Chapter 164: Pill Tower VS Soul Hall!
"Bang—"
The seventh-tier pill tribulation, hurtling downward, smashed ferociously against the giant finger Jiang Yun had sent forth.
Yet the mere pill lightning of a seventh-tier pill was utterly incapable of causing the slightest damage to the finger imprint. On the contrary, the finger imprint directly shattered and absorbed it, then carried its ferocious, unstoppable force straight toward the tribulation clouds in the sky.
"Rumble—"
Such an act seemed to enrage the pill tribulation, as if a switch had been flipped. Within the thunderclouds, a chain reaction was instantly triggered. One after another, silver-white bolts of lightning crashed down toward the enormous finger imprint.
Yet none could stop it. In the end, the finger imprint, braving the heaven-filling tribulation lightning, ruthlessly plunged into the tribulation clouds themselves.
With a resounding "boom," the thunderclouds, which had just moments ago been flashing with lightning, came to an abrupt halt. Finally, they completely dispersed and vanished from the sky.
Having witnessed the entire process, Tang Zhen stared in shock at the tightly shut door. His heart shook violently. Jiang Yun's strength was likely even more terrifying than he had imagined.
Such talent, such a remarkable background—Burning Flame Valley absolutely must not make an enemy of this man.
As the pill lightning dissipated, Jiang Yun gazed at the cyan-red pill spinning and bouncing within the Mountain-Melting Cauldron. He nodded. With a beckoning wave, a surge of suction force erupted from his palm. The Fire Bodhi Pill immediately flew out along the flame vent and landed in Jiang Yun's hand.
Turning his hand over, he produced a white jade bottle and placed the Fire Bodhi Pill inside.
Looking at Xiao Yi Xian standing quietly to the side, he asked gently, "Is there anything you didn't understand?"
"Mm, nothing!" Xiao Yi Xian pondered for a moment and found, for the time being, nothing she had failed to grasp. Jiang Yun had explained in great detail during the refining process. She slowly shook her head.
Nodding, Jiang Yun stowed the pill away. Rising, he walked out of the room. Looking at the waiting Tang Zhen and his daughter outside, he said, "The pill is here." He then casually tossed it toward Tang Zhen, who was flying over.
Tang Zhen hurriedly caught the pill and opened the jade bottle. Looking at the round, plump pill lying quietly inside, inscribed with mysterious and magnificent patterns and exuding a rich medicinal fragrance, his eyes reddened once more.
"Many thanks to Grandmaster Jiang for granting this!" Tang Zhen put the pill away and looked at Jiang Yun, speaking with gratitude.
"It was merely a matter of each taking what they needed," Jiang Yun said, gazing calmly at Tang Zhen.
Tang Zhen's entire body jolted. He took a deep breath. Clenching his hand lightly, a "puff" sound was heard. A wisp of silver flame slowly rose from his palm, curling upward. As the flame blazed, one could faintly see nine silver fire dragons weaving and darting within it.
"The Nine Dragons Lightning Flame!" Looking at that cluster of flame, Jiang Yun murmured in his heart.
At the same time, within a stretch of void space—a place exceptionally dilapidated and desolate, faint, scorching mists drifting all around—countless beams of cold, clear starlight shone down, making this place seem somewhat chilly and forsaken.
And within this void, there was a blazing, white-hot light, like the very sun of this space.
Amidst the dazzling starlight, a colossal dragon, its end nowhere in sight, lay slumbering. Its dragon eyes were tightly shut. Its body coiled and sprawled. Wreathed around its massive dragon form was a strange purplish-black flame. As the flame blazed, the surrounding space rippled and distorted.
Suddenly, the enormous dragon eyes slowly opened. An icy gaze swept past. A heaven-shaking dragon roar resounded throughout the entire Star Region.
"Roar~~~"
"Hm?" Looking at the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame, Jiang Yun sensed the disturbance in the sky. He raised his head in surprise and looked up.
"What's going on?" Tang Zhen was equally astonished. At this moment, he could feel the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame in his hand emitting wave after wave of uneasy aura. The nine lightning dragons danced restlessly, their gazes pointing directly at the Star Region in the sky.
In the sky, several figures radiating powerful auras streaked swiftly past. The people of Holy Pill City watched with faces full of bewilderment.
"Valley Master Tang..." Seeing the figures of Xuan Kongzi and the others, Jiang Yun slowly withdrew his gaze. Suppressing the thoughts in his heart, he looked at Tang Zhen beside him and gave a quiet signal.
"Oh!" Tang Zhen came back to his senses and suppressed the curiosity in his heart. Even the three great heads of the Pill Tower have appeared together. There shouldn't be any problems.
He glanced at the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame in his palm. His expression shifted. In the next moment, that peculiar flame in his hand began to contract into a tiny, yet exceptionally dazzling, fire seed.
After being compressed to the utmost, the fire seed suddenly swelled violently to a full foot in size. The center of the cluster of light began to tremble. Then, slowly, an exceptionally weak wisp of flame separated out from the very center.
Though this wisp of flame was somewhat feeble, it possessed everything the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame ought to have.
