Pill Region, Ye City.
Ever since the Ye Clan successfully secured an elder's seat within the Pill Tower, their position as one of the five great families of the Pill Region had grown increasingly stable. With the Pill Gathering Champion and Pill Tower Giant candidate Liu Xi providing protection, none dared provoke them, and the Ye Clan had flourished as a result.
With inheritance, resources, and motivation, the clan's young alchemy geniuses were rising one after another, living up to the name of one of the Pill Tower's five great families.
That day, outside Elder Ye Zhong's study, the wind suddenly stirred. Two faint yet vast auras appeared out of nowhere, vast as the sea yet restrained.
Sensing the power in those presences, Ye Zhong's heart tensed instantly—but there was no fear. The Ye Clan of today was not the same as before.
"Who's outside? What business do you have with the Ye Clan?"
Ye Zhong didn't stand; he merely looked up from the high-tier 7th Tier Pill Recipe commentary he was studying, his expression calm but carrying the quiet authority of an elder.
"Elder Ye Zhong, it's only been a few years, and you don't recognize me anymore?" came a cool, teasing voice from beyond the door.
"Master Liu?!"
That familiar voice made Ye Zhong jolt upright. The book in his hands fell to the desk as he hurried toward the door in excitement. He knew full well who had made the Ye Clan what it was today—one word from this man could elevate them or destroy them overnight.
With a creak, the door opened, and there stood a handsome young man in a blue robe—none other than Liu Xi. At his side was a young girl in green robes, beautiful and elegant, her eyes shimmering with a subtle charm.
Ye Zhong blinked in surprise, his expression turning a bit peculiar. 'So it's only been a few years, and he's changed companions already… ah, youth,' he muttered inwardly.
Of course, both Liu Xi and Qing Lin caught the old man's look. Qing Lin covered her smile while Liu Xi ignored it altogether.
"Don't just stand there," Liu Xi said casually. "Let's talk inside."
That snapped Ye Zhong back to his senses. He quickly stepped aside to invite them in. If it was Liu Xi, it was only natural that even the family's guards and elders hadn't noticed his arrival.
"Please, Master Liu, come in!"
Liu Xi walked in leisurely, Qing Lin following behind. He sat down in a nearby chair without ceremony.
He hadn't returned directly to Holy Pill City upon coming back to the Pill Region. After being away for over two years, he wanted to understand how much had changed in the Pill Tower before showing himself.
"Elder Ye Zhong," Liu Xi began, "I came back in a hurry. Tell me—what major events have taken place in the Pill Tower these past few years?"
Ye Zhong sat down across from him, organizing his thoughts before replying, "Not many, though a few were significant. At first, there was conflict between the Pill Tower and the Hall of Souls over the Pill Gathering incident. Both sides held each other in check, so war never truly broke out."
"There were also rumors that the Hall of Souls placed you on their assassination list. Word spread across the entire Central Plains—whoever killed you would receive a massive bounty."
"But with you vanishing for years after becoming the Pill Gathering Champion and a Giant candidate, the matter eventually quieted down."
"As for the others—Cao Ying and Dan Chen both went to train at the Small Pill Tower, hoping to further their alchemical skills. It's said that the elders there are the true foundation of the Pill Tower, the masters who've lived through countless eras."
Even though Ye Zhong only knew fragments of what went on inside the Small Pill Tower, his tone was full of respect. It was a place ordinary alchemists could only dream of approaching.
"The Small Pill Tower, huh?" Liu Xi murmured with interest. He knew that although Xuan Kongzi was the Pill Tower's visible leader, the true decision-making power rested within the Small Pill Tower's Elder Council.
If he wished to control the Pill Tower's future direction, one man's influence alone wouldn't suffice—he needed the support of at least half of those seats. One day, he'd have to visit the Small Pill Tower himself, see its true strength, and gain its backing.
"So both Cao Ying and Dan Chen went there?" Liu Xi asked with a faint smile. "With their talent, having such mentors will surely raise their alchemy to new heights."
"Indeed," Ye Zhong said, hesitating before adding, "Cao Ying even declared that the next time she appears, her alchemy skills will surpass yours, Master Liu—that she'll make you see her in a new light."
Liu Xi chuckled softly, an amused glint in his eyes. His own strength and Spiritual Power had been tempered through countless brushes with death. If someone could surpass him so easily, wouldn't all his near-death struggles have been meaningless?
Qing Lin, on the other hand, looked intrigued. From the sound of it, this "Cao Ying" seemed to have some feelings for her young master beyond mere rivalry.
"Let's drop that topic," Liu Xi said, waving his hand lightly. "What else has been happening in the Pill Tower?"
He was more interested in how the Pill Tower planned to face the growing threat of the Hall of Souls. Would they choose to fight or compromise? Certainly not surrender—alchemy masters and the Hall of Souls were natural enemies. Even meeting each other usually meant bloodshed.
"Well…" Ye Zhong paused, frowning in thought before his face brightened slightly. "There is something else. Recently, a very important guest arrived at the Pill Tower. Not only is his strength formidable—he's a 2-Star Dou Zun—but his alchemy skills are exceptional as well. He's an 8th Tier Alchemist."
"Oh?" Liu Xi's eyes lit up. It had been a long time since he'd heard that name, and he hadn't expected the next mention of it to be so dramatic.
"Elder Ye Zhong, don't keep me guessing. That man wasn't like this before. What happened to him these past years?"
Ye Zhong cleared his throat and explained, "It's confirmed. This man came seeking an alliance with the Pill Tower. Ordinarily, someone like him wouldn't even qualify to speak on equal footing with us."
"But he claimed to be a descendant of the ancient Xiao Clan—specifically the last heir of the legendary Half Dou Di expert, Xiao Xuan. That revelation alone earned him a seat at the table."
Liu Xi's expression flickered slightly as he listened. The Xiao Clan's name carried the weight of an ancient era.
'The last descendant of the Xiao Clan… the heir of Xiao Xuan. So even Xiao Yan knows of it now. And such a massive leap in power—without the Flame Mantra and without a Heavenly Flame—there's no way he advanced like this otherwise.'
'Xiao Xuan… that means he must've met him. He must've inherited the Xiao Clan's final bloodline legacy.'
'Gu Xun'er, so you really let him meet Xiao Xuan ahead of time. I wonder how much effort that took.'
(End of Chapter)
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