Chapter 272: State Your Name, You're Not Xiao Yan!
"Sev seven star advanced?"
Ye Zhong's lips twitched uncontrollably. When "Xiao Yan" made his request earlier, Ye Zhong had agreed without much thought, never bothering to ask which rank he intended to test for.
In Ye Zhong's mind, Xiao Yan's reputation might suggest some capability, but it couldn't be anything exceptional. At most, he figured, the man was just slightly above average.
Yet now, Xiao Yan had casually declared he wanted to test for seven star advanced.
It was a rank Ye Zhong had struggled his entire life to barely achieve.
The testing room fell into stunned silence. The members of the Qiu and Cao families stared, their faces frozen in disbelief. As much as they doubted the claim, this "Xiao Yan" was infamous across the Pill Region for not even sparing the mighty Cao family a glance. They didn't dare openly question him.
A short distance away, Ye Xinlan had just reached the Yellow Gate when she heard the announcement. Her lips parted in shock. Back in Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan had been known as a four star alchemist and one of the co founders of the Sacred Gate.
But no matter how capable Xiao Yan had been, he had always been overshadowed by the Sacred Gate's founder, Lu Bu, who outclassed him in alchemy, reputation, cultivation, and strength.
How, in just a few years, had Xiao Yan jumped from four star to seven star advanced?
A seven star alchemist was already worthy of being called a master. And he wasn't even that old!
"Hehe... Cao Dan, looks like you've got no way to deal with this guy anymore!" Qiu Fan, standing nearby, couldn't resist mocking, a grin of schadenfreude lighting up his face. "He's about the same age as us, but with such achievements... I'd say only that witch in your family could compare to him."
Whether Xiao Yan was strong or not was irrelevant to Qiu Fan. Watching the arrogant Cao family get humiliated? Now that was satisfying.
"Hmph!" Cao Dan's expression darkened, his face contorted with anger. He didn't believe a word Xiao Yan had said, but he couldn't deny the man's overwhelming strength or fame.
"Xiao Yan, this isn't something to joke about," Steward Han said gravely. "And I cannot test for seven star advanced. I am merely a low tier seven star alchemist; I can only evaluate up to mid tier seven star."
"Then let's do mid tier seven star," Lu Bu replied with a faint smile. To him, there was no real difference between mid tier and advanced seven star.
"Are you certain?" Steward Han asked again, his tone growing serious. "Young man, alchemy requires patience and steadiness. You must not be impulsive or overreach yourself."
"I'm certain," Lu Bu replied, his smile unwavering.
Seeing this, Steward Han's face grew solemn. "Very well, if you insist. Follow me for the assessment!"
With that, the steward turned toward the door marked "Heaven," and Lu Bu followed him inside.
Once the two had left, the room fell into silence.
Ye Zhong's eyes flickered with a complicated light. From the moment he met Xiao Yan, he had already been curious. Otherwise, why would he have gone out of his way to help?
But he could never have anticipated that Xiao Yan's abilities would be so extraordinary.
"I hope he takes Xinlan's side..." Ye Zhong muttered to himself, his fists trembling slightly. He suddenly regretted testing Xiao Yan's character. A man with such fame and strength was no ordinary figure. Why had he dared to scheme against him?
Ye Zhong clenched his fists, resisting the urge to slap himself.
"Brother Cao, do you think this guy is really a mid or advanced seven star alchemist?" Qiu Fan sidled up to Cao Dan, speaking casually but loud enough for the whole room to hear.
"...I don't know!" Cao Dan ground his teeth, his jaw visibly tense. Like Ye Xinlan had said earlier, there was no formal engagement between him and the Ye family. They were merely in the discussion phase, far from a concrete agreement.
By all accounts, this wasn't worth offending someone as dangerous as Xiao Yan. But he still felt utterly humiliated!
"Ah, too bad..." Qiu Fan shrugged, disappointed. He had hoped Cao Dan would lash out again, only to be put in his place.
Watching Cao Dan take another beating would've been so satisfying.
...
Ten minutes passed.
The members of the Cao and Qiu families had already completed their assessments before Lu Bu and Ye Zhong's arrival, but none of them left.
Their curiosity kept them rooted to the spot. Was Xiao Yan truly as capable as his reputation suggested? Or was he just putting on a show?
Their thoughts were interrupted when, unexpectedly, the door to the "Yellow" room the one Ye Xinlan had entered remained closed, while the "Heaven" door on the far left suddenly creaked open.
Two figures emerged.
One was a young man, casually spinning a dark gold badge between his fingers, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The other was the steward, his face pale and trembling, a look of utter disbelief etched onto his features.
"Mid tier seven star… He really has the skill!" Cao Dan clenched his fists, a mix of fear and frustration boiling inside him.
"Wow… It seems his reputation as a Dou Di candidate isn't baseless after all," remarked one of the Qiu family members, his gaze narrowing.
"Master Xiao Yan, your skills are indeed worthy of testing for seven star advanced. I must apologize for doubting you earlier," Steward Han said respectfully, bowing slightly.
