Battle Through the Heavens: The Alchemist Starting from the Ye Family

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Upon arriving at his teacher's side, before Ye Chen could even speak, Xuan Kongzi quickly asked, "Chen'er, do you know that Dou Sheng expert from earlier?"

Such a terrifyingly powerful expert suddenly intervened to help the Pill Tower for no apparent reason. If the reason isn't clarified, Xuan Kongzi and the others might not be able to sleep at night from now on...

Ye Chen chuckled and said to his teacher, "Don't worry, teacher. That person was an elder of mine. After I learned that the Soul Hall would come to disrupt this succession ceremony, I asked this senior to keep an eye on things for me."

"elder?"

Xuan Kongzi looked at his disciple with a strange expression, unsure of what to say for a moment.

When did this kid manage to latch onto such a terrifying powerful figure? He's likely a senior at the level of a three-star Dou Sheng.

Faced with his teacher's strange gaze, Ye Chen didn't know how to explain, so he could only grin foolishly.

There was nothing Ye Chen could do; his mother-in-law wouldn't allow him to reveal her identity, and he couldn't very well make up a lie to deceive his teacher.

Well, that bastard Ye Chen is just like Pigsy from Journey to the West. He hasn't even married the girl yet, and he's already calling her 'Mom'...

Chapter 417 Reforming the Pill Tower

The succession ceremony for the president of the Pill Tower was fraught with twists and turns. Although it ended without major incident, everyone present felt a sense of relief. The fact that several Dou Sheng-level figures from the Soul Palace, the Pill Tower, and even the Dragon Clan and the mysterious female Dou Sheng added a layer of mystery to the ceremony, giving those fortunate enough to witness it much more to boast about. However, compared to the guests who left in high spirits, the atmosphere within the Pill Tower was rather somber. In the main hall on the top floor of the Pill Tower, President Ye Chen sat at the head of the table, flanked by Xuan Kongzi and two others, along with the Fourth Elder of the Elder Council, Elder Gui Xuan. "I never expected the Soul Palace to send two Dou Sheng-level figures this time. Although their scheme failed, our Pill Tower still lost a step," Xuan Kongzi sighed. If it weren't for the intervention of that mysterious Dou Sheng, Xuan Kongzi couldn't even imagine the consequences. Had he known the Soul Palace would go to such lengths, he would have insisted on inviting the Grand Elder from the Little Pill Tower. "It's useless to talk about these things now. The most important thing is that this incident has proven that the Soul Palace's strength far exceeds our imagination. Our Pill Tower is so far behind them in terms of Saint-level experts. If a major war really breaks out in the future, then things will really go wrong!" Xuan Yi said coldly with a gloomy expression. Seeing the silence of the crowd, Elder Guixuan sighed inwardly and said, "The Little Pill Tower does have some understanding of the Soul Hall's true strength. Their two hall masters are both Dou Sheng of at least three stars, which is not to be underestimated. However, over the years, I have been monitoring that Soul Hall master. I know if he makes any moves that are detrimental to our Pill Tower, so we don't need to worry about him taking action for now. But the Soul Hall's deputy hall master is no pushover either, and with the Soul Hall's three Heavenly Venerables, our Pill Tower must still act cautiously in the future!" Clearly, the Little Pill Tower has always had a clear understanding of the Soul Hall's strength. It is precisely because they know that the Soul Hall is stronger than themselves that the Pill Tower has chosen to endure all these years, even knowing that the Soul Hall has been killing alchemists—it's simply because they lack the strength! "However, the guild leader performed quite well this time. Not only did he refine a ninth-grade precious pill, but he also defeated the Soul Hall Vice Hall Master's avatar, demonstrating his strength. It seems this should offset the adverse impact of this incident." At this point, the old man Gui Xuan's originally withered face revealed a slight smile. Clearly, he was extremely satisfied with Ye Chen, the new guild leader. Seeing that everyone's attention had shifted to him, Ye Chen simply smiled slightly. "Fourth Elder, you flatter me. However, this incident has indeed exposed a very important weakness of my Pill Tower: the lack of high-end combat power." Ye Chen noticed that many people looked thoughtful after his words, and continued, "I'm not being self-deprecating, nor am I intentionally belittling you seniors. It's just that, although my Pill Tower possesses countless powerful alchemists and has unparalleled influence throughout the Central Continent and even the entire continent, we lack a powerful force that can be quickly mobilized. After all, you are all alchemists, and you usually spend your time researching alchemy; you don't have that much energy to waste on other things." Looking at the group of old fogies in the Little Pill Tower, apart from the ten elders of the Elder Council, although few are Saint-level, most are at the peak of the eighth or ninth rank of Dou Zun, which can be considered high-end combat power. But these old guys don't care at all about what's happening outside. Even if it concerns the Pill Tower, as long as it doesn't reach the point of annihilation, these old guys won't leave their alchemy rooms. This is the biggest problem facing the Pill Tower right now! Hearing Ye Chen's words, Xuan Kongzi and the others quickly understood his meaning. After all, the reason these three old men were in such a hurry to retire was precisely to avoid...

"Go to the Little Pill Tower and focus solely on alchemy?" This seemingly "irresponsible" approach caused Xuan Kongzi and the other two to blush slightly after hearing Ye Chen's words. "Ahem, Chen'er, now that you're the president of the Pill Tower, how do you plan to resolve this issue?" Xuan Kongzi coughed lightly to ease his embarrassment and asked. Ye Chen clearly already had a plan, and immediately smiled calmly, saying, "It's simple. I plan to establish a Pill Tower Offering Group, recruiting some peak-level Dou Zun or even half-saint powerhouses to serve as a deterrent force for our Pill Tower!" "This…" Xuan Kongzi and the other two exchanged glances, not expecting this young man to have such a terrifying plan. As for the elders below, their expressions also changed slightly, speculating whether the new president's actions had other hidden meanings. Was he trying to consolidate power within the elders' council? "Recruiting a Dou Zun expert isn't difficult," Elder Gui Xuan said directly, clearly unconcerned about Ye Chen's ulterior motives. "Even a peak Dou Zun would likely find it hard to resist the allure of high-grade pills. However, even a pill with nine-colored lightning might not be enough to command a Half-Saint. Therefore, recruiting such an expert will be quite challenging!" Ye Chen had already considered this point. If he hadn't successfully refined his previous ninth-grade pill, he wouldn't have dared to make such a boast. But under the witness of countless forces in Zhongzhou, he successfully refined a ninth-grade treasure pill, becoming the only publicly acknowledged ninth-grade alchemy grandmaster in Zhongzhou! His status in the eyes of those top experts would immediately change! "If a Saint-level expert becomes an honored guest of my Pill Tower, I can offer them one opportunity per year to refine a Grade 9 pill. Fourth Elder, do you think this offer might sway those experts?" Hearing Ye Chen's words, Elder Guixuan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but say, "If that's true, then it's definitely possible!" "A Grade 9 precious pill means they have the hope of breaking through to the true Dou Sheng realm. Let alone those outside, even I, this old man, would be tempted by this offer." A Grade 9 pill! This is a precious pill that countless people dream of. Its allure is so strong that if one's strength isn't sufficient, it's truly incomprehensible. "Hahaha, Fourth Elder, if you have any Grade 9 pills you wish to refine, just come to me. I'm willing to refine them for you for free!" Ye Chen waved his hand generously. "However, you'll have to prepare the materials yourself. After all, I'm young and have little savings; I'm still too poor."

