Reaching the pinnacle from Doupo

Chapter 596 The Heavenly Pill Matter, Giving Gifts
Upon entering the depths of Tianyou Valley, the Grand Elder felt waves of extremely dense energy rushing towards him.

He squinted slightly, carefully examining everything in the valley.

The valley was filled with exotic flowers and rare herbs, swaying gently in the breeze and emitting a captivating medicinal fragrance. On their leaves hung glistening dewdrops, which shimmered with iridescent colors under the sunlight.

In the center of the valley, Lin Yuan stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his black hair fluttering in the wind, a faint smile on his face, and his eyes revealing confidence and composure.

Qinglin stood quietly beside Lin Yuan, like a serene lotus flower, exuding a tranquil atmosphere.

The two stood side by side, and anyone who saw them would exclaim, "A perfect couple!"

However, the aura emanating from this golden couple was particularly striking—the two young people possessed cultivation levels comparable to the Grand Elder.

"Lin Yuan, you've made quite a stir this time."

Suppressing his surprise, the Grand Elder slowly stepped forward, a kind smile on his face, and said gently.

"We are deeply sorry for not being able to welcome the Grand Elder properly. We hope the Grand Elder will forgive us." Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan smiled and cupped his hands respectfully, saying, "We have made a slight breakthrough in our cultivation this time, and we did not mean to disturb the Grand Elder and everyone else. We are truly sorry."

The Grand Elder waved his hand, looked Lin Yuan up and down, and exclaimed, "Early stage of two-star Dou Sheng, Lin Yuan, you really surprise me."

When they first met, Lin Yuan was just a minor Dou Zun.

However, in just five short years, this boy has already surpassed him, a Dou Sheng.

Although both were two-star, the Grand Elder could vaguely sense that the other's aura was more profound and closer to the mid-stage of a two-star Dou Sheng.

Lin Yuan shook his head and said humbly, "Elder, you flatter me. I just had more opportunities. The path of cultivation is long and endless. I have only just begun. There are still many things I need to learn from seniors like you."

Even so, the surging, powerful energy within him still invigorated him.

The feeling of power is truly intoxicating!

One and a half drops of Dragon Emperor's essence blood can significantly boost one's cultivation; the other half drop was absorbed by Fu Xuan to compensate for the loss of the source energy from the separated sub-fire.

It was after obtaining the Void Flame that Lin Yuan gradually realized just how powerful the Void Devouring Flame truly was.

Its ability to devour everything makes replenishing the source of the strange fire much simpler. Unlike before, it no longer needs to rely on time or energy close to the source of the strange fire. As long as the energy is pure enough, most of it can be transformed by the power of devouring.

Furthermore, if the future Danhuo Spirit Maiden suffers severe injuries, the sub-fire she separates can also transform into primordial power and return to the mother body, helping her to quickly heal her injuries.

This is also an important reason why Lin Yuan didn't mind letting Fu Xuan separate his sub-fire and trade it with others.

Borrowing the energy of others to nurture one's own unique fire.

Of course, if the person absorbing the sub-fire is powerful enough, they may be able to turn the tables and completely subdue Fu Xuan's sub-fire... It all depends on their own abilities!
"Qinglin greets senior. I am my young master's little maid."

Standing to the side, Qing Lin, who was meeting the Grand Elder for the first time, saw Lin Yuan being so polite to the old man in front of him, and quickly gave a junior's salute as well.

"A maid?!" The Grand Elder was immediately taken aback upon hearing this.

The next moment, he came to his senses and smiled kindly: "Hehe, young lady, no need for formalities! We're all family, just call me Elder Lin. Seeing junior members of the Pill Tower like you truly delights me..."

Although the girl before him called herself a 'maid,' how could Elder Lin, a two-star Dou Sheng, truly regard her as a maid?!

"A junior from the Danta Sect?"

Noticing the slightly probing form of address, Qinglin had no objection and nodded with a light laugh: "Greetings, Elder Lin!"

"well--"

The Grand Elder nodded, his expression becoming even more gentle.

Then, he looked at Lin Yuan and said, "Lin Yuan, with such a beautiful woman by your side, you must cherish her..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Elder. Qing'er... I will cherish her!" As he spoke, he gently held Qing Lin's hand, the gesture natural and intimate. Qing Lin's pretty face flushed slightly, but her eyes were full of sweetness.

Upon seeing this, the elder laughed heartily, then his expression turned serious, and he said, "Let's get back to the main topic. I came in because I have something important to tell you."

Lin Yuan's gaze sharpened, and he said respectfully, "Elder, please speak. I am all ears."

The First Elder nodded slightly and pondered, "A few days ago, after Cao Ying received the inheritance of the Heavenly Pill Stele, that great man appeared! He asked Cao Ying to convey a message that you and I should find a suitable time to go to the space inside the stele. When do you think would be a suitable time?"

