Chapter 161: Soul Hall Branch Hall!
"Heh heh, Young Friend Jiang Yun!"
Seeing this, Elder Cao's face broke into a smile. He looked at Jiang Yun with a face full of goodwill. During this period, Jiang Yun had already won the favor of many Pill Tower elders.
What's more, in private, they lamented with regret, wishing he were a junior of their own families.
As one of the participants in those exchanges, he knew even better than outsiders just how terrifying Jiang Yun was. Thus, upon learning that the person who had clashed with the Cao clan was Jiang Yun, Elder Cao had immediately brought his people over.
"Elder Cao, what brings you here today?" Jiang Yun looked at him with a smile, his face full of puzzlement, completely ignoring Cao Xuan in the distance, whom he had encountered once before.
Seeing this, Cao Xuan's face flushed red. A surge of anger immediately rose in his heart. But—
A sharp pain came from within his mind, sobering him. Jiang Yun was not someone he could offend. He was not even someone the Cao clan could afford to offend.
"You wretched thing! Come over here and apologize to Grandmaster Jiang Yun at once!"
Hearing Jiang Yun's inquiry, Elder Cao's expression changed. He turned toward Cao Xuan in the distance and roared furiously.
His face deathly pale, Cao Xuan walked over trembling with fear. With a thud, he knelt before Jiang Yun and spoke respectfully, "Grandmaster Jiang, Cao Xuan admits his mistake!"
Jiang Yun looked indifferently at Cao Xuan, flat on the ground in prostration, without the slightest reaction.
Elder Cao, standing to the side, inwardly cursed little fox. He took out a pill formula scroll he carried with him and, smiling, said, "Young Friend Jiang's alchemy is evident for all to see. As it happens, my Cao clan has a treasured eighth-tier pill formula. There are some difficulties within it that this old man has been unable to fully grasp for a time. I hope Young Friend Jiang might offer his corrections!"
As his voice fell, Elder Cao waved his hand. The scroll in his grasp, pulled by soul power, drifted toward Jiang Yun at the doorway.
Jiang Yun extended his hand and gently caught the scroll. Sweeping a glance at the good-natured Elder Cao, he toyed with the scroll and said, "I wouldn't dare put on airs before Elder Cao. Let us study it together."
Then, his gaze shifted to Cao Xuan. "This time shall be considered a minor punishment as a major warning. Even the Pill Tower still has enemies—the Cao clan, all the more, has not reached the point where it can act lawlessly."
Hearing these somewhat dismissive words, Cao Ying and the others frowned slightly. However, Elder Cao showed not the slightest dissatisfaction. Looking at Jiang Yun's indifferent expression, he inwardly speculated.
It seems Jiang Yun is not some unaffiliated rogue cultivator without backing. His background is likely far more terrifying than the Cao clan's. Perhaps, even compared to the Pill Tower, it is not much weaker.
His mind stirred. The corner of his eye caught Xiao Yi Xian beside Jiang Yun, then glanced at his own graceful, alluring granddaughter. His heart immediately began to stir with ideas.
Ignoring the reactions of the group, Jiang Yun pointed a finger outward. In the next instant, the wisp of flame burning within Cao Xuan's body instantly collapsed, transforming into specks of sparks and dispersing within him.
"Ugh!"
Cao Xuan let out a muffled grunt. Feeling his body recover, he looked at Jiang Yun with a face full of gratitude and bowed. "Many thanks for Grandmaster Jiang's teaching!"
Jiang Yun waved his hand, and the matter was thus considered settled.
Seeing that Jiang Yun didn't seem inclined to invite them to stay, even though he secretly harbored other ideas, Elder Cao also deeply understood that there would be plenty of time in the future. This was not a good moment. He immediately took his leave and departed with Cao Ying and the others.
As for the matter of correcting the pill formula he had just mentioned, no one brought it up again. It had merely been a pretext to give both sides a way to step down gracefully.
The Cao clan did not wish to offend this mysterious, extraordinary genius of unfathomable origins. Jiang Yun also did not wish, over such a trifling matter with the Cao clan, to sour relations with the Pill Tower. And so the matter was handled with a light touch and let go.
The next day, Flame Sovereign also hurried over. Jiang Yun immediately delegated full authority for handling the requests for pill refinement to Flame Sovereign.
In the year that followed, Jiang Yun remained within the Pill Tower. Sometimes he discussed alchemy with several eighth-tier alchemists, sometimes he guided Xiao Yi Xian in her alchemy. The days were, in their own way, leisurely and pleasant.
And during this period, Jiang Yun also selected several rare types of pills to refine, producing several eighth-tier pills.
As the pills Jiang Yun refined circulated, there was not a single person who did not give him a thumbs-up. Not only did he complete every commission with a hundred percent success rate, but his efficiency was also beyond reproach, and the quality was exceptionally fine. This caused Jiang Yun's fame to soar in a short span of time.
Add to that Jiang Yun's youth, and even more rarely, his not-inconsiderable cultivation, word had already begun to spread across the Central Plains that he had the innate talent to become a Medicine Saint.
