Chapter 344: Zi Yan: Isn't This My Good Big Sister?
"Under that fierce beast's command are many powerful magical beasts. Acting alone, unless you're at the Dou Zun level, you won't get your hands on the mission items. So I suggest we temporarily join forces to take it down. Once it's defeated, the rest of the beasts will scatter."
Song Qing spoke calmly, ignoring the buzz of voices around him.
He wasn't wrong. With that beast overseeing the Ten-Thousand Medicines Mountain Range, none of them stood a chance at completing their missions alone.
Everyone understood this. After a moment of hesitation, heads slowly nodded in agreement. Of course, that didn't mean they trusted Song Qing completely. None of these people were fools. Even if his words sounded noble, blindly trusting others here was practically begging for death.
"I know what everyone's thinking. We can make a pact: until the beast is dealt with, no one attacks their allies. Anyone who breaks the rule will be hunted by the rest. How about that?"
Song Qing offered with a faint smile.
Everyone looked at one another. After a few moments of silence, some began voicing agreement. Song Qing was a recognized elder of the Pill Tower—his words did carry some weight.
Seeing the growing consensus, Song Qing turned and cast a glance at the languid Cao Ying, a faint pride flickering in his eyes. To rally so many elite alchemists in front of such a beauty—few could boast of such an accomplishment.
But Cao Ying, a future Pill Tower giant and someone well aware of Xiao Yan's strength, wasn't impressed. She ignored Song Qing's eager gaze and continued chatting with Xiao Yan.
The stiffness on Song Qing's face deepened. Even a clay figure had limits. He was the youngest elder in the Pill Tower, and now he was being treated like air in front of so many peers—it was hard to bear.
But he couldn't do anything to Cao Ying. She was Xuan Kongzi's personal disciple—who knew what powerful trump cards she might have?
Xiao Yan, on the other hand, was said to be just a helper invited by the Ye family. He didn't seem to have any special background.
Song Qing's speech didn't affect Xiao Yan much. Still, if it brought people together, they might soften up the beast, and he could swoop in and snatch what he needed. He wasn't interested in how things turned out for the others.
After all, he had a Dou Zun-level "nephew."
One way or another, his group definitely had an advantage.
"Hey, should we go along with them?" Cao Ying asked in a whisper.
"No need. He's just looking for free bodyguards—dressing it up in noble words. Not someone to be trusted."
Xiao Yan glanced at the crowd, then stood and headed down the hill.
"Hey, wait for me!"
Cao Ying hadn't expected him to leave so decisively. She quickly scrambled after him.
Naturally, Wang Yuandan followed silently. With his spiritual power and strength, hiding his presence was easy.
"…"
Song Qing's expression darkened further. He could handle Cao Ying ignoring him. But for her to do so because of Xiao Yan? That stung.
"Xiao Yan, you think you can defeat that beast on your own?" he finally shouted.
"I'm not alone," Xiao Yan replied without looking back.
"You—!"
Song Qing's eyes twitched as he looked at Cao Ying beside Xiao Yan. Hatred flickered across his face. This guy really didn't know his place.
"You can attack me if you want. But think—will anyone here help you?"
Xiao Yan's mocking tone made Song Qing pause. He looked around—sure enough, the others watched in silence, pretending not to see anything.
These cunning bastards!
Song Qing cursed inwardly. Anyone who made it to the Pill Realm wasn't easy to manipulate.
"Alchemists succeed by skill, not violence. If you've got guts, meet me in the Pill Competition!"
His voice rang out coldly. Maybe he couldn't beat Xiao Yan in combat, but in pillcraft? He had absolute confidence.
He would show Xiao Yan just how worthless a so-called Five Great Clans champion really was!
Xiao Yan ignored the threat and continued on, Cao Ying at his side.
Hidden in the crowd, Xiao Yuan almost laughed. Now he remembered—Song Qing was indeed one of the lowest-ranked elders of the Pill Tower. He hadn't been at the earlier meeting Xiao Yuan attended, which explained why he seemed unfamiliar.
And this guy wanted to win over a power-hungry woman like Cao Ying?
Please.
Xiao Yan now held far more weight in Cao Ying's heart. Every jab Song Qing took only pushed her closer to Xiao Yan.
