Chapter 23: Holy Pill City
The moonlight spilled over the stars, casting a serene glow across the long road ahead. Amidst the fading mist, a lone figure stood resilient against the winds of time.
Who said my talent was extraordinary? Who said my alchemy skills were unmatched?
Xiao Yan sat atop one of the celestial peaks within the Starfallen Pavilion. Streams of azure Dou Qi flowed into his body through his nostrils, circulating within before returning to his Dou Qi cyclone. With each cycle, the surrounding energy was refined.
"No wonder outsiders' cultivation speed can't compare to ours in the Xiao Clan," Xiao Yan sighed softly.
The Starfallen Pavilion was already considered a top tier faction in the Central Plains. The energy within the Star Realm was dense, further enhanced by special formations that amplified its concentration to nearly three times that of the outside world.
But even this was ordinary compared to the Xiao Realm. Energy density in the Xiao Realm averaged three to five times that of the outside world, with special cultivation areas for talented descendants reaching eight or even ten times the concentration. Coupled with their innate bloodline talent, it was no surprise that the Xiao Realm boasted so many Dou Kings and Dou Emperors.
A month had passed, and Xiao Yan had barely recovered to the level of a two star Dou Emperor. He shook his head in frustration.
"Disciple!"
A hoarse voice called out, interrupting Xiao Yan's thoughts. He looked up to see Yao Chen descending. The elder wore a clean cyan robe, and his previously disheveled hair and beard had been meticulously groomed. At a glance, he exuded a scholarly aura that bordered on celestial.
Heading out for a date with your old flame? Xiao Yan mused inwardly before teasing aloud, "Dressed so extravagantly are you meeting an old lover?"
"Cough, cough." Yao Chen cleared his throat awkwardly, quickly regaining his composure. "I'm just going to meet an old friend."
"Really? Then why do you smell like fragrant herbs?" Xiao Yan smirked.
"Can we change the topic?" Yao Chen's face turned slightly red. Then, forcing a change in subject, he asked, "How's your alchemy practice coming along?"
"You're there supervising me every day. Shouldn't you know?" Xiao Yan glanced at him nonchalantly.
"Heh." Yao Chen chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "As expected, you're a prodigy. Even without a Heavenly Flame, you've managed to refine peak tier fifth grade pills. If you had a Heavenly Flame, you'd already be a sixth grade alchemist by now."
"Fifteen years old and already capable of reaching the sixth tier. Even in the Medicine Clan, such talent hasn't been seen for nearly a millennium. Perhaps only the Medicine Emperor of old could compare."
"My disciple is destined for greatness!" Yao Chen said proudly, stroking his beard with a grin that almost made his face look like a blooming chrysanthemum.
"I can't wait to see you surpass all the younger generation in the Medicine Clan," he added, visibly delighted.
"You're dreaming." Xiao Yan smirked. "My mother is a direct descendant of the Medicine Clan. Many of the so called prodigies there are my cousins. By the way, you're part of the Medicine Clan too, aren't you? Guess that makes us distant relatives."
"Your mother is from the Medicine Clan?" Yao Chen froze momentarily, a trace of sadness flashing across his face.
"Enough about that. I came here to tell you that the competition begins in seven days. Get ready we're leaving soon."
"It's starting already?" Xiao Yan blinked before nodding. "Give me a moment."
With that, he unfolded his Dou Qi wings and flew back to his residence.
Half an hour later, Xiao Yan reappeared, nearly blinding Yao Chen with his stunning transformation.
Dressed in a white robe embroidered with delicate black bamboo, lined with gold trim, Xiao Yan's tall, lean frame was accentuated to perfection. The outfit seemed tailor made for him, exuding an air of refinement.
His previously unkempt hair was now tied back with a seven dragon golden crown, adorned with a jade hairpin of pure white.
As the saying goes, clothes make the man. Xiao Yan's already handsome face now carried an extra touch of sophistication and elegance.
He looked every bit a jade like gentleman, brimming with youthful energy. Paired with the two loose strands of hair framing his face and a faint roguish air, his jet black eyes held a maturity far beyond his years a look sure to turn heads wherever he went.
"You're the true showman," Yao Chen muttered after a long silence.
"Mutual admiration, Master. A flashy teacher brings out a flashy student," Xiao Yan quipped, his smile carrying the poise of a refined gentleman.
"No time to waste. Since we're both ready, let's go." Yao Chen waved his hand, summoning a shimmering space portal before them.
"Off we go…" As his voice trailed, Xiao Yan followed him into the portal.
"What's that smell on you? The herbal scent is peculiar. What is it?"
"Chanel Bleu for Men."
"What a strange name."
"Don't mind the name. It's the effect that counts."
"Well said. Perhaps I'll see if there's a recipe to refine it further."
"You can just ask me for the formula…"
The duo's voices echoed through the space corridor as they conversed.
Holy Pill City: The Alchemist's Haven
Holy Pill City lay at the heart of the Pill Domain, a place of grandeur and magnificence. Its vast expanse and imposing architecture stood as a testament to its status. In the absence of the Ancient Seven Clans, it was arguably the most prosperous city on the Dou Qi Continent.
Here, powerhouses and alchemists gathered like clouds and rain. As the wealthiest individuals in the continent, their presence made this city the de facto Central Plains CBD.
The city's massive main structure was complemented by eight enormous plazas encircling its perimeter. At this moment, one of the plazas outside the city teemed with alchemists and powerhouses, creating a sea of activity. Occasionally, colorful flames rose from certain spots evidence of alchemists refining pills on the spot.
Suddenly, a ripple spread through the space above the plaza. A silver light ring tore open, drawing the attention of countless people below. Heads turned skyward, filled with awe.
To open a spatial passageway that's a skill reserved for Dou Zun powerhouses.
Even in Holy Pill City, a place teeming with experts, a Dou Zun was still considered a top tier figure.
As the spatial passage stabilized, a sage like elder in a cyan robe emerged, exuding an air of calm authority. Behind him followed a young man dressed in a pristine white robe adorned with subtle black bamboo patterns. His elegant posture and strikingly handsome appearance immediately drew gasps.
"It's him! The Medicine Sovereign, Yao Chen!" someone exclaimed. The already lively plaza erupted into an even noisier commotion.
"Yao Chen, the Medicine Sovereign! It's said that his alchemy skills surpass even the Three Pill Tower Titans!"
"Indeed. He's said to be just a hair's breadth away from the ninth tier. With no ninth tier alchemists currently active, he's arguably the greatest alchemist on the continent."
"For him to appear here at the Pill Tower… something big must be happening."
"Wait, who's that young man following him? Could he be Yao Chen's new disciple?"
All eyes soon turned toward Xiao Yan, standing calmly behind Yao Chen.
The Crowd's Reactions
"My heavens! To be Yao Chen's disciple is akin to reaching the heavens in a single step. That's like ancestral blessings of the highest order!"
"Blessings? That's not just a blessing. That's fireworks over the ancestral graves!"
"Wow, that young man is so handsome and refined!" Several young female alchemists stared at Xiao Yan, their eyes sparkling with infatuation.
"If only I could have a boyfriend like him!" one whispered, her cheeks flushed.
"You? Keep dreaming. Did you see the Dou Qi wings behind him? He's so young and already capable of Dou Qi flight! Add to that being Yao Chen's disciple his future is limitless. What chance do you have?"
"What did you say? If I don't stand a chance, do you think you do, you fox?"
"Who are you calling a fox, you cheap woman!"
"I'm calling you one, you jealous little bi**!"
And so, two female alchemists began wrestling on the plaza floor, causing yet another commotion all thanks to Xiao Yan.
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