After the child flame was separated, the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame seemed utterly drained. It immediately dove back into Tang Zhen's body to go into temporary dormancy, replenishing the energy it had just lost.
Tang Zhen's complexion was also slightly pale. His body trembled for a moment.
"Father, are you alright?" Tang Huo'er, who had been watching Tang Zhen intently the entire time, saw this scene. Her expression immediately changed. Supporting Tang Zhen anxiously, she spoke with a face full of worry.
"I'm fine." Tang Zhen looked at Tang Huo'er with a face full of tender affection and reassured her.
"Swoosh!" A jade-green pill appeared, suspended before him. Jiang Yun's voice followed. "Take it."
"Many thanks, Grandmaster Jiang!" Tang Zhen glanced at Jiang Yun in surprise. The pill before him was at least seventh tier. To have been casually given to him just like that—Tang Zhen immediately cupped his fists toward Jiang Yun.
After consuming the pill, Tang Zhen beckoned. The child flame of the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame flew over before Jiang Yun. He reminded him, "Although this flame is merely a child flame, it is still a heavenly flame—violent and fierce. My Burning Flame Valley has dealt with this flame for several hundred years and has gained some insights in handling it. Should Grandmaster Jiang require it, Tang Zhen can provide them."
"Many thanks!" Jiang Yun glanced at Tang Zhen. He could sense the genuine sincerity in the other's eyes. He nodded. In the next second, under the dumbstruck gazes of Tang Zhen and Tang Huo'er, he directly swallowed the child flame of the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame into his belly in a single gulp.
"I fear I must disappoint Valley Master Tang's kind intentions!" With Jiang Yun's current strength, a mere child flame naturally posed no difficulty for him. The moment it entered his stomach, it was devoured by the Saint Demon Flame within his body.
"Grandmaster Jiang is truly... truly blessed with extraordinary talent!" Tang Zhen gave an awkward laugh and spoke hesitantly.
"Boom—"
Suddenly, a faint, muffled sound reached Jiang Yun's soul perception. From the Star Region in the sky came an exceptionally violent energy fluctuation. Jiang Yun's heart stirred slightly. Looking at the three beside him, who were completely oblivious, he spoke quietly.
"The transaction is complete. I won't keep Valley Master Tang any longer."
"Good. No matter what, I must thank Grandmaster Jiang for taking action this time. Should there ever be a need in the future, Tang Zhen will certainly lend his full support!" Hearing this, Tang Zhen immediately rose and cupped his fists.
After Jiang Yun nodded, Tang Zhen took Tang Huo'er and bid his farewell, departing.
"Xiao Yi Xian, there's a bit of trouble in the Star Region. I'm going to take a look." The moment Tang Zhen left, Jiang Yun turned his head to Xiao Yi Xian and spoke.
"Alright!" Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian was momentarily taken aback. She hadn't detected any disturbance! It had to be known that after obtaining the Spirit-Gestating Dust, her soul had advanced by leaps and bounds over the past year. She was now only a single step away from the Spirit Realm.
So when Cao Ying said she would catch up to her soon, Xiao Yi Xian merely smiled indifferently. In the short term, it was simply impossible. And in the long term—also impossible!
For her to not have even noticed the anomaly Jiang Yun mentioned, with her current soul realm—it made her feel a trace of surprise. But she would not question Jiang Yun's judgment.
Nodding, in the next instant, Jiang Yun's figure slowly dispersed within the main hall.
"Seal—"
At this moment, outside the Star Region, the three great heads of the Pill Tower were at the forefront, with four of the eight great elders present. The seven of them worked together, striking out seal after seal, barely managing to seal the rampaging Three Thousand Burning Flame back into the Star Region.
"Whew—"
Watching the newly completed seal, all seven breathed a sigh of relief. Xuan Kongzi swept his gaze over the group and spoke gravely, "How could the Three Thousand Burning Flame suddenly rampage without cause?"
"I detected no abnormalities. It seems it was merely an accident," Tian Leizi said, his expression equally grim, shaking his head slowly.
"The most important thing now is that the Three Thousand Burning Flame has been accumulating energy for several hundred years. This time, we were still able to seal it. Next time, I'm afraid it will be difficult..." Xuan Yi looked at the Star Region's seal with a face full of worry. Sensing the scorching energy contained within, she spoke up.
The moment these words were spoken, everyone present fell silent. This time, sealing it, they had already felt their strength giving out. The Three Thousand Burning Flame had stored up far too much energy. Even a Half-Saint would not dare to lightly attempt refining it.
Next time, would victory still be theirs?
"If it truly comes down to it, I'll have no choice but to request the Grand Elder to take action!" Gritting his teeth, a ruthless glint flashed through Xuan Kongzi's eyes.
"President Xuan Kongzi, what has happened here?" Just as everyone was at a complete loss, Jiang Yun slowly appeared on the scene. Looking at the group, he asked.
Jiang Yun's sudden appearance startled everyone slightly. But upon seeing who it was, the wariness in their hearts eased. Having known him for a year, they acknowledged Jiang Yun. Xuan Kongzi had even been planning, after some time, to recommend Jiang Yun for entry into the Small Pill Tower.
