A Pill Tower Order, Had I Known the Result

Meanwhile.

With the eighth-ranked sect on the Sect Power Ranking revealed.

The Dou Qi Continent erupted in uproar once more.

"I'm telling you, could the Ten Great Sects all have been monopolized by forces from the Central Continent?"

"This Tianming Sect actually increased its strength through the sinister method of Devouring Dou Qi Essence Blood. Isn't that a little too ruthless?"

"On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong are revered. As long as your strength is sufficient, the process of cultivation isn't important."

"I never expected that, despite possessing only one High-level Half-Saint-level combatant, Tianming Sect could suppress Flower Sect, which had two Intermediate Half-Saints. That's truly unexpected."

"That's perfectly normal. According to the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's description, Tianming Sect's High-level Half-Saint, combined with its Peak Nine-Revolutions Dou Venerate sect master, was enough to tie down Flower Sect's two Intermediate Half-Saints. The remaining Dou Venerate elders and three Affiliated Sects could completely crush Flower Sect."

"Wait, that doesn't make sense."

"Since Sound Valley could make the ranking, then Starfall Pavilion was bound to make it too."

"Why is Tianming Sect ranked eighth right now? Could it be that the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking considers Starfall Pavilion stronger than Tianming Sect?"

"..."

For a time.

The living beings outside the Central Continent.

Some were shocked by Tianming Sect's powerful strength, while others marveled at the Central Continent's outstanding people and abundant talent. There were also those condemning Tianming Sect's overly cruel cultivation methods.

As for the many families and sect forces on the Central Continent.

They were extremely puzzled by this ranking.

There was one thing they were all curious about.

Why had the powerful Tianming Sect appeared on the ranking before Starfall Pavilion?

Central Continent, Sacred Pill City.

Atop the Pill Tower.

The three Pill Tower Giants, who were all Peak Grade 8 Alchemists—Xuan Kongzi, Tian Lei Zi, and Xuan Yi—were currently staring at the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's image and arguing endlessly.

"This Gold Ranking is rather interesting."

Tian Lei Zi glanced at Xuan Yi beside him and deliberately teased her, "It actually left Starfall Pavilion out. Yao Chen clearly already had the strength of a High-level Half-Saint after coming back to life."

Hearing this.

Xuan Yi immediately stood up for her man with imposing force. "Tian Lei Zi, don't say that so soon. What if Starfall Pavilion wasn't left off the ranking, but was ranked above Tianming Sect?"

Faced with Xuan Yi's rebuttal.

The teasing in Tian Lei Zi's eyes grew even stronger. He chuckled and taunted, "Xuan Yi, even if Yao Chen is your old flame, you don't have to protect him like this, do you?"

"Who in the entire Central Continent doesn't know that Tianming Sect is stronger than Starfall Pavilion?"

"If Burning Flame Valley didn't have Old Ancestor Huoyun, a mid-stage One-star Dou Saint, holding down the fort, Tianming Sect would be the strongest force in the Central Continent apart from Hall of Souls and Pill Tower."

Xuan Yi was just about to retort.

Unexpectedly, Xuan Kongzi interrupted their argument at that moment. "Enough. You two should say less. If you want to know the answer, can't you just keep watching?"

"If you really can't sit still, go back to alchemy. The batch of Healing Pills ordered some time ago is being urgently requested by the client."

At the mention of alchemy.

Tian Lei Zi and Xuan Yi's expressions abruptly changed.

It was as though having them make pills was akin to sending them to their deaths. They hurriedly waved their hands, indicating that they would stop arguing.

The reason Tian Lei Zi and Xuan Yi feared alchemy like the tiger feared fire.

Was very simple.

That was because.

Ever since the three of them had become elders of the Lesser Pill Tower.

After gaining access to the Pill Tower's core authority and swearing an oath of secrecy, they discovered that they had been duped.

What Three Pill Tower Giants?

They were clearly emotionless alchemy machines.

From then on, aside from appearing when necessary, they spent all their remaining time in the Alchemy Room refining vast quantities of Healing Pills for a Mysterious Force.

Among them, the low-grade pills were distributed by the Pill Tower to the alchemy families and Loose Cultivator alchemists in Sacred Pill City.

As for the high-grade pills above Grade 8, they were refined by the three of them, along with the many Grade 8 Alchemist elders in the Lesser Pill Tower.

