The Great Elder's Old Friend

"The Tian Yao Kui is neither a cultivation technique nor an ordinary Dou Technique, but a puppetry technique passed down from ancient times. To forge Tian Yao Kui, three things are needed: a body, a soul, and Magic Core. The body is the tool, the soul is the catalyst, and the Magic Core is the heart. Combined with various other materials, a Demon Puppet are divided into three grades: Heaven, Earth, and Human. The difference in grade depends on the materials used in the forging and the fire used. They possess boundless power and are devoid of joy, sorrow, pain, or injury; they are truly a weapon of slaughter."

When Xiao Yuan shifted his gaze from the last blood-red character, he sighed and shook his head. He then handed the Bamboo Slip to Su Qian and the others who were standing nearby. The latter took it, examined it carefully, and a look of surprise appeared on their faces as well.

"I've only occasionally seen this so-called puppet technique in some ancient books, but I've never seen the method of refining it. I didn't expect that Earth Demon Old Ghost would have such a collection. I'm afraid that the seventh-order fire attribute Magic Core was left by this old guy to refine the ' Tian Yao Kui '."

After inspecting the area, Su Qian exclaimed in amazement.

Xiao Yuan nodded and said with some regret, "What a pity. We just killed that Earth Demon Old Ghost to a pulp. Otherwise, he would have had a fine body."

"The method of crafting this ' Tian Yao Kui ' is tinged with bloodshed. It involves taking a human body and soul, then combining them with Magic Core. With these three elements gathered together and the unique crafting method, the resulting item might indeed be incredibly powerful." Su Qian shook his head, handed the Bamboo Slip back to Xiao Yuan, and said, "You should keep this. It's not good for something like this to appear in the academy. Since you're going to venture into the Central State, it's more suitable for you."

"Thank you Great Elder."

Seeing this, Xiao Yuan gladly accepted it and put it into his storage Storage Ring.

He was indeed quite interested in this "Tian Yao Kui," and apart from some special materials, he had almost all the soul and Magic Core mentioned above. As for the body, killing a Dou Zong would not be difficult.

Actually, it's not that he didn't have a body. Misty Cloud Sect still has Yun Shan's corpse, and it shouldn't have rotted away yet.

But if he were actually dug up and turned into a puppet, Yun Yun would probably be so angry that she wouldn't talk to him anymore, and she wouldn't be able to coax him. So she can only try to find someone else to do it.

After putting the Bamboo Slip into his Storage Ring, Xiao Yuan looked around. The other cultivation techniques and Dou Technique here were no longer of interest to him. However, the rare Medicinal Herbs that were well preserved were somewhat useful to him. Therefore, after a little selection, he also collected some Medicinal Herbs that might be useful in the future.

After looting everything he needed, Xiao Yuan finally stopped, still feeling somewhat unsatisfied. There was very little left in the storeroom that caught his eye, but for the Xiao Clan, it was still a huge windfall. The Xiao Clan had been in decline for a long time and had a weak foundation, so they didn't have many cultivation techniques or Dou Technique for their members to practice. Now, by raiding the Demon Flame Valley, they were finally spared this trouble.

Of course, the Great Elder will select the Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills that the academy needs and have his subordinate elders make copies of them.

However, Xiao Yuan did manage to find some useful items in that Earth Demon Old Ghost's Storage Ring.

The Dou Technique that the Earth Demon Old Ghost used during their previous encounter are all stored in the Storage Ring.

Thousand Illusions Xuan Ice Thorns, Ice Condensation Swordplay, Blood Chill Extreme Freeze Sky.

Two Profound Rank High Level Ice Attribute Dou Technique and one Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique.

In addition, there is the Earth Rank Low Level Ice Attribute technique, Heavenly Chill Blood Art, which complements the Blood Chill Extreme Freeze Sky technique, forming a complete set of fighting techniques.

To be honest, Xiao Yuan wasn't very satisfied, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt relieved.

What good stuff could that old devil, the Earth Demon Old Ghost, possibly have?

If this old man had any better Dou Technique, he wouldn't still be struggling at the Seven Star Dou Zong realm.

However, he now has a goal.

In the Central State, there is a force called Ice River Valley, whose leader is a Dou Zun expert.

Their Ice Attribute Dou Technique and cultivation methods seemed to be of a high grade, and Xiao Yuan was very interested in them! After resting for a while, the group returned to the Inner Academy. Today's events would once again push the reputation of the Jia Nan Academy to a level that would make the people of the Black-Corner Region even more wary.

