Battle Through the Heavens: Who put Laozi in my storage ring?

A few seconds later, Qinghe handed something as white as jade to Xiao Yan's palm.

"This is... the Earth's Core Jade Mother?"

Xiao Yan's face lit up with joy; it was indeed a valuable treasure.

It is comparable to the platform used to obtain the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, and has the effect of purifying the mind and reducing the probability of going astray. In fact, it is even better.

The former had already been given to Qinghe by Xiao Yan to help him break through his cultivation level; he himself had no use for it anyway.

Let's keep the latter for now.

Who knows, it might fetch a good price.

"but……"

Xiao Yan frowned slightly. He remembered... this thing seemed to have more than just these effects.

To Qinghe's astonishment, a swift chop cleaved the half-zhang-tall jade in two, leaving a pit in one of the halves where a milky white liquid lay quietly.

"Earth Core Soul Essence, which can be used to forge the soul, I almost forgot about this treasure." Xiao Yan smiled and put it into the jade bottle.

If he were to absorb it, his soul power level could be further enhanced. While it's impossible to say he could break through to the peak of the Spirit Realm, he could certainly take another step forward.

Soul forging, literally, means forging and amplifying soul power.

In this continent today, anything involving soul power is a treasure. If it were auctioned off, even a high-grade eighth-rank pill couldn't buy this small bottle...

“It’s done.”

Xiao Yan smiled and shook the jade bottle.

He then led Qinghe away into the distance, ignoring the few little mice lurking in the shadows around them.

Nearly half an hour after Xiao Yan and his companion left, an old man in yellow robes finally dared to appear. He glanced at the buried pit with a hint of regret and shook his head helplessly.

Who would dare to provoke such a menacing figure?

Not to mention the girl in green beside him, whose cultivation was even more unfathomable, seemingly above the Dou Zun level, which was terrifying. There was nothing they could do but watch helplessly as she took it away.

Never mind, let's go look for it again...

……

Wanyao Mountain Range.

That's where Xiong Da is.

When Xiao Yan arrived at this place, he glanced at the red mark on the map. Clearly, this was one of the medicinal herbs he was looking for. The mountain peak was shrouded in thick fog, making it quite mysterious.

However, the number of monsters among them was surprisingly large.

Many alchemists who had entered the field in a daze were beaten and fled in terror, all of them ending up at a mountaintop seeking refuge together.

"In that mountain range, there is a peak seventh-tier beast, with one foot already in the eighth-tier magical beast realm. He commands more than a dozen seventh-tier magical beasts. When I rushed in earlier, my scalp tingled. If I hadn't been lucky, I probably would have perished there..." Chen Chen said with lingering fear in the center of the group.

“Therefore, we must unite. If… Miss Cao Ying and Miss Dan Chen can join forces, our chances of victory will surely increase significantly.” Chen Chen’s gaze swept over the two women, especially towards Cao Ying, with a slightly burning intensity in his eyes.

Such a stunning beauty, and a first-rate alchemy genius, if we could really marry her, our family would have another future giant of the Pill Tower, plus the assistance of the Cao family.

His Xuanming Sect might very well be able to retaliate against the Tianming Sect.

"..."

Cao Ying and Dan Chen, however, remained calm.

The former sat on a boulder, swinging her long, white legs, playing with her black hair in one hand, ignoring Chen Chen.

The latter's expression stiffened, and he emphasized, "If we don't join forces, the mission cannot be completed. The Ten Thousand Herbs Mountain Range contains the medicinal herbs that most of us have specified!"

"Since our master has not yet arrived, it is inappropriate for us to take action without authorization."

Dan Chen spoke calmly.

"Master?!"

Chen Chen's eyes widened in surprise, then he suddenly realized that the only person here qualified to be called "Master" by a prodigy like Dan Chen was probably that guy...

"Damn it."

"Who are you saying deserves to die?"

Before Chen Chen finished speaking, Cao Ying had already cast a sharp gaze upon him. She also possessed a soul power that she was proud of, and her delicate hands showed faint traces of hand seals. Her imposing presence made Chen Chen's scalp tingle.

Clearly, he had also heard of some of the soul imprint techniques treasured within the Pill Tower.

