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**
"All right, all clean. Go play now." Wei Yang brushed away the last strand of grass from Zi Yan's clothes and gave her a light pat on the backside.
"I'm not going. I won't!" Zi Yan immediately wrapped her arms around his neck like a little koala, refusing to let go.
"Fine."
Wei Yang shook his head, letting her cling as she pleased. She really was a child who had grown up starved for affection. Her closeness to Queen Medusa, to him, and to Xiao Yan was more than friendship—it was the comfort of dependence.
He tilted his head toward Qing Lin and asked softly, "Where's Ah Da?"
"Before resting, Sister Xian'er gave him the pill. He's gone into seclusion to recover," Qing Lin replied.
"Oh." Wei Yang nodded.
At this Pill Gathering, Xian'er had refined a three-colored Tier 8 pill—the Fuling Azure Pill.
This medicine was said to restore a Dou Zun who had declined in strength back to peak form, practically granting a Two- to Three-Star boost.
For Ah Da, stuck at the peak of Seven-Star Dou Zun, it was perfect. When he emerged, he would almost certainly return to full power. Wei Yang turned to Tian Huo Zun Zhe with a smile. "Elder Yao, only one pill was finished this time, so you'll need to wait a little.
We gathered more ingredients for the Fuling Azure Pill inside the Pill Realm, enough for another. After Xiao Yan secures the Three Thousand Burning Flame, I'll personally refine one for you."
"Haha, no rush. Settle your business first," the old man said with an easy grin, bouncing little Wei Shuo on his knee. "For me, any time will do."
He truly didn't mind letting Ah Da have priority—restoring Ah Da to a peak Nine-Star Dou Zun was far more urgent than advancing himself from One-Star to Three-Star. No question there.
Wei Yang chuckled and let the matter drop.
As night fell, Xiao Yan and Xian'er awoke from their rest, and everyone enjoyed a warm dinner together beneath the willow tree. After the meal, Wei Yang rose with Xiao Yan. "We'll head to the Pill Tower," He said. "They've already sent several reminders."
The two men left the residence and moved toward the inner district. The Wei Mansion lay right at the border of the outer and inner city, so it wasn't far.
Before long they passed through the inner-city gates, where the noise of the outer streets faded behind them.
The inner city of Holy Pill City was reserved for those tied to the Pill Tower or for high-rank alchemists. Compared to the outer city it was calmer, more refined, and far less crowded.
As they walked in, both men looked up—and stopped.
At the very heart of the district rose a colossal black tower, nearly a hundred zhang high, like a mountain piercing the heavens. Its tip vanished into the clouds, wreathed in drifting mist, giving it an aura of mystery and awe.
This was the Pill Tower itself—holy ground in the hearts of countless alchemists. Standing on the broad avenue, they gazed upward, faces lit with undisguised amazement. Every structure they had ever seen before seemed like a child's toy before this giant.
Just then an elderly man approached with a warm smile. "Gentlemen, I am Elder Sheng. I will escort you to meet the Leaders."
"Elder Sheng." Wei Yang and Xiao Yan both offered a respectful clasp of their hands.
Sheng Elder nodded kindly and gestured ahead. "Please, follow me."
With the elder leading the way—and their status as dual champions—no one barred their passage. They entered the Pill Tower without delay and went straight toward the very top.
Along the way, they encountered quite a few alchemists from the Pill Tower. The moment these people saw Wei Yang and Xiao Yan, they quickly stepped aside and bowed slightly.
The gazes directed at the two carried a trace of respect.
Having taken the championship of the Pill Gathering, the two of them could, in a sense, already be considered part of the Pill Tower. And the status of a candidate for the "Three Great Leaders" was far from low— even an ordinary elder, upon meeting them, would greet them with courtesy.
After a dozen minutes.
They finally arrived outside a grand hall at the very top floor.
Elder Sheng stepped forward first, gently knocking on the door. Then he turned with a smile and said, "You two, we're here. The Leaders are waiting for you inside, so I'll take my leave."
"Thank you, Elder Sheng. Safe travels," Wei Yang and Xiao Yan both nodded. Elder Sheng waved a hand, telling them not to be polite, and left.
At that moment—
"Come in."
The familiar, mild voice of Xuan Kongzi came from within.
Hearing this, the two pushed the door open and entered. Their eyes swept the room, spotting quite a few figures standing inside. People like Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and Song Qing were all present.
At the main seat, three figures stood out.
In the center was Xuan Kongzi himself, and flanking him were a graceful woman in a cheongsam and a dark-skinned elder with a cold, stern face. The instant Wei Yang and Xiao Yan stepped into the hall, countless gazes converged upon them.
"Hehe, our champions have finally arrived." Seeing them, Xuan Kongzi smiled, his tone carrying a teasing note.
Hearing this, Wei Yang and Xiao Yan exchanged a glance and shrugged. They stepped forward a few paces, standing beside Cao Ying and the others, then clasped their fists in salute toward the three at the head.
"Let me introduce you."
Xuan Kongzi chuckled and gestured toward the cheongsam-clad woman whose gentle eyes rested on them. "This is President Xuan Yi. Hehe, she shares quite a close relationship with your master in private, so you may call her Aunt Xuan."
Wei Yang raised an eyebrow.
Xiao Yan froze for a moment, eyeing the playful smile on Xuan Kongzi's face, the corner of his mouth twitching. Then he looked in surprise at the elegant woman.
A close relationship with their master?
Could she be… their master's wife?
"You old rascal, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Under their gaze, the woman named Xuan Yi couldn't help a faint blush that tinged her cheeks. She gave Xuan Kongzi a slightly annoyed glare.
Then she turned her gentle eyes toward Xiao Yan and Wei Yang, her voice soft. "You're Wei Yang and Xiao Yan, correct? That old fellow Yao Chen truly found himself two fine disciples this time."
Seeing Xuan Yi's demeanor, Wei Yang found it quietly amusing.
Xiao Yan, however, now understood that she must indeed have a relationship with his master that outsiders wouldn't know. He dared not be disrespectful—if that were true, she was someone to whom he should offer a formal greeting.
He glanced slightly at Wei Yang. Then, catching Xuan Kongzi's subtle hint, the two spoke in unison, "Wei Yang/Xiao Yan, greet Aunt Xuan."
Hearing their address, President Xuan Yi was momentarily taken aback.
Soon after, a soft flush appeared on her cheeks, and the look she gave the two grew even warmer. Her expression was exactly that of an elder watching her juniors.
"This is President Tian Leizi."
Xuan Kongzi's gaze shifted to the dark-skinned, cold and severe elder beside him, introducing with a smile.
"Junior greets President Tian Leizi."
At those words, the two once again clasped their fists respectfully.
Wei Yang did not dare show the slightest neglect. After all, these three were towering figures of the alchemy world, true seniors. Showing proper respect was only natural.
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