The next morning.
Xiao Yixian personally helped Liu Xi wash up and dress. Judging by the sparkle in her eyes, she was clearly proud of how striking he looked now.
He stood tall and lean in a finely crafted alchemist's robe—a special set gifted by the Pill Tower itself. The material was cool and breathable, resistant to flame, yet its most remarkable feature was its elegance: it was refined, flowing, and undeniably handsome.
Suddenly, Liu Xi raised his hand and drew a badge from his storage ring—the same 8th Tier Alchemist Badge that Xuan Kongzi had given him. The eight purple-gold stars embedded within it shimmered brilliantly.
"Young Master, that's the 8th Tier Alchemist Badge! You should wear it—at the Pill Gathering, you'll definitely be the center of attention!"
Seeing the badge appear, Xiao Yixian blinked in surprise. But she quickly smiled, unconcerned about how he had acquired it—her eyes lit up with excitement as she urged him to wear it.
In her mind, her Young Master was already an 8th Tier Alchemist. Even if the badge were fake, it would still have to be real.
The badge spun lightly between Liu Xi's fingers before he suddenly closed his hand and slipped it back into his ring.
"This badge was given to me by Xuan Kongzi the last time he summoned me," Liu Xi said casually. "But I won't wear it today. Today's about appearing natural—free and unrestrained. Wearing the badge would only make me look pretentious."
"Besides, even without it—just this face alone—who would dare say I'm not an 8th Tier Alchemist? I don't need trinkets to prove it."
Xiao Yixian nodded firmly in agreement. "You're right, Young Master. You're the best!"
Her praise was as refreshing as an ice-cold melon in midsummer—it went straight to the heart and made Liu Xi grin from ear to ear.
He suddenly turned, reaching out to wrap an arm around Xiao Yixian's slender waist. With her gentle acquiescence, he leaned down and kissed her smooth, white forehead.
Laughing freely, he waved his hand grandly. "Let's go! Time to see this Pill Gathering that comes once every thirty years. I wonder if anyone here can actually give me a challenge. Hopefully, it won't be too dull."
Outside the courtyard, Yao Tianhuo was already waiting. When he saw Liu Xi and Xiao Yixian emerge, he smiled knowingly, his expression carrying a hint of amusement.
Xiao Yixian's cheeks flushed lightly as she lowered her head, while Liu Xi remained entirely at ease—even greeting Yao Tianhuo as though nothing had happened.
Last night, Xiao Yixian had been the one to take the initiative, and Liu Xi had happily gone along. But since the Pill Gathering was today, he had exercised restraint—enjoying, but not overindulging.
The Pill Gathering was held in the northern sector of the Inner Region. Rumor had it that crowds had already filled the area days before, all eager to witness the brilliance of high-tier alchemists.
When Liu Xi finally arrived, he was greeted by a vast sea of people stretching beyond the horizon. The roar of voices and excitement thundered skyward, the sheer energy of it enough to shake the heart.
Only an event like the Pill Gathering could attract such a grand assembly. Compared to this, even the Four Pavilion Grand Meeting seemed like a small, insignificant gathering.
The front was far too crowded to approach easily, and Liu Xi wasn't particularly interested in squeezing through. He casually descended onto a nearby building to observe from above.
From this vantage point, he finally saw the scale of it—a massive square spanning nearly a thousand meters. Suspended high above it were numerous floating stone platforms, held aloft by unknown means of the Pill Tower's craft.
Ye Zhong, who was familiar with the area, pointed to the floating platforms and explained, "Those are where all alchemists who pass the first two rounds will conduct their final refinement."
He then gestured toward a distant grayish area, shrouded in strange mist. "That's where the first round takes place—the Illusion Realm. Any alchemist of 5th Tier or higher may enter."
"The gray mist there is formed by a type of beast called the Phantom Soul Beast. It generates illusions that can trap one's mind and obstruct the spread of Spiritual Power. The Illusion Realm itself is layered and unpredictable—if one loses focus, it's easy to become lost within."
As he spoke, Ye Zhong offered a faint, flattering smile. "With your Spiritual Power, Master Liu, that test will be effortless. But the second round—the Pill Realm—is another story."
"It's a fragment of an ancient world once created by a Dou Saint. Though now in ruins, it's still used as a trial ground. Countless high-grade herbs grow within it, and one must contend not only with the environment but with other alchemists—and even, perhaps, members of the Hall of Souls."
"Master Liu, you must be careful!"
Liu Xi nodded casually, paying little mind to the warning. Once inside the Pill Realm, it would be others who needed to be cautious.
Even the Hall of Souls' Mu Gu would have to think carefully about how to escape alive if both of Liu Xi's Heavenly Demon Puppets were unleashed. Aside from Mu Gu, who else could truly threaten him?
His gaze swept across the endless crowd, faintly sensing traces of Heavenly Flame auras scattered among them. 'Interesting…' he thought. 'Besides Mu Gu, who else has come this time?'
At that moment, a deep, resonant chime rang out across the square. The peal of the massive bell silenced the roaring crowd instantly, its tone suppressing every murmur.
The air grew still. Thousands of gazes turned eastward—to the towering stone platform where the Pill Tower's upper echelons would soon appear.
Moments later, sharp sounds sliced through the air as the space above the platform twisted slightly. One after another, over a dozen figures materialized in the air.
Liu Xi's gaze swept over them and immediately fixed on the three standing at the center. One of them he already knew—the Pill Tower's giant, Xuan Kongzi.
At his sides stood two other figures whose presences were equally profound and elusive. On the left, an elderly man with dark skin and sharp, piercing eyes whose gaze seemed to stab straight into the soul. On the right, a beautiful woman in a cheongsam, her aura nearly equal to Xuan Kongzi's, though her appearance seemed that of a woman in her thirties.
Liu Xi couldn't help but recall Valley Master Luo of the Sound Valley—similarly powerful, similarly youthful in appearance. 'Beautiful face or not,' he thought wryly, 'these are still old monsters beneath the surface.'
Though it was his first time seeing these two, their position beside Xuan Kongzi left no doubt—they were the other two Giants of the Pill Tower.
The moment the trio appeared, the entire square fell utterly silent. Tens of thousands of eyes locked onto them, their gazes filled with awe, reverence, or fervor.
The Three Giants of the Pill Tower—names known not just across the Central Plains but throughout the entire Dou Qi Continent. Figures of legend, spoken of in whispers and stories.
Now, seeing them appear in person, the vast square fell so quiet that even breathing seemed an offense, as though any sound might disturb the three who stood at the pinnacle of the alchemic world.
(End of Chapter)
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