Battle Through the Heavens: Xiao Yan, I am your second master.

"What? Each person can only participate in the Pill Gathering once?" On the way, Xiao Li was told by Su Wanyin about the rules of the Pill Gathering. The age limit was very lenient, and even old monsters could participate, but they could only participate once.

Su Wanyin nodded: "That's right, didn't Senior Mang tell you?"

Mang Tianchi touched his nose somewhat awkwardly. He had forgotten about this rule. After all, he wasn't an alchemist, so it was normal for him not to know about it.

"It seems I'll have to work hard this year's Dan competition to try and get a good ranking. I can't waste this one chance."

Xiao Li had originally planned to coast through this year's Pill Gathering and then come back to show off next year, but now it seems that won't work. He only has one chance and can't waste it; it would be embarrassing to get a bad ranking.

Xiao Li and his group strolled through the outer region of the Pill Domain. The place was bustling with people, and even though the Pill Gathering was still three months away, it was already nearly overflowing with people.

Peng~

Suddenly, an old figure bumped into Xiao Li, and the old man fell down uncontrollably. Xiao Li subconsciously reached out to support the old man.

"Sir, are you alright?" Xiao Li helped the old man up and asked with concern. He noticed that the old man's cultivation level was very low, only around the Dou Zhe level.

"Cough cough, it's nothing, it's nothing. Thank you, young brother. I was blocking your way." The old man was dressed in tattered hemp clothes and looked somewhat like a beggar, but he didn't have that kind of stench.

Xiao Li didn't think too much about it: "What's the big deal about blocking the way? We're all human. I didn't see the road clearly. I'm sorry, sir."

The old man clasped his hands in a salute to Xiao Li and then hurriedly left. Xiao Li scratched his head and left as well.

Mang Tianchi frowned: "Boy, why waste words with such an ant? He's just a fighter, is it really necessary to be like this?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Li shook his head, his gaze calmly fixed on the departing old man. His tone was calm yet carried an undeniable firmness: "We are all cultivators in this world, the only difference being the level of our cultivation."

"That was merely an unintentional collision, not a deliberate offense. Why press the matter further? Bullying the weak simply because of one's superior cultivation goes against my principles and is of no benefit to my cultivation."

Mang Tianchi shook his head: "Fine, do as you please, but you must remember that this world is a dog-eat-dog world. The weak are destined to be eaten, and ants have no dignity."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Li gently shook his head, his tone indifferent: "That's not how it works. There are differences in cultivation levels and circumstances, but that doesn't give us the right to belittle others."

He is an ant today, a weakling, but who knows if he won't have a great future? If I were to act arrogantly towards him today because of my slightly higher cultivation level, or even kill him at the drop of a hat, how would I be any different from a wild beast in the mountains that only knows the law of the jungle?

Our cultivation is not just about refining fighting spirit, but also about cultivating our mindset. The stronger one is, the more one should know reverence, not arrogance. "Today I am strong, so I can bully others."

If I encounter someone stronger than myself in the future, am I also destined to be humiliated, treated like an ant, and utterly devoid of dignity? This is not the way of the strong; it is merely a barbaric cycle.

Even the once-renowned Dou Di did not indiscriminately kill any living beings on the continent simply because of his superior cultivation.

If one lacks even this basic tolerance, then the path of cultivation will likely become increasingly narrow, ultimately yielding nothing more than an empty shell of power, a solitary figure.

Xiao Li's words stunned Mang Tianchi for a moment. Then he recalled the arrogant bastards in his clan who, relying on their Dou Di bloodline, were complacent, power-hungry, and disdainful of others.

Mang Tianchi shook his head and continued walking without saying a word.

Su Wanyin pondered Xiao Li's words, which were reminiscent of Wang Ming's. Wang Ming had acted similarly back then, never implicating others despite his deep-seated hatred for Ice River Valley, even at the cost of his own injuries. Truly a disciple of Wang Ming, cultivating the mind is the foundation of cultivation.

Afterwards, the group continued walking towards the courtyard where Yin Gu was located.

