Chapter 209: The Choice!
The chaotic light sphere pulsed slightly, like a heart. With each of its beats, the entire plane trembled in response.
When it inhaled, winds and clouds gathered, tides surged and receded, the sun rose and the moon set...
At this moment, upon this originally pure and flawless plane spirit, strands of demonic energy coiled. The demonic energy was like a lingering, bone-deep parasite, making the chaotic light sphere appear extremely discordant.
Just then, the chaotic sea churned, and two images appeared. One was the scene within the Demonic Flame Space, where Jiang Yun was refining the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. The other image showed...
A dark, void-like nothingness. Within that dark void, an enormous black cloud sped towards the distance. The black cloud emanated wave after wave of terrifying pressure. A single glance at it made one's soul tremble, showing signs of collapse.
As the image enlarged, seen from afar, the black cloud's target appeared to be an enormous rift. The rift was like the mouth of a demon, from which endless evil surged forth. On the other end of the rift lay a vast, crimson continent.
From a bird's-eye view, that continent was precisely the Dou Qi Continent...
"Buzz—"
At this moment, the plane spirit sensed the impending crisis. Upon its surface, chaotic light flickered wildly. For a time, even the demonic energy clinging to it was suppressed.
Within the chaotic sea, the images shifted again. The black cloud vanished, replaced by figures flashing past: Gu Yuan, Hun Tiandi, Zhu Kun, Nihility Devouring Flame, Elder Wanhuo, Yao Tian, Gu Xun'er, Tang Huo'er... The figures that appeared all shared similarities.
They were either supreme experts whose strength touched the peak, or cultivators possessing Heavenly Flames.
Figure after figure flashed by, until the image finally settled on a young man dressed in black robes. At that moment, he was within the Pill Tower, surrounded by a crowd, discussing something...
Unsurprisingly, the young man was Xiao Yan!
Now, only the images of Jiang Yun and Xiao Yan remained within the chaotic sea. The plane spirit seemed to be deliberating, constantly shifting back and forth above the two. Finally, it seemed to make a decision. Jiang Yun's image slowly dissipated, leaving only Xiao Yan's resolute face...
Demonic Flame Space.
While refining the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, Jiang Yun's consciousness had inadvertently arrived at an unknown place, witnessing the birth process of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. The purifying power around him was displayed before his eyes without reservation. Just as Jiang Yun was about to carefully comprehend it, the scene abruptly ceased...
Within the energy crystal cocoon, Jiang Yun, who sat cross-legged, suddenly furrowed his brows slightly. In the next instant, his expression returned to normal as he focused entirely on elevating his own cultivation.
Within the Pill Tower's council chamber.
Over ten elders sat in their assigned seats. Xiao Yan and Yao Chen also found a place to sit off to the side, their gazes then turning to Xuan Kongzi at the head seat.
"The Pill Tower has always considered itself neutral, never favoring any faction or camp. This can also be considered one of the Pill Tower's rules..." After sweeping his gaze around, Xuan Kongzi's calm voice slowly echoed within the hall. "However, the recent confrontation between the Pill Tower and the Soul Hall is still fresh in everyone's minds. For some unknown reason, the Soul Hall has now been nearly wiped out, but the mastermind behind the Soul Hall—the Hun Clan—still remains..."
"This opportunity of the three-clan alliance is one that only comes once in a millennium. If we cannot eliminate the Hun Clan in one fell swoop, the Soul Hall will inevitably rise again. The alchemists of our continent will once more be in constant danger."
"Therefore, this old man is in favor of Xiao Yan's proposal to ally with the three clans. What are everyone's thoughts?"
"This matter is of grave importance. The Grand Elder and the Ancestor are not yet at the Pill Tower; we cannot make such a decision on our own!" Hearing Xuan Kongzi's question, an elder opened his closed eyes and looked at Xuan Kongzi, speaking in a deep voice.
"Esteemed seniors, the Soul Hall, as a subordinate force of the Hun Clan, has relied on the Hun Clan's strength over the years to capture the souls of countless alchemists. As the sacred land in the hearts of alchemists, the Pill Tower originally has the duty to safeguard their well-being. We won't discuss past events, but this opportunity is one that only comes once in a millennium..."
"If the Pill Tower does not act, do not forget that the Yao Clan is also part of the alliance. If the Yao Clan raises the banner of avenging the world's alchemists, while the Pill Tower does nothing, then the Pill Tower's prestige as the sacred land in alchemists' hearts will inevitably suffer greatly. At that time, the name 'sacred land' would be unworthy of its title."
Xiao Yan rose to his feet, looked around at the numerous elders, shook his head slightly, and spoke in a solemn voice.