Chapter 418 The Choice for Song Qing

The last sentence wasn't Ye Chen deliberately feigning poverty. Originally, Ye Chen didn't think so, but after visiting the Little Pill Tower and seeing the entire Pill Tower Mountain covered in rare medicinal herbs, Ye Chen knew he was truly poor! "Hehe, you little rascal, don't try to play the poor card with me. If this old man really needed your help, would I really let you work for free? I'm afraid some old fogies will gossip behind my back, saying I'm taking advantage of a junior," the Turtle Profound Elder said with a chuckle, then fell silent. However, anyone could see that he would definitely support Ye Chen's proposal. With Xuan Kongzi and the other two unlikely to undermine Ye Chen, the proposal had largely passed the Little Pill Tower's Grand Elder Council's decision, making it practically a done deal. As for the elders under the Pill Tower, they had no right to question the Pill Tower President's decision. After the matter was settled, everyone dispersed. After exchanging a few words with Ye Chen, Xuan Kongzi went directly to the Small Pill Tower with Xuan Yi Tian Lei Zi, while Elder Gui Xuan returned to the Pill Realm. Having become the Pill Tower's president, Ye Chen had little leisure time, as he immediately had to busy himself with the re-election of the five major families. After all, the Pill Tower relied on these families to stabilize the vast Pill Domain, and now that the Ye family had withdrawn, this vacancy had to be filled. Besides this, he also needed to select members of the Offering Committee and the three giants of the Pill Tower. He couldn't possibly occupy this position alone forever; at the very least, he needed to select two other candidates. Of these matters requiring his personal attention as president, the selection of the five major families could be left to the Elders' Council; he only needed to provide the final results. As for the Offering Committee, Ye Chen temporarily planned to bring Cai Die in, so he could openly use the Pill Tower's resources to help her break through. As for the others, Ye Chen had a very good candidate in mind: Yao Chen of the Starfall Pavilion! Although Ye Chen didn't think his offer of alchemy qualifications would attract the Medicine Venerable, given the current situation of the Starfall Pavilion and the enmity between him and his master and disciple and the Soul Palace, Yao Chen would definitely not refuse him. However, to Ye Chen's surprise, an unexpected person appeared before him, requesting to become a Pill Tower Elder. "Brother Hei Qing, do you really want to join the Pill Tower Elder's Council? Does Elder Zhu Li agree?" Hei Qing represented Donglong Island at Ye Chen's succession ceremony, but since the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan was not suitable to appear in public at the moment, Hei Qing did not openly reveal his identity. Originally, after learning about Zi Yan's current situation and accepting the gifts from Donglong Island, Ye Chen had planned to send this guy away, but he didn't expect the other party to make such a request. Hei Qing, the large, dark-skinned man, scratched his head and grinned, "Haha, it's nothing. Anyway, I can't stay outside for too long. I'm just filling in here. Once you have enough men, I'll go back." Although Ye Chen didn't know if this was his own idea or if Zhu Li had instructed him beforehand, he was genuinely grateful to the large man because he currently lacked a strong individual like Hei Qing. "Then thank you very much, Brother Hei Qing. I'll have someone arrange accommodations for you now." After taking in Hei Qing, his offering group now had two combatants. Although they were both magical beasts, others might have other ideas if they found out, but for now, this was the only option. After seeing Hei Qing off, Ye Chen summoned Song Qing. Since the Pill Gathering, Song Qing had been pushed out of the top three by Xiao Yan, and he had been working hard for a while. However, his potential is still quite far from that of the top three. Reaching the eighth rank was already a stroke of good fortune, so his alchemy skills have improved very little over this long period. He hasn't even mastered the three-colored pill lightning technique yet.

Standing before Xuan Kongzi's office, Song Qing felt a surge of emotions. He seemed to recall his first encounter with Ye Chen over a decade ago, when the two were evenly matched, their strengths nearly equal. But now, not only had Ye Chen's alchemy skills surpassed his own by centuries, but his cultivation had also reached a level he could only look up to. The saying "life is unpredictable" perfectly described this situation. With a sigh, Song Qing pushed open the door and saw Ye Chen sitting in Xuan Kongzi's former seat, studying a pill formula. He said in a deep voice, "Song Qing greets the Guild Master!" Ye Chen, who was studying the ancient illustrated book of pill formulas left to him by his teacher, looked up at the sound of his voice. Seeing Song Qing at the door, he smiled and said, "Hehe, Brother Song, you've arrived. Come in quickly." Hearing Ye Chen's friendly tone, Song Qing breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile appeared on his face. "President Xie, may I ask what brings you here?" Although Ye Chen wasn't arrogant, their status was still considerable, and within the Pill Tower, Song Qing didn't dare to be too presumptuous. Ye Chen didn't seem to care about such things, and after a moment's thought, said, "I've come here today because I'd like to hear your thoughts on something." Song Qing's expression turned serious, and he said, "Please speak, President." "Well, it's like this. You should know that the Pill Tower is currently selecting alchemist families within the Pill Domain to fill the vacancy left by my Ye family's withdrawal from the Five Great Families. Moreover, my Pill Tower has always adhered to the Three Giants system. Currently, besides me, Cao Ying, being the champion of the previous Pill Competition, automatically obtained a candidate for the Giant position. So, the Three Giants are still one person short." Saying this, Ye Chen glanced at Song Qing, and then continued, "As you know, among the younger generation of my Pill Tower, only you and Dan Chen of the Dan family have the best chance of obtaining this position, so I wanted to ask for your opinion." "Uh, aren't these two things?" Song Qing asked, somewhat puzzled. "No! It should be considered one thing," Ye Chen said softly. "You should know that currently, I'm the only one among the three giants of the Pill Tower. So, once I become a candidate for a giant, as long as my strength is sufficient, I can directly take the position of a giant in the Pill Tower. And the families of the giants can no longer occupy the positions of the five great families. So, apart from my Ye family, families like the Cao family will also withdraw from the ranks of the five great families after Cao Ying becomes a giant." Seeing that Song Qing still had a somewhat puzzled look in his eyes, Ye Chen paused and continued, "You should know the situation of the Song family. Apart from you, no one else is qualified to take the position of elder of the Pill Tower. So, if you decide to participate in this last candidate competition, then it is unlikely that the Song family will be selected this time."