The old man who had just bumped into Xiao Li stood back in the same spot. The old man had his hands behind his back, and his eyes were clear yet filled with a sense of world-weariness.

He carried a strange aura, as if he were part of this world, completely out of place with the people around him.

"Hehe, I didn't expect to encounter such an interesting little fellow on my return to the Pill Tower. Such insights are truly rare! A Dou Huang cultivation level, a peak mortal realm soul, almost touching the spirit realm. Quite interesting, perhaps..."

The old man's aged voice rang out, but no one around him noticed him. The next moment, the old man disappeared as if he had never existed.

Su Wanyin led Xiao Li and the others for half an hour to a rather large manor with the words "Yin Yuan" (Music Academy) written on an antique plaque.

This is the courtyard that Yin Gu purchased in Shengdan City, where Xiao Li will be staying for a few months.

The sky was beginning to darken, and it was almost night. The starry sky over Saint Pill City was extremely bright, and Xiao Li stared at the sky, somewhat lost in thought.

'That must be the location of the Three Thousand Burning Flames, known as the immortal flame. It's a pity I already have the Yin-Yang Heart Flame, but if I could get some of the Three Thousand Burning Flames' offspring flames...'

If I let the Yin-Yang Heart Flame devour it, I wonder if I can gain the immortality attribute of the Three Thousand Burning Flames?

Xiao Li shook his head, thinking he was overthinking things. He was already incredibly lucky to have survived that time. With the Yin-Yang Heart Flame, which was no less powerful than the Nine Dragons Thunderfire, what more could he ask for?

Xiao Li looked at the sky for a while, and suddenly his soul trembled. He sat cross-legged on the ground and closed his eyes. The moment he did so, a vast soul power spread out from between his eyebrows like a tide.

The power of the soul spread across the sky like ripples on water, and that strange, spiritual feeling accompanied the spread of the soul power.

Xiao Li's soul is undergoing a transformation, gradually giving birth to wisps of spiritual energy.

Both Mang Tianchi and Su Wanyin noticed Xiao Li's movements.

Mang Tianchi: "This kid is truly outrageous. He can have an epiphany just by looking at the stars?"

Su Wanyin covered her mouth and smiled.

Xiao Li's soul power was rising, but suddenly stopped. Xiao Li found the feeling he had before, and his soul power began to shrink. Just then, an old voice entered Xiao Li's ears.

"At the pinnacle of the soul, one draws stars into the body, gathers stars to form spirits, and forges the soul by absorbing these spirits."

"Which senior is it?" Xiao Li asked inwardly.

"Calm your mind and focus your spirit, then circulate your soul power according to this mantra."

Xiao Li heard the aged voice again and, confirming that he was not hallucinating, continued to recite the incantation. After reciting the incantation three times, Xiao Li suddenly sensed the presence of spiritual energy in the world!

Spiritual energy is an extremely mysterious form of energy. It does not possess the power of battle qi, but it is a great source of nourishment for the soul. However, spiritual energy is like chaos and is extremely difficult to sense.

In ancient times, alchemists were able to sense and absorb spiritual energy because they possessed special soul skills. However, in this era, those so-called mysterious soul skills have long since disappeared, and few alchemists know how to sense and absorb spiritual energy.

While reciting this incantation, Xiao Li was able to absorb a trace of spiritual energy. This incantation was enough to drive any seventh-grade alchemist crazy!

Xiao Li continued to close his eyes and silently recite the incantation, then tried his best to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Not far away, on the top of a tall building, the old man who had been there during the day stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at Xiao Li's location with a smile on his face.

"This child is teachable. Since we have some connection, I'll lend him a hand. Let's see what he can achieve after this year's Alchemy Conference."

The old man disappeared after he finished speaking, without causing any ripples in the surrounding space.

Xiao Li sat there for an entire night. When the morning sun shone into Saint Pill City, Xiao Li's enlightenment came to an end. He opened his eyes and felt that everything around him was much clearer.

