Support me at patreon for 320+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk
**
Dong~
As the sound of the bell rang out, the entire space instantly quieted down.
Countless gazes immediately swept toward the towering, pagoda-like stone platform to the east side of the plaza.
That was where the high-level members of the Pill Tower would appear. Not long after the bell tolled, the sound of air being split suddenly spread out.
Soon after, the space above the stone platform twisted slightly, and more than a dozen figures slowly appeared.
Wei Yang and the others let their gazes pass over the dozen or so figures, and then their eyes stopped on the three people in the very center.
Among the three, one was someone Wei Yang and Xiao Yan had already met—it was one of the three giants of the Pill Tower, Xuan Kongzi.
At Xuan Kongzi's left and right stood two other existences whose auras were completely imperceptible.
The old man on the left had dark skin, his face stretched tightly, giving off a strict, stern feeling. His eyes were sharp as lightning, and just meeting his gaze made one's very soul ache faintly.
The one on the right was a beautiful woman in a cheongsam.
Although it was certain that her age was definitely no less than that of Xuan Kongzi, her skin and face were extremely well-maintained, looking no different from a beautiful young woman in her early thirties.
Her expression was calm, her figure graceful as she stood there. Faintly, there was a charm of time's refinement about her, quietly captivating the eyes.
Judging from the fact that the two stood side by side with Xuan Kongzi, it was obvious that they must be the other two giants of the Pill Tower.
Wei Yang raised his brow slightly, his gaze brushing over the graceful woman's figure, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
That old fellow Yao Chen really could do it. To reject someone like this…Tsk tsk.
No wonder he spent his whole life pumping iron.
With the appearance of these three, the entire space grew even quieter.
In the endless sea of people, countless gazes filled with all sorts of emotions converged on the three figures.
The three giants of the Pill Tower—this name was renowned not only in Central Plains, but even across the entire Dou Qi Continent, they were truly legendary figures.
These three were usually figures of legend. Now, suddenly appearing in public, it naturally made countless people feel an unbelievable sense of shock, their emotions stirred beyond control.
"Hehe, I, Xuan Kongzi, represent the Pill Tower to welcome all alchemists who have come here. In the days to come, this place will be your stage to show your skills."
The white-haired Xuan Kongzi stepped forward slowly, his warm voice clearly resounding in the ears of everyone in the plaza.
The entire crowd fell completely silent. No matter how unruly or savage some were, in this moment, all restrained their tempers, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
"You've all traveled from afar for the Pill Gathering, so I won't waste any of your time."
"Hehe, just as always, the Pill Gathering is divided into three stages. First…"
Xuan Kongzi briefly explained the Pill Gathering's selection process, which was roughly the same as what Ye Zhong had described earlier. Clearly, this rule was the standard format handed down from past generations of the Pill Gathering, and would not be easily changed.
"As long as you pass the three stages of selection, the one who prevails in the end will become the champion of this Pill Gathering!"
When Xuan Kongzi said the word "champion," the vast sea of people rippled slightly. He smiled faintly and continued, "At the same time, the champion will not only gain a spot as a candidate for the Pill Tower's giant position, but will also receive an ancient Soul Cultivation Technique. With it, stepping into the Tier 9 in the future may not be impossible."
Hua~
The moment Xuan Kongzi's words fell, an uproar exploded from the dense crowd below. Countless alchemists instantly began breathing rapidly, their eyes turning red.
An ancient Soul Cultivation Technique!
Tier 9?
That was a level that was practically the stuff of legends, utterly out of reach.
But if one could obtain that ancient Soul Cultivation Technique, the distance would instantly shrink countless times!
For every alchemist present, this was a temptation that could not be resisted. There was no need to explain how rare and precious an ancient Soul Cultivation Technique was. Even calling such a treasure priceless would not be an exaggeration.
"Tier 9 huh~"
Even Wei Yang and Xiao Yan couldn't resist the temptation. So, after Xuan Kongzi's words, their breathing unknowingly grew heavier.
