The Terror of the Soul Hall

"Uh, with that old rascal Yao Chen's temperament, he really might do something like that."

After hearing Su Baichen's words, Xuankongzi and Xuanyi were first taken aback. Then, Yao Chen's face—always wearing a somewhat teasing, carefree smile—appeared in both their minds.

Imagining him showing off this "useless" Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid while casually giving it away, both of them wore helpless yet understanding smiles.

Xuankongzi stroked his beard, shook his head, and laughed. "Haha, it does sound exactly like him! Only he would hoard second-tier medicinal pills as if they were little trinkets."

Seeing that they understood, Su Baichen continued explaining, his tone carrying a hint of reminiscence. "That is indeed the case. In my earlier years, I was curious about all sorts of unconventional medicinal pills, and I refined several bottles of this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid when I had nothing better to do."

"Later, I found it of no great use to my cultivation, so it was left idle in a corner of my Storage Ring, to the point that I nearly forgot about it."

His gaze shifted to Cao Ying, who stood obediently at the side, and his expression softened. "Today, having taken a disciple, I am quite delighted. I happened to remember that this item is suitable for strengthening one's foundation and aiding cultivation during the Dou Qi stage. It is a fortunate coincidence, so I shall give it to Cao Ying to help her get started."

After saying that, Su Baichen slightly turned his head, his gaze settling on his newly accepted little disciple. His voice gentled with concern. "Disciple, if I am not mistaken, you should currently be at the fifth stage of Dou Qi, correct?"

Hearing her master's question, Cao Ying immediately raised her little face. Her bright, clear eyes were filled with seriousness as she nodded vigorously and answered crisply, "Mm! Master has sharp eyes. This disciple only recently broke through to the fifth stage of Dou Qi."

With that confirmation, Su Baichen said no more. With a turn of his palm, the small jade bottle containing the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid appeared in his hand.

He extended it toward Cao Ying, his tone calm yet solemn beyond question. "This is called Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. It is a second-tier medicinal pill that can speed up the gathering and refinement of Dou Qi, making it greatly beneficial at your current stage. I shall give it to you today as your apprenticeship gift."

He paused briefly before adding its method of use. "Using it is simple. Just add a small amount to a wooden tub filled with clean water, then cultivate calmly within the tub. The medicinal power will naturally seep into your body through the pores all over your body."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ying hurriedly extended both hands and carefully accepted the warm jade bottle, as though she were holding some priceless treasure.

Feeling the faint coolness lingering on the jade bottle, warmth welled up in her heart. She carefully placed it into her somewhat plain Storage Ring, then raised her little face. A sweet smile bloomed across it as she thanked him in a delicate voice, "Thank you, Master! This disciple will certainly cultivate diligently and never disappoint Master's generous gift!"

After saying that, Cao Ying's sparkling eyes could not help lingering on Su Baichen.

The master before her not only possessed medicinal refinement talent unmatched throughout the Danta and had become a Dou Zun at such a young age, but more importantly, he was handsome and carried an otherworldly bearing. Among the Danta's many elders, he was undoubtedly the most strikingly handsome.

As Cao Ying watched him, she gradually became lost in thought, one little thought after another bubbling up in her heart. Wow... Master is really amazing, and so young... Although he is not the senior with the highest medicinal refinement skill in the Danta, he is definitely the most talented!

And... and Master is truly the most handsome person I have ever seen. He looks even better than the people in paintings. Just looking at him feels so comfortable...

A faint blush quietly crept onto her little face.

Just as Cao Ying was immersed in her own private thoughts, staring fixedly at her master, she failed to notice it.

Another gaze, carrying a trace of scrutiny and subtle emotion, had quietly fallen upon her.

Xuanyi, standing nearby, keenly caught the look in Cao Ying's eyes as she gazed at Su Baichen.

That gaze was clear and bright, yet it seemed to contain a concentration and radiance beyond the usual reverence a disciple held for her master.

