Upon hearing that familiar voice, Xiao Yan paused, his hand still raised, and smiled slightly, saying:
"Since the vice president has spoken, I will naturally give him face."
"Hehe, it's been years. I never imagined you'd become so different. Your cultivation has surpassed even mine. Truly, the younger generation surpasses the older."
The stone gate opened, and an old man dressed in an alchemist's robe stepped out from behind it. He looked at Xiao Yan with a kind smile, his eyes filled with amazement as he looked him up and down. The black-robed youth in front of him had unknowingly become someone even he admired.
" President Han, it's been years! You're still as vigorous as ever!"
Turning to Han Dong, Xiao Yan's face immediately broke into a broad smile. He quickly clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and said Zhuang Zhong.
"Haha, alright, let's go inside and talk. I don't believe you came here just to reminisce."
With a slight wave of his hand, Han Dong invited Xiao Yan into the stone gate. Only after the stone gate closed did Zhao Chuanchen scramble to his feet in terror. He recalled the conversation between Han Dong and Xiao Yan, and the fear in his old eyes intensified when he thought of Xiao Yan's name.
" Xiao Yan... he's actually that Xiao Yan!"
Filled with fear, Zhao Chuanchen frantically led Jia Ming away from the Alchemist Alliance as if fleeing.
Meanwhile, inside the brightly lit stone chamber, Xiao Yan and Han Dong took their seats.
"I said, there are only a few days left until the ten-day deadline, how come you still have time to come here?"
The two sat down, Han Dong casually poured Xiao Yan a full cup of tea and handed it to him. Xiao Yan took the tea, took a small sip, and then smiled:
"I've come here simply to repay the guild leader's kindness, but I wonder if he's currently with the alliance?"
Upon hearing this, Han Dong glanced at Xiao Yan with suspicion. He didn't believe that the latter's purpose in coming here was really as he said.
"Haha, you're here for the Phoenix Chick Pill, aren't you? The guild leader already told me. You're lucky, kid. He just came back not long ago and will be leaving the alliance again in the next few days. If you had come a few days later, you might not have seen him."
Han Dong laughed heartily. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If that was the case, it meant he still had a chance.
"Hahaha, kid, looks like you still remember this old man."
At that moment, the tightly closed stone door was opened again, and a slightly disheveled old man appeared in front of Xiao Yan and his companion. This man was none other than Xing Qian, the president of the Western Region Alchemist Alliance!
Several years had passed, Xing Qian still looked as disheveled as before. However, the feeling he gave off had inexplicably changed. As Xiao Yan's gaze fell on Xing Qian, the latter was also looking Xiao Yan up and down with a surprised expression, feeling even more astonished.
"Hiss... Kid, what rare and precious herbs have you been consuming these past few years? How has your cultivation advanced so quickly? You've already reached the Late Origin Transformation Realm!"
In just a few years, Xiao Yan's cultivation level had increased dramatically, which truly shocked Xing Qian. Even with the best cultivation talent, it was impossible to improve so quickly.
"You brat, you didn't use some kind of evil secret technique, did you? You need to understand that while those things can help you improve your cultivation, they ultimately do more harm than good. You absolutely can't risk your life like that!"
Shocked, Xing Qian couldn't help but associate Xiao Yan's rapid improvement in cultivation with those unorthodox secret techniques. He even stepped forward to examine Xiao Yan.
However, faced with Xing Qian's rich imagination, Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh out loud. He then stood up, looked at Xing Qian with a wry smile, and respectfully cupped his hands in greeting, saying:
"Please rest assured, senior, my cultivation is absolutely solid and I would never resort to any unorthodox methods."
"Is everything you're saying true?"
Even so, Xing Qian still looked suspicious. After all, Xiao Yan's cultivation level was improving at such an exaggerated speed that it was hard not to be suspicious.
"If you still have any doubts, senior, you are welcome to take action and test it out."
A confident smile played on Xiao Yan's lips as he met Xing Qian's gaze. Simultaneously, the Origin Qi within his body began to circulate. Seeing this, Xing Qian raised an eyebrow, then looked at Xiao Yan with interest, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his old eyes, and said with a mocking smile:
"Hehe, since that's the case, then this old man won't stand on ceremony!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xing Qian didn't hold back. He raised his hand, and a dense Origin Qi immediately rose from his palm. Han Dong, who was standing to the side, curled his lips and made way for the two of them. Then, Xing Qian, who was only a few steps away from Xiao Yan, suddenly moved and stepped forward, striking Xiao Yan's chest with his palm.
Despite being prepared, Xiao Yan was shocked to discover that Xing Qian's speed was much faster than he had imagined. This speed had already surpassed the range of experts in the Origin Transformation Realm.
" Origin Return Realm!"
