A number of martial artists gathered at the entrance of the Pill Tower in Dading City.
Although this is just a test before the alchemy competition, it is also a way to discover the alchemists' strength. If they cannot even pass this simple test, then there is no need for them to participate in the subsequent alchemy competition, thus wasting spiritual herbs.
Qin Xin pinched his nose and followed behind Zhan Qingqi, turning his foot and squeezing into the crowd.
Just as they were about to follow the flow of people into the Pill Tower, a commotion arose behind them, drawing the attention of everyone around them.
The sudden stop of the crowd revealed helplessness in Qin Xin's eyes. After glancing at Zhan Qingqi, he noticed that her eyes held an unfriendly look.
The gaze fell upon an extremely luxurious carriage, exuding an aristocratic air, adorned with gold and other decorative items. The two snow-white-haired demonic beasts pulling the carriage were even more extraordinary; although their bodies resembled ordinary horses, their manes faintly shone with a blue light, standing silently on either side.
“The royal family…” Zhan Qingqi said softly, gazing at the emblem on the carriage.
After Qin Xin looked over, he discovered that there was a golden ancient cauldron on the badge, which had a faintly awe-inspiring feel to it.
"It seems that the royal family is not so simple."
He was slightly amazed when he sensed the powerful aura emanating from inside the carriage.
As the curtain of the carriage was pulled open by the accompanying palace maid, a man dressed in magnificent palace attire stepped out lightly.
Although the man's appearance was ordinary, he gave people a sense of authority without anger, perhaps because he had been in the royal family for a long time and it was a habit he had naturally developed.
Seeing the many martial artists in line make way for him to enter the Pill Tower, the man in the magnificent palace robes smiled and strode into the Pill Tower, which drew curses and insults from Qin Xin, who was squeezed to the side.
"This person is Ding Sheng, the eldest prince of the royal family," Zhan Qingqi said softly to Qin Xin.
Qin Xin nodded slightly in response, because through his spiritual sense he could tell that the current peak strength was somewhat unstable, and the scorching heat emanating from his body seemed to be a hidden ailment caused by refining pills for a long time.
"As expected of the Crown Prince, he is already a mid-level fourth-grade alchemist. If he can reach the fifth-grade alchemist level before the age of thirty, he will probably be the number one alchemist in the Eastern Wilderness." Looking at the Crown Prince Ding Sheng, who was dressed in magnificent clothes, the surrounding crowd continued to cheer.
Just when Qin Xin thought he could enter the Pill Tower, the flow of people suddenly stopped again.
After gasps of surprise rang out from the crowd, it sounded as if countless hungry wolves in heat were howling softly.
Before this pack of ravenous wolves, a somewhat heroic woman leaped lightly from a carriage. The moment her foot touched the ground, flames seemed to gather around her, forming a lotus pattern between her brows.
What surprised Qin Xin even more was that after the woman jumped down from the carriage, she did not rush into the Pill Tower. As if she had spotted a familiar figure in the crowd, she walked straight towards Qin Xin's direction.
About ten steps away, the woman squatted down. Her red, form-fitting clothes accentuated her chivalrous nature. Although her hair was tied up like a man's, it couldn't hide her beauty. Her bright eyes were fixed on where Qin Xin was, and a hint of joy appeared on her face.
"Qingqi, it's been so many years. You've become even more beautiful. Why didn't you come to see me after you returned from the Eastern Wilderness Academy?"
The woman stepped forward and took Zhan Qingqi's hands. The two seemed to know each other very well, and Zhan Qingqi did not refuse.
Looking at Qin Xin beside her, the woman's eyes darted around. She had never seen him before, so she asked with some curiosity, "May I ask who this gentleman is?"
"Yan Lan, this is my junior brother from the Eastern Wilderness Academy, Qin Xin. He's representing my Zhan clan at the Alchemy Conference this time," Zhan Qingqi said softly.
"Oh, he looks pretty average. You and your sister chose him as your fiancé?"
"It's a pity. Although my younger brother is a womanizer, he is still much better than this man. If you and your sister Qingqi were to marry into my Yan clan, you would naturally be able to keep your position among the four great families, and you would also be able to occupy an elder position in the Pill Tower."
Yan Lan looked down on Qin Xin, only glancing at him before pulling Zhan Qingqi's hand and walking towards the Pill Tower.
Standing to the side, Qin Xin could easily see through Yan Lan's thoughts, but he didn't take it to heart and followed the two women into the Pill Tower.
As soon as I stepped into the Pill Tower of Dading City, a warm feeling immediately swept over my whole body, and the fragrance of some pills and spiritual herbs also filled my nostrils, making me feel very comfortable.
Looking at the extremely spacious yet somewhat ancient hall before them, there were already quite a few figures standing there. The eldest prince, Ding Sheng, who had arrived earlier, was currently resting with his eyes closed. Upon sensing the two women enter, he immediately opened his eyes and a smile appeared on his face.
Qin Xin was somewhat amazed by the speed at which this person changed their expression.
"The man on the left is Lin Yan, and the man on the right is Jiang Xingchen."
Hearing Zhan Qingqi's soft voice transmission, Qin Xin followed her gaze and saw a man with a somewhat spirited appearance and red hair standing at the very front of the hall. He had an ancient pill furnace badge on his chest, with three shimmering silver ripples on the furnace, though the fourth one was somewhat dim.
Jiang Xingchen, standing next to Lin Yan, bears a resemblance to Jiang Xinghai. The alchemist badge on his chest is the same as Lin Yan's, indicating that he is also a fourth-grade beginner alchemist.
"It seems everyone is punctual; the four major families and the royal family are all present." A somewhat aged voice came from within the Pill Tower.
Following everyone's gaze, an old man with snow-white hair, dressed in an alchemist's robe, was standing in the hall.
"Has the Zhan tribe found someone to participate yet?"
The snow-white-haired old man looked at Zhan Qingqi and asked in a very calm tone.
"Yes, he will represent my Zhan tribe in the competition."
Zhan Qingqi gently pointed to Qin Xin beside her with her jade-like hands, and said with a smile as if she were being very polite to the white-haired old man in front of her.
"Yes, once confirmed, it cannot be changed. The Zhan Clan and the four previous Alchemy Tournaments will no longer be able to enter the top four. If they are still unable to enter this Alchemy Tournament, they will lose their position as elders of the Pill Tower."
The snow-white-haired old man glanced at the third-grade alchemist badge on Qin Xin's chest, his eyes remaining calm, and spoke as if offering a reminder. (m.cascoo.net)
"Thank you, Elder. Our Zhan clan has already chosen this person," Zhan Qingqi said, nodding.
"Wait!"
Just as Zhan Qingqi finished speaking, a discordant voice suddenly rang out in the room.
“I have never seen this boy in the Zhan clan. What qualifications does he have to represent the Zhan clan at the alchemy conference?”
A somewhat thin man stepped forward and spoke up in rebuttal.
Qin Xin also looked in the direction of the sound and saw the man standing behind Ding Sheng, as if he had been instructed to do so.
"What, Ding Shen? Qin Xin is my fiancé, how can he not represent the Zhan clan!"
Zhan Qingqi looked at the thin man named Ding Shen with disgust in her eyes and immediately reprimanded him.
Qin Xin had naturally heard Zhan Qingqi mention this person before. Ding Shen was the heir of the Ding clan of the Ding Dynasty and was now a third-grade alchemist. The Ding clan was once a small family that could be bullied by others. It only grew stronger by relying on the Zhan clan. However, as the Zhan clan declined, the Ding clan broke away and even became a pawn of the royal family. Now, they even coveted the position of one of the four great families of the Zhan clan.
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