Reaching the pinnacle from Doupo

Chapter 587 Their own thoughts

As the heir of one of the main branches of the Yao clan, Yao Ziyou was quite familiar with the grudges between Yao Wangui and Yao Chen.

Given his status and position, he was naturally on the side of Elder Yao Wangui, the Punishment Elder.

As for who is right and who is wrong, for a four-star Dou Sheng, the punishment elder of the Medicine Clan, such things are not important!

But in the past year, that abandoned man has advanced to the Dou Sheng realm and has also established the Sifang Pavilion in a grand manner... After these news reached the Yao Clan, they caused some ripples within the clan, leading some people to bring up the old stories again.

Although Yao Wangui didn't say much about this situation, he was quite annoyed inside.

The higher Yao Chen's achievements, the more it proves that his decisions back then were wrong.

However, Yao Wangui's status was too high, and he couldn't do some undignified things. But if someone could trip up Yao Chen and teach him a lesson, he would be happy to see it.

As a student under Yao Wangui's guidance, the quick-witted Yao Ziyou grasped the former's psychology.

He must seize this opportunity.

As a junior Dou Zun, he doesn't have many opportunities to do favors for a four-star Dou Sheng.

As for offending Yao Chen, is that even a big deal to Yao Ziyou?
While the Four Directions Pavilion may be considered a top-tier power in the eyes of ordinary people, it is merely a force that the Medicine Clan can easily destroy.

Therefore, Yao Ziyou, who came to Shengdan City to pave the way, after seeing the Sifang Pavilion's team a few days ago, and after doing some investigation, decided on his target—Chen Yan, the young master of Sifang Pavilion and the disciple of that abandoned man.

This lowly person, who doesn't even have the bloodline of a Dou Di, actually possesses a primordial strange fire—the Wind Fury Dragon Flame, ranked eighteenth. It's simply a waste of a precious resource!

It should be noted that even Yao Ziyou, a prodigy of the Yao clan and one of the Ten Outstanding Talents, had never subdued a strange fire.

This strange fire must be seized; we cannot allow this precious gem to be tarnished.

After successfully seizing the Wind Fury Dragon Flame, even if one cannot use it personally, handing it over to the clan will surely bring a generous reward... There is even a slight possibility that one could obtain a Grade 9 precious pill, similar to that of the Yao Tian and Yao Ling siblings.

If we can get our hands on the strange fire of Yao Chen's disciple, we can both please Elder Yao Wangui and make a great contribution to the Yao Clan. It is a wonderful plan that kills two birds with one stone.

However, the Medicine Clan also has its pride and cannot resort to force to seize a single strange flame.

After all, the Medicine Clan doesn't have the strength of the Ancient and Soul Clans, and actively breaking some unspoken rules is not a good thing in the long run!
In terms of resources, the Medicine Clan is the "richest" of the eight clans.

After carefully analyzing Chen Yan's intelligence, Yao Ziyou came up with a legitimate method—to follow the old ways of Yao Jun, provoke Chen Yan, and then win the strange fire through a competition among peers.

Several years ago, although he did not go to the Thunder Realm to attend the ceremony due to seclusion, he carefully inquired about the details from Yao Xingji.

Since then, Yao Ziyou has felt both anger at Lin Yuan's scheme against the Yao Clan and fear of the latter's strength, while also admiring his wisdom.

That person had a complete grasp of Yao Tian's brute strength from beginning to end.

After confirming that his own strength was sufficient and the opponent's strength was insufficient, he took advantage of an occasion that was hard to refuse, used the honor of the Medicine Clan to elevate the arrogant Yao Tian, ​​and then, through a competition among peers, naturally seized the ninth-grade inheritance of the Medicine Clan.

This clever way of doing things made Yao Ziyou, who always prided himself on his own wisdom, feel a strange sense of mutual appreciation... Of course, it was one-sided!
Of course, he also learned some things from it, and this time he successfully put them to use.

That's why, when Yao Ziyou saw that the disciple of the Abandoned Man had stepped forward with an angry expression after only a few simple provocations, he not only remained unmoved but also kept his indifferent expression unchanged. In his heart, he sneered, "A brute!"

To insist on stepping forward when you know there is a disparity in strength is such a reckless and foolish act.

Such opponents, who lack strength but are blinded by rage, are the easiest to deal with... The matter of seizing the strange fire may be simpler than expected.

Thinking of this, Yao Ziyou glanced at Xiao Yan indifferently, a disdainful smile curving her lips.

"Chen Yan...that disciple of the abandoned one?"

"A two-star Dou Zun? In terms of cultivation, it's passable. But I don't like your eyes and attitude... You don't even understand the most basic etiquette. It's true that disciples taught by people of lowly blood can only reach this level."