Back in the Inner Academy, the elders returned to their places, while Xiao Yuan sensed an unfamiliar Dou Zong aura! However, judging from the appearance of the Great Elder, who seemed quite familiar with the aura, Xiao Yuan didn't pay much attention to it. After returning to his residence, he took Xiao Yi Xian's slender, fair arm and began to feel her pulse.

Xiao Yi Xian is in quite good condition.

Normal poison cultivation is not enough to significantly stimulate her Woeful Poison Body. In the short term, the Woeful Poison Body will not experience any loss of control.

This put his mind at ease.

However, the two were so close that even simple physical contact was enough to ignite some desire. Although they couldn't do anything serious, they lingered for a while before separating.

When she left, Xiao Yi Xian's face was still a little flushed. She was quite confident in facing the Dou Zong experts, but her body felt a little weak at this moment.

Recalling the way Xiao Yuan's large hands had been wandering around when he was holding her and kissing her deeply, Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but squeeze her legs together, cover her flushed cheeks with her hands, and her mind was wandering far away.

Xiao Yuan, who had just finished a round of Yin-Yang replenishment, felt refreshed. However, he saw Xiao Yan walking towards him and calling out, "Brother, the Great Elder just sent someone over, saying that we need to go over there."

"Let the two of us go over? Isn't he an old friend who's here?"

Xiao Yuan asked, somewhat surprised.

"Uh, I don't know, but it shouldn't be a bad thing."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan shook his head and guessed.

"Okay, let's go take a look."

Xiao Yuan nodded, then stepped into the void and flew towards the Elder Council.

Xiao Yan also extended his bone wings and followed closely behind.

The two were extremely fast. Although the Inner Academy was large, for them now, it only took a short time to appear in any corner of the Inner Academy.

Upon entering the courtyard of the Great Elder, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan saw three figures: Great Elder Su Qian, an old man in green robes, and an expert at the Dou Zong level.

There was also a woman dressed in light blue, young but extremely beautiful. Her exquisite figure, wrapped in the clothes, revealed alluring curves that were quite captivating. However, it was a little disappointing that this woman exuded a coldness that kept people at a distance. At first glance, it was clear that she was the kind of woman who was rather aloof. Such women are mostly the type that are extremely difficult for men to conquer. Therefore, those without much ability can only admire from afar and not touch them.

Okay, I've digressed. Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan have absolutely no interest in this little girl.

"Great Elder, it seems that you summoned us because you have some connection with your old friend."

Xiao Yuan flashed to Su Qian's side and nodded to the two guests, the old and the young, who were Great Elder Su Qian, thus acknowledging their greeting.

Behind him, Xiao Yan also landed, greeted Su Qian, and then cupped his hands in greeting to the two people in front of him.

This old man in blue is, after all, Dou Zong expert. Although he may not be a match for me, I can still show him some respect out of respect for Great Elder Su Qian.

At this moment, the old man in blue looked at Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan with considerable surprise.

With his keen eye, it was not difficult for him to see that Xiao Yan was only a few years older than his granddaughter, but he was already a powerful Seven Star Dou Huang.

As for Xiao Yuan, judging from the way he came by stepping through the void, he was clearly a Dou Zong powerhouse.

Such a young Dou Zong powerhouse! No wonder that old fellow Su Qian looked so proud when he mentioned these two earlier. It seems that the Inner Academy has truly cultivated extremely outstanding students!

"Hehe, these are the brothers Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan." Su Qian smiled, and then introduced his old friends to Xiao Yuan and Ye Zhong Yan. "This is a friend I met when I was adventuring in Central State. This is Ye Zhong. And this is Ye Xinlan. She is already Fourth Grade Alchemist at such a young age. She is going to come to the academy to cultivate for a while."

"Oh, so you are the Great Elder's old friends, Mr. Ye and Xin Lan, hello."

Xiao Yuan smiled and nodded, but a slight thought flickered in his heart.

He seemed to have some recollection of those two names.

Xiao Yan, standing behind him, also smiled.

He actually didn't like these formalities and preferred that his Third Brother take the lead.

"Hehe, I was a little skeptical when Su Qian mentioned you two earlier, but now that I've seen it with my own eyes, you two are top geniuses even in Central State!"

