Cao Ying (Seeking Collection, Seeking Recommendation!)

"In that case, I'll shamelessly call you Old Xuan."

Xuan Kongzi was, after all, a being close to Half-Saint in strength, and Ling Xi was happy to build a closer relationship with him, so he cupped his hands and smiled.

"Mm."

Xuan Kongzi chuckled, then called out softly toward the door.

"Ying'er, you've eavesdropped long enough, haven't you? Why not come in now?"

As his voice reached beyond the hall, a young girl pushed the door open and entered.

Ling Xi's gaze fell on the girl, and a flicker of admiration flashed in his eyes.

She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen. Though still young, her black dress accentuated a cold, striking aura that seemed beyond her years.

Her face was slightly slender but exquisitely delicate, and her narrow, long eyes held a hint of slyness.

"Master, I wasn't eavesdropping at all!"

The girl pouted slightly, her phoenix eyes blinking rapidly, looking utterly innocent.

"You little rascal."

Xuan Kongzi clearly had no real way to deal with this disciple of his, and could only shake his head with a helpless, wry smile.

"This is Senior Ling You, a highly experienced Alchemist of great seniority. Come pay your respects!"

"Cao Ying pays respects to Senior Ling You."

Hearing this, the girl immediately bowed obediently to Ling You.

"This is a disciple I took in a few years ago, named Cao Ying. Quite useless, I'm afraid."

Xuan Kongzi turned and introduced her to Ling You and Ling Xi.

"Old thing, your eye is truly sharp. This girl's Soul Power is so formidable—you've really struck gold."

With Ling You's strength, just two glances at Cao Ying were enough to see through her thoroughly.

"Heh heh!"

Hearing this, Xuan Kongzi couldn't help but show a hint of pride on his face, but it quickly faded when he looked at Ling Xi beside Ling You.

"You old bastard aren't bad either. With my current strength, I still can't see through your disciple's depths."

Ling Xi's soul origin was protected by the Devouring Ancestral Symbol, so even a Dou Venerate couldn't probe his Soul Power.

At these words, Cao Ying's beautiful eyes immediately fell on Ling Xi, her gaze flickering as if lost in thought.

"It's not unusual for someone from my clan to have some peculiarities."

Ling You was deliberately vague, since even he, as the teacher, didn't know what was going on with Ling Xi's abnormality.

Fortunately, Xuan Kongzi didn't press further. After sizing up Ling Xi for a moment, he instructed Cao Ying.

"Ying'er, Ling Xi will be staying at Pill Tower from now on. Take him to rest first."

He paused, glanced at Ling You, then added.

"Your master and Senior Ling You still have things to discuss."

"Yes, Master."

Cao Ying nodded, then prepared to lead Ling Xi out of the hall.

Seeing Ling You give him an almost imperceptible nod, Ling Xi obediently followed behind Cao Ying.

Click!

The sound of the hall door closing was somewhat jarring in the quiet silence.

"With a disciple of such outstanding Soul Power, can you still not forget that old bet with Yao Chen?"

Once only the two of them remained in the hall, Ling You couldn't resist teasing Xuan Kongzi.

"As I recall, that Han Feng Yao Chen left behind had some talent, but he's nowhere near as good as this disciple of yours."

"Han Feng? What's he worth? He's just an orphan Yao Chen took in."

Xuan Kongzi shook his head, a look of desolation crossing his face.

"It's a pity about Yao Chen, though—dying from backlash during alchemy."

"Yao Chen's Alchemy Skill was above both of ours. Saying he died from backlash during alchemy is utter nonsense."

Ling You spat on the ground without any regard for dignity.

As an Alchemist from the same Ancient Race as Yao Chen, he knew Yao Chen's abilities all too well.

He had never believed the words Han Feng had spread to the outside world.

And it wasn't just him—even Xuan Kongzi's face showed no surprise.

"Han Feng disappeared a few years ago."

As if recalling something, Xuan Kongzi let out a cold laugh.

"Based on some information Xuan Yi uncovered, Yao Chen's fall is likely tied to those bastards from Soul Hall."

"Soul Hall..."

Ling You's pupils contracted sharply, and his aura exploded outward in that instant.

"Back in the Extreme West, I finally found the Wind Fury Dragon Flame, ranked eighteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. While I was refining it, a Soul Clan expert ambushed me."

"Though I managed to kill that Soul Clan Dou Venerate by detonating the flame, the backlash left me with an incurable internal injury."

"Otherwise, how could my end have come so soon!"

For an Alchemist, absorbing a Heavenly Flame is already perilous beyond measure, and any disturbance is intolerable.

Let alone the fact that Ling You detonated the flame right after refining it.

Under those circumstances, surviving at all—and lasting this long—was already a stroke of immense luck.

"The Soul Clan, the Soul Hall—they've grown more reckless with each passing year."

Xuan Kongzi sighed upon hearing this.

"We at the Pill Tower have also lost many Alchemists to their hands."

"I wonder why they're so obsessed with the souls of Alchemists."

The hall fell silent. Neither of them could possibly guess the Soul Clan's true intentions or plans.

"Are you and your disciple really planning to stay at the Pill Tower long-term?"

After a moment of silence, Xuan Kongzi spoke again.

"That's right. I'm not going back to the Ling Clan. I intend to mooch off the Pill Tower for my remaining years."

Ling You chuckled faintly.

"You wouldn't kick a dying man out, would you?"

"Kick you out? Nonsense!"

Xuan Kongzi flicked his sleeve, a look of displeasure crossing his face.

"I was going to tell you that the Pill Tower opened up a new space a few years ago, and it's now stable."

"Plenty of rare herbs have already grown there. The Pill Tower and some other factions are sending their younger generation to explore it. How about including your disciple?"

In newly opened spaces, Magical Beasts are generally low-ranked, making them ideal training grounds for disciples of major powers.

"Include him? Absolutely!"

Ling You's eyes lit up.

"I was just worrying that my disciple lacks real combat experience. Sending him there is perfect."

As the two continued their discussion, Cao Ying was busy probing the secrets of Ling Xi.

"Miss Cao Ying, is there something on my face?"

Ling Xi had grown tired of Cao Ying's covert glances and couldn't help asking.

"Nothing on your face. I'm just curious why my teacher can't sense your Soul Power."

Cao Ying's eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a hint of seductive charm.

"You look even younger than me. What rank Alchemist are you?"

"My talent is limited. I'm only a fourth-rank Alchemist."

Ling Xi didn't hide it and answered directly.