"Hun Xuzi... Does the master know him?" Xue Yan's reaction also caused a slight surprise, his gaze shifting toward the black-robed middle-aged man in the sky, his brows slightly furrowed. Once again, it was another member of the Hun clan—always appearing and vanishing without a trace. "Do you remember what I told you back then about the incident at Xiao Dan Tower? The Hun clan member who had been secretly stationed within Xiao Dan Tower and ultimately betrayed him, fleeing after injuring him?" Master Yao spoke with a tone laced with unmistakable disdain. "Is that the very person you're referring to, Hun Xuzi?" Xue Yan was startled, his voice filled with astonishment. "Yes." The medicine elder slowly nodded, his gaze fixed upon Houn Xuzi in the sky, his voice cold as he said: "This man holds an extremely high position within the Houn clan—even Houn Mie Sheng cannot match him. I never expected that he too would have been drawn here, solely by the allure of this pharmacopoeia." "Houn Xuzi is of great significance to the Houn clan. If my assessment is correct, the Houn Palace's scheme of gathering countless souls was likely orchestrated by him. Should we succeed in eliminating him, we would effectively sever the clan's left and right arms. "Heard this, Xiao Yan's eyes slightly narrowed, with a glint of frost shimmering within them. He harbored a strong desire to eliminate the Hún clan—should the opportunity arise, he would certainly try to dispatch this Hún Xūzi... "Yet, he mustn't be too careless. Hún Xūzi's mastery in the art of alchemy is exceptionally high; otherwise, he wouldn't have been chosen by the Master of Xiao Dan Tower and taken as a disciple. After all these years of cultivation, his alchemical skills must now have reached an incomparable, profound level," the Elder of the Medicine Clan murmured. Xiao Yan nodded. To hold such a distinguished position within the Hún clan, where so many formidable individuals reside, it would be hard to believe that he were merely an ordinary person—let alone underestimate him. He certainly wouldn't make that mistake. "We cannot allow someone of this stature to attend our Pharmacological Clan's grand ceremony!" As the Hounxu Zi stepped onto the platform, he immediately sparked a fierce reaction among numerous senior Pharmacological elders, their angry glares fixed firmly upon him, their sharp voices echoing continuously. The head of the Yao Dan Clan exchanged a glance with the Wanhu Elder beside him, both of them frowning intently—clearly, the uninvited Hounxu Zi had come as a surprise. For generations, the Pharmacological Clan has maintained a considerable distance from the Houn clan, a more ancient lineage. While other ancient clans have undergone countless transformations over the centuries, the Houn clan has remained consistently enigmatic and strange, often displaying terrifying power that commands deep respect and constant caution. Plus, considering the mysterious disappearances of the Lin and Shi clans over the years, the three ancient clans—Yao, Lei, and Yan—have grown increasingly cautious toward the Hun and Gu clans. Thus, when they saw that this Hun Xushizi had come uninvited, they felt a certain degree of displeasure. Nevertheless, they were aware of the current situation, so at least on the surface, they maintained the gracious demeanor of hosts. "Exactly because I didn't want you to deepen your doubts, I've come today," the Hounxu said with a smile. "This Pharmacopoeia, hailed as the highest-level gathering of alchemists on the Continent, well—there's a certain interest I have in the title of 'First Alchemist of the Continent.' If Master Wanhuo has the standing to bestow this title upon me, then I shall be leaving right away." "By the end of it, even the weathered face of Yao Dan flickered with a sharp, resolute demeanor—truly embodying the aura of a clan elder, leaving everyone quietly impressed. "Elder, does this seem inappropriate?" Upon seeing Yao Dan allow Hounxu Zi to remain, the surrounding Yao Clan elders were startled. Elder Wanhuo hesitated before speaking as well. "The Yao Canon is the most significant event in our clan. With so many people present, we cannot simply expel someone without cause—otherwise, it would seem we are being overly rigid and harsh. While the Houn Clan certainly needs to be watched, with such a large gathering of people from