On the black stone pillar, an old man in a black robe suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with fierce anger.
"Hmph! What a useless bunch of people! Can't even capture a single person!"
Old Ghost Zhai Xing hadn't anticipated that such a simple task assigned from above would remain unfinished at this point.
Even the four Honorable Elders from the previous attempt had failed. Not only did they fail, but none of them even managed to escape back. Zhai Xing was clueless about what had happened to them, resulting in severe punishment from those above.
Contemplating the situation, a stronger ferocity flashed in Zhai Xing's eyes.
The Protectors of the Hall of Souls kneeling below trembled under the weight of his aura and secretly cursed Zhai Xing in their hearts.
'This old bastard! Why doesn't he go and capture Xiao Ming himself? Xiao Ming's already so powerful, with formidable guardians around him. How can we, who are only in the Dou Ancestor Realm, recklessly look for trouble?' they thought resentfully.
Xiao Ming's strength hadn't even reached the Dou Venerate Realm, yet the four Honorable Elders from the previous encounter failed to capture him and ended up dying. It was evident that someone was protecting him.
Zhai Xing's imposing aura didn't last long and quickly dissipated. His aged voice once again resounded through the grand hall.
"Continue monitoring Xiao Ming's movements. When he ventures out again, report to me. Next time, I'll personally take action."
"Yes!"
...
Xiao Ming remained oblivious to the events unfolding in the Hall of Souls at this moment, and even if he were aware, he wouldn't pay much attention to it.
After all, it was expected for the Hall of Souls to keep a close watch on him. Since the Gu Clan believed that he possessed the Tou She Ancient God's Jade, it was only natural for the Hall of Souls, with their infiltrators in the Gu Clan, to do so.
Although the Hall of Souls posed a threat to him, it hadn't reached a point of major concern.
From a certain perspective, Xiao Ming wasn't the Hall of Souls' top priority. The Hall of Souls had been plotting to obtain the Tou She Ancient God's inheritance for thousands of years, and Xiao Ming was the weakest among all their adversaries.
As long as they eliminated their other opponents, acquiring the Tou She Ancient God's Jade in Xiao Ming's possession would be a straightforward task.
Perhaps with this mindset, the Hall of Souls hadn't resorted to extreme measures against him.
Setting aside the Hall of Souls' intentions, Xiao Ming was currently absorbed in consuming all the Spirit Nourishment Powder he had obtained from the copper plates. With the powder's assistance, he successfully broke through a small barrier in his Spirit Realm and reached the mid-stage.
The breakthrough in his Soul Realm brought clarity to his mind.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, a gleam of brilliance flickering within them, as if electricity surged through the dimly lit room, illuminating it as if it were daylight.
'The Spirit Nourishment Powder is truly a good thing. With a sufficient quantity, I could achieve a complete breakthrough in the Spirit Realm in less than half a year. Unfortunately, it's an exceedingly rare material,' Xiao Ming sighed inwardly, but then he immediately refocused his thoughts on refining the Spirit Nourishment Powder.
Once he returned from the Ye Clan, he planned to commence the refinement process.
Having made up his mind, Xiao Ming got up and walked out of the room, heading to the main hall.
The main hall was adorned with splendor, and Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa were already seated there.
Due to the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's dormant state, Medusa had been staying by Xiao Ming's side all along, fearing that the python's soul might suddenly awaken if she left hastily.
As Xiao Ming arrived, the two women stood up. "Xiao Ming, are we departing for the Ye Clan now?" Xiao Yi Xian asked.
"Yes, it's almost time as agreed with Elder Ye Zhong. Let's go," Xiao Ming replied.
"Is Senior Yao not joining us?" Xiao Yi Xian inquired.
"Senior Yao is also in seclusion, forming the Fake Heavenly Flame. Besides, we're only going to Ye City for a few days. We'll be back soon," Xiao Ming assured her.
The journey to Ye City wouldn't take too long. Otherwise, Xiao Ming wouldn't have left Holy Pill City shortly after becoming one of the Eight Great Elders.
When they arrived at the location of the wormhole, Ye Zhong was already waiting for them.
Upon seeing Xiao Ming, Ye Zhong greeted him with a smile. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they entered the wormhole.
...
They arrived on a huge and vast stone platform made entirely of snow-white rocks, giving it a distinguished appearance.
The space on this platform was different from other places, appearing exceptionally chaotic, with a large area of space distorted and even some pitch-black cracks spreading out.
After landing on the stone platform, the group looked at each other before turning their eyes to the distant horizon. There, a massive city of deep green color gradually came into view.
"Master Xiao Ming, that's Ye City. Follow me. As it's your first time visiting, I'll show you around as a good host," Ye Zhong smiled and said.
"Thank you, Senior Ye Zhong," Xiao Ming smiled in return and followed Ye Zhong, with the two women following closely behind.
