After returning to the Ye Clan's manor, Liu Xi began a secluded and quiet life. He rarely went out, and when he did, it was only to visit the Pill Tower, where, with his authority as a Giant Candidate, he accessed the Pill Tower's vast troves of alchemical records. These records were extremely complex — a jumble of useful and useless information all intertwined, yet within that vast ocean of text, there were still many insights worth absorbing.
Though much of the material was redundant or absurd, it was all compiled from the experiences, speculations, and handwritten notes of generations of predecessors. Without a master to guide his way, Liu Xi's path of alchemy had always been arduous. Now, with the Pill Tower's archives before him, it was an opportunity to refine his craft further — perhaps even a chance to transcend his current tier.
The pill that had once summoned a seven-colored Pill Lightning had earned him the title of a High-Level 8th Tier Alchemist, but afterward, he had focused on cultivation. Now that he had time, he intended to fill in that missing piece.
A month later, within the study of the Ye Clan's manor, Liu Xi slowly set down the scroll in his hands and leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced on the desk. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Finally moving, are you? I can't show myself directly this time. You'll have to handle it. Take everything you can — but only if it's safe."
"Very Well."
A calm, emotionless voice echoed from between Liu Xi's brows. The next instant, a beam of light shot forth.
The light morphed into a young man in azure robes, his handsome face identical to Liu Xi's own. His eyes, however, were devoid of all emotion — utterly cold and mechanical.
Liu Xi's soul was unique — fused with the essence of his Heavenly Flame. It could be said to be both soul and fire spirit at once, fully connected to his consciousness. Normally, the two were one and indistinguishable. But when separated, the avatar carried away more than half of Liu Xi's Spiritual Power and flame essence.
Looking at his identical reflection, Liu Xi chuckled lightly and waved his hand. "Go."
The other Liu Xi said nothing, turning into a streak of light that passed through the wooden door, vanishing in an instant.
Left alone, Liu Xi reclined in his chair, rubbing his face tiredly before slumping down like a lazy fish.
"Ahh~ Without my Spiritual Power, I really do feel like a salted fish… no energy to study, no desire to move."
"Guess I'll just… watch the show."
His soul projection left the manor, the city, and even Holy Pill City itself — not a single person noticed. There were few in the entire Central Plains whose soul could surpass Liu Xi's in perception.
Everything his soul projection saw, he saw as well — like watching two realities at once, his vision split between body and spirit.
And since he had left a faint trace of his Spiritual Mark on Xiao Yan, he could sense the other's movements clearly. Unless it had been discovered immediately, it was nearly impossible to detect now.
Sensing Xiao Yan's location, Liu Xi's soul projection shot across the skies toward that direction.
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Roughly ten days later, Xiao Yan and his group quietly arrived near the Death Soul Mountain Range — the location of the Tiangang Human Hall.
The Death Soul Mountain Range lay at the southwestern border of the Central Plains. Due to its terrain, the area was perpetually shrouded in heavy yin energy, and mingled within that darkness was a suffocating aura of death.
For miles upon miles, countless families buried their dead here. The range was thus a vast necropolis of tombs and mausoleums, desolate and eerie, rarely visited by the living.
Whoosh—
The silence of the sky above the mountain range was broken by the sound of wind tearing through the air. Streaks of light flashed by, and on a high peak deep within the range, more than ten figures appeared out of nowhere.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the deepest part of the range — where space itself seemed distorted behind the towering gray trees.
"The Tiangang Human Hall lies deep within this mountain range," said Xuan Kongzi, cloaked in black. "But there's a spatial barrier there. The moment we enter, they'll know."
He had indeed come. Though he had tracked down where Yao Chen was imprisoned, he hadn't mobilized the Pill Tower's full might. The Pill Tower could not risk an all-out war with the Hall of Souls — not for one man.
Yet Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi couldn't let go of the idea of saving Yao Chen. Leaving Tian Leizi behind, they brought a handful of trusted subordinates and old friends, joining Xiao Yan for this desperate rescue.
"Then we move fast," Xuan Yi said sharply from beneath her black cloak. "Find Yao Chen and get out immediately. Xiao Yan, can you sense your teacher's location?"
Xiao Yan touched the fiery mark on his forehead. Beneath his fingers, it pulsed cold. Channeling his Spiritual Power through it, he nodded. "Yes. The closer we got, the stronger the Bone Chilling Flame's resonance became. Teacher's definitely inside."
Venerable Feng inhaled deeply, his expression solemn. "That old man… after all these years, he was captured by the Hall of Souls. Since he's still alive, then today we'll bring him back!"
Venerable Jian, calm and cold beneath his black robe, reached for the iron sword on his back. "I owed that old man a life. If he's in trouble, it's time I repay it."
Their words steadied the others' hearts. Facing the monstrous might of the Hall of Souls, no one could remain calm — but unity brought courage.
"Indeed," one said grimly. "If we die, so be it. But if I fall before self-detonating, I ask you all to destroy my body and look after my sect."
"Same here. If I die, take care of my kin. That's all I ask."
Xiao Yan listened quietly, his face solemn. Then he turned, eyes sweeping over the gathered experts, and pulled his black robe tighter to conceal his identity.
"Everyone, if we save my teacher today, I, Xiao Yan, will owe you all a debt. As long as I live, your families and sects will have my protection."
"Good!"
"We trust you, Xiao Yan!"
Xuan Kongzi flicked his sleeve, tossing out several jade bottles. Each fell neatly before a different person. "Qi Concealment Pills. Take them now. They'll suppress your aura for three hours. After that, we'll be discovered."
Everyone swallowed their pill without hesitation. In moments, their presences faded completely.
"Move!"
They followed Xuan Kongzi like shadows, ghosts drifting toward the twisted depths of the spatial barrier.
From a distant peak, a faint, ghostly figure watched everything unfold — Liu Xi's soul projection.
'Seventeen of them… all Dou Zun-level powerhouses. Thirteen ordinary Dou Zuns, four peak 9-Turn Dou Zuns. Quite the formidable lineup.'
(End of Chapter)
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