Pill Tower Examination

Xiao Yan had already harbored some guesses. Now that Ye Zhong had explained it, he finally confirmed that she was the renowned Cao Ying, and information about her immediately surfaced in his mind.

Cao Ying was a genius of this generation among the Five Great Families. It was said that when she was born, the fluctuations caused by the sheer strength of her soul power had nearly killed her mother. Such power in an infant was simply inconceivable.

Coupled with the Cao Family's all-out cultivation over the years, no one knew just how far she had progressed by now.

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan became wary and silently marked the girl before him as the opponent most worthy of his attention.

Ye Zhong added, "And once you enter the Pill Tower, be careful around the Cao Family. Among the Five Great Families, they are the ones eyeing my Ye Clan most greedily. What your appearance means goes without saying. There is no telling whether they might use some other means against you."

Xiao Yan nodded silently. Since he had accepted the Ye Clan's favor, being dragged into their grudges was unavoidable. Besides, Xiao Yan believed that even if the Cao Family wanted to target him within the Pill Tower, it would not be so easy.

Compared to that, Xiao Yan was more concerned about Cao Ying's strength.

"Elder Ye, what grade of alchemist do you think Cao Ying is now? How great is the gap between us?"

After thinking for a moment, Ye Zhong said,

"You do not need to worry too much about that. Though she is your greatest opponent, for now, she is merely your equal. She will not be much stronger than you!"

Xiao Yan frowned in confusion. "Elder Ye, it is not that I am belittling myself, but even if my talent is comparable to hers, she has studied alchemy since childhood. I have only been learning for two years at most. I should not be her match yet, should I?"

Xiao Yan would not underestimate himself, but neither would he look down on his opponent. Cao Ying was especially renowned. Though Xiao Yan had the confidence not to lose to her, he knew he lacked much of her foundation.

Ye Zhong explained, "No. You should know that everything about an alchemist originates from soul power. Since there are no specialized methods for cultivating the soul, the development of soul power is closely tied to one's Dou Qi level. Just as a Dou Master's soul power can never surpass that of a Dou Wang. Only when cultivators are at similar levels does it make sense to compare their soul talent."

"So, for alchemists with talent like yours, what restricts your soul power at the lower grades is actually your Dou Qi level! And what is most terrifying about you, brat, is that both your alchemy talent and Dou Qi talent are top-notch!"

"I know about Cao Ying as well. Her soul talent is beyond question. But when it comes to Dou Qi, you leave that little girl ten... cough, cough, one whole street behind. So, at this stage, there is not much difference between your soul powers."

"At most, she knows a little more about alchemy than you do. You will have plenty of time to catch up on that later, so there is no need to fear her. Just go for it!"

Only after hearing Ye Zhong's explanation did Xiao Yan understand. Come to think of it, it made sense. He and Cao Ying were at similar cultivation levels, so there was no reason for her soul power to be much stronger than his.

Xiao Yan stared at Cao Ying's back with fighting spirit blazing in his eyes, secretly anticipating a clash with her. Whether in Dou Qi or alchemy, Xiao Yan had never found an opponent his own age. Now that he had finally found one, he wished he could spar with her immediately.

Thanks to her soul talent, Cao Ying's spiritual senses likewise far surpassed those of ordinary people. She could sense the strange gaze fixed upon her and immediately furrowed her brows.

The Cao Family elder noticed this and hurriedly asked in a low voice, "Miss, what is it?"

Cao Ying gave a slight shake of her head and answered succinctly, "Someone is looking at me."

The Cao Family elder was somewhat speechless. At least half the people present were either openly assessing Cao Ying or secretly stealing glances at her. What was he supposed to do, stop them all?

Fortunately, the tests outside soon concluded. An old man emerged from the rear hall and stepped onto the platform. The half-grown children naturally showed no particular reaction, but the elders leading the Five Great Families all hurried forward.

"Elder Qiu, you have arrived."

"Elder Qiu, we did not expect to trouble you personally!"