"It's fine; you were just doing your job." Lu Bu waved a hand dismissively. Then, with a playful smile, he added, "But what if I wanted to test for seven star advanced now?"
"I can arrange for you to take the test at headquarters!" Steward Han replied immediately, his voice filled with urgency.
This was exactly what Lu Bu wanted. Chuckling, he said, "Then I'll trouble you with that."
Steward Han beamed, delighted. If he could help assess a seven star advanced alchemist, his standing in the Pill Tower would skyrocket, bringing him countless benefits.
"But…" Lu Bu suddenly interjected, shifting his tone.
"Please, speak!" Steward Han replied, his attitude growing even more deferential. For a mere low tier seven star alchemist, showing respect to a superior wasn't difficult.
"Forget seven star advanced. Let's skip to testing for eight star instead," Lu Bu said, still smiling.
"You… What did you say?" Steward Han's pupils constricted, his face betraying a mix of awe and shock. Eight star?
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.
The crowd, which had initially treated Lu Bu's claims with skepticism, now sat in stunned silence. Testing for seven star advanced was already impressive, but eight star?
The leap to eight star was a monumental one. Countless alchemists spent their entire lives stuck at the threshold of this rank, never advancing further.
Take Ye Zhong, for example. He had been a seven star advanced alchemist for decades, yet he stood no chance of reaching eight star without some miraculous opportunity.
"Master Han, are you going to tell me again to stay grounded?" Lu Bu teased lightly.
As he spoke, an invisible pressure began to radiate through the room.
Steward Han's expression twisted as his chest tightened, feeling as though a massive boulder were crushing him. His legs nearly gave out beneath him as cold sweat streamed down his face.
The other alchemists in the room fared even worse. Bent double under the oppressive force, their faces turned red as they struggled to breathe.
Even Ye Zhong, despite his strength as a seven star advanced alchemist, found his legs trembling uncontrollably.
"I… I spoke out of turn..." Steward Han stammered, his voice barely audible as he fought against the overwhelming pressure.
As soon as he finished speaking, the oppressive force vanished.
Steward Han staggered, nearly falling to the ground. Though his body felt weak, a profound sense of relief washed over him, as though a great weight had been lifted.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Steward Han." Lu Bu chuckled.
"Please, follow me, Senior!" Steward Han replied, bowing deeply. Even his address had changed "Senior" was now the only title he deemed appropriate.
As he spoke, Lu Bu followed the elder out of the testing room, disappearing from everyone's sight.
"Phew… That guy no, he's actually an eight star alchemist?" Qiu Fan gasped, wiping cold sweat from his forehead. The terrifying pressure he had just experienced was something he had only ever felt from the patriarch of his family. It was truly horrifying.
"This guy... Could he really possess the qualifications of a Dou Di?" Cao Dan clenched his fists tightly, his face pale as a sheet. Where did this lunatic even come from? And how had he never heard of this person's name before?
"This is trouble…" Ye Zhong's face was ashen, his mind spinning. He had actually schemed against an eight star alchemist? That was practically digging his own grave!
"No… I have to make amends and apologize!" A flash of fear crossed Ye Zhong's face. He finally understood why that terrifying Dou Zun was so willing to follow behind Xiao Yan so obediently.
However…
"Damn it… What could I possibly offer that would be worthy of an eight star alchemist?" Ye Zhong's mouth twitched. That was no ordinary person it was an eight star alchemist!
A true grandmaster of alchemy! Saying "wealth rivaling a nation" wasn't even enough to describe someone of his status!
…
In the center of the Pill Region, a massive black tower pierced the clouds, reaching several hundred feet into the sky.
This black tower, like the North Thunder Tower of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, was built atop a mountain. However, the Pill Tower dwarfed the North Thunder Tower in both size and height by several magnitudes.
Surrounding the mountain was a faint herbal fragrance that lingered in the air. This mountain was not only the Pill Tower's core but also home to countless alchemy masters and grandmasters who carefully cultivated rare medicinal herbs here. These masters resided within the mountain, forming the foundation of the Pill Tower.
Of course, this was only the surface. Only those who had reached a certain level of mastery would know that the true essence of the Pill Tower lay within its hidden Small Pill Tower.
Lu Bu stood within a tranquil estate, curiously observing his surroundings. This place was vastly different from the bustling Holy Pill City it was peaceful and serene, with rolling mountains and a light, refreshing breeze carrying the scent of medicinal herbs.
The location for an eight star alchemist test was naturally far more exclusive than the crowded rooms used for seven star alchemists.
Unlike seven star alchemists, eight star alchemists stood at the true pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent. Even Dou Shengs or Dou Zuns would not dare to treat them lightly.
Hun Mogu had firsthand experience of this. It was only because of the Pill Tower's leader, Hun Miesheng, that he was able to reclaim a physical body and live again.
"Damn, this place is really something…" Hei Qing muttered as he glanced around, his mouth stretching into a wide grin.
