"Xiao Yan?" Hearing this from Xuan Yi, the others—Xuan Kongzi and his companions—also paused slightly, then nodded in agreement, saying, "Although Master Hou holds a much higher rank than Xiao Yan, given the latter's current strength, he might truly be able to challenge this elder." Yao Lao also nodded and smiled, saying, "That's excellent—let Xiao Yan face off against that elder. It will show Master Hou not only that I, Yao Chen, can defeat him, but also that even my own disciple can triumph over him!" "Then Master Hou will surely be green with envy," laughed Tian Lei Zi. After hearing these several exchanges, it was clear that his appearance had been confirmed. Xiao Yan could only remain silent, though he understood that this matter was crucial to the alliance's success. Thus, he did not object, confident in his current alchemical skills—no matter how senior the elders, he felt completely at ease facing them. "How many colors of Dan Lei can Master Hou produce in his medicinal formulations?" Xiao Yan paused slightly, asking, "Facing someone like this, one must understand both the opponent and oneself." "It's been quite some time since I've seen that old master give his full effort. The last time he poured his energy into refining pills was probably twenty years ago, when he successfully summoned the Eight-Color Pill Lightning. I'd imagine he can now summon the Nine-Color Pill Lightning." Xuan Kongzi mused. "Nine-Color Pill Lightning, indeed..." Xiao Yan nodded slightly. No wonder he was able to compete with the original Yao Lao for the championship of the Pill Refining Championship—this level of refining artistry ranks among the very top in Zhongzhou. "That old man has made remarkable progress in recent years. So, if Xiao Yan is to defeat him, he must produce... a Nine-Rank Pill?" "Master Yao's brows slightly furrowed. Even a basic ninth-rank elixir—let alone the lowest tier of ninth-rank precious elixirs—required considerable effort on his part. Although Xiao Yan was strong in combat, the art of alchemy demanded accumulated experience. This old master, having devoted decades to alchemy, likely possessed several times the experience of Xiao Yan." "Agreed," the three disciples of Xuan Kong nodded, their gaze shifting to Xiao Yan. "Do you have any confidence in this?" "A ninth-rank elixir?" Xiao Yan lightly rubbed his fingers together before speaking softly, "We can give it a try." Though Xiao Yan had never before crafted an elixir of this rank, his strength had significantly grown recently. Moreover, during his two years of seclusion, his spiritual power had surged dramatically. Now, his spiritual realm had officially entered the Heavens Realm, surpassing even Master Yao and the other elder masters of the highest generations. Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the three members of Xuan Kong Zi all slightly relaxed, then said, "Then let's go with that plan. As for how to have Xiao Yan participate in the trials, we will arrange it. With his title as champion of the Dan Conference, there should be no major issues." "Agreed," both Yao Lao and Xiao Yan nodded. "Heh, you three will stay here for the next three days. The environment here is quite suitable for herbalists and alchemists to live in." Xuan Kong Zi stood up, smiled, and then quickly led the two in purple robes away. They still needed to make arrangements to secure Xiao Yan's participation in the senior council selection, as introducing someone unexpectedly like this did bring a slight amount of inconvenience. ... Over the following three days, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao temporarily resided within the Dan Tower Mountain. During this time, several elder alchemists from the past came to visit, naturally due to Yao Lao's influence—these seasoned figures were mostly acquainted with him, and having not seen each other in years, they naturally came to pay their respects. Yao Lao specifically arranged for Xiao Yan to meet these elder alchemists, as these seasoned figures had once enjoyed wide reputations in the Central Plains. Meeting them would undoubtedly prove beneficial. As for the elder's intentions, Xiao Yan was well aware, so when meeting these senior figures, he appeared particularly courteous and respectful—something that greatly pleased the elders. Upon learning that Xiao Yan's alchemy skills had reached a level comparable to the Elder's, they treated him with even greater warmth and enthusiasm. As long as one possessed strength, recognition from others came naturally. Amid this vibrant atmosphere, three days passed swiftly. When the morning of the fourth day dawned upon Dan Tower Mountain—a place usually quiet—the mountain suddenly became lively. Within the smaller Dan Tower, daily life remained calm, with the elders engaging in occasional discussions and exchanges about alchemy, managing their own herb gardens, and maintaining a peaceful, uneventful rhythm that suited those who had grown weary of the mainland's