91: The ceremony became famous, but undercurrents emerged again

When the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill was formed, a dragon's roar shook the heavens! The entire Pill Tower plaza fell into a temporary silence, then erupted in thunderous exclamations and praises!

"It's done! It actually worked!"

"Under the assault of Ice Talisman's Profound Ice Cold Flame, he not only avoided defeat but used the momentum to form the pill, drawing forth perfect Yin-Yang Dragon Qi!"

"This child's control over flames has reached a state of perfection!"

"The artistic conception contained within that pale golden flame... it seems to transcend the scope of ordinary flame control techniques!"

On the high platform, the eyes of the three magnates of the Pill Tower all burst forth with dazzling brilliance. Xuan Kongzi clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his voice echoing throughout the arena: "Good! What an excellent display of controlling fire with intent, turning danger into opportunity! Xiao Chen, the champion of this year's Five Great Clans Alchemy Grand Ceremony is undoubtedly you!"

Heavenly Thunder Master, with faint lightning flickering around him, nodded and praised: "His soul power is as refined as steel, his flame control techniques are effortless, and even more remarkably, he remains calm in times of crisis, with an unwavering resolve. This child is indeed an unparalleled alchemy genius!"

Mysterious Robe's beautiful eyes flickered, and she said softly: "What's even more commendable is that he isn't blindly aggressive; he understands how to adapt to circumstances, turning disadvantages into advantages. With this level of comprehension and adaptability, his future achievements are immeasurable."

The evaluations from the three magnates undoubtedly pushed Xiao Chen into the spotlight. Countless gazes focused on him, filled with astonishment, admiration, jealousy, and even chilling malice and killing intent hidden deep within.

Han Xue looked at Xiao Chen, a more intense brilliance in her clear, cold eyes, and a barely perceptible curve lifted the corners of her lips. Ye Chong took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and cupped his hands, saying: "Brother Xiao's skill is divine, Ye Chong is impressed!" The other young Alchemists participating also cast admiring and convinced gazes.

Ice Talisman's expression remained cold, but the arrogance in her gaze towards Xiao Chen lessened, replaced by scrutiny and complexity. She knew the power of her Profound Ice Cold Flame when it went out of control. For Xiao Chen to perfectly form a pill under such circumstances, his true strength was far from the Five-Star Dou Zong he appeared to be.

Xiao Chen's expression was calm, as if oblivious to the surrounding clamor and praise. He merely bowed towards the high platform: "Thank you, Teacher Xuan Kongzi and all the Venerable Elders, for your undeserved praise. This disciple feels unworthy." His composed demeanor, unfazed by favor or disgrace, further highlighted his extraordinary nature.

The award ceremony was simple yet grand. In addition to the generous rewards due to the champion of the ceremony (including a precious scroll of a high-grade seventh-tier pill formula, a vast quantity of rare medicinal ingredients, and a massive amount of Pill Tower contribution points), Xuan Kongzi publicly announced that he was officially accepting Xiao Chen as his personal disciple! This meant that Xiao Chen's status in the Pill Tower would soar, truly becoming the core of the core of the Pill Tower. The resources he could mobilize and the protection he would receive would far surpass that of ordinary core disciples!

This decision once again caused a huge sensation. Xuan Kongzi's personal disciple! This was a status countless Alchemists dreamed of!

The grand ceremony concluded amidst the clamor, but the ripples caused by Xiao Chen were far from settling. His name, along with the image of him refining the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill, spread like a whirlwind through the channels of various forces, throughout the entire Northern Region of the Central Plains, and even to wider areas. The name "soul sword" Xiao Chen, for the first time, left a deep mark in the alchemy world of the Central Plains and among the entire younger generation.

However, behind the glory, even more turbulent undercurrents were brewing.

Inside Xiao Chen's new courtyard in the Pill Tower.

Xuan Kongzi dismissed his attendants, leaving only himself and Xiao Chen.

"Chen'er, your performance today truly surprised your master." Xuan Kongzi's tone was one of relief, but his expression carried a hint of solemnity, "However, a tall tree in the forest will be toppled by the wind. Your emergence today is certainly gratifying, but it has also completely exposed you. The Soul Hall, and other forces interested in you, will likely no longer have any reservations."

Xiao Chen said solemnly: "This disciple understands. Strength is the only reliance."

"Mm." Xuan Kongzi nodded, "Since you are now my personal disciple, the Pill Tower will naturally do its best to protect you. But for external training, you still need to rely on yourself. Take this jade slip." He handed over a purple jade slip, "It records some of the Pill Tower's secret strongholds and contact methods in the Northern Region. If you encounter danger, you can seek help. Additionally, in three months, the 'Pill Tower Secret Realm'—the Myriad Flames Burning Heaven Pagoda—will open. This is the highest secret realm for cultivating core disciples of our Pill Tower, containing ten thousand sources of flame, which is of immense benefit to Alchemists. At that time, you, Han Xue, Ye Chong, and other core disciples will all be eligible to enter. Prepare well; that place might be key for you to break through to a seventh-tier Alchemy Grandmaster."