The group surrounded Elder Qiu, astonishment appearing on their faces. They truly had not expected such a small Pill Tower Examination to draw even him out.

"Hehe, you all can guess why I am here. Why deliberately mock this old man?"

Elder Qiu's tone was exceptionally amiable, but everyone hurriedly replied, "We would not dare," while more or less glancing toward Cao Ying below the platform.

At the same time, everyone from the Five Great Families except the Cao Family had the same thought.

We had long heard that the Pill Tower's giants had taken notice of the Cao Family's Demoness. It seems that rumor was not baseless after all!

Ye Zhong considered even more. So the giants are watching this test as well. If Xiao Yan performs well, will he not directly enter their sight and soar to great heights?

Just as Ye Zhong was secretly thrilled, Elder Qiu turned his gaze toward him. Though the Ye Clan had declined, Ye Zhong still outranked the others present in terms of status.

"Elder Ye, I did not expect you to come this time as well. Has the Ye Clan finally produced a promising seedling?"

Ye Zhong smiled faintly. "There is indeed an unworthy junior. I hope Elder Qiu will look after him."

Naturally, those words were merely polite courtesy, and no one took them seriously. Even members of the Cao Family had to rely on their own abilities within the Pill Tower, let alone the Ye Clan in its current state.

However, the other four families wore varying expressions. The old woman from the Bai Family gave Ye Zhong the sharpest look of all. If not for Elder Qiu being present, she likely would have mocked him aloud as she had earlier.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with them, Elder Qiu gestured for them to step down from the platform before continuing to preside over the examination.

"Students, this is now the final stage of our Pill Tower entrance examination. I hope you all perform well shortly. Besides becoming Formal Disciples, the Pill Tower will select outstanding candidates among those who fail to become Registered Disciples. Of course, according to the rules, members of the Five Great Families cannot become Registered Disciples!"

The ordinary children all revealed delighted expressions upon hearing this. Even if they failed shortly, they would still have a chance to remain in the Pill Tower.

There was no reaction from the Five Great Families. This was an old rule that had been in place for many years, and becoming a Registered Disciple was inferior to the education and resources their own families could provide.

Elder Qiu continued, "According to your alchemist grades, you will be assigned examinations of corresponding difficulty. Members of the Five Great Families may report your grades yourselves later."

Then, someone beside Elder Qiu began reading from a roster.

"Zhang Zhen, fourteen years old, second grade."

"He Li, fifteen years old, second grade."

"Ye Fan..."

Xiao Yan listened as the students' names were called. Just as he had expected, they were either fourteen or fifteen years old. The strongest among them was a thirteen-year-old third-grade alchemist named Song Qing. When his name was called, he even stood up and showed off toward Cao Ying for a while, but unfortunately, she did not even raise her eyelids.

Still, Song Qing had some real ability. Xiao Yan estimated that most of the members of the Five Great Families were not his equal.

At last, after the group had all been called, Elder Qiu gestured toward the Five Great Families. The gazes of everyone else turned toward them as well, eager to see what was so special about the legendary Five Great Families that they could skip the earlier tests.

Cao Ying lifted a hand, drawing the entire crowd's attention. Her cool, pleasant voice rang out. "Let us begin with my Cao Family."

No one objected. No matter how one looked at it, the Cao Family should be first.

"Cao Dan, twelve years old, second grade!"

"Cao Xiu, thirteen years old, third grade!"

The two behind Cao Ying spoke in succession, drawing a wave of startled cries from the crowd. For children at this age, a gap of one or two years was enormous. By the time these two reached fourteen or fifteen, they would likely touch the threshold of a Fourth-Grade Alchemist. Compared to the children who had passed the tests, the difference was immediately clear.

But before the crowd could digest its shock, Cao Ying's red lips curved into an alluring yet innocent smile, as though she could not wait to see everyone's expressions in the next instant.

"Cao Ying, twelve years old, fourth grade!"