A month passed quietly. During this time, Xiao Li focused on three things: Cultivating Dou Qi, Cultivating Soul Power, and Alchemy.
From time to time, Pill Lightning would appear above the academy where Su Wanyin resided. Each time the Pill Lightning emerged, a golden-silver figure would appear to resist it, which was considered a marvel in Holy Pill City.
In this past month, Xiao Li, through Cultivating Dou Qi and consuming Elixirs, reached the Eight-Star Dou Huang Realm. It was truly a pity that he was still a considerable distance from the Dou Zong Realm.
In terms of his Soul, Xiao Li had already touched the barrier of the Spirit Realm. As long as he broke through this barrier, his Soul Realm would reach the Spirit Realm!
Today, Holy Pill City would truly be the center of attention, with the eyes of the entire Central Plains converging here, awaiting the appearance of the person who could stand firm until the very last moment!
Every generation's Pill Gathering champion had, without exception, left a formidable reputation in the history of the Fighting Qi Continent. It was precisely because of this that the prestige of the Pill Gathering was magnified infinitely. Whoever could become the final champion would undoubtedly have a prominent entry added to the future history of the Fighting Qi Continent.
Xiao Li put on the purple Alchemist robe issued by the Pill Tower. On his chest was a Seventh-Grade Intermediate Alchemist badge, also issued by the Pill Tower, a symbol of his status!
Mang Tianchi and Su Wanyin looked at Xiao Li, dressed so formally, with smiles on their faces.
Dean Bu Tianchi patted Xiao Li's shoulder, "You are the most outstanding student of Jia Nan Academy. There's no need to be nervous; just do Alchemy as you usually do. I, the Dean, believe in you. It's a pity you're too young; I should have let you participate in the next one."
"However, winning the next one might be a sure thing for you, hahahahaha! Go for it!"
Su Wanyin smiled and said, "You are now standing on the highest stage for Alchemists. If Wang Ming were here, he would definitely be proud of you. Go for it! Carry your teacher's legacy and tell the Fighting Qi Continent, tell the Alchemist world, that a new star is rising!"
"Understood." Xiao Li walked towards the venue of the Central Region Pill Gathering with a confident smile on his face.
The venue for the Pill Gathering was located in the northern district of the inner region, and that area had been occupied by a terrifying sea of people days ago.
When Xiao Li and his group arrived, they could only see an endless, dense ocean of heads, and a deafening clamor rose into the sky.
It eventually transformed into a terrifying sound wave that spread out, clearly audible within a hundred-mile radius.
Xiao Li and his group stood on a building, looking around, and only then did they realize that this area was a vast square, nearly a thousand zhang in size. In the air above the square, numerous stone platforms were suspended out of thin air. These stone platforms faintly emitted light, appearing quite mystical.
"Lier, those stone platforms are the final seats for the contestants. The Pill Gathering has two more major stages. The first stage is the Illusion Realm. In this stage, you must maintain your original heart and not be disturbed by the illusion.
At crucial moments, unleash the Heavenly Sound Tremor. After passing the Illusion Realm stage, you can enter the Pill Realm. I've already told you the details of the Pill Realm. Complete the task list, collect enough medicinal ingredients, and exchange them for spatial stones to exit the Pill Realm and participate in the final competition!
After completing the Illusion Realm stage and the Pill Realm tasks, you can ascend to the stone platforms! Only on the stone platforms can you fully display your talents!"
Su Wanyin explained the rules and procedures of the Pill Gathering to Xiao Li, sounding almost like an overprotective mother.
"Understood, thank you, Teacher's Wife. Wait for my good news!" Xiao Li clasped his fists. Teacher's Wife Su Wanyin had been truly kind to him during this time. It seemed the relationship between his teacher and Su Wanyin was more than just casual.
Dean Bu Tianchi also leaned in and whispered, "The Pill Tower will not interfere with what happens in the Pill Realm. It is the most dangerous place, and also where I cannot protect you.
However, you now have the Earth Demon Puppet as a trump card, a Puppet equivalent to a Two-Star Dou Zun. Those contestants can weigh their options.
It seems there are no Hall of Souls members among the participants this time, but you must be careful. Hall of Souls members are very likely to have concealed themselves. They love to hunt the Souls of Alchemists. Be cautious in everything.
Xiao Li nodded heavily, "Understood."
"Dong!"
Just as they were talking, a clear bell chime suddenly resonated across the heavens and earth. The bell chime spread out grandly, even suppressing the thunderous clamor.
As the bell chime sounded, the world became much quieter. Countless gazes swiftly fixed upon the towering, pagoda-like stone platform on the eastern side of the square. That was where the Pill Tower's high-ranking officials would appear.
And not long after the bell chime, bursts of wind-breaking sounds suddenly arose. Immediately, the space on the stone platform subtly warped, and more than a dozen figures slowly emerged.
The white-robed elder leading these dozen figures was Xuan Kongzi, whom Xiao Li had seen that day! He was one of the Pill Tower's Three Giants. Standing on either side of Xuan Kongzi were the other two members of the Three Giants.
To Xuan Kongzi's left was an elderly man with dark skin and a poker face.
To Xuan Kongzi's right was a beautiful woman, appearing to be in her early thirties, dressed in a luxurious cheongsam.
"The Pill Tower's Three Giants: Xuan Kongzi, Tian Leizi, and Xuan Yi!"
The Pill Tower's Three Giants, this title, not to mention in the Central Plains, but even across the entire Fighting Qi Continent, was truly renowned. These three individuals generally existed only in legends, but now they appeared at the Pill Gathering.
Xuan Kongzi stepped forward and then declared loudly, "Hehe, I am Xuan Kongzi. On behalf of the Pill Tower, I welcome all Alchemists who have come here. In the coming days, this will be the stage for you to showcase your talents... Since you have traveled thousands of miles for the Pill Gathering, I will not waste any more time here. Hehe, the Pill Gathering, as always, will be divided into three stages: First... Second... Third.."
"Only by passing these three selections and remaining standing at the end will one become the champion of this Pill Gathering."
"This year's champion will not only receive a nomination for a Pill Tower Giant but also obtain a scroll containing an ancient Soul Cultivation method. In the future, reaching the Eighth-Grade or even Ninth-Grade level will be within reach!"
"Oh, and everyone, the Pill Tower has introduced an additional reward this time. You only need to enter the top ten in the final showdown. This is a great Opportunity; let's see if you can seize it!"
Xuan Kongzi's words caused an uproar among everyone present. Cheers, exclamations, and roars swept across the entire venue like an explosion.
"The time has come. All contestants above Fifth-Grade, please enter the first stage, the Soul Illusion Realm!"
Xuan Kongzi's finger suddenly pointed towards the vast square. There, deep gray space rapidly twisted, forming peculiar worlds of its own, displaying many profound mysteries.
No sooner had Xuan Kongzi finished speaking than figures shot out from the endless sea of people. Then, like a swarm of locusts, they swept across the sky in an overwhelming tide, all plunging into that twisted space.
Xiao Li watched the figures continuously entering the twisted space in the sky, took a deep breath, and spread his black Dou Qi wings, flying towards the space.
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