Figures entered the distorted space. Xuan Kongzi on the high platform said indifferently, "This Pill Gathering has attracted a few interesting fellows. I wonder if they can bring some new tricks to this year's Pill Gathering."
Tian Leizi, who was nearby, said, "Oh? I just came out of seclusion, so I don't know. Tell me about it."
Xuan Yi also showed a hint of interest.
Xuan Kongzi smiled faintly and said, "First, there's the Loose Cultivator, Heavenly Crane, from the Southern Region of Central Plains, also known as Venerable Heavenly Crane. He has been an Grade 8 Alchemist for a long time. According to intelligence, he can already refine Eighth Grade Pills with three-colored Pill Lightning.
Coupled with his cultivation of a Five-Star Dou Zun, he is enough to take the lead in this Pill Gathering! Besides him, Chi Xiazi from the Southern Continent is also an exceptional Alchemist. Back then, he was a Seventh-Grade Advanced Alchemist.
I just checked, and he has now successfully broken through to the Dou Zun Realm. He should also be able to refine Eighth Grade Pills.
Besides these two, there's also an interesting young fellow, a Dou Huang brought by Mang Tianchi."
Tian Leizi frowned, "Dou Huang? What's a Dou Huang doing here? He might be eliminated in the first round, let alone the second. Xuan Kongzi, have you cultivated yourself silly? Wait, Mang Tianchi? Is that old ghost still alive?"
Xuan Kongzi sighed, "Not only is he alive, he's doing quite well. His cultivation might have reached Seven-Revolutions, much stronger than mine. Although the young fellow he brought is a Dou Huang, he is already a Seventh-Grade Intermediate Alchemist.
Moreover, I just observed him, and his Soul is infinitely close to the Spirit Realm. A Dou Huang about to reach Spirit Realm Soul, don't you think that's outrageous?"
Tian Leizi's jaw almost dropped in shock. A Dou Huang reaching Spirit Realm Soul? Although there were even more outrageous things on the continent, they were only rumors. This was a genuinely outrageous event he witnessed firsthand.
Xuan Yi also sighed with emotion, "Indeed, the waves behind push the waves ahead. Young people nowadays are becoming more and more outrageous. If these old fellows underestimate the young, they might stumble."
Xuan Kongzi said, "Yes, we were also young once, considering our talents unparalleled, only to be severely defeated by that old fellow Yao Chen."
"Yao Chen…" Xuan Yi murmured the name. Her normally calm state of mind, like an ancient well without ripples, was now violently fluctuating.
"Is that old fellow dead or alive? Died from a pill refining backlash? I don't believe it."
After Xiao Li entered the distorted space, he closed and opened his eyes to find himself in a strange, deep gray space.
This space was permeated with thick, deep gray Qi. Looking around, his vision was less than half a meter, and in some areas within his sight, there was even a slight sense of distortion. Clearly, this place should be the so-called illusion trial.
Xiao Li sensed the surrounding environment and did not move rashly… "The environment here is so strange and oppressive. People with claustrophobia would definitely go crazy. Hiss~ just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.
The environment here can suppress the Soul, but it feels strange. It should be a man-made trial, after all, some contestants are too weak, and if they die inside, it would damage the Pill Tower's reputation."
Xiao Li familiarized himself with the surrounding space, then released his Soul Power. The suppression of this space on his quasi-Spirit Realm Soul seemed not significant. Perhaps a certain level of Soul Power would provide a sufficient advantage in this space.
This first trial filtered out contestants with weak Soul Power.
Xiao Li walked slowly. On the way, he encountered an illusion. This illusion directly showed what was most missed in one's heart. The first thing Xiao Li saw was Yun Yun. Yun Yun was waving at him and told him she was pregnant.
For some unknown reason, when Xiao Li heard the words "pregnant," he instantly sobered up. Anyway, those two words triggered him. A girlfriend he hadn't seen for years suddenly appeared and immediately announced she was pregnant. He always felt like there was a green grassland above his head.