Chapter 419 Nalan Yanran Asks for Help

If Song Qing still didn't understand Ye Chen's meaning after all this, he would truly be a fool. But once he did understand, his expression darkened, and hesitation appeared between his brows. Seeing this, Ye Chen could only say, "Well, although the Song family didn't have much of a chance this time, it's not bad. It gives the Song family more time to develop. And when the Cao family withdraws, your Song family will still have a chance." Silently shaking his head, Song Qing didn't aim too high. So many years had passed, and he was no longer the proud young man he once was. He knew his own limitations, so under Ye Chen's gaze, Song Qing said in a deep voice, "Forget it. With my abilities, trying to compete with that girl Dan Chen would only be humiliating. Besides, the foundation of my Song family is too weak, and I'm needed to preside over it. Therefore, I choose to represent the family in this selection of the five major families." As an eighth-grade alchemist, if Song Qing chose to personally represent the family, even without the identity of the Pill Tower, he would be able to bring the Song family to the level of the five major families. The Ye family had done the same in the past, so Song Qing's choice was a decision to focus his main efforts on developing his family in the future. Of course, Ye Chen didn't care about this. Since Song Qing wanted to compete for this position, so be it. After ending the conversation, Ye Chen temporarily put the matter aside and returned to the Ye family in Saint Pill City. After handing over all the evolved Heavenly Demon Puppets to his grandfather Ye Zhong, he took Cai Die back to the Pill Tower. Next, he wouldn't have much energy left to manage the family, so he first handed over the foundation he had left for the Ye family, allowing Ye Chong to expand the family's power freely. However, just as Ye Chen was preparing to invite Yao Chen to join the Offering Group, he inadvertently overheard some news: Xiao Yan had received an invitation from the Eastern Region, and Yao Chen had accompanied him out of the Starfall Pavilion a day earlier. "The Eastern Region? An invitation?" Ye Chen frowned, pondering for a moment. "Could it be an invitation from an ancient clan?" Judging by the timing, it was indeed the time for the ancient clans' coming-of-age ceremony, held once every twenty years in the original story. It was during this ceremony that Xiao Yan truly stood before those ancient races. It was also during this opportunity that Xiao Yan entered the Heavenly Tomb, encountered his ancestor Xiao Xuan, and awakened his Xiao clan bloodline. Although Xiao Yan's strength was currently far inferior to that in the original story, if he could truly awaken his bloodline like in the original, he would definitely experience a period of explosive growth in strength. Perhaps when they met again, he would truly have the strength to stand among the strong in the Central Plains! "Alright, since Yao Chen isn't in the Starfall Pavilion, let's put this invitation on hold for now. Grand Elder, immediately announce to the entire Central Continent that our Pill Tower is forming a Consort Group, clearly outlining the benefits and perks that consorts will enjoy. Also, we only need people with peak Dou Zun-level combat power. Anyone who doesn't meet the requirements shouldn't even think about coming here to freeload." Having peak Dou Zun combat power doesn't necessarily mean reaching a cultivation level of nine-star Dou Zun or higher. After all, there are countless talented individuals in the world, and many possess combat power beyond their own realm. Like Cai Die and Hei Qing now, although both are eight-star Dou Zun, their true combat power is probably comparable to a three-turn Dou Zun. "Yes, President." Grand Elder Qiu Ling bowed and left. After a rare moment of peace, Ye Chen rubbed his temples, then closed his eyes to probe the deepest memories of the original story, trying to find out what major events were about to unfold. However, it seemed there were an unusually busy day ahead; he hadn't had much time to himself before the office door was knocked on again. When he let the person in, Ye Chen was somewhat surprised, because it wasn't one of the elders from the Pill Tower who entered, but his younger sister, Xin Yue. "What's wrong? You look so flustered. Did something happen?" Ye Chen asked somewhat...

"I asked in surprise. With the Ye family's current power, let alone in the Pill Domain, probably no one in the entire Central Continent would dare to offend them, right?" "Um, big brother, it's not the Ye family, it's Yanran," Ye Xinyue said, looking at her brother with a hint of apology. "Yanran, Nalan Yanran? What happened to her?" Seeing her brother's puzzled look, Ye Xinyue didn't delay and quickly explained that Nalan Yanran had come to the Ye family to ask for help. After listening to Ye Xinyue's explanation, Ye Chen suddenly realized, thinking to himself, "So that's how it is. It's about Yun Yun inheriting the position of Flower Sect Master. How could I have forgotten about that? My original plan was to use this opportunity to bring the Flower Sect over." The Flower Sect and the Heavenly Nether Sect, as the two major forces second only to the Pill Tower on the surface, the latter was too ambitious, and its members were all bloodthirsty madmen. In addition, the two sides were enemies, so Ye Chen was determined to destroy them. As for the Flower Sect, an all-female sect, although it lacks ambition, its strength is considerable, especially with its two half-saints. If they could be recruited into the offering group, it would be quite valuable. Now that Nalan Yanran has presented her with her reasons for intervening, letting her go would be disrespectful to Ye Chen. "Do you know the strength of the person vying with Yun Yun for the sect leader position?" Ye Chen asked in a deep voice. Ye Xinyue smiled somewhat embarrassedly and said, "I was so busy asking you for help, brother, that I forgot to ask. But Yanran is outside the Pill Tower; we can call her over and ask her in detail." Although Ye Xinyue was qualified to bring people freely in and out of the inner city of Saint Pill City, entering the Pill Tower required the personal guidance of an elder, or the approval of Ye Chen, the sect leader. Looking at his sister, who was feigning a silly smile, Ye Chen shook his head helplessly, but still had a Pill Tower elder bring Nalan Yanran in. Entering Ye Chen's office, Nalan Yanran was visibly nervous and apprehensive. After all, although he was her best friend's brother, he was also the head of a top-tier power on the continent, a status that alone commanded her respect. "Greetings, Chairman Ye!" Seeing the somewhat trembling girl, Ye Chen couldn't help but smile warmly, saying, "No need for formalities. Don't be nervous. You're Xinyue's good friend; just treat me like your older brother." Perhaps it was Ye Chen's gentle tone that worked; Nalan Yanran, whose heart had been pounding wildly, finally calmed down considerably. When she looked at Ye Chen again, she no longer felt the fear she had before.

Chapter 420 Ye Chen's Plan

Seeing that Nalan Yanran had finally calmed down, Ye Chen asked softly, "Xin Yue already told me what you wanted. Could you please explain in detail, Miss Yanran?" Nalan Yanran nodded directly and recounted how she and her master had unintentionally encountered Granny Hua, the former sect leader of the Flower Sect. "Originally, my teacher had no interest in being the sect leader of the Flower Sect, so after burying Granny Hua, he continued to live in seclusion here. Unexpectedly, half a year ago, the current sect leader of the Flower Sect suddenly appeared and asked my teacher to give her the sect leader's jade tablet. My teacher didn't want any trouble, so after considering it, he gave her the tablet. However, not long after that woman obtained the tablet, she actually came knocking again. This time, what she wanted was the lifelong fighting spirit that Granny Hua had sealed within my teacher." At this point, Nalan Yanran's face showed obvious anger, clearly furious at the woman's overreaching behavior. "What is the strength of the Flower Sect leader you mentioned?" Ye Chen asked. "She's only the acting sect leader, but she still possesses the strength of a four-star Dou Zun. However, the troublesome one isn't her, but her male companion, the Demon Flower Evil Lord, who possesses the strength of a six-star Dou Zun," Nalan Yanran said helplessly. "Fortunately, it seems that Granny Hua made some arrangements before her death, so many elders are on Teacher's side. That woman didn't dare to forcibly seize it, but she did make a bet to compete with Teacher." "A competition wouldn't be a problem in itself; it's a fair method. But the Flower Sect has a strange rule that a man and a woman can fight together. In other words, that woman can fight alongside the Demon Flower Evil Lord," Nalan Yanran said with a wry smile. This is the helplessness of Yun Yun and her disciple. Because of the Flower Sect's rule, both sides can bring their male companions to the competition. Yun Yun, as a virgin in her forties, where would she find a powerful male companion? So naturally, she was at a complete disadvantage. Ye Chen chuckled inwardly, but his expression showed some hesitation. He said, "Miss Yanran, can I understand it this way: to help your teacher defeat the opponent, you must be his male companion, right?" "Uh, yes." Nalan Yanran's expression turned slightly unpleasant. She had been so focused on finding reinforcements that she had forgotten this point. Did she have to sacrifice her teacher for this? No, no, her teacher would definitely not agree if she found out. Ye Xinyue, standing nearby, was also dumbfounded. Originally, she thought that this kind of thing could be easily resolved by her older brother having Sister Caidie take action. But she didn't expect there to be such a restriction. Although the Ye family had many experts, only Sister Caidie and Sister Xian'er could defeat a four-star Dou Zun and a six-star Dou Zun working together. Now that they couldn't take action, did she have to ask her older brother to do it himself? Thinking of this, Ye Xinyue secretly glanced in her older brother's direction, wanting to see if he had any ideas. But what she saw was Ye Chen's pensive face. "This matter is a bit difficult to handle. After all, it's an internal matter of the Flower Sect, and it also requires your teacher's approval, doesn't it?" Ye Chen said, feigning helplessness. Nalan Yanran also smiled bitterly, unsure how to answer. Ye Xinyue, standing beside her, rolled her eyes and said, "Actually, it's nothing. It's just about using an identity to help Sister Yunyun get through this crisis. It's not like we're really going to do anything." "As for needing male powerhouses, I think it's better if you, brother, take action yourself. At that time, let alone one Demon Flower Evil Lord, even a hundred or a thousand wouldn't be a problem!" Ye Chen looked at his sister speechlessly and scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about! Your brother is now the president of the Pill Tower. Putting aside everything else, just based on this identity, do you think it's appropriate for me to go?" If it were before officially inheriting the position of president, Ye Chen might actually choose to take action himself. But now, his every move would have a huge impact, so saying he would help Yunyun participate in the competition was simply impossible. "Then how..."

