'The original record mentioned that time flows differently within the Heavenly Tomb. If Xiao Yan truly entered it and received Xiao Xuan's residual bloodline, gaining the strength of a 2-Star Dou Zun isn't impossible.'
Liu Xi rested his elbow on the armrest, fingers pressed lightly against his temple, his eyes filled with quiet contemplation.
Seeing him deep in thought, Ye Zhong wisely stayed silent, and Qing Lin wouldn't dream of disturbing him either. The room fell into a hushed calm.
'Now that Xiao Yan has strength and status, he's coming to form an alliance with the Pill Tower. But does he even understand what he's doing? The fallen Xiao Clan may have once been glorious, but to the Pill Tower, it's still insignificant. Perhaps this "alliance" is just a pretext—to request the Pill Tower's aid in rescuing Yao Chen. Given that Yao Chen once had close ties with the Three Giants, that's entirely possible.'
'Yao Chen's prestige and skill were outstanding. If Xiao Yan really saves him, he'll gain a powerful backer, and Yao Chen's old connections will rally again.'
Liu Xi's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of killing intent flickering within them.
'Both Xiao Yan and Yao Chen have poor impressions of me… should I act in secret and make sure Yao Chen never leaves the Hall of Souls alive?'
But as the thought formed, Liu Xi sensed the boundless power coursing through his body and let the murderous urge fade. 'Forget it. There's no need. Even if Yao Chen escapes, he'll only become a target for the Hall of Souls. That actually works in my favor.'
Even without the hidden ancient clans, Liu Xi now stood among the top-tier powerhouses of the Central Plains. When he unleashed his full strength, not even an ordinary Half Saint could easily suppress him.
And with his Heaven Demon Puppet Ah San and Qing Lin by his side, even if he couldn't win outright, retreating was always guaranteed.
'If Xiao Yan really does lead people to rescue Yao Chen, perhaps I could profit from it. The Hall of Souls' prison surely hides extraordinary secrets—and maybe valuable treasures.'
The thought stirred his heart. He suddenly wanted to see for himself what Xiao Yan was planning within the Pill Tower.
"The last descendant of the ancient Xiao Clan… I never imagined Xiao Yan had such a lineage. I'm curious—did this so-called alliance with the Pill Tower ever succeed?" Liu Xi asked casually, pretending to be surprised at the revelation.
Ye Zhong frowned, hesitating before letting out a wry chuckle. "That I don't know for certain. There was never an official declaration of alliance, but Xiao Yan holds a respectable position in the Pill Tower. Association Head Xuan Yi even treats him almost like a disciple."
Liu Xi nodded slightly—just as he expected. Xiao Yan's current qualifications weren't enough to drag the Pill Tower into conflict with the Hall of Souls.
A mere 2-Star Dou Zun and an 8th Tier Alchemist—those alone weren't sufficient. Even with the title of "descendant of the Xiao Clan," without Yao Chen's return, the Pill Tower would never stake its future on him.
'So that's his plan. He wants to use the Pill Tower's power to rescue Yao Chen. I wonder what the Three Giants will decide.'
A faintly amused smile curved Liu Xi's lips. Dragging the Pill Tower into a war with the Hall of Souls for one man—such a move was beyond foolish.
Whether the Three Giants would participate was a tightly guarded secret, one far beyond Ye Zhong's reach. Liu Xi knew better than to pry further and smoothly changed the subject.
"The Ye Clan seems to have grown rapidly these past two years," Liu Xi remarked. "The scent of medicine around your estate never fades, and the number of powerful guards has increased—one of them even a peak Dou Zong."
At the mention of the clan's progress, Ye Zhong's face brightened with pride, though his tone remained humble. He hadn't forgotten who made such prosperity possible.
"This is all thanks to Master Liu," Ye Zhong said earnestly. "You unlocked our ancestral inheritance and helped us reclaim the Elder's seat. The Ye Clan will never forget such kindness."
Emotion filled his voice as he stood abruptly, bowed deeply, and declared, "Your great kindness and virtue—this old man will never forget. Master Liu, please accept my bow!"
Liu Xi accepted it calmly. It was, after all, his guidance that allowed the Ye Clan to rise again.
He then gestured to Qing Lin beside him. "Elder Ye Zhong, allow me to introduce her properly. This is Qing Lin, my attendant—and this is Elder Ye Zhong, First Elder of the Ye Clan."
Ye Zhong cupped his hands toward her respectfully. "Ye Zhong greets Miss Qing Lin. Since Master Liu is our Ye Clan's benefactor, you may treat the Ye Estate as your own home. Whatever you need, just ask—it will be provided."
He wasn't foolish enough to treat Liu Xi's attendant lightly. The last "attendant" he'd seen had been a Dou Zun, and the aura surrounding Qing Lin was anything but ordinary.
Qing Lin smiled politely, neither distant nor overly familiar. "In that case, thank you, Elder Ye Zhong."
"By the way," Liu Xi suddenly asked, "where's Xinlan? I don't sense her aura. She's the most talented alchemist in the Ye Clan, isn't she? The clan's future will depend on her."
He hadn't forgotten Ye Xinlan. Before he left, he'd personally crammed a mountain of alchemy knowledge into her. If he wanted to influence the Pill Tower, he'd need capable subordinates—and Xinlan's talent had always been promising.
At the mention of her name, Ye Zhong's aged eyes softened with pride. "Xinlan surpasses me in both talent and diligence. She's already reached the level of a 7th Tier Alchemist and is currently studying new alchemical techniques within the Pill Tower."
"Association Head Xuan Kongzi even praised her once, saying that with hard work, she'll break into the 8th Tier one day. When that happens, the Ye Clan's revival will truly rest upon her shoulders."
"Already a 7th Tier Alchemist?" Liu Xi nodded approvingly. "That's excellent progress—it shows her diligence and natural gift. When I arrive at Holy Pill City, I'll take some time to guide her personally. With a little help, she can rise even faster."
He rose from his seat, gesturing for Qing Lin to follow as he moved toward the door. Having learned what he came for, he had no reason to linger.
Ye Zhong called out quickly, "Master Liu, you're leaving already? You haven't even let us properly host you—won't you stay a few days longer?"
Liu Xi smiled faintly. "No, I'll head to Holy Pill City first."
A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. The Hall of Souls' lair would be dangerous, but full of opportunities. If Xiao Yan and his group were storming in to rescue Yao Chen, Liu Xi certainly wouldn't pass up the chance to profit.
He stepped out of the study, and in the next instant—vanished. Qing Lin disappeared right after him, leaving only a ripple of spatial energy behind.
Ye Zhong's jaw fell open. Even with his powerful Spiritual Perception, he couldn't sense how they had departed.
"Master Liu grows more terrifying by the day," he muttered in awe and relief. "Thankfully, our Ye Clan remains in his good graces…"
(End of Chapter)
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