Zhong smiled in agreement, but moments later, after he turned and left, a group of servants arrived with comfortable tables and chairs, refreshments, and some delicious, priceless, high-grade spiritual fruits.
Adhering to the principle of not wasting anything, Zi Yan ate almost all of it.
The old monster Youdu, who had been following them like an invisible figure, picked up a spiritual fruit and was about to bring it to his mouth when he felt a glance at him. He put it down with a sullen look, straightening his clothes to hide his embarrassment.
However, Hei Qing had only casually glanced at it, meaning nothing more.
Meanwhile,
Chen Guan, ignoring the three people sitting in the back, led the Little Medical Immortal into the center of the altar. Gazing at the countless rays of light pouring down from the sky, he lightly grasped his palm, feeling a sudden warmth. This sunlight carried a pure, yang energy.
"In the second year after we met, I promised to help you overcome the drawbacks of your Hellish Poison Body. However, for various reasons, I kept putting it off for three years. Now, with the right timing, location, and people, I can finally fulfill my promise."
Upon hearing this, the Little Medical Immortal looked over, her gaze filled with tenderness.
"This speed is far, far faster than I expected."
Finding the method to condense the poison pill requires luck.
Condensing the Bodhi Body Saliva requires luck.
Condensing the Sky Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast Core requires strength.
And acquiring the three kinds of strange fire requires both.
It's safe to say that no step along the way has been easy.
Without Chen Guan's help, I imagine how many of these steps I could have accomplished, perhaps none at all.
I might even have been unaware of my Hellish Poison Body, unknowingly erupting, and being slain by a powerful individual, becoming a role model for others.
The more I thought about it, the more I felt lost, my own luck seemed unreal.
"Let's save the regrets for later. For now, let's take the final step."
Chen Guan said with a smile, interrupting Little Medical Immortal's thoughts.
Hearing this, Little Medical Immortal blushed slightly, a thought swirling around her.
She pinched her palms to clear her mind and nodded slightly.
Then, taking a deep breath, she suppressed her nervousness and sat cross-legged within the altar. Her torso straightened, her curves fully revealed, her slender neck and waist etched with captivating curves.
Chen Guan also sat cross-legged in front of Little Medical Immortal. Considering all the possible consequences, he waved his hand and a blazing curtain of fire rose, blocking out all outside view.
His mental power cast another barrier, completely isolating the altar.
His gaze shifted slightly, lingering on the pitch-black stone tablet within the altar. On the way here, Ye Chong had mentioned that this tablet was the key to unlocking the altar.
Without hesitation, Chen Guan gently pushed the pitch-black stone tablet with his palm. A burning sensation surged up, yet it didn't cause him any discomfort. Instead, the flow of Dou Qi within him accelerated slightly.
With a slight force, the stone tablet was pushed open with a series of clicks.
As the stone tablet moved away, a dark hole, roughly the size of a washbasin, appeared before Chen Guan's gaze. This must be the Eye of the Earth that Ye Zhong had mentioned.
"Crack!"
As if something had activated, the stone tablet was pushed open. The stone walls surrounding the altar slowly shifted, forming a circular wall that completely encircled the altar and Chen Guan and the others within. If the fire curtain was removed, from the outside, all that could be seen was a towering, ancient stone wall.
It was as if a mockery was being leveled at him, claiming his previous action was completely unnecessary.
Chen Guan's face darkened, but he didn't remove the fire curtain.
As the circular stone wall took shape, it seemed to gradually become smoother. More and more beams of light were reflected back from above by the mirror-like stone wall, finally converging at the eye of the earth. The brilliant white light was extremely dazzling.
Although the sunlight converged, not a single flame emerged from the eye of the earth, and therefore the so-called Yang Fire did not appear. Fortunately, as the sunlight converged, the Yang energy within the altar became increasingly dense. In the end, Xiao Yixian's brows furrowed slightly. The light shining on her body felt like a burning sensation.
"Chichi!"
Waves of gray-purple poisonous mist, almost beyond Xiao Yixian's control, gradually lingered from her body, colliding with the scorching sunlight outside, suddenly erupting with a hissing sound.
(End of this chapter)