Chapter 342 This old man doesn't understand you young people!

It was already noon by the time the trio returned to the Pill Tower.

Xuan Yi did not return to her own residence but went straight to the highest level of the Pill Tower.

Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi were discussing something in the council hall; when they saw her push the door open and enter, both raised their heads simultaneously.

Xuan Kongzi's gaze fell upon her face, and his brow furrowed slightly: "What happened?"

Although Xuan Yi's complexion looked much better than before, she hadn't had time to change her blood-stained Alchemist robes, and the bloodstains on her lapel were a shocking sight.

She took a seat and recounted the events of the Hall of Souls' ambush.

Her speech was steady and her logic clear, starting from the intelligence provided by the Dan Family, to falling into the trap, and then to the arrival of Old Man Shennong and Shen Wen, omitting not a single word.

By the time Xuan Kongzi finished listening, his expression had darkened.

Tian Leizi slammed a palm onto the table, and the red sandalwood surface shattered at the impact: "The Hun Clan has gone too far!"

Xuan Kongzi said nothing, merely standing up and walking to the window to stand with his hands behind his back.

After a moment, he turned around and looked at Xuan Yi: "Regarding the Dan Family side, who provided you with that intelligence?"

Xuan Yi replied: "The Dan Family's Third Elder, Dan Yun."

Xuan Kongzi nodded and asked no more.

He raised his hand, and a golden talisman Seal flew from his palm, transforming into countless tiny rays of light that shot out toward every corner of the Pill Tower.

That was the emergency command Seal to summon the Elders of the Little Pill Tower.

Moments later, figures began landing one after another on the highest level of the Pill Tower.

The Elders of the Little Pill Tower usually remained in their respective secluded cultivations; it was rare for them to gather like this.

Having been summoned so urgently, each of them wore a solemn expression. Their gazes fell upon the blood-stained robes on Xuan Yi, but no one asked any questions.

Xuan Kongzi stood at the head position, looked around at everyone, and recounted the situation.

His voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Then, an aged voice rang out: "The Hun Clan's hand has reached out too far."

The speaker was one of the most Senior Elders in the Little Pill Tower. The Pill Tower's rule had always been to not offend others unless offended. "

Now that the Hun Clan had moved against a Pill Tower giant, this was an act of war.

Xuan Kongzi nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Apprehend Dan Yun."

As the words fell, several figures moved simultaneously.

When Dan Yun was captured, he was in his own Alchemy room organizing medicinal ingredients.

When the Elders of the Little Pill Tower burst through the door, he didn't even have time to resist before his entire body's Dou Qi was sealed, and he was escorted to the council hall.

He was a lean, scholarly-looking Old Man with grey robes and white hair, appearing no different from any ordinary Dan Family Elder.

But now, kneeling in the hall and facing a room full of Dou Shengs and Dou Zuns, his expression was surprisingly calm.

Xuan Kongzi looked at him: "Dan Yun, how many years have you been in the Dan Family?"

Dan Yun looked up, a faint smile on his aged face: "One hundred and thirty-seven years."

"How has the Dan Family treated you?"

"Generously."

"Then why did you do this?"

Dan Yun remained silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

That smile carried a hint of mockery and a hint of relief: "Xuan Kongzi, did you think I was being controlled by the Hun Clan?"

He shook his head, his tone as calm as if he were discussing something unrelated to himself: "This Old Man was originally a member of the Hun Clan. One hundred and thirty-seven years ago, by order of the Clan Chief, I infiltrated the Dan Family."

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

Xuan Kongzi's pupils constricted slightly.

One hundred and thirty-seven years.

A Hun Clan sleeper agent had been lurking in the Dan Family for one hundred and thirty-seven years.

Starting as an ordinary Disciple with a different surname, he had climbed step by step to the position of Elder, gaining the Dan Family's trust and gaining access to the core of the Pill Tower.

This level of endurance and patience made one's spine chill just thinking about it.

Dan Yun continued: "The original plan for this matter was to lure Shen Wen out. The zong ji pill that kid refined was too astonishing; the clan was determined to have him."

He paused, his gaze falling on Xuan Yi: "Combined with Old Man Shennong's presence and the fact that Old Monster Lin was not in the Pill Tower, it was the perfect time to strike."

Dan Yun was taken away.

What awaited him would be the Pill Tower's harshest interrogation.

No one would sympathize with a Hun Clan sleeper agent who had been undercover for one hundred and thirty-seven years.

Xuan Kongzi stood by the window, gazing into the distance, silent for a long time.

Tian Leizi walked to his side and whispered: "What about the Dan Family side?"

Xuan Kongzi did not answer.

The Dan Family was one of the three great families of the Pill Tower, with a Legacy spanning hundreds of years and a deep foundation. A sleeper agent who had been hidden for one hundred and thirty-seven years couldn't possibly have left no fallback plans.

No one knew if there was a second Dan Yun or a third Dan Yun within the Dan Family.

