Join the Pill Tower?

"Join the Pill Tower?"

Ling Xi furrowed his brow slightly, a thoughtful look appearing on his face.

"You probably know a little about your teacher's condition, but perhaps not the whole story."

Xuan Kongzi's expression turned somewhat sorrowful, and his tone grew heavy.

"His body is already starting to give out. The Dou Qi inside him is constantly leaking away."

"He's only lasted this long because he's a Dou Venerate."

Xuan Kongzi sighed softly.

"In my estimation, he has only a year or two left."

"You're still young, though. What will you do after your teacher passes away?"

Xuan Kongzi spoke with complete frankness, to the point of being somewhat cruel.

Ling Xi fell silent.

Although he had the system's protection, Ling You had been the one who introduced and taught him both cultivation and Alchemy Skill.

What's more, it was Ling You who had taken him away from the Ling Clan, a place destined to become a graveyard for him.

Since Ling Xi had come to this world, Ling You had truly been the person who treated him best.

When he called Ling You "teacher," he had meant it from the bottom of his heart.

"Senior Xuan Kongzi, is there really nothing you can do about my teacher's injuries?"

Though he already knew the answer, Ling Xi couldn't help asking.

"We're both from Ancient Races... You've heard a thing or two about the Soul Clan's methods."

Under Ling Xi's hopeful gaze, Xuan Kongzi shook his head without hesitation.

"His origin was damaged, and he self-detonated the Heavenly Flame he'd just refined. There's nothing our Pill Tower can do for him."

Ling Xi pressed his lips together and fell silent once more.

The Pill Tower's Alchemy Skill was among the finest on the Dou Qi Continent. Only the Yao Clan, with their Dou Di Bloodline, could surpass the Pill Tower.

But the few in the Yao Clan capable of refining ninth-grade pills were all great figures at the Dou Saint level.

They wouldn't make a move for no reason to help a mere Dou Venerate from the Ling Clan.

For Ling Xi, this was an almost impossible problem to solve.

"Your soul power and talent for Alchemy Skill are both exceptional."

Seeing that Ling Xi wasn't responding, Xuan Kongzi continued:

"If you join our Pill Tower, with the resources we can provide, your future accomplishments will be limitless."

Ultimately, talent like his was hard to find.

At Ling Xi's age, he already possessed a Spirit Realm soul, had mastered a Heavenly Flame, and could even make his Soul Technique produce a heavenly phenomenon.

Most importantly, his background was beyond reproach. Xuan Kongzi truly didn't want to let talent like this slip away.

"Thank you for your high regard, Senior Xuan Kongzi."

Ling Xi stood and bowed slightly to Xuan Kongzi, then spoke earnestly.

"My teacher has taught me everything he knows and treated me like his own son. So please forgive me, Senior."

"Unless my teacher asks me to, I don't want to join any faction."

Apart from the Three Thousand Burning Flame, there was nothing in the Pill Tower that interested Ling Xi.

And the talk of cultivation resources was laughable. With the system, would he really be short of a few resources?

"You people from the Ancient Races are all alike."

Hearing Ling Xi's answer, Xuan Kongzi didn't get angry. He only sighed.

"Ling You, that old fellow Yao Chen, and now you, little one."

"You seem mild-mannered, but deep down, you're prouder than ordinary people."

Ling Xi opened his mouth, about to say something, but an old voice interrupted him.

"Heh, Xuan Kongzi, you old geezer. You actually tried to persuade my disciple to join your Pill Tower while I was away."

As the voice rang out, a figure appeared soundlessly in the room.

"You're about to die, old fool. I was just thinking I could keep training your disciple after you're gone."

Seeing Ling You, Xuan Kongzi was slightly startled, but then he curled his lip and said:

"Your disciple is so talented. Don't you want to find him a good future?"

"I can't even be bothered to call you out on what you're up to."

Ling You snorted.

"You see every promising young talent and want to stuff them into your own pocket. Have you even looked at how much clout you actually have in the Pill Tower?"

Xuan Kongzi's expression changed, revealing a trace of indignation.

The Pill Tower was one of the top factions in the Central Continent, if not the entire Dou Qi Continent.

Though Xuan Kongzi, as a Pill Tower Giant, had a certain degree of authority, the Little Pill Tower behind him was the true organization in control of the Pill Tower.

"Senior Xuan Kongzi, I'll give what you said serious thought."

Seeing Xuan Kongzi's displeased expression, Ling Xi immediately tried to smooth things over.

"I have some cultivation questions I need to ask my teacher about, so we won't trouble you any longer."

With that, he bowed to Xuan Kongzi. Without waiting for Ling You and Xuan Kongzi to say anything more, he grabbed the unwilling Ling You and dragged him out of the room.

"People with blood from the Ancient Races are all the same!"

Only after Ling You had been dragged out did Xuan Kongzi spit out in irritation.

"These clans with Dou Di Bloodlines... They really do have remarkable talent."

After a soft sigh, Xuan Kongzi gave a wry smile and shook his head.

Ling Xi had taken the Pill Tower's Purple Abyss Cauldron, after all. With that connection between them, he was confident he could get Ling Xi to join the Pill Tower someday.

"Xuan Kongzi is shameless. He actually tried to poach my disciple right in front of me."

Even after the two left Xuan Kongzi's room, Ling You was still indignant.

Ling Xi said nothing, merely looking at his teacher helplessly.

He seemed to have grown even older since they last met.

"What do you think?"

After venting his frustration, Ling You looked at Ling Xi and asked.

"Huh?"

Ling Xi was taken aback.

"I mean, do you want to join the Pill Tower?"

Seeing that Ling Xi hadn't understood, Ling You clarified.

"That old fool Xuan Kongzi was right. I really don't have much time left."

Ling You sighed before continuing:

"If you want to join the Pill Tower, that's fine. If you want to return to the Ling Clan, I can arrange that too."

Ling Xi fell silent at that.

The Ling Clan, the first clan to be wiped out by the Soul Clan, was a place of certain death to Ling Xi.

And joining the Pill Tower wouldn't benefit him either.

"Teacher, I don't want to join the Pill Tower, and I don't want to return to the Ling Clan."

Ling Xi looked at Ling You and spoke earnestly.

"I want to spend some time with you, then travel the continent."

Staying in the Pill Tower would never trigger the system's sign-in quests. Besides, the continent was full of opportunities waiting for Ling Xi to find.

"Th-that's fine too."

Ling You studied Ling Xi for a moment, then nodded slightly before changing the subject.

"I heard you caused a heavenly phenomenon while cultivating. What happened?"

"The Eye of the Netherworld mutated inside me. I'm afraid it's advanced to the Heaven-Rank."

Ling Xi told his teacher everything truthfully, except for the existence of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol.

"You really are blessed with extraordinary talent."

Ling You sighed softly.

"For the next year, I'll teach you everything I know. How much you can learn from me will depend on your own ability."