The title of the Central Plains' number one genius faintly hovered around his name!
...
In the inner district of Holy Pill City, atop a scenic, beautiful mountain peak, a quietly elegant woman dressed in white was serenely tending to the flowers and plants of various shapes and forms before her.
"Xiao Yi Xian! I've successfully refined the Emperor Pill!"
Just then, an excited voice came from afar. Xiao Yi Xian retracted the Dou Qi within her body, a trace of helplessness flickering through her eyes.
Unable to sense the Bodhi Ancient Tree, Xiao Yi Xian had, during this period, spent most of her time in this medicinal field, keeping company with the many ingredients. Her wood-attributed Dou Qi, because of the Bodhi Transformation Saliva, was even more attuned to all kinds of plants.
Within the medicinal field, she could not only tend to the ingredients better but also cultivate more rapidly. This was a talent unique to her.
As for how she had come to appear in the Pill Tower's medicinal field—over this past year, she and Jiang Yun had both joined the Pill Tower. Although they had not become elders, they had still become guest elders.
This kind of life was exactly what she yearned for. However, upon hearing the voice in the distance, a look of helplessness unexpectedly flickered through Xiao Yi Xian's eyes.
In the next moment, a pair of hands wrapped around her slender, barely-a-handful waist. Immediately after, an excited voice rang out beside her ear.
"Xiao Yi Xian, I can already refine the Emperor Pill! Just you wait—soon I'll reach the seventh tier. I definitely won't let you pull too far ahead!"
Feeling the hand taking the opportunity to misbehave at her waist, Xiao Yi Xian's entire body jolted. She sent the other party staggering back while gently dodging aside. In the next instant, she was suspended silently in midair, looking at Cao Ying.
"How many times have I said it? Don't randomly touch my waist!"
Cao Ying, who had been forced back several steps by Xiao Yi Xian's shockwave, had not absorbed a single word Xiao Yi Xian said. Instead, she stared in shock at Xiao Yi Xian, who was standing upon the empty air. Startled, she exclaimed, "Y-you've broken through to Dou Zong!"
Cao Ying looked at Xiao Yi Xian, who had broken through, and immediately felt a tightness in her chest. Even the joy of having just successfully refined the Emperor Pill dissipated. She and Xiao Yi Xian had both been at the peak of Dou Huang and Dou Wang, yet now, it was Xiao Yi Xian who had made the breakthrough first.
Although, all along, her cultivation talent had been somewhat mediocre compared to her alchemy talent, she had never minded before. Keeping up with her cultivation was enough.
Now, the times had changed!
Setting aside Jiang Yun, that version-defying son of heaven, even Xiao Yi Xian, this newly acquainted close friend, was advancing in alchemy and cultivation side by side.
Both being women, this stirred an unconscious sense of rivalry in her heart.
Yet now, Xiao Yi Xian had broken through in both alchemy and cultivation simultaneously. This made Cao Ying's heart clench.
What sins had she committed in a past life to have met these two monsters?!
Under the successive provocations of Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian, Cao Ying, who had been hailed as a genius from birth, was on the verge of depression.
Watching the dejected Cao Ying, Xiao Yi Xian sighed inwardly and slowly descended beside her, intending to comfort her fair-weather sister.
However, Xiao Yi Xian had clearly underestimated Cao Ying's resilience. After her initial dejection, she quickly adjusted her mood and reignited her fighting spirit.
"I'll definitely catch up soon!"
"By the way, where is Grandmaster Jiang? How come he's nowhere to be seen?" As she spoke, Cao Ying scanned her surroundings. Not finding her target, she looked at Xiao Yi Xian curiously.
Seeing this, Xiao Yi Xian rubbed her brow with a slight headache. Over the past year, Cao Ying had visited very frequently, and her objective was always crystal clear—she came straight for Jiang Yun.
This left Xiao Yi Xian feeling both anxious and helpless!
A year ago, Jiang Yun had caused the Cao clan to lose face. As the leading figure of the Cao clan's current generation, Cao Ying had come seeking Jiang Yun so often. Yet not only had the Cao clan not said anything about it, they were even highly supportive.
Elder Cao, moreover, was exceptionally enthusiastic every time he met Jiang Yun. And whenever Elder Cao appeared, Cao Ying would also appear alongside him several times.
The implications contained within were obvious even to a fool.
Even with Xiao Yi Xian acting as a shield, it did not diminish their enthusiasm. This gave Xiao Yi Xian a feeling of having strength but nowhere to use it.
Most importantly, the Cao clan never stated it outright. They simply employed this slow-boil-the-frog approach. Even Jiang Yun could hardly say anything explicit.
After all, he couldn't restrict someone else's freedom, could he? Besides... Xuan Kongzi was Cao Ying's teacher.
At times like this, Medusa was the most effective. She didn't need to do anything—just standing beside Jiang Yun, ordinary women didn't even have the courage to approach.
"Senior Tianhuo has arrived. They're inside discussing matters." Even though her heart was helpless, Xiao Yi Xian still explained quietly, her gaze turning toward the bamboo hut deep within the medicinal field.