A night of cultivation left Xiao Li feeling extremely refreshed. The absorption of a few strands of spiritual energy had swept away all the fatigue he had been experiencing these past few days. Xiao Li even felt that in his current state of clarity, he could refine a peak seventh-grade pill!

Mang Tianchi sat around Xiao Li, holding a wine pot in his hand, looking at Xiao Li as if he were a monster.

"How did this kid's soul realm rise from the peak of the mortal realm to the half-step spiritual realm after sitting for just one night? Can stargazing really have such an effect?"

"That doesn't make sense either. Aren't the stars in Saint Dan City those things? This is strange."

The monk, Zhang Er, was completely baffled. He then stopped thinking about it and took a big gulp of wine. To him, the more outrageous the little guy was, the more face he would save.

Chapter 84 Assessment

Xiao Li stood up. Today he was going to take the alchemist badge exam. He himself also had an alchemist badge, a fifth-grade alchemist badge issued by the Alchemist Guild.

In terms of prestige, the Alchemist Guild's badge is nowhere near as valuable as the Dan Tower's badge.

"Master's wife, let's go take the assessment." Xiao Li had never been to Saint Pill City before. Saint Pill City was ridiculously large, and Xiao Li felt that he would easily get lost if he walked around.

"Okay, let's go." Su Wanyin led the way, with Mang Tianchi following closely behind. He knew that Saint Pill City was a mixed bag, with not only participants but also the five major families of the Pill Tower.

Mang Tianchi knew those arrogant alchemists who, despite having little skill, acted like they were second to none. Mang Tianchi wanted to punch them every time he saw them.

Mang Tianchi suddenly thought of something: "Xiao... cough cough kid, after you finish the Pill Tower assessment, you can go to the Alchemist Trade Fair. There are probably a lot of good stuff there."

Xiao Li nodded: "Understood."

Su Wanyin led Xiao Li around for nearly ten minutes before finally stopping outside an ancient stone tower in the outer region of Saint Pill City. At this moment, countless alchemists were constantly coming and going outside the stone tower, and the noisy commotion turned into waves of sound that spread outwards.

"This is a branch tower established by the Pill Tower, similar to the branches of the Alchemist Guilds of the empires on the continent," Su Wanyin explained to Xiao Li, introducing the stone tower.

"The western part of the tower is the trading area, where many alchemists trade the medicinal herbs or pills they need... However, there are generally not many good items here."

In two months, there will be a special trade fair in Saint Pill City. This trade fair is for alchemists to trade with each other. Only alchemists who have been certified by the Pill Tower or Dou Zun powerhouses are qualified to participate.

We can go there; they often find many rare things there.

Su Wanyin, as expected of the Valley Master of Yin Valley, has an extremely detailed understanding of the Pill Tower.

Xiao Li frowned as he looked at the long queue. He hated queuing the most.

Su Wanyin ignored the crowd and walked straight to the front. As the Valley Master of Yin Valley, she naturally had some authority, and even the President of the Pill Tower would give her some face.

Not long after, Su Wanyin brought Xiao Li to the special testing room of the branch tower.

The room was quite spacious and extremely quiet, with no noise from the outside world reaching in. At this moment, there were about a dozen people standing in the room, and their gazes were fixed on Xiao Li and his companions.

"Valley Master Su!"

Soon, these people recognized the veiled beauty.

Just then, an old man dressed in a purple alchemist's robe came to Su Wanyin, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Valley Master Su, I am sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

"No need, Steward Zhou, please begin." Su Wanyin had no interest in talking to them any longer.

The steward surnamed Zhou was not angry. After all, the person in front of him was the Valley Master of one of the Three Valleys, and also Su Wanyin, a famous beauty in Zhongzhou. It was already an honor to be able to receive her.

Deacon Zhou looked at Xiao Li, already knowing that the person from Yin Gu who came for the assessment this time was a young man.

"Young man, what level of badge are you planning to take the exam for?"

Xiao Li: "What's the highest level you can pass here?"

Deacon Zhou was also taken aback, not expecting this young man to ask such a question: "Seventh grade, high level! Because I am only a seventh grade, mid level alchemist."

