Fighting Soul Clan Demoness

Chapter 650 The First Appearance of the Witch (3k)

Danta, branch tower.

Hun Ruoruo and Dan Chen were waiting quietly in the room. After about half a cup of tea, an old man with white hair, dressed in a purple alchemist's robe, came out with a kind smile on his face.

"Um... I'd like to trouble Elder Han Li."

Seeing this, Dan Chen quickly stepped forward and said timidly.

"Oh, it's alright, it's alright."

Seeing the young girl's politeness, the old man, known as 'Han Li,' beamed with joy and said:
"As for you, Chen girl, I didn't expect that besides that person from the Cao family, you would have made friends with other alchemists, and they are all so young. It really surprised me."

After saying that, Han Li glanced at the girl in the black dress standing behind Dan Chen, and a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes.

This girl, Dan Chen, appears to be a well-behaved and timid girl, but all her friends are these alluring beauties.

First it was that vixen from the Cao family, and now it's this young alchemist whose name is unknown. It's quite intriguing.
Thinking of this, Han Li dared not be negligent and immediately put on a friendly smile, saying:

"Young friend, it will take some time to engrave the alchemist's medal. Could you please leave your name so that we can be sure of everything?"

Hun Ruoruo nodded slightly and casually gave a name:
"An Ruoruo."

Her surname is An?
Upon hearing this unfamiliar name, Han Li was initially taken aback, but showed no disdain, and laughed heartily:

"Young friend, since you are Chen'er's friend, you must also be a disciple of some reclusive master, right? I have some connections in this Holy Pill City. May I ask if I may have the honor of knowing your master's name?"

Upon hearing this, Hun Ruoruo frowned almost imperceptibly and said lazily:
"Our master said that we should not easily reveal his name."

As soon as he finished speaking, a look of disappointment appeared on Han Li's face, but before he could speak to smooth things over, he heard Hun Ruoruo continue:
"However, he values ​​fate the most. If you are interested, you can look for him on the viewing platform of the Pill Gathering. If you are destined, you will find his whereabouts."

"What?!"

Upon hearing the words "viewing stand," Han Li's expression changed drastically.

What kind of meeting was the Danhui?

Let alone participating in the competition in person, even watching from the sidelines is a great honor for many cultivators.

However, the master of this girl in the black dress was able to sit on the viewing platform and become one of the judges commenting on the participating alchemists.
This is no unknown hermit; he is clearly a big shot in the Pill Tower who does not want to reveal his identity!
Han Li's expression changed; his already polite demeanor became even more submissive, and he smiled with utmost courtesy:

"I have always heard that great figures like alchemy masters are very particular about fate. Meeting you today, young friend, I can see that a great teacher produces a great student. I have learned a lot from you."

Hearing the other party's flattery, Hun Ruoruo did not show any smile; instead, she gradually became indifferent.
"Elder Han, I obtained my alchemist qualification through my own abilities, and it has nothing to do with my master's status. Please treat me fairly!"

"Yes, yes, fairness is essential, of course I want fairness."

Han Li slapped his forehead in realization and quickly agreed.

He beckoned behind him, and a servant immediately obeyed, stepping forward with an exquisitely crafted badge and bowing respectfully.

"To be honest, the branch hall I belong to can only test up to the middle level of the seventh rank, which may not be enough to fairly demonstrate your strength, young friend."

Han Li accepted the medal, then dismissed all the servants below before finally feeling relieved. He presented the medal to Hun Ruoruo and said apologetically:

"As a token of my apology, please accept this alchemist medal. Once you are inside the Pill Tower, you can always try to obtain a medal that truly matches your abilities."

Seeing the old man offer the medal, Hun Ruoruo's furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and she casually accepted it.
"Fine, let's leave it at that."

Upon hearing this, Dan Chen's eyes widened instantly.

Her face flushed red, and her already slow speech became even more hesitant:
"Elder Han, how can she receive a medal before even taking the test?"

Han Li turned around and looked at her with a puzzled expression, then chuckled:
"You silly girl, didn't you specifically tell me earlier that you were in a hurry to return to the clan?"

"To my shame, what I have given this young friend is merely a fifth-grade alchemist medal, which can only serve as a qualification for participating in the Alchemy Gathering. Unfortunately, I do not have the authority to decide on a higher-level medal."

Elder Han Li shook his head and sighed. He bowed apologetically to Hun Ruoruo once more, and did not linger. He quickly found an excuse to take his leave, giving the two of them some space to be alone.

"how?"

With her slender fingers toying with the brand-new alchemist's medal, Hun Ruoruo asked with a hint of mockery.

Dan Chen's face turned pale, her stubborn, beautiful eyes seeming to spit fire:
"You're lying; this doesn't count at all!"

"Liar?"

