Shengdan City.
Atop a majestic tower, Xuankongzi and Xuanyi stood side by side, observing the bustling streets below with a slight frown on their faces.
Familiar streets, familiar bustle—to the ordinary eye, today seemed no different than any other.
However, as the apparent leaders of Danta, the two keenly perceived that this was already the prelude to a turbulent undercurrent.
"This is the third Dou Zun expert to enter Shengdan City today. These veterans usually wish they could take root, and we rarely see each other in decades. Why are they all out all of a sudden?"
Xuankongzi was puzzled. Something
must be wrong when things are out of the ordinary. Shengdan City, once prosperous, was suddenly in turmoil, especially at this critical moment. He couldn't help but wonder.
Xuan Yi guessed some of the reasons, shook his head and smiled: "These old guys shouldn't be coming for us, they all have one thing in common, they have a grudge against that Phantom Poison Old Monster, I think most of them are here for him."
"Phantom Poison Old Monster? Isn't this guy being hunted by the Soul Palace? When did he enter the city?"
"I don't know, but the Soul Palace has been making quite a big fuss around Dan Domain these days, and they have dispatched five Heavenly Venerables. With the strength of Phantom Poison Old Monster, he should not be able to escape. Returning to Shengdan City to take advantage of the situation is undoubtedly a better choice. This old guy has a first-class disguise ability. If he doesn't show up, we can't find him, but there is someone who can accurately grasp his location."
"That kid named Chen Guan?"
"Indeed, the Ancient Dragon Clan member left behind a dragon seal before leaving. No matter how the Phantom Poisonous Monster disguises himself, he can't escape detection. Look at that tall black-robed figure. If I'm not mistaken, it must be Chen Guan's puppet. With his location, the Phantom Poisonous Monster's plan to hide within Shengdan City is flawed."
Following Xuan Yi's direction, Xuan Kongzi also spotted the black-robed puppet.
His eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing.
"So, it was he who passed the Phantom Poisonous Monster's location to the Soul Palace a few days ago. In other words, this guy has connections with the Soul Palace?!"
"I understand your concerns, but his collusion with the Soul Palace is unlikely. At most, they're just using each other. Otherwise, Yao Chen would have fallen into the Soul Palace's hands long ago."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Kongzi suddenly came to his senses.
"I was mistaken. This kid is quite interesting. Old Phantom Poison provoked him, probably never expecting this day to come. Who knows when he'll finally react. While Danta shouldn't be involved in these matters, they still have to ensure the safety of the city. Furthermore, Yao Chen is almost back, and Tian Lei Zi is away. Right now, it's best to keep the city quiet to prevent the Soul Palace from exploiting an opportunity. Once he's exposed, we can kick him out."
Xuan Yi nodded. "That's what I was thinking."
Poor Old Phantom Poison—compared to Yao Chen, he's nothing...
Half a day later, several terrifying auras emanated simultaneously from the city, sending countless people trembling in fear, praying they wouldn't perish in the aftermath.
Everyone thought an unprecedented war was about to break out, but Xuan Yi's timely appearance quelled the rising tide. Then, with his weapon drawn, he politely escorted the veterans, who were preparing for a fight, out of Shengdan City.
"If I won't be kept here, I'll find another place to stay. Those who dare chase me, I'll deal with them all!"
"Youdu, don't run!"
"Cunning villain, don't leave!"
Even though they couldn't see the person, only their voices, they could still imagine the scene.
Even within the puppet ring, Venerable Skyfire couldn't help but chuckle. Then, ignoring the old monster Youdu, he headed straight for the alchemist trading location in Shengdan City.
This trip to Shengdan City wasn't specifically to report to Youdu's enemies, but rather, Chen Guan wanted them to gather the ingredients for the Bone-Growing Blood-Melting Pill while he was in seclusion.
Chen Guan remembered that the main ingredient for the Bone-Growing Blood-Melting Pill would appear at the alchemist trading meeting in Shengdan City.
The Blood Essence Demon Fruit!
Although the meeting was a bit early, knowing that Yao Chen and Xiao Yan would most likely be taken to Zhongzhou by Venerable Feng, Chen Guan had no choice but to have Venerable Skyfire come earlier to stake out.
After all, Yao Chen and Xiao Yan also needed this thing. Once they arrived, this trade fair would be a must-visit for all alchemists, something they absolutely couldn't miss. Arriving too late might mean it was gone.
