The second rule is that there are no restrictions on killing in the Pill World. Besides being wary of Demonic Beasts inside, you also have to guard against sneak attacks from other competitors; sometimes they are even more dangerous than Demonic Beasts.
The final round is to refine medicine on those floating stone platforms, and the one with the highest rank will be the champion.
After hearing all this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but marvel. After two rounds of elimination, those who could stand on the stone platforms were all individuals with considerable strength. At that time, these people would be sought after by various forces.
He scanned the entire square and saw the competitors from the five great families, but he didn't see Xiao Jietian's figure.
However, on the VIP exclusive seats next to the towering, tower-like stone platform, he saw Medusa, Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, and even Hai Bodong and Xiao Zhan. One stone platform was fully occupied by people from Boundless Heaven Hall.
Dong!
A clear bell chime suddenly resonated across this world. The chime spread out grandly, suppressing even the earth-shattering clamor.
As the bell chime sounded, this world became much quieter. Countless gazes instantly settled on the towering, tower-like stone platform on the east side of the square. That was where the Pill Tower's high-ranking officials would soon appear…
Not long after the bell chime, bursts of wind-breaking sounds suddenly rang out, and then the space above the stone platform subtly warped. More than a dozen figures slowly emerged…
Xiao Yan's gaze swept over the dozen figures and then paused on the four figures in the very center. Especially after clearly seeing one of them, Xiao Yan couldn't help but show a surprised expression.
It was Xiao Jietian, Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Tian Leizi. Besides Xiao Jietian and his wife, Xiao Yan had also met Xuan Kongzi and even received some benefits from him.
"Oh, who is that young man between Xuan Kongzi and Association Head Xuan Yi? Looking at his standing position, his status seems similar to the three Association Heads. Why haven't I heard any news about this?" Ye Zhong also noticed Xiao Jietian, then his gaze fell on the badge on his chest. "Holy crap, holy crap, this young man, an Grade 8 Alchemist???"
Ye Zhong, of course, roughly figured out Xiao Jietian's age on his own. He was not someone who maintained a youthful appearance due to high cultivation, but a genuine young man.
He himself was already old, yet only a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, and probably would never have the chance to reach the rank of an Grade 8 Alchemist in his lifetime.
Although Seventh-Grade and Eighth-Grade seem to only have one rank difference, the gap between them is truly like a chasm, no less difficult than a Nine-Revolution Dou Zun breaking through to the Half-Saint realm.
Within the Cao Family's lineup, Cao Ying, dressed in a black dress, had slightly red eyes filled with excitement. She had finally seen him again, the one she had been searching for so long.
Last time she went to find Xuan Yi, both of them had ulterior motives, intentionally and unintentionally probing and revealing various information.
If it weren't for the unsuitable occasion, she would have rushed up to ask him why he was avoiding her, but she, who was always intelligent, didn't plan to do so. Since he had appeared this time, it meant she was getting closer to him.
However, seeing Xuan Yi and Xiao Jietian almost sticking together, whispering to each other, she felt like an incompetent wife, her heart sour as if she had eaten several lemons.
Cao Dan, next to Cao Ying, also looked excited. His excitement was mainly because Xiao Jietian had finally appeared, and perhaps his current life of either refining medicine or getting beaten would end.
"You are simply my double savior! In the future, you call me brother-in-law, and I'll call you Big Brother; we'll address each other as we please."
Xiao Jietian's appearance also slightly shocked many people from various forces. Many even dispatched their intelligence organizations to investigate Xiao Jietian's information, attempting to prepare for future recruitment or building connections.
"Hehe, I am Xuan Kongzi. On behalf of the Pill Tower, I welcome all alchemists who have come here. In the coming days, this will be the stage for you to showcase your skills…" The white-haired Xuan Kongzi slowly stepped forward, his gentle voice clearly resounding in the ears of everyone present.
The entire venue fell silent. Xuan Kongzi continued to introduce the rules and format of the Pill Gathering, which were almost identical to previous years' formats. "As long as you pass these three selections and are still standing at the end, you will become the champion of this Pill Gathering."
Looking at the sea of people stirred by the word 'champion,' Xuan Kongzi smiled faintly and said, "This year's champion will not only receive a nomination for a Pill Tower giant candidate but also an ancient soul cultivation method and a soul Dou Technique. With a soul cultivation method, reaching the Eighth-Grade or even Ninth-Grade level will be within reach! And a soul Dou Technique can give your soul combat power."
A soul cultivation method would hold a fatal attraction for all alchemists!
The appearance of these two items made the breathing of all alchemists heavy, their eyes turning red and filled with greed.
Xuan Kongzi's words opened up a sealed history for many. Many people present did not know that the soul also had Dou Techniques.
Many history researchers and theoretical Great Masters jumped out at this moment to loudly explain to those around them, hoping to achieve fame in one fell swoop.
Xuan Kongzi smiled slightly, looked up at the sky, then lightly waved his sleeve. An invisible fluctuation spread out, then struck the void realm, yet it once again erupted with a long bell chime. "The time has come. All competitors above Fifth-Grade, please enter the first stage, the Soul Illusion Realm!"
As soon as Xuan Kongzi finished speaking, figures suddenly flashed out from the endless sea of people, then, like locusts, they swept across the sky, overwhelming everything, and then all plunged into that distorted space…
Looking at the figures continuously rushing into the distorted space like a torrential rain, Xiao Yan also took a deep breath and slowly stepped forward.
"Go for it!" Ye Xinlan waved her arms at Xiao Yan and shouted.
Nalan Yanran in the audience also cast an encouraging look at Xiao Yan.
Cao Ying glanced at Xiao Jietian, then also swept towards this dark gray distorted space.
"I should go too." Xiao Jietian stretched his body and softly said to Xuan Yi and the others.
"You have to be careful, don't blow up this illusion space!" Xuan Kongzi hurriedly said to Xiao Jietian.
"Alright, alright, I know. You've said it countless times, my ears are almost calloused." Xiao Jietian helplessly waved his hand, then headed towards the checkpoint.
Xuan Kongzi initially intended to use his privilege to exempt Xiao Jietian from this opportunity, but Xiao Jietian still wanted to experience this illusion.
"What the heck, he's also a competitor????"
"An Grade 8 Alchemist participating, then others have no chance."
"That's not necessarily true. I heard there are many Grade 8 Alchemists this year. I heard that the Cao Family's 'demoness' was already an Grade 8 Alchemist a year ago."
"Then it seems we'll have an exciting competition to watch. I'm really looking forward to it."
Among the spectators in the square, bursts of discussion and anticipation erupted. The more lively and exciting it was, the more thrilled they became.