"What should we do? Send Sister Caidie or Sister Xian'er? But they're both women, and the Flower Sect won't accept them." Ye Chen chuckled inwardly. Who says a woman's partner can't be another woman? It's just that in the Dou Qi Continent, such a thing is too shocking to be openly revealed. "Forget it, I'll find someone to help you, but he won't go in the name of the Pill Tower, so don't tell anyone." Ye Chen said after a moment's thought. Nalan Yanran's face lit up with joy, and she quickly said, "Don't worry, President Ye, I will never tell anyone!" "Yes, yes!" Ye Xinyue nodded repeatedly beside her. Ye Chen smiled lightly, and then used his soul to send Hei Qing over. Just as the two girls were imagining what kind of handsome man Ye Chen would find for them, they widened their eyes when they saw the big black man suddenly appear in the room. "Haha, Brother Ye Chen, what do you need me for? Just say it, as long as it's within my power, I'll definitely handle it perfectly!" Hearing the deep voice and the rather dim-witted words, Nalan Yanran immediately regretted it. "If I take this person back and have him pretend to be my teacher's male companion, I wonder if my teacher will beat me to death?" "Hehe, then thank you very much, Brother Hei Qing." Ye Chen smiled slightly. "It's not difficult. It's like this." After briefly explaining the situation, Hei Qing didn't even raise an eyebrow. He simply waved his hand and said, "What did I have to do at the time? It was just a four-star Dou Zun and a six-star Dou Zun. Don't worry, brother, I can flatten that Demon Flower Evil Lord with one slap! Leave it to me." As for the female companion and male companion, Hei Qing didn't pay any attention. He only knew that he was going to fight this time! Ye Chen smiled slightly and secretly transmitted his voice, "Spare the woman's life for now, but you must kill that Demon Flower Evil Lord!" Hei Qing's rugged face remained unchanged, but a glint of light flashed in his eyes. He nodded slightly to Ye Chen, indicating that he understood. Ye Chen turned his gaze to the two women and said, "In that case, you two will go to the Flower Sect with Brother Hei Qing later. Brother Hei Qing is a peak eight-star Dou Zun, and resolving Yun Yun's troubles will be a piece of cake. This time, we can't act in the name of the Pill Tower, so Xin Yue, you can represent the Ye family. Anyway, you are friends with Sect Master Yun Yun and Miss Yan Ran, and Sect Master Yun Yun saved you before, so it's perfect for you to represent them." The two women exchanged a glance. Although they were somewhat dissatisfied with Hei Qing's rugged appearance, they quickly agreed. After all, it was just a pretense of being partners. Moreover, without Ye Chen's help, they couldn't find a strong person of this level, a peak eight-star Dou Zun! Watching the three leave, the smile on Ye Chen's face slowly disappeared. "With Hei Qing's help, that Demon Flower Evil Lord will definitely not survive." "Losing such a powerful figure, the Heavenly Nether Sect will certainly not let this go easily. When they have cornered those women from the Flower Sect, that will be the time for my Pill Tower to make its move."

Chapter 421 Slap to Death

Within the Flower Sect, on the plaza, Yun Yun, dressed in a white robe and skirt, stood gracefully. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, reaching her slender waist. Her exquisite face, like that of a flower fairy detached from worldly affairs, exuded a captivating ethereal beauty. It must be said that after completely emerging from the shadows of her past, Yun Yun now possessed a serene and composed elegance, detached from worldly concerns. Such poise and bearing greatly pleased many elders of the Flower Sect, who secretly praised the old sect leader's discerning eye. Opposite Yun Yun, a beautiful woman in a brocade robe, her eyes filled with jealousy, paled in comparison. Even the sinister man beside her, gazing at Yun Yun, had a fiery glint in his eyes. Such a stunning beauty was, for him, a man consumed by lust, an irresistible temptation! Watching this scene, Hua Jin slowly clenched her fists, finally unleashing her fury on Yun Yun. "Hmph, you bitch! I thought you wouldn't dare come!" Yun Yun frowned, furious at the woman's insolence, but she didn't want to get involved in these power struggles, so she suppressed her anger and coldly said, "Sect Leader, I have no desire for the position of Sect Leader, why force me?" "Hmph, if you have no desire, then hand over the old Sect Leader's life's worth of fighting spirit! Our sect took you in out of kindness, but you dare to covet the position of Sect Leader of my Flower Sect!" Hua Jin sneered venomously. "If I had known earlier that Granny Hua was the Sect Leader of the Flower Sect, I wouldn't have saved her," Yun Yun shook her head and said softly. She came to the Flower Sect seeking a peaceful life, not to fight for power, so Yun Yun's words reflected her own thoughts. Unfortunately, it was all too late now. Sighing inwardly, Yun Yun rallied her spirits and said, "As for the battle qi seal, Granny Hua left it within me. If you truly desire it, come and retrieve it." "Hmph, do you think I'm afraid of you?" Hua Jin sneered, then glanced at the strange man, only to see him staring intently at Yun Yun. A surge of anger rose within him, and he shouted, "Demon Lord, let's attack together!" The Demon Flower Evil Lord inwardly regretted his actions. If he could have won over a woman like her, it would certainly be a unique experience. Unfortunately, the sect's plan had already begun, and he had already expended considerable effort to "persuade" Hua Jin. Changing partners now would be a loss. Hua Jin, of course, was unaware of the man's thoughts, but he would most likely blame everything on Yun Yun. "You must know the sect's rules," Hua Jin said coldly, turning her gaze back to Yun Yun. "Don't say the sect is bullying you. If you have a partner, you can bring them along!" Yun Yun's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, and she simply said calmly, "I don't have a partner. If you want to fight, just do it." As soon as she finished speaking, a spatial passage suddenly appeared on the plaza. Three figures darted out from the rotating spatial rift. The leader was a rather burly, muscular, and dark-skinned man. The moment he appeared, a dense and fierce aura instantly suppressed the entire area, causing everyone present to be greatly alarmed! "Who goes there?!" On the plaza, an old woman with gray hair changed her expression drastically and shouted at the newcomer. Just as all the Flower Sect experts were on guard, Nalan Yanran, who was following closely behind, hurriedly said, "Elder, wait! This is my teacher's male companion." Upon hearing this, not only were the surrounding Flower Sect elders stunned, but even Yun Yun looked bewildered. However, after realizing what was happening, Yun Yun's pretty face immediately turned red. She glared at her disciples, both embarrassed and angry, and was about to question them when Nalan Yanran and Ye Xinyue simultaneously rushed forward, secretly explaining everything to Yun Yun via telepathy. However, Yun Yun didn't seem to accept the two women's explanation, especially after secretly glancing at the person blocking her way.