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the hearts of the crowd couldn't help but sink. The Yao Clan was indeed part of the three-clan alliance. It couldn't be said that the Pill Tower and the Yao Clan were utterly estranged and never interacting, but since ancient times, those in the same trade were rivals. A competitive relationship had always existed between the two.
In the past, the Yao Clan disdained interacting with the outside world, leading most alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent to regard the Pill Tower as the sacred alchemy land in their hearts.
Now, the matter of the Hun Clan had brought the Yao Clan into the public eye, making everyone aware that the Yao Clan still existed on the Dou Qi Continent, descended from the first Yao Emperor. As a sacred land for alchemists, wouldn't the Yao Clan be even more legitimate in name and status than the Pill Tower?
Had the Pill Tower not fought a great battle with the Soul Hall previously, who knew how many other thoughts might have arisen in the hearts of alchemists?
"But... it is the Hun Clan, after all..." Analyzed by Xiao Yan's reasoning of pros and cons, quite a few elders were swayed in their hearts, but some still showed expressions of worry.
"The Hun Clan members are people too. How come all of you are less decisive than a mere youth?" Just at that moment, a childish voice suddenly rang out within the great hall. The crowd followed the sound and saw a spatial rift abruptly appear inside the hall. The Pill Tower Ancestor, riding his ox, slowly emerged from within, accompanied by the Grand Elder.
"Ancestor!" Seeing the Pill Tower Ancestor return, the crowd excitedly stepped forward and said respectfully.
Xiao Yan also looked curiously at the Pill Tower Ancestor, this unique being—the highest-grade pill currently in existence on the continent, aside from an Emperor Pill.
"Mm!" The Pill Tower Ancestor nodded and looked towards Xiao Yan beside him, smiling, "You must be the descendant of the Xiao Clan? The Xiao Clan is truly a miraculous imperial clan. I never expected that a thousand years later, a prodigy like you would appear again."
Hearing the Pill Tower Ancestor's praise, Xiao Yan immediately felt a jolt. The Pill Tower Ancestor's gaze made him feel as if he were standing there naked, with no secrets before the other.
"Greetings, Senior!" Inwardly marveling at the other's profound soul cultivation, Xiao Yan cupped his fist neither servilely nor overbearingly.
"I heard everything you said just now. The Pill Tower agrees to the alliance's request. The Hun Clan is truly too dangerous..." The Pill Tower Ancestor nodded appreciatively, looking at him as he spoke deeply.
"Many thanks, Senior!" Upon hearing this, even with Xiao Yan's composure, an irrepressible joy surged onto his face as he cupped his fist.
Watching the overjoyed Xiao Yan, the Pill Tower Ancestor recalled his earlier encounter at the Demonic Flame Space. He looked at Xiao Yan and said with earnest gravity, "The Hun Clan won't give us much time. If there are other allies, we must speed up."
"Senior, rest assured. This time, we have not only contacted the Pill Tower, but also first-rate powers of the Central Plains like the Burning Flame Valley and the Flower Sect are joining the alliance," Xiao Yan nodded upon hearing this and said in a deep voice.
Nodding, the Pill Tower Ancestor looked at Xiao Yan and smiled, "Your talent is truly rare. You've already broken through to Dou Sheng, and what's commendable is that your soul realm has also broken through to the mid-stage Heaven Realm. It would be a pity not to utilize such soul power. The Pill Tower has many books regarding the soul; you can go take a look during this period."
Hearing this, the crowd stared blankly at the Pill Tower Ancestor, then envious gazes turned towards Xiao Yan one after another. On the Dou Qi Continent, aside from the several imperial clans, no one possessed a complete inheritance for the application of soul power. Even Yao Chen, though of Yao Clan origin, did not have very advanced soul secret techniques.
The Pill Tower did have quite a few soul-related cultivation methods and secret manuals, but those could only be obtained by those who had made great contributions to the Pill Tower. Now, Xiao Yan, someone not of the Pill Tower, had actually earned the Pill Tower Ancestor's appreciation and could select soul secret techniques from the Pill Tower. It was truly enviable.
When Xiao Yan first heard the Pill Tower Ancestor's words, he was also somewhat stunned. But he immediately reacted, cupped his fist with joy in his eyes, and said, "Many thanks, Senior!"
Though he was Yao Chen's disciple, he had always lacked soul-related cultivation methods. It wasn't until he arrived in the Central Plains that he fortuitously obtained an Earth Class secret manual and cultivated it until now. Soul-related cultivation methods were indeed rare. Even though he intentionally collected them later, the results were minimal.
Had the other not mentioned it, Xiao Yan would have nearly forgotten he still had a shortcoming in this area.
The Hun Clan was an expert in this field! In battle with them, a moment of carelessness might lead to his soul becoming their key breakthrough target.
