Reaching the pinnacle from Doupo

Chapter 604 Passing the test
"This year's Dan Conference is going to be interesting!"

Xuan Kongzi casually tucked his hands into his sleeves, his gaze sweeping over the figures that surged into the illusionary realm like a tide. A slight smile played on his lips: "Not only are the younger generation of geniuses flocking here, but even some old fogies couldn't resist coming out to join the fun..."

Before he finished speaking, his gaze caught sight of several people from the same era, and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

Beside him, Tian Leizi also raised his eyes, his sharp, lightning-like gaze quickly sweeping over the figures entering the illusionary realm, before shaking his head with a sigh.

"There's no way around it; the allure of soul cultivation techniques and strange flames to alchemists is just that strong."

"But this time, they're likely to leave disappointed." Xuan Yi chimed in, a hint of mockery in his voice: "The younger generation is no less capable than them; they'll probably end up looking utterly humiliated this time..."

"The focus this time is still our competition with the Medicine Clan. Let's hope everything goes smoothly as we wish!"

“That’s true.” Xuan Kongzi nodded, then stroked his beard and smiled mischievously, saying, “Speaking of which, Xuan Yi…aren’t you going to check on Yao Chen’s condition?”

"That guy, who cares if he dies!"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yi subconsciously raised her eyebrows slightly, turned her head away, and refused, appearing completely unconcerned.

However, these words sounded rather weak to Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi... Having known each other for many years, the two of them were very familiar with their old friend's temperament, and they smiled to themselves.

As the two had expected, just a moment later, Xuan Yi's cold voice rang out again, carrying a hint of embarrassment and anger.

"There are still a few days until the main competition of the Dan Tournament. I'm going back to seclusion for a few days!"

After saying this, she didn't wait for Xuan Kongzi and Tian Leizi to tease her. She sent a message to Yao Lao in the distance, and then her figure disappeared from the high platform.

In the distance, Yao Lao, who had received the telepathic message, hesitated for a moment before his figure flashed away, leaving behind a lingering afterimage that slowly dissipated.
-
The moment Lin Yuan touched the light curtain of the distorted space, a suction force burst forth from it, swallowing his body in, and his vision blurred.

When his vision returned to clear, he found himself in a strange, dark gray space.

With a thought, Lin Yuan activated the arrangements left behind, and instantly, ripples appeared in the space in front of him.

Before long, a figure shrouded in mist emerged from the ripples and landed lightly a short distance in front of Lin Yuan, revealing an appearance identical to his own... This figure was none other than Lei Huan Shen.

Lei Huan Shen and Lin Yuan's true self exchanged a glance, and without the slightest pause, Lei Huan Shen returned directly to Lin Yuan's brow, simultaneously transmitting all the information to him.

Before long, Lin Yuan finished reading the message conveyed by Lei Huanshen, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"The Medicine Clan member, Lei Huan's body has been completely split."

"The isolation formation is functioning well! In this way, even Yao Wangui and Huo Yao will not be able to find out the situation in this space without spending some time and effort. We can proceed with confidence."

"Let me see, Yao Tian and Yao Ling have arrived at their designated positions... We can begin!"

A glint flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes, and his hands formed several hand seals in a flash. His soul power surged from between his brows and merged into the Nightmare Mist of this space.

"First, we need to find out if the Medicine Clan has any other protectors with them this time."

With his mind at ease, Lin Yuan stirred the gray mist scattered throughout the space and directed it toward the direction of the Medicine Star.

The strategy of starting with the weak and then moving to the strong was Lin Yuan's tactical approach.

After all, Lin Yuan couldn't be sure whether Yao Tian and Yao Ling, who were highly valued by the Yao Clan, had been subjected to some special methods. He decided to find a peripheral figure to gather information first.

Anyway, this space that he transformed with Nightmare Mist is not so easy to pass through, so there is plenty of time to make a move!

When it comes to gathering intelligence, few methods are more effective than illusion.

As Lin Yuan slowly walked towards the exit, he manipulated the Nightmare Mist to meticulously construct an illusion.

Lin Yuan, whose cultivation level was already a two-star Dou Sheng and whose soul was at the late stage of the Heavenly Realm, could not, like the Pure Lotus Demon Saint, use Nightmare Heavenly Mist to shroud the entire city and make the people in the city feel that they had lived for hundreds of years, but it was not difficult for him to extract some information.

In Lin Yuan's own territory, those who cannot break the Nightmare Talisman and whose souls and cultivation are still weaker than his have a pitifully small chance of breaking this move.