Their departure naturally caused astonishment among the people beside the wormhole. Except for Ye Zhong, the other individuals appeared to be very young.
Especially Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian, achieving the Dou Ancestor Realm at such a young age indicated that their future was limitless.
However, Xiao Ming and his group paid no attention to the commotion and flew towards Ye City.
Ye City was situated on a plain, surrounded by lush forests, and numerous highways extended from the forest to the edge of their sight.
The rulers of this place were the Ye Clan, who once held great prominence in the Pill Region. However, the Ye Clan of today was not as powerful as it used to be. Nevertheless, a skinny camel was still larger than a horse. In Ye City, there was still no force that dared to provoke the authority of the Ye Clan.
As rulers of the city, the Ye Clan resided in the center, where their estates were located within a kilometer's radius. Ordinary people were not allowed to enter, and the defense was particularly tight. Of course, this only applied to ordinary people.
With the current strength of Xiao Ming and his group, it would be easy to break in, but following Ye Zhong, the First Elder of the Ye Clan, they did not need to force their way in.
The return of Ye Zhong and the arrival of Xiao Ming brought excitement to the Ye Clan. The Clan Elders and disciples of the main lineage gathered to show their respect to Xiao Ming.
During this time, Ye Zhong mentioned Xiao Ming's request to borrow their Sun Fire Ancient Altar, and without any hesitation, everyone readily agreed, nodding their heads as if pecking rice.
Xiao Ming was now the hope of their Ye Clan and one of the Eight Great Elders of the Pill Tower. Only someone with a broken brain would refuse him. They were eager for Xiao Ming to make more requests to strengthen the relationship between the two sides.
After informing the clan members about borrowing the Sun Fire Ancient Altar, Ye Zhong personally led Xiao Ming and his group deeper into the Ye Clan's territory. After approximately ten minutes, they arrived at an incredibly secluded gravel square. In the center of the square stood an altar with a slightly ancient appearance. The enormous stones used to construct the altar were marked by the passage of time, indicating its long existence.
As Xiao Ming approached the altar, he noticed that the illumination here was unusually bright. Moreover, as he drew closer to the altar, the energy in the surrounding heavens and earth grew increasingly fervent and pure. Beams of light, almost tangible in form, cascaded down from the sky and converged on a black stone tablet at the center of the altar after being refracted by the smooth stone walls.
On the black stone pillar, an old man in a black robe suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with fierce anger.
"Hmph! What a useless bunch of people! Can't even capture a single person!"
Old Ghost Zhai Xing hadn't anticipated that such a simple task assigned from above would remain unfinished at this point.
Even the four Honorable Elders from the previous attempt had failed. Not only did they fail, but none of them even managed to escape back. Zhai Xing was clueless about what had happened to them, resulting in severe punishment from those above.
Contemplating the situation, a stronger ferocity flashed in Zhai Xing's eyes.
The Protectors of the Hall of Souls kneeling below trembled under the weight of his aura and secretly cursed Zhai Xing in their hearts.
'This old bastard! Why doesn't he go and capture Xiao Ming himself? Xiao Ming's already so powerful, with formidable guardians around him. How can we, who are only in the Dou Ancestor Realm, recklessly look for trouble?' they thought resentfully.
Xiao Ming's strength hadn't even reached the Dou Venerate Realm, yet the four Honorable Elders from the previous encounter failed to capture him and ended up dying. It was evident that someone was protecting him.
Zhai Xing's imposing aura didn't last long and quickly dissipated. His aged voice once again resounded through the grand hall.
"Continue monitoring Xiao Ming's movements. When he ventures out again, report to me. Next time, I'll personally take action."
"Yes!"
...
Xiao Ming remained oblivious to the events unfolding in the Hall of Souls at this moment, and even if he were aware, he wouldn't pay much attention to it.
After all, it was expected for the Hall of Souls to keep a close watch on him. Since the Gu Clan believed that he possessed the Tou She Ancient God's Jade, it was only natural for the Hall of Souls, with their infiltrators in the Gu Clan, to do so.
Although the Hall of Souls posed a threat to him, it hadn't reached a point of major concern.
From a certain perspective, Xiao Ming wasn't the Hall of Souls' top priority. The Hall of Souls had been plotting to obtain the Tou She Ancient God's inheritance for thousands of years, and Xiao Ming was the weakest among all their adversaries.
As long as they eliminated their other opponents, acquiring the Tou She Ancient God's Jade in Xiao Ming's possession would be a straightforward task.
Perhaps with this mindset, the Hall of Souls hadn't resorted to extreme measures against him.
Setting aside the Hall of Souls' intentions, Xiao Ming was currently absorbed in consuming all the Spirit Nourishment Powder he had obtained from the copper plates. With the powder's assistance, he successfully broke through a small barrier in his Spirit Realm and reached the mid-stage.
