If I Don't Enter Hell, Who Will?

Yao Lao's eyes looked slightly vacant, his eye sockets faintly sunken, as though his body had been utterly drained.

"Ah..." Yao Lao sighed, took a Six-Flavor Earth Emperor Pill from his Storage Ring, and popped it into his mouth.

"The Pill Tower has organized a junior class. Would you be interested in joining?" After recovering a little, Yao Lao looked at Xiao Yan and asked.

"What's so fun about hanging around a bunch of little brats?"

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. Given his mental age, he certainly had no interest in those little brats.

After spending so many years as the king of the kids in the Xiao Realm, he had long since grown tired of that life.

What he truly needed now was a mature, intelligent older woman who could offer him a warm, soft embrace-preferably the kind he could sink right into.

"This junior class brings together all the Pill Tower's high-level alchemists. They can pass on plenty of valuable experience that even the Xiao Clan and Yao Clan might not possess. One or two such insights might not be worth much, but once they accumulate, they'll be of some benefit to you."

Xiao Yan's eyes brightened slightly at Yao Lao's words. During his time in the Xiao Clan, he had paid little attention to practicing alchemy, focusing instead on cultivating dou qi.

Although secret soul techniques had helped his soul reach the seventh tier over the years, he had made no great achievements in alchemy.

If he could now exchange insights with the Pill Tower's many alchemists, it would surely be a considerable help in advancing to the seventh tier, and even on his future path in alchemy.

"The Cao Family's girl and the Dan Family's girl will definitely be there too." Before Xiao Yan could respond, Yao Lao tossed out another remark.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. He was already imagining himself attending class with a girl tucked under each arm.

He had entertained the same fantasy while attending university in his previous life. Unfortunately, he had been nothing more than a poor student back then, painfully shy around girls. He hadn't even had a girlfriend during all four years of university.

"I think an alchemist ought to draw on everyone's strengths. Exchanging ideas with other alchemists certainly isn't a bad thing."

Xiao Yan spoke with the reverence of a pilgrim approaching a holy shrine.

"I knew you would, you brat..." Yao Lao sighed again.

Patting Xiao Yan's shoulder, he said, "My disciple, feminine beauty is like a pack of wolves and tigers. Taking on too many romantic debts is no good."

"No matter." Xiao Yan shook his head solemnly. "Buddha said, 'If I don't enter hell, who will?' Let me bear the surging karmic flames of this mortal world."

"Who is Buddha?"

"A sage."

"The Xiao Clan really does have so many Dou Sheng." Yao Lao sighed in admiration.

Inside the Dan Family estate, Danyang Zi eagerly made his way to his granddaughter's courtyard.

He had been in a good mood lately. First, he had met the Xiao Clan's heaven-defying Holy Son, who seemed rather interested in his granddaughter. Then he had attended a meeting with the Pill Tower's elders. With so many high-level alchemists passing on their experience, his granddaughter's path in alchemy would undoubtedly benefit greatly.

It would be best if Chen could win over that Xiao Clan Holy Son during this time. Then our Dan Family would have a dragon among men for a grandson-in-law. Danyang Zi was still hoping for two blessings to arrive together.

But the moment he entered, he saw his granddaughter sitting listlessly on the steps, staring into space. Who knew what was going through her mind beneath that pale, delicate face? A Star-Illusion Purple Jasmine blossom was tucked into her hair.

"Chen, what are you thinking about out here?" Danyang Zi walked up to Dan Chen with a chuckle.

"Grandpa, that Xiao Yan wants me to be his concubine..." Trouble clouded Dan Chen's little face as she looked at Danyang Zi and asked anxiously, "What should I do?"

"Hmm? That Xiao Clan Holy Son is actually being so forward? My granddaughter really is quite charming." A smug smile spread across Danyang Zi's face, only to abruptly freeze a moment later.

"What does he mean, concubine? Does he intend to have a principal wife as well?"

Three days later, in the hall on the Pill Tower's first floor, Xuan Kongzi smiled as he surveyed the youthful faces before him.