"No wonder that Yao Chen, that outcast, was able to make so many enemies outside in such a short time after being expelled from the clan, and is still causing trouble now."

As he spoke, he looked Xiao Yan up and down with disdain, as if he were examining a defective product.

After realizing that Yao Chen was Xiao Yan's Achilles' heel, Yao Ziyou not only showed no restraint, but also became increasingly sarcastic, recklessly provoking Xiao Yan.

Seeing this, everyone present couldn't help but glance at him sideways.

What's going on here? Is this mysterious young man disparaging the Master of the Four Directions Pavilion—the renowned Medicine Saint of Central China?
Judging from this person's tone, it seems he and the Medicine Saint are from the same clan, except the Medicine Saint is a banished "outcast"... What kind of family is this? So arrogant, even banishing a talented figure like the Medicine Saint, have they lost their minds?!
Also, wasn't this person just at Danta Medical Center? How come he suddenly went all out against the Medicine Saint and Young Master Chen Yan?

The strange turn of events left everyone in the hall at a loss for how to react.

Looking at the arrogant young man in front of him who kept making disparaging remarks about Yao Lao in public, Xiao Yan, who already had the "family chivalry" attribute, was even more furious.

He finally understood why his teacher, despite being from the Medicine Clan, had such a complicated attitude towards them.

This arrogant attitude and harsh words are truly hateful.

When faced with such a person, saying more will only bring shame upon oneself. There is only one thing to do—use force to shut them up, use force to regain the teacher's dignity, and even if one cannot defeat them, make them pay a terrible price!

With his mind made up, his eyes sharpened, and his fighting spirit surged around him. He then took a step forward, intending to make a move immediately.

"Chen Yan, don't act rashly!"

Just then, Elder Sheng reached out and pulled Xiao Yan back, transmitting his voice, "He's trying to provoke you. The difference in your cultivation levels is too great. Don't act impulsively."

Yao Chen was on good terms with the three giants of the Pill Tower, and his relationship with the Xuan Yi Guild Master was even more ambiguous. Sheng Yao was a subordinate of the three of them. Since he was in charge at the scene, he naturally couldn't watch Yao Lao's disciple do something stupid and let him get into trouble under his nose.

"Since you dare to spout such arrogant words, then show us your skills and let us see... do you have the qualifications to make such boastful claims?!"

With a light breath, Elder Sheng shielded Xiao Yan behind him, stared coldly at Yao Ziyou, and said indifferently.

Even if they were from the ancient medicine clan, Elder Sheng didn't believe that they would dare to attack him without provocation in Saint Pill City—as one of the eight elders of the Pill Tower, he was absolutely confident.

The Pill Tower is no ordinary sect!
"Oh?" Upon hearing Elder Sheng's words, Yao Ziyou raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "You, or all of you, wish to fight this young master?"

"hehe--"

Elder Sheng waved his hand and said calmly, "Since we are all alchemists, and this is the place for alchemist assessments, let's compete in the way alchemists do, how about that?"

By limiting the competition to alchemists, no serious damage will be caused, regardless of the circumstances.

Besides the vast difference in cultivation levels, the difference in soul levels between the people present and this young man from the Medicine Clan was even smaller. Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Yao Ziyou's eyes, then he arrogantly waved his hand and said, "The alchemist's method? Interesting… This is permitted! But I'm too lazy to waste time; let's just use the most direct soul battle!"

He paused, then shifted his gaze slightly to Xiao Yan. "A discarded wretch, do you dare to challenge my soul to a duel? Or do you intend to cower behind someone else?"

Xiao Yan slowly walked out from behind Elder Sheng, his gaze meeting the other's, and then coldly responded.

"If you want war, then I will fight!"

Before he finished speaking, an extremely hot soul force, even stronger than Xin Lan's, surged out from between his eyebrows, causing the space to tremble.

Xiao Yan, who already possesses a unique flame protecting his soul and has also cultivated soul skills, is not afraid of soul battles with others.

"Mid-stage Spirit Realm... You abandoned soul, you do have some skill!" Sensing the scorching aura within the other's soul, Yao Ziyou's eyes flashed with greed as he murmured, "But at this level, you don't yet have the right to be arrogant..."

After a moment, his eyes sharpened, and a soul power several times stronger than Xiao Yan's suddenly surged from within his body.

"Chichi-"

The two soul forces collided in the void, tearing the void apart with cracks.

Strange ripples of intertwined souls, carrying an imposing pressure, spread out from the point of impact in all directions.

Under the weight of this soul pressure, everyone in the hall whose soul realm had not reached the Spirit Realm felt a strange sense of oppression... This feeling originated from the depths of their souls and had nothing to do with the strength of their battle qi.

