Turbulence at the Arena, Yan Meets an Immortal

Dan Chen's earth-shattering Mortal Realm Grand Perfection soul was like a massive boulder cast into a tranquil lake, stirring monstrous waves across Myriad Medicine Plaza and even the entirety of Sacred Pill City. Countless gazes filled with shock, disbelief, and even envy converged upon the girl who appeared so delicate and frail.

Dan Chen seemed frightened by being the center of attention. Her little face turned even paler as she timidly withdrew her hand and quickly retreated into the Dan Family crowd like a startled fawn.

On the Main Platform, a sharp glint flickered in Xuan Kongzi's clouded eyes as he said quietly to Xuan Yi beside him, "That girl from the Dan Family possesses truly terrifying soul talent. If her physical condition can be resolved, her future achievements will be limitless."

Xuan Yi's beautiful eyes were likewise filled with amazement. "Indeed. Such a pure and powerful soul is rarely seen in this world. It is only her constitution... ah, what a pity."

Even Tian Lei Zi's stern face revealed a trace of emotion. "After the Pill Gathering, perhaps we can have the Tower's elders examine her. If it can be resolved, it will be a blessing for our Alchemist Tower."

The first round, soul testing, came to an end amid the enormous shock brought by Dan Chen. Of the nearly ten thousand contestants, fewer than three thousand remained after the two rounds of Myriad Flames Paying Homage and soul testing. Every one of those three thousand was among the finest alchemists.

After a brief rest, Xuan Kongzi's aged voice rang out once more:

"Second round: 'Identifying Herbs and Analyzing Formulas'!"

"Across the plaza, a thousand stone platforms have been raised. Each platform holds one hundred types of medicinal ingredients, along with an incomplete ancient pill formula. Within one hour, you must identify every medicinal ingredient and deduce the complete pill formula from the incomplete one, noting the key points that require attention during refinement."

"Those who make more than ten identification errors, or fail to deduce a complete pill formula, will be eliminated!"

The moment his words fell, runes lit up across the plaza floor once again. A thousand smooth stone platforms slowly rose, each neatly arranged with densely packed medicinal ingredients and an ancient-looking scroll.

The nearly thousand remaining alchemists immediately selected their own stone platforms. Their Soul Power surged forth as they raced against time to identify the medicinal ingredients and deduce the pill formulas.

This round tested an alchemist's reserves of knowledge, understanding of medicinal properties, and soul deduction ability. It was far more difficult than the first round.

For a time, the plaza was silent. Only the faint hum of Soul Power sweeping over medicinal ingredients could be heard, along with the occasional subdued exclamation when someone recognized a rare herb.

Xiao Chen's gaze swept below and quickly settled on Xiao Yan's position. Xiao Yan's expression was solemn, his Soul Power spreading like a spiderweb to cover the hundred medicinal ingredients on his stone platform. His fingers occasionally traced through the air as though he were rapidly calculating and deducing. His methods were practiced and his speed extremely fast; clearly, Yao Lao's daily instruction had been exceptionally thorough.

"Brother Yan's foundation is very solid." Xiao Chen nodded slightly, inwardly approving.

His gaze then shifted to Cao Ying. Worthy of being the Cao Family's enchantress, she seemed utterly at ease before the hundred complicated medicinal ingredients. Confidence gleamed in her peach-blossom eyes as her jade-like fingers lightly tapped, swiftly recording the names and properties of each ingredient onto the Jade Slip beside her. She was even slightly faster than Xiao Yan.

Meanwhile, Dan Chen, who had caused such a sensation, appeared to be struggling somewhat. Though her Soul Power was strong, knowledge of medicinal ingredients did not seem to be her forte. Her delicate brows were tightly furrowed, and anxiety showed on her little face. Her identification speed was noticeably slower than Cao Ying's and Xiao Yan's.

Time passed second by second. Alchemists continually left the arena in disappointment after making too many identification errors or failing to deduce the pill formula.

At Xiao Yan's stone platform, he had already identified every medicinal ingredient and was now wholly focused on deducing the incomplete pill formula. Beads of sweat faintly seeped from his brow, showing that it was far from easy.

Cao Ying had already completed her deduction and was writing the points requiring attention across her Jade Slip in flowing strokes. Her manner was calm, and a smile of certain victory rested on her lips.

Just as the examination time was about to end, Xiao Yan abruptly opened his eyes. A flash of realization crossed them as he quickly recorded the complete pill formula he had deduced, along with the necessary notes, into his Jade Slip.

"Time is up!"

At the referee's call, every stone platform was shrouded in light, and no further changes could be made to the answers.

After strict evaluation, nearly half the alchemists were eliminated once more. Only one thousand people passed the second round! Xiao Yan, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the others naturally all advanced.

Xiao Yan let out a breath and wiped the sweat from his brow. The second round truly had not been easy.

