"Since that's the case, I'll presume to call you Elder Xuan."
Xuan Kongzi was a Half-Saint-level powerhouse, after all. Ling Xi was happy to build a closer relationship with him, so he immediately clasped his hands and said with a smile.
"Mm."
Xuan Kongzi smiled, then called softly toward the door.
"Ying'er, you've been eavesdropping long enough. Why don't you come in already?"
His voice carried beyond the hall, and a young girl immediately pushed the door open and entered.
Ling Xi looked at the girl, and a hint of admiration flickered in his eyes.
She looked about fifteen or sixteen. Though still young, the black dress she wore gave her a cold, alluring air that seemed at odds with her age.
Her cheeks were slightly thin, but her features were exceptionally delicate. A hint of slyness glimmered in her narrow eyes.
"Teacher, Ying'er wasn't eavesdropping!"
The girl pursed her lips slightly and blinked her phoenix eyes repeatedly, looking utterly innocent.
"You little rascal."
Xuan Kongzi clearly had no way of dealing with his disciple. He could only shake his head with an exasperated smile.
"This is Senior Ling You, a highly respected elder among Alchemists. Hurry up and pay your respects!"
"Cao Ying greets Senior Ling You."
At once, the girl obediently bowed slightly to Ling You.
"This is a disciple I took in a few years ago. Her name is Cao Ying, and she's quite hopeless."
Xuan Kongzi turned and introduced her to Ling You and Ling Xi.
"You old geezer, you certainly have a good eye. This little girl's soul is so powerful—you've really struck gold."
With Ling You's strength, a couple of glances at Cao Ying were enough for him to see through most of her capabilities.
"Heh!"
Xuan Kongzi couldn't help looking pleased at those words, but when he saw Ling Xi beside Ling You, his smile quickly faded.
"You old fossil aren't bad yourself. Even with my current strength, I can't see through your disciple."
The Devouring Ancestral Talisman protected Ling Xi's soul origin. Even a Dou Venerate couldn't peer into his soul power.
At those words, Cao Ying's beautiful eyes immediately settled on Ling Xi. Her gaze flickered, and no one could tell what she was thinking.
"It's not unusual for members of my clan to have certain peculiarities."
Ling You answered vaguely. Even he, Ling Xi's teacher, had no idea what caused the unusual state of Ling Xi.
Fortunately, Xuan Kongzi didn't seem intent on pressing the matter. After giving Ling Xi a couple more looks, he turned to Cao Ying and instructed her.
"Ying'er, Ling Xi will be staying at the Pill Tower from now on. Take him to rest."
Xuan Kongzi paused, then glanced at Ling You before continuing.
"Your teacher still has some things to discuss with Senior Ling You."
"Yes, Teacher."
Cao Ying nodded, then led Ling Xi out of the hall.
When Ling Xi saw Ling You give him an almost imperceptible nod, he obediently followed Cao Ying.
The sound of the hall door closing rang out sharply in the quiet.
"Your disciple's soul power is so outstanding. Could it be that you still haven't forgotten your old wager with Yao Chen?"
Once only the two of them remained in the hall, Ling You finally couldn't resist teasing Xuan Kongzi.
"As I recall, Han Feng, the disciple Yao Chen left behind, had some talent, but he could never compare to this one you took in."
"What does Han Feng matter? He was just an orphan Yao Chen adopted."
Xuan Kongzi shook his head, a lonely look crossing his face.
"It's just a shame that fellow Yao Chen died after suffering a backlash while refining pills."
"Yao Chen's Alchemy Skill was better than yours or mine. Saying he suffered a backlash while refining pills is utter nonsense."
Ling You spat on the ground without a trace of decorum.
He and Yao Chen were both Alchemists from Ancient Races, so he knew all too well what Yao Chen was capable of.
He had never believed a word of what Han Feng had told the world.
He wasn't the only one, either. Xuan Kongzi showed little surprise.
"Han Feng disappeared a few years ago."
As if remembering something, Xuan Kongzi gave a cold laugh.
"According to some information Xuan Yi uncovered, I'm afraid the Soul Hall had something to do with Yao Chen's death."
"Soul Hall..."
Ling You's eyes narrowed slightly, and his aura suddenly erupted.
"Back then, I finally found Wind Fury Dragon Flame, ranked eighteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, in the Extreme West. While I was refining it, I was ambushed by a Soul Clan powerhouse."
"Though I used the Heavenly Flame's self-detonation to kill that Soul Clan Dou Venerate, I suffered an irreparable injury myself."
"Otherwise, why would my time run out so soon?"
Absorbing a Heavenly Flame was already extremely dangerous for an Alchemist; even the slightest disturbance could be fatal.
And Ling You had gone so far as to detonate the Heavenly Flame immediately after refining it.
Under those circumstances, surviving and living this long was already a stroke of luck.
"The Soul Clan or the Soul Hall, either way, they've certainly grown more and more brazen over the years."
Xuan Kongzi sighed at that.
"Quite a few of our Pill Tower's Alchemists have died at their hands, too."
"I wonder why they're so interested in Alchemists' souls."
The hall fell silent. Naturally, there was no way the two of them could guess the Soul Clan's goals and plans.
"Do you and your disciple really intend to stay at our Pill Tower?"
After a moment's silence, Xuan Kongzi spoke again.
"That's right. I don't plan on returning to the Ling Clan. I intend to spend the few years I have left mooching off your Pill Tower."
Ling You gave a faint laugh and spoke in a distant tone.
"You wouldn't throw out a dying man, would you?"
"Why would I throw you out?"
Xuan Kongzi abruptly swept his sleeve, looking displeased.
"I wanted to tell you that a few years ago, our Pill Tower opened up a new space. It's stable now."
"Quite a few precious medicinal ingredients have already appeared there. The Pill Tower and several other factions are about to send their younger generations in to explore it. How about letting your disciple join them?"
Magical Beasts in newly opened spaces were generally low-level, making such places good training grounds for disciples of powerful factions.
"Of course he should go."
Ling You's eyes lit up.
"I was just worrying that my disciple had no combat experience. Letting him give it a try would be perfect."
While the two were discussing this, Cao Ying was busy probing for the secrets Ling Xi held.
"Miss Cao Ying, is there something on my face?"
Ling Xi had had enough of Cao Ying sneaking glances at him and couldn't help asking.
"There's nothing on your face. I'm just curious why Teacher can't sense your soul power."
Cao Ying narrowed her eyes slightly, giving her gaze a peculiar allure.
"You look a little younger than me. What grade Alchemist are you?"
"I'm not especially talented. I'm only a Fourth-grade Alchemist."
Ling Xi didn't hide it and answered directly.
Before you continue