The burly, mountain-like man on the side didn't feel the sense of security others had described; instead, he felt a deep-seated resistance. "Sister Yunyun, please don't say anything now. Just leave everything to Brother Hei Qing. He's only here to help you out, not to actually be your companion," Ye Xinyue quickly whispered, trying to reassure Yunyun, who seemed about to say something. Yunyun opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing. As for Hua Jin on the other side, her face had completely darkened. "Yunyun, you keep saying you don't have a companion, but what is this?" Hua Jin's tone was filled with exasperation. There was nothing she could do. If Yunyun had just brought a man from outside as a companion, she wouldn't have cared too much, as she was very confident in her and the Demon Flower Evil Lord's strength. However, the burly man's aura upon his arrival was clearly more ferocious than the two of them combined, which Hua Jin found unacceptable. Yun Yun remained silent, persuaded by Nalan Yanran and the other woman, but Hei Qing was getting impatient. He waved his hand and roared like thunder, "Why are you talking so much nonsense, woman? If you want to fight, then fight already!" "You!" Hua Jin was so angry that the earth shook, and her milky white breasts heaved. Meanwhile, the Demon Flower Evil Lord, his companion, stepped forward, staring at Hei Qing with a hint of doubt in his eyes. He said, "Friend, this is a private matter of the Flower Sect. Isn't it a bit improper for you to interfere?" Unfortunately, Hei Qing completely ignored him, glancing at him and coldly saying, "Who are you, you little brat who crawled out of that hole? You dare to talk to your grandpa about rules?" "You!" Enraged by Hei Qing's foul language, the Demon Flower Evil Lord roared, "You dog, how dare you insult me ​​like this? You're courting death!" With that roar, the Demon Flower Evil Lord stepped into the void, his figure shooting out like lightning, unleashing a torrent of chilling battle qi at Hei Qing without reservation. "A mere six-star Dou Zun dares to yell at me?" Seeing the charging Demon Flower Evil Lord, Hei Qing chuckled, advancing instead of retreating. A strange ripple emanated from his muscles, and then his massive, fan-sized palm slammed out without any flourish. Boom! A deafening roar echoed as fist and palm collided in the sky. The Demon Flower Evil Lord felt a violent tremor, his face instantly turning deathly pale. A terrifying, destructive force surged through his body from his arm. Boom! After a violent tremor, Hei Qing's enormous hand slowly rose from the ground. To everyone's horror, they clearly saw a mangled mass of flesh lying lifeless within a three-meter-long palm print on the hard plaza floor. The Demon Flower Evil Lord, a six-star Dou Zun who had been infamous and rampant in Zhongzhou for years, had actually been killed by this giant with a single slap! This was truly terrifying!

Chapter 422 The Shocking Truth

After entrusting the affairs of the Flower Sect to Hei Qing, Ye Chen himself didn't have any free time. There was still one position among the three giants without a candidate, so he had to secure it as soon as possible. As previously mentioned, there were only two ways to become a candidate for a giant in the Pill Tower: either winning the Pill Gathering or passing the assessment of the Lesser Pill Tower's Elder Council. Forget about the Pill Gathering; it only ended two years ago, and there's a long time until the next one. Therefore, for the third position, he could only do what he did before: successfully pass the Lesser Pill Tower's assessment. As for the candidate, after Song Qing's withdrawal, there was no one else to choose from except Dan Chen. He had heard that his "mother-in-law" was still alive, and since she had helped thwart the Soul Palace's schemes, he felt indebted and should personally pay her a visit to express his gratitude. Saint Pill City, Dan Family Manor. Ye Chen arrived quietly, without disturbing anyone except Dan Chen and her mother. "Brother Ye, you've arrived!" The little girl, Dan Chen, greeted Ye Chen with joy, though she politely bowed first. Ye Chen smiled slightly and gently stroked the girl's long hair. In the entire world, besides Dan Chen's mysterious mother, only Ye Chen dared to be so close to Dan Chen. Although the strange attraction still existed, Ye Chen found that its influence on him was diminishing over time. "Alright, you brat, don't try to touch Chen'er right away! Chen'er, bring her in!" A teasing, melodious female voice rang out, making the little girl feel uncomfortable. She quickly led Ye Chen inside. Ye Chen was already immune to this level of teasing, so he calmly bowed to the seated Su Lingyin and said, "Greetings, Senior." Su Lingyin nodded, quite satisfied that he hadn't become arrogant because of his changed status. "No need for formalities. Speak, what brings you here?" Neither of them brought up Ye Chen's previous rejection of Su Lingyin's marriage proposal, as if it had never happened. "It's like this, I want Dan Chen to participate in the Pill Tower's candidate assessment," Ye Chen said directly. For most people, this would be an incredible stroke of luck, but after hearing Ye Chen's words, both Dan Chen and her mother fell silent. "You should understand Chen'er's situation. Do you think it's really good for her to associate with those old monsters in the Pill Tower under these circumstances?" After a long silence, Su Lingyin finally asked her question. "Mother, I..." Dan Chen tried to persuade her, but Ye Chen stopped her with a gesture. "I understand Dan Chen's situation very well. But Senior, there's no need to worry. Zhongzhou is so vast, there are countless people with extraordinary talents. I think even if people find out about Dan Chen's situation, it won't be a big problem." In Ye Chen's view, the greatest danger Dan Chen's strange ability posed was the aftereffects of her physical constitution not keeping up with the increase in soul power. As for why the Dan family forbade her from interacting with others from a young age, it was mainly out of fear that the trouble caused by her constitution would harm Dan Chen's fragile mind. But now Dan Chen is grown up, and it's impossible for her to remain isolated forever. Furthermore, since the remaining two of the three giants of the Pill Tower, Ye Chen and Cao Ying, are fully aware of her situation, the second problem seems to be irrelevant. With the support of the Pill Tower's resources, Dan Chen's growth could even be faster; perhaps once her battle qi cultivation breaks through to a certain level, her weak constitution will be cured without medicine. After Ye Chen shared his thoughts with Su Lingyin, the latter also fell into deep thought. Dan Chen sat to the side, looking expectantly at her mother, seemingly afraid of hearing a word of rejection from her. She couldn't help it; deep down, she still hoped to become the heir. It wasn't that the young girl had any ambition, but only in this way could she see her "Brother Ye" anytime, anywhere, and avoid the struggle between him and Cao Ying.

The room fell silent, the person already in a losing position. Su Lingyin's expression was conflicted, as if she hesitated about whether to speak. Ye Chen, however, wasn't in a hurry, simply sipping his tea and waiting silently. He was actually quite curious, wondering what Su Lingyin was hesitating about, or what she was hiding. After a long while, Su Lingyin seemed to finally make up her mind. She first sighed softly, then looked at Ye Chen and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know how Chen'er acquired this strange ability?" "I'd like to hear the details!" Ye Chen raised an eyebrow and said. Even Dan Chen, standing beside her, looked at her mother with curiosity. She also wanted to know how this strange ability, which had robbed her of a happy childhood and had been considered a curse for so long, came to be! Su Lingyin didn't answer, but gently raised her hand. A terrifying suction force emanated from her palm, and Ye Chen felt his soul being pulled forcefully, almost as if it wanted to escape his body. This was no small shock; Ye Chen instantly stood up in horror, his eyes wide, staring intently at the calm and beautiful woman before him. "This is…" This feeling was exactly the same as when he first met Dan Chen. However, compared to her mother's terrifying suction force, Dan Chen's was nothing! Su Lingyin didn't notice Ye Chen's astonishment, but calmly said, "Chen'er's ability is inherited from my bloodline." "That was more than twenty years ago, when I met and fell in love with Chen'er's father. Although his strength wasn't great, his alchemy skills were excellent; he was the most talented alchemist of this generation in the Dan family." Ye Chen listened silently as Su Lingyin recounted her love story from back then. "Originally, I thought I would live a happy life with him, devoted to my husband and children, oblivious to worldly affairs." "But unexpectedly, on the day I conceived Chen'er, my bloodline suddenly malfunctioned. At the time, I had no idea what was happening. This curse-like ability almost drained Chen'er's father's soul and life force in an instant." Ye Chen's lips twitched, secretly shocked. This was far more terrifying than those female demons and ghosts from his previous life! It could almost drain a seventh-grade peak alchemist dry! What kind of bizarre bloodline was this?! "In the end, I sent him back to the Dan family because I couldn't control my abilities at the time. But even so, he didn't last a year before passing away." "The reason I sent the newborn Chen'er to the Dan family to raise was so that her father could see her one last time, and also to prevent Chen'er from being harmed while she was with me."