Pointing at the yellowed map on the stone table, Flame Sovereign said softly, "Based on the information the Young Master provided, combined with the Pill Tower's intelligence, I have already gone to investigate. These few locations are the most likely sites for Soul Hall branch halls."
Jiang Yun's gaze followed to the spot Flame Sovereign indicated. He nodded and said quietly, "Understood. You don't need to concern yourself with this matter further. Continue investigating the matter of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame's remnant map. Pay special attention to the direction of the Earth Three Sects."
The so-called Earth Three Sects were the largest black market on the Dou Qi Continent and the organizers of the Spatial Trade Fair.
The world only knew the Black-Corner Region as the most chaotic place on the Dou Qi Continent, possessing a massive black market. In truth, the Spatial Trade Fair was the most top-tier black market on the Dou Qi Continent.
It was jointly organized by three great powers: the Earth Movement Sect, the Empty Xuan Sect, and the Treasure Appraisal Mountain.
On the surface of the Central Plains, there existed One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions. But the hidden powers in the shadows were beyond counting. The strength of the Three Sects was such that even powers like the Burning Flame Valley and even the Netherworld Sect dared not underestimate them in the slightest.
The remnant map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame would not appear for another ten-odd years. But Jiang Yun did not plan to wait.
The Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint only had this final wisp of a remnant soul left. One sheep was herded, two sheep were also herded. If the opportunity presented itself, Jiang Yun planned to try resurrecting both the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint and the Yellow Spring Demon Saint and see if it could be done.
If in the end there was no news, then it could only be said that such was fate.
"Yes!" Flame Sovereign cast a reverent glance at Jiang Yun's back. Sensing the terrifying aura ceaselessly emanating from within him, his heart palpitated.
The young man before him had grown even more unfathomably deep. The bottlenecks that others often faced seemed, in his case, as though they did not exist. His cultivation skyrocketed as if riding a rocket.
A year ago, Jiang Yun had been a five-star Dou Zun. Now, no one knew exactly what terrifying level he had reached.
With the Ancient Dragon Clan as his backing, and his own heaven-defying innate talent, one could scarcely imagine how dazzling his future would be. The best thing he could do now was to hurry and cling tightly to this man's coattails.
After Flame Sovereign left, Jiang Yun's gaze lingered thoughtfully on the map atop the table.
A quiet Soul Hall was not a good Soul Hall.
The Dead Soul Mountain Range was situated in the northwest region of the Central Plains. This place could be considered a rather famous ominous zone in the Central Plains. According to legend, countless great battles had erupted here long ago. Beneath the soil of these mountains, who knew how many skeletons were buried.
This place possessed an exceptionally dense natural cold qi, causing chilling mists to shroud the mountain range year-round. Deep within these chilling mists, even one's soul perception would be affected. Some rash individuals might even end up trapped and dying directly within the mountain range.
It could be said to be a forbidden land everyone shunned. The Soul Hall certainly knew how to pick its locations.
However, if it were Jiang Yun choosing a stronghold, he would absolutely not pick a place so devoid of human presence. A stronghold with such villainous characteristics was absolutely the most likely to draw suspicion.
If it were him, he would set the stronghold right in the Alchemy Domain and plant a few moles within the Pill Tower. Absolutely no one would ever suspect it.
Within the chilling-mist-shrouded forest, the vast white fog obstructed one's vision. In this environment, visibility was exceptionally low. Even soul perception, without an exceedingly powerful divine soul sense, could not extend beyond a hundred meters.
"Rip—"
Just then, a pitch-black spatial rift appeared abruptly on the scene. A dark figure stepped out from within.
The figure suddenly blurred, then slowly dissipated on the spot. Behind him, the spatial rift gradually vanished, as if everything had been nothing more than an illusion.
Not far away, atop a steep slope, the black-robed figure appeared, gazing into the distance at the enormous valley.
Within the valley, a massive black hall, a full hundred zhang wide, crouched like a primordial ferocious beast in the gloom, exuding a heart-chilling, terrifying aura. The space around the black hall seemed to carry a strangely distorted hue.
Jiang Yun's gaze penetrated the outer spatial barrier, sensing the auras within. He murmured quietly, "Four Dou Zuns, several dozen Dou Zongs... The Soul Hall has deployed no small amount of force here."
At the same time, a subtle, intangible spatial fluctuation spread outward, enveloping the pitch-black great hall entirely. In an instant, it severed all contact with the outside world.
Sensing what Zhu Feng had done, Jiang Yun chuckled lightly and slowly walked toward the great hall.
Although Zhu Feng could effortlessly obliterate this branch hall with a single palm strike, Jiang Yun still chose to act personally. The Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan was a hidden trump card. No one in the outside world currently knew its true state.
Since the imperial clans had previously chosen to disregard the Taixu Ancient Dragons, then let them continue to disregard them for now!
"Boom—"
Within the silent mountain range, space suddenly began to shake violently. In the pitch-black sky, space abruptly shattered at this moment. A giant energy hand, as if piercing through from beyond space itself, descended.
"Enemy attack—"