First Entering the Pill Tower

Everyone looked in the direction Elder Qiu pointed, then collectively froze.

The sun was setting, and dim rays of twilight shrouded the land, already making it difficult to see clearly. It took everyone quite a while to realize that the enormous "mountain" Elder Qiu had indicated was actually the Pill Tower headquarters.

The structure was astonishingly massive. Even though no one present had ever underestimated the Pill Tower, none of them could remain calm before such a man-made marvel.

Elder Qiu chuckled. "Everyone is shocked the first time they see the Pill Tower itself. After all, there are countless seventh- and even eighth-tier alchemists within the Pill Tower. If it were not built large enough, how could it hold all those people? You'll get used to it after seeing it more often."

Elder Qiu then tossed out a pile of tokens that he had apparently prepared long ago. They flew accurately into everyone's hands. Xiao Yan clenched his token and saw his own name inscribed upon its gleaming silver surface.

"These are your identity tokens. They will verify your identities and manage your respective cultivation residences."

"I must remind you all that the Pill Tower honors alchemy above all else, with Dou Qi as its foundation. We will not forbid you from sparring or exchanging techniques involving Dou Qi, but you are not permitted to strike ruthlessly against fellow disciples, nor may you enter another person's cultivation grounds without permission. These are ironclad rules. Anyone who violates them will be expelled from the Pill Tower immediately!"

As he spoke, his gaze paused briefly on Xiao Yan and Cao Dan, who had nearly come to blows earlier. Cao Dan thought Elder Qiu was warning him, so he silently lowered his head and did not dare protest, inwardly cursing Xiao Yan for being lucky.

However, Elder Qiu's words were actually more of a warning to Xiao Yan. Cao Dan was nothing more than a tyrant relying on his family's influence. Within the Pill Tower, he would have no lackeys to order around.

As for the solid Dou Qi radiating from Xiao Yan's body and the faint murderous aura between his brows, how could a well-traveled man like Elder Qiu fail to recognize that Xiao Yan was someone who had truly killed before? That was why he had offered a reminder.

Xiao Yan did not care about any of that. Cao Dan was beneath his notice. What concerned him now was something else.

"Elder Qiu, since Dou Qi is the foundation, may this disciple ask how one can obtain the Pill Tower's resources for Dou Qi techniques and cultivation methods?"

This question confirmed Elder Qiu's suspicions, but to everyone else, it sounded extremely strange.

As far as they were concerned, cultivation methods were one thing, but Dou Qi techniques were something only those who cultivated Dou Qi would care about. At such young ages, they had already attained such high ranks as alchemists. Most of them relied on medicinal pills to assist their cultivation and raise their strength. There was not even enough time left to study alchemy, so how could they have time to look into Dou Qi techniques?

Cao Dan glared resentfully at Xiao Yan. Not daring to speak with Cao Ying, he instead turned to Cao Xiu beside him. "Big Brother, what does Xiao Yan mean? Does he know Dou Qi techniques too?"

Cao Xiu frowned. He had never approved of Cao Dan's behavior. Since Xiao Yan had displayed talent comparable to Cao Ying's, why offend someone like him if they could not become friends?

"Whether he does or not, stop provoking him. Studying alchemy properly is what matters here."

Seeing that Cao Xiu did not support him, Cao Dan said nothing further. Still, he inwardly sneered, That brat must be putting on an act. Reaching that level in alchemy at his age is already terrifying. How could he possibly have time to study Dou Qi techniques?

Elder Qiu answered Xiao Yan indifferently, "I will answer that question shortly. For now, it is time to send you to your cave residences."

With a lift of his finger, two people rose from the crowd, then flipped over the flying vessel and plunged downward!

Although they knew this was Elder Qiu's doing and that nothing would happen to them, the two people's terrified screams still made everyone shudder.

Elder Qiu paid them little heed. There were so many people; he could not possibly stop at every destination. Just delivering this bunch of youngsters would take until dawn tomorrow.

As Elder Qiu tossed disciples from the flying vessel one after another, only Xiao Yan, Cao Ying, and Dan Chen remained in the end.

Xiao Yan noticed that the stronger and more talented a person was, the later Elder Qiu kicked them off the flying vessel, and the closer their destination was to the Pill Tower headquarters.