Before long, the ten heroes of the Medicine Clan were each trapped in Lin Yuan's illusionary world.
-
Meanwhile, in the vast, dark void, a stone pavilion stands like a lonely island in the sea.

Two figures sat facing each other in the pavilion, the atmosphere slightly heavy.

At one moment, Huo Yao had a sudden thought. He withdrew his probing soul power and clicked his tongue in amazement, saying, "As expected of a power that has produced peak experts, the Pill Tower really does have some tricks up its sleeve! This space can even block my perception?"

"Just some petty tricks! Nothing special." Yao Wangui also withdrew his soul power and said disdainfully, "Compared to our ancient clans, they are completely insignificant."

"hehe--"

Upon hearing this, Huo Yao merely chuckled lightly, having no intention of engaging in a pointless rebuttal.

"Speaking of which, that Medicine Lord Lin Yuan is indeed extraordinary." He picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and a playful smile appeared on his lips. "This time, when the younger generation of your Medicine Clan faces him, it will probably be quite a show!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Wangui's expression darkened slightly, and he coldly snorted, "Huo Yao, you seem to think highly of that kid?"

"Of course I think he's good!" Huo Yao smiled, his gaze becoming more profound: "This young man has excellent character and talent. At such a young age, he already possesses the wisdom and magnanimity to achieve mutual benefit with others."

"If such a person does not die young, his future achievements will be limitless."

"More importantly, he and Danta are complete enemies of the Soul Clan... Brother Wan Gui, whatever your thoughts are toward him, be sure to keep this in mind."

"You know the Soul Clan's style. Those two divine-grade bloodlines of theirs will need someone to keep them in check in the future."

"Neither our Yan Clan nor your Yao Clan has produced a divine-grade bloodline yet, so it's difficult to place our hopes on it. In the future, neither of our clans may have a peak expert to protect us. Under these circumstances, a situation with checks and balances from multiple parties is the best option."

"Whether this balancing force comes from our ancient lineage or from outside of it... something is better than nothing!"

"It is not good for either of our races to be dominant in the Dou Qi Continent."

At this point, his aged voice carried a hint of helplessness and melancholy.

According to the secret information he obtained, Gu Yuan's daughter, Gu Xun'er, is very likely to have a divine bloodline. The barbarians of the Lei Clan are also very lucky to have produced a divine bloodline like Lei Dong... even though the bloodlines of the Yan and Lei clans are about the same.

Seeing Huo Yao's serious expression, Yao Wangui pondered for a moment, then nodded earnestly, "I understand!" Although he said this, he was extremely disdainful in his heart.

How absurd and laughable is it for a descendant of a powerful Dou Di to have such high expectations of an outsider?
Even if that kid really grows up and becomes the next Heavenly Pill Saint, it's uncertain whether he can balance the Soul Clan, but he will definitely harm the interests of the Medicine Clan. Therefore, the more other clans value him, the more Yao Wangui will want to eliminate him.

An ignorant and arrogant junior from the Pill Tower dared to publicly mock me, the Punishment Elder of the Medicine Clan. This is an unforgivable crime punishable by death!
Recalling the scene just now, a trace of cold killing intent settled deep in Yao Wangui's eyes.
-
The first challenge of the Pill Gathering, the Illusionary Realm Challenge, was naturally impossible to stop Lin Yuan.

After all, the most difficult part of passing through this illusionary space is the Nightmare Mist he set up in it. As for the huge and complex spatial maze, even an ordinary seventh-grade alchemist can see through it, so it's not too troublesome!

After walking for half an hour, the dark gray clouds that surrounded him gradually faded away, and a huge, twisted black hole, about ten feet in size, appeared before his eyes.

"It seems that Yao Wangui is truly the only protector sent by the Medicine Clan this time!"

"We have all the information we need to know; we have all the measures we need to take; we have done everything we need to do here."

"In that case, let's leave!"

As his thoughts raced, Lin Yuan made a decision. He then used his finger as a brush and blood as ink, and with a swift movement of his fingertips, he drew a strange blood talisman.

"Dispel the Nightmare Talisman!" With a low shout in his heart, an invisible, strange wave rippled out from the blood talisman, quickly sweeping across this distorted space, and the white mist intertwined with the gray fog gradually dissipated.

As the fog dissipated, the space gradually returned to normal, and the contestants who had been trapped in the illusion gradually awoke.

Without the Nightmare Mist, those who are meant to pass will naturally be able to pass.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan no longer hesitated, waved his sleeve to disperse the blood talisman in front of him, and strode into the twisted black hole.

