Pill Tower Loses the Three Thousand Burning Flame!

Ancient Dragon World. Since Ao Qing had returned last time and the Fourth Elder had decided to retrieve the Three Thousand Burning Flame for experimentation, he had left the Ancient Dragon World and headed to Central Continent to reclaim the Heavenly Flame he had left behind years ago.

When the Fourth Elder arrived at the place where he had originally stored the Three Thousand Burning Flame, he began searching with his Soul Power.

However, even after sweeping the area with his Soul Power for a long time, he found no trace of the Heavenly Flame he had left behind.

The Fourth Elder's expression grew increasingly grim. The Heavenly Flame could not have vanished into thin air, nor could it have become impossible for him to find. There was only one possibility: someone had beaten him to it and stolen his Three Thousand Burning Flame!

"Humph! Don't let this old man find out which little bastard stole my Heavenly Flame. Once I find you, hehe, I'll skin you alive and tear out your tendons!

"Fortunately, I left a soul mark inside the Three Thousand Burning Flame back then. I only need to spend some time tracking it down.

"Still, if it was taken by one of the human Emperor Clans, that could be troublesome."

Having said that, the Fourth Elder did not linger and headed to Central Continent to gather information.

The Pill Tower was an organization freely formed by the alchemists of the Dou Qi Continent. Located in Saint Pill City, it had existed for a very long time, and the entire alchemist ranking system of the Dou Qi Continent had been created by them.

Although the Pill Tower's organization was somewhat loose, it possessed a core group of elite members. Every one of them was a renowned master alchemist of the Dou Qi Continent. Many alchemists, including Gu He, dreamed their entire lives of entering the Pill Tower to cultivate. To enter the "Pill Tower" for cultivation, one needed a joint recommendation from an alchemist organization of sufficient standing.

The Pill Tower was regarded as a "holy land" by all alchemists, its fame rivaling that of Soul Hall.

No faction dared underestimate its status. It possessed unparalleled influence and held a Pill Gathering every few years.

The tower contained an independent space known as the "Star Region," within which the "Three Thousand Burning Flame" was sealed. It also had the Small Pill Tower, which only those capable of refining an Eighth-Rank pill that produced seven-colored pill lightning could enter. Major matters concerning the Pill Tower were decided by a vote among the ten elders of the Small Pill Tower's Grand Elder Council. The Pill Tower's three great leaders—Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Tian Leizi—were all elders of the Small Pill Tower. Their strength was also formidable, which was why the Pill Tower had never been swallowed up by others.

Above them all stood the Pill Tower Old Ancestor, whose true form was a Ninth Grade Mysterious Pill and who possessed the strength of a Six-Star Dou Saint. He held absolute authority over the Pill Tower...

The Pill Tower was especially lively today. The once-every-few-years Pill Gathering was about to begin, and many famous alchemists from across the continent had come to participate in this grand event!

Under the organization of the Pill Tower elders, the many alchemists began their pill-refining competition.

Each Pill Gathering brought many young alchemists into the elders' sights. Some became members of the Pill Tower, while others gained fame throughout the continent and became honored guests of countless factions.

The alchemists present began refining their pills. Most used Beast Fire, though there were naturally some who possessed subsidiary flames of Heavenly Flames.

Under normal circumstances, refining pills with a Heavenly Flame was much easier, and the resulting pills were of better quality. Thus, Heavenly Flames were coveted by many alchemists.

As it happened, the Pill Tower possessed a Heavenly Flame. The strongest participant in every Pill Gathering had a chance to attempt to subdue it. Although no one had ever succeeded, each Pill Gathering still attracted plenty of people who believed they could obtain the Heavenly Flame.

What they did not know was that the Pill Tower's Three Thousand Burning Flame had once been subdued by the Fourth Elder and branded with a Dragon Mark. It already had an owner. Only by erasing the Fourth Elder's soul Dragon Mark could one subdue it; otherwise, it could only remain sealed.