From where they had stopped now, the Pill Tower headquarters still looked somewhat hazy, but it could clearly be recognized as a building rather than some enormous mountain.

Elder Qiu did not simply throw the three of them down as he had done before. Instead, he gave them a final reminder with a genial expression.

"Your cultivation residences are close to one another. I hope you will get along peacefully in the future. With your talent, you will inevitably work together in the Pill Tower someday."

There was no need to say whom those words were aimed at. They were certainly not meant for the little girl who could barely lift her head.

Knowing Elder Qiu was referring to them, both Cao Ying and Xiao Yan readily agreed. Yet Elder Qiu could only hear that each was more stubborn than the other. How could a single sentence possibly persuade them?

Shaking his head, he had seen plenty of proud geniuses before. Even if these two were truly rare prodigies, Elder Qiu only intended to leave this matter to the higher-ups. He decisively changed the subject.

"You differ from the others. You should know that above Formal Disciples, the Pill Tower also has Core Disciples. In truth, they are the personal disciples of the tower's eighth-tier elders. You should understand what that means."

Xiao Yan and Cao Ying's eyes immediately lit up, while even Dan Chen, now pitifully alone without Dan Xuan, clenched her little fists.

Finally, Elder Qiu said to Xiao Yan, "As for the cultivation methods and Dou Qi techniques you asked about, the Pill Tower's collection is exceedingly extensive. However, at your current level, you can only obtain Mystic Tier items. This old man advises you to put more effort into alchemy. Once you become a Core Disciple, aside from Heaven Tier items that require an exchange, you may browse everything else in the Pill Tower's collection freely."

Xiao Yan was immensely excited upon hearing this. As expected of the Pill Tower! The Mystic Tier Dou Qi techniques he had desperately sought were as common as cabbages here. Once he became a Core Disciple, he would even have a chance to obtain Heaven Tier cultivation methods and Dou Qi techniques!

Elder Qiu saw through Xiao Yan's thoughts and immediately advised, "Xiao Yan, perhaps you possess talent in the path of Dou Qi as well, but this old man must still remind you that alchemy is the most important thing in the Pill Tower. Do not neglect the root for the branches or choose the box and discard the pearl."

Xiao Yan calmed down somewhat after hearing Elder Qiu's advice. "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Qiu. This disciple will remember it. Xiao Yan understands that trying to swallow too much at once only leads to indigestion."

Seeing that Xiao Yan was fairly obedient, Elder Qiu could only shake his head helplessly. The Pill Tower would not interfere excessively with its disciples' choices. He could only hope Xiao Yan would know his limits.

With a sweep of his sleeve, the three of them were sent tumbling down as well. Elder Qiu then put away the flying vessel and vanished in a flash.

The three landed lightly on the ground and activated their identity tokens. The tokens each pointed them in different directions.

Xiao Yan was about to leave. He was unfamiliar with both of them and had no intention of talking further, but Cao Ying called out to him before he could go.

"We just promised Elder Qiu that we would get along peacefully. Is Junior Brother Xiao not even going to greet us?"

Xiao Yan secretly rolled his eyes, unable to tell what Cao Ying was planning. He merely replied flatly, "My idea of getting along peacefully is minding our own business. Also, do not be so quick to call me Junior Brother. We do not know who is older yet."

The smile on Cao Ying's face did not fade. Xiao Yan's cold words did not make her retreat; instead, she pressed further.

"Then this Junior Sister was presumptuous. I am merely curious about Senior Brother Xiao. Why must you act as though you are keeping everyone a thousand miles away?"

Remembering Ye Zhong's warning, Xiao Yan did not show Cao Ying a pleasant expression. "This Senior Brother has no habit of discussing private matters with strangers. Junior Sister Cao can speak to this Senior Brother after we become acquainted. Farewell."

Cao Ying secretly gritted her silver teeth. How had the matter of senior brother and junior sister been settled just like that? This was the first time Cao Ying had felt curious about someone else, especially because Xiao Yan's earlier mention of Dou Qi techniques had caught her attention. Even someone as gifted as her had cultivated only one Mystic Tier Dou Qi technique, and that had merely been out of curiosity. She could accept someone matching her in alchemy, but she refused to believe that person could also spend time honing his Dou Qi!