310: Number four?

On the surface, Chen Xuan's actions appeared to be a Senior's consideration and care for his Juniors, and in reality, that was indeed the case!

However, there was a small, hidden motive tucked away inside.

When he first took the girl Shu Shichan as his Disciple, the Myriad Medicine Heart Sutra issued by the System already contained thousands of Pill Formulas from the Major Thousand Worlds, covering everything from first-grade to god-rank pills; it could be called complete.

But the world is full of infinite wonders, and there are always some obscure Pill Formulas from unorthodox evil Cultivators that haven't been recorded, such as the demon transformation pill he encountered this time in the Rain God Continent.

That was why Chen Xuan specifically added that last sentence. Firstly, it would enrich the Dao Seeking Sect's collection of Pill Formulas, and secondly, it would find some test subjects for that girl Shu Shichan, saving her from tormenting her fellow Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters in the Sect all day.

Zhao Jingchen and Lin Xiuqin were both slightly stunned upon hearing this.

An eighth-grade elixir!

Pills of such a grade were definitely not treasures that two Golden Core Realm Cultivators could match. Even their Revered Master would never give away an eighth-grade elixir so casually.

“Thank you, Senior!” The two of them did not dare to be negligent and immediately cupped their hands and bowed in thanks.

Beside them, the honest Li Pingan opened his mouth slightly. He originally wanted to explain that the taste of his pills might be “a tiny bit” wrong, but on second thought, this was his Revered Master's decision, so he ultimately swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

“Senior, may I ask if any eighth-grade elixir is acceptable?” Zhao Jingchen asked tentatively.

“Naturally.” Chen Xuan nodded slightly.

“Then... the soul refining primordial pill, I wonder if it can be refined?”

Suddenly, Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

As the words fell, Chen Xuan's eyes suddenly narrowed. Because of Number Four, he now paid extra attention whenever he heard anything related to Divine Soul injuries.

But these two Golden Core Juniors in front of him clearly had nothing to do with it.

After a brief thought, Chen Xuan asked in a peaceful tone, “The soul refining primordial pill is a pill specifically for repairing the Divine Soul. Could it be that your own Divine Soul has suffered damage, little friend?”

Li Pingan, who was to the side, also looked up at Zhao Jingchen.

Because of his Little Junior Sister's situation, he was exceptionally sensitive to abnormalities related to the Divine Soul. As soon as he heard the four words 'soul refining primordial pill', he couldn't help but wonder if someone was involved in trouble with a Slave Seal.

Zhao Jingchen didn't think too much and explained truthfully, “Thank you for your concern, Senior. This Junior's Divine Soul is not damaged. It's just that a few days ago, Revered Master ordered the two of us to search for pills that can treat the Divine Soul, so I asked out of curiosity just now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Jingchen felt a heavy gaze from his Junior Sister beside him. That look clearly blamed him for being talkative.

Chu Haotian?

Chen Xuan's eyes narrowed again as he pondered secretly: Could he be the mysterious Number Four?

According to previous deductions, Number Four's cultivation base was not considered high. In the Hunxu Jade during the past two days, Number Four hadn't appeared either. If Chu Haotian really was Number Four, it would make sense that he couldn't get away just as the Yao Race army was invading.

But... Chen Xuan recalled Number Four's story when he first appeared: he said he had followed a Sect Elder into a Secret Realm, accidentally suffered a Divine Soul injury, and obtained three heaven-rank magic treasures, which he wanted to exchange for pills to treat his Divine Soul.

If Chu Haotian really was Number Four, then how much of those words were true and how much were false?

Or perhaps, he was just overthinking it.

Was Chu Haotian's Divine Soul simply damaged before, or was it related to the Slave Seal? It seemed he could find an Opportunity to test him.

“Why not.”

Chen Xuan withdrew his thoughts, his tone still indifferent. “As long as you can provide a complete Pill Formula, for pills of the eighth-grade and below, you may come to my Dao Seeking Sect, and I will refine one for you.”