"This matter is somewhat complicated to explain..." Xuan Kongzi cast a complicated look in the direction of the Star Region and began to recount the details.
"I never imagined the Pill Tower also harbored a heavenly flame," Jiang Yun sighed with some surprise.
"The only plan for now is to convene the Pill Gathering ahead of schedule and see if there are any extraordinary individuals on the continent who can subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame!" After thinking for a long while, Tian Leizi spoke with a grim expression.
"What a pity—Jiang Yun, you already possess a heavenly flame. Otherwise, you would be the most hopeful and most suitable candidate!" Xuan Kongzi looked at Jiang Yun with some regret.
Over the past year, Jiang Yun's Undying Sacred Flame had been inadvertently exposed. Everyone had also come to know that Jiang Yun possessed a heavenly flame not listed on the Heavenly Flame List.
It had truly stirred a good deal of envy back then!
Toward Xuan Kongzi's lament, Jiang Yun simply smiled freely and easily.
Just then, a white-robed figure sped rapidly toward the group. In the blink of an eye, he arrived before them.
"Trouble! Many alchemist guilds across the Central Plains have come under attack by the Soul Hall!" Before anyone could ask, Grand Elder Qiu Ling looked at the group and spoke in a grave tone.
"What—"
The news Qiu Ling brought shocked everyone present. It had to be known that although the Soul Hall and the Pill Tower occasionally had friction, it had always been within controllable limits. An act like this—blatantly attacking alchemist guilds, as the Grand Elder had described—was absolutely unprecedented.
"The Soul Hall—have they eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard?! What are they trying to do? Start a war with our Pill Tower?!" The hot-tempered Tian Leizi roared furiously, his hair and beard bristling.
"Grand Elder Qiu Ling, give us a detailed account of the current situation. Where is the Soul Hall now? And what are our casualties?" Xuan Kongzi was much calmer and more composed. He looked at Qiu Ling and asked with the utmost seriousness.
"No one knows what madness has seized the Soul Hall. This morning, nearly simultaneously, alchemist guilds in every major city were attacked. As of now, we still don't know how many more guilds will be hit," Qiu Ling said, his expression equally grim. He, too, understood the gravity of this matter. Handled poorly, it could erupt into an all-out war with the Soul Hall.
"Tian Leizi, take several elders and summon some Dou Zuns. Go to the guilds that have been attacked and assess the situation. I don't know what insanity has gripped the Soul Hall this time, but the Pill Tower will absolutely not allow them to run rampant!" After hearing the report, Xuan Kongzi looked at Tian Leizi beside him and spoke, a cold, piercing gleam flashing through his eyes.
"Good. I leave the headquarters to you and Xuan Yi. I'll handle things as quickly as possible and hurry back. Those madmen—there's no telling if they'll commit even crazier acts!" Tian Leizi also spoke with grave seriousness. Then, taking two elders with him, he swiftly departed.
"Grand Elder, summon all the honored guests of the Pill Tower. Prepare for battle!" After Tian Leizi left, Xuan Kongzi looked at Qiu Ling and said sternly.
"Yes!"
No one had expected that this conflict would drag on for a full month—and with the momentum only growing more intense.
During this period, the Central Plains was exceptionally lively. The entire Central Plains was plunged into the flames of war. At this time, the old saying of "One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, Four Pavilions" seemed to become a joke after One Hall and One Tower fully revealed their true strength.
Every day, Dou Zuns fell on both the Soul Hall and the Pill Tower's sides. Yet the spokespersons of the Four Pavilions and the Three Valleys were themselves merely Dou Zuns. In other words—every single day, a first-rate power was being destroyed.
This made the other major powers that had once been ranked alongside them seem as if they didn't belong in the same category. The Soul Hall and the Pill Tower, and the remaining major powers, should never have been placed on the same track to begin with.
At the same time, it was this very conflict that thoroughly made the world recognize the terrifying might of these two top-tier powers. It also left the Central Plains in a state of widespread panic during this period.
And during this time, two individuals became the main protagonists of this war: the Soul Hall's Young Hall Master, Yun Yi, and the Pill Tower's guest elder, Jiang Yun.
Both were rising stars. Jiang Yun had been the first to make his name resound across the continent, bearing the title of the Central Plains' number one genius. However, back then, people had paid more attention to his pill-refining prowess.
But the battles of this period had shown everyone that his combat strength was no less formidable than his alchemy. With an unfathomably profound Alchemy Flame Skill and unexpectedly ingenious spiritual array techniques, Jiang Yun had, in a single battle, consecutively slain the Soul Hall's Eighth Heavenly Venerable and Ninth Heavenly Venerable, earning instant fame.
From that point on, he became a thorn in the Soul Hall's flesh and a spike in their eye!
And Yun Yi was also terrifyingly exceptional. In the clashes with the Pill Tower, he served as the Soul Hall's vanguard, charging at the very forefront. In just one short month, no fewer than ten Dou Zuns of the Pill Tower had fallen by his hand.
Clad all in white, he fought with ferocious intensity, never dragging his feet. Wherever he passed, the land was often reduced to a zone of death. The moniker "White-Robed Death God" had arisen from this.