The ancestor has been mobilized!

The Ancestor of the Pill Tower preferred to use stillborns to achieve Rebirth, and thus had no fixed appearance.

His very existence was the stabilizing force of the Pill Tower; usually, he was as elusive as a Dragon, appearing only when the Pill Tower faced a crisis of survival.

This sudden appearance and his specific request to see Shen Wen was a massive Opportunity, yet who would have thought that brat had previously claimed he was busy.

Old Monster Lin grumbled about his troublesome disciple seven or eight times in his heart, but he could only force a bitter smile and quickly bowed, saying, "Old Ancestor, please appease your anger!

That brat doesn't know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth; he's grown wild in the Northwest Continent. When he returns, I will certainly drag him before the Old Ancestor to kowtow and apologize!"

Xuan Danzi waved his hand, still chuckling, seemingly not truly angry. "Forget it. Geniuses always have some eccentric tempers.

Back then, I... cough, I was much the same in my youth. A Grade 8 Alchemist under the age of twenty—even if he were three times more arrogant, he could afford to be."

Old Monster Lin knew the Old Ancestor wasn't referring to himself, but rather the Senior who had refined him back then, who was a Ninth-Grade Alchemist.

One could say that person was the closest existence to a Di-Grade Alchemist at the time.

Xuan Danzi's tone shifted, becoming somewhat playful. "I am simply curious, exactly what urgent matter is more important than coming to see me?"

Just as Old Monster Lin was about to weigh his words, both of them frowned simultaneously.

Old Monster Lin sensed a familiar yet hurried spatial fluctuation rapidly approaching the core area of the Pill Tower, being automatically guided in by their auras.

"Is it Zhao Kuo?" Old Monster Lin's heart skipped a beat.

Zhao Kuo was the one he had sent to secretly protect Shen Wen. To have left Shen Wen's side and rushed back to the Pill Tower at full speed alone, even using an emergency transmission secret technique... He didn't dare delay and immediately waved his sleeve.

The space in front of him twisted and shook, and Zhao Kuo's slightly illusory figure—clearly a long-distance projection—suddenly emerged.

He looked travel-worn, his Soul Power projection somewhat unstable, and his Face was filled with obvious urgency.

"What is the matter that makes you so flustered?" Old Monster Lin asked in a deep voice, his tone carrying a hint of severity. "Did I not tell you to follow him in secret and ensure that boy's safety until his return? Why have you returned alone first? Where is that rascal?"

Zhao Kuo first gave Old Monster Lin a deep bow, then glanced at Xuan Danzi.

Old Monster Lin spoke up, "This is a Senior of the Pill Tower! Speak quickly, has something happened on Shen Wen's side?"

"Senior!"

Zhao Kuo hurriedly bowed.

His voice carried a lingering urgency: "Old Ancestor, Elder Lin! I have an emergency to report! The Young Master... he speculates that the Hall of Souls is very likely to have set up a lethal trap at several Space Wormholes we must pass through to return to the Central Plains!

Concerned for the safety of those around him, he did not dare to charge through recklessly. He specifically ordered me to return with all haste to request Elder Lin or the experts of the Tower to provide support and inspect the wormholes!"

"What?!" Old Monster Lin's pupils constricted, and the aura around him instantly turned cold.

Even the child-like Xuan Danzi beside him saw his smile fade slightly, a cold starlight flickering in his clear eyes.

Old Monster Lin and Xuan Danzi exchanged a glance, their expressions both solemn.

They knew all too well the Hall of Souls' "preference" for the Pill Tower's geniuses and their unscrupulous methods.

Hunting high-level Alchemists and extracting their Souls had been the Hall of Souls' secret business for hundreds of years.

Not long ago, Shen Wen had uprooted the Hall of Souls' strongholds in the Northwest Continent; it would be strange if they could just swallow their pride.

Setting an ambush on the path Shen Wen had to take for his return perfectly matched the Hall of Souls' vengeful and sinister style.

A cold light flickered in Old Monster Lin's eyes, and he immediately made a decision: "In that case, I shall personally make a trip to the Northwest Continent!

I will also request two semi-Saint Elders currently in seclusion to accompany me.

With one Saint and two semi-Saints, unless the top three Heavenly Venerates of the Hall of Souls arrive in person, or the Hall Master and Deputy Hall Master take action, it will be enough to sweep away all monsters and turn those Space Wormholes upside down!"

This arrangement was extremely secure, showing the Pill Tower's extreme importance for Shen Wen's safety and highlighting its deep foundations.

A Two-Star Dou Sheng plus two semi-Saints; such a lineup was enough to steamroll the Northwest Continent.

However, Xuan Danzi, who was nearby, gently shook his head.

Still in his child-like form, his voice was tender, yet his tone carried the indifference of one who had seen through the world: "Little Lin, you are thinking too simply.

Since the Hall of Souls dares to set this trap, they have anticipated that you would go to the rescue and will definitely be on guard against the Pill Tower's reinforcements.

You are one of the Dou Sheng pillars of the Pill Tower. Once you move, those Heavenly Venerates of the Hall of Souls will likely sense it immediately and might even intercept you halfway.

By then, even if you can escape, you will inevitably be delayed and entangled, which might instead lead to more variables over in the Northwest Continent."

He paused, his small hand stroking his smooth chin, a glint of interest flashing in his eyes: "Since they have set the stage, I shall go and join the fun.

It just so happens I haven't stretched my muscles in a while. I'll take the Opportunity to see what 'urgent matters' that arrogant precious disciple of yours is busy with in the Northwest Continent that he even dares to decline my summons."

Hearing this, Old Monster Lin was first stunned, then an uncontrollable look of wild joy surged onto his Face!

Old Ancestor Xuan Danzi was setting out personally?!

This was the true stabilizing force of the Pill Tower; his strength was unfathomable, and his seniority was terrifyingly high.

With him going, never mind some Heavenly Venerates of the Hall of Souls or branch hall traps—even if the Hall Master of the Soul Hall came in person, he would probably have to think twice!

"If the Old Ancestor is willing to go personally, then it is naturally foolproof!"

Old Monster Lin was so excited his voice trembled slightly. The heavy stone in his heart completely fell away, and his original worry instantly turned into cold mockery toward the Hall of Souls.

Playing tricks in front of the Old Ancestor? They must be tired of living!

Xuan Danzi said no more, merely waving his hand at Old Monster Lin as his small figure took a step forward.

In an instant, the space around him rippled as softly as water; there were no violent energy fluctuations or startling momentum.

His figure naturally merged into the Void Realm, like a drop of water joining the ocean, vanishing without a trace.

A Dou Sheng expert controls space and travels through the Great Void; a distance of thousands of miles is but a trifle.

Looking at the spot where Xuan Danzi had disappeared, Old Monster Lin let out a long sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his Face as he whispered to himself: "The Hall of Souls... this time they're going to kick a steel plate.

Brat, you really have quite a lot of Face."

Soon, however, Old Monster Lin sighed softly. The Old Ancestor surely wasn't just going to protect a junior; he likely valued Shen Wen's talent and wanted Shen Wen to help him take a step further.

After all, the Old Ancestor's true form was a Medicinal Pill. Above the Grade 9 Profound Pill was the Ninth Grade Golden Pill. For the Old Ancestor to take another step forward on his own was extremely difficult.

Unless there was an even more powerful Alchemist who could use him as a base to help him refine further.

Old Monster Lin was naturally delighted by the Old Ancestor's high regard for Shen Wen, but he was just worried the pressure on Shen Wen would be too great.