378: The foundation of Danta

The reward for the Dan Association champion was naturally beyond imagination.

When Jiang Donghua, led by a Pill Tower elder, stepped into the heavily guarded Treasure Pavilion, which formed its own space within the Pill Tower, even with his current state of mind, he couldn't help but secretly marvel at the terrifying foundation of the Pill Tower, which had been passed down for tens of thousands of years.

“This is what you call truly wealthy!”

Jiang Donghua exclaimed in his heart.

The Treasure Pavilion was not as resplendent with gold and jewels as imagined, but rather exuded an ultimate, understated luxury.

Countless light clusters floated in mid-air, and within each light cluster, a treasure capable of driving the outside world mad was sealed.

In the Cultivation Method area, the jade slips floating within the light clusters emitted ancient and powerful fluctuations. The characters appearing on the phantom scrolls were all Heaven Tier Low Rank, Heaven Tier Mid Rank, and even in the deeper parts, there were several emitting obscure pressure, clearly Heaven Tier High Rank cultivation methods!

The Dou Technique area was even more dazzling, with Dou Technique phantoms of various forms—saber, spear, sword, halberd, fist, palm, finger, and seal—evolving with earth-shattering power, ranging from Heaven Tier Low Rank to High Rank, everything imaginable!

The Pill Medicine area was the quietest, with only a few light clusters, but the Pill Formulas sealed within them, on ancient scrolls, emitted an aura that made one's Soul Power tremble. The worst of them were also Grade Nine Pill Formulas!

And in the deepest part, there were even several light clusters shrouded by layers of restrictions, making their specifics unclear, but Jiang Donghua could feel that what was sealed inside were likely fragments or clues to Grade Nine Pill Formulas!

Such treasures, even the Pill Tower would never bestow easily.

“Heaven Rank cultivation methods, Heaven Rank Dou Skills, here they are like common cabbages. Grade Eight Pill Formulas are not rare, only Grade Nine Pill Formulas seem precious.”

Jiang Donghua mused as he walked through it.

The Pill Tower's collection indeed far surpassed that of Sound Valley.

His main objective for this trip was clear, and he walked directly to the Cultivation Method area.

His Soul Power swept over, and soon locked onto a fiery Red Light cluster emitting a scorching, explosive aura.

Within the light cluster, a phantom scroll, seemingly condensed from flames, slowly rotated, with several ancient characters appearing on it—"Burning Heaven Fierce Sun Art," a Heaven Tier High Rank fire-attribute cultivation method!

“This is it.”

Jiang Donghua reached out, and the Red Light cluster obediently flew into his hand.

The rank of the cultivation method he currently practiced was already insufficient, and this Heaven Tier High Rank fire-attribute cultivation method was perfectly suited for him.

Just as he selected the cultivation method, a hearty voice sounded from behind him.

“Haha, Brother Jiang, good eye! This "Burning Heaven Fierce Sun Art" was the famous cultivation method of the Burning Heaven Ancestor back then, supremely yang and rigid, with infinite power! Cultivating it to the extreme is enough to incinerate mountains and boil seas!”

Jiang Donghua turned around, only to see Venerable Yan walking over with a hearty laugh, his face filled with appreciation.

This one of the Dan Ta Three Giants had the most fiery and direct personality, and seemed to get along exceptionally well with Jiang Donghua.

“Venerable Yan, senior.”

Jiang Donghua slightly nodded in greeting.

Venerable Yan waved his hand and said casually.

“Hey, why call me senior, it sounds distant! We hit it off immediately; if you don't mind, just call me Elder Brother Yan!”

He walked over to Jiang Donghua, patted his shoulder, and spoke with a hint of solemnity.

“Brother Jiang, you can rest assured and stay in the Pill Tower! With us three old fellows here, those hidden scoundrels from the Hall of Souls will never dare to personally come and trouble you!”

His words were not without reason. Not long after the Dan Association concluded, Jiang Donghua had proactively sought out Venerable Xuan Kong and handed over the jade bottle containing the sealed soul bodies of Seventh Heavenly Venerable Xu Jinchuan and Fifth Heavenly Venerable from the Hall of Souls.

When those two soul bodies, filled with venom and fear, were released, and Jiang Donghua briefly explained how he had ambushed and counter-killed them in the Pill World, the Pill Tower's trust in Jiang Donghua instantly soared to its peak!

Killing two Heavenly Venerables from the Hall of Souls—this was an irreconcilable feud!

Jiang Donghua had completely proven his stance of being irreconcilably opposed to the Hall of Souls through his actions.

The Pill Tower and the Hall of Souls were already old enemies, and now with such a strong ally proactively joining them, they were naturally extremely welcoming.

Venerable Yan's attitude towards Jiang Donghua also became increasingly close.

“Thank you, Elder Brother Yan.”

Jiang Donghua readily changed his address, feeling a slight warmth in his heart.

Having the Pill Tower as a temporary backer could indeed save a lot of trouble.

Venerable Yan nodded with satisfaction, his gaze then turning to the light clusters in the Dou Technique area that emitted powerful fluctuations, and reminded him.

“Brother Jiang, now that you've chosen your cultivation method, do you want to pick a few Heaven Rank Dou Skills as well?”

“But I must remind you, Elder Brother, Heaven Rank Dou Skills are extremely difficult to cultivate, with stringent requirements for comprehension, Dou Qi, and even Soul Power.”

“From low to mid to high, the power differs vastly, and the difficulty of cultivation also increases exponentially! The types are even more diverse; you must think carefully before choosing, and don't bite off more than you can chew.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Donghua's gaze also swept towards the dazzling Heaven Rank Dou Technique light clusters, and he indeed felt a little moved.