Xiao Li: "Then let's take the intermediate seventh-grade exam."

Inside the room, the atmosphere became unusually quiet because of Xiao Li's earlier words. Countless gazes stared at him in astonishment, which gradually dissipated after a moment, transforming into a few sneers.

However, they kept their voices low, after all, the Valley Master of Yin Valley was here, and even though their family was powerful, they were no match for Yin Valley, one of the three valleys.

However, no matter how low they lowered their voices, everyone present could hear them. Xiao Li frowned, then grinned.

An extremely strong soul fluctuation emanated from it, causing those who had been mocking him to fall to the ground.

"Soul power at the peak of the mortal realm!" Deacon Zhou exclaimed in surprise. No wonder this young man asked him what level he could take the exam. This kind of soul power is enough to refine a peak seventh-grade pill.

Xiao Li glanced at the person on the ground who had been mocking but was now filled with fear, and sneered, "A frog in a well!"

"Young friend, come with me. I will personally test you." Deacon Zhou's tone was now quite respectful.

"Thank you very much, Deacon Zhou," Xiao Li said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Deacon Zhou led Xiao Li into the Heavenly-level room, which was a special room for those taking the seventh-rank exam.

Time flowed on and on, and as time went on, the other families hoped that Xiao Li would fail so that they could vent their anger!

crunch--

The door to the Heavenly-level room opened, and Xiao Li walked out, wearing a Dan Tower-certified alchemist badge on his chest.

The badge is dark in color, with flames swirling around it. Within the flames is a colossal tower reaching the sky, and on the tower, seven dazzling purple-gold stars shimmer, though the seventh star is now slightly dim.

Those guys who hoped for Xiao Li's failure all had their mouths agape.

Xiao Li ignored them and walked straight towards Su Wanyin and Mang Tianchi's location.

Deacon Zhou sighed: "The seventh-grade intermediate level is too easy for him. If he hadn't been so convenient, he would probably be at least the seventh-grade advanced level, or even the seventh-grade peak level."

After Xiao Li completed the assessment, he left. He didn't care about the family members and had no idea that Xiao Li's success had caused these so-called alchemy geniuses to have a mental breakdown, and most of them failed the assessment.

Since the alchemist trade fair wouldn't open for some time, Xiao Li wandered around Saint Pill City, hoping to find some good deals.

As the Dan Conference draws ever closer, the number of people in Saint Pill City is becoming increasingly staggering. Not only during the day, but also at night, the noise is deafening.

Naturally, it was a place teeming with all sorts of people from all walks of life, and some strange and unusual things circulated there, including some genuine treasures.

Of course, this is assuming your eyesight is good enough!

Xiao Li found an ancient-looking disc, but he couldn't tell what it was. His soul power penetration was useless, and he didn't know if burning it with a strange fire would be effective. However, in front of so many people, Xiao Li would not reveal his strange fire.

Xiao Li felt that the disc was very old and might contain something valuable, but the method of finding it was wrong. Perhaps he could take it back to Su Wanyin or the Dean to take a look.

Then I browsed the trading area in the outer realms and found nothing particularly special. I bought some medicinal herbs for refining pills, but nothing else of note.

"What kind of pills should I refine at this pill refining competition? With my current cultivation level of a six-star Dou Huang, I probably can't refine an eighth-grade pill, but I have a 30-40% chance of refining a peak seventh-grade pill."

The main problem is that my battle qi can't keep up. Before the Pill Gathering starts, I can only raise my cultivation to the Seven-Star Dou Huang level at most. Alas, what a pity!

If I had the cultivation level of a Dou Zong, perhaps I could refine an eighth-grade pill?

Xiao Li shook his head. He was only twenty-two years old. With the cultivation of a six-star Dou Huang and the status of a seventh-grade alchemist, he was definitely a standout among the younger generation. Unfortunately, Xiao Li felt that he was still not strong enough.

Chapter 85 Alchemist Trade Fair

Two months have passed quietly.