"Investigate," Xuan Kongzi finally spoke, his voice as cold as ice. "Investigate the Dan Family from top to bottom, inside and out, thoroughly."

Tian Leizi nodded and turned to leave.

By the time the news reached the Shen Residence, it was already evening.

Dan Chen stumbled into the Flower Hall, her small face pale and her eyes red, still clutching a jade talisman that had just come from the Dan Family.

Shen Wen was sitting in the Flower Hall drinking tea, while Cao Ying, with her slightly protruding belly, leaned against a nearby soft couch flipping through account books.

Tang Huo'er and Xiao Yi Xian were also there, the two of them whispering to each other.

Dan Chen ran up to Shen Wen, and before she could even speak, her tears began to fall.

"Brother Shen Wen..."

Her voice trembled as she threw herself into his arms, her arms tightly encircling his waist.

"It's all my fault... I trusted my Family's intelligence too much... If something had really happened to you..."

Shen Wen looked down at the girl crying in his arms and reached out to rub her head.

"Silly girl, aren't I perfectly fine?"

Dan Chen shook her head, her tears falling uncontrollably as she remained buried in his chest, unable to speak.

Cao Ying put down the account books and looked at Dan Chen, saying softly: "Sister Chen, don't cry. Isn't husband fine?"

Xiao Yi Xian also walked over and handed her a handkerchief: "That's right, the Dan Family's business is the Dan Family's business. What does it have to do with you?"

Dan Chen took the handkerchief, haphazardly wiped her face, and looked up at Shen Wen, her eyes still red: "But... but if I hadn't run over to tell you that Aunt Xuan was in trouble, you wouldn't have gone..."

Shen Wen pinched her cheek: "Even if you hadn't said anything, the Pill Tower would have sent word.

Since the Hun Clan set this trap, they would have found a way to let me know."

He paused, his tone softening slightly: "Besides, I didn't go alone.

With Revered Master following me, what could have happened?"

Dan Chen bit her lip and remained silent.

Shen Wen looked down at her and smiled: "If you really feel bad about it, then focus on your Alchemy.

Once you become a Grade 8 Alchemist, help me refine a few more batches of pills as an apology."

Dan Chen was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously: "I will definitely become a Grade 8 Alchemist!"

Shen Wen rubbed her head again and said no more.

When Old Monster Lin returned, his expression was very unsightly.

He and Xuan Danzi had left the city early in the morning, intending to scout the backgrounds of the Ancient Emperor Clans coming to participate in the Pill Gathering.

Unexpectedly, he received news of Xuan Yi's ambush midway, and by the time he rushed back to the Pill Tower, the matter had already concluded.

When he found Shen Wen in the Flower Hall, Shen Wen was sitting alone drinking tea.

Old Monster Lin sat down opposite him, his gaze circling around Shen Wen to confirm he was unharmed before speaking: "Were you injured?"

Shen Wen set down his teacup and shook his head: "No."

Old Monster Lin nodded, fell silent for a moment, and then asked: "How many people did the Hun Clan send?"

Shen Wen recounted the battle of that day.

One Six-Star Dou Sheng, one Five-Star Dou Sheng, and seven or eight Dou Shengs ranging from One-Star to Three-Star.

After hearing this, Old Monster Lin remained silent for a long time.

He naturally knew that Shen Wen's current combat strength was not weak, but being able to kill a Five-Star Dou Sheng in a direct confrontation still exceeded his expectations.

"What about Senior Shennong?" he asked. "Was he injured?"

Shen Wen shook his head: "Revered Master is unharmed."

Old Monster Lin nodded, fell silent for another moment, and then suddenly asked: "What do you plan to do?"

Shen Wen leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his tone calm: "Declare war on the Hall of Souls."

Old Monster Lin's brow twitched slightly.

Shen Wen continued: "The Hall of Souls is the Hun Clan's hands and feet on the outside.

If we cut off these hands and feet, the Hun Clan will naturally feel the pain.

But they won't mobilize on a massive scale just for the Hall of Souls.

The Hun Clan's true opponent is the Gu Clan; their energy is pinned down over there, so they can't spare too much power to manage the affairs of the Central Plains."

He paused, his gaze looking out the window: "Besides, we'll settle new and old grudges together.

How many Alchemists has the Hall of Souls captured in the Central Plains over these years?

From the Pill Tower, the Cao Family, the Dan Family, and those Loose Cultivators. This debt should also be settled."

Old Monster Lin did not speak immediately.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, leaned back, and looked at Shen Wen for a long time.

"Declaring war is fine," he finally spoke, his voice steady. "But you cannot drag the Hun Clan into it. The Pill Tower alone cannot withstand the entire Hun Clan."

Shen Wen nodded: "This Disciple understands."

Old Monster Lin put down his teacup, stood up, and walked toward the door. When he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped and glanced back at Shen Wen.

"Is that Aunt Xuan of yours alright?"

Shen Wen was slightly taken aback, then nodded: "She's fine."

Old Monster Lin gave an 'en' of acknowledgement, asked nothing more, and turned to leave.