"Hehe, this old man is Xuan Kongzi. Alchemists from all over have come from afar, and I won't waste your time. As in past years, today's Pill Gathering will be divided into three rounds of assessment, culminating in the selection of the champion."
Among the three Giants, Xuan Kongzi's gentle laughter echoed. His voice wasn't loud, yet it seemed to reach every ear across the vast square.
The three rounds were exactly as Ye Zhong had described—an Illusory Trial, survival within the Pill Realm, and finally, a test of pill refinement where the victor would be chosen based on the quality of their product.
After briefly outlining the rules, Xuan Kongzi smiled again—and suddenly dropped another bombshell.
"This year's champion will not only earn a chance to become a Pill Tower Giant candidate but will also receive a scroll containing an ancient Soul Training Method. With it, reaching the 8th or even 9th Tier will no longer be a dream!"
The instant those words fell, the enormous crowd erupted. Shock and excitement swept through the square like a storm. Countless alchemists' eyes burned red with passion.
Even an 8th Tier Alchemist was a rarity—let alone one of the 9th Tier. Across not only the Central Plains but the entire Dou Qi Continent, those who had surpassed the 8th Tier could be counted on one hand.
The allure of such a reward was irresistible. It was enough to drive any alchemist mad with longing.
Even Liu Xi couldn't help but feel his heart stir. Though he already possessed the Soul Tempering Technique, a genuine ancient Soul Training Method was priceless—and no alchemist would ever complain about having too many of those.
Seeing the crowd's enthusiasm ignite, Xuan Kongzi nodded in satisfaction. With a wave of his sleeve, an invisible ripple struck the air.
A sonorous chime rang once more. Then his calm voice followed: "Since everyone understands the rules, all participants of 5th Tier and above—proceed to the first trial, the Illusory Soul Realm."
Instantly, numerous figures shot up from the sea of people, streaking toward the distant gray, mist-filled region where the space itself twisted faintly.
Amid Xiao Yixian's, Yao Tianhuo's, and Ye Zhong's encouraging words, Liu Xi simply waved his hand and took a single step forward. In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished, appearing dozens of meters away before merging into the rushing tide of competitors entering the warped gray space.
From the high platform, Xuan Kongzi gazed at the storm of silhouettes vanishing into the mist. Folding his hands behind his back, he smiled faintly. "Even many of the old generation couldn't resist this time. The Three Thousand Burning Flame's allure is simply too great. It doesn't matter who claims it—so long as it doesn't fall into the Hall of Souls' hands."
The elegant woman in the cheongsam beside him frowned slightly, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes. "The Hall of Souls! There will come a day when we clash with them openly. You seem calm, but have you truly prepared for that day?"
Xuan Kongzi's smile deepened. Thinking of Liu Xi, whose depth even he could not see through, he replied, "The younger generation burns with vigor. Those of us who've grown old and weary may not be able to match them anymore."
"Is that so?" The woman tilted her head slightly. Having spent most of her time in seclusion, she misunderstood, assuming Xuan Kongzi spoke of Cao Ying or Dan Chen. Nodding slowly, she said, "Good. In any case, the Hall of Souls must not win the championship. If they do, it would drag our Pill Tower's name through the mud—what right would we have left to call ourselves the holy land of alchemy?"
—
The instant Liu Xi crossed the spatial barrier, a strange force enveloped him. His Spiritual Perception was drastically weakened—it felt like a sharp pair of eyes suddenly turned nearsighted.
'About… three hundred meters,' he mused dryly. Not blind, just blurred. His perception was compressed to a limited range, forcing him to narrow his focus.
Landing lightly atop a small stone platform, Liu Xi glanced around. All he saw was a dense, gray fog—he could only see clearly within a three-zhang radius.
The surroundings were silent, lifeless. Faint spatial ripples pulsed within the mist, concealing dangerous distortions. One wrong step and a contestant could be trapped, disqualified immediately.
Though his Spiritual Power was suppressed, it still allowed him to detect the hidden traps and the faint outline of a correct path forward.
Smiling faintly, he flicked his sleeve and stepped toward that safe route. With his Spiritual Power, these petty illusions couldn't trouble him in the slightest.
After several steps, the fog to his left began to churn violently. From it emerged a figure—Xiao Yixian, her expression alluring, her eyes shy, her every movement a picture of temptation.
This version of her, however, was far more provocative than the real one—something Liu Xi had never seen before. Still, his gaze remained calm and clear.
"Heh, fake. My Xian'er isn't this seductive."
His Spiritual Power surged outward like a wave. The illusion shattered instantly, dissipating into wisps of gray mist.
Shaking his head, Liu Xi continued along the correct path. More illusions rose one after another—faces of people etched deeply in his memory, all conjured by the Illusory Realm, only to be dispelled one by one.
"Heh… it's been so long. I wonder how Qing Lin is doing. She should've grown up by now. I've missed her. She must've reached Dou Zun by now… maybe it's time I brought her back."
"Zi Yan… still as mischievous as ever. Grown or small, fierce or sweet—hah, too bad it's just an illusion."
"Yun Yun… hm, that posture is far too suggestive for someone that dignified. Really, even illusions are shameless these days."
"Ah, Zi Ling… she's fine, I suppose. As for Queen Medusa, I doubt she'd ever want to see me again in this lifetime…"
He chuckled softly as the mirages faded one by one. Then a faint whisper escaped his lips, tinged with longing. "Father… Mother… Little Brother… Teacher… I've been away for so long. It's time I went back to see you all."
Waving his hand to clear the mist, Liu Xi came to a halt. His eyes closed briefly as memories from countless illusions stirred something deep within him—a quiet yearning for home.
Then his eyes snapped open, sharp and clear. His Spiritual Power burst forth, sweeping across the surroundings to map the true path.
"After the Pill Gathering… I'll return to the Northwest."
With renewed determination, Liu Xi pressed forward. The gray fog around him thickened, space twisting more violently, forming tangled folds that could only be bypassed through careful navigation.
But with his vast and pure Spiritual Power, no illusion or spatial distortion could deceive him.
After about half an hour, the heavy gray mist thinned, and before him appeared a large, swirling black vortex.
"This should be the exit of the Illusory Realm. Hmm… no fluctuations—seems genuine."
Confirming that the vortex wasn't an illusion, Liu Xi no longer hesitated. His figure blurred, striding straight toward the twisting darkness.
(End of Chapter)
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