The three of them had no idea where so many Healing Pills ultimately went.

They only knew that the other party contacted the Pill Tower Ancestor directly whenever placing an order and collecting the pills.

The payment they offered was extremely generous.

Aside from Gold Coins, there were also some ancient pill formulas that the Pill Tower could not refuse, Medicine Cauldrons, the Grade 9 Alchemist Alchemy Experience Manual, Soul Attack Techniques, rare medicinal materials, powerful Beast Flames...

It was precisely because the resources provided by this force had allowed the three of them to reap great gains.

That they had all broken through to become High-level Half-Saints in recent years.

Otherwise.

They would have quit long ago.

At this moment, Xuan Yi, who had quieted down, suddenly said, "Xuan Kongzi, Tian Lei Zi, do you think the remaining spots on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking might be related to that force?"

"They definitely are." Tian Lei Zi stated firmly, "So many Healing Pills of every grade were definitely meant for the sect's disciples to use during their trials. Otherwise, there's no way to explain it."

Hearing this, Xuan Kongzi also nodded slightly and could not help sighing. "After all these years, we can finally unveil that force's mysterious veil!"

Central Continent.

A certain dark place.

Above the Hall of Souls' headquarters.

More than a dozen black-robed figures radiating terrifying auras stood proudly in the air.

The three people standing at the very front of the group were none other than Hall of Souls' master Hun Miesheng, an Early Five-star Dou Saint; the Deputy Hall Master, a late-stage Three-star Dou Saint; and the Hall of Souls Grand Celestial Venerable, a Late-stage One-star Dou Saint.

After seeing Tianming Sect ranked eighth.

Hun Miesheng raised his brows and could not help saying, "As far as I know, Tianming Sect's strength should far exceed that of the Xiao Family Remnants and Starfall Pavilion, where Yao Chen is. Why was it ranked ahead of Starfall Pavilion?"

Hearing this.

The Deputy Hall Master on his left shook his head.

He was likewise filled with confusion. "Qiu Di, Mo Yu, and Hei Bai have all been to Starfall Pavilion. They were certain that Starfall Pavilion only had Yao Chen, a High-level Half-Saint who had just come back to life."

"At present, there are only two possibilities for Tianming Sect being ranked eighth."

"Either Starfall Pavilion did not make the ranking, or Yao Chen has concealed some of his methods."

Having received no useful answer.

Hun Miesheng could not be bothered to get to the bottom of it.

In any case, the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking would soon reveal all the answers. There was no need to dwell on it.

He then turned to look at the Hall of Souls Grand Celestial Venerable on his right. "Have you found any powerful sect forces outside the Central Continent?"

"We have yet to gain anything."

The Hall of Souls Grand Celestial Venerable replied in a deep voice, "Aside from the Nine Great Heavenly Venerables present, most of the Venerable Elder Protectors in the hall have already been dispatched to search for every suspicious force."

"However, the replies we received stated that among the sect forces on the four continents to the east, south, west, and north, even the strongest only reached the level of a low-star Dou Venerate. They don't qualify for the ranking."

"Therefore, I suspect that the sect forces represented by the remaining spots on the Sect Ranking may be located in small worlds opened by Dou Saints, or perhaps hiding in a rarely visited Sea Region."

Hearing this.

Hun Miesheng said faintly, "If we truly can't find them, then forget it. Those rats who conceal their heads and show only their tails likely aren't that powerful. They can't stop Hall of Souls from ascending to the throne of number one on the Dou Qi Continent Power Ranking."

Central Continent, Starfall Pavilion.

Seeing Tianming Sect ranked eighth.

Feng Xian subconsciously looked at Yao Chen, who was standing beside him, his face full of confusion. "Chen Ge, logically speaking, Tianming Sect's overall strength should be above that of Starfall Pavilion. Why hasn't Starfall Pavilion made the ranking yet, while they appeared first?"

"This ranking isn't about who appears first being stronger, is it?"

After his voice fell.

Feng Xian noticed that Yao Chen's face was utterly calm.

There was not the slightest hint of surprise or shock, as though everything should have happened this way.

Feng Xian's brows lifted slightly. A bold thought suddenly surfaced in his mind, and he subconsciously asked Yao Chen, "Chen Ge, judging from your expression, you don't seem surprised at all that Tianming Sect made the ranking!"

"Could it be..."

"You had already guessed that this would be the result?"