Cao Ying

Ye Zhong had made it sound nice, saying he would show Xiao Yan and Xin Lan around. In reality, once they were settled in, he tossed the two of them into an inn and vanished without a trace, leaving Xiao Yan grumbling inwardly.

Since that was the case, Xiao Yan simply continued his cultivation. No matter how lively it was outside, he did not join in. He understood clearly that as long as he became a Pill Tower disciple, he would have plenty of chances to see such spectacles.

However, Xiao Yan's behavior left Xin Lan, who had finally worked up the courage to find him, pacing hesitantly outside his door for a long time. In the end, she still did not dare knock...

By the time Ye Zhong appeared before Xiao Yan again, it was already the day of the Pill Tower's official assessment. Ignoring the resentful looks from the two of them, he led them toward the branch tower where the assessment would be held.

Naturally, the Pill Tower's assessment was open to the public, and its threshold was extremely high—a Second-Grade Alchemist under fifteen. Yet even with such an outrageous standard, the line of people waiting to take the assessment stretched on endlessly.

Xiao Yan's expression immediately fell. When Ye Zhong saw it, he secretly chuckled, then led the two youngsters in another direction.

Xiao Yan asked in confusion, "Elder Ye, aren't we lining up?"

"The Ye Clan is one of the Five Great Families, after all. We have the right to skip this preliminary assessment," Ye Zhong explained.

Xiao Yan did not think much of it. Less trouble was naturally a good thing. At the same time, however, he failed to notice the concealed irritation in Ye Zhong's eyes.

Following Ye Zhong through a hidden side entrance, they wound their way into the branch tower. As the chief elder of one of the Five Great Families, Ye Zhong clearly held a certain status within the Pill Tower. Without deliberately announcing his identity, the guards along the way automatically made way for him and did not question him. He led Xiao Yan straight to a side door tall enough for three or four people to stand atop one another.

"We'll wait here. Once the people outside finish their tests, we'll take the final assessment together."

After saying that, Ye Zhong pushed the door open and entered. Only a few people were seated within the spacious hall. Apart from two or three children who had passed the test and arrived here, three others sat around an elderly woman in gray. Judging by their attire, they appeared to be members of one of the Five Great Families, just like the Ye Clan.

"Well! Ye Zhong, I never expected you to come this time. What, does your Ye Clan still have someone qualified to enter the Pill Tower?"

The moment the elderly woman saw Ye Zhong, she spoke with equal parts surprise and mockery.

"Hmph! The Bai Family is still as ill-bred as ever. Since when is it your place to meddle in the affairs of my Ye Clan?"

Ye Zhong gave her no face at all and immediately shot back. Xiao Yan also understood that they were members of the Bai Family, one of the Five Great Families.

The elderly woman was clearly unwilling to back down. She replied sinisterly:

"Your Ye Clan certainly has manners. But when you slink back to Ye City in disgrace later, I wonder whether you, Ye Zhong, will still be so composed!"

"Times have truly changed. When you came to my Ye Clan back then, you were nothing but wretches as lowly as pigs and dogs! Now you've actually started swaggering around."

The elderly woman had intended to trade veiled barbs, but Ye Zhong's every sentence hit like a hammer blow. His words struck straight at her sore spot, and flames nearly burst from her eyes as she glared viciously at him.

Ye Zhong did not care in the slightest. Whether in alchemy or cultivation, he surpassed this elderly woman and had no reason to fear her. "What are you looking at? Want this old man to trade a few moves with you?"

The elderly woman laughed from sheer anger and tore away the last shred of civility. "Fine, fine, fine, Ye Zhong! I'll be waiting to see the results of your Ye Clan's assessment. And let me kindly remind you: at the next Pill Tower test, if your Ye Clan fails to make the top three, you will naturally be kicked out of the elders' seats. When that happens, I'll make sure you see what I'm capable of!"

Ye Zhong did not even spare her a direct glance. Not to mention that he now had someone like Xiao Yan as a way out—even without him, someone of Ye Zhong's status would never get angry over such a person.

Ignoring the foul-mouthed elderly woman, Ye Zhong explained to Xiao Yan beside him:

"They're from the Bai Family, one of the Five Great Families. They used to be suppressed by my Ye Clan, but now that they've gained power, they look for trouble whenever they see us. Just ignore them."

Xiao Yan silently nodded and committed the Bai Family to memory. Since they were at odds with the Ye Clan, they naturally would not look kindly upon him either. Xiao Yan understood the need to be wary of others.

Soon, children who had passed the earlier test entered through the main entrance one after another. Two elderly men also entered the hall through the side door Xiao Yan and the others had used, each leading two or three children.

Ye Zhong also introduced them to Xiao Yan as members of the Qiu Family and the Dan Family, respectively, two of the Five Great Families.

Although these two families did not say anything as unpleasant as the Bai Family's elderly woman, they still cast looks of surprise or disdain toward Ye Zhong's group.

Those wordless stares made Ye Zhong even more uncomfortable. What he hated most was this constant reminder that the Ye Clan had declined, yet he could not vent his anger. He could only close his eyes and rest, letting what he could not see cease to bother him.

Xiao Yan naturally did not have so many thoughts. He was more interested in the younger generation waiting for the assessment. At first glance, there was nothing particularly remarkable about them—except for one person.

Xiao Yan turned his gaze toward the Dan Family's group. If anyone among the young alchemists present could draw his attention, it was undoubtedly a girl from the Dan Family.

The reason was simple. At their age, they were growing rapidly, so age showed especially clearly in their appearance.

Setting aside those not from the Five Great Families, most had only passed the test by barely meeting the fifteen-year-old limit. The members of the Five Great Families, meanwhile, were uniformly twelve or thirteen.

The girl Xiao Yan had noticed was the shortest person in the entire hall, and her face practically had the words "still childish" written across it. If nothing unexpected happened, she was probably the youngest one present.

Although age could not fully represent talent, anyone taking the Pill Tower assessment at such a young age had to possess real ability.

Just as Xiao Yan estimated that the tests outside were nearly over, the side door behind him opened once more. This time, it should have been the foremost of the Five Great Families—the Cao Family.

Not only Xiao Yan, but everyone present turned to look in unison.

The first person to enter was not the Cao Family elder leading the group, but a girl of around twelve or thirteen. She wore eye-catching red robes, and her slender, tall figure was graceful. Her long black hair cascaded down, forming a striking contrast with her fair skin. Her features were exquisite, while her phoenix eyes added several touches of allure to that immortal beauty without diminishing her youthful innocence.

After looking a few times, nearly all the boys present blushed. Some even lowered their heads, not daring to look at her. These children were at the age when first love began to stir, and faced with her bearing and beauty, they truly could not keep themselves composed.

But Xiao Yan was naturally unaffected. He carefully examined the girl and felt that she was older than the little one from the Dan Family, though he did not know how strong she was. Still, judging by her position within the Cao Family's group, she was probably the strongest among them. Based on Xiao Yan's information and analysis, this girl...

What? Her appearance? Xiao Yan still had the same answer: no matter how pretty she was, could she possibly be prettier than his Xun'er?

However, as the Cao Family's group entered, Ye Zhong finally opened his eyes. Upon seeing the girl who had stunned the entire hall, he immediately sent a solemn voice transmission to Xiao Yan:

"Xiao Yan, that is the Cao Family's little enchantress—Cao Ying!"