Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower

"You need not concern yourselves with this. I must go meet this child myself." Upon hearing the visitor's description, Yao Dan had roughly guessed who it was. With that, he flashed out of Starfall Pavilion. That old fellow had truly come at the perfect time.

"Old Monster of the Little Pill Tower, it has been a long time. You actually came to my door of your own accord today. What brings you here?" Yao Dan steadied himself and looked at the cowherd boy before him, who appeared to be only eight or nine years old.

"One does not visit the temple without cause, so there is no need for pleasantries. There are too many idle people here. Let us find somewhere to speak alone." The cowherd boy smiled faintly, his smile filled with the weathered wisdom of one who had seen through all things. As he spoke, he casually tore open a spatial rift and entered it. His command over spatial power left everyone present clicking their tongues in astonishment.

Yao Dan did not hesitate and entered as well. Contrary to the barren wasteland he had expected, this temporary space held a world of its own. Looking up, he saw a waterfall roughly a hundred zhang wide plunging from a towering cliff. The sight brought a trace of gravity to his face. After a hundred years apart, this old monster's control of spatial power had become so exquisite!

"Clan Leader Yao Dan, you personally left your clan to investigate the situation in the Central Continent. That was somewhat rash," the young cowherd said, staring unblinkingly at Yao Dan. "Your Yao Clan has always considered itself one of the Ancient Eight Clans, descendants of a Dou Di, and never involved itself in the affairs of the Central Continent. Why have you suddenly taken an interest in meddling in such insignificant matters these past few days?"

"Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower, have you heard that the Ling Clan's realm has suddenly closed?" Yao Dan asked probingily.

"I have."

As those two brief words fell, the entire world seemed to fall silent. From this moment onward, both sides understood each other's purpose.

"The Ling Clan was completely slaughtered, its bloodline utterly severed. My Yao Clan does not want such an ending. If I, as the Clan Leader, knew of this yet did nothing, then I, Yao Dan, would become a sinner of the Yao Clan." Seeing that the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower was thoroughly informed about the Ancient Eight Clans, Yao Dan frankly laid out his thoughts.

"By your reasoning, there are truly few people in the Central Continent who would be of use to your Yao Clan." The Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower smiled faintly, though his eyes flickered. "There may be several people within the Pill Tower I protect whom you desire. But that depends on how much you are willing to offer."

"Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower, you jest. The person I most wish to find is not the Pill Tower's sages far beyond my reach, but you, standing right before me." Yao Dan spoke solemnly. "With your strength as a Six-star Dou Sheng, if you would honor us by forming an alliance with my Yao Clan, then even if the Hun Clan and Gu Clan wished to move against us, they would have to think twice."

"A forcibly twisted melon is never sweet. Frankly, with the Yao Clan's strength, it may be difficult for you to offer sufficient stakes." A trace of disdain entered the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower's voice. Dou Qi began circulating rapidly around him, and an incomparably powerful aura burst forth from his body. The sight secretly astonished Yao Dan.

After not seeing him for several hundred years, this old monster's strength has advanced by leaps and bounds. He is now roughly at the Mid Six-star Dou Sheng stage. Even if Yao Dan gave it his all, he likely could not keep the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower here. That was probably why the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower had dared to risk coming to find him personally.

"Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower, surely you are joking. How could my Yao Clan dare use such underhanded methods? My Yao Clan promises that, so long as you are willing to form an alliance with us, we will certainly find a way to help you become a Nine-grade Golden Pill as soon as possible, and we will do our utmost to protect your safety for the next hundred years." Yao Dan composed himself and spoke in a deep voice.

"Then tell me: what means does your Yao Clan possess to turn me into a Nine-grade Golden Pill?" A hint of curiosity appeared on the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower's face. He had repeatedly borrowed bodies to be reborn precisely to use the power of life-and-death reincarnation to break through to the level of a Nine-grade Golden Pill. If he could directly use the Yao Clan's power to make that breakthrough, it would save him much trouble.

"Your true body, Old Ancestor, was originally a Nine Profound Spirit Condensing Pill. If my Yao Clan refines a higher-grade Nine-grade Golden Spirit Condensing Pill, then you need only remove your spiritual consciousness, which has already reached the Heaven Realm Great Perfection, from your current body and transfer it into that Nine-grade Golden Spirit Condensing Pill." Yao Dan spoke directly and frankly. He believed the price of a Nine-grade Golden Pill would be enough to tempt the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower.

"Setting aside a Nine-grade Golden Pill, can your Yao Clan even refine a Nine-grade Profound Pill now?" The gleam in the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower's eyes seemed to vanish, leaving only disappointment within them.

"My Yao Clan truly can refine Nine-grade Profound Pills." Yao Dan carefully took out a massive Medicine Gourd from his Storage Ring, then even more carefully poured out the Nine Profound Marrow Cleansing Pill he had refined several days ago and showed it to the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower. He immediately returned the Nine-grade Profound Pill to the Medicine Gourd. If not for persuading the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower, he would have swallowed this Nine-grade Profound Pill without hesitation long ago. How could he have kept it for so long?

"Very well, but I will give your Yao Clan only fifty years. Once fifty years have passed, if your Yao Clan cannot provide what I want, then you will never find me again in this lifetime." After pondering for a while, the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower spoke slowly.

Fifty years might sound like a long time, but for high-ranking Dou Shengs at their level, it was not even enough for a single period of secluded cultivation. For a Dou Sheng like the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower, who needed extremely special methods to raise his cultivation, fifty years passed in the blink of an eye.

"Thank you, Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower, for granting this request. As for the Pill Tower, I also hope you can be accommodating. My Yao Clan is quite in need of their assistance as well." Seeing the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower relent, Yao Dan pressed his advantage.

"Easy enough, easy enough. But if there is no result within fifty years, your Yao Clan will have to pay a price as well." A trace of killing intent unexpectedly entered the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower's tone.

A few days later, the explosive news that Starfall Pavilion and the Pill Tower had formed an offensive and defensive alliance spread throughout the entire Central Continent. Most sects, too weak even to know the secrets of the Ancient Eight Clans, sighed at Starfall Pavilion's good fortune. Those sects in the Central Continent with some strength, however, grew deeply uneasy at the Yao Clan's involvement in Central Continent affairs. Within the Soul Hall, naturally, the atmosphere was entirely different.

"Hall Master, Starfall Pavilion and the Pill Tower have formed an alliance," Bone Blade reported to Hun Miesheng, the Hall Master of the Soul Hall.

"Oh? That is rather interesting news." Hun Miesheng narrowed his eyes and spoke softly. "The Yao Clan has been quite restless lately."

"Should we report the Yao Clan's movements to the clan?" Bone Blade asked tentatively.

"No need. So long as the Yao Clan does not intervene further, the four Dou Shengs of the Pill Tower and Starfall Pavilion together would not be enough for me to deal with using one hand," Hun Miesheng said indifferently.

"Then should we do something in response?"

"No, do nothing. Simply complete the assigned tasks from the clan." Seeing Bone Blade's puzzled expression, Hun Miesheng explained further. "Even if, when the time comes to slaughter the Yao Clan, that Old Monster of the Little Pill Tower brings the entire Pill Tower to intervene, we would merely need to send one additional Demon Saint. If we do more now, our strength may instead be exposed, which would not be worth it."

"This subordinate understands. Hall Master, you truly see further ahead," Bone Blade said admiringly.

"It is nothing. Your report was good. Go attend to your own matters." Hun Miesheng waved his hand and turned to leave, a fleeting trace of delight flashing across his face. Unfortunately, no one in the Soul Hall noticed it...