"Myriad Flames Burning Heaven Pagoda?" A glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. He possessed the Soul Heart Flame and had obtained a fragment of the heaven burning furnace, giving him a natural affinity and craving for flames. This secret realm was undoubtedly a huge opportunity for him. "This disciple will definitely go all out!"

"Go, cultivate diligently and consolidate what you've gained." Xuan Kongzi waved his hand.

Xiao Chen exited the courtyard, a plan already forming in his mind. The immediate priority was to fully digest the gains from the Star Wall and the grand ceremony, thoroughly comprehend the "Heaven Opening Axe Intent True Meaning," and attempt to break through to Six-Star Dou Zong. At the same time, he also needed to start preparing for the Myriad Flames Burning Heaven Pagoda.

Just as Xiao Chen was immersed in cultivation, outside the Pill Domain, the undercurrents grew increasingly turbulent.

Tens of thousands of miles away from the Pill Domain, in a gloomy mountain range, within a huge palace constructed entirely from black megaliths.

"Useless! A bunch of useless people!" A chilling roar echoed through the grand hall. On the throne, a figure shrouded in dense death qi erupted in rage, his aura so terrifying that the several Soul Hall Elders kneeling below trembled. It was one of the Ninth Heavenly Venerables of the Soul Hall, stationed in the Northern Region!

"A mere Dou Zong, and you've failed repeatedly! Now he's even making a big splash right under the Pill Tower's nose! You've completely shamed our Soul Hall!"

"Heavenly Venerable, please calm your anger!" A Venerable Elder stammered, "That Xiao Chen has now been taken in as a personal disciple by the old ghost Xuan Kongzi and resides deep within the Pill Tower's inner chambers, making it truly difficult for us to act. Moreover, this child's soul is peculiar, and he possesses the Xiao Clan's battle intent. Ordinary Venerable Elders may not be his match..."

"Hmph! What about Xuan Kongzi? Can the Pill Tower protect him for a while, or for a lifetime?" The Ninth Heavenly Venerable snorted coldly, his scarlet eyes overflowing with killing intent, "Issue the order, upgrade the 'Soul Capture Plan' to the 'Soul Annihilation Order'! Notify all branch halls in the Northern Region to spare no expense in searching for Xiao Chen's whereabouts! Once he leaves the Pill Domain, kill him without question! If his soul can be captured alive, the reward will be a scroll of a high-grade Earth-tier cultivation technique and a candidate qualification for the Soul Hall's Vice Hall Master!"

"Also..." The Ninth Heavenly Venerable's voice lowered, carrying a hint of mystery, "Go and contact those mad dogs from the Styx Alliance. Tell them that the Pill Tower has recently acquired a few good seedlings, especially that one named Xiao Chen... worth a fortune. They'll understand what to do."

"Styx Alliance?" The Venerable Elder below was startled, "Heavenly Venerable, those fellows act without scruple. If they anger the Pill Tower..."

"Hmph! I want them to fight among themselves! The Pill Tower has been increasingly disrespectful to our Soul Hall these past years; it's time to give them some trouble. Remember, be clean about it, and leave no evidence." The Ninth Heavenly Venerable said sinisterly.

"Yes! This subordinate obeys!"

Similar conspiracies were simultaneously unfolding in other dark corners of the Northern Region of the Central Plains. Xiao Chen's astonishing performance was like a piece of fatty meat, attracting countless bloodthirsty sharks. A storm was brewing, accelerating beneath the tranquil surface of the Pill Domain.

However, at this moment, Xiao Chen was not entirely unaware of this. His Spirit Realm Great Perfection soul's premonition of danger far exceeded that of ordinary people. He could feel an invisible net tightening.

"Strength... I must improve my strength as quickly as possible!" In the quiet room of his courtyard, Xiao Chen opened his eyes, a cold light like electricity within them. He took out the scroll of the seventh-tier high-grade pill formula he received as a reward from the grand ceremony—the Emperor's Extreme Pill! This pill could help Dou Zong powerhouses break through bottlenecks, precisely what he needed to break through to Six-Star Dou Zong!

"It seems that before entering the Myriad Flames Burning Heaven Pagoda, I must first open the furnace and refine a great medicine."

He took a deep breath, conjured his medicine cauldron, and a wisp of pale golden flame danced on his fingertip. The temperature of the entire quiet room instantly soared. A new challenge lay before him. And his path to becoming a powerhouse would continue to extend amidst this intertwining of pill fire and undercurrents.