As Yao Lao and Xiao Yan appeared, several powerful soul fluctuations subtly emanated from a sky-piercing tower in the center of Sacred Pill City.
The next second, two elderly men and a beautiful woman appeared above the square.
"Whoa!" The already bustling square grew even noisier.
"The Pill Tower's Three Giants! They've actually appeared together!"
"Venerable Yao really commands tremendous respect. Now all the continent's finest alchemists are gathered here. Everyone, we've really broadened our horizons today!"
Someone spoke excitedly.
"Yao Chen, you've come." Looking at Yao Lao in his blue robes, the beautiful middle-aged woman wore a slightly cold expression, though her tone was at least courteous.
"Since you sent me an invitation, of course I had to come."
Yao Lao's expression was hardly warm either, but Xiao Yan could tell from its subtle shifts that he was actually somewhat excited. There was even a meaningful smile in his eyes.
"Tsk, tsk. This rotten old man is a crafty one." Xiao Yan chuckled.
"What, Yao Chen? Is this little fellow your newly accepted disciple?" Hearing that, Xuan Yi also wore a meaningful smile and cast a casual glance at Xiao Yan.
"You think you're the only one who can find a good disciple?" Yao Lao sneered.
"It seems you're very confident in your disciple." Xuan Yi glanced at Xiao Yan, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
The disciple she had recently accepted possessed talent that could only be described as monstrous. Even the Yao Clan's finest disciples might not have been more gifted than Cao Ying.
Yet Yao Chen was actually this confident in the little fellow.
"Hehe, this little fellow must have quite a background. There are even two experts protecting him from behind." While the two were talking, an elderly man beside them suddenly spoke.
His name was Xuan Kongzi, and he had the highest cultivation among the Pill Tower's Three Giants, standing just one step away from becoming a Half-Saint.
At his words, the expressions of Xuan Yi and Tian Leizi both changed.
Both were at Peak Dou Zun. To remain hidden in space without being detected by them, the two experts behind this boy had to be at least above Five-Star Dou Zun, and skilled in concealment as well.
As Xuan Kongzi's words fell, two spatial ripples spread behind Xiao Yan, and Wen and Wu, the Two Saints, stepped out.
As their auras spread, the expressions of the Pill Tower's Three Giants changed dramatically.
"Two Half-Saints!"
Just how terrifying was this boy's background, for him to have two Half-Saints serving as his guardians?
On the Dou Qi Continent, where nearly all the Dou Sheng were in seclusion, living out their retirement, Half-Saints could already be considered the pinnacle of power. They were strong enough to establish a first-rate faction in the Central Plains.
Yet experts like these were serving as guardians for a young man-and there were two of them at once.
"I forgot to introduce him. This disciple of mine is the Xiao Clan's holy son, a descendant highly valued by the Xiao Clan's patriarch."
Watching their dramatically changed expressions, Yao Lao inwardly crowed about how damn good it felt to show off like this.
Of course, he would never let it show on his face. Especially in front of a woman, he had to remain composed.
In the end, Xiao Yan had not told Yao Lao or anyone in the outside world about his status as the Emperor's Son. He feared that the title was so incredible that no one would be willing to become his genuine friend.
Thus, he could only settle for the next best thing and say that he was merely a humble holy son of the Xiao Clan. Because his talent was a little better than that of the other holy sons, the patriarch paid him more attention.
The Xiao Clan! Someone valued by its patriarch! The Pill Tower's Three Giants exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others' eyes.
The Xiao Clan had always remained secluded, but at their level, they naturally had some vague knowledge of its strength.
Even leaving aside the fact that the Xiao Clan possessed the world's only Dou Di, the sheer number of its terrifying Dou Sheng Experts was enough to make one suffocate.
Among the Ancient Seven Clans, even the weakest, the Spirit Clan, was stronger than the Pill Tower. Becoming a holy son or holy daughter of an ancient clan meant having a very good chance of becoming a Dou Sheng.
"So you're the Xiao Clan's holy son. Hehe, young friend, please come this way."
After a brief silence, Xuan Kongzi was the first to make an inviting gesture, also extending it to Wen and Wu, the Two Saints, behind Xiao Yan.
"Seniors, please come this way!"
"Mm!" Wen and Wu, the Two Saints, nodded expressionlessly, though inwardly they were enjoying themselves immensely.