After a pause, Chen Xuan asked as if in casual conversation, “I've heard that many Cultivators from other continents specifically come to the Rain God Continent for experience. Besides slaying the Yao Race, are there any Secret Realm Opportunities worth exploring within the borders of the Rain God Continent?”

Just as Zhao Jingchen was about to answer, a deafening 'Boom' suddenly exploded!

Immediately after, a majestic surge of spiritual power swept over like a raging tide, making it hard for people to breathe.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan simply raised his hand and gave a casual wave. As spiritual power flowed between his fingertips, the terrifying Spiritual Qi pressure that was crushing toward Lin Xiuqin and the others instantly vanished like snow meeting the bright sun.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a Golden Lion Shadow suddenly burst through the clouds high above the Demon Suppressing Tower, rushing out! Looking closely, they discovered that the giant mouth of the lion shadow was actually tightly biting a disheveled figure.

“It's Revered Master!” Lin Xiuqin's pupils shrank, and she cried out in alarm.

She immediately recognized this as her own Revered Master's technique.

Seeing this scene, Chen Xuan understood. It seemed that this Tower Master of the Demon Suppressing Tower had indeed secretly defected to the Yao Race.

Fortunately, he hadn't followed them inside; otherwise, if a fight broke out, it would have been quite troublesome.

The next moment, Daoist Fu Nian suddenly erupted with a thick surge of spiritual power, forcefully breaking free from the sharp teeth of the Golden Lion Shadow. Spiritual light surged around his body, clearly intending to use the chaos to flee far away.

But just as his figure was about to turn into a stream of light, a figure intercepted his path like lightning!

Master Qing Xuan pinched a hand seal, and spiritual power surged around him, turning into thousands of crystalline silver threads. They wove into a dense spiritual power net that steadily covered Daoist Fu Nian, completely blocking all his paths of retreat. This technique wasn't some world-shaking mystery, but it excelled in being condensed and swift; to forcefully break free would ultimately waste a few breaths of time.

A few breaths of time were but a flash to a Mortal, but for a life-and-death struggle between Void Refining Realm experts, a moment of Divided Soul was no different from seeking death.

Moreover, Daoist Fu Nian was currently in a situation where he was attacked from both front and back, facing two opponents alone.

“Fellow Daoist, why did you make this choice?” Master Qing Xuan's voice was steady as a bell.

Daoist Fu Nian coughed violently, a trace of blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, but then he smiled freely. “Why make this choice? The Five Elders Gate only ever allows five surnames to persist. The fate of the Xuanxu Tower Master already allowed me to see the end of this road!”

“Rather than being trapped in this dead end that can be seen through at a glance, why shouldn't I take a gamble and seek another Great Dao?”

The moment the words fell, Daoist Fu Nian struck out with both palms. His majestic spiritual power poured out without reservation, condensing into two thick palm winds several feet wide. Carrying a force that could destroy anything in its path, they slammed fiercely toward Chu Haotian and Master Qing Xuan, as if he intended to take on both of them with his own strength alone!

Seeing this, Chu Haotian did not retreat but advanced. The Golden Lion Shadow suddenly raised its head and let out a world-shaking roar. The lion's roar made the surrounding air tremble, and then its thick golden lion claws, carrying ten thousand catties of force, crashed head-on toward the palm wind!

“Boom—!”

The massive energy exploded with a bang, and the airwave spread in all directions like a shockwave.

At the same time, Master Qing Xuan flipped his wrist, and a writing brush as white as jade appeared in his hand out of thin air.

He concentrated spiritual power on the tip of the brush and quickly swept it through the air. A complex golden rune instantly took shape, with a domineering pressure faintly permeating it.

“Go!”

Master Qing Xuan flicked his finger, and the golden rune shot toward Daoist Fu Nian like an arrow from a bow.