In the clash of soul power, although Xiao Yan's pure soul power was slightly inferior, with the support of the power of the strange fire, he was not at a disadvantage at all.

"You have some skill; you're worthy of witnessing my clan's soul techniques!"

Upon seeing this, Yao Ziyou's eyes flashed with a strange light, and then he smiled coldly, suddenly extending his hands and forming a series of dazzling and mysterious hand seals.

A vast and powerful spiritual force rapidly converged into his palm.

"Soul Annihilation Hand!"

With a low shout, the immense soul power in Yao Ziyou's palm instantly solidified, and a pitch-black soul hand, similar in size to his palm, detached itself like lightning, tearing a pitch-black rift in the space in front of him.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan's eyes sharpened, and he formed a series of strange hand seals with lightning speed. As his soul power surged, the space in front of him distorted.

Within that distorted space, a handprint wreathed in flames rapidly coalesced.

"Soul Seal!"

In the instant the seal was formed, a light seal condensed with the power of a simple and honest soul, surrounded by scorching brownish-yellow flames, shot out from that distorted space and flew towards that dark soul hand. Wherever it passed, space shattered inch by inch.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the seal and the hand, carrying a fierce and powerful force, collided violently in mid-air.

"Bam—"

A deep rumble suddenly echoed in the hall, and everyone felt a sharp pain in their souls.

"Crash-"

An invisible ripple of soul energy, accompanied by a scorching storm of energy, swept out from the point of collision.

The spacious stone slabs of the plaza were completely shattered into dust at this moment, and the dust reduced visibility inside the hall considerably as it flew around.

Two minutes later, the soul storm finally dissipated, and the many figures in the stands stood up.

Then, all eyes turned to the center of the square.

What you see is that the assessment square, which was just a moment ago extremely clean, is now a mess, with a bottomless pit embedded in the center of the square.

Two figures stood on either side of the pit: Xiao Yan's sleeves were torn, a trace of blood remained at the corner of his mouth, and his aura was surging violently; Yao Ziyou's alchemist robe was covered with scorch marks, his face was somewhat pale, and his aura was also fluctuating.

Seeing the two of them like this, everyone immediately understood... It seemed they were evenly matched?
Elder Sheng, who had already led Xinlan and the other three to retreat far away, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the outcome of the fight between the two.

Their soul energy is so weak, it seems they can't continue fighting...

In this way, I can say that I have done my job!

"Ahem, you've managed to withstand my clan's Earth-rank Soul Skill, you're quite capable." Yao Ziyou coughed lightly and said indifferently, "I'm not in the mood for that today. Let's postpone the real battle between us until the Pill Gathering and settle it with our alchemy skills!"

"At that time, I will show you what true alchemy is, and how foolish that abandoned man was..."

"Heh!" Xiao Yan sneered, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said arrogantly, "If you want to compete, I will accompany you to the end. At the Pill Gathering, I will give you a defeat that will be etched in your memory."

"You boast so arrogantly; you'll soon realize how shallow you are."

Yao Ziyou gave Xiao Yan a deep look, then raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a meaningful smile to the latter, before leaving the main hall without further hesitation.

The prey has been marked, so there's no need to linger here.

Now that his backer—the Medicine Clan's Dou Sheng powerhouse—has not yet arrived, it is not a good time to seize the Strange Flame. This time, he only needs to mark the spot and prepare an excuse... The time to complete his plan will come at the Pill Gathering later.

Watching the other person's decisive back, Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint unease rose in his heart.

On the stands, Xinlan withdrew her gaze from Yao Ziyou's back, then gently closed her eyes and communicated with a voice in her heart.

"Master, does that fellow who spoke disrespectfully to you and the Pill Tower need to be taught a lesson?"

As she spoke, a purple "jade ring" on her wrist emitted a mysterious soul fluctuation.

The next instant, Lin Yuan's clear voice rang in Xin Lan's heart: "You don't need to worry about such a trivial matter! When the Pill Gathering comes, your master will crush all the younger generation of the Medicine Clan, and this speck of dust will be swept away at the same time..."

"However, this Yao Ziyou is quite interesting. Contrary to his arrogant demeanor, he is a very cunning fellow."

At this point, a hint of amusement crept into his voice.

"Cunning?" Xinlan asked curiously, "Does Master mean that person's arrogance was feigned? Or did he have ulterior motives?"

"That's exactly right!" Lin Yuan confirmed the girl's guess and chuckled, "He was hiding his true strength, concealing a portion of his soul power, deliberately making it appear as if they were evenly matched... So that's what he was planning, huh?"

(End of this chapter)