His current offensive methods were relatively singular; if he could learn one or two powerful Heaven Rank Dou Skills, his combat power would undoubtedly greatly increase.

“Elder Brother Yan is right, I will consider it carefully.”

Jiang Donghua nodded in agreement and began to seriously browse the descriptions of those Heaven Rank Dou Skills.

In front of the dazzling Dou Technique area of the Pill Tower's Treasure Pavilion, Jiang Donghua was not misled by the Heaven Tier High Rank Dou Skills that exuded world-destroying auras.

He deeply understood the principle of not biting off more than one can chew, especially in Dou Technique cultivation. A powerful Heaven Rank Dou Technique often required several years or even decades of hard work to study and integrate before its true power could be unleashed.

His Soul Power carefully swept over each light cluster.

Finally, he locked onto two Dou Techniques.

The first was an offensive Dou Technique.

Within the light cluster, a phantom of a fiery red long spear, condensed from pure flames, emitted a sharp aura that could pierce through everything. Upon the spear's body, profound flame runes subtly flowed.

"Burning Heaven Spear," a Heaven Tier Mid Rank fire-attribute offensive Dou Technique.

One spear strike, burning the heavens and boiling the seas, its power was overbearing and unparalleled, and it perfectly matched the attribute of the "Burning Heaven Fierce Sun Art" cultivation method he had just chosen, complementing each other.

The second was a defensive Dou Technique.

Within the light cluster, a phantom of an ancient shield, composed of countless fine golden scales, slowly rotated, emitting a thick aura of indestructibility and invulnerability to all laws.

"Golden Scale Shield," a Heaven Tier Mid Rank earth-attribute defensive Dou Technique. Once this shield was deployed, its defensive power was astonishing, especially adept at resisting energy impacts and soul erosion, which just happened to make up for the current weakness of his relatively singular defensive methods.

One offensive, one defensive, both Heaven Tier Mid Rank, and the attribute pairing was quite reasonable.

“These two will do.”

Jiang Donghua reached out, summoning the two light clusters into his hands.

Venerable Yan, who had been watching with interest from the side, burst into hearty laughter when he saw Jiang Donghua make his choice, his tone carrying a hint of teasing and appreciation.

“Hahaha! Good lad! Sharp eye and steady mind! One Burning Heaven Spear, focused on offense; one Golden Scale Shield, focused on defense.”

“Both offense and defense, not greedy, not seeking the highest, but seeking what suits him best! Good! Excellent!”

He walked over to Jiang Donghua, patted his shoulder, a smile on his face that said, 'You're really interesting, kid,' and continued.

“However, Brother Jiang, honestly, you've really opened my eyes, old fellow!”

Venerable Yan pointed to the surrounding light clusters emitting alluring glows and laughed.

“You don't know, but of the champions of previous Dan Associations, nine out of ten, upon entering this Treasure Pavilion, would stare intently at the fragments of Grade Nine Pill Formulas, or some ancient medicinal ingredients that had long been extinct! At the very least, they would choose some special rare treasures or high-grade Medicine Cauldrons that could assist in alchemy.”

He shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of novelty.

“An Alchemist like you, ignoring so many treasures that directly aid in alchemy, and instead single-mindedly choosing Heaven Rank cultivation methods and Dou Techniques—I've lived for so many years, and this is truly the first time I've encountered such a thing!”

Venerable Yan's words were not false.

For most Alchemists, improving their alchemy skills was their ultimate pursuit.

The greatest attraction of the Pill Tower's Treasure Pavilion for them was naturally those rare treasures that could directly enhance their alchemy level.

Cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, while also important, were usually secondary choices.

An Alchemist like Jiang Donghua, who prioritized powerful cultivation methods and Dou Techniques as if he were a pure Dou Practitioner, was indeed extremely rare in the Pill Tower's history.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Donghua merely smiled faintly, offering no further explanation.

He couldn't very well say that he had a panel system for idle cultivation, and that his alchemy skills improved mainly through experience and comprehension, while powerful strength was the fundamental basis for survival, could he?

He simply said lightly.

“You flatter me, Elder Brother Yan. I believe that while alchemy is important, one's own cultivation and methods are also fundamental. In this Central Plains, without the power to protect oneself, even with alchemy skills, it would be difficult to achieve anything.”

Venerable Yan was startled at first upon hearing this, then a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes, and he heavily patted Jiang Donghua's shoulder.

“Well said! That makes sense! It was I who was a bit narrow-minded! Alchemists are also Dou Practitioners, and powerful strength is the foundation!”

“Brother Jiang is so young yet possesses such insight; his future achievements are limitless!”

His impression of Jiang Donghua improved even further.

This young man was neither arrogant nor impetuous, had clear goals, and a discerning mind; he was indeed a promising talent.

Jiang Donghua put away the chosen cultivation method and the two Dou Techniques, then cupped his hands to Venerable Yan and said.

“Thus, my rewards have been chosen. Thank you for your guidance, Elder Brother Yan.”

“Haha, no problem, no problem! Let's go, let's go out and see, maybe there's already news about your bounty!”

Venerable Yan laughed heartily, and left the Treasure Pavilion with Jiang Donghua.

And Jiang Donghua also knew in his heart that choosing the rewards was just an interlude.

Next, he needed to utilize the Pill Tower's resources to quickly master these two Heaven Rank Dou Skills, and at the same time, patiently await news about his master and Red Silk.