constant turmoil. At the summit of Dantashan lies a naturally formed plaza, surrounded by misty vapor. Thick clouds, like fluffy cotton, drift gently, creating an irresistible urge to walk upon them. Nowadays, though this plaza is rarely visited, it is bustling with people—most of them elderly, with white hair, appearing remarkably aged. In the Central Plains, such individuals would command significant admiration and recognition. For any sect, having a master-level alchemist would be immensely beneficial. As the number of people gathering on the plaza steadily increases, the elderly alchemist, Yao Chen, and Xiao Yan follow the trio of Xuan Kongzi to the plaza. Immediately upon Yao Chen's appearance, many people converge, greeting him warmly—demonstrating that he enjoys excellent popularity within the small Dantashan sect. "Yao Chen, you old man—surely you're not dead yet." As the medicine elder smiled warmly and greeted his old friends, a voice slightly out of harmony suddenly emerged, and the crowd parted to make way for an elderly man in gray robes, who advanced slowly. "Ah, you're still alive, Old Oddity Hou—how could I possibly have arrived before you?" the medicine elder smiled gently, gazing at the gray-robed elder. "Is this indeed Old Oddity Hou?" Upon hearing the name, Xiao Yan's mind stirred, and his gaze shifted to the gray-robed man. The man's build matched well with the homophonic sound of his surname. His face, weathered and stern, looked quite rigid—almost as if it were a lifeless mask. I always thought you'd leave the Small Dan Tower voluntarily, and never return again. "The gray-robed elder spoke calmly, his voice laced with subtle contempt. He and the Herbal Master have always been at odds, constantly striving to outshine him, yet never succeeding—this very frustration has become a persistent thorn in his side. The Herbal Master smiled gently, neither disputing nor pressing, always maintaining his good-natured demeanor. 'I've heard you're planning to run for the position of senior elder? That's fine—after so many years apart, it'll be good for me to see whether your alchemical skills have improved.' Seeing that the Herbal Master paid no attention, the gray-robed elder furrowed his brows again and said it once more. Upon hearing this, the Herbal Master couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. 'This time, it's not actually my intention to run. If you insist on having a contest, then first beat my disciple—by the way, he's also entering the race.' 'Your disciple?" "Heard this, the gray-robed elder turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan beside him. Upon seeing his age, his expression darkened, and he coldly remarked, 'Can this young lad really qualify for the election? Pu Chen—haven't you been doing things the way you always do? This is the Xiaodan Tower, not the Zhongzhou!' Some of the older elders nearby, unfamiliar with the situation, also cast astonished glances at Xiao Yan, clearly puzzled as to why he had been granted a spot in the election. 'Master Hou, Xiao Yan is the champion of this year's Dan Conference—how could he possibly lack eligibility?' Xuan Kongzi glanced at Master Hou and said. 'Champion of the Dan Conference?' Hearing this, Master Hou's face immediately showed signs of change. Back then, he had narrowly lost the title to Pu Chen by a mere margin, and that had always been a sore point. Now, even Pu Chen's own disciple had achieved that very position. 'It seems this year's Dan Conference hasn't lived up to expectations,' Master Hou sighed, reluctantly." "You're mistaken. At this Dan Assembly, Xiao Yan successfully crafted the Five-Color Dan Thunder, which allowed him to prevail. The competition was far more intense than it was during your generation." The man in the dark robe spoke calmly. "What exactly is the Five-Color Dan Thunder?" Hearing this, the elders surrounding them were also visibly astonished. While crafting such high-level pills might now be achievable for them, back then—when they first participated in the Dan Assembly—being able to produce pills capable of summoning Dan Thunder was already considered an exceptional feat. For them, the Five-Color Dan Thunder was truly a distant aspiration. After yet another setback, the elder's expression grew even more serious. Each successive obstacle was proving increasingly frustrating. His face now felt strained under the pressure. With a sweep of his sleeve, he coldly remarked, "Five-Color Dan Thunder? It's nothing special here. Since you haven't stepped forward, I shall assume the position of Elder. However, as this young disciple is yours, I shall also take it upon myself to guide and instruct him." "Heh, my poor disciple is most unwise. Since Master Hou has shown such goodwill, I shall gladly express my gratitude in advance." The old doctor smiled warmly. "Drug Chen, I know precisely why you've come. Once I secure the position of Elder, I shall certainly ensure that you return empty-handed!"