Hun Xuzi?
Venerable Jiyin had never heard that name before. After all, Hun Xuzi was the Soul Clan's foremost alchemist, and a strong contender for the title of the Dou Qi Continent's greatest alchemist.
He was far beyond the reach of Dou Zun experts like them.
"My master believes in raising Gu."
Ning Chen's voice was calm and even.
"He believes that flowers raised in a greenhouse cannot withstand a storm. A true genius must be pushed to the brink of death and fight through countless trials before he can amount to anything."
"After all, it was years of lying low in Danta that allowed him to achieve what he has today."
"Therefore, he placed a binding restriction on me. I must leave the clan and train for ten years, keeping my cultivation forcibly suppressed at the Dou Wang level throughout. Unless I'm in a life-or-death situation or refining pills, I'm absolutely forbidden from using my true strength. I must deal with every crisis using the power, wits, and methods available at this level. After ten years..."
Ning Chen paused.
"I must advance my alchemy to the Eighth-Tier Five-Colored Pill Lightning level. Only then may I break the restriction and return to the clan. If I fail, then even if I die out here, no one will come looking."
Ten years! An Eighth-Tier alchemist capable of Five-Colored Pill Lightning!
Those words crashed through Venerable Jiyin's mind like thunder!
He didn't know who Hun Xuzi was, but he knew all too well what an Eighth-Tier alchemist capable of Five-Colored Pill Lightning meant!
He had to reach that level within ten years... while stuck at the Dou Wang level?!
What did that even mean?!
Even Venerable Yao, Yao Chen, had been a peerless genius who made a name for himself across the continent. He certainly hadn't reached Eighth-Tier at such a young age under conditions this harsh!
The Soul Clan's method of cultivating its talents was actually so... so terrifying and extreme?!
After the shock came an even deeper sense of understanding and awe.
No wonder! No wonder his aura was only at the Dou Wang level!
So a clan elder had bound him with a strict order!
No wonder he was so composed, so calm even in the face of a Dou Zun like himself. What did a Dou Zun from a branch hall mean to him?
The assistants who had helped him refine pills since childhood were probably Dou Zun experts!
Under this explanation, every inconsistency suddenly seemed perfectly reasonable!
In fact, such impossibly harsh conditions and a training method as cruel as raising Gu fit his image of the Soul Clan—a mysterious, powerful clan that stopped at nothing.
Ning Chen took in Venerable Jiyin's reaction and smiled inwardly.
But his face still held that slightly helpless expression, as if he were confiding a hardship he had no choice but to endure.
"I originally planned to find a quiet place in the Northwest Continent and temper myself in obscurity. I didn't want to use the Soul Hall's power, lest it seem like I was taking shortcuts and going against my master's wishes."
He sighed, his gaze flicking over Venerable Jiyin.
"But Tie Protector was so eager to help that he came looking for me himself. As it happened, I'd found a woman with the Woeful Poison Body who could be of great use in the future, so I had Tie Protector gather records on poison arts and find a suitable place to settle. It saved me a great deal of effort."
"And ten years isn't all that long. Taking the occasional shortcut should be something my master... can understand, right?"
Listening to Ning Chen's thorough and convincing explanation, and seeing how genuine his expression seemed, Venerable Jiyin felt nothing but relief and excitement.
So this young man was a highly valued member of the Soul Clan, undergoing its brutal core training!
He could very well become an Eighth-Tier alchemy grandmaster capable of Five-Colored Pill Lightning—or perhaps even reach a higher tier!
How could he be a troublesome or suspicious character?
He was a ticket to a meteoric rise!
Seizing the moment, Ning Chen continued to deepen Venerable Jiyin's trust in him.
"I know words alone aren't enough to convince you. My master is the clan's chief alchemist, and you've had little chance to learn about him."
"How about this? Our cultivation realms are about the same. Let's spar. Anything can be faked, but not strength."
Ning Chen had no idea what level Venerable Jiyin was actually at. But that didn't matter. Even if he was a Nine Revolutions Dou Zun, their realms had to be about the same!
The Soul Clan's chief alchemist?!
Venerable Jiyin was completely floored.
And since Ning Chen had even suggested a spar, every last doubt in his mind vanished. If the man before him was still a fake after all that, then there was nothing more he could do.
He could only accept that this was fate.
If it hadn't happened today, it would happen some other time.
Besides, Jiyin had no reason to think Ning Chen was lying.
"Since you're in the mood, young master, I won't refuse. I only ask that you go easy on me."
A short while later, the two stood facing each other a hundred yards apart in an open area behind Wanxie Sect.
Venerable Jiyin took a deep breath. Though he had already accepted the other man's identity, this was still a spar. He couldn't hold back too much, or it would come across as disrespectful.
