"You actually passed that lord's trial! Could it be that you are his disciple?" Even Wū Protector's tone changed slightly, his voice carrying a hint of respect.
Xiao Yan wasn't worthy of such respect from Wū Protector, who possessed the strength of a five-star Dou Zong, even if Xiao Yan was a Rank 5 Alchemist. But Hun Xuzi, who could bestow Soul Tokens, was countless times more powerful than Wū Protector.
Wū Protector himself didn't know exactly how strong Hun Xuzi was, only that even the Tian Zun were respectful to Hun Xuzi when he went to report back then.
Wū Protector only knew that Hun Xuzi was an Alchemist who appeared in the Tiangang Hall when a certain big shot spent a large number of Soul Points, requesting his help to refine a pill.
Actually, it's no wonder Wū Protector thought this way. After all, Xiao Yan was also an Alchemist, and he also possessed a Strange Flame. Especially at such a young age, he had already reached the level of a Rank 5 Alchemist. Wū Protector had never even heard of such speed.
Perhaps the super geniuses of the Pill Tower were just as fast, so it was reasonable for him to be accepted as a disciple by Hun Xuzi.
Xiao Yan glanced indifferently at Wū Protector's horrified expression, slowly pinned the Soul Token to his waist, and said calmly, "He did want to take me as a disciple, but I didn't have that idea."
"Pill Refining is just my side job, something I do casually. Cultivation is the true path."
Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Wū Protector cursed him inwardly for showing off. That was an Alchemist who even Tian Zun-level powerhouses begged.
The Tian Zun were at least seven-star or higher Dou Zun. What kind of monsters were seven-star or higher Dou Zun!
The pills they needed were at least Rank 8 high-level pills, pills that could attract seven-colored or higher Pill Lightning. Such pills could be called immortal pills without exaggeration.
An Alchemist who even such people needed to treat with courtesy was at least in the top ten of the Dou Qi Continent.
And you're not happy that such a person wants to take you as a disciple!
"Of course, of course, Lord, you are not only unparalleled in Pill Refining, but also invincible in cultivation. Even Nalan Yanran, who obtained the Dou Zun inheritance, was easily defeated by you." Wū Protector rubbed his hands together with a smile, his fawning appearance making Yun Shan, who was standing to the side, feel unfamiliar! Was this still the same Wū Protector!!! Xiao Yan nodded slightly and said, "I came to the Yunlan Sect not only to complete the trial given by Hun Xuzi, but also to learn about the Soul Palace and exchange some items for Soul Points."
"Tell me about this Soul Palace."
Xiao Yan put his hands behind his back, looking around at the inside of the Soul Palace. He now wanted to know more about the Soul Palace.
"Of course, of course, Lord, this way please. I will introduce you to some things about the Soul Palace." After Wū Protector knew that Xiao Yan possessed the Soul Token, his attitude was like that of a eunuch.
Xiao Yan took two steps and looked back at Yun Shan, who was still stunned in place and hadn't reacted, and smiled slightly, "Protector Yun Shan, what's wrong?"
Hearing Xiao Yan call him Protector instead of Sect Leader, Yun Shan's eyelids twitched. The meaning was self-evident.
Wū Protector glanced at Yun Shan, and Yun Shan had no choice but to suppress his emotions and said softly, "Nothing... Lord."
As the old Sect Leader of the Yunlan Sect and a Dou Zong powerhouse of the Gama Empire, when had Yun Shan ever called an eighteen-year-old teenager "Lord"!
Moreover, Xiao Yan had Medusa beat him up this morning! Hearing this, Xiao Yan felt secretly pleased. So what if he was a Dou Zong? Didn't he still have to follow behind him obediently now! Wū Protector led Xiao Yan all the way, heading towards the depths of the Soul Palace.
Rather than calling this a great hall, it was more like a huge prison!
But the prisoners held here were not criminals, but Soul Bodies and Alchemists! Xiao Yan saw several Soul Bodies imprisoned by a special kind of black chain, and some people who looked like Alchemists, even wearing Alchemist Robes.
"Those imprisoned here are all Soul Bodies above the Dou Wang level. It is difficult for people below the Dou Wang level to produce Soul Bodies. If the physical body is destroyed, only remnants of the Soul remain, so Soul Stones can only be used to absorb the Soul power."
"Enforcers will come to collect Soul Bodies every once in a while, from different levels of the Soul Palace. Each month, a certain number of Soul Bodies must be handed over." Wū Protector explained.
"Different levels?" Xiao Yan keenly caught the key words.
Wū Protector nodded and explained, "Yes, the Soul Palace is divided into three levels. The highest level is the Tiangang Hall, followed by the Disha Hall, and then branch halls like ours. There are only three Tiangang Halls, namely the Heaven Hall, the Earth Hall, and the Human Hall, which are respectively managed by the Hall Master, the Deputy Hall Master, and the Great Tian Zun. The Heaven Hall is naturally the headquarters, located in Central State."
"Below the three Tiangang Halls are the twenty-four Disha Halls, all located on the periphery of Central State, surrounding the entire Central State, and are all managed by Venerable Elders."
"As for branch halls like ours in areas outside Central State, there are too many to count. Each branch hall has at least one Protector, with the main task of collecting Soul Bodies and capturing Alchemists."
Xiao Yan frowned. The Protectors were all Dou Zong or higher, and such branch halls were actually the weakest! And there were so many of them that they couldn't be counted?! This strength was too terrifying! In other words, even the weakest branch hall could completely destroy the Gama Empire!
Xiao Yan thought to himself, "No wonder all the Alchemists of the Dou Qi Continent have to unite to form the Pill Tower. Even countries like the Gama Empire, far away from Central State, have Alchemist Guilds, protected by the Pill Tower."
"The sphere of influence of this Soul Palace is simply exaggerated."
Alchemists, such a group, such an appealing profession, were ultimately forced by the Soul Palace to band together for self-preservation!
"Are these Alchemists captured for Pill Refining?" Xiao Yan noticed that these Alchemists had not been killed. If they only needed Soul Bodies, then they could simply kill them and extract their Soul Bodies.
Since they didn't kill the Alchemists, then they must need them to refine pills.
To Xiao Yan's surprise, Wū Protector shook his head and said, "In addition to the fact that Alchemists themselves have strong Soul power, making it easy to produce Soul Bodies, more importantly, the Holy Land needs to select talented Alchemists to help refine a certain pill."
Xiao Yan's eyes flashed. Hun Xuzi had also told him this, but he would only tell Xiao Yan what the specific pill was when he had truly cultivated his Pill Refining skills to a certain level.
"It seems that this pill is indeed very important, requiring the selection of Alchemists from all over the world to cultivate powerful Alchemists."
After walking for quite a while, the three finally exited the long prison passage. Perhaps because this sub-hall was newly built, there weren't many people imprisoned here.
Following Wū Protector for a moment, a huge hall appeared before Xiao Yan. In the middle of the hall was something like an altar, and the surrounding walls were densely packed with various light spheres wrapped in light.
Xiao Yan recognized these light spheres. He had seen them in the Treasure Hall before. These light spheres contained various treasures, pills, Cultivation Methods, and Dou Techniques.
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