Xiao Qing put away the jade bottle, his gaze calmly shifting to the opposite stone platform, where Qiu Chen stood, looking dejected as if he had lost his soul, and spoke indifferently:

"I accept your concession."

"Remember to send someone to deliver the Yin and Yang Life soul Pill Formula to my residence later."

After speaking, he didn't spare Qiu Chen another glance, put away the Myriad Beast Cauldron and Gold Puppet, turned around, and calmly walked down the stone platform.

Wherever he passed, the crowded crowd automatically parted like a tide, leaving a wide path.

Every young Alchemist, regardless of their previous mindset.

In their gazes looking at him at this moment, only pure awe and admiration remained, with no trace of doubt or defiance.

Elder Wang excitedly stepped forward, his old face flushing with excitement, and his voice trembled slightly:

"Grandmaster Xiao... from this day forward, your name will surely shake the entire Pill Tower and resound throughout the entire Central Plains Alchemist world!"

"The number one Alchemist of the younger generation, it can be none other than you!"

Xiao Qing just nodded slightly at him, his face still devoid of any proud expression.

As if everything he had just done was merely a trivial matter.

Chapter 126, The Name of Xiao Qing Spreads Throughout Holy Pill City 【Seeking Monthly Tickets!】

At the Pill Tower Alchemist Exchange Meeting, Xiao Qing, with an unrivaled posture, publicly refined an 8th-Grade Pill that triggered four-colored Pill Lightning.

This news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, the ripples spreading to every corner of Holy Pill City in a very short time.

And it was spreading towards the entire Central Plains at an even faster speed.

"Four-colored Pill Lightning! My god!"

"You didn't see it at the time, those dark clouds pressing down, four colors of lightning rolling, it felt like the sky was about to collapse!"

"That Xiao Qing, how old does he look?"

"Not even twenty, right?"

"He is already an Intermediate Grade 8 Alchemist!"

"How are we old guys who have lived for seventy or eighty years and are still struggling at the fifth or sixth grade supposed to live?"

"The disciple of the Medicine Saint, indeed, cannot be judged by common sense."

"Some people were unconvinced before, but now it's fine, that kid Qiu Chen has lost face to the point of no return, even losing his ancestral Pill Formula."

"From today on, the title of the number one Alchemist of the younger generation in the Central Plains is completely solidified, and no one dares to have any objections."

Similar discussions were endless in the various lecture halls, corridors, and even the canteens of the Pill Tower.

Everyone who had held a shred of doubt or defiance towards Xiao Qing before now completely shut their mouths.

Replaced by deep shock and a kind of unattainable awe.

Walking inside the Pill Tower, wherever Xiao Qing went, he was met with extremely respectful salutes and gazes mixed with curiosity and worship.

He had become a new peak that young Alchemists in the Pill Tower needed to look up to.

Meanwhile, inside the Qiu Clan, the atmosphere was much more oppressive and heavy.

In a luxuriously decorated study, a middle-aged man with a dignified face.

A senior Grade 8 Alchemist of the Pill Tower, the Patriarch of the Qiu Clan, and also Qiu Chen's father.

At this moment, his face was so gloomy it was almost dripping water.

In front of him was the dejected Qiu Chen.

"You have lost all the face of my Qiu Clan!"

The Qiu Clan Patriarch slammed the table, and the high-quality ironwood tabletop was instantly covered in cracks.

"Usually you are arrogant, but at the critical moment, you are so vulnerable!"

"That Yin and Yang Life soul Pill Formula is one of the foundations of our Qiu Clan's foothold in the Pill Tower, and you..."

"You actually dared to use it as a bet, and you lost!"

Qiu Chen buried his head low, not daring to say a word.

He knew that this time, he had not only ruined his own reputation but also brought huge losses and humiliation to the Clan.

An Elder nearby sighed and persuaded: "Patriarch, things have reached this point, scolding is of no use."

"That Xiao Qing... is indeed too much of a monstrous talent."

"Who could have imagined that he, at such a young age, would have such terrifying attainments in Alchemy?"

"This matter still needs to be considered in the long term, that Pill Formula..."

"I'm afraid we have to give it, with the soul contract in place, we cannot deny it."