Dragon Island was good, but it couldn't compare to the intoxicating herbal fragrance and lush beauty of this medicinal mountain. Besides, Dragon Island's best areas were controlled by the North, West, and South Islands. Hei Qing's East Dragon Island was the weakest of the four, leaving them with far fewer resources.
"The Pill Tower staff should be here soon. Feel free to relax, but don't leave this mountain," Lu Bu said with a laugh.
The Pill Tower had its Three Heads the three most powerful leaders and below them, the Eight Elders.
Steward Han was only a steward and not even an elder, so he naturally couldn't directly contact the three heads. Instead, he reported Lu Bu's request for eight star alchemist certification to one of the eight elders, Elder Sheng. It was Elder Sheng who had brought Lu Bu here.
If Lu Bu's guess was correct, the next step would involve the three heads themselves appearing.
Officially, there were only four or five eight star alchemists within the Pill Tower, so they wouldn't dare neglect such a matter.
"No need… They're already here," Hei Qing said with a shrug.
"Hm?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, looking toward a particular patch of sky.
At that moment, faint ripples appeared in the air, and three figures slowly emerged.
An elderly man in white, a stunningly beautiful woman, and a young woman in a black dress.
The young woman had a tall, elegant figure, with flawless, snow like skin and a captivating aura. Her black dress fluttered lightly in the breeze, accentuating her alluring curves. Her long, enchanting eyes sparkled with intelligence and an occasional touch of seduction.
"Oh… a Void Ancient Dragon?" The white robed elder, Xuan Kong Zi, looked surprised as his gaze fell on Hei Qing. Despite Hei Qing's eight star Dou Zun strength, he had sensed their arrival a rare and extraordinary feat.
Upon closer inspection, Xuan Kong Zi noticed something peculiar.
"It has been a long time since I last encountered the Ancient Dragon Clan," he said with a hint of nostalgia.
"Greetings, Grandmasters!" Hei Qing gave a slight bow as a gesture of respect.
While he didn't necessarily need to curry favor with all eight star alchemists, those like Lu Bu who had close ties to the Ancient Dragon Clan were exceptions.
As for these two from the Pill Tower, Hei Qing knew better than to reveal any information about the Ancient Dragon Clan. And the black dressed young woman? He simply ignored her.
Xuan Kong Zi paid Hei Qing no mind. The Ancient Dragon Clan was known for their pride. Instead, his gaze turned toward Lu Bu, whose ability to sense their arrival was equally noteworthy.
"Hmm, this young man possesses a spiritual soul at the Spirit Realm level... Impressive."
"I am Xiao Yan. Greetings to the two presidents… and the young lady," Lu Bu said with a smile. He had expected their arrival, though he remained modest in his demeanor.
Of course, that didn't mean he would overly revere eight star alchemists. However, when compared to the lofty Medicine Clan, even eight star alchemists paled in comparison.
"Xiao Yan, no need for formalities. I am Xuan Kong Zi, as you might already know." The white robed elder chuckled warmly before gesturing to the young woman. "This is my disciple, Cao Ying. I brought her along to broaden her horizons. I hope you don't mind."
Cao Ying nodded slightly. While she was surprised by "Xiao Yan's" status as an eight star alchemist, she didn't seem particularly shocked. After all, geniuses were commonplace, and she was one herself.
"You flatter me, President. Miss Cao Ying's achievements are surely no less than my own," Lu Bu replied smoothly before turning to the beautiful woman beside Xuan Kong Zi. "Greetings, President Xuan Yi."
If he remembered correctly, this Xuan Yi was the one who had feelings for Yao Chen, but had been rejected due to his responsibilities toward Han Feng. Truly a tragic tale.
"Oh, what a polite young man," Xuan Kong Zi said with a laugh, clearly pleased. "I must say, I'm impressed. Reaching the Spirit Realm at your age is no small feat."
"I spent countless years just barely reaching this level myself. You've made an old man envious. Perhaps you really are destined to be a Dou Di?"
"Haha… You flatter me, President…" Lu Bu's smile stiffened slightly. He couldn't help but imagine how awkward Xiao Yan would feel if he ever had to face this "Dou Di candidate" title himself.
"We've already received your request for eight star certification. At this level, we don't call it a 'test' but rather an 'exchange,'" Xuan Kong Zi explained. "If you can successfully refine an eight star pill, you will have our full recognition. Furthermore, if you're willing to join the Pill Tower, one of the Eight Elders' seats will be yours."
"Oh…" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, about to accept.
But suddenly…
"Wait. I have a question!"
The usually silent Xuan Yi spoke, her gaze locking onto Lu Bu. Her beautiful eyes glinted with a cold sharpness.
"Young man, state your real name. You're not Xiao Yan!"
"Huh?" Cao Ying raised an eyebrow, her delicate face lighting up with intrigue. "Well, this just got interesting…"
Lu Bu's expression stiffened slightly.
What the hell? How did so many people in the Pill Tower know Xiao Yan?
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