First round, the illusionary level, passed!

Lin Yuan slowly opened his squinted eyes; the previous darkness had been replaced by light.

Looking up, you see a rather spacious square.

In one corner of the square, there was a spatial passage, and on a stone platform next to the passage, an old man with white hair sat cross-legged, exuding the powerful aura of an eighth-level Dou Zun.

"Young friend Lin, you are indeed the first to pass!" Upon noticing someone's appearance, the old man opened his slightly cloudy eyes and chuckled.

"Elder Dan, it's actually you who's in charge here?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes. This old man was none other than Dan Ling, the eighth-grade, nine-color alchemist he had met before, and the patriarch of the Dan family.

He walked up to the old man and chuckled, "You came here specifically because you're worried about Dan Chen, aren't you?"

"Young friend, you flatter me." Dan Ling waved his hand and pondered, "This time, we have 'guests' from the Medicine Clan coming, and our Pill Tower naturally can't be looked down upon, so Xuan Kongzi sent this old fellow out to uphold our reputation..."

"As for Chen'er, with your guidance, why should this old man worry about her? To be honest, when I learned that she had broken through to the Dou Zun level, I was quite stunned for a moment!"

At this point, Danling was filled with emotion and relief.

He never imagined that Dan Chen's becoming a disciple of the person before him would bring such a tremendous opportunity... The Dan family might truly produce a ninth-grade alchemist!

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan smiled calmly and did not take credit, saying, "Dan Chen's progress is mainly due to her own hard work, and her talent is indeed outstanding."

Danling shook her head and said, "Some things can't be achieved just by trying!"

"You nurtured Dan Chen, my esteemed physician, giving our Dan family a chance to realize our long-cherished wish. From now on, our Dan family will follow your lead without hesitation. Please feel free to ask for our help in any way you need... Our Dan family will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

At this point, Danling Shen stood up from the stone platform, straightened his clothes, and solemnly bowed deeply to Lin Yuan.

The young man's gift of the strange fire to Dan Chen alone is enough to make the Dan family extremely grateful.

"Elder Dan, you flatter me." Lin Yuan shook his head, reached out to help Dan Ling up, and said, "Dan Chen is my disciple, it is only right that I do those things for her. We are all family members of the Pill Tower, there is no need to be so polite."

"Let's stop reminiscing here. The Medicine Clan is about to come out... If they see this scene, they might think we're cheating."

After saying that, he turned around and casually found a stone bench to sit down.

Seeing this, Danling didn't say anything more, sat back on the stone platform next to the spatial wormhole, and reverted to the demeanor of the senior expert she had been before.

Before long, the second person to pass the test arrived gracefully.

This was a blue-haired woman with long, icy hair. Her features were like a meticulously sculpted painting, exquisitely beautiful, yet her expression was like icicles in the dead of winter, cold and aloof. Who else could it be but Yao Ling?!
As Yao Ling arrived at this point, her gaze met Lin Yuan's.

In an instant, she seemed to be frozen in place, slightly startled, her butterfly-like eyelashes trembling a few times.

When she came to her senses, a faint blush appeared on her fair, snow-white face, and her heart couldn't help but ripple: This person clearly had very little interaction with her, so why did he appear in that illusion just now?
Could it be true, as my pen pals Tianxuan and Yaoguang have said, that their long-standing curiosity and the yearning that arose from their investigation have led them to develop a vague affection for this person?
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Yao Ling silently retorted in her heart, she was not the kind of woman who would be infatuated with a man.

Although this Medicine Lord Lin Yuan was indeed handsome and refined, with exceptional talent in both cultivation and alchemy, possessing a captivating mystique, and exuding a fragrance she greatly admired, almost perfectly matching her criteria for a partner, but…

This young girl from the Medicine Clan, who had been overly protected by her elders and brothers and was still somewhat naive about the ways of the world, had her thoughts wandering like a wild horse.

At this moment, a familiar figure arrived before the second level.

As soon as Yao Tian stepped into the square, he looked up and saw his little sister staring at his enemy. What angered him even more was that his little sister's face was flushed.

In an instant, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Without the slightest hesitation, he strode directly in front of Yao Ling, standing like a solid wall, completely blocking the eye contact between Lin Yuan and Yao Ling.

Then, Yao Tian glared at Lin Yuan with wide, angry eyes, as if he wanted to devour Lin Yuan alive.

At this alchemy gathering, he is determined to utterly crush this bastard...

(End of this chapter)