With the resurrection at stake, Skyfire Venerable couldn't help but pay attention. He simply accompanied this spiritual, though still somewhat incomplete, puppet to personally observe the
order. The Alchemist Trade Fair in Shengdan City was quite prestigious in the area. Unlike other fairs, where a mix of good and bad prevailed, this fair would undoubtedly be considered top-tier, far superior to the smaller fairs elsewhere.
The fair was located in the outer regions of Shengdan City, but its location was not bad, situated at the junction of the outer and inner regions. It was said that the fair's growth was due to the support of the Dan Tower. Because of this, the exchange of goods at the fair was rarely accompanied by incidents of murder and robbery. After all, no one in the Dan Region could escape the Dan Tower's pursuit.
"This should be it, the Alchemist Trade Fair. What a straightforward name."
Standing before a vast building, Venerable Skyfire gazed at the flamboyant calligraphy on the pale green wooden plaque, feeling a bit speechless.
At this moment, the fair was bustling with traffic and a stream of people. Countless people in alchemist robes, under admiring gazes from all around, smoothly passed through the heavy guards at the entrance and entered.
With a slight grumble, Venerable Skyfire strode inside, allowing the puppet to lead him.
A tall figure, clattering as he walked down the steps, stern-faced guards at the fair's entrance felt a powerful pressure.
They felt a slight unease, but duty demanded a check of credentials.
According to the rules, there were only two ways to enter:
one, being an alchemist.
The other, being led by a seventh-rank alchemist!
However, just as one of them was about to step forward to inspect, a surge of spiritual energy emanated, causing the faces of the many alchemists entering and leaving to change slightly.
"Spiritual Realm Soul?!"
"I don't know, it feels a bit strange."
"Who is this person? With such a powerful soul, his alchemy skill must be at least sixth-rank!"
A whisper filled the air, everyone astonished by Venerable Skyfire. The smell was too strong!
"Do you still need to check?"
"No need, sir!"
Venerable Skyfire's attitude was indifferent, but the guards took it for granted.
Isn't it common knowledge that alchemists are arrogant?
He stopped, bowed, and watched them go.
Though he sensed something was amiss, he wisely chose to turn a blind eye.
After all, the rules were Danta's rules. He only made a few cents a month, so why risk his life?
This person hadn't produced any proof, but his overwhelming spiritual power was clear to all. Even if he wasn't an alchemist, he was certainly a formidable figure to be trifled with!
Venerable Skyfire smiled with satisfaction, and the puppet strode in.
Beyond the gate opened a spacious, cool passage. Entering along it, the throbbing sound suddenly reached him, piercing his ears.
Standing at the entrance, Venerable Skyfire's spiritual power, at the right angle, revealed a vast hall.
Within, numerous neatly arranged stone platforms lay behind them. Figures resembling vendors sat cross-legged, their demeanor relaxed, not at all like businesspeople.
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Of course, they weren't.
Most of them were dressed in alchemist robes, their identities obvious.
Many alchemists wandered the vast hall, occasionally stopping at stone platforms to carefully examine the items displayed. If they found something they liked, they would stop and negotiate with the stall owner. With his keen
eyes, Venerable Skyfire could tell that the alchemists on this floor, as well as the items being traded, were of low quality.
Without hesitation, he immediately directed his puppet to the second floor.
Entry required a sixth-grade alchemist, and the inspection was more rigorous.
Helplessly, Venerable Skyfire could only use the alchemist badge Chen Guan had given him to get through.
While the second floor was much smaller than the first, the items traded were far more valuable, with some herbs even capable of being refined into seventh-grade elixirs.
Unfortunately, Venerable Skyfire didn't find the Blood Essence Demon Fruit. It
was a bit disappointing, but also expected.
If they were to encounter it right away, that would be absurd.
The requirement for entering the third floor is to reach the level of a seventh-grade alchemist or a Dou Zun.
None of them have reached the level of Skyfire Zun yet, so they can only suppress their curiosity and follow Chen Guan's instructions. They find an empty stone platform, pick out a few herbs, mark them with exorbitant prices, and wait for their target to appear.
...
The small training room is hushed and silent, as if cut off from the outside world.
Chen Guan sits cross-legged on a lotus seat, eyes closed, hands pressed together on his knees, motionless like an old monk in meditation.
Before him, a fist-sized, golden, blazing fire bead hovers in the air, continuously emanating rich energy.