The breakthrough in his Soul Realm brought clarity to his mind.
Slowly, he opened his eyes, a gleam of brilliance flickering within them, as if electricity surged through the dimly lit room, illuminating it as if it were daylight.
'The Spirit Nourishment Powder is truly a good thing. With a sufficient quantity, I could achieve a complete breakthrough in the Spirit Realm in less than half a year. Unfortunately, it's an exceedingly rare material,' Xiao Ming sighed inwardly, but then he immediately refocused his thoughts on refining the Spirit Nourishment Powder.
Once he returned from the Ye Clan, he planned to commence the refinement process.
Having made up his mind, Xiao Ming got up and walked out of the room, heading to the main hall.
The main hall was adorned with splendor, and Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa were already seated there.
Due to the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's dormant state, Medusa had been staying by Xiao Ming's side all along, fearing that the python's soul might suddenly awaken if she left hastily.
As Xiao Ming arrived, the two women stood up. "Xiao Ming, are we departing for the Ye Clan now?" Xiao Yi Xian asked.
"Yes, it's almost time as agreed with Elder Ye Zhong. Let's go," Xiao Ming replied.
"Is Senior Yao not joining us?" Xiao Yi Xian inquired.
"Senior Yao is also in seclusion, forming the Fake Heavenly Flame. Besides, we're only going to Ye City for a few days. We'll be back soon," Xiao Ming assured her.
The journey to Ye City wouldn't take too long. Otherwise, Xiao Ming wouldn't have left Holy Pill City shortly after becoming one of the Eight Great Elders.
When they arrived at the location of the wormhole, Ye Zhong was already waiting for them.
Upon seeing Xiao Ming, Ye Zhong greeted him with a smile. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they entered the wormhole.
...
They arrived on a huge and vast stone platform made entirely of snow-white rocks, giving it a distinguished appearance.
The space on this platform was different from other places, appearing exceptionally chaotic, with a large area of space distorted and even some pitch-black cracks spreading out.
After landing on the stone platform, the group looked at each other before turning their eyes to the distant horizon. There, a massive city of deep green color gradually came into view.
"Master Xiao Ming, that's Ye City. Follow me. As it's your first time visiting, I'll show you around as a good host," Ye Zhong smiled and said.
"Thank you, Senior Ye Zhong," Xiao Ming smiled in return and followed Ye Zhong, with the two women following closely behind.
Their departure naturally caused astonishment among the people beside the wormhole. Except for Ye Zhong, the other individuals appeared to be very young.
Especially Xiao Ming and Xiao Yi Xian, achieving the Dou Ancestor Realm at such a young age indicated that their future was limitless.
However, Xiao Ming and his group paid no attention to the commotion and flew towards Ye City.
Ye City was situated on a plain, surrounded by lush forests, and numerous highways extended from the forest to the edge of their sight.
The rulers of this place were the Ye Clan, who once held great prominence in the Pill Region. However, the Ye Clan of today was not as powerful as it used to be. Nevertheless, a skinny camel was still larger than a horse. In Ye City, there was still no force that dared to provoke the authority of the Ye Clan.
As rulers of the city, the Ye Clan resided in the center, where their estates were located within a kilometer's radius. Ordinary people were not allowed to enter, and the defense was particularly tight. Of course, this only applied to ordinary people.
With the current strength of Xiao Ming and his group, it would be easy to break in, but following Ye Zhong, the First Elder of the Ye Clan, they did not need to force their way in.
The return of Ye Zhong and the arrival of Xiao Ming brought excitement to the Ye Clan. The Clan Elders and disciples of the main lineage gathered to show their respect to Xiao Ming.
During this time, Ye Zhong mentioned Xiao Ming's request to borrow their Sun Fire Ancient Altar, and without any hesitation, everyone readily agreed, nodding their heads as if pecking rice.
Xiao Ming was now the hope of their Ye Clan and one of the Eight Great Elders of the Pill Tower. Only someone with a broken brain would refuse him. They were eager for Xiao Ming to make more requests to strengthen the relationship between the two sides.
After informing the clan members about borrowing the Sun Fire Ancient Altar, Ye Zhong personally led Xiao Ming and his group deeper into the Ye Clan's territory. After approximately ten minutes, they arrived at an incredibly secluded gravel square. In the center of the square stood an altar with a slightly ancient appearance. The enormous stones used to construct the altar were marked by the passage of time, indicating its long existence.
As Xiao Ming approached the altar, he noticed that the illumination here was unusually bright. Moreover, as he drew closer to the altar, the energy in the surrounding heavens and earth grew increasingly fervent and pure. Beams of light, almost tangible in form, cascaded down from the sky and converged on a black stone tablet at the center of the altar after being refracted by the smooth stone walls.