At this rate, whether Cao Ying and Xiao Yan would end up together was uncertain, but Song Qing was definitely out of the picture.
Poor guy.
Shaking his head, Xiao Yuan slipped away silently. His grasp of spatial power was far more refined than Wang Yuandan's.
Still, as he left, he felt a probing gaze brush over his position.
"Hmph… this Pill Gathering really is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers."
With a thoughtful glint in his eye, Xiao Yuan emerged from a spatial rift and entered the Ten-Thousand Medicines Mountain.
The first thing he noticed was the overwhelming energy saturation—no wonder it birthed such rare herbs. It wasn't strange at all.
Beastly roars echoed constantly, infused with bloodthirst and rage—likely a result of too many humans intruding.
Xiao Yuan landed atop a dagger-like mountain peak and surveyed the landscape. Thanks to his powerful spiritual sense, he easily identified many formidable auras—especially one to the northeast that radiated terrifying intensity… definitely at the Dou Zun level.
His gaze fixed in that direction. Though he couldn't sense Zi Yan's aura, he had a hunch she was there. Her growth required massive energy—and those herbs would be perfect.
That lined up with what Song Qing had said about the beast hoarding most of the rare herbs in its lair.
Which meant... free loot!
Suppressing a surge of excitement, Xiao Yuan sped off toward the northeast, keeping his presence hidden so as not to attract magical beasts. With his soul power masked, he passed through undetected.
An hour later, having picked up some rare herb seeds along the way, he reached the inner region of the mountain range.
Here, the magical beasts were fiercer. One even reached the seventh rank. But since it wasn't guarding any herbs Xiao Yuan needed, he let it live.
Soon, he landed atop a massive tree, gazing at the colossal peak ahead—it pierced the clouds like a pillar of heaven. Midway up, thick energy mist veiled the mountain, hiding whatever lay within.
This was the heart of the Ten-Thousand Medicines Mountain.
Even from afar, Xiao Yuan marveled at the dense energy radiating from it. Training here would be insanely effective—though the wild energy had to be refined before absorption.
For him and his Heavenly Flame, that was a trivial task.
He sensed at least three seventh-rank magical beasts—and one eighth-rank monster with a ferocious aura… definitely the guardian beast!
Withdrawing his soul sense, Xiao Yuan darted toward the mountain. As he reached the middle, a faint probing sweep brushed over him—but he'd already cloaked himself in soul force. It passed right by.
Without triggering any alarms, he moved smoothly.
Just as he neared the mountainside, a fragrant scent drifted through the air. Xiao Yuan halted, sniffed deeply, and suddenly widened his eyes.
"Is that… Soul Essence Syrup?"
It was. A rare herb with potent effects on soul power—he'd never expected to find it here!
Still, Zi Yan came first.
He crept to the mountaintop and soon spotted a massive stone hall guarded by two fierce magical beasts—both seventh rank.
From within came a heartbroken roar:
"You greedy brat! How much more are you gonna eat?!"
The two beasts guarding the gate lifted their heads briefly—then sagged again.
They didn't dare interfere.
Inside, a vast plaza held piles of meticulously organized herbs. Any one of them would make alchemists drool in the outside world. But here, they were stacked like cabbages.
Amid them stood a shirtless giant man, solid as a mountain. He stared in despair at the center of the square.
There, a petite figure gleefully stuffed rare herbs into her mouth, biting crisply as if snacking on apples.
"Quit whining. Once I'm full and find someone, I'll take you out of here. Relax. Spatial tearing is my specialty!"
She grumbled as she chewed.
Suddenly, she paused. Her violet eyes narrowed.
"Who's there? Come out!"
Throwing aside a half-eaten herb, she glared into the air, her purple pupils glowing.
"Zi Yan, you greedy little glutton. Still wasting herbs? One bite and toss it away—what a disgrace!"
A sharp voice rang out as a white-robed figure stepped from the void.
The burly man prepared to attack the intruder—until he noticed how casually they addressed the little miss. He immediately calmed down.
"Huh? That voice sounds familiar!"
Zi Yan blinked, puzzled. But when she saw the white dress, her mischievous smile bloomed.
"Well, well… isn't this my good big sister?"
(END CHAPTER)
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