"Alright, I've basically covered all the important things to note. Your teacher can teach you the rest." Xuan Yi looked at the black-robed girl, who seemed a bit languid.
The woman, leaning back in her chair, gently blinked her long, captivating eyes. Her fair fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair:
"Hmm, after hearing all this from Junior Martial Uncle Xuan Yi today, I think I can try refining a higher-grade medicinal pill."
Her voice carried a unique languor, her intonation rising slightly at the end, making one feel as if their heart was being gently tickled by a feather.
"What I said was that helpful to you? Never mind, never mind. Your teacher is also willing to let you experiment with medicinal ingredients. After all, you are currently the leader among the young alchemists of the Pill Tower." Xuan Yi waved her hand indifferently.
The woman heard two very familiar words in Xuan Yi's statement, and her eyes couldn't help but narrow slightly. A hint of excitement flashed deep within her pupils.
She sat up straight, her black-blue dress outlining a breathtaking curve with her movement.
"Of course. Everything you said was very straightforward. Moreover, the books in the Pill Tower have no record of this completely new knowledge. For me, it was truly beneficial."
"Then, if I don't understand anything in the future, can I come to you?"
With that, the woman playfully blinked her eyes.
When Xuan Yi heard the woman's words, a hint of pride appeared on her face. She thought to herself, Of course there's no record. His alchemy book contains even more profound records and knowledge. What is this even?
Xiao Jietian and Xuan Yi understood each other completely. Xiao Jietian was never stingy with his woman, having long ago instilled the entire alchemy book into Xuan Yi for her to learn.
Xuan Yi could now completely attempt to refine a ninth-grade profound pill; she just hadn't tried yet.
"Hmm, it's good if it's useful to you. Of course, you can come and ask me if you don't understand anything. After all, I am your Junior Martial Uncle, and it's my duty to look after you."
"I do have one thing I don't understand." The woman leaned forward, her sleeve 'accidentally' knocking over a teacup, but she gently held it with her soul power.
Xuan Yi felt the aura of the other party's soul power. Her expression slightly startled, a hint of doubt quickly flashing in her eyes, then she quickly recovered. "Tell me."
All of Xuan Yi's changes in expression fell into the black-robed woman's eyes. The corners of her mouth curved up almost imperceptibly. "I heard that Junior Martial Uncle found a partner. I wonder how far your relationship has developed."
Upon hearing the other party's words, Xuan Yi couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head, extending a slender finger to tap her smooth forehead. "You sly demoness! So you were waiting for me here!"
Xuan Yi playfully scolded, but there was little blame in her tone. Instead, it carried a hint of helplessness and doting toward a mischievous junior. "What, when did you, our Cao family's demoness, become so interested in such gossip and trivial matters?"
The woman, whose forehead was tapped, did not dodge. She propped her chin with her hand, her black-blue sleeve sliding down to reveal a section of her snow-white wrist. A faint smile appeared in her eyes.
"Junior Martial Uncle Xuan Yi, what you said… I'm just concerned about you. Think about it, someone who can capture your heart must be an extraordinary person. I'm just curious what kind of charm it takes to be worthy of your unparalleled grace."
Xuan Yi put down the teacup. A faint blush crossed her face, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a gentle smile, adding a few more points of charm to her.
She glared at Cao Ying, not in a good mood, but her tone softened a bit: "You girl, you only know how to say pleasant things. No wonder everyone calls you a demoness. If there's an opportunity in the future, you'll naturally know. For now, you should worry about your alchemy. The competition in this Pill Gathering is much fiercer than in previous years."
The woman was clearly intelligent. Seeing that Xuan Yi did not explicitly state it, but the satisfaction and protectiveness in her demeanor and tone already explained everything.
She smiled sweetly, then gracefully stood up, straightening her skirt: "Junior Martial Uncle's teachings are wise. I plan to go back now and review what you said today to see if I can further improve my alchemy."
"Good."
The woman bowed gracefully, said her goodbyes, and left through the study door.
Returning to her exclusive room in the Pill Tower, the woman took a deep breath, slowly closed her eyes, and recalled everything that had happened.
When she opened her eyes again, a knowing arc curved at her red lips. Her eyes filled with determination, and she secretly thought, I will not give up.
As soon as she thought of this, she remembered her good-for-nothing younger brother. If he hadn't been crazy enough to drive that person away back then, things might not be like this now.
Never mind, never mind. After this seclusion ends, I'll go back and teach that idiotic brother a lesson to vent my frustration…
While Xiao Jietian was busy, Xiao Yan was in the Ye Family.
During the three days Xiao Jietian spent traveling with Xiao Yan on the Heaven-Reaching Flood Dragon from the Southern Region to the Pill Tower, Medusa had led the Boundless Heaven Hall's army, traveling by flying boat, to the Ice River Valley's stronghold, directly annihilating the entire Ice River Valley.
She took over all the territory and resources of the Ice River Valley.
At this point, the Ice River Valley and the Wind and Thunder Pavilion—once part of the "One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, Four Pavilions"—had been removed.
Coupled with the previous revelation of an Advanced Half-Saint presiding there, the events within the ruins were now widely publicized by those who escaped, further revealing that the Boundless Heaven Hall Master was also a Half-Saint, though her specific realm was unknown.
Thus, the Boundless Heaven Hall, with two Half-Saints presiding, became the strongest overt force. For a time, many young people flocked to Eternal Heaven City in the Northern Region, hoping to join it.