Their Half-Saint cultivation placed them among the Xiao Clan's upper ranks, but there were simply too many greater experts above them. If they wanted to show off in the Xiao Clan, there were plenty of Dou Sheng ready to jump out and put them in their place.
Ever since they had followed Xiao Yan into the outside world, every face greeting them had been smiling. Whether someone was a Pill Tower Giant or the master of Starfall Pavilion, they had to show proper respect upon seeing them.
With no Dou Sheng around, who could contend with them?
The feeling of being able to swagger across practically the entire continent had almost made Wen and Wu, the Two Saints, enjoy themselves so much that they forgot all about the Xiao Clan.
Only after Xuan Kongzi led Xiao Yan and the other two away did Xuan Yi put away her polite, false smile and quietly walk beside Yao Lao.
"Old bastard, tell me. How did this Xiao Clan holy son become your disciple?"
"Hehe, perhaps this old man is simply too charming. I'm not lying to you. This boy brought two Half-Saints to storm Starfall Pavilion, then forced me to accept him as my disciple."
Yao Lao's heart was already blooming with joy, but his face showed only a breezy smile and the slightest trace of smugness, lest he damage his image.
"Bullshit!" Seeing Yao Lao's demeanor, Xuan Yi swore for once.
"Believe it or not. This time, we'll see whether your precious disciple can beat mine." Yao Lao smiled faintly and hurried after Xiao Yan.
"That old bastard really knows how to put on an act." Xuan Yi stood there and glared fiercely at Yao Lao before finally turning into a streak of light and following him.
Her heart, originally brimming with confidence, finally held a trace of unease.
After all, he was the holy son of an ancient clan-and the strongest one, the Xiao Clan, at that. This young man had every quality needed to become a saint.
Though her precious disciple possessed extraordinary talent, the opponent she faced was truly formidable as well.
"Hmph, outstanding cultivation talent doesn't mean his alchemy talent is heaven-defying too. I refuse to believe this boy's alchemy can surpass Ying'er's!"
In the grand hall on the Pill Tower's highest floor, Xuan Kongzi personally prepared several cups of tea and handed them to Xiao Yan and the others.
In their eyes, Xiao Yan was no longer merely a gifted little brat. Anyone associated with the words "Xiao Clan" would draw at least some attention even from Dou Sheng Experts.
Moreover, this was the Xiao Clan's holy son-a holy son who could bring along two Half-Saints!
After drinking a cup of tea, Xiao Yan stood up.
"Teacher, seniors, please carry on. Even back in the clan, I often heard how lively the Pill Tower was, so I'd like to look around. Call me if anything comes up."
Xiao Yan took out a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman and made a telephone gesture at Yao Lao.
"Go on, go on." Yao Lao had long since grown accustomed to Xiao Yan's frequent odd behavior.
Seeing Xiao Yan leave, Wen and Wu, the Two Saints, immediately stood up as well and followed him.
"Seniors, why not stay for some more tea? The Pill Tower is our territory, after all. There's no need to worry about the holy son's safety." Seeing the two Half-Saints about to leave, Xuan Kongzi hurriedly rose.
"Hehe, we appreciate your kindness, President Xuan Kongzi, but His Highness the holy son's safety comes first. If anything happened to him, even twisting both our heads off wouldn't be enough," Xiao Wen said with a broad smile.
With that, Xiao Yan's standing within the Xiao Clan rose another notch in the minds of the three great figures.
Xiao Yan swaggered around the Pill Tower just like that. To make it easier for him to get around, Xuan Kongzi had even specifically given him a Companion Badge. Apart from a few confidential areas, Xiao Yan could go anywhere he pleased.
The Pill Tower's second through fourth floors were much like the Xiao Clan's Scripture Repository Hall, filled with books on alchemy and pill formulas. There were even some Dou Techniques specifically intended to assist with alchemy.
With nothing else to do, Xiao Yan casually pulled out a copy of the Green Bamboo Cliff Jiazi Alchemy Record and began reading.
These were accounts of alchemy experience from alchemists in the outside world and were not considered confidential, so Xiao Yan could browse them freely.
"Not bad. It seems the outside world's alchemists do differ from the ancient clans in some of their approaches." After finishing the book, Xiao Yan returned it to the shelf and habitually took a step backward.
Then he felt his back suddenly bump into a soft body.
"Who the fuck isn't watching where they're going? Are you blind?" He turned around, cursing, and a slender figure appeared before Xiao Yan.
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