And what kind of strength did the Fourth Elder possess? Ordinary people had no chance whatsoever. Even the Pill Tower Old Ancestor had no absolute confidence in subduing it. Moreover, the Pill Tower Old Ancestor was unwilling to offend the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, so the Pill Tower dealt with the Heavenly Flame in this manner during every Pill Gathering.

The Three Thousand Burning Flame was also known as the Three Thousand Starry Sky Flame. It ranked ninth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Purple-black in color, it formed in the starry sky and could absorb the light of the stars, growing stronger without end.

It was a super Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object with considerable intelligence. Even without the Fourth Elder's Dragon Mark, ordinary people could only stare at it from afar. None of the owners of the top ten Heavenly Flames were simple characters.

The Pill Gathering was still underway, and all the alchemists who had come were working hard to refine their pills. Just as everyone was occupied with the pills in their hands, the Fourth Elder, Zhu Li, arrived at the Pill Tower.

After leaving the place where the flame had been hidden, the Fourth Elder had gone to Central Continent to seek news of the Heavenly Flame. Originally, he had not held out much hope.

Who would have thought that the moment he found a seventh-rank alchemist and made inquiries, the other party would excitedly tell him that the Three Thousand Burning Flame was in the Pill Tower!

Do not ask why the Fourth Elder sought out alchemists for information about Heavenly Flames. Alchemists knew best who possessed Heavenly Flames, did they not?

Upon receiving the news, the Fourth Elder arrived at the Pill Tower brimming with killing intent, right in time for its once-every-few-years Pill Gathering.

"Humph! These people have some nerve. They took this old man's Heavenly Flame, yet they still dare be so ostentatious. They actually want the strongest participant of some Pill Gathering to subdue my Heavenly Flame. What wishful thinking. Without the strength of a Dou Saint and a Heaven Realm soul, trying to break this old man's Dragon Mark is nothing but a joke."

Just as the Pill Gathering had determined its victor, several Pill Tower elders made their announcement on the spot.

"Following precedent, the winner of this Pill Gathering may proceed to the Star Region and attempt to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame. Now, please..."

Before the elder could finish, the Fourth Elder's cold, imposing voice reached everyone's ears.

"Hold it! Who gave you the right to dispose of this old man's Heavenly Flame?"

As soon as the Fourth Elder's words fell, he emerged from the void, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone present.

In an instant, both the Pill Tower elders and the alchemists attending the Pill Gathering all turned to look at the Fourth Elder.

At that moment, an Eighth-Rank Alchemist from the Pill Tower stepped forward and pointed at Zhu Li.

"Who the hell do you think you are? The Heavenly Flame of my Pill Tower is naturally for my Pill Tower to decide. Let me advise you: do not be foolish, or my Pill Tower will not spare Your Excellency today."

After saying that, he displayed his strength as a Five-Star Dou Zun, attempting to make the Fourth Elder obediently shut his mouth.

The people present were also startled. As expected of the Pill Tower—even an ordinary member possessed the strength of a Five-Star Dou Zun.

However, before anyone could react, the Fourth Elder raised his hand and slapped the Pill Tower member who had stepped forward into a bloody mist. Even his soul was reduced to Void.

"Noise! You dared point a finger at this old man? Not to mention a mere Five-Star Dou Zun like you—even a Five-Star Dou Saint would be killed without mercy by this old man!

"Now, this old man will give your Pill Tower a choice. Either obediently hand over my Heavenly Flame, then compensate this old man with some eighth- and ninth-rank pills, and this old man may spare your Pill Tower. Otherwise, there will be no need for the Pill Tower to exist in Central Continent from this day onward."

The Fourth Elder's cold voice rang in everyone's ears, sending chills through the crowd.

At that moment, the Pill Tower's three great leaders watched the scene before them with dark expressions. With their cultivation, they could easily see that the old man before them was unquestionably a Dou Saint-level expert!

Even if the three of them joined forces, they feared they would not be able to withstand a single move from the old man before them.

