Arrival at Saint Pill City

"Ah~ Little Yan, your pill refining succeeded again. Good boy, good boy!"

"Aunt Xue, you're exaggerating..."

"Ah, why are you being so bashful? Has spending so much time with that girl Xin Lan worn down your spirit? That won't do~"

Xiao Yan was held in the woman's arms before him, his hair being petted into a complete mess. Though he struggled with all his might, even with the rich natural energy of the Central Domain and his relentless daily cultivation, he had maintained the terrifying pace of nearly one star per month throughout the Dou Master stage.

Xiao Yan had now reached the Dou Master Peak!

Yet he still could not escape this woman's clutches! The gap in their strength was simply too great...

Xiao Yan gave up struggling as well. Aunt Xue seemed to treat him like some little cat or dog; unless she thoroughly "tormented" him every day, she would never let it go.

Xiao Yan could not help sighing. Ever since he had begun studying under Aunt Xue, her attitude had gradually undergone a complete reversal. Now, she practically treated Xiao Yan like her own child or nephew, radiating maternal affection at every moment. She was just a little too enthusiastic, making it rather hard for Xiao Yan to handle.

If he could choose, Xiao Yan would rather she returned to how she had been at the beginning.

Only after Aunt Xue finally finished "caressing" Xiao Yan did Xin Lan, who had been "neglected" at the side, get a chance to speak.

"Aunt Xue, you've gone too far. At least consider Senior Brother Xiao's feelings."

Aunt Xue pulled a stern face at those words. "What kind of talk is that! Xiao Yan is setting out tomorrow for the Pill Tower Examination. Today is the last day I'll be teaching this kid, so you won't even let me indulge myself a little?!"

Xiao Yan's expression also turned serious. For the past half year, he had kept a low profile and cultivated diligently. Was it not all so that he could become a disciple of the Pill Tower? At last, that day had arrived!

Xiao Yan solemnly clasped his hands and bowed. "Xiao Yan thanks Aunt Xue for your instruction during this time. I will never forget the kindness of your teachings! If there is ever anything you need from Xiao Yan in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."

Aunt Xue waved a hand. "It's nothing. As long as you can help our Ye Clan get through that test ten years from now, you'll have repaid me."

Though Xiao Yan's face was still somewhat youthful, his expression remained solemn. "Of course. But a kindness is a kindness. I will help the Ye Clan, and if Aunt Xue ever has need of me, Xiao Yan will do his duty without hesitation!"

The maternal glow that had just faded from Aunt Xue's eyes surged up again. She grabbed Xiao Yan and kneaded him some more, only stopping once she had rubbed his hair into a wild, frizzy mess.

"Hehe, I like that temperament of yours, kid. It suits my taste. Xiao Yan, how about marrying Xin Lan? Then we'd be family—"

"Aunt Xue!" Xin Lan hurriedly stopped her. She secretly glanced at Xiao Yan, whose only response was an awkward smile, then let out a breath—or perhaps a sigh; even she did not know which. She was somewhat annoyed. It's been half a year already. Why does someone still bring this up?!

Seeing that Xiao Yan would not take the bait, Aunt Xue could not keep teasing the pair. In the blink of an eye, she put on an impatient look and began complaining.

"Ah, once Xiao Yan leaves, I'll have to teach those talentless fools again. Every last one of them is as stupid as a bear. They're a disgrace to my Ye Clan!"

Xin Lan was also full of question marks at that moment. Aunt Xue's words just now seemed to include her as well?

The final lesson ended, and Xiao Yan left alongside Xin Lan. Since he would be taking part in the Pill Tower Examination tomorrow, he did not go read with Xin Lan as usual, instead preparing to return directly and get himself into proper condition.

But Xin Lan called out to Xiao Yan.

"What is it?"

Xiao Yan was somewhat surprised. Even after half a year together, Xin Lan was still timid and reserved by nature, and rarely spoke to him of her own accord.

Looking into the clear eyes of the young man before her, Xin Lan involuntarily lowered her gaze.

"Actually... I'll also be going to take the examination tomorrow, so I'll be traveling with Senior Brother Xiao."

"You're going too?" Xiao Yan was rather surprised. She had never mentioned this before.