Startled, Xiao Yan realized why he had sensed a strange aura from Xiao Yan– it turned out that Xing Qian's cultivation had broken through to the Origin Return Realm!
With this in mind, Xiao Yan dared not be negligent. With a thought, the Origin Qi in his body began to circulate rapidly. He simultaneously activated the Heavenly Severing Steps and the Winged Elephant Art. Not only did his movement speed increase, but Xiao Yan's overall movement and the mobilization of Origin Qi also became much more agile.
Facing the oncoming palm strike, Xiao Yan quickly raised his right hand, transforming it into a palm. With a thought, a pale blue Heavenly Flames rapidly condensed in his palm, colliding head-on with Xing Qian's palm strike at the same time.
"Bang!"
Immediately following, a dull thud resounded, and Xiao Yan's right arm trembled violently. Then, an unparalleled force struck from the front, knocking him back. Only after retreating more than ten steps did his body shudder, dissipating all the remaining force. This was only because Xing Qian had held back.
When the two clashed, Xiao Yan, Late Origin Transformation Realm and currently one of the strongest in the Western Region, couldn't even last a single round against Xing Qian. This gives an idea of just how terrifying a Origin Return Realm expert is.
However, just as Xiao Yan regained his footing, Xing Qian, who was opposite him, withdrew his palm and looked at the last wisp of pale blue flame that had been extinguished in his palm. His pupils suddenly shrank, and he was extremely surprised.
With his keen eyesight, he could naturally tell that the flame was indeed Heavenly Flames. However, to his knowledge, among all the Heavenly Flames Heavenly Flames on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, there didn't seem to be any with a pale blue flame, which greatly surprised him.
However, at the same time, Xing Qian was also certain that Xiao Yan's cultivation was definitely not obtained through unorthodox methods. In the clash just now, although Xiao Yan was no match for him, the power that the latter unleashed was undoubtedly much stronger than that of other experts of the same level. This was beyond doubt.
"Tsk tsk tsk... Good lad, your cultivation is much more profound than I imagined. It seems you've had quite a few fortuitous encounters these past few years!"
Coming to his senses, Xing Qian immediately clicked his tongue in amazement at Xiao Yan. The latter smiled noncommittally, withdrew the Origin Qi he had released, and then flipped his hand, revealing a jade bottle in Xiao Yan's palm.
"Senior, this is the third pill I owe you, the Phoenix Chick Pill."
Upon seeing the jade bottle handed to him by Xiao Yan, Xing Qian's expression first showed a slight surprise, then a satisfied smile appeared on his face, and he laughed loudly:
"Good, good lad, you still remember what you owe me. In that case, I'll accept it."
Without any hesitation, Xing Qian took the jade bottle from Xiao Yan's hand, glanced at it briefly, and a look of surprise flashed in his old eyes. Then, he put the pill into his Storage Ring and looked at Xiao Yan again.
"Little fellow, it seems that not only has your cultivation level increased dramatically over the years, but your alchemy skills have also remained excellent. I reckon your Spiritual Strength is now comparable to that of Fifth-Tier Alchemist, and with the aid of Heavenly Flames, the quality of the pills you refine is indeed extraordinary."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled sheepishly. It seemed that the old man thought this pill was one he had been refining recently. Little did he know what kind of expression Xing Qian would have on his face if he knew that this pill was the one Xiao Yan had refined when he first entered the North Sea.
"Hehe, alright, I've accepted the pills. Now tell me, what exactly brought you to the Alchemist Alliance?"
Upon hearing this, Han Dong's gaze instantly returned to Xiao Yan.
Xing Qian and Han Dong did not believe that Xiao Yan's purpose in coming to the Alchemist Alliance was simply to return the pills. Given the current situation in the Western Region, most forces were adopting a wait-and-see attitude, and their Alchemist Alliance was no exception. There was only one reason why Xiao Yan had come to them at this time.
"Hehe, since both of you seniors have asked, then I won't beat around the bush. I've come here hoping to invite the Alchemist Alliance to cooperate and join forces..."
However, before Xiao Yan could finish speaking, Xing Qian frowned and raised his hand, signaling Xiao Yan to stop.
" Xiao Yan, you should know that our Alchemist Alliance belongs to the Central Region Pill Tower. Although our influence is spread throughout the continent, we are not allowed to intervene in the struggles between regional powers. This is why Qinhuang Lost Valley is so arrogant and domineering in the Western Region, yet has never set foot in our Li Sacred City. He is both wary of the Pill Tower behind the Alchemist Alliance and does not want to provoke us into getting involved in their conflicts of interest for any reason. I hope you can understand this."
"So I'm sorry, we have no reason to get involved in this conflict between you and Qinhuang Lost Valley."