After resolving the Pill Tower alliance issue, Yao Chen didn't delay. He bid farewell first and, under Xuan Yi's resentful gaze, hurried without pause towards the Flower Sect and the Burning Flame Valley.
As for Xiao Yan, he stayed behind. He was now within the Pill Tower's library.
What greeted his eyes were rows upon rows of orderly tall cabinets. Upon the wooden shelves were rolls of scrolls of varying colors. A rough glance suggested they were boundless, stretching beyond sight, and who knew how many books were stored here.
This was the foundation of a sacred alchemy land passed down for a millennium. One could only wonder what the scene was like—how breathtaking—in the library of the first imperial clan back then, the Xiao Clan.
Flipping through a few at random, he found they were all Earth Class Dou Techniques. Xiao Yan didn't linger long here and headed directly upstairs.
The second floor had relatively fewer bookshelves, all Earth Class secret manuals. Xiao Yan still didn't pause, reaching the final third floor before he stopped.
The instant Xiao Yan's foot stepped onto the third floor, it seemed as if boundless light surged before his eyes. Then the light returned to darkness. What appeared before him was a boundless, endless starry sky.
Staring in astonishment at the scene before him, Xiao Yan drew a sharp breath and said in surprise, "It's actually an independent space."
After his initial shock, Xiao Yan walked upon the starry sky, gazing out into the vast, boundless expanse.
Within the starry sky, countless stars flickered—some bright, some dim. A sky full of stars, brilliantly resplendent.
Yet, after walking for a long time, he saw no trace of the imagined high-grade Heaven Class Dou Techniques or advanced soul secret techniques.
Buzz!
Just as Xiao Yan was filled with doubt, this starry sky seemed to tremble. Then, a thunderous roar echoed. From beyond the starry sky, overwhelming streams of light suddenly howled towards him.
As they drew nearer, Xiao Yan finally realized those streams of light were, in fact, countless shooting stars whistling past. The shooting stars displayed a myriad of colors, looking exceptionally spectacular.
However, when Xiao Yan's eyes looked carefully, his gaze suddenly hardened, because he discovered that within those shooting stars weren't meteorites or fireballs, but objects resembling scrolls.
"So the secret manuals are all here?" Xiao Yan's face showed surprise. Then, as if sensing something, he raised his head and gazed up at the seemingly unreachable stars in the starry sky. His soul power swept over them.
In that instant, he seemed to see, within those stars, ancient scrolls faintly appearing and disappearing, exuding a mysterious and abstruse fluctuation.
Clearly, within those stars were also hidden Dou Techniques and cultivation methods of extraordinary power.
With that thought, Xiao Yan's figure leapt up, transforming into a stream of light and shooting forth, hurtling towards the countless shooting stars whistling through the starry sky.
Along the way, his soul power continuously swept over his surroundings, sensing for a soul secret technique that could cause his soul to tremble.
Through continuous searching, Xiao Yan saw countless Dou Techniques and cultivation methods of formidable power, among which were no lack of terrifyingly powerful techniques like mid-grade Heaven Class.
But he passed on all of them, solely focused on finding the soul cultivation method he needed.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, an ancient, unadorned star entered Xiao Yan's line of sight. This star was undoubtedly much smaller compared to the surrounding giant stars. Yet, none of the stars around it dared to approach. Moreover, Xiao Yan noticed it hung high in the void, emitting a profound, esoteric sensation as if it transcended heaven and earth.
And his soul power, upon sweeping over it, couldn't even sense what kind of Dou Technique it contained.
"What kind of Dou Technique is this, to be so strange?" Xiao Yan gazed at the ancient star, full of uncertainty. Then, his figure slowly descended towards it.
The moment Xiao Yan stepped into the ancient star, he instantly lost consciousness. In a haze, his consciousness seemed to drift through an endless space.
Consciousness drifted between heaven and earth. Time seemed to lose all concept at this moment. He didn't know how long had passed when, suddenly, a hazy light appeared. That light seemed like the chaotic light born at the very dawn of creation.
His consciousness halted some distance away from that patch of primal chaos. That light caused his consciousness to sting continuously, preventing him from drawing near.
Just as his consciousness was lost and helpless, the Flame Incantation within his body subconsciously began to operate. One after another, the Heavenly Flames he had previously absorbed slowly emerged. The Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, the Green Lotus Core Flame, the Fury Dragon Flame, the Turtle Spirit Earth Flame, the Red Lotus Karmic Flame, and other flames swirled around him, tightly protecting his consciousness.
Instantly, the stinging sensation emitted by that chaotic light disappeared, replaced by a gentle feeling. In the next moment, Xiao Yan's consciousness charged into that primal chaos.
An indescribably peculiar sensation quietly emerged at that moment, a feeling akin to transcending above the world...