Xin Lan weakly explained, "Xin Lan naturally has no real chance, but the Grand Elder said that the honor of the Five Great Clans was at stake. Since the Ye Clan already has Senior Brother Xiao to uphold our reputation, I can give it a try as well. It can count as learning from shame and striving to improve..."

Xin Lan's voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible, but Xiao Yan understood the whole situation and nodded.

"I see. Xin Lan, you needn't feel so inferior. Perhaps you might have a chance at passing the examination too."

Xin Lan forced a smile and shook her head. "Senior Brother Xiao, you don't understand. Becoming a disciple of the Pill Tower is incredibly difficult. With my current level, barely qualifying as a Second-Grade Alchemist, there is no way I can pass the examination."

Xiao Yan was utterly astonished. Among alchemists his age whom he had met, Xin Lan was the most gifted aside from himself. A Second-Grade Alchemist in her teens would be considered a genius anywhere. Yet when facing the Pill Tower Examination, Xin Lan said she had absolutely no chance of passing.

After bidding Xin Lan farewell, Xiao Yan placed even greater importance on the approaching examination, though he was not overly nervous.

Xiao Yan had cultivated without pause every day precisely so that he would never fear any hardship or adversity. He believed that no matter how harsh the Pill Tower's requirements were, they would not pose the slightest problem for him.

The next day arrived quickly. There were only four people traveling this time: Xiao Yan himself, Xin Lan, Grand Elder Ye Zhong, who was escorting them, and another elder of the Ye Clan.

Upon seeing Ye Zhong, Xiao Yan asked with some curiosity, "Why is it you again, Grand Elder Ye? Shouldn't you, as the Grand Elder, be guarding the Ye Clan?"

Ye Zhong slapped Xiao Yan on the forehead. "What the hell is an alchemist supposed to guard? The Ye Clan has its own retainers to protect it. Besides, as long as the Ye Clan remains one of the Pill Tower's Five Great Clans, what blind fool would dare come provoke us?"

There was an even more important reason Ye Zhong did not mention: in his eyes, Xiao Yan's affairs were more important than anything else. This concerned the survival of the Ye Clan, and there could be no mistakes.

Once the four had gathered, Ye Zhong and the other elder each took one of Xiao Yan and Xin Lan, flying straight toward Ye City's spatial wormhole.

"Our destination this time is Saint Pill City," Ye Zhong explained to Xiao Yan. "We'll transfer through a wormhole once along the way. It should take around seven or eight days."

Xiao Yan nodded, marveling at how convenient the Central Domain was. The distance between Ye City and Saint Pill City was far greater than that between Wutan City and Canaan Academy, yet it took less than ten days to arrive...

After riding a spatial ship out of the spatial wormhole, Xiao Yan's group finally reached the destination of their journey—Saint Pill City!

This place truly deserved its reputation as the sacred land of alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent. Everywhere they looked, there was a sea of people. Even more remarkable, this was perhaps the only place on the Dou Qi Continent where alchemists gathered in such numbers. It was as if anyone not wearing an alchemist's robe would be too embarrassed to speak to others.

Most importantly, Saint Pill City was divided into an Inner Domain and an Outer Domain. Such prosperity existed only in the Outer Domain. A single city divided into domains—one could imagine how vast Saint Pill City truly was.

This sight would have been a wonder to anyone, but two of the four had seen it long ago, while the other two were fearless calves who could not appreciate its grandeur at all. Thus, after a brief moment of admiration, the four quickly left.

However, Ye Zhong's expression was rather complicated. Since the Ye Clan had declined, they rarely came here except to attend the younger generation's test. For an examination like this, where the Pill Tower accepted disciples, the Ye Clan would not have come to humiliate themselves if not for Xiao Yan supporting them this time.

Ye Zhong sighed inwardly, but looking at Xiao Yan beside him brought him some comfort. Heaven has not forsaken the Ye Clan!

Ye Zhong perked up and said to Xiao Yan and Xin Lan, "Saint Pill City is a wonderful place. The examination is still a few days away, so I'll show you around these next couple of days and let you see the prosperity here. Hehe, when I was young, I used to come here often..."