Hun Ruoruo curled her lips and sneered:
"As a branch tower elder, failing to recognize people is already a grave sin. Do you really expect everyone who comes to the branch tower for testing to be a harmless lamb?"

A sly glint flashed in her eyes as she moved closer to Dan Chen, her voice instantly becoming soft and ethereal:
"Besides, I would never lie, you eighth-grade alchemist lady~"

The warm, moist breath brushed against her ear, causing Dan Chen's delicate body to tremble. However, she was oblivious to the other's teasing, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"What exactly do you mean?" It has to be said that the amount of information conveyed in this sentence was so great that it even exceeded her limit.

Assuming what the other party said is true, it means that she does indeed have a teacher on the viewing platform at the Danhui event!

Is it Uncle-Master Xuan Kongzi or Uncle-Master Tian Leizi?

Or perhaps... the Master in black robes?!
As Dan Chen recalled those kind and amiable faces from the past, he felt utterly absurd. He couldn't even imagine that these people, who appeared to be teachers and elders, were secretly colluding with the Soul Palace.

However, the seeds of doubt had already been sown, and even though Dan Chen tried her best to tell herself that 'this is all just a trick by the other party,' she could not shake off the suspicion in her heart.

"Is there really a Soul Hall spy inside the Pill Tower?"

A look of confusion flashed across Dan Chen's pretty face, but only for a moment before she suddenly realized what was happening and glared angrily:

"Previously, you used your soul power to trap me, which clearly had the fluctuations of water element. How could an alchemist accept you as a disciple!"

Water is unsuitable for alchemy; this is a consensus among alchemists on the continent. Even if someone were lucky enough to obtain a strange fire related to water, they could at most refine some pills below the sixth grade, and would never be able to master it.

The path of alchemy demands the most talent, and Dan Chen believes that no one would do such a thankless and laborious task.

Upon hearing this, Hun Ruoruo chuckled to herself, as if she had heard a joke.

"Who says that becoming an apprentice of an alchemist means you have to learn alchemy?"

Dan Chen shook her head vigorously, completely unmoved by the other party's influence:

"If you don't learn alchemy, what else can you learn? Don't try to fool me again."

Seeing that the other party was unmoved by reason, Hun Ruoruo couldn't help but sigh softly, feeling even more satisfied with this simple-minded little girl.

After all, the more innocent one is, the more thoroughly one will transform after experiencing the baptism of darkness.

Despite being devoted to their ideals, they ultimately end up going against them.

Despite her pure heart, she was forced to transform into a ruthless and cruel witch.
Hun Ruoruo liked it very much.

She wanted to turn these people into her pawns, yet she was willing to do so.

Dan Chen was like this, and so was Cao Ying, whom she had never met.

It's always better to grow and mature sooner rather than to fall into despair after experiencing hardship.
As her thoughts drifted to this point, a blush, like mist, quietly appeared on Hun Ruoruo's beautiful face, as if her once-fallen heart was about to be awakened once more.

She still enjoys the thrill of strategizing and reaping rewards.

But she enjoys the tension and excitement of nearing success more than the satisfaction of reaping the rewards.

Perhaps only someone we haven't seen in a long time can pull Hun Ruoruo's out-of-control, fiery chariot back on track?

of course.

It was only slightly.
She gently licked her lips, which appeared luscious and tempting under the moisture.

"Since you don't believe me, I will use my status as a fifth-grade alchemist to have a proper competition with the alchemist prodigies of your five great families, how about it?"

Suppressing his fear, Dan Chen's confidence and pursuit of alchemy completely prevailed at this moment, and he said without showing any weakness:

"No matter what your schemes are, alchemy doesn't lie. Even if you get the Alchemist Medal, you're destined not to be able to cheat when it comes to alchemy!"

"very good."

Hun Ruoruo nodded in satisfaction and smiled slightly.

She flicked the alchemist's medal in her palm, sending it tracing a perfect arc through the air, and said leisurely:
"Then let's wait and see!"

Seeing the girl's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Dan Chen hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not choose to flee. Instead, she followed closely behind.

Hun Ruoruo has her own schemes, but Dan Chen also has her own principles.

That is the art of alchemy.

She firmly believed that as long as one was devout enough in the art of alchemy, no matter what kind of schemes or tricks they might use, they would be no match for absolute power.

How can a water-attribute cultivator with a strange fire, who can only refine sixth-grade pills at most, possibly contend with alchemists from prestigious sects?
Impossible.

A hint of almost extreme stubbornness flashed across Dan Chen's sickly pretty face. She pursed her lips, lowered her head slightly, and buried her unusual expression deep inside.

However, what Dan Chen didn't know was that the more one pursues perfection and the more devout one's faith, the more easily one falls into the vicious cycle one has set for oneself, making it difficult to break free.

Actually, she's the same as Hun Ruoruo.

Deep within her heart, too, lay the shadow of the devil.
(End of this chapter)