As for the other forces, large and small, they were all observing the Boundless Heaven Hall's next move, fearing that they might be targeted next.
After all, the Boundless Heaven Hall had been constantly engaged in warfare, demonstrating strong aggression…
When Xiao Jietian was busy, Xiao Yan was currently with the Ye Family.
While at the Boundless Heaven Hall, the Ye Family—one of the Pill Tower's five great families—also sought Xiao Jietian through Jia Nan Academy, but Xiao Jietian, uninterested, directly referred them to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan agreed, but this time the Ye Family paid a considerable price. In the original story, the Three Thousand Burning Flame's information was the price, but this time Xiao Yan already knew about this flame early on through Xiao Jietian.
So this time, the Ye Family offered many treasured medicinal pill recipes, various good items, and information about a Ground Fire to move Xiao Yan.
However, Xiao Yan did not encounter Cao Dan this time, because Cao Dan currently had no mind for the temporarily negotiated marriage alliance.
He now dared not even leave his home, only wanting to refine more healing medicinal pills and figure out how to improve his alchemist skills a little.
His sister, because of that incident, constantly tested his alchemist skills; if he didn't show any progress, she would beat him up, and he couldn't resist at all.
If he resisted, then his father and the Elders would gang up on him.
Cao Dan was almost emo. "I can't live like this anymore! When will it end?!!!"
Every time he dreamed, he wished Xiao Jietian would appear at the gate again, begging him to enter the family…
Holy Pill City, Inner Region, the exclusive assessment ground for the five great families.
Inside the grand hall, there were two huge special metal lists, with the same person, Cao Ying, at the top of both, and she was leading by a significant margin.
At this moment, an assessment was underway in the center of the hall, with Xiao Yan participating as the Ye Family's son-in-law.
The other four great families sent Dan Xuan from the Dan Family, Cao Xiu from the Cao Family, Bai Ying from the Bai Family, and Qiu Ji from the Qiu Family.
In one of the family seats, a woman in a black dress leaned lazily against a chair. Her laziness was tinged with a hint of charm, making her captivating and exuding demonic Qi.
Her jade hands rotated two smooth jade beads, and her eyes scanned the surroundings casually, looking for that familiar yet strange figure.
She hadn't planned to attend this assessment. She already knew that many extraordinary individuals had emerged in this generation, and she intended to go into seclusion again to see if she could make progress.
But she saw a name on the list: Xiao Yan.
After absorbing the knowledge taught by Xuan Yi a while ago, she went to find her teacher.
And her teacher, after her persistent pleading, finally chose to show her all the sealed information about Xiao Jietian.
The name Xiao Yan was precisely recorded in that information as Xiao Jietian's twin brother.
However, she wasn't sure if it was the same person, so she ultimately decided to observe first, hoping to find an answer.
Watching Xiao Yan produce a terrifying data of 1533, she became even more certain of Xiao Yan's identity.
One must know that a soul value of 1533 was equivalent to the soul power of a Grade 8 alchemist.
After all, he was so outstanding, his younger brother certainly wouldn't be far behind. However, she still needed to inquire after the assessment to confirm. She now felt herself getting closer and closer to him.
She watched boredly as the five individuals below prepared for the next test, receiving Soul Measuring Beads.
Xiao Yan in the arena, seeing the Soul Measuring Beads pouring down like rain, retreated a few steps.
He first used his soul power to form an invisible palm, attempting to catch one of them. When the Soul Measuring Bead was caught between two fingers of the palm, Xiao Yan felt a heavy sensation, as if he wasn't holding a small bead, but a giant rock weighing a thousand catties.
Xiao Yan looked at the Soul Measuring Beads floating around him, and at the others struggling to catch them one by one. Perhaps it was the confidence brought by the Moonlight Soul Refining Art given by Xiao Jietian, but a crazy idea sprouted in his heart.
He fully circulated the Moonlight Soul Refining Art, continuously condensing his soul power.
"What is he trying to do by condensing so much soul power? He's not trying to catch many Soul Measuring Beads at once, is he?"
"He shouldn't be. Elder Sheng also said that dispersing soul power is a foolish act, and in the end, it will all be for naught."
Xiao Yan ignored the discussions around him. Instead, he circulated his soul Dou Technique, Soul Shattering Palm, to condense an invisible palm the size of a millstone, reaching out towards the Soul Measuring Beads.
"Holy crap, he's actually doing it! He's truly a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger!"
The surrounding people were startled by Xiao Yan's actions.
Feeling the cultivation technique aura and this soul Dou Technique emanating from Xiao Yan, the black-dressed woman, who had been lazily leaning back in her seat, suddenly straightened her body. Her fingertips unconsciously tightened, making the armrest creak faintly.
Her beautiful eyes, which had held a hint of aloofness and laziness, now suddenly narrowed, fixed intently on the slender young man in the arena.
"This is…?!?"
She was extremely familiar with these two things. This cultivation technique had helped her break through to the Spirit Realm soul, and the Dou Technique was something he had left for her as well.
Xiao Yan's soul palm grabbed over 120 Soul Measuring Beads. Feeling the terrifying weight within them, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, struggling to pull these soul beads back to his side.
Just as Xiao Yan succeeded, a whooshing sound echoed.
Tear!
A black figure, like a flash of lightning, completely disregarded the ongoing soul test and instantly appeared before Xiao Yan.
The speed was so fast that many people around didn't even react.