"It's just that for this Xiao Qing, in the future, our Qiu Clan must absolutely not offend him easily again."

The Qiu Clan Patriarch's chest heaved violently, and finally, he slumped powerlessly into his chair, waving his hand to signal Qiu Chen to get out.

He rubbed his aching brow, his heart filled with wariness towards the young man named Xiao Qing.

Meanwhile, in another grand mansion in Holy Pill City, the Cao Clan.

The Cao Clan Patriarch, a middle-aged man who looked quite scholarly, was listening to his subordinates report in detail about the situation at the exchange meeting.

When he heard that Xiao Qing had triggered four-colored Pill Lightning and even summoned a strange Puppet capable of absorbing Pill Lightning and using it to achieve a breakthrough, his face revealed unconcealable shock.

"An under-twenty-year-old four-colored or even higher Grade 8 Alchemist..."

"Possessing an unknown powerful Heavenly Flame, owning the Myriad Beast Cauldron from the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking, and having such a magical Puppet..."

The Cao Clan Patriarch muttered to himself, his eyes flashing with sharp light.

"This child's future is limitless!"

"If we can befriend him, it might be a huge fated opportunity for our Cao Clan."

He was already calculating in his heart how to find a suitable time to make contact with this newly emerged supernova of the Alchemist world.

Behind him, a little girl of about seven or eight years old, with big and bright eyes, was standing on tiptoe, curiously listening to the adults' conversation.

She tilted her head and whispered: "Xiao Qing... sounds very impressive? Is he even more impressive than Father?"

This little girl was none other than Cao Ying, the most talented of the Cao Clan's generation.

However, at this moment, she had not yet formally displayed that astonishing Alchemy talent, nor had she been noticed by Xuan Kongzi to be taken as a disciple.

But the name "Xiao Qing" had already planted a seed of curiosity in her young heart.

Just as the outside world was buzzing because of Xiao Qing, the person in question, Xiao Qing, appeared unusually calm.

He didn't even stay in his residence to enjoy those countless gazes of awe.

Instead, as usual, he walked around the Pill Tower at will, familiarizing himself with the environment.

This day, in a relatively quiet courtyard, he met Dan Xuan, who had been waiting there for a long time.

Seeing Xiao Qing, Dan Xuan had no jealousy or resentment on his face, but instead, with a sincere smile, he took the initiative to welcome him and solemnly cupped his hands at Xiao Qing:

"Brother Xiao, yesterday on the stone platform, Dan Xuan witnessed Brother Xiao's miraculous skills with my own eyes, and in my heart, there is only the word 'admiration'."

"If there was any neglect before because we were not familiar, I hope Brother Xiao will not take offense."

Xiao Qing looked at the young man in white robes before him, who had a gentle temperament and clear eyes.

He could feel the sincerity in the other's words, which was not hypocritical or perfunctory.

He also politely returned the salute and said: "Brother Dan Xuan, you are too serious; exchanging pointers is a common occurrence."

"Brother Dan Xuan's Alchemy is also a leader among peers; Xiao Qing has long admired it."

Seeing Xiao Qing's peaceful attitude and lack of arrogance, Dan Xuan's favorable impression increased, and he smiled: "Brother Xiao, you flatter me; compared to you, my meager skills are truly not worth mentioning."

"I wonder if after the conference, Brother Xiao could spare some time to allow me to ask some questions about Alchemy?"

"Of course, if it is inconvenient for Brother Xiao, it doesn't matter."

Xiao Qing had a good impression of Dan Xuan and felt that this person could be befriended, so he nodded: "Brother Dan Xuan is too polite; it is just mutual discussion."

"After the matters here are settled, if there is leisure time, you and I can find a quiet room to boil tea and discuss the Dao."

"That would be great! Then Dan Xuan will thank you in advance and will not disturb Brother Xiao." Dan Xuan's face showed joy, he cupped his hands again, and then took his leave.

He knew that being able to communicate with a Genius like Xiao Qing would surely be of great benefit to himself.

...

On the top floor of the Pill Tower, in a confidential Council Chamber that was extremely heavily guarded and filled with barriers to isolate soul probing.

