Above Pill City, a vast thunderbolt, like a ferocious beast unleashed from its cage, broke free from the shackles of the thunderclouds and plummeted towards the eighth-grade pill suspended in mid-air. The bursts of Yuan Zong experts present to feel a chill run down their spines.
As expected of an eighth-grade pill, even the Pill Lightning is terrifying, far beyond what ordinary Yuan Zong can match.
Compared to the enormous lightning, the pill seemed like a drop in the ocean. In the blink of an eye, the Pill Lightning was less than a hundred feet away from the pill, and it would strike the pill heavily in the blink of an eye!
If this attack were to occur, the incomplete eighth-grade pill would likely be ruined. However, at that very moment...
"Call out!"
A sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out across the sky. A beam of azure light shot out from the city below and, to everyone's astonishment, appeared above the pill in an instant. It swelled up against the wind and transformed into a cyan pagoda, which then clashed fiercely with the Pill Lightning!
"Sizzle!"
The expected deafening roar did not occur. Instead, the massive lightning bolt, upon touching the top of the azure pagoda, strangely split into several thick bolts. As the lightning descended layer by layer from the pagoda, it slid down to the last layer, transforming into a gurgling stream. Finally, after a gentle tremor from the azure pagoda, it quietly dissipated.
"What a bizarre tower! It can actually divide such violent energy to such an extent. If an ordinary Yuan Zong Pill Lightning taken that lightning strike just now, they would probably have been seriously injured, if not killed."
"Tsk tsk... If Mu Leng were to go up and block it, he probably wouldn't even be left with a speck of dust."
Upon witnessing such an astonishing scene once again, Xiao Yan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Murong Qianqian, standing beside him, also spoke with shock on her pretty face. However, the undisguised teasing tone in her words made Mu Leng on the other side keep pouting.
In contrast, upon seeing the cyan pagoda again, Xiao Siyu's shock faded considerably. Her soft, full body rose and fell gently as she exhaled a long breath and murmured:
"So it was him. I didn't expect him to be here at this year's Pill Gathering."
"Oh? What, you know the owner of this pagoda?"
Upon hearing Xiao Siyu's words, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and asked curiously.
"It's not just me; once this Nine Heavens Azure Pagoda appears, there are probably very few people in the entire city who don't know who this alchemist is."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was slightly surprised. He naturally had no doubts about Xiao Siyu's words. It seemed that this mysterious alchemist was probably no ordinary person.
" Xu Qinghe, you may not be familiar with this name, but if I mention Heavenly Yuan Zong, you should understand."
"This alchemist is actually from the Heavenly Yuan Zong?"
Upon hearing Xiao Siyu's words, Xiao Yan's expression immediately froze, and then he suddenly raised his gaze to look at the azure pagoda standing between heaven and earth, his eyes filled with even greater shock than before.
Xiao Yan naturally had some understanding of the Heavenly Yuan Zong, a truly super power on the continent second only to the Pill Tower in status.
If the Pill Tower became the overlord of the continent through its unparalleled influence, then the Heavenly Yuan Zong occupies this unmatched supreme position with its absolute strength. Looking across the entire continent, the only one that can rival it is the treacherous and mysterious Ghost Gate.
Even the three powerful clans would be no match for the Heavenly Yuan Zong.
"Not only that, his teacher is the leader of the Heavenly Yuan Zong, one of the strongest figures on the continent today. His cultivation is so profound that it is said he is only one step away from the legendary Origin Di level..."
Xiao Siyu nodded and said.
" Origin Di..."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan muttered something to himself, took a deep breath, and a look of longing welled up in the depths of his eyes. That level was indeed an unattainable existence for him now. However, he then smiled with relief and looked back at the Nine Heavens Azure Pagoda standing between heaven and earth, his gaze gradually becoming firm.
How unattainable am I now compared to how I was back then?
" Xu Qinghe, you are the first formidable opponent I Pill Gathering competition!"
Xiao Yan murmured to himself. At the same time, another series of thunderous explosions rang out in the distant sky. Under everyone's watchful eyes, the power of the Pill Lightning falling from the thunderclouds grew increasingly fierce. The Nine Heavens Azure Pagoda, under the control of its master, also released a dazzling azure light. As the Origin Qi on it surged, the pagoda trembled violently. Then, a huge azure phantom rapidly expanded and collided heavily with the Pill Lightning that fell again!
"Buzz!"
This time, an astonishing energy fluctuation finally swept out from the point of collision. Many people present changed their expressions because of this energy fluctuation. Judging from the residual aura in this energy fluctuation, Xu Qinghe's cultivation level had actually reached the Yuan Zun level!
However, within this aura, Xiao Yan faintly sensed a strange presence...
"With the background of the Heavenly Yuan Zong, the cultivation of the Yuan Zun Realm, and being Tier Eight Alchemist, Xu Qinghe is absolutely unique among his peers!"
"No wonder he came to this year's Pill Gathering; he was already determined to win."
Amidst whispers, time slipped by unnoticed.
After a while, as the last bolt of Pill Lightning slid down and dissipated on the Nine Heavens Azure Pagoda, the eighth-grade pill that had been dormant under the pagoda's protection suddenly trembled violently. After several flashes, it actually condensed several clones in the sky, which rushed off in different directions. This scene made the eyes of all the powerful figures present jump with their attention. If they hadn't still had their senses, they probably would have already made a move to snatch it.
However, just as the pill was about to escape, the Nine Heavens Azure Pagoda seemed to be summoned by something and suddenly fell. Several streams of light shot out from the pagoda and quickly destroyed several clones, surrounding the pill in the blink of an eye.
After a series of flips and changes, the stream of light transformed into an octagonal cage, which gradually contracted. As the Nine Heavens Azure Pagoda slowly descended, the cage, along with the pills, was also taken into it, and finally returned to a hidden place below.
"This method of collecting the elixir is remarkably similar to my Pill Transformation Divine Art."
Seemingly having grasped the secret of the ball cage, Xiao Yan said thoughtfully.
" The Qianling Technique, created by the Sect Master of the Heavenly Yuan Zong, is an extremely sophisticated method. Such a perfect method of retrieving a pill is extremely rare on this continent!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Siyu nodded in admiration, but her gaze seemed to fall meaningfully on Xiao Yan. The latter smiled slightly, shrugged noncommittally, and did not say anything more about the topic. His gaze slowly swept across the sky, and as the commotion in the sky subsided, everyone present returned to the city below.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan let out a soft breath and said:
Let's go back too.
With a shout, the group leaped into action and swiftly headed towards the manor below. However, just as Xiao Yan set off, a voice suddenly reached his ears.
"You're Xiao Yan?"