No Side Effects So Far

By the time Jiang Yuan and Dan Chen returned to the Pill Tower, it was already late at night.

The guards at the gate hurried over when they saw them. One cupped his hands and said, "Senior Brother Jiang Yuan, Senior Sister Dan Chen, the Three Elders said you should go straight to the main hall when you returned."

Dan Chen paused. "The elders are still awake this late?"

The guard shook his head. "The Three Elders have been waiting. They said they have something important to discuss."

Jiang Yuan and Dan Chen exchanged a glance, then headed for the main hall. When they pushed open the doors, they found Xuan Yi, Xuan Kongzi, and Tian Leizi seated inside. Even the tea on the table had gone cold.

Xuan Kongzi stood as soon as they entered. "You're back? How did it go?"

Jiang Yuan sat down in a nearby chair and answered casually, "It's done. The Hall of Souls' outpost on the border of the Central Plains has been cleared out. I doubt they'll send anyone there again."

Xuan Kongzi let out a breath of relief, satisfaction showing on his face. "Good. Well done."

Tian Leizi nodded repeatedly. "Those Hall of Souls bastards have been getting more and more brazen. It's about time someone taught them a lesson."

Xuan Yi looked at Jiang Yuan from her seat. "Did you deal with whoever was in charge of the outpost?"

Jiang Yuan nodded. "A Five-Star Dou Zun protector named Liu Ming. I sealed his Dou Qi and told him to get lost."

"A Five-Star Dou Zun!"

Tian Leizi cried out, his expression shifting. "You sealed a Five-Star Dou Zun that easily? Just how strong are you now?"

Jiang Yuan shrugged. "My strength isn't important."

That left Tian Leizi at a loss. He opened his mouth but could not think of a reply. Xuan Kongzi smiled instead. "Enough. What matters is that you're back. Thanks for the effort. It's late, so you two should go get some rest."

Jiang Yuan rose to leave, but Xuan Yi suddenly called out to him. "Jiang Yuan, wait a moment."

He stopped and looked back at her. "What is it?"

Xuan Yi stood and walked over to him, her eyes searching his face. "When you used that sealing Dou Technique earlier, did you notice any side effects?"

Jiang Yuan gave her a surprised look. "Side effects? I haven't noticed any so far."

"Why do you ask?"

Xuan Yi shook her head. "It's nothing. You've used that Dou Technique several times lately, and I'm worried it might be too much for your body. A Dou Technique of that level must take a lot out of you."

Jiang Yuan smiled. "Don't worry. I know my limits."

Seeing that he did not seem concerned, Xuan Yi nodded and said no more. She watched Jiang Yuan and Dan Chen leave the main hall.

Once the doors had closed behind them, Tian Leizi could not help asking, "Just how many secrets is that kid hiding?"

Xuan Kongzi leaned back in his chair with a smile. "Who knows? As long as he's one of ours at the Pill Tower, that's enough."

Xuan Yi stood silent for a moment, then seemed to remember something. "Oh, right. We received a message earlier today. The Yao Clan has sent someone over. They say they want to pay the Pill Tower a visit."