Seeing the strength of the two, Ye Zhong was certain that Su Qian hadn't lied to him, and he solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

After all, you're the one asking for a favor, so you should be more humble.

"So, shall we get straight to the point?"

Xiao Yuan didn't want to dawdle, so he asked immediately.

"Okay, that's fine."

Su Qian nodded, her gaze turning to Ye Zhong beside her.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhong's old face turned solemn. He cupped his hands again and said solemnly, "The reason I invited these two young talents here is that I hope they can help our Ye Clan regain a seat on the elders' bench in the Danta!"

"The Dan Tower Elder Seat?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan exchanged a somewhat bewildered glance.

The Yao Lao had never introduced this kind of information to them before.

Seeing this, Ye Zhong quickly introduced, "The Danta is located in the Pill Domain and has Five Great Clans. My Ye Clan is one of them. These Five Great Clans have been passed down for a long time. The patriarchs who founded these Five Great Clans were all core members of the Danta. According to the conditions, as long as the Five Great Clans can meet certain conditions in the future, they can occupy a seat in the elders' seats of the Danta."

Every so often, the Danta conducts assessments for the Five Great Clans. Only those who pass the assessments can retain their seats on the elders' platform.

How will it be assessed?

Xiao Yuan nodded and said softly.

"Danta places great emphasis on the training of the younger generation, and the assessment naturally targets the younger generation as well."

As Ye Zhong spoke, he glanced at Xin Lan beside him and sighed softly. The descendants of the Ye Clan were getting worse with each generation. It seemed that their talent for alchemy was gradually being worn down, and they were even inferior to some alchemists outside. Among the younger generation this year, Xin Lan's talent was already considered good, but she had only just reached the level of Fourth Grade Alchemist. When the assessment came next year, she would probably only reach the fifth grade at most.

Upon seeing Ye Zhong's gaze, Xin Lan's usually icy face was now flushed with shame.

"For each assessment, the Five Great Clans must send one younger member to undergo the Danta's test. If they pass, their place will be retained, but if they fail, then they are in danger."

Ye Zhong.

"My Ye Clan has failed twice already. If we fail again this time, we will not only completely lose our qualification to enter the Dan Tower Elder Seat, but we will also be ostracized from the Five Great Clans. The Five Great Clans are a shortcut to the upper echelons of the Danta, so countless eyes are watching this place. As soon as my Ye Clan is ostracized, those covetous fellows will immediately rush up to us."

"Are the evaluation criteria very strict?"

Xiao Yuan nodded, then asked.

Ye Zhong nodded and sighed, "The minimum qualification to participate in this kind of assessment is that the alchemist must be at least a sixth-grade alchemist, and to pass, one must reach the level of Seventh Grade Alchemist."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan nodded slightly and said slowly, "Seventh Rank? It should be about time in a while."

Hearing Xiao Yuan's words, Ye Zhong was also pleasantly surprised.

"Is Mr. Xiao Yuan about to break through to the Seventh Grade Alchemist?"

After saying that, Ye Zhong shook his head with a sigh.

"I've only reached this level after cultivating for so many years. Mr. Xiao Yuan is naturally gifted and it's no problem for him, but who in the younger generation of my Ye Clan can reach this level? And what's worse is that the Ye Clan failed the previous two times. This time, we must be in the top three among the available spots to be considered qualified."

"Top three?"

"Alas, the other four great families are becoming increasingly powerful, and their younger generations are producing many geniuses. Although they might not send their most elite young members to participate in this assessment, even if my Ye Clan had a young Seventh Grade Alchemist, it would be very difficult to achieve a top-three finish."

Ye Zhong sighed.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan, standing behind Xiao Yuan, couldn't help but shake his head at the decline of the Ye Clan family. Others could pass the assessment without even sending their most elite talents, but the Ye Clan couldn't even meet the most basic passing standard. As one of the Five Great Clans, the Ye Clan was truly too miserable. Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Ye Zhong seemed to know what he was thinking, and his old face also turned red. His once illustrious family had declined to such a state in his generation, and he had completely lost face.

"It's not difficult, but you can't White Gang for nothing, right? What about the payment?"

Xiao Yuan stroked his chin, thinking that this matter should not be difficult to handle, but he couldn't possibly do it for him for free.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhong felt a headache coming on.

Indeed, what about the compensation?

Ordinary things can't possibly attract a Seventh Grade Alchemist!