The next morning, sunlight bathed the land in a warm golden hue, awakening Holy Pill City from its slumber.
Today, the city was more lively than ever—countless figures flooded the streets, gathering toward the Pill Tower headquarters. For this was the day that would decide the ultimate ownership of the Three Thousand Burning Fla.
The top ten alchemists of the Pill Gathering arrived one after another—Liu Xi, Mu Gu, Qing Hua, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Song Qing, Xiao Yan, and three other high-level alchemists unfamiliar to Liu Xi.
When all ten had assembled, a gentle breeze swept across the sky. In an instant, Xuan Kongzi, Tian Leizi, and Xuan Yi appeared high above, their presence dominating the heavens.
As their gazes fell upon the suddenly reappeared Mu Gu, their expressions turned cold as frost. Of the three, Xuan Yi's killing intent was the strongest—her hatred for him barely contained.
Mu Gu, as an 8th Tier Alchemist, naturally possessed formidable Spiritual Perception. The malice directed at him was sharp as a blade, and he sensed it clearly. Folding his arms across his chest, he hovered aloof in midair, a mocking smile tugging at his lips as he rasped:
"What's this? Are the so-called paragons of the continent's alchemy world planning to cast aside the rules and slaughter an innocent alchemist like ?"
Xuan Yi's eyes blazed—she wanted nothing more than to strike him down where he floated. Yet, Xuan Kongzi quietly raised a hand to stop her. His calm eyes glimred faintly as he sent her a soundless transmission:
"We must trust the younger generation. Liu Xi will handle this. Once inside the Star Region, Mu Gu won't live to return."
Only then did Xuan Yi withdraw her power, though her clenched fist trembled with suppressed fury. The Hall of Souls had captured Yao Chen, and rumor held that Mu Gu himself had ordered the bounty placed on his head.
She exhaled sharply through her nose and turned her gaze away, choosing not to look at the man at all—out of sight, out of mind.
Stepping forward, Xuan Kongzi's voice resounded across the sky, filled with authority.
"Today, the Star Region shall open! The top ten alchemists of this Pill Gathering each have one chance to purify and subdue the Three Thousand Burning Fla. However, this Heavenly Fla is incomparably violent. You must obey every command—any reckless action will be at your own peril."
His tone hardened with the last line, his sharp gaze cutting straight toward Mu Gu.
At once, countless eyes turned in the sa direction—so cold, so mocking, so wary. Anyone with sense could tell that Xuan Kongzi's warning was ant for Mu Gu. Only a man from the Hall of Souls would warrant such open caution.
Under that scrutiny, Mu Gu rely gave a dark, rasping chuckle, his true intentions hidden beneath his grin.
With Liu Xi present, Xuan Kongzi's concern was minimal. Having issued his warning, he turned to Tian Leizi and Xuan Yi.
"Let's begin."
"Understood," Tian Leizi and Xuan Yi replied.
The three Pill Tower Giants released their Dou Qi simultaneously. Instantly, a terrifying pressure erupted outward like crashing waves, sweeping across the entire square.
Those below trembled, their eyes wide with awe. The Three Giants of the Pill Tower were not only unmatched in alchemy—their Dou Qi cultivation was among the strongest on the continent.
Mu Gu's expression flickered briefly in caution before twisting into a cold smirk. He didn't believe they would dare to attack him in public. Once inside the Star Region, however, things would be different—there, he would be free to act.
The three leaders ford hand seals, solemn and focused. Space rippled violently as waves of power spread through the heavens. Together, they shouted:
"Star Region—open!"
A deafening rumble shook the sky as the very air split apart, revealing a widening spatial rift. Violent energy fluctuations spilled forth, and soon the tear expanded into a massive three-zhang-wide portal—a gateway leading to another world.
Xuan Kongzi's deep voice rolled out again:
"From here, you will be led by the First Elder. Follow his instructions precisely—do not act rashly."
No sooner had he finished than a white-haired old man streaked through the air and halted before the ten alchemists. His sharp eyes swept across them before resting briefly—and warningly—on Mu Gu.
"I am Elder Qiu Ling," he said sternly. "Follow behind into the Star Region, and do not stray. This space was not created for human life. There are spatial folds everywhere—one misstep, and you'll vanish forever."
"Understood!" the group responded in unison.
Elder Qiu Ling turned and flew toward the rift. Liu Xi was the first to move, taking the lead, while the others followed close behind—so stepping on air, others spreading wings of Dou Qi to keep pace.
'Three Thousand Burning Fla… here I co,' Liu Xi thought, a flicker of excitent lighting his eyes. Everything he had done thus far—all of it—was for this Heavenly Fla.
With a flash, Liu Xi and the others entered the portal, disappearing from sight in streaks of light.
Xuan Kongzi's gaze lingered on the rift. "Have all the precautions been set? If the Hall of Souls has prepared sothing, it won't stop at sending Mu Gu alone."
Tian Leizi nodded. "Our forces are in position. Every Pill Tower powerhouse and allied expert stands ready. If the Hall of Souls dares to assault Holy Pill City, we'll make sure none of them leave alive."
A shadow of unease crossed Xuan Kongzi's face. "Even so, we must not grow careless. The Hall of Souls… has a power behind it that even we dare not na. Were it not so, their vile thods would've been wiped from this continent long ago."
Had he not known what lurked behind that organization, Xuan Kongzi would've already retaliated for Mu Gu's provocations. But against that hidden force, even he dared not act recklessly.
anwhile—
Inside the Star Region, Liu Xi and the others found themselves suspended in a vast, shattered realm. Compared to the Pill Realm, this place was far more desolate—an incomplete world born from fragnts of space itself.
Where the Pill Realm was rich in life force and suited for magical beasts and herbs, this Star Region was barren and hostile. Even beasts could not survive here for long. Everywhere the eye turned, black void and raging spatial storms stretched endlessly.
Elder Qiu Ling's wary gaze never left Mu Gu, clearly afraid the man might suddenly go mad and unleash chaos among these future pillars of the Pill Tower.
"Stay close," he warned. "This realm was created solely to seal the Three Thousand Burning Fla. It's incomplete and unstable—danger lurks in every corner. Do not wander off."
"Yes!" everyone responded again, voices echoing through the void.
Following closely behind Qiu Ling, the group traveled deeper into the fractured domain. Most of them instinctively gravitated around Liu Xi, while Mu Gu hung back alone, unbothered. The ti to strike had not yet co.
The deeper they went, the hotter it beca. Waves of blistering heat rolled through the air, forcing everyone to summon their Dou Qi to protect themselves. Only Liu Xi and Mu Gu remained calm—their bodies seed entirely unfazed.
As they descended further, Liu Xi's senses tingled. The presence of the Three Thousand Burning Fla was close—he could feel it, guided by the resonance of his azure fla.
Mu Gu's eyes glead with greed, equally aware that their prize was near.
Suddenly, Elder Qiu Ling halted midair. His voice trembled slightly, filled with reverence and dread.
"We've arrived… The Three Thousand Burning Fla lies ahead."
Everyone looked down—and their eyes widened in horror.
There, coiled upon a broken fragnt of land, was a colossal dragon-shaped fla, its entire body wreathed in purple-black fire. Its eyes were shut, yet even so, its oppressive dragon might poured forth like a tidal wave.
Song Qing swallowed hard, his throat dry.
"S-So this… this is the Three Thousand Burning Fla…"
'The thing I've dread of claiming… looks like that?!'
(End of Chapter)
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