However, before this energy can dissipate into the heavens and earth, it is drawn into Chen Guan's body by a mysterious suction force.
Constantly absorbing the vast energy within the Earth Core Fire Bead, day after day, his meridians, bones, muscles, and even cells are invisibly tempered and strengthened.
So much so that, from the outside, Chen Guan appeared as if enveloped by a dense net, an incomparably mysterious presence.
Repetitively practicing the technique, Chen Guan entered a strange state. He no longer needed to control it. The powerful Dou Qi within him surged like a river, constantly flowing through his meridians, charging towards the so-called Dou Zong barrier.
Immersed in the miraculous sensation of a slow, transformative transformation, Chen Guan's mind remained calm, the dullness of time having little effect on his state of mind.
As this peaceful practice continued, after an unknown amount of time, Chen Guan's aura gradually intensified to a terrifying degree. While he still hadn't broken through to the Dou Zong realm, it was at least several times more powerful than before.
This transformation in his aura didn't immediately lead to a Dou Zong breakthrough, demonstrating just how difficult it was to reach. It felt more like he had just taken one step forward, and only with a single, decisive effort could he complete the feat, stepping in with the other.
Otherwise, all efforts will be in vain!
Having reached the most crucial moment, Chen Guan's concentration intensified. His body was like a bottomless pit, constantly absorbing the energy of heaven and earth. The Earth Core Fire Pearl gradually shrank in the process.
Cultivation is like a cycle; time flies by here. Completely immersed in the state of cultivation, Chen Guan completely forgot the passage of time, entering a state of oblivion. The only way to escape this state was to wait for the day of breakthrough!
In this state, time slipped away like sand through fingers, silently and without a ripple.
One day, two days...
ten days, half a month, a month...
until, on the forty-fifth day, the sedentary figure finally stirred!
...
Outside the ancient altar square, the wind blew through it like a wave of heat, and at that moment, at the edge, two figures loomed.
Standing with his hands behind his back was a middle-aged man with an unremarkable appearance, the type who would make no splash if thrown into a crowd, and would be forgotten in the blink of an eye.
During a recent visit to the Ye family, it was only after repeated attempts at proof that Ye Chong was finally convinced that this guy was the insignificant old man who had been following behind the Black Qing Venerable.
His identity was self-evident.
His grand ambitions had ultimately become unattainable. He couldn't even leave the Dan Realm, let alone the entire Dou Qi Continent.
The old monster, Youdu, was truly helpless. He had been on the run for over a month, hunted by his enemies and the Soul Palace. They'd been beaten lightly every day, then severely every three days. Even a Dou Zun, with his incredible vitality, couldn't withstand such torture.
With no other choice, he could only return to square one and prepare to apply for an immediate prison sentence!
Some things, he saw clearly but didn't speak.
He accepted it!
Not far away, leaning lazily against a mahogany pillar, was a beautiful young woman with a delicate figure.
Clear, bright pupils, arched eyebrows, long eyelashes trembling slightly, flawless fair skin tinged with a faint blush, thin lips as tender as rose petals, passionate and forthright without being vulgar.
The Ye family was genuinely surprised by the arrival of this enchanting woman from the Cao family. After inquiring, they learned she was looking for Chen Guan again. "
Well, that's fine, just treat her well."
Cao Ying didn't care what the Ye family thought; she was simply here to run errands.
With the old folks too busy reminiscing about the past to bother moving, she was the only one suitable for the job.
After all, this matter was of grave importance; the fewer people who knew about it, the better.
"It's been over a month, so it should be about time."
"Hmph, little girl, the Dou Zong barrier isn't that easy to cross. Even with my incredible talent back then, even after taking the Zong Breaking Pill, it took me a full six months to break through. In my opinion, you can go back to the Dan Tower and report back, and come back in six months. If this brat breaks through in two months, I'll eat him right there and then."
"Boom!"
Just as the old ghost poison monster was boasting, the world around the ancient altar square suddenly erupted with a roar of energy.
Immediately, the energy within this world began to surge violently.
As if drawn by something, the surrounding energy began to converge frantically towards the center of the altar, causing many of the Ye family disciples cultivating nearby to express both surprise and nervousness.
Good news, a pie in the sky!
Bad news, this pie is a bit too big, it might kill me!
At the edge, Cao Ying straightened up, a teasing smile on his face.
"What were you about to say, Senior?"
(End of Chapter)