In the stone Tower behind Starfall Pavilion, Yao Chen finished his cultivation and walked out.
All the Worms of Spirit in his body had been consumed during that alchemy session. His soul realm had fallen back to the late Heavenly Realm, and his Dou Qi had reverted to Four-Star Dou Saint.
The cost of refining the ninth grade golden pill was basically borne by the Worms of Spirit. The only damage he suffered was using his own essence blood for the final refinement, which was minor and could be recovered after a period of recuperation.
This pill refinement was also a huge gain for him. The most obvious benefit was a deeper understanding of alchemy. Although he certainly couldn't refine a ninth grade golden pill again, refining a Ninth-Rank Mysterious Pill was now almost a certainty.
"I wonder who that ninth grade golden pill will ultimately go to. I hope the Xiao Clan has the ability to claim it," Yao Chen muttered to himself.
He stepped forward, intending to use spatial displacement to go directly to the Starfall Pavilion's main hall, but found he failed.
Yao Chen was slightly startled, then remembered that without the help of those worms, he was just a Four-Star Dou Saint, and spatial displacement was a technique only a Six-Star Dou Saint could perform.
"It truly is a strange and powerful magical beast… that must be the Xiao Clan's trump card, then."
Yao Chen wasn't entirely clear about the relationship between the Xiao Clan and the Worms of Spirit. He even suspected that Xiao Zhan's strength was also bestowed by the Worms of Spirit.
Just as he was about to fly to the main peak of Starfall Pavilion, he saw a small black dot rapidly approaching from a distance. He paused, waiting in place.
Xiao Yan landed from the sky and asked with concern, "Teacher, you've come out of seclusion… are your injuries better?"
"I just used a refining method that was slightly damaging to my body, it's nothing major," Yao Chen replied with a smile.
Xiao Yan opened his mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Seeing his expression, Yao Chen chuckled and said, "I know you have many questions. Don't rush, I'll answer them for you now. Hmm… let me think, where should I start…"
He paused, organizing his words: "You should still remember the senior who helped me refine a body and revive me last time, right?"
Xiao Yan nodded: "I remember."
"He passed away. His clansmen found me, hoping I would help them refine a pill, the one from the Yao Ceremony. The Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan were also captured by them."
"That senior passed away?" Xiao Yan was startled.
Yao Chen hesitated for a moment, then still said:
"I'm very sorry about Little Fairy Doctor. I asked the person who came to find me, and his reply was that he didn't know about the Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast's demon core. They were busy preparing pill materials and paid less attention to other places, otherwise they would have sent it over long ago."
Xiao Yan's expression was blank, and he said in a flat voice:
"Teacher, I understand… That senior was from the Xiao Clan, right? You're saying this because you don't want me to resent the Xiao Clan… I won't. The biggest reason for Little Fairy Doctor's death was my own incompetence… They didn't do it intentionally… Moreover, it was only an indirect factor… Even if they hadn't captured the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, whether we could have ultimately exchanged for the Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast's demon core is an unknown."
Yao Chen sighed inwardly. While it wasn't resentment, a hint of estrangement had indeed formed in Xiao Yan's heart… I can only help this much. How things proceed from now on is for you father and son to resolve yourselves… Yao Chen thought silently.
Yao Chen continued: "They gave me a secret method that temporarily boosted my strength, which allowed me to refine that pill during the Yao Ceremony.
"Four-Star Dou Saint is my true strength… I wasn't as powerful as I appeared during the Yao Ceremony.
"Otherwise, when we attacked the Soul Hall back then, I wouldn't have been entangled by the Soul Hall Deputy Hall Master. And your little maid, Xiao Meng, wouldn't have… Alas…"
Mentioning Xiao Meng, Xiao Yan felt a pang of pain in his heart, but he quickly adjusted his emotions.
After returning from the Yao Clan, two things had been bothering him:
First, why did his teacher say he hadn't found the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan when they were clearly in his possession? Second, if his teacher was so powerful, why didn't he show it when saving Xiao Meng? After getting the answers, a huge weight was lifted from his heart.
Xiao Yan apologized sincerely: "Teacher, I'm sorry… I had a slight doubt about you before."
Yao Chen shook his head with a calm expression:
"It's nothing, it's human nature… It's good that the misunderstanding is resolved. I also don't want any estrangement between us, master and disciple."
...In the Soul Hall Heaven Hall, a spatial rift appeared in the sky, and three figures emerged from it.
Xiao Zhan suddenly clutched his chest, vomited a large pool of fresh blood, and then coughed violently:
"Cough cough… I was careless. I didn't expect those guys from the Yao Clan to be so desperate, each one directly self-detonating…"
"Father." Xiao Ding and Xiao Li quickly stepped forward to support him, their eyes filled with guilt.
Xiao Zhan was so severely injured because he had protected the two of them from the impact of Yao Dan's self-detonation.
"Father, you shouldn't have taken the impact for us. The Xiao Clan can do without us, but it cannot do without you," Xiao Ding couldn't help but say.
Xiao Zhan waved his hand: "But I can't do without you… I promised your mother I would take good care of you."
A young man wearing a black classical robe and a monocle over his right eye solidified from 虛 (void) in front of them, slowly taking shape.
Xiao Zhan glanced at the other party's eyes and asked, "How are things on Amon's side? Did you get that ninth grade golden pill?"
This Amon raised his right hand, pinching his monocle, and replied:
"Very smoothly. The clan leader has already taken the pill, but it will take some time to refine it, so for now, we can't give you the power of a Nine-Star Dou Saint."
Xiao Zhan nodded: "As soon as possible. The Great War is probably not far off."
The fact that there was a Nine-Star Dou Saint-level Void Swallowing Flame in the Soul Clan, besides Hun Tiandi, startled him. The other ancient clans would also be provoked… Coupled with his attack on the Yao Clan and taking the ancient jade, this would make the other clans even more nervous.
In such a tense situation, it wouldn't be surprising for the Great War to erupt at any time.
"Clan Leader…" Second Elder walked over and, seeing Xiao Zhan, respectfully greeted him.
"What is this?" Third Elder was somewhat surprised to see Xiao Zhan's injuries.
Xiao Zhan's current strength was not weak; few could threaten him.
"We had a fight with the Yao Clan and snatched their ancient jade," Xiao Ding said succinctly.
"The Yao Clan? Should we guard against their retaliation? I'll go gather people now?" Second Elder was slightly nervous.
"No need." Xiao Zhan shook his head slightly, "They no longer have the ability to retaliate."
"Xiao Lang…" A melodious female voice drifted from afar.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stiffened, hastily saying, "Father, we just remembered we have something to do. Excuse us."
The two hurried away.
Second Elder and Third Elder also vanished in a flash.
Xiao Zhan's mouth twitched. He looked at the rushing figure of the beautiful woman and showed a smile: "Hun Mi."
"You're injured? Why are you covered in blood? Let me see." With that, Hun Mi reached out to pull at Xiao Zhan's clothes.
"Wait, wait… Let's talk inside."