Xian'er's eyes also lit up, and she couldn't help but tightly grasp Wei Yang's hand.
Forget Tier 9—if she could just achieve five or six-colored Tier 8 in her life, she would already be content.
But that Nine-Refinement Heavenly Soul was simply too torturous to train. Even someone like Yao Lao had cultivated it for so many years, yet had only reached the late stage of the sixth refinement. It was obvious how terrifyingly painful it was.
After the seventh refinement, the suffering was something ordinary people could never endure. The kind of sting that directly struck the soul was far more intense than any pain on the flesh.
"Xiao Yan, the position of giant candidate doesn't matter. But this Soul Cultivation Technique, we must secure it." Wei Yang said softly.
"Mm." Xiao Yan nodded firmly.
If one wanted to step into the Tier 9, then a Soul Cultivation Technique was absolutely essential. The Nine-Refinement Heavenly Soul, Xiao Yan also possessed.
But cultivating it… there was really no way to describe it!
After so many years, he had only just stepped into the early stage of the fourth refinement. Not only was the process excruciatingly painful, but there was another drawback—it consumed too much time.
It was a method that required long years, slowly enduring bit by bit. More precisely, it was a method better suited as a supplementary path of cultivation.
Its greatest trait was that it made the practitioner's soul far more resilient.
But as for actual improvement to soul cultivation, the further one progressed, the slower it became, with fewer advantages to speak of.
On the high platform.
Xuan Kongzi looked at the suddenly reddened gazes below and smiled faintly, then lifted his head to glance at the sky.
With a wave of his sleeve, an invisible ripple spread out, striking a certain point in the void. At once, another deep toll of the bell reverberated through the square.
"The time has come. All contestants of Tier 6 and above, proceed to the first stage, the Soul Illusion!"
Xuan Kongzi's finger suddenly pointed toward the vast plaza.
There, the dark-gray space rapidly twisted, its interior like a series of strange worlds, filled with countless mysteries.
Boom!
The instant Xuan Kongzi's words fell, countless figures burst out from the endless sea of people. Like a swarm of locusts blotting out the sky, they surged forward, all plunging into the distorted space.
Watching the figures streaming into the twisted space like a torrential downpour, Wei Yang and the other two exchanged glances, then took a deep breath and slowly stepped forward.
"Good luck~"
Behind them, Qing Lin and the others cheered them on.
Wei Yang and the other two exchanged a smile, just about to move when Wei Yang suddenly halted. He turned his head slightly toward Ah Da and said, "Ah Da, you're coming too."
"Ah?" Ah Da froze.
He was only Tier 6. He hadn't intended to participate at all, since he had no hope of winning.
"The Pill Realm may not be safe. I don't know if the Soul Hall might be scheming in the shadows." Wei Yang said.
"Alright." Ah Da nodded, flipping his hand and pulling out a Tier 6 badge, putting it on.
"I didn't expect Senior Ah Da to be a Tier 6 as well? With you here, we'll be much safer inside the Pill Realm." Xiao Yan said with a smile.
"Hehe, my talent in alchemy is dull. I wasted so much of my master's effort teaching me, and only barely reached Tier 6. I truly feel ashamed." Ah Da said with a bitter smile.
"To avoid alerting the enemy, Ah Da, unless absolutely necessary, try not to reveal your strength." Wei Yang reminded him softly.
"Understood." Ah Da nodded.
"Let's go!"
Wei Yang stomped the void beneath his feet, his body turning into a streak of light as he shot forward, vanishing into the twisted dark-gray space under countless envious gazes.
Behind him, Xiao Yan, Xian'er, and Ah Da followed suit.
Left behind at the spot were only Qing Lin holding the two little ones, along with Du Jiao and Tian Huo Zun Zhe.
As time passed, at the twisted space—with the final contestant stepping in, this grand struggle of the Pill Gathering, at last, officially began.
------------------------------------------------------------
Support me at patreon for 320+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk