97: The power of Danta, fame in Zhongzhou

The moonlight-white sword light, like a silver river pouring backward, precisely struck Elder Ming Xue!

The icy sword intent and purifying power contained within the sword light caused even the vile blood river to tremble!

"Han Yue?!" Elder Ming Xue's face changed drastically; he hastily withdrew his killing move against Xiao Chen, slammed his palms together, and a massive blood-colored Dou Qi transformed into a thick blood shield, meeting the sword light!

"Boom!"

The sword light and blood shield collided violently, erupting in dazzling brilliance!

The blood shield vibrated intensely, cracks spreading across it; Elder Ming Xue grunted, his body staggering backward, his eyes filled with shock and fury!

"A junior from the Pill Tower dares to interfere in the affairs of my Styx Alliance?!"

"Styx Alliance?" Han Yue stood in the air, her robes fluttering, her clear, cold eyes sweeping over the chaotic battlefield below and Xiao Chen, who was covered in blood.

Her tone was icy, "You ambushed my Pill Tower's enshrinement, plundered a thousand gold from my Pill Tower's affiliated Thousand Medicine Workshop, and even colluded with the Soul Hall to assassinate my Pill Tower's core disciple!

Do you really think my Pill Tower is made of mud?!"

Before she finished speaking, several more sounds of air being torn echoed from the sky!

Ye Chong, Lin Xiuyai, and several Pill Tower Inner Academy elders with profound auras had already arrived!

Their powerful auras converged, instantly enveloping Elder Ming Xue and his subordinates!

"Pill Tower Elder Council!" Elder Ming Xue's face instantly turned ashen!

He never expected the Pill Tower's response to be so swift, nor the power they dispatched to be so formidable!

Among those elders, the weakest aura belonged to an Eight-star Dou Zong, and the aura of one black-robed elder was even more unfathomable, likely a existence with one foot already in the Dou Venerate realm!

"Retreat!" Elder Ming Xue made a decisive move, roaring, crushing a blood-colored jade talisman, and transforming into a streak of blood light, attempting to flee!

The other Styx Alliance members also scattered and fled!

"Trying to leave? Too late!" The black-robed elder snorted coldly, waving his sleeve; an invisible spatial cage instantly formed, sealing off the entire canyon exit!

The blood light that Elder Ming Xue transformed into crashed against the spatial barrier, bouncing back with a boom, the blood light dissipating, revealing his terrified figure.

"Capture them all; those who resist will be killed without mercy!" The black-robed elder's voice was indifferent, yet carried an undeniable authority.

The Pill Tower members instantly attacked!

Sword light, vines, thunder and fire... various powerful Dou Techniques rained down like a deluge!

The Styx Alliance members were like lambs to the slaughter, utterly powerless to resist, and in an instant, more than half were cut down!

Elder Ming Xue was also severely wounded and captured by Han Yue and Ye Chong working together!

A crisis, in the face of the Pill Tower's absolute strength, instantly disintegrated!

Xiao Chen watched this scene, and amidst his shock, a warm current surged through his heart.

Is this what it feels like to have powerful backing?

"Xiao Chen, are you alright?" Han Yue landed beside Xiao Chen, a hint of concern in her clear, cold eyes, and handed him a bottle of medicinal pills.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Han, for your timely rescue; I am fine." Xiao Chen took the pills, consumed them, and cupped his hands in thanks.

Mo Linglin also hurried forward to express her gratitude.

"We are all fellow disciples, no need to be so polite." Han Yue nodded slightly, her gaze at Xiao Chen carrying a hint of complexity.

When she received the distress signal, she initially thought Xiao Chen was in grave danger, but she never expected him to not only hold out until reinforcements arrived but also to break through to Seven-Star Dou Zong during the battle, and even severely wound several Styx Alliance experts by himself!

Such talent and combat power made her feel somewhat incredulous.

Ye Chong and Lin Xiuyai also walked over, looking at Xiao Chen with admiration and respect.

"Brother Xiao, you truly are... every time we meet, you give people a huge surprise!" Lin Xiuyai said with a wry smile, shaking his head.

Ye Chong also sighed, "Seven-Star Dou Zong, Spirit Realm Soul, and even touching the realm of True Intent... Brother Xiao, you are now undoubtedly the number one among our generation."

Xiao Chen smiled humbly, "It was merely luck; if not for everyone's timely arrival, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

At this moment, the black-robed elder, having dealt with the remaining Styx Alliance members, walked over, his gaze falling on Xiao Chen, carrying both scrutiny and appreciation: "You are Xuan Kongzi's newly accepted direct disciple, Xiao Chen?"

"Disciple Xiao Chen greets Elder." Xiao Chen bowed respectfully.

From this person, he felt a pressure no less than Xuan Kongzi's.

"Hmm, not bad." The black-robed elder nodded, "Calm in danger, fighting above your rank; both your talent and temperament are excellent.

Xuan Kongzi has indeed taken a good disciple.

This place is not suitable for prolonged stay; follow us back to the Pill Tower quickly."

"Yes!"

The group no longer delayed; the black-robed elder tore space, constructed a temporary passage, and swiftly returned to the Pill Domain with Xiao Chen and Mo Linglin.

Upon returning to the Pill Tower, Xuan Kongzi was already waiting.