These were the future of the continent's alchemy world.

The junior class had eighty-six students in total. The youngest was a slightly chubby boy who loved drinking Beast Milk. His name was Shi Hao, and his grandfather was a seventh-tier elder of the Pill Tower.

His name and favorite drink always made Xiao Yan think of a certain mighty figure who had stood alone in judgment over the ages.

The oldest was a young man who could barely refine a Fifth-grade Pill. His name was Ye Zhong, and he was the eldest grandson of his generation in the Ye Family, one of the Pill Region's five great families.

His face always held an unshakable solemnity and a trace of worry.

Xiao Yan recalled that the Ye Family ranked last among the five great families. Ye Zhong shouldered the heavy responsibility of restoring his family's fortunes.

Xuan Kongzi served as the class director, while Tian Leizi was in charge of discipline.

Yao Lao and Xuan Yi served as chief honorary instructors, with several eighth-tier alchemists acting as honorary instructors.

Such a lineup could only be called extravagant.

"Xiao Yan, among these youngsters, your dou qi cultivation is the highest, and your alchemy skills are the most advanced. You shall be the class monitor."

After laying out the class's structure, Xuan Kongzi turned to Xiao Yan.

"Senior Xuan Kongzi, I'm used to idling about, so I don't think I'm suited to being class monitor. Brother Ye Zhong is the oldest and has a strong sense of responsibility. Why not have him take the position instead?"

Xiao Yan's refusal took Xuan Kongzi by surprise. Though somewhat disappointed, Xuan Kongzi did not dwell on it and named his choice. "Very well. Ye Zhong shall be the class monitor."

"Thank you, Director." Ye Zhong bowed to Xuan Kongzi, his expression filled with excitement.

"Hehe, there's no need to thank me. Ye Zhong, now that you've become class monitor, I hope you'll shoulder the responsibilities that come with it."

Xuan Kongzi smiled faintly. "Everyone, go back and rest. Classes officially begin tomorrow. I hope none of you will be late."

With that, he vanished on the spot. After his departure, the other instructors disappeared one after another.

"Brother Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Yan was just about to leave when Ye Zhong called him back.

Gratitude showed on his face as he said, "Brother Xiao Yan, thank you for what you did today. If I ever have the opportunity, I will certainly repay you."

Xiao Yan would not care about the class monitor position. He was an unparalleled genius and Venerable Yao's disciple. Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and the others would not care about it either.

But for Ye Zhong, this was an incomparably precious opportunity. Such a simple position would greatly expand his network.

It would give him more chances to make an impression on the Pill Tower's leading figures, while also allowing him to win over many exceptionally gifted classmates.

Though these classmates were not as heaven-defying as Xiao Yan, they had an excellent chance of reaching the seventh tier in the future. It was not impossible for a few of them to enter the eighth tier, either.

"Brother Ye, there's no need to thank me. If you have any pretty older or younger sisters, just introduce them to me."

Xiao Yan smiled and waved a hand.

"If my little sister Xin Lan weren't so young, I would certainly introduce her to you, Brother Xiao Yan," Ye Zhong said earnestly.

"I knew there was something about Ye Zhong I'd forgotten." Xiao Yan patted his head.

"No matter. If she's young, I can wait another couple of years."

Ye Zhong's smile stiffened. He laughed awkwardly. "Brother Xiao, you certainly enjoy joking."

"Hmph, lecher!" A cold snort sounded beside his ear. Xiao Yan turned and saw Cao Ying, dressed in red.

"Have your injuries healed?" Ignoring the frosty expression on Cao Ying's pretty face, Xiao Yan greeted her with the same smile.

"They have." Cao Ying's expression softened slightly, though her voice still held a hint of displeasure. "See you tomorrow."

"What a proud little thing." Watching Cao Ying's retreating figure, which already carried a hint of alluring grace, Xiao Yan smiled faintly.

After seeing Ye Zhong off, he casually swept his gaze around, only to discover Dan Chen staring at him, a trace of fear and hurt resentment on her little face.