Chapter 539: A Saint Refining Pills? You're Too Trash!
As Gu You's eerie laughter echoed across the Pill Tower Square, curiosity about this "young man" surged among the crowd.
Even some of the veteran alchemists had no idea who he was.
But the smarter ones quickly pieced it together after hearing his voice.
This man… he was one of those mysterious figures from the Soul Hall!
The name Soul Hall carried absolute authority and fear throughout the Dou Qi Continent.
It was regarded as the strongest faction in existence.
No one truly understood the full extent of its power not even the Pill Tower.
This organization had existed for far too long.
Even the earliest records of the Pill Tower's founding mentioned the presence of the Soul Hall.
Unlike other factions that actively sought expansion, the Soul Hall operated from the shadows.
They didn't concern themselves with overt power struggles.
While groups like the Pill Tower focused on alchemy, the Soul Hall conducted their own secretive activities.
For centuries, their collection of souls had been carried out silently.
Their targets?
Mostly rogue cultivators and weaker sects never major factions.
Because of this, the so-called great powers had never truly intervened.
Yet, despite their secrecy, no one dared to underestimate them.
Because no matter how quietly they moved, the Soul Hall had always remained on the throne.
Each time they revealed a new figure, that person alone was enough to shake the continent.
Even the Nine Heavenly Venerables of the Soul Hall were all peak Seven-Star Dou Zuns.
Powerhouses of this level surpassed the strongest warriors of most factions!
Now, Gu You's identity was completely exposed.
As an alchemist, the moment his Dan Thunder formed, his aura naturally spread outward.
Most people wouldn't recognize him.
But to Xuan Kong Zi and Wu Tian?
They knew exactly who he was.
This mysterious "young man" had lived for so long that his true name had already been forgotten by history.
For someone to reach High-Level Half-Saint, they had to have existed for an unimaginable amount of time.
Even some Magical Beasts couldn't compare to him.
Among everyone present, even Xuan Kong Zi one of the Pill Tower's Three Giants was far younger than him.
While the crowd remained confused, Xuan Kong Zi's expression darkened immediately.
Gu You wasn't just any Soul Hall member.
He was the highest-ranking Soul Hall representative on the outside.
He was also one of the few maintaining the delicate balance between the Pill Tower and the Soul Hall.
Because, in terms of strength…
He and Xuan Kong Zi were nearly equals.
And before he lost his Heavenly Flame, he was actually stronger.
"Gu You, the Soul Saint!!!"
Xuan Kong Zi's smile vanished, his cold gaze locking onto the "young man" as he spat out each word deliberately.
He never imagined this shameless old monster would actually enter the competition.
His age far surpassed even Qing Hua's.
And more importantly…
His strength completely dwarfed Qing Hua's.
Gu You's face twisted with glee, his smile full of mad arrogance.
This time, he would humiliate both the Pill Tower and Cai Lin Pavilion in one move!
Last time, his precious Heavenly Flame had been stolen he had been utterly humiliated.
Now, he would finally reclaim his pride!
Behind him stood four other eighth-tier alchemists.
Though they had just entered the eighth tier, that was already enough to slap the Pill Tower in the face.
After all, the only ones left from the Pill Tower were Cao Ying and Dan Chen.
Meanwhile, the Soul Hall controlled half of the top ten spots!
This alone proved how terrifying their strength was.
And Gu You's pill?
It completely outclassed the others.
He was absolutely certain he would become the champion of this Pill Gathering.
Once he won, he would lead his Soul Hall members into the legendary Star Region…
And claim the Three Thousand Burning Flame!
With the flame in his possession, his strength would skyrocket.
At that point…
He would ascend to the rank of Dou Sheng!
As for Wu Tian, who had spent most of the competition sleeping and was now simply staring in shock…
Gu You didn't even bother acknowledging him.
So what if the rumors said he was an eighth-tier alchemist?
Alchemy required time.
If Wu Tian started refining now, the competition would end before he even finished.
No one was going to wait a whole month for him to finish a pill.
Thinking this, Gu You burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! The Pill Gathering's champion is mine!"
"A Saint?!"
Hearing that word, the entire square shuddered.
Anyone who could call themselves a 'Saint' had to have stepped into that legendary realm of power.
Take Yao Chen, for example.
He had gone from Medicine Venerable to Medicine Saint after reaching Half-Saint rank.
"Is he… really a Saint?!"
Faces drained of color as panic spread through the audience.
If a Saint participated, then there was no suspense left in the competition.
But…
A Saint competing in the Pill Gathering?
Wasn't this just overkill?!
"Three Presidents, what should we do?!"
Behind Xuan Kong Zi, a white-robed elder turned pale as he spoke in a hushed voice.
Clearly, this elder was one of the Eight Great Elders.
His question, however, only made the Three Giants even more frustrated.
What could they even do?
This was the Pill Gathering a competition open to all alchemists.
Even if Soul Hall participated, it was still fair and legal.
They had no right to interfere.
In fact…
They were obligated to welcome them with a smile.
Because this was the Pill Tower!
The Soul Hall had come fully prepared.
They didn't send just one person they sent an entire group.
Even if they had ulterior motives, as long as they didn't act openly, the Pill Tower couldn't attack first.
If Gu You truly won the championship…
The worst part wasn't even the title.
It was that the winners would gain entry to the Star Region.
If they managed to claim the Three Thousand Burning Flame, their advantage would be overwhelming.
If the Pill Tower tried to fight them there, innocent people outside would pay the price.
"For now, we wait. There's nothing we can do. He's a Soul Hall Saint, yes but he's also an alchemist. He meets the qualifications for this competition, and we can't strip him of that right. Doing so would damage the Pill Tower's reputation."
Xuan Kong Zi's voice was grim.
"Then… are we just going to let him take the championship?!"
The elder clenched his fists, visibly distressed.
Xuan Kong Zi didn't respond.
Instead, his eyes, along with the other Two Giants, shifted toward one particular figure.
Their faces were tense.
But among them, Xuan Yi's tension was different hers was more… expressive.
The Pill Tower's reputation… and the fate of countless lives… now rested on a single person.
But that person…
Didn't seem nervous at all.
Wu Tian simply stared at Gu You, his lips curling into a smirk.
"Gu You…"
"You're far too trash. Honestly, I'm so disappointed in you."
"You all went all out to refine these pills… and this is the best you could do?"
As he spoke, Wu Tian glanced at the Dan Thunder above.
His face filled with undisguised disappointment.
"This is it? Just this?"
(End of Chapter)
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