He was currently a Two-Star Dou Zun, so he would meet Ning Chen seriously at that level. This was also a good chance to see just how strong this "Young Master Hun Chen" really was.
"Be careful, young master!"
Venerable Jiyin let out a low shout, and his aura surged. The immense pressure of a Dou Zun spread through the area.
He raised his right hand and curled his fingers. A spinning black sphere of energy instantly took shape, filled with what seemed to be countless tiny, wailing vengeful spirits.
Nether Soul Explosion!
"Go!"
The sphere shot from his hand, initially no bigger than a fist. But as it flew, it greedily devoured the surrounding light and energy, swelling rapidly until it was several yards across. With a low, mournful howl, it tore through the air and hurtled straight at Ning Chen!
That one strike could instantly kill an ordinary High-Rank Dou Zong!
Facing the terrifying attack as it bore down on him, Ning Chen remained calm, as if he had expected it.
He didn't dodge. Instead, he slowly raised his right hand, palm facing the sky.
"System, special effects!"
As he murmured the words in his mind, his aura suddenly changed!
His previously mild, restrained presence vanished in an instant. The terrifying Dou Qi of a Peak Two-Star Dou Zun erupted!
Dense leaden clouds gathered overhead from nowhere, hanging low. Within them, dark lightning writhed like dragons and serpents, rumbling ominously.
Ning Chen raised his right palm and made a seemingly casual swiping motion at the incoming black sphere.
"Break."
As if his words carried the force of law, a bolt of dark lightning as thick as a barrel crashed down from the clouds!
It struck the swelling Nether Soul Explosion with pinpoint accuracy!
"RUMBLE—!!!"
A deafening explosion rang out!
At the center of the collision between the black lightning and the black sphere, space twisted violently, and a dazzling burst of energy lit up the area!
A savage shockwave expanded in a ring, slamming into the surrounding defensive formation and sending ripples across it!
The light faded, and the energy settled.
Ning Chen still stood in place, his sleeve fluttering, utterly unharmed, his raised palm still held out.
Venerable Jiyin hadn't taken a single step back either, but the Nether Soul Explosion—powerful enough to kill a High-Rank Dou Zong—had vanished without a trace!
A draw!
No—in Venerable Jiyin's eyes, Ning Chen was unquestionably stronger than he was!
But that made sense. The Soul Clan had invested heavily in this genius. It was only natural that he would be stronger.
"Your might is awe-inspiring, young master! I'm impressed!"
Venerable Jiyin immediately withdrew all his Dou Qi and bowed deeply.
"That strike just now was everything I had, yet I couldn't so much as scratch you. There's no point continuing. I admit defeat!"
Hearing the tremendous commotion, Tie Protector, Xie Biyan, and Xiao Yi Xian hurried over.
Xiao Yi Xian rushed to Ning Chen first, anxiously grabbing his arm and checking him over.
"Ning... Hun Chen! Are you all right? Did you get hurt?"
Ning Chen smiled warmly and patted the back of her hand.
"I'm fine. Venerable Jiyin and I were only testing each other's strength."
Venerable Jiyin hurried to reassure her as well.
"Don't worry, miss. The young master's cultivation is extraordinary. I gave it everything I had and still couldn't hurt him. If anything, I'm the one who benefited from the exchange."
He turned to Tie Protector and Xie Biyan, who had followed her over, his tone turning stern.
"Have you all understood? The young master is an honored guest of the Soul Hall, a man of the highest standing! From now on, wherever he goes in the Northwest Continent, treat his word as if it were my own. Serve him with all your strength and never slight him in the least! If anything goes wrong, I won't let you off lightly!"
"Yes! We obey, Venerable!"
Tie Protector and Xie Biyan hurriedly bowed and acknowledged the order, their awe of Ning Chen reaching its peak.
Even Venerable Jiyin treated him with such deference. The origins of this "Young Master Hun Chen" were terrifyingly grand!
Once everyone had settled down, Venerable Jiyin chatted with Ning Chen for a while about cultivation, his concern and warmth plain to see. The atmosphere was harmonious.
Seeing that the time was right, Ning Chen gestured for Venerable Jiyin to speak with him in private.
Once they had moved somewhere secluded, Ning Chen's expression turned serious.
"Venerable Jiyin, I'm speaking frankly with you today because I trust you."
Ning Chen got straight to the point, lowering his voice.
"Ten years may sound like plenty of time, but reaching the Eighth-Tier Five-Colored level depends above all on soul power. Unfortunately, my progress has been slow."
"So... I need outside help to speed things up."
Venerable Jiyin's heart tightened. He had a faint idea of what Ning Chen meant.
"You mean..."
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