"Look at my memory?" Lin Yuan suddenly realized and rubbed his forehead. "I almost forgot. Those people said a few years ago that I should go there after I advance to the Dou Sheng level."

"However, it may take some time to get inside the Heavenly Pill Stele."

"The Pill Gathering is approaching, and I have just broken through to a higher realm. I need to familiarize myself with my power and there are some preparations to be made... I'm thinking, how about setting the time for entering the Heavenly Pill Stele after the Pill Gathering? What do you think, Grand Elder?"

“That’s excellent.” The Grand Elder pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement with Lin Yuan’s suggestion.

"Thank you for your understanding, Elder." Lin Yuan cupped his hands in greeting, then looked solemnly at the Elder: "Speaking of which, I have one... no, two gifts that I would like to give to the Elder."

"Two gifts?" The elder raised an eyebrow, but did not refuse. He asked curiously, "For you to take this so seriously, they must be something special."

"hehe--"

Lin Yuan smiled confidently and said proudly, "Of course, the Grand Elder will know at a glance."

Before he finished speaking, he gently waved his sleeve, and a frozen corpse suddenly appeared, falling heavily to the ground in front of the three of them.

"hiss--"

Upon seeing this, the Grand Elder gasped, "This is... the corpse of a Battle Saint? It's the aura of a Soul Clan member... Could it be that you..."

He looked at Lin Yuan with a mixture of surprise and doubt, a hint of inquiry on his face.

"This is the first gift, good news." Lin Yuan nodded slightly and chuckled, "I killed a Dou Sheng expert, the Soul Saint of the Soul Palace! Of course, this is just an appetizer. The real gift I want to give you is this..."

As he spoke, he flipped his hand, and an exquisite jade bottle appeared in his palm. The drop of purple-gold blood inside emitted a terrifying energy fluctuation.

"Essence blood? The essence blood of a super strong person?!"

The elder's gaze was fixed on the jade bottle, his eyes flashing as if flames were dancing within them.

“Indeed, Elder, you have a good eye!” Lin Yuan smiled slightly and pondered, “I have observed that you have been stuck at the early stage of the two-star Dou Sheng for quite some time. This drop of essence blood may be able to help you break through the bottleneck and reach a higher realm.”

"Is this really for me?" Elder Lin asked again, his throat bobbing.

"Of course." Lin Yuan waved his hand and said seriously, "You have always taken good care of me. This is a small token of my appreciation... I believe it can help you improve your cultivation!"

Before he finished speaking, he tossed the jade bottle away, and it floated gracefully in front of the Grand Elder. Hearing this, the Grand Elder didn't stand on ceremony, saying, "Then I won't stand on ceremony." He carefully collected the drop of essence blood, his face revealing undisguised joy—he hadn't made any progress in ten years!

If used properly, this item might help him break through to the late stage of the two-star Dou Sheng within three years.

Looking at the old man whose breathing had become more rapid, Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, and a meaningful smile flashed in his deep, abyss-like eyes.

At this moment, a gentle breeze swept through the valley, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow, as if draping the entire valley in a golden veil. The many exotic flowers and plants in the valley swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound...

Afterwards, Lin Yuan and the Grand Elder discussed the Pill Gathering in detail, and the Grand Elder then took his leave with satisfaction.

"Young Master, you haven't forgotten about the Heavenly Pill Stele, have you?!"

After confirming that the Grand Elder had left Tianyou Valley, Qinglin turned around, looked at the young man beside her with a distant gaze, covered her mouth and chuckled, her tone quite confident.

Based on her understanding of Lin Yuan, how could he possibly forget something like this?

"As expected of my Qing'er, she really understands me!" Lin Yuan came back to his senses, noticed the doubt in the girl's eyes, and patiently explained: "In the inheritance space within the Heavenly Pill Stele, there exists the remnant soul of the founder of the Pill Tower, the Heavenly Pill Saint."

"That one was one of the five strongest peak experts a thousand years ago, an ultimate expert who stepped into the peak realm."

"Even if only a few remnants of a soul remain, the power of such a strong person is immeasurable."

"Regardless of whether he has malicious intent, I need to wait for Zi Yan to return and for her strength, which is comparable to a seven-star Dou Sheng, to provide support before I can enter that space again."

Over the years, Lin Yuan has encountered several top-tier experts, such as the Yellow Spring Demon Saint and the Pure Lotus Demon Saint. Both of them were "masters of unique skills." Even though they died ten thousand years ago, the methods they left behind still make them a force to be reckoned with.

Not to mention the powerful Tian Dan Saint, who has only been gone for a thousand years. If he has truly left behind some methods, it would be difficult for a low-level Dou Sheng to withstand him.

The first time, Lin Yuan made a mistake and rashly entered the Heavenly Pill Stele, leaving his fate to be decided by others.