Chapter 423 Devouring Spirits

Su Lingyin's words sent a chill down Ye Chen's spine. He thought Dan Chen's bizarre ability to devour soul power was terrifying enough, but he never expected her mother to be even more formidable, capable of devouring even life force. No wonder her strength was so terrifying; could it be because she had devoured many powerful individuals? Of course, such things would be considered monstrous in modern society, but in the Dou Qi Continent, it wasn't too shocking. Just look at the strange techniques of the Tianming Sect—different styles relied on devouring human flesh and essence to increase strength, right? The only difference was that Su Lingyin's was a bloodline talent, which might be more powerful. "Such a powerful bloodline, your ancestors must have been from some ancient race, right?" Ye Chen asked curiously. Although only the eight ancient races were known on the continent now, ten thousand years ago, there were definitely more than eight ancient Dou Di families on the Dou Qi Continent. Ye Chen had heard from that Star Emperor that at its peak, there were more than ten Dou Di families on the Dou Qi Continent! This doesn't even include those who died, went missing, or left. Su Lingyin glanced at Ye Chen with some surprise and couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect you to know so much, little guy. Indeed, the Dou Qi Continent was once incredibly glorious, and the true powerhouses were all those with ancient bloodlines. It's just a pity that even the strongest bloodlines will gradually dissipate with time, just like the Devouring Spirit Clan bloodline that my body inherited, which has already perished in the river of history." Upon hearing this, Ye Chen, who was originally thinking about how to comfort her, felt a jolt in his heart and looked over in disbelief. Devouring Spirit Clan? Holy crap! No way, is it really the Devouring Spirit Clan I'm thinking of? *Gulp!* Ye Chen swallowed hard, his voice slightly hoarse, and said, "Um, Senior Su, are you talking about the Devouring Spirit Clan?" "That's right!" Su Lingyin looked at Ye Chen with some surprise, and said with some doubt, "Judging from your expression, you've actually heard of the Devouring Spirit Clan? That's an ancient race that's been extinct for a long time!" In Su Lingyin's mind, on the continent today, apart from those few ancient races, probably no one else had ever heard of the name "Devouring Spirit Clan." Because, even in ancient times, this name was a taboo. Of course, she herself didn't know much about this race, because before she awakened her powers twenty years ago, she had no connection with those three words. A race that had been extinct for tens of thousands of years, even if some bloodline had survived, it was already extremely rare. To be honest, the fact that both she and her daughter could awaken certain powers in their bloodlines was something Su Lingyin herself found hard to believe. "Oh, hehe, I once stumbled upon it in an ancient book. The information was very limited; I only knew that it was a very powerful race in ancient times," Ye Chen replied cautiously. He didn't know how much Su Lingyin knew about the "Spirit Devouring Clan." From the information he had obtained from the Star Emperor, this was a demonic race that had attempted to devour the entire Dou Qi Continent in a much more distant era. However, unlike the White Dragon Continent, which had encountered the Blood Demon Clan, the Dou Qi Continent at that time was incredibly powerful, with more than ten Dou Di, which translates to more than ten terrifying powerhouses comparable to Heavenly Sovereigns. In addition, each Dou Di was supported by a powerful race, making the number of powerful individuals countless! Faced with such a ferocious attack from the "natives," even the Demon Realm's evil race could only be worn down and defeated, eventually even assimilated into this "native world," ultimately suffering annihilation. It's estimated that this is the most unfortunate branch of the demonic races. However, this also shows that the Devouring Spirit Clan was originally a small clan like the Blood Demon Clan and the Otherworldly Demon Clan, with a shallow foundation, which is why they ended up like this. It's just a matter of whether Su Lingyin awakened any other racial power after awakening a portion of the Devouring Spirit Clan's bloodline.

Inherited memories and such? This is very important! After hearing Ye Chen's answer, Su Lingyin simply nodded calmly and said, "As expected of the Pill Tower, you can even find records of the Devouring Spirit Clan." "However, although I awakened some of this clan's abilities, I couldn't find their racial inheritance, so I had to learn everything on my own. Only after breaking through to the Dou Sheng realm could I barely control these abilities. So, Chen'er will probably be like me; only after breaking through to the Dou Sheng realm can she truly live like an ordinary person." "I see!" Ye Chen breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the worst-case scenario he had in mind hadn't occurred. In that case, he might as well treat them as ordinary ancient races, just with slightly strange bloodline abilities. That's alright. Even the Soul Clan can exist, so why can't Dan Chen and her mother? The only concern is that the extinction of the Devouring Spirit Clan is likely related to several existing ancient races. Even the Soul Clan, those bastards, allowed the Void Devouring Flame to devour the last patriarch of the Devouring Spirit Clan, granting him the complete and terrifying abilities of the clan. If the identities of the mother and daughter were exposed, they would likely be devoured again by the Void Devouring Flame in no time. Therefore, this matter needs to be strictly kept secret. Su Lingyin actually knew something about this. For many years, she had remained secluded in the Sound Valley, not only to conceal her abilities but also to avoid those people. However, by Dan Chen's generation, she had only inherited the strange ability to devour soul power, and it wasn't particularly strong. Therefore, even if she were exposed to outsiders, no one would associate her with the Devouring Spirit Clan. That's why Su Lingyin didn't prevent her from contacting the outside world. "Given Dan Chen's situation, breaking through to the Dou Sheng realm won't be easy," Ye Chen said to the mother and daughter after a long silence. "After all, her bloodline power is still far inferior to yours, Senior, especially since it's only in the soul aspect." "Therefore, if she wants to quickly improve her battle qi cultivation, besides those illusory fortuitous encounters and opportunities, she still needs a strong supply of resources. So, a leader of the Pill Tower is definitely her best choice." "Moreover, with the identity of a leader of the Pill Tower, her safety is actually more guaranteed. Not to mention, I'm here too." Finally, Ye Chen patted his chest and said, "With me by your side to help, Senior, you can rest assured about Dan Chen's safety."