Seeing Xiao Chen return safely and with significantly improved cultivation, he stroked his beard and laughed heartily, greatly relieved.

Mo Linglin was also picked up by the Thousand Medicine Workshop people, naturally expressing endless gratitude.

After this battle, Xiao Chen's name was no longer confined to the Pill Tower's interior.

His feat of fighting many Styx Alliance experts alone in the Black Wind Mountain Range as a Seven-Star Dou Zong, severely wounding a Soul Hall Heavenly Venerable Projection, and ultimately leading to the Pill Tower Elder Council being dispatched to suppress the Styx Alliance, spread like wildfire throughout the entire Northern Region of the Central Plains, and even began to spread to wider areas!

"Have you heard? The Pill Tower has produced a monstrous talent named Xiao Chen!

A Seven-Star Dou Zong can actually contend with a Soul Hall Heavenly Venerable Projection!"

"More than that! Elder Ming Xue, the vice hall master of the Styx Alliance's Blood River Hall, fell into his hands!"

"This child is also said to be Xuan Kongzi's direct disciple, with exceptionally powerful soul strength, and has even touched the 'Intent' realm!"

"soul sword Xiao Chen... the landscape of the younger generation in the Central Plains is probably about to change!"

For a time, various forces in the Central Plains were in an uproar!

Xiao Chen's name truly entered the sight of the top echelons of the Central Plains' major forces for the first time.

Many people developed a strong interest in this suddenly rising Pill Tower genius, and of course, even more forces, especially the Soul Hall and its affiliates, regarded him as a thorn in their side.

Within the Pill Tower, Xiao Chen's prestige reached its peak.

The position of the number one core disciple was no longer disputed.

The resource allocation and authority he enjoyed also rose to the highest level.

However, facing the continuous stream of praise and attention, Xiao Chen remained exceptionally calm.

He knew deeply that behind all this glory lay greater dangers.

The Soul Hall would never let it go, and the Styx Alliance was only temporarily setback.

Moreover, the Central Plains was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided; what he had seen was probably just the tip of the iceberg.

He poured all his energy into cultivation.

He stabilized his Seven-Star Dou Zong cultivation, deeply comprehended the "Heaven Opening Axe Intent True Intent," and attempted to fuse that trace of Origin Qi with his own power.

At the same time, he also began to utilize the Pill Tower's vast resource library, consulting a large amount of information about the Eight Ancient Clans, the mystery of Origin Qi, and the secrets of various forces in the Central Plains, preparing for his future path.

On this day, Xiao Chen was in the top floor of the Scripture Repository, perusing an ancient beast-skin scroll about spatial laws, when Xuan Kongzi's telepathic message echoed in his mind:

"Chen'er, come to Starfall Pavilion."

Xiao Chen's heart stirred; he put down the scroll, stood up, and headed for Starfall Pavilion.

On the stargazing platform on the top floor of Starfall Pavilion, Xuan Kongzi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the vast starry sky.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around, a hint of solemnity on his face.

"Teacher." Xiao Chen bowed.

"Chen'er, your recent prominence has attracted the attention of many forces." Xuan Kongzi went straight to the point, "The Soul Hall goes without saying; according to reports from our dark lines, forces like the Heavenly Nether Sect and Ice River Valley have also developed an interest in you.

Even... some reclusive ancient clans seem to have taken notice."

Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed slightly: "Is it because of my Xiao Clan bloodline?"

"Precisely." Xuan Kongzi nodded, "Although the Xiao Clan has fallen, the secrets hidden within its bloodline are enough to tempt any force.

Now that you have risen to prominence, it is inevitable that you will be targeted by those with ulterior motives.

Continuing to stay in the Northern Region may lead to fatal danger."

Xiao Chen was silent for a moment, then said, "Teacher's meaning is?"

"In the core region of the Central Plains, a 'Heavenly Talent Grand Assembly' is about to be held, once every hundred years." Xuan Kongzi's gaze was profound, "This grand assembly is jointly organized by the Central Plains' oldest 'One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects,' aiming to select the most top-tier young talents across the entire continent.

At that time, all top forces in the Central Plains, and even some reclusive clans, will send people to participate.

That place is the true den of dragons and tigers, also the fastest path to fame, and even... a place to seek opportunities and truth."

Heavenly Talent Grand Assembly?

Xiao Chen's heart stirred.

This was indeed a bigger stage.

"Your strength already qualifies you to participate." Xuan Kongzi continued, "But within the grand assembly, talents gather, monstrous geniuses emerge, and there might even be young monsters of the Dou Venerate level appearing.

Danger and opportunity coexist.

Whether you go or not, you must decide for yourself."

Xiao Chen barely hesitated, his gaze firm: "Disciple is willing to go!"

In a greenhouse, towering trees cannot be grown.

Only under a wider sky, contending with true heavenly talents, can one grow faster and unveil more mysteries!

"Good!" Xuan Kongzi's eyes showed appreciation, "Since that is the case, three months from now, you will depart with the team and head to the core of the Central Plains—Tianxuan City!"

A new journey lies ahead!

The core of the Central Plains, a battle of heavenly talents, ancient secrets... Xiao Chen's path to becoming a powerhouse will face unprecedented challenges and opportunities!

And the shadow of the Soul Hall will also surely loom over that wider world!