Word Count: 2,190 Words
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Xiao Yan was truly astounded. Did they really dare to poach alchemists from his Yan Alliance?
Never mind the Qiu Clan, one of the five great alchemist clans of the Pill Region. Even if the Pill Tower itself came, they wouldn't be allowed!
Although Princess Yue Er was not officially his disciple, he had taught her a few tricks during his time in Jia Ma Sacred City. The fire control method for drawing the four patterns of the Four Lines White Spirit Pill was, in fact, taught by him.
If not her Master, he could at least be considered half a senior brother.
Although Xiao Yan spoke in a light and casual tone, his aura was already overbearing. His presence actually surpassed that of Grandmaster Qiu Ping, making it seem as if he were the one from the Pill Region.
This was not surprising. In fact, even though he was being aggressive and arrogant, the surrounding audience did not feel there was anything wrong with what he said.
Not to mention that the 5th-tier alchemist robe Xiao Yan currently wore already made others dare not speak out. If Yue Er's ability to refine a tier 5 Four Lines White Spirit Pill could earn the high regard of the Medicine Bone Sect and the Qiu Clan, then Xiao Yan, who was only a year older than Yue Er, naturally possessed the same qualification.
Moreover, at such a young age, Xiao Yan had promoted the formation of the Yan Alliance and issued the Yan Alliance treaty. It could be said that he was the Yan Alliance's hidden leader and spokesperson. Xiao Yan absolutely had the qualification to stand on equal footing with the Medicine Bone Sect.
And this was only the visible layer of his capabilities, not even mentioning the true foundation of his confidence.
He possessed the inheritance of Venerable Yao, the champion of the previous Pill Gathering, and having eliminated Han Feng, he became the sole successor of Venerable Yao. Furthermore, Hun Huzi had already listed him as an important candidate for the Di Pill Plan.
What did the Qiu Clan count for?
Of course, the most important factor was his own strength: a 7th-tier alchemist! At twenty-three years old! Disregarding the actual, even his apparent achievements were enough to be proud of.
"Young man, to achieve so much at such a young age is indeed remarkable; you certainly count as a genius." Qiu Ping spoke coldly in response to Xiao Yan's disdainful words. "However, a 5th-tier alchemist is ultimately just a 5th-tier alchemist. It's undeniable that you might reach the 7th-tier ranks in the future. But geniuses are often prone to premature death. On my journey, I don't know how many geniuses I've seen who once thought possessing talent meant possessing everything, only to end up as nothing more than withered bones."
"Not to mention, the Central Plains is a land of crouching tigers and hidden dragons, with many alchemists whose talent far surpasses yours."
"The crouching tigers and hidden dragons, the abundance of geniuses you speak of, surely you aren't referring to your Qiu Clan, are you?" Xiao Yan interrupted Qiu Ping, speaking with a smile. "I don't know how many geniuses or experts your Pill Region's Qiu Clan has, nor do I know what's so remarkable about your Qiu Clan's alchemists. It has nothing to do with me."
Qiu Ping said in a deep voice, "The geniuses and experts of my Qiu Clan are enough to contend with any so-called invincible existence in this small North-Western Region, even surpassing them!"
His words indeed sounded arrogant and domineering, even treating the entire North-Western Region as insignificant, but in fact, it was true. In the North-Western Region, no matter the faction, empire, or genius expert, regardless of who they were, no one dared to underestimate the Qiu Clan.
The Five Great Clans of the Central Plains' Pill Region; this title alone possessed sufficient foundation to look down on everything. As a clan from the Pill Region, where alchemists from the entire Dou Qi Continent gathered, the Qiu Clan might not be the oldest or the most powerful clan in the Pill Region, but when placed in the North-Western Region, the Qiu Clan was absolutely the most powerful and most terrifying.
Just as Qiu Ping said, with the Qiu Clan's heritage, they indeed had enough confidence to sweep away all enemies in the North-Western Region.