Chapter 424 Re-entering the Lesser Pill Tower

With Ye Chen's persuasion and assurances, Su Lingyin finally agreed to let Dan Chen join the Pill Tower. Of course, Ye Chen's enthusiasm stemmed from his need for the other two of the three giants to be on the same page. This would facilitate his decisions in future events without anyone holding him back. Back at the Pill Tower, he found Cao Ying already waiting. "Oh, what brings you here?" Ye Chen asked with a light laugh. Since Xuan Yi had returned to the Small Pill Tower, Cao Ying, as his personal disciple, naturally chose to follow her teacher into the Small Pill Tower for cultivation. Cao Ying didn't immediately answer Ye Chen. Instead, she glanced at Dan Chen, who had followed behind Ye Chen, a strange glint in her eyes, before smiling and saying, "Dan Chen, it's been a long time. Did you come to the Pill Tower for the last spot among the giant candidates?" With this enchantress's intelligence, she would surely understand immediately. However, his tone was somewhat unpleasant. Ye Chen glanced at the enchantress speechlessly and said, "What you said is indeed correct, but I personally came to invite you. After all, the system of the three giants has always been the principle followed by the Pill Tower, and I cannot always shoulder this responsibility alone." Hearing Ye Chen take the blame upon himself, Cao Ying secretly pursed her lips, slightly dissatisfied with his approach. However, the clever woman refrained from further sarcasm and said in a clear voice, "Hmm, it seems that making you the president is not a bad idea. At least you have good judgment. Among the younger generation, only Sister Dan Chen is qualified." Dan Chen did not intend to speak at this, but nodded slightly to Cao Ying. Most of the time, unless it was something that could not be compromised, Dan Chen would choose to remain silent. That was her personality, there was no way around it. "After saying so much, you still haven't told me your purpose, girl?" Ye Chen looked at Cao Ying, who was rambling on, and finally couldn't help but ask. He didn't believe that at this crucial moment for improving his strength, Xuan Yi would allow Cao Ying to run away from the Little Pill Tower for no reason. "Alright, it's not a big deal." Cao Ying chuckled, looking at Ye Chen, and said, "It's just that Teacher and Uncle Xuan Kongzi said that the Grand Elder Council is about to hold a new elder election. As the president of the Pill Tower, you are also a member of the Grand Elder Council, so you have to participate. Moreover, Uncle Xuan Kongzi also said that since you are now an elder in the Grand Elder Council, you are qualified to choose your own herb garden on Pill Tower Mountain. Although Uncle Xuan Kongzi has found a few good locations for you, you still have to choose for yourself in the end, so if you have time, you'd better go to the Little Pill Tower." Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, not expecting that the election for the new elder of the Grand Elder Council would start so soon. This wasn't surprising, as the three giants of the Pill Tower held the positions of Elders of the Elder Council. However, upon stepping down, these positions would be stripped away. To remain an elder, one had to compete for a place. The original Grand Elder Council had ten elders, though this wasn't fixed; the number could increase or decrease under special circumstances. For example, after Xuan Kongzi and the other two stepped down, three of the ten elders were eliminated, but only Ye Chen filled the vacancy, leaving eight. This led to the early start of the new elder election. If the other two giants grow stronger, the ten elders could easily become eleven, without any problem. Upon arriving at the space where the Small Pill Tower was located, Ye Chen was once again drawn by the rich aroma of herbs. Standing atop the towering green peak, he looked out over swirling clouds, creating a misty, ethereal atmosphere. "Let's go see our teacher's herb garden first. They should be tending to their precious plants there," Cao Ying said, leading Ye Chen and Dan Chen into the garden.

Amidst the mountainside filled with medicinal gardens, Ye Chen, besides the two matters Cao Ying mentioned, also planned to have Dan Chen participate in the candidate assessment, so he brought her along. Xuan Kongzi and the other two had worked together for many years and had grown up alongside each other in the Pill Tower, so their medicinal gardens were all in the same area, not far apart. When Ye Chen saw his teacher, he found him improving the growing environment of a Demon Flame Fruit. Xuan Kongzi first used spatial techniques to expand the land around the Demon Flame Fruit, then took out several black flame-shimmering demon cores, and finally fixed them around the Demon Flame Fruit using array techniques. Then, the array patterns around the demon cores rose with raging black flames, which were continuously absorbed by the Demon Flame Fruit. Watching this scene, Ye Chen couldn't help but shake his head in admiration. No wonder Xuan Kongzi had said that these medicinal gardens were the lifeblood of those old guys; just the fact that each herb required such a massive amount of manpower and resources to cultivate was something that ordinary people couldn't do. "Hehe, you're here, kid. Take a look at the medicinal herbs I've cultivated these past few days. How are they? Pretty good, right?" Xuan Kongzi, having done all this, finally stood up, looking at his prized disciple and smiling as he showed off his achievements. Ye Chen smiled slightly in response. It seemed that after stepping down as the head of the Pill Tower, his teacher's personality had become more cheerful, at least his style of doing things was more casual. However, Ye Chen looked at one of the marigolds and revealed a bright smile. "As expected of my teacher, the medicinal herbs in this garden are all growing very well, and the rarity of these herbs is probably something you'd rarely see even in the outside world." After a pause, Ye Chen walked to the marigold and said with a look of astonishment, "Especially this marigold, it actually has fifteen petals, it's at least a thousand years old, a true treasure among treasures!" Seeing Ye Chen's exaggerated tone, even Cao Ying and Dan Chen beside him couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle. As for Xuan Kongzi, he was now completely helpless, saying, "Alright, alright, stop drooling. I really can't give you this marigold." "This is for refining medicine when I'm running for elder," Ye Chen said. Upon hearing this, Ye Chen immediately became serious, saying, "Teacher, what are you saying! I just thought the marigold was so well-cultivated by you. Of course, this spirit rock you have here is also quite good. Looking at its radiant appearance, I'm afraid you buried a gold crystal underneath, right? Only a gold crystal can make a spirit rock reveal its most dazzling brilliance." Xuan Kongzi: "..." Xuan Kongzi: "Alright, stop talking. If you want this spirit rock, take it."

Chapter 425 Elder Election

Deep within the Danta Mountains, in a deep valley, stands a magnificent palace.

This place may be the only place that can represent the power of Xiaodanta, but it is also the most sparsely populated location in the entire Danta Mountain.

In Xuan Kongzi's words, apart from the rotating elders each year, almost no one comes here.

Upon entering the main hall, Ye Chen found the elder on duty, who was ranked fifth in the Grand Elder's Courtyard. He was an old monster whose age and seniority were almost the same as that of Elder Guixuan.

However, compared to the powerful and long-lived Elder Guixuan, the Fifth Elder was already at the end of his life.

Looking at the other person's wrinkled old face, Ye Chen suspected that the old guy might suddenly die at any moment!

It's not surprising that Ye Chen disrespected his seniors.

Because Ye Chen knew very well that this Fifth Elder was the leader of all the die-hards in the Grand Elder Council, and also the most pedantic of them all...

This kind of person values ​​seniority and face above all else. Even if Xuan Kongzi were in front of him, he would not give him any face. He would make a lot of nonsense if he was slightly dissatisfied, and he likes to use seniority to suppress people. He is particularly displeased with the fact that Ye Chen, who is not yet thirty years old, has become a member of the Grand Elder Council.

If it weren't for the Grand Elder's strong opposition and agreement with Xuan Kongzi's opinion, Ye Chen might still only be known as a candidate for a major power.

"President Ye Chen of the Pill Tower, what are you doing here?" An old and stiff voice rang out in the hall, the disgust in it was not concealed at all.

Ye Chen glanced at the old man whose eyebrows were practically buried in dirt, not intending to argue with him, and said directly, "I need to hold the assessment for the third candidate for the Grand Elder. Please inform the elders of the Grand Elder Council, Fifth Elder..."

"I will inform all the elders, but it is uncertain how many will be willing to show up."

Ye Chen is also one of the elders of the Grand Elder's Academy and is qualified to conduct such an assessment, so even if the other party wanted to trip him up, they wouldn't have a chance.

"Thank you!"

After speaking, Ye Chen turned and left.