Though Xuan Kongzi's expression was unpleasant, he still stepped forward and saluted the Fourth Elder. "Senior, as a dignified Dou Saint expert, why have you come to cause trouble at my Pill Tower and even killed a member of my Pill Tower?

"As for the Heavenly Flame, it has existed within my Pill Tower since countless years ago. Senior claims that it is your Heavenly Flame—is that not treating my Pill Tower as a soft persimmon to be squeezed at will?

"Although my Pill Tower's strength is modest, we do have Dou Saint experts. If Senior insists on being unreasonable, then the experts of my Pill Tower may have no choice but to fight Senior!"

Hearing Xuan Kongzi's threat, the Fourth Elder merely smiled faintly. Zhu Li had no fear of the Pill Tower. Even if a Nine-Star Peak Dou Saint arrived, though he might not be able to defeat them, he could still leave. Not to mention that his eldest brother was also a Peak Dou Saint!

Seeing the disdainful smile on the old man's face, Xuan Kongzi knew that this matter would likely not end peacefully, so he summoned the Pill Tower's Dou Saint senior.

Very soon, Old Monster Lin, the Pill Tower's Grand Elder, appeared. He had initially been quite confident, as he possessed the strength of a Two-Star Dou Saint. But when he looked up at the Fourth Elder, Zhu Li, he knew he had been wrong—terribly wrong.

Looking at Old Monster Lin, who had suddenly appeared, the Fourth Elder gave a cold smile and released the aura of an Eight-Star Peak Dou Saint upon him. In mere moments, Old Monster Lin's face turned pale, sweat poured down him, and his entire body trembled. He felt as if he were suffocating.

Feeling the Fourth Elder's pressure, Old Monster Lin understood that the Pill Tower had kicked an iron plate today. The old man before him was stronger even than the Pill Tower Old Ancestor!

Under the immense pressure, Old Monster Lin had no choice but to yield to the Fourth Elder.

"My Pill Tower bears no grudge against Senior. Why must Senior make things difficult for us?"

"No grudge? Your Pill Tower stole this old man's Heavenly Flame and even openly invited others to subdue it. And you call that no grudge?"

The Fourth Elder, Zhu Li, shook his head, then repeated the conditions he had stated earlier.

Hearing the old man's words, Old Monster Lin did not know whether they were true or false. The Heavenly Flame was not important to the Pill Tower, since no one could subdue it. But even for the Pill Tower, the pills would mean a heavy loss. After all, eighth- and ninth-rank pills were hardly common goods.

Gritting his teeth, Old Monster Lin had no other choice and decided to agree to the old man's demands.

"Since Senior has spoken, my Pill Tower will not disappoint Senior."

The people present had long since gone numb. Even the Grand Elder, a Two-Star Dou Saint, was treating the old man with such respect. They knew the Pill Tower had truly suffered a loss this time.

Soon, under Old Monster Lin's guidance, the Fourth Elder entered the Star Region. Looking at the sealed Three Thousand Burning Flame, the Fourth Elder waved his hand, and the seal was instantly broken. The Heavenly Flame swiftly rushed out, but instead of fleeing, it came to rest in the Fourth Elder's hand.

Seeing this, Old Monster Lin began to believe that the Three Thousand Burning Flame truly belonged to the old man before him. In other words, the old man was a senior expert of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. As expected, the Magical Beast clans still possessed some deep foundations.

What followed was simple. Taking the Na Ring Old Monster Lin handed him, the Fourth Elder swept it with his soul. Seeing it filled with pills, he grinned from ear to ear. Tsk, tsk, tsk—he had gained a fine haul while taking care of another matter!

The Fourth Elder did not linger long. Before long, he left the Pill Domain, and this Pill Gathering came to a hasty end as well.

After everyone present spread the news far and wide, the Pill Tower's misfortune quickly became known throughout all of Central Continent!

People speculated endlessly about the old man's identity, but aside from Old Monster Lin, no one would likely suspect the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Elder had also returned to the Ancient Dragon World.

Let the votes come even harder! Hehe.