The two consecutive high-intensity examinations had left the remaining contestants somewhat exhausted. The event announced a one-hour break before the third round.

Xiao Yan walked off the plaza and found a secluded corner, preparing to take a pill to restore his depleted Soul Power.

Just then, a somewhat timid and soft voice sounded beside him.

"E-Excuse me... are you Mr. Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Yan froze, then turned to look. A girl in a pale green dress stood not far away. Her features were lovely and refined, untouched by cosmetics, yet she possessed an innate pure and ethereal air, like an orchid quietly blooming in a mountain valley, making one forget all worldly vulgarity at the sight of her. Most unusual were her eyes—clear to the bottom, as though they could cleanse all filth from the world.

Xiao Yan did not know her and asked in confusion, "I am Xiao Yan. And you are?"

Upon seeing him admit it, a pure smile bloomed on the girl's face, like sunlight breaking through dark clouds and bringing warmth to one's heart. She stepped forward, took a Jade Bottle from her robes, and offered it to Xiao Yan. "My name is Xiao Yi Xian. This is a bottle of Spirit Cleansing Pills. They are remarkably effective at restoring Soul Power. Consider it... my thanks to your brother, Mr. Xiao Chen, for helping me at the city gate earlier."

"Xiao Yi Xian? My brother helped you?" Xiao Yan was even more puzzled. He accepted the Jade Bottle and opened it. Inside were several round, translucent pills emitting a cool aura. Their medicinal potency was pure, and they were indeed excellent pills for restoring the soul.

Xiao Yi Xian smiled faintly and explained, "My constitution is unusual. Earlier, my soul was somewhat unstable at the city gate. It was only because Mr. Xiao Chen helped me that I avoided embarrassing myself in public. I had always wanted to find an opportunity to thank him. When I saw you in the arena just now, I took the liberty of approaching you. I refined these Spirit Cleansing Pills through a special method. Their effects are acceptable, and I hope they can help you."

Her smile was pure and warm, her gaze sincere, leaving no room for doubt.

Xiao Yan looked at the Jade Bottle in his hand, then at the ethereal girl before him, and understanding dawned upon him. So this was a good connection his brother had formed by chance. He cupped his hands and said, "So that is how it is. Thank you, Miss Xiao Yi Xian, for the medicine. What my brother did was merely a small effort. You need not take it to heart."

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head and said earnestly, "It may have been a small effort to Mr. Xiao Chen, but to me, it was a kindness. There is no need for you to be polite, Mr. Xiao Yan. I wish you excellent results in the upcoming rounds."

With that, she smiled faintly at Xiao Yan, then turned and drifted away. The hem of her green skirt swayed behind her, making her seem like an immortal maiden untouched by the mortal world.

Holding the bottle of Spirit Cleansing Pills that still carried the girl's faint fragrance, Xiao Yan watched Xiao Yi Xian's departing figure and could not help feeling something strange stir in his heart. This girl named Xiao Yi Xian seemed veiled in mystery, yet her pure temperament left a deep impression.

He shook his head and swallowed a Spirit Cleansing Pill. At once, a cool current rushed into his mind, and his depleted Soul Power rapidly recovered. Its effects were even somewhat better than the pills he had prepared himself.

"Xiao Yi Xian... she truly lives up to her name," Xiao Yan murmured, committing that name to memory.

He did not know that this seemingly chance encounter, along with this bottle of Spirit Cleansing Pills, would have an immensely significant impact on him in the near future.

This scene was also witnessed by Xiao Chen from the spectator stone platform in the distance. His gaze was profound as he watched Xiao Yi Xian leave, a faint and unreadable smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

"Calamity Poison Body... yet she has retained such a pure heart. Brother Yan, it seems your fate with others is not shallow either."

The one-hour rest period quickly passed.

Xuan Kongzi's voice echoed throughout the plaza once more, carrying a trace of solemnity.

"Third round: 'Thousand Cauldron Heart Refining'!"

"This round tests your control over flames and the steadfastness of your will!"

"Those whose medicine cauldrons remain unbroken among the final five hundred will advance!"

As his words fell, a full thousand black Standard Medicine Cauldrons rose explosively from the center of the plaza! Beneath each medicine cauldron surged a violent burst of Earth Core Fire driven by formations!

This Earth Core Fire was far fiercer than the kind provided during certification, and it was extremely unstable, fluctuating between strength and weakness. It posed an enormous test of an alchemist's control over flames. More importantly, the medicine cauldrons themselves seemed to have been tampered with and made more fragile. The alchemists needed to divide their attention and protect the cauldrons with Soul Power, or they would shatter beneath the violent flames!

The remaining five hundred alchemists all turned solemn. Each selected a medicine cauldron, took a deep breath, and poured their Soul Power and personal flames into it, beginning the round that tested fundamentals and willpower more than any other!

The atmosphere of the Pill Gathering suddenly became tense and intense!