"Mm, what an overbearing tone." Xiao Yan rubbed his chin, then chuckled and said, "But, let alone your mere Qiu Clan here today, even if the Pill Tower itself came, they wouldn't dream of poaching my Yan Alliance's alchemists."
Qiu Ping's eyes instantly turned cold. Gu Tong, who was beside him, also knew how to read the situation and said coldly, "Good advice is harsh to the ear. For you to reach tier 5 at such an age is indeed very strong, truly a dragon among men. But, with such a temperament, you will not have a good end in the future. Even if you are a genius among geniuses, you are ultimately destined to fall. If you're wise, it's not too late to bow your head and admit your mistake now."
Xiao Yan waved his hand dismissively, interrupting, "If you're here to judge pills, then judge them properly. If you lack the discernment, then step aside. An old fossil still pretending to be a child."
Hearing Xiao Yan call him an old fossil pretending to be a child, Gu Tong's face instantly became somewhat ferocious. This was his sore spot!
The reason was simple. Gu Tong currently had the body of a ten-year-old. Although this didn't affect his Dou Qi and strength, it affected certain other functions of his!
He had been seeking a solution, and to resolve it required an 8th-tier alchemist, which was why he had curried favor with the Pill Region's Qiu Clan.
"Fine, fine, fine! I'd like to see what capabilities your Yan Alliance possesses!" Gu Tong didn't make a move directly. Although he was a 7th-tier alchemist, his strength was only that of a 1-star Dou Ancestor.
However, alchemists never fought themselves; this saying had always been true.
In the end, Qiu Ping, as the judge, naturally went on a tirade, evaluating Yue Er's Four Lines White Spirit Pill as worthless. Ultimately, the Cultivation Pill refined by Jian Feixue of the Medicine Bone Sect won first place.
However, anyone with discerning eyes could see that Yue Er was the most talented alchemist, with immeasurable future potential.
The Great Meeting of Factions had this advantage: the judge was not just one person but the entire North-Western Region. Everyone had eyes. The Great Meeting of Factions was merely a platform to allow these factions to 'see clearly.'
Meanwhile, the confrontations among the younger generation of experts were even more dramatic. Nalan Yanran broke through to Dou Emperor overnight and once again pulled off an upset, defeating Shi Nian, the genius of the Profound Lion Sect, one of the top ten factions. Qing Lin, likewise, did not disappoint the hopes of the serpents, representing the Sky Serpent Mansion to defeat Ting Wanjun, the Young Sect Master of the Thunderbolt Sect.
"This, this, this, this! Ting Wanjun actually lost!"
"How is this possible? In the previous Great Meeting of Factions, Ting Wanjun reached 1-star Dou Emperor at the age of twenty-five and ultimately defeated the Serpent Emperor from the Sky Serpent Mansion, claiming first place. How could he lose this time?"
This was also why rumors circulated in the North-Western Region that the Thunderbolt Sect was subtly suppressing the Sky Serpent Mansion; everyone was very optimistic that the Thunderbolt Sect's Young Sect Master would definitely become a Dou Venerate in the future.
"Is that the new Saintess of the Sky Serpent Mansion? She's incredibly strong! How did she cultivate to this level? Could it be that the Sky Serpent Mansion is really going to achieve its ambition and unify the North-Western Region!"
"Hey, hey, don't be so shortsighted. Haven't you noticed?"
"Noticed what?"
"The Yan Alliance! Whether it's that young alchemist or this female sword goddess, they are both from the Yan Alliance, and they are both very young!"
Gasps of astonishment echoed! Some who had been slow to realize suddenly noticed. The Yan Alliance seemed to be on the rise!
At this moment, atop the Serene Sea Scaly Beast, at Xiao Yan's strong request, a few people were holding a grilled fish feast.
Hai Bodong stood on the Serene Sea Scaly Beast's back, looking down at the final battle stage below; it was Nalan Yanran against Qing Lin.
