Layers of crimson mountains stretched endlessly, rising and falling in a wave that reached a thousand miles.
Between these thousand-li mountains, shrouded in swirling clouds and mist, countless pavilions and towers stood tall.
This was the heart of the Dan Sect.
At the very center, the sect’s grand hall took the form of a colossal pill cauldron.
Above the hall, seven-colored clouds lingered throughout the year, resembling the celestial phenomenon that appeared when a supreme-grade pill was successfully refined.
Beneath the mountains, there were dozens of villages and towns, and over ten thousand acres of medicinal fields, growing countless spiritual herbs for the daily use of the Dan Sect.
Since its founding, the Dan Sect had stood for ten thousand years.
The weight of millennia had made it the giant of the Northern Territory’s cultivation world.
Today, over sixty percent of the pill refiners in the Northern Territory hailed from the Dan Sect.
The Dan Sect was also closely, almost inseparably, connected with the other six great sects.
This time, it was the Dan Sect that was hosting the Pill Gathering.
The main purpose was to summon the pill refiners of the Northern Territory, to discuss the Dao through alchemy and compare skills.
The best among them would receive focused attention and cultivation from the Dan Sect and the other major sects for the next three years, preparing for the potential great war that might erupt three years hence.
At this moment, in the Dan Sect Elder Council, within the pill room—
A slender, slightly pale-faced youth exhaled a breath of searing air, slowly stepping back two paces, doubt lingering in his eyes.
In front of him, a silvery-white cauldron was enveloped by a blue flame, trembling continuously.
Inside the cauldron, a rhythmic thumping echoed, as if a living creature inside was struggling violently.
Golden talismans lit up atop the cauldron, linking together like chains, doing their utmost to suppress the turmoil within.
“How is the pill refining going, Qianxi?”
Just then, the door to the pill room swung open.
An elderly man with white hair and a youthful face entered, holding a horsetail whisk and wearing a kind smile.
“Master.”
Mu Qianxi immediately turned, cupping his hands in greeting.
The newcomer was none other than his master, the Dan Sect’s Second Elder, Qi Tian.
Qi Tian’s gentle smile remained as his gaze settled on the cauldron.
“Master, your disciple is puzzled. What exactly was the catalyst you asked me to add? Why did it cause such a violent reaction?”
Mu Qianxi asked with doubt, “If not for the formation suppressing the pill cauldron, that thing might have burst right out.”
Qi Tian’s smile did not waver as he explained, “That was soul essence refined from a demon soul. With the residual ferocity of the demon beast, such a reaction is normal.”
Mu Qianxi nodded in sudden understanding, unable to help but praise, “No wonder this thing can so greatly enhance the quality and effects of the pill.”
“Indeed. With this rare item, you will surely win the championship at the Pill Gathering and bring honor to our lineage.”
As he spoke, Qi Tian’s face revealed a trace of pride.
Hearing this, Mu Qianxi looked up, determination shining in his eyes.
“This time at the Pill Gathering, your disciple will not let you down. I will do my utmost to claim first place among the younger generation!”
“Good! Very good!”
Qi Tian clapped his hands, filled with approval.
Beneath the Dan Sect, there were twelve branches, each presided over by two elders, one primary and one deputy.
Qi Tian was in charge of the Earth Branch, which had not placed in the top ten for nine consecutive Pill Gatherings.
Within the sect, there were already voices questioning and challenging his position as Second Elder.
This Pill Gathering was being watched closely by all sides and would attract not only all the major sects and families, but even some reclusive pill refiners.
If, in this grand gathering, his disciple could seize the top spot and receive the sect’s full support, his own future would be limitless.
At that point, not only would no one question his standing, he might even have a chance to contend for the position of Grand Elder.
In the Dan Sect, seniority was determined by ability.
If your disciple was talented enough, your own position as master would rise accordingly.
Especially for pill refiners, whose chances of perishing along the path of cultivation were usually low—having an outstanding disciple meant securing your status for a long time.
Of course, Qi Tian knew that for this Pill Gathering, the other branches were also working hard and betting on their favored disciples.
But… so what?
His own disciple had already reached the fourth rank as a pill refiner.
He had even taught him the secret art to control the “Deep Soul Flame.”
Now, through special means, he had acquired a rare treasure that could raise the quality of pills by two or three grades.
Why should any other branch’s disciple compare to his?
Now, Qi Tian’s only concerns were the young pill refiners being secretly trained by the Four Great Clans, and whether any hidden peerless experts might send their own direct disciples.
After all, even aside from the benefits and resources that came with high ranking, this Pill Gathering, watched by all, was a rare chance to make a name for oneself.
At this very moment, all the great sects and families were making their own secret preparations.
Given the current situation in the Northern Territory, no one could afford to hide anymore.
Sword Gate Mountain.
At the foot of Heavenly Sword Cliff, Yan Luo was comprehending sword intent when she received a message from her family.
“You want me to go to the Pill Gathering? What kind of joke is this?”
Yan Luo frowned at the contents, feeling more than a little annoyed.