Next, Xiao Li encountered Zi Yan, Wang Ming, Xiao Lin, Xiao Ting, Xiao Zhan, Mang Tianchi, Yun Shan, Su Wanyin, and others. Having been forewarned, Xiao Li did not get distracted and focused on moving forward.
Xiao Li's steps were firm. After walking for an unknown amount of time, the gray fog in front of Xiao Li gradually thinned, and then a twisted black hole, about ten feet in size, appeared not far in front of him.
"Passing through here should mean I've passed, right? Will this be another layer of illusion? My mind is full of passing the trial. What if this is an illusion and I don't explode?"
Xiao Li suddenly hesitated at the entrance of the black hole.
Thump-thump~
Footsteps approached. An old man with a red beard walked over. He looked at Xiao Li in confusion, wondering why he wasn't entering. However, he didn't think much about it and went straight in.
"Uh… did I overthink it?" Xiao Li scratched his cheek and walked straight in.
After passing through the black hole, Xiao Li arrived at an open space. It became very normal here. Although the surrounding space was still distorted, it did not affect this open space. Clearly, it was a spatial resting point constructed by the powerful individuals of the Pill Tower.
In this open space, people stood in twos and threes, but most were scattered. Xiao Li didn't pay much attention and found a quiet place to sit, waiting for the second trial to begin.
Suddenly, an old man with a pointed mouth and sunken cheeks came up to Xiao Li and roared at him, "Get lost! This spot has been claimed by this Sect!"
Xiao Li:?!!!
Xiao Li clearly saw this arrogant Dou Zong. He decided to eliminate him once they entered the Pill World! So arrogant, and not only arrogant but also seeking him out to be arrogant!
Xiao Li didn't want to cause a conflict at this moment; he just made a note of the person in his little notebook for future reckoning.
Seeing Xiao Li actually get up and move aside, the Dou Zong grinned, "Useless, hahahahaha."
Everyone around looked over, their eyes filled with disdain and mockery.
In the corner of the open space, an old man with white hair and a white beard sat there. He looked at Xiao Li's position and frowned.
A Mortal Realm Late Stage driving away a half-step Spirit Realm? No, not even a half-step Spirit Realm. He was probably only one Breakthrough away from the Spirit Realm.
Tsk, indeed, living a long time allows one to see everything.
This kid is clearly not as simple as he appears on the surface. To arrive here so quickly with only a Dou Huang cultivation, shouldn't one think carefully about why? Is it because there are too many Dou Huangs in this Pill Gathering, causing this fellow to lose his mind? I'll watch the show later."
This old man was the Loose Cultivator from the Southern Region of Central Plains, Heavenly Crane, whom Xuan Kongzi had mentioned.
At the spatial passage, the Pill Tower staff member opened his eyes and said indifferently, "Time is almost up. You can now enter the Pill World. Everyone who enters will receive a mission pill list, a map of the Pill World, and a spatial stone from me. The pill list contains the medicinal ingredients you must find inside. Only by collecting all the ingredients on it can you be considered to have successfully passed this trial.
I won't say much about the map's purpose. It shows the exit of the Pill World. Once you have collected all the medicinal ingredients, you can head there.
As for the spatial stone, it is for saving your life. If you encounter a life-threatening situation, you can crush the spatial stone, and you will automatically be sent out of the Pill World. However, crushing the spatial stone also symbolizes that you have lost the qualification to continue participating. Do you all understand?"
The Pill Tower elder explained some matters regarding the Pill World to everyone, making Xiao Li understand that the Pill World was already dilapidated and not suitable for long stays. The competition period was ten days, and there were many Heaven And Earth Treasures and Demonic Beasts in the Pill World.
After Xiao Li finished listening, the Pill Tower elder began to distribute the items, while Xiao Li followed behind the Dou Zong who had earlier told him to get lost, suppressing the corners of his mouth from curling upwards.
Meanwhile, the Dou Zong with the pointed mouth and sunken cheeks had no idea he was being targeted. He was fantasizing about what it would be like if he won the championship!
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