Joining the Pill Tower?

"Join the Pill Tower?"

Ling Xi frowned slightly, a contemplative expression settling on his face.

"You probably know something about your teacher's condition, but maybe not the full picture."

Xuan Kongzi's face showed a hint of sorrow, his tone heavy.

"His body can't hold on much longer. The Dou Qi inside him is leaking out constantly."

"It's only because he's a Dou Venerate himself that he's lasted this long."

Xuan Kongzi let out a soft sigh.

"As I see it, he has no more than a year or two left to live."

"But you're still young now. After your teacher passes, what will you do?"

Xuan Kongzi spoke with brutal honesty—so blunt it was almost cruel.

Ling Xi remained silent.

Though he had the system's protection, he owed his training in both Dou Qi and alchemy to Ling You's guidance and teaching.

What's more, Ling You had taken him away from the Ling Clan, a place destined to become his grave.

Since arriving in this world, Ling You had truly been the kindest person to him.

The title "teacher" he called Ling You came from the heart.

"Senior Xuan Kongzi, is there really no way to treat my teacher's injuries?"

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

"Both being Ancient Races... you've heard something of the Soul Clan's methods."

Under Ling Xi's hopeful gaze, Xuan Kongzi shook his head bluntly.

"His origin was damaged, and he self-detonated the Exotic Flame he'd just refined. As far as the Pill Tower is concerned, there's nothing we can do."

Ling Xi pressed his lips together at that, falling silent once more.

The Pill Tower represented the pinnacle of Alchemy Skill on the Dou Qi Continent, surpassed only by the Yao Clan, who relied on their Dou Di Bloodline to edge ahead.

But every one of those Yao Clan members capable of refining ninth-grade pills was a major figure at the Dou Saint level.

They wouldn't lift a finger for a mere Dou Venerate from the Ling Clan without reason.

For Ling Xi at this moment, it was nearly an unsolvable problem.

"Your Soul Power and alchemy talent are both extraordinary."

Seeing Ling Xi stay quiet, Xuan Kongzi continued.

"If you join our Pill Tower, nurtured by our resources, your future achievements will be boundless."

In the end, talent was hard to come by.

At Ling Xi's age, he already possessed a Spirit Realm soul, wielded an Exotic Flame, and could even trigger heavenly phenomena with his soul techniques.

Most importantly, his background was clean. Xuan Kongzi truly didn't want to let such talent slip away.

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

Ling Xi stood and gave a slight bow, then spoke seriously.

"My teacher has taught me everything he knows and treated me like a son. Please forgive me, senior."

"Unless my teacher asks it of me, I have no desire to join any faction."

Aside from the Three Thousand Burning Flame, there was nothing in the Pill Tower that Ling Xi found worth coveting.

As for so-called training resources—how laughable. With the system at his side, would he ever lack for such things?

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

Hearing Ling Xi's reply, Xuan Kongzi didn't get angry, only sighed lightly.

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

"Outwardly mild and unassuming, but deep down, you carry a pride that ordinary people can't match."

Ling Xi opened his mouth to respond, but an aged voice cut him off.

"Heh, Xuan Kongzi, you old scoundrel, trying to poach my disciple for your Pill Tower while I'm away."

As the voice faded, a figure appeared silently in the room.

"You old fool are about to die. I was just thinking I'd help you keep training your disciple," Xuan Kongzi said, startled for a moment before snorting.

"With talent like his, shouldn't you be finding him a good future?"

"I can't be bothered to call you out on your schemes."

Ling You snorted.

"You see a good seedling and want to stuff it in your own pocket. Have you even looked at how much standing you really have in the Pill Tower?"

Xuan Kongzi's expression shifted, a hint of indignation coloring his face.

Regardless, the Pill Tower was one of the top-tier forces in the Central Continent, and indeed the entire Dou Qi Continent. As a Pill Tower Giant, Xuan Kongzi held some authority, but the Little Pill Tower behind him was the true organization controlling the Pill Tower.

"Senior Xuan Kongzi, I'll give what you've said careful consideration."

Seeing Xuan Kongzi's displeased look, Ling Xi quickly smoothed things over, saying:

"I've run into some issues in my cultivation and need to consult my teacher, so I won't disturb you further."

With that, he bowed to Xuan Kongzi and, without waiting for Ling You or Xuan Kongzi to say anything more, forcibly dragged a reluctant Ling You out of the room.

"These people with Ancient Race bloodlines are all cut from the same cloth!"

Seeing Ling You dragged out by Ling Xi, Xuan Kongzi couldn't help but spit out a curse.

"These races with Dou Di Bloodlines... their talent really is something."

Heaving a faint sigh, Xuan Kongzi shook his head with a wry smile. At any rate, Ling Xi had taken their Pill Tower's Purple Abyss Cauldron, and with that bond of goodwill, he was confident he could get Ling Xi to join the Pill Tower in the future.

"That Xuan Kongzi has no shame—poaching me of all people."

The moment they left Xuan Kongzi's room, Ling You was still fuming.

Ling Xi said nothing, just looking at his teacher with a helpless expression. It had been a while since he'd seen him, and he seemed even older now.

"What do you think?"

After venting some of his frustration, Ling You turned to 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 caught his meaning, Ling You elaborated.

"That old bastard Xuan Kongzi wasn't wrong—my time really is running short."

Ling You sighed, then continued:

"If you want to join the Pill Tower, that's fine. If you want to return to the Ling Clan, I have ways to make that happen too."

Ling Xi fell silent at that. The Ling Clan, as the first race wiped out by the Soul Clan, was a death trap for him. Joining the Pill Tower offered him no benefit either.

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

Ling Xi looked at Ling You seriously.

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

Staying cooped up in the Pill Tower would never trigger the system's check-in missions, and there were plenty of opportunities across the continent waiting for Ling Xi to claim.

"That... that's fine too."

Ling You sized Ling Xi up for a moment, then nodded slightly, changing the subject.

"I heard you caused a heavenly phenomenon during your cultivation. What's that about?"

"The Eye of the Netherworld mutated within me—it's likely advanced to the Heaven tier now."

To his teacher, Ling Xi held back only the existence of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol, telling him everything else truthfully.

"You really are gifted."

Ling You let out a soft sigh.

"This year, I'll teach you everything I have. How much you take from me depends on your own ability."