"You actually passed that lord's trial! Could it be that you're his disciple?" Protector Wu's tone even carried a hint of change, his voice tinged with a touch of respect.
Xiao Yan alone didn't warrant such respect from a 5-star Dou Ancestor like him. Even if Xiao Yan were a 5th-tier alchemist, it wouldn't be enough. But Hun Huzi, who could bestow a Soul Command Token upon others, was an existence countless times more powerful than Protector Wu.
Protector Wu himself didn't know how strong Hun Huzi truly was; he only knew that back when he went to make his report, even the Tianzuns treated Hun Huzi with the utmost respect.
Protector Wu only knew that Hun Huzi was an alchemist. At that time, he had appeared in the Tiangang Hall because a certain prominent figure had expended a large number of soul points to request his assistance in refining a medicinal pill.
Actually, it wasn't surprising that Protector Wu thought this way. After all, Xiao Yan was also an alchemist and even possessed a Heavenly Flame. Especially having reached the 5th-tier alchemist at such a young age. Such speed was unheard of, even by Protector Wu.
Perhaps only the super geniuses of the Pill Tower could progress at such a pace. Being accepted as a disciple by Hun Huzi seemed quite reasonable.
Xiao Yan glanced indifferently at Protector Wu's shocked expression. He slowly attached the Soul Command Token to his waist and calmly said, "He did want to take me as a disciple, but I had no such intention."
"Alchemy is merely a side pursuit for me, something I do casually. Cultivation is the true path."
Upon hearing these words, Protector Wu inwardly cursed him for showing off. That was an alchemist whom even figures like the Tianzuns would beseech.
Tianzuns were at least 7-star Dou Venerates or higher. What kind of monstrous existences were 7-star Dou Venerates and above?!
The medicinal pills they required were at least high-grade tier 8 pills, the kind that could attract 7-colored or higher Pill Lightning when refined. Such pills could be called divine pills without exaggeration.
An alchemist whom even such people had to treat with courtesy would at least be among the top ten on the entire Dou Qi Continent, right?
And such a person wanted to take you as a disciple, yet you weren't even willing!
"Of course, of course. Sir, not only is your alchemy unparalleled, but your cultivation is also invincible. Even Nalan Yanran, who received a Dou Venerate's inheritance, was easily defeated by you." Protector Wu smiled ingratiatingly, rubbing his hands together like a fly. His fawning demeanor made Yun Shan beside him feel as if he were looking at a stranger!
Was this still the same Protector Wu?!!!
Xiao Yan nodded lightly and said, "I came to the Misty Cloud Sect not only to complete the trial given by Hun Huzi but also to learn about some matters regarding the Hall of Souls and to exchange some items using soul points."
"Why don't you introduce this Hall of Souls to me?"
Xiao Yan clasped his hands behind his back, glancing left and right as he observed the interior of the Hall of Souls. He wanted to know more about it.
"Of course, of course. Please come this way, Sir. I'll introduce some aspects of the Hall of Souls to you right away." After learning that Xiao Yan possessed a Soul Command Token, Protector Wu's attitude became as subservient as a eunuch.
Xiao Yan took a few steps and then turned back to look at Yun Shan, who was still standing there in a daze, not yet reacting. He smiled slightly and said, "Protector Yun Shan, is there something the matter?"
Yun Shan's eyelid twitched violently when he heard Xiao Yan address him as 'Protector' rather than 'Sect Leader'. The implication was obvious.
Protector Wu glanced at Yun Shan, who had no choice but to suppress his emotions and say softly, "It's nothing... Sir."
As the former Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect and an elite Dou Ancestor of the Jia Ma Empire, when had Yun Shan ever addressed an eighteen-year-old youth as 'Sir'?!
Moreover, Xiao Yan had Queen Medusa give him a severe beating just this morning!
Xiao Yan felt secretly delighted upon hearing this. So what if he was a Dou Ancestor? Now, didn't he still have to obediently follow behind him!
Protector Wu led the way for Xiao Yan, heading deeper into the Hall of Souls.
Rather than calling this place a grand hall, it would be more accurate to describe it as a massive prison!
But what was imprisoned here weren't criminals but soul bodies and alchemists!
Xiao Yan saw several soul bodies confined by a special kind of black chain. There were also some people who were clearly alchemists, even wearing alchemist robes.
"All those imprisoned here are soul bodies of the Dou King realm and above. It's difficult for those below the Dou King realm to produce soul bodies. When their physical bodies are destroyed, usually only remnant souls remain. In that case, we can only use soul stones to absorb their Spiritual Strength."
"Every so often, Enforcers will come to collect the soul bodies. Different grades of the Hall of Souls are required to submit a certain number of soul bodies each month," Protector Wu
"Different grades?" Xiao Yan keenly caught the key term.
Protector Wu nodded and explained, "Yes, the Hall of Souls is divided into three grades. The highest grade is the Tiangang Hall, followed by the Disha Hall, and then branch halls like ours. There are only three Tiangang Halls: the Heaven Hall, Earth Hall, and Man Hall, managed respectively by the Hall Chief, Deputy Chief, and the First Tianzun. The Heaven Hall is, of course, the headquarters, located within the Central Plains."
"Below the three Tiangang Halls are the twenty-four Disha Halls, all located on the periphery of the Central Plains, encircling it completely. They are all managed by Honorable Elders." "As for branch halls like ours located outside the Central Plains, their number is too many to count. Each branch hall has at least one Protector, with the main tasks of collecting soul bodies and capturing alchemists."
Xiao Yan's brows furrowed tightly. Protectors were all at the Dou Ancestor realm or higher, yet these branch halls were the weakest?! And there were so many that they couldn't be
This strength was simply too terrifying!
In other words, any one of the weakest branch halls could utterly destroy the Jia Ma Empire!
Xiao Yan thought to himself, 'No wonder all the alchemists on the Dou Qi Continent had to unite to establish the Pill Tower. Even places like the Jia Ma Empire, far from the Central Plains, have Alchemist Associations under the protection of the Pill Tower.'
'The Hall of Souls' sphere of influence is simply outrageous.'
A group like alchemists, a profession with such rallying power, was ultimately forced by the Hall of Souls to band together for self-preservation!
"Are they capturing these alchemists to refine pills?" Xiao Yan noticed that these alchemists hadn't been killed. If they only needed soul bodies, they could have just killed them and
extracted their souls.
Since they didn't kill the alchemists, it could only mean they needed them to refine pills.
To Xiao Yan's surprise, Protector Wu actually shook his head and said, "Aside from the fact that alchemists inherently have strong Spiritual Strength and are more likely to produce soul bodies, more importantly, the Sacred Land needs to select talented alchemists to help refine a certain medicinal pill."
A glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. Back then, Hun Huzi had told him the same thing. However, as for what specific pill it was, he needed to truly cultivate his alchemy skills to a certain level before Hun Huzi would tell him.
'It seems this pill is indeed very important if they need to capture alchemists from all over the world to select and cultivate powerful alchemists.'
The three of them finally exited this long prison passageway after walking for quite a while. Perhaps because this branch hall was newly built, there weren't many people imprisoned
A vast hall appeared before Xiao Yan after following Protector Wu for a while longer. In the center of the hall stood something resembling an altar, and the surrounding walls were densely packed with various light clusters enveloped in radiance.
Xiao Yan recognized these light clusters; he had seen them before in the Treasure Hall. These light clusters contained various treasures, medicinal pills, Qi Methods, and Dou Techniques.