How could he possibly allow this to happen a second time?
This is also why Lin Yuan, despite returning to Zhongzhou for so long, has not gone to Burning Flame Valley to try and explore the secrets of the Burning Flame Ancestor.

He still needs to investigate those powerful figures from a thousand years ago in detail.

Among them, the remnant soul of the Heavenly Pill Saint is the best channel. Therefore, Lin Yuan plans to make full preparations before seeing him next time.

His gift of the Dragon Emperor's essence blood to the Grand Elder of the Little Pill Tower was part of his plan—it was both to 'build goodwill' and to intimidate those with ulterior motives; later, by establishing merit at the Pill Gathering, he would completely bind the Pill Tower to him.

"I see, as expected of you, young master!" Qinglin nodded in understanding after hearing Lin Yuan's explanation.

"Dangdang——"

Suddenly, a faint, melodious chime pierced through the void and gently echoed in their ears.

"Hmm? This bell is..." Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, then with a thought, he connected with his clone left outside. After a moment, a look of understanding flashed in his eyes: "It's the bell of the Heavenly Pride Competition. The semi-finals and finals will be held today."

"Let me see, the semi-final pairings are: Chen Xuanli vs. Lei Li, Chen Yan vs. Ling Quan... Interesting!"

"What's wrong, young master?" Qinglin tilted her head slightly, her clear, watery eyes sparkling with curiosity as she asked with some confusion.

"This is going to be interesting!" Lin Yuan smiled mysteriously and respectfully extended his hand to invite, "Miss Qing, the weather is nice today, how about you accompany me for a stroll outside?"

"Great! Qing'er couldn't be happier..."

Upon hearing this, Qinglin's eyes lit up immediately, and she eagerly stretched out her jade-like hand and placed it in Lin Yuan's palm.

Lin Yuan smiled, took Qing Lin's soft, boneless hand in one hand, and with the other hand he lightly waved his sleeve, causing the space in front of him to distort and reveal a passage to the outside world.

The two stepped into the spatial passage hand in hand. As the light swirled, they reappeared on the streets of the inner region of Saint Dan City.

The usually quiet inner region of Saint Pill City was unusually noisy today. The enthusiastic atmosphere surpassed even the bustling outer region. Everywhere was crowded with people discussing the exciting matches of the past few days.

The appearance of Lin Yuan and Qing Lin instantly attracted the attention of many people, after all, their appearance and temperament were too dazzling in the crowd.

However, in the blink of an eye, the two figures vanished simultaneously.

"What just happened?"

Several passersby rubbed their eyes, asking each other questions with puzzled expressions, only to find that they all looked blank, as if that glimpse just now was just an illusion.

On the other side, after Lin Yuan used a secret technique to eliminate his own presence, he leisurely strolled along with Qing Lin, not in a hurry to watch the match at the Holy Pill Square... He wasn't interested in the first match; he wanted to see the fun in the second one.

Qinglin linked arms with Lin Yuan, her face beaming with a sweet smile. She would occasionally stop to look at the exquisite little items on the surrounding stalls.

The two strolled through the bustling streets, enjoying the lively atmosphere.

Before they knew it, it was almost noon. Lin Yuan looked at the sky and said, "Qing'er, it's getting late. Let's go to the Holy Pill Square."

Qinglin nodded and said, "Alright, young master."

Immediately, the two figures flickered and disappeared from the street, leaving only a spatial ripple spreading outwards.

Soon, they arrived at St. Dan's Square.

By the time the two players handed the ball to each other, the outcome of the first match had already come to an end.

A burly man in purple robes shattered the lightning released by his opponent with a giant sword in his hand. In a flash, he appeared behind the silver-robed man in mid-air and slashed him down from the sky, bringing this spectacular battle to a close...

Before long, Xuan Kongzi's majestic voice resounded throughout the entire Saint Pill Square.

"Chen Xuanli wins the first semi-final match!"

As the verdict was announced, thunderous applause erupted throughout the arena, and undisguised awe was evident in the gazes directed at the man in purple.

"Chen Xuanli is a formidable enemy!"

On the high platform, Xiao Yan looked at the figure who had been captured, his expression somewhat solemn. "As expected of the young sect master of the reclusive Kunwu Sect, truly extraordinary..."

"The second match of the semifinals, Chen Yan versus Ling Quan... Players, enter the arena!" Just as Xiao Yan was sighing in his heart, the shout that suddenly rang out from the referee's table made his eyes sharpen and his fighting spirit rise like a flame.

As soon as the declaration was made, a streak of purplish-black light flew out from a corner of the square and landed heavily on the central arena.

The light dissipated, revealing a figure in black.

Immediately, a merciless and mocking voice resounded throughout the Holy Pill Square: "Come out, you rat of a ruined clan, let this commander see... just how much skill you've acquired over the years!"

(End of this chapter)