"Is that really the little girl from back then? How could her cultivation have improved so quickly!" Hai Bodong looked at Qing Lin with a solemn expression. Even if the Sky Serpent Mansion continuously fed her pills, her cultivation couldn't possibly have improved so fast, could it?
He himself was now an 8-star Dou Emperor, yet Qing Lin had already reached the 6-star Dou Emperor stage! And it had only been five years! What kind of pills could allow such rapid advancement?!
Xiao Yan, holding a sea fish grilled by Yun Yun, walked to Hai Bodong's side, also gazing at Qing Lin's figure. After taking a bite of the fish, he slowly said, "She didn't use pills, not even the Mighty Huang Pill."
"No pills at all?!"
"At least, it's different from those whose Dou Qi is unstable from constantly relying on pills to improve their strength. Qing Lin's Dou Qi is very solid. Moreover, for some reason, her combat techniques, Dou Technique application, and awareness are all very good. One might think she has been constantly fighting."
Xiao Yan had naturally watched Qing Lin's battle against Ting Wanjun. That battle could be described as Qing Lin's complete domination in every aspect.
That Ting Wanjun's cultivation was even higher than Qing Lin's, already a 7-star Dou Emperor. But as it turned out, whether in combat experience or Dou Techniques, he was far inferior to Qing Lin. In the end, without a doubt, he was defeated by Qing Lin using a Di Class Dou Technique cultivated to major mastery.
Never mind the Thunderbolt Sect being dumbfounded; even Xiao Yan found it hard to believe.
There were many ways to accelerate one's cultivation, as evidenced by Xiao Yan himself who relied on Heavenly Flames and the Flame Mantra. But the cultivation of Dou Techniques and the honing of battle awareness could not be achieved overnight.
Yet in just one battle, Qing Lin had used four Di Class Dou Techniques of the serpent tribe, and none of them were at the entry or minor level; all were cultivated to major mastery or even perfection.
It took Xiao Yan a long time to cultivate even one Di Class Dou Technique. For Qing Lin to have learned so many was simply impossible.
'Could the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils have other abilities?' Xiao Yan only knew that Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils could control snakes and place them into her pupils' unique space.
"That sword user is definitely going to lose." Zi Yan, her mouth full of grease, walked to Xiao Yan's side, not forgetting to wipe her hands and mouth on Xiao Yan's alchemist robe before speaking.
Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong both agreed with her statement. Merely based on the difference in cultivation, Nalan Yanran had no chance of winning.
And the result was without any surprise. If it were not for Qing Lin's consideration of Nalan Yanran being from the Yan Alliance, she would have defeated her long ago.
"To be able to last so long against Qing Lin is quite good," Xiao Yan said, struggling to suppress his laughter.
Nalan Yanran didn't refute. A loss was a loss. She truly couldn't defeat Qing Lin.
"You know her?" Nalan Yanran asked.
Xiao Yan didn't hide it, nodding as he said, "Back at the Mo Clan, the one Mo Cheng captured was Qing Lin. Later, two Serpent Emperors from the Sky Serpent Mansion came out, and Qing Lin was then taken to the Sky Serpent Mansion."
With Xiao Yan's reminder, Nalan Yanran suddenly recalled, her eyes widening in astonishment. At that time, Xiao Yan had indeed said that his maid had been captured by Mo Cheng and demanded that Mo Cheng hand her over. In the end, he even crippled Mo Li and killed Mo Cheng.
And indeed, an unfamiliar Dou Emperor aura had appeared and snatched the person away!
So that was how it was!
All of a sudden, Nalan Yanran seemed to recall something else. She looked at Xiao Yan in surprise and asked, "Back at the Mo Clan, you said she... she was your maid???"
Xiao Yan cast her a sidelong glance, "What maid? Qing Lin is a member of my Xiao Clan. You were the one who said you'd be a slave or servant if you lost. You're the maid."
"I... I'm not! Hmph!"
Hai Bodong, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li couldn't help but look askance at Xiao Yan. This fellow was incredible. How did everyone turn out to be his people?