Yao Chen, Xuan Kongzi, Tian Leizi, and Xuan Yi gathered again.

Unlike the formalities during the last welcome, this time the atmosphere was significantly more serious.

Xuan Kongzi gently rubbed an ancient ring on his finger, his gaze turned to Yao Chen, and he spoke in a steady tone:

"Yao Chen, Junior Nephew Xiao's shocking performance at the exchange meeting this time, the Alchemy talent he displayed, is even more terrifying than yours back then!"

"It is truly the only one we have seen in our lives, and he can be called a rare Genius in our Alchemist world in a thousand years."

"I think your bringing him to Holy Pill City in person this time is probably not just for him to participate in this exchange meeting and make a name for himself, right?"

Yao Chen picked up the teacup in front of him, gently blew away the foam, and frankly admitted: "That's right, Qing'er's main goal in coming here is the Three Thousand Burning Flame."

Although he had long guessed it, Tian Leizi still stated the Pill Tower's subsequent arrangements for the Three Thousand Burning Flame:

"The Three Thousand Burning Flame is sealed within the Star Domain. This matter is of great importance. This flame is one of the important items for our Pill Tower to suppress Qi Fortune."

"According to the rules of the Pill Tower, only by passing the next Pill Gathering selection and becoming the champion will one have the fated opportunity to enter the Star Domain and attempt to subdue it."

"The next Pill Gathering, if calculated, will take at least another ten-plus years..."

Xuan Yi looked at Yao Chen, her eyes filled with gentleness and determination. She spoke softly, but her voice clearly entered everyone's ears:

"Yao Chen, rules are dead, but people are alive."

"With the Alchemy Xiao Qing has displayed now, it has long since far exceeded the level of past Pill Gathering champions; this is a fact that everyone can see. Moreover..."

Her tone turned serious.

"The Soul Hall has been acting more and more frequently in recent years, and their infiltration and spying on our Pill Tower are also intensifying day by day."

"The Three Thousand Burning Flame has infinite power and possesses the characteristic of an immortal body."

"This kind of Heavenly Flame, no matter what, must never fall into the hands of those people from the Soul Hall!"

Yao Chen put down the teacup, his eyes becoming sharp, and said in a deep voice: "Xuan Yi is right; the Soul Hall, towards me and the Starfall Pavilion, has long been an irreconcilable situation."

"Enhancing our own strength to cope with future crises brooks no delay."

"If Qing'er can successfully subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame, relying on his unique Physique and cultivation technique, his strength will surely usher in a huge leap."

"This is crucial for him personally, for the Starfall Pavilion, and even for dealing with the threat of the Soul Hall in the future."

Xuan Kongzi was silent for a moment, his fingers tapping the table rhythmically, making a ticking sound.

He exchanged a look with Tian Leizi and Xuan Yi beside him, and all three saw the same determination in each other's eyes.

Finally, Xuan Kongzi slowly exhaled and made a decision. He looked at Yao Chen with a solemn tone: "Rules... are not entirely inflexible."

"Junior Nephew Xiao Qing has indeed proven with his indisputable strength that he possesses this qualification and potential."

"However, opening the Star Domain is no small matter and is not something the three of us can do at will."

"It requires all three giants to act simultaneously, and it must wait for a suitable fated opportunity."

"Only when the power of the stars in the night sky moves to the weakest specific node can the Star Domain passage be temporarily opened with the least cost..."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious, even carrying a hint of warning: "In addition, there is one more critical issue."

"The eyes and ears of the Soul Hall are everywhere. Junior Nephew Xiao Qing has caused such a big commotion here; they must already know and have likely guessed his goal."

"They will never sit by and watch Xiao Qing enter the Star Domain smoothly, and even less will they watch him subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame."

"I can almost conclude that when we open the Star Domain and Junior Nephew Xiao Qing enters it, the Soul Hall will definitely come to obstruct."

"Even... it will be a carefully planned attack. At that time, I am afraid there will be a fierce battle."

A cold light flashed in Yao Chen's eyes, although the aura around his body remained peaceful.

But that invisible pressure belonging to a Dou Sheng made the air in the Council Chamber stagnate for a moment, and he said coldly: "If they dare to come, that is perfect!"