across the Yao Realm today, how could we possibly fear someone daring to act out of place?" Yao Dan waved his hand, speaking calmly. "I will keep a close watch on him. Should anything seem amiss, I will personally intervene and seize him!" Seeing Yao Dan's firm stance, everyone finally nodded in agreement. "Still, the Elder of the Medicine Pill Clan has done quite a bit..." Houn Xū lightly chuckled, his lips slightly lifting as a strange smile flashed swiftly across his eyes. Then, with a subtle movement, he materialized directly before a stone chair—right near where Xiao Yan and the old medicine master were seated. "You've indeed picked a fine disciple, Elder Yao. Even though I'm deep within the Houn Realm, your disciple's reputation still echoes like thunder." Seated on the chair, Houn Xū turned his gaze toward the old medicine master, a peculiar smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "A reputation that echoes like thunder—can anyone truly match the very one who defied his teacher and extinguished his own lineage, Houn Xū?" The old medicine master smiled, shaking his head. "Well, I was born into the Hu族, with the bloodline of the Hu clan. The extinction of our ancestral line hasn't quite landed on my head yet. As for dishonoring my teacher—ah, I never really regarded that old man as my teacher, after all." In response to the elder's sarcastic words, Houn Xuzi merely shook his head seriously, then narrowed his eyes into a threatening arc, speaking casually, "Yao Chen, you should actually be grateful to me. If it weren't for my recognizing you back then and deciding to have you serve my Hu clan, you would have already vanished—your spirit dispersed long before you could even wait for your disciple to come and save you. Hah. But that doesn't matter much. Those who have fled can always be reclaimed. Eventually, the Tianfu Alliance and others will naturally realize how naive they've been." "Heard this, the Elder of the Medicine Sect's face instantly darkened. As for Xiao Yan, however, he remained calm, offering a gentle smile—yet said nothing to him. With a mere sweep of his sleeve, the Northern King suddenly burst forth, darting forward and materializing beside Hounu Xizi. The powerful leg strikes sliced through the air like sharp blades, fiercely lashing out against him. 'Hmph!' The sudden assault left even Hounu Xizi momentarily stunned—undoubtedly unprepared for Xiao Yan's fierce demeanor, who had simply launched into action without a word. Yet Hounu Xizi was no ordinary figure. He emitted a cold exhalation, and the space around him subtly warped as his form vanished in an eerie manner. Reappearing moments later, he found himself seated on a stone chair far away. 'Thud!' With one foot, the Northern King instantly shattered the stone table and chairs into powder. Then, he halted, gazed coldly at Houn Xushi, and walked back to Xiao Yan's side, standing motionless like a statue once more. Holding the jade cup, Xiao Yan's graceful attendant promptly approached, carefully poured a fragrant medicinal wine specially prepared by the medicinal clan, and after taking a gentle sip, smiled calmly. "Those who betray their teachers and show no loyalty—better stay far away from me..." "Hah! What a Xiao Yan!" On the distant stone chair, Houn Xushi's face broke into a smile—cold and piercing. He fixed his gaze on Xiao Yan, and a terrifying surge of energy gradually radiated outward from within him, causing several medicinal clan elders to subtly frown. "Houn Xushi," said Yao Dan, who had been seated at the head of the gathering, paying no attention to the ongoing conflict until now, "today is our medicinal clan's grand ceremony. No physical confrontation is permitted. Any violation will result in immediate expulsion from the medicinal realm." "Heh, since the Director of the Medicine and Elixir Clan has spoken, we must comply." Upon hearing this, the serene smile on Hounxu Zi's face slightly tightened, then broadened further. Yet in his eyes, the cold radiance grew ever more intense. The old man had remained silent when Xiao Yan first made his move, but now, at the very moment Xiao Yan sought to counterattack, he stepped forward to assert fairness—clearly intending to diminish Xiao Yan right before everyone's eyes. "What a fine Clan of Medicine!" Hounxu Zi murmured under his breath, his gaze growing increasingly strange.