Dan Family Siblings

Ling Xi instinctively turned his head and saw a man in a blue robe walking toward them.

The man's looks, while not matching Ling Xi's, were still quite striking, and he carried an air of gentle refinement.

But Ling Xi's gaze didn't linger on the man for long before shifting to the young woman standing beside him.

"Is this... Devouring Power?"

When Ling Xi's Soul Power broke through to Dou Master, he had relied on the Devouring Ancestral Symbol's ability to absorb a great deal of Spiritual Qi from the Pill Tower Starry Sky.

Now, he could clearly sense a faint pulling force from the young woman, similar to his own Devouring Ancestral Symbol.

However, this pull seemed only capable of absorbing soul force, far inferior to his Devouring Ancestral Symbol.

As if noticing Ling Xi's stare, the young woman flinched like a startled rabbit, shuffling her feet to hide behind the man, looking timid.

"What a coincidence, I didn't expect to run into you two here."

Cao Ying clapped her hands, her gaze pausing on the pair before she turned to Ling Xi to introduce them.

"Ling Xi, these two are Dan Xuan and Dan Chen of the Dan Family, both outstanding juniors in our Pill Tower."

With that, she smiled at Dan Xuan and Dan Chen.

"This is Ling Xi, a disciple of an old acquaintance of my teacher. He'll likely be training in our Pill Tower from now on."

"I've long heard that Brother Dan and your sister are the cream of the younger generation in the Pill Tower. Meeting you today, I see the reputation is well deserved."

Ling Xi gave a slight bow with clasped hands.

The Dan Family was one of the Five Great Clans seated on the Pill Tower's Elder Council, and in Ling Xi's Soul Perception, both Dan Xuan and Dan Chen likely had Alchemy Skills on par with Cao Ying's.

Still, Dan Xuan's Soul Power wasn't particularly formidable, and his potential fell far short of Dan Chen's and Cao Ying's.

"Since you're a disciple of Elder Xuan Kongzi's old friend, Brother Ling must be an exceptional alchemist as well."

Dan Chen returned the bow, inwardly startled.

Xuan Kongzi's standing in the Pill Tower needed no elaboration, and Cao Ying's personality was well known to him.

For Cao Ying, a Proud Daughter of Heaven, to personally bring Ling Xi to the Alchemist Trading Fair suggested he had either a strong background or remarkable talent.

Though he'd never heard the name, he felt a desire to build a connection.

Dan Chen, meanwhile, stole a couple of glances at Ling Xi before shrinking back behind Dan Xuan.

"My sister is shy with strangers. Please don't take offense, Brother Ling."

Dan Xuan offered an apologetic smile.

"You're too kind, Brother Dan. The bond you share with your sister is something I truly envy."

Ling Xi shook his head.

"Dan Xuan, your family always treats your sister like a treasure. What made you willing to bring her out today?"

Cao Ying couldn't resist teasing.

In her view, among the younger generation, only Dan Chen could match her in alchemy talent.

"The Pill Tower notified our clans to attend the upcoming trial, so we came to Sacred Pill City."

"I hear they've also invited alchemists from other factions to explore a newly opened space."

Dan Xuan snorted, a bit annoyed at Cao Ying's remark, but still explained.

"We don't need to take the assessment, so we had nothing better to do than browse the Alchemist Trading Fair."

As if remembering something, Dan Chen added.

"By the way, all Five Great Clans of the Pill Tower have gathered here. Your Cao Family has sent others too."

"I didn't know about this."

Cao Ying's brow furrowed immediately.

"You're already in the Pill Tower. They probably planned to tell you when they arrived."

Dan Chen shrugged, then tugged at Dan Xuan as they bowed to the pair.

"We have matters to attend to, so we'll take our leave."

"Brother Dan, you're too courteous."

Ling Xi returned the bow.

"Sister Dan Chen, I'll be waiting for you in the Pill Tower. I'm really curious what level your alchemy has reached."

Cao Ying covered her mouth with a laugh.

"I'm looking forward to it too."

When alchemy came up, the timid young woman suddenly radiated an intense confidence.

"That girl named Dan Chen is no ordinary one."

Watching them leave, a glint flickered in Ling Xi's eyes.

The Dou Qi Continent was vast and boundless, and some strange physiques weren't even detailed in the original texts.

"She's like you—her constitution is somewhat special."

After a pause, Cao Ying added, "She's also the only one among the younger generation at Pill Tower I consider a rival."

Ling Xi said nothing in response, merely letting out a soft laugh before heading toward the stalls of the trading fair.

As if that Dan Xuan's peculiar constitution could compare to his Devouring Ancestral Symbol?

Cao Ying frowned. She didn't understand why Ling Xi had laughed, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being looked down upon.

There were indeed some good items on the first floor of the Alchemist Trading Fair, but none of the stall owners lacked sharp eyes.

The things they demanded in exchange were never worth less than what they were selling.

Ling Xi had no clear goal in mind, but as he passed one particular stall, his steps suddenly halted.

"This is...?"

His heart stirred slightly, and he reached out to touch a blood-streaked jade pendant on the stall.

"Don't touch if you're not buying."

Just as Ling Xi's hand was about to make contact with the pendant, a barrier of Soul Power abruptly blocked his path.

"Hm?"

Ling Xi furrowed his brow slightly, now taking a closer look at the stall owner.

The man was clad in a gray robe, his face nearly buried under a thick, unkempt beard—an utterly slovenly appearance.

"How do you know I won't buy?"

Ling Xi let out a sudden laugh, eyeing the stall owner with interest.

"You're this young, and I can't even sense any Soul Power on you. For all I know, you might not even be an alchemist."

The stall owner curled his lip.

"Nothing on my stall comes cheap. Are you sure a kid like you can afford it?"

"And why not?"

Ling Xi's hand shot forward abruptly, his formidable Soul Power erupting in an instant as it slammed heavily into the soul barrier before the jade pendant.

The stall owner's expression shifted sharply, but before he could take any remedial action, the barrier he had placed over the pendant shattered in an instant!

"Impressive Soul Power. I was blind."

The stall owner's gaze tightened, and this time he let Ling Xi take the pendant from the stall without interference.

Even Cao Ying, standing nearby, had a flicker of brilliance in her eyes.

The Soul Power Ling Xi had unleashed in that moment had startled even her.

Ling Xi paid no attention to anyone else's reactions, instead carefully examining the pendant in his hand.

The palm-sized pendant was carved with a towering tree, and at the base of its roots lay a streak of deep, vivid blood-red.

"Where did you get this?"

Setting the pendant back in place, Ling Xi asked the stall owner.