Xuanyi could not help slightly knitting her delicate brows, an odd ripple stirring in her heart. This girl... Why does the way she looks at Baichen seem a little strange?

It does not seem like simple admiration and gratitude from a disciple toward her master. Her eyes are so bright... it is more like they carry a hint of... a young girl's affection?

The moment that thought surfaced, it startled Xuanyi herself. No, no!

She immediately rejected it in her heart. What nonsense am I thinking?

Cao Ying is still so young, only half-grown. Her feelings may not have even awakened yet. How could she possibly harbor such thoughts toward her own master?

I must have exhausted myself too much refining medicine recently and muddled my own mind!

Xuanyi hurriedly shook her head lightly, as if trying to cast out all those ill-timed and even absurd speculations from her mind, before bringing her attention back to the conversation before her.

At this moment, Xuankongzi seemed to suddenly remember something important. The easy smile on his face faded somewhat as he turned to Su Baichen, his tone becoming more serious. "Right, Baichen, now that you have successfully broken through to the Dou Zun realm, according to custom and your own plans, you intend to travel abroad next and seek an opportunity to advance further, correct?"

Su Baichen was not surprised by Xuankongzi's question. His expression remained calm as he nodded frankly in confirmation. "You are right."

"Once my cultivation is stabilized, traveling abroad is a necessary path."

"Besides, there are indeed some personal matters I need to take care of while I have the chance."

"I plan to set out tomorrow afternoon. Is there something you need to tell me?"

Seeing Su Baichen confirm it, Xuankongzi did not waste words. With a turn of his palm, an ancient-looking Storage Ring flew toward Su Baichen.

He instructed him gravely, "There are some medicinal pills inside, prepared in case of emergencies. Among them are three eighth-tier medicinal pills, six seventh-tier medicinal pills, and several other commonly used fifth- and sixth-tier medicinal pills."

"When you are outside, it is not like being in the Danta. You must be cautious in all things, and use these resources sparingly."

He paused, his expression turning even more severe as he lowered his voice. "Although the Danta has done its utmost to seal off information regarding your breakthrough and whereabouts, the Soul Hall has eyes and ears everywhere. There is no guarantee of absolute secrecy."

"You must be extremely careful around the Soul Hall. Their activities in the Central Plains have become increasingly rampant in recent years. They specialize in the vicious practice of killing people and extracting their souls, especially targeting alchemists with powerful Soul Power. You are precisely the kind of target they dream of obtaining."

At the mention of the words "Soul Hall," even Xuanyi at the side could not help becoming solemn. Deep wariness and concern flashed through her eyes as she lowered her head in thought.

The Soul Hall was regarded as the strongest force openly active in the Central Plains, and it was also the outward claw of the ancient Soul Clan. Its methods were truly mysterious and ruthless, leaving no one without cause for concern.

Su Baichen accepted the Storage Ring. With a slight sweep of his spiritual sense, he knew that it contained an abundance of supplies, and warmth rose in his heart.

Looking at Xuankongzi and Xuanyi's worried expressions, there was not the slightest hint of tension on Su Baichen's face. Instead, he gave them a reassuring smile and said confidently, "Do not worry."

"I dare not boast about anything else, but when it comes to concealing my aura and avoiding attention, I have my own unique methods. The Soul Hall may be powerful, but accurately tracing my whereabouts will be no easy task."

"I have confidence in handling it. You need not worry excessively."

His words were not merely meant to reassure them; he truly had the confidence to back them up.

Su Baichen had roamed the Central Plains for many years. What he excelled at most was not merely medicinal refinement or the offensive path of the sword, but also an unfathomable mastery of concealment and escape.

Whenever he moved about the Central Plains in the past, he would often release several puppets infused with his own aura and have them travel in different directions to confuse pursuers.

The last time Xuankongzi had happened upon him was purely because the latter had been exceptionally lucky and had coincidentally followed the right direction.