It was just a business transaction; they were destined to be on different paths, and Ye Chen was too lazy to engage in any pretense.

Three days later, during Dan Chen's assessment, apart from the Grand Elder, not a single member of the entire Elder Council showed up.

Ye Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought...

Among the current elders, the third and fourth elders are responsible for their duties and do not usually leave their posts. The second elder is focused on refining medicine and will not show up even during the candidate assessment or the election of new elders, so it is normal that he does not appear.

However, the remaining five, six, and seven elders did not show up, which made Ye Chen somewhat unhappy.

Although the successor assessment wasn't a major event and didn't require all the elders to show up, it was still Ye Chen's first appearance at the Lesser Pill Tower as the president of the Pill Tower, so they had to give him some face...

But these three old guys clearly didn't want to give his name, or they were deliberately trying to embarrass Ye Chen, which had a different implication.

"It seems we really need to give our teacher a push to ensure he becomes the new elder this time!"

If one wants to completely control the Pill Tower, then the Grand Elder Council must have people who speak up for them.

Because of his age and seniority, unless Ye Chen's strength truly reaches the point of suppressing everything, his words will not have much impact on the Little Pill Tower.

Therefore, having someone to speak up for you is especially important, and besides Xuan Kongzi, there is probably no other suitable candidate.

& nbs

Just as Ye Chen was lost in thought, Dan Chen's assessment also came to a successful conclusion.

A single Earth Spirit Origin Pill with six-colored thunderous energy is enough to qualify him as a candidate.

"Hehe, very good. Seeing the three of you, I see the infinite future of my Pill Tower. I hope that in the future, the Pill Tower will be able to create new glories in your hands!" The Grand Elder looked at Ye Chen and Cao Ying and Dan Chen beside him, his eyes filled with joy.

"Thank you for the praise, Elder. We will definitely work hard!" Ye Chen smiled and bowed, assuring them.

"Hmm, very good. Although this assessment is over, the election for the new elders will be held in three days. As the president of the Pill Tower and one of the elders of the Grand Elder's Court, don't forget to participate." After reminding Ye Chen, Old Monster Lin left.

……

……

For three days, Ye Chen stayed in his herb garden.

According to Xuan Kongzi, this place originally belonged to one of his elders, but after the elders passed away, it became an unclaimed land.

Although no one took care of it, the herb garden contained many high-grade medicinal herbs, so after Ye Chen took over, they all belonged to him.

Ye Chen carefully observed that there were quite a few good things in his herb garden, many of which were even better than those in the Pill Realm.

Moreover, the entire Danta Mountain possesses an exceptionally rich abundance of natural energy, making it ideal for the growth of medicinal herbs. Therefore, Ye Chen transplanted some rare medicinal herbs he had collected from outside his Star Emblem Ring into the herb garden.

In the remaining time, Ye Chen used the huge piece of Earth Core Jade Mother in his hand to make a jade bed, which he placed in the stone house in the medicine garden as his usual place for meditation.

As for the remaining Earth Core Jade Mothers, he buried them in the medicine garden, creating a special garden suitable for gathering earth energy to grow medicinal herbs...

After a flurry of activity, three days have passed.

Early that morning, Ye Chen met up with his teacher and others, and then they headed to the assessment square together...

Upon entering the square, Ye Chen noticed that there were quite a few people around him, all of them with white hair, some even dressed in coarse linen clothes, looking like old farmers who had just returned from working in the fields.

Yet these very people, if you were to place any one of them in Zhongzhou, would attract the attention of many top-tier forces!

"There are quite a few people here this time. Many old guys who haven't been seen for a long time have also come out..." Xuan Kongzi looked at the crowd around him and couldn't help but sigh.

The woman in black beside her was still wearing a two-piece cheongsam, and her mature and alluring charm was completely different from the group of elderly people around her...

After hearing Xuan Kongzi's words, a cold smile appeared on his lips. He said, "After all, it's an elder's position. Some old fogies who can't stand being alone are quite interested in it..."

Xuan Yi had absolutely no liking for those old-fashioned pedants of the Little Pill Tower, so he was naturally very impolite in his speech.

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen's eyes lit up, and he chuckled, "Why doesn't the black-robed senior uncle show off his skills, so that those incompetent people won't occupy high positions?"

"Heh, you little rascal, you've got quite a few tricks up your sleeve." Xuan Yi naturally saw through Ye Chen's intention at a glance, but he only teased him for a moment before saying, "Although I really dislike these old fogies, I have to admit their abilities. To remove them from their elder positions, unless I break through to the ninth rank, there's no way I can even think about it..."

"Besides, little guy, are you really that confident that your teacher will win this time? You should know that there are quite a few powerful old guys participating in this election for new elders. If your teacher is really defeated by these guys, then your future days will be even more difficult..."

Chapter 426 Ninth Rank, Breakthrough

As the election began, the noise in the square vanished instantly, and terrifying flames of various shapes and colors, each with a power comparable to a strange fire, were displayed in the hands of the alchemists.

Among the dozens of people participating in this election, each one is a top-tier eighth-grade alchemy master, and naturally, each of them has their own trump card.

Ye Chen watched his teacher Xuan Kongzi's actions closely, seeing him continuously adding medicinal herbs into the cauldron, then rapidly refining and solidifying them...

He performed each step with unparalleled skill, and every gesture exuded the air of a master.

Ye Chen nodded to himself. His teacher was very skilled in alchemy. Even in this small alchemy tower, there were only a handful of people who could surpass him.

However, Xuan Yi beside him frowned slightly and said to Ye Chen in a deep voice, "Is your teacher preparing to refine the Golden Pill? But if I remember correctly, the highest level of this kind of pill is only Nine-Colored Thunder Pill, right? If it's just based on that, it might not be enough to stand out..."

"If you don't believe me, look over there..."

As he spoke, Xuan Yi gestured for Ye Chen to look in another direction.

There, also dressed in gray, was an old man whose pill-refining skills were no less than Xuan Kongzi's. Moreover, judging from the energy of the medicinal herbs and the quantity used, the pills he refined were even superior to those of Xuan Kongzi...

"That old monster Hou was the one who competed with Yao Chen for the championship of the Pill Refining Competition. His talent in alchemy was even stronger than the three of us."

However, after being defeated by Yao Chen, this old man immediately retreated into the Small Pill Tower, devoting himself to studying alchemy. His strength can be considered among the top tier of those within the Small Pill Tower.

Ye Chen frowned. He did remember this name; it seemed to be someone who competed with Xiao Yan for the position of elder in the original story.

However, when Ye Chen was reading the book, he felt quite sorry for this old guy. First, he was defeated by Yao Chen at the Pill Gathering, and then he was defeated by Yao Chen's disciple during the election for elder. He was quite unlucky...

"Don't worry, Teacher, you're not just refining the Golden Elixir..." Ye Chen smiled slightly and said.

Xuan Kongzi originally intended to refine the Tuojin Pill, but after Ye Chen gave him a drop of Taixu Ancient Dragon essence blood, the Tuojin Pill became more than just a Tuojin Pill...

Xuan Yi glanced at Ye Chen with surprise, wondering what the master and disciple were up to, and could only say, "It's good that you have confidence."

And so, time passed by, second by second.

"boom!"

Dark clouds suddenly appeared in the sky, and lightning bolts darted through the clouds like silver snakes. After a while, layers of color gradually appeared in the clouds, and only after the seventh color appeared did they slowly stop.

Seven-Colored Thunderclap!

If this were to happen in the Central Plains, such a scene would surely attract countless shocked gazes.

However, inside the Little Pill Tower, many people shook their heads as they looked at the seven-colored pill lightning in the sky.