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The two of them were indeed curious about this soul cultivation method, but now was not the time to examine it.
So, with a flip of the hand, and under countless heated gazes, it was stored into the storage ring. Then their eyes turned toward Xuan Kongzi, and they clasped fists in salute.
Seeing the satisfaction on their faces, Xuan Kongzi also smiled. He then said, "The champion has been decided, and with that, this Pill Gathering comes to an end."
"Two days from now, the Star Region will open. At that time, anyone who placed in the top ten of this Pill Gathering may enter and will have the chance to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flames."
As soon as Xuan Kongzi's words fell, the plaza, which had only just quieted, instantly erupted once more.
Xiao Yan's eyes immediately filled with an uncontrollable excitement. The legendary Immortal Flame was finally about to appear.
Of course, he was not the only one excited. Everyone who had made it into the top ten, including that Old Mu Gu, suddenly showed a fiery heat in their gazes.
Clearly, the Three Thousand Burning Flames held a tremendous allure for them. After all, it was famed as an undying flame. Who wouldn't be tempted?
Among the top ten, perhaps only Wei Yang and Xian'er were merely curious, wanting to witness it but not overly moved.
Xian'er already possessed the Ghostly Poison Flame as her life-bound flame, perfectly suited to her, so she had little interest in the Three Thousand Burning Flames.
Wei Yang, having the Death Life Flame and Life Spirit Flame, naturally had little interest in this so-called Immortal Flame. And with that, this grand Pill Gathering had, for all intents and purposes, officially drawn to a close.
The battle for the Three Thousand Burning Flames concerned only the top ten; for the vast majority, it was no longer relevant. Still, everyone remained intensely curious—this rare treasure, who would ultimately claim it?
Night fell quietly over the exuberant, bustling city.
The brightly lit streets were still filled with ceaseless streams of people. The entire city remained wrapped in a thrilling, blood-stirring atmosphere.
Every conversation was still about this Pill Gathering. And the most discussed, naturally, were the dual champions—those two young legendary figures.
Wei Yang and Xiao Yan. These two names were now thoroughly etched into everyone's mind.
It would not be long before these names echoed throughout the whole of Central Plains. By then, across the entire Central Plains, they would be the most dazzling stars.
While the city still boiled with excitement, the many contestants who had spent nearly a month refining pills were each exhausted, faces haggard, returning to their quarters and collapsing like dead dogs into sleep.
This included Wei Yang and his companions.
Even Wei Yang felt a trace of mental fatigue; after all, refining an eighth-tier pill consumed a great deal of spirit.
Therefore, after the Pill Gathering ended, once they had met up with Zi Yan and Xiong Zhan, they returned to the Wei residence and each went off to rest.
When Wei Yang awoke, it was already the following day at dusk. Stepping out of his room, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, he stretched in comfort. The greatest harvest of this Pill Gathering was his breakthrough into the Dou Zun realm.
Along with that came a body and bloodline strengthened by the baptism of lightning. This caused his overall strength to soar more than tenfold.
Facing Bing He or Old Mu Gu, both Dou Zun, he might not yet crush them effortlessly, but even without unleashing his ultimate moves, he had no fear.
Reaching this point, he could finally look across the entire continent and know he had the power to protect himself.
Hu~
Letting out a long breath, Wei Yang tilted his head slightly, listening. From the distant garden came faint sounds of laughter and conversation.
He smiled and walked toward the garden.
Along the way, the surroundings were tranquil, water flowing with a gentle ding-dong. Passing through a few covered corridors and then an arched gate, the view ahead suddenly opened wide.
A soft breeze greeted him, carrying a hint of fresh grass, flowers, and the scent of herbs. Wei Yang's gaze swept forward. On the broad grassy field ahead, three little ones were laughing and playing.
Leading them, of course, was the impish Zi Yan. At the moment she was covered in bits of grass, rolling gleefully across the lawn, while Wei Ye and Wei Shuo scampered behind her.
"Big sister, big sister~"
Zi Yan giggled happily as she ran wild in front, while the two little ones chased hard behind. When they couldn't catch her, they shouted in anxious delight.
Not far away, the towering figures of Du Jiao and Xiong Zhan stood like a pair of stone guardians, silently keeping watch.
Under the shade of a willow on the other side, Qing Lin and Tian Huo Zun Zhe sat together, sipping tea and smiling as they watched. The peaceful scene made Wei Yang chuckle in spite of himself.
He stepped forward.
"Wei Yang." Zi Yan's sharp eyes spotted him first. With a sudden turn she dashed toward him like a streak of light.
"Daddy, Daddy~" Behind her, the two little ones toddled after her, calling out loudly.
Whoosh~
Zi Yan leapt straight into his arms, clinging to him as she squealed, "Wei Yang, you need to do something about your kids. They're driving me crazy."
Wei Yang rolled his eyes, plucking a blade of grass from her hair. "From what I saw, you're the one bullying them, yet you're the first to complain."
"Hee hee." Zi Yan giggled, sticking out her tongue and making a face at the two children chasing her.
"Daddy, Daddy~" The pair reached him, one on each side, grabbing onto his legs and trying to climb up.
"Hee hee, you can't get up, you can't get up." Like a little koala, Zi Yan hung from Wei Yang's neck, teasing the two as she poked her tongue out again.
The two little ones kept scrambling, but when they couldn't manage to climb, they simply clung to each of Wei Yang's legs, one on each side.
And so Wei Yang walked on toward the willow, a child in his arms and two more hanging from his legs. Seeing this, Qing Lin laughed and hurried over to lift the two youngsters off his legs.
"Hahaha." Tian Huo Zun Zhe stroked his beard and burst into hearty laughter.
There was a faint trace of nostalgia in that laugh.
"Elder Yao." Wei Yang sat down at the stone table, settling Zi Yan across his lap as he brushed bits of grass from her clothes, smiling. "You look pretty relaxed."
"Haha, after being trapped for hundreds of years in that molten hell, finally free and alive again, of course I intend to enjoy life for a while." Tian Huo Zun Zhe raised his cup, took a sip of tea, and praised, "Miss Qing Lin's brewing is far better than anything this old man ever managed."
"You flatter me, Elder Yao." Qing Lin, still tidying the children's clothes, flushed slightly. "And please, just call me Qing Lin. I don't deserve the 'Miss.'"
"All right, all right, I'll be presumptuous then." Tian Huo Zun Zhe nodded with a broad grin.
"You give him too much credit, Elder Yao. You're our elder," Wei Yang said with a smile.
Little Wei Shuo, unable to stay still, scampered over the moment Qing Lin released him. He clambered right into Tian Huo Zun Zhe's lap and reached for the old man's beard.
"Aiyo, my little ancestor, you'll have all of Grandpa's beard plucked clean."
Tian Huo Zun Zhe's voice overflowed with affection as he held the boy, his aged eyes brimming with love. He didn't stop him, simply letting the small hands tug at his beard.
"Hehe, Grandpa, Grandpa." Little Wei Shuo laughed gleefully, calling out again and again.
"Yes, yes, good boy, good boy. Grandpa hurts, Grandpa hurts," Tian Huo Zun Zhe chuckled, his heart melting as he responded over and over, his face lit with pure delight.
Those soft, innocent cries went straight to his heart. Beneath the fading glow of the setting sun, the garden was filled with a scene of pure warmth.
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