That thing's power is in no way inferior to ordinary Earth-rank combat skills; at least he is no match for it.

He immediately forced a smile: "It's a misunderstanding, I..."

"If you're misunderstanding, then get lost. Are you trying to sneak in together when Master comes?" Ye Xinlan picked her teeth to the side, glanced at Chen Chen, and sneered.

"Everyone's here?"

A voice came from afar.

Xiao Yan slowly landed in front of everyone. Seeing that Ye Xinlan, Dan Chen, and Cao Ying were unharmed, he nodded slightly, "Let's go..."

Chen Chen was speechless, his face filled with resentment and anger, but he dared not say anything more.

The eighth-grade alchemist badge on Xiao Yan's chest alone tells a lot. The moment Xiao Yan appeared, many alchemists around him unconsciously moved closer, as if they had found their pillar of support.

The latter's status and prestige among alchemists far surpassed his.

If you keep pretending, you'll only end up looking like a clown.

Gritting his teeth, he shook his head at the two figures hidden in the crowd not far away. He decided not to make a move yet. Although that kid's alchemy skills were formidable, he couldn't withstand the protection of a peak Dou Zong expert. If he could find a moment of weakness, he would stab him in the back...

Chen Chen's face was sinister, his heart filled with evil thoughts.

"You also hate Xiao Yan? Would you be willing to join forces with me?"

A highly seductive voice rang in my ears.

It hit his vengeful instincts perfectly.

"May I ask who you are?" Chen Chen thought to himself.

"Hehehe, just an unknown figure from the Soul Palace, not worth mentioning..." Old Man Mu Gu chuckled.

This startled Chen Chen, causing his heart to churn.

His face immediately lit up with excitement.

The Soul Palace is infamous, so what?

If they could truly join the Soul Palace, what would the mere Heavenly Nether Sect be? Father could then break free from the Heavenly Nether Sect's control and fully develop the Profound Nether Sect...

……

Chapter 211 Reunion with Zi Yan; The Ancient Dragon Bear's Pursuit

Chen Chen left in secret, glancing back at Xiao Yan and Cao Ying before turning back. In the Pill Realm, anything could happen; that demoness might one day fall into his hands...

"Please, Master Xiao, lead us there."

"Without Elder Xiao, the mission would likely have been delayed until the deadline..."

Many alchemists spoke up in unison.

Xiao Yan raised his hand and pressed it down.

Silence fell instantly, all eyes fixed on him, awaiting his command.

Xiao Yan nodded slightly. The feeling of being the leader of the righteous path wasn't bad...

No wonder power and status, this feeling of being able to command a hundred followers, has always been something that people in the past have always pursued deep in their bones.

"This time, everyone should gather medicinal herbs according to their own needs, without having to join forces. This is the rule of the Pill Tower... However."

Xiao Yan glanced at the slightly disappointed crowd: "If that peak seventh-tier magical beast appears, I will stop it, but the other magical beasts are your test subjects, so I cannot interfere."

"Thank you very much, Elder Xiao!!"

Many people breathed a sigh of relief and expressed their gratitude.

No one wants to risk their life for the herb-gathering trial. The Black Bear, a beast close to the eighth rank, is said to have been entrenched in this alchemy realm for many years, and its power is terrifying. Countless alchemists have died at its hands. If one were to rashly enter, one would likely be reduced to ashes.

As an elder of the Pill Tower, and given that this place is the Pill Realm, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Xiao Yan has come home. Since he dared to agree to this, he probably wouldn't be making empty promises.

After thanking them one by one, they hurried into the foggy mountains and forests.

"Master, do you know that Black Bear?" Ye Xinlan asked sweetly.

"I don't recognize him." Xiao Yan shook his head.

"However, this trip into the mountains is to find him..."

Since the goal is to search for medicinal herbs, why bother searching everywhere? Even if he has access to the back door of the Pill Tower and a more detailed map, it would be much more efficient to find the local leader and send him directly to search.

In the original story, he only got his chance because of Zi Yan's help, but in this life... he is Xiong Zhan's ancestor.

"That's a Dou Zun realm expert after all. Could it be... that you've also broken through to Dou Zun?" Ye Xinlan asked in surprise.

"hehe."

Xiao Yan smiled and rubbed the girl's head.