She wasn’t a pill refiner—what was the point of going to the Pill Gathering?
If she were to go anywhere, it would be to the Heaven’s Chosen Ranking Tournament!
But this order came from her grandfather, the undisputed patriarch of the Yan Family, leaving her no room for refusal.
Helpless, Yan Luo could only rise and go to inform her master, Nie Qi.
Nie Qi, upon hearing, pondered for a moment, then smiled and explained to the frustrated girl,
“Yan Ancestor wants you to go likely because of your unique constitution. The Yan Family surely has young talents competing at the Pill Gathering. If, before the competition, they could obtain a wisp of your Sun Fire to use in pill refining, it would be a great help.”
Hearing this, Yan Luo finally understood.
Still, she couldn’t help but mutter discontentedly, “Hmph, Grandpa really treats me like some kind of flint, doesn’t he?”
Nie Qi smiled gently, waiting for her complaints to subside before continuing, “In a few days, I’ll also be leading our Sword Gate Mountain’s pill refiners to the gathering. You can go along with us then.”
Yan Luo nodded reluctantly.
Suddenly, as if thinking of something, her eyes lit up and she asked,
“By the way, Master, will all the sects be attending this gathering?”
Nie Qi nodded, “Yes, all of them will, I imagine. Even the smaller sects and clans surely hope their disciples can stand out at such a grand event.”
Yan Luo’s excitement was hard to conceal.
“Then, will the Hehuan Sect…”
“Hehuan Sect…” Nie Qi repeated the words, glancing at Yan Luo with a strange look.
Ever since returning from the Ziyang Secret Realm, his disciple had often mentioned the Hehuan Sect… Was it because of that boy?
He was indeed a gifted youth with an extraordinary heart and great ability.
Nie Qi was not surprised that Yan Luo would develop feelings for him.
But Nie Qi’s lack of surprise didn’t mean he approved of the relationship—especially since Yan Luo was the eldest young lady of the Yan Family, while that youth was only from the Hehuan Sect, a small sect with neither background nor status.
They were not from the same world.
If they were together, Yan Luo would be fine, but for that youth, it would only bring unavoidable disaster.
For a moment, Nie Qi’s thoughts raced.
Seeing Yan Luo’s hopeful face, he forced a wry smile and replied, “I don’t know, but the Hehuan Sect is ultimately too small. Though their Sect Master is formidable, their numbers are few, and they may not even have a pill refiner. Even if they do, it’s likely only first or second rank—not worth mentioning.”
“I see…”
Yan Luo answered, unable to hide her disappointment.
“Still, since this is the grand event of the entire Northern Territory cultivation world, the Hehuan Sect might show up too, if only to watch and broaden their horizons,” Nie Qi added.
“Really?!”
Hearing there was still a chance, Yan Luo immediately beamed.
“Great, I’ll go pack my things right away!”
Joyfully, Yan Luo ran off.
Nie Qi watched her, unable to suppress a long sigh.
As her master, should he intervene—should he play the villain?
His heart hesitated.
Perhaps he could try negotiating with that boy.
The boy was reasonable—maybe he could understand.
Besides, he belonged to Lingxuan, so most likely, he wouldn’t have further interest in Yan Luo.
If so, letting him gently refuse Yan Luo might settle the matter.
With this plan in mind, Nie Qi walked to the window, gazing at the sun hanging in the sky, sighing inwardly.
He could only wonder how Yan Luo would react when the time came.
After all, in this world, nothing was more helpless than matters of the heart.
Even if that boy refused outright, what if Yan Luo remained steadfast—how could she move on?
Just as he himself, though rejected by Lingxuan countless times and knowing there was no hope, still found no room for another in his heart.
As he thought, a stunningly beautiful yet cold face surfaced in Nie Qi’s mind.
Tai Lingxuan… what was she doing now?
Meanwhile, in the Hehuan Sect’s pill room—
Tai Lingxuan wore a gentle smile, her slender fingers holding a silk handkerchief, gently wiping the sweat from a youth’s body through his collar.
Seeing him a bit tense, the woman laughed softly, a trace of teasing in her tone, “Yuyang, why are you still so tense? Am I going to eat you or something?”
“Master, there’s really no need for you to do such a trivial thing yourself,” Chen Yuyang said with a wry smile.
Today marked the day his Condensed Gold Pill would be complete, so he had come early to collect the pills.
To his surprise, Tai Lingxuan arrived even before him.
Moreover, as he was stabilizing the pill cauldron and preparing to gather the pills, she had eagerly stepped forward to wipe his sweat—as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Yet, Chen Yuyang still wasn’t used to it, even feeling a little nervous.
Soon, he opened the pill cauldron, and immediately a pure golden light shot forth, accompanied by a strange fragrance that filled the entire pill room.
Tai Lingxuan’s eyes lit up at once.
There was no need to say more—just from the phenomenon and the aroma, she knew the quality of this batch of pills would not be low.
This successful refinement also signified that Yuyang had officially stepped into the realm of a third-rank pill refiner.