231: Entering the pharmaceutical industry, head-on confrontation

The dizziness of spatial transmission was fleeting.

When Li Ao and Medusa stepped out of the spatial passage, the scene before them suddenly brightened, and a magnificent energy and rich medicinal fragrance, completely different from the outside world, assailed them.

This was a vast world independent of the mundane, with a sky displaying a warm jade green hue. Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, countless suspended islands were faintly visible, adorned with numerous palaces and temples, glittering with flowing light. On the ground, mountains and rivers all possessed a spiritual elegance. As far as the eye could see, there were rare and exotic flowers and herbs, seldom seen in the outside world, ancient in age and exhaling an ethereal glow. The heaven and earth energy permeating the air was far more pure than that of the Central Plains, and it carried a unique life Aura; a single breath made one feel refreshed and invigorated.

This was Medicine World! The independent space where the Medicine Clan had resided for generations.

The place where they appeared was a huge bluestone square, where many figures were already waiting. Most of these people were dressed in the unique Alchemist robes of the Medicine Clan, possessing extraordinary Auras. Their gazes towards Li Ao and Medusa, the two outsiders, held undisguised curiosity, scrutiny, and even a hint of inherent superiority and exclusion.

Leading them was a white-robed old man with a ruddy complexion and a vibrant spirit. Seeing Li Ao and Medusa, he displayed a warm smile, stepped forward, and cupped his hands, saying, "I am Yao Chen. Entrusted by President Xuan Kongzi, I am here to welcome Young Friend Li Ao and Queen Medusa."

Yao Chen!

Hearing this name, Li Ao's gaze subtly shifted. This person was precisely Xiao Yan's teacher in the original story. He had not expected him to already be in the Medicine Clan at this time, and seemingly of no low status, able to represent the Medicine Clan in welcoming external guests.

"Thank you, Elder Yao Chen." Li Ao returned the gesture, his attitude neither servile nor overbearing. Medusa also nodded slightly.

Yao Chen felt Li Ao's unfathomable Aura and Medusa's cold yet noble temperament, secretly praising Xuan Kongzi's sharp discernment. He smiled and said, "Young Friend has come a long way and worked hard. Please follow me to the guest house to rest. The Medicine Stone Heart Inquiry will commence in the Ancestral Secret Realm three days from now."

Just as Yao Chen was about to lead the way, a slightly cold and displeased voice suddenly rang out:

"Yao Chen, for such an important Medicine Ceremony, how can just any Tom, Dick, or Harry directly participate in the core Link? Xuan Kongzi's Face is great, but the rules of our Medicine Clan cannot be easily abolished, can they?"

The crowd parted, and a middle-aged man in luxurious purple robes, with an arrogant expression and eyes as sharp as an eagle's, slowly walked out. His Aura was powerful, clearly reaching the Peak Dou Zun level, and his Soul Power was also extremely strong, with a suppressive Aura subtly emanating from him. Behind him followed several young disciples with equally arrogant expressions.

"It's Elder Wanhuo!"

"Elder Wanhuo is right, why should an outsider directly participate in the Medicine Stone Heart Inquiry?"

Some voices of agreement rose from the crowd.

Yao Chen frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Elder Wanhuo, Young Friend Li Ao was personally introduced by President Xuan Kongzi, his strength and Genius..."

"Strength? Genius?" Yao Wanhuo scoffed, interrupting Yao Chen. His gaze, like lightning, shot towards Li Ao, filled with scrutiny and provocation. "Have we seen too few Geniuses in our Medicine Clan? Unless he can prove on the spot that he has this qualification! Otherwise, let him follow the rules and start with the outer selection!"

As his voice fell, a powerful Soul pressure mixed with the Aura of a Peak Dou Zun, like a roaring mountain and surging sea, pressed directly towards Li Ao! Clearly, he intended to give Li Ao a warning and make him lose Face in public.

Many people from the Medicine Clan around them showed playful expressions, preparing to watch how this outsider would be embarrassed. Yao Chen's expression changed, and he was about to intervene.

However, facing this terrifying pressure, which was enough to make even an ordinary high-level Dou Zun turn pale, Li Ao did not even move a corner of his clothes.

He didn't even look at Yao Wanhuo, but simply gazed calmly at the distant, cloud-shrouded floating islands, as if the oppressive feeling was merely a gentle breeze.

Just as the pressure was about to reach him—

"Buzz!"

An almost imperceptible hum emanated from within Li Ao's body.

There was no energy eruption, no clash of Auras.

But Yao Wanhuo's surging Soul pressure and Dou Qi Aura, upon touching the three feet around Li Ao, vanished and disappeared silently, as if a mud ox had entered the sea!

It was as if that three-foot radius was an absolute forbidden zone, impervious to all laws!

The arrogance on Yao Wanhuo's Face instantly froze, replaced by a look of disbelief and horror! He felt that his immense power, as if crashing into a bottomless abyss, failed to even stir a ripple before being completely swallowed and dissolved!

How was this possible?! He was a Peak Dou Zun! The other party clearly showed no Aura, how could he achieve this so effortlessly?

The entire scene fell silent instantly!

All the Medicine Clan members who were preparing to watch a joke had their expressions stiffen, their eyes wide as they stared at the Black-Robed Youth, who remained calm and composed.

Yao Chen's eyes blazed with light, his heart incomparably shocked. He had long known Li Ao was extraordinary, but he never expected him to be so powerful! To be able to resolve Yao Wanhuo's full pressure like this?

Medusa's lips curled into a cold arc, as if mocking Yao Wanhuo's overestimation of his own abilities.

Li Ao then slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Yao Wanhuo for the first time. His eyes were calm and unperturbed, yet they caused Yao Wanhuo to inexplicably feel a surge of fear, as if he had been targeted by some ancient Vicious Beast.

"Is this how the Medicine Clan treats its guests?" Li Ao's voice was flat, yet it carried an invisible pressure. "My qualification is not for you to question."

He paused, then continued, "If you insist on seeing..."

His gaze swept over Yao Wanhuo and the few nervous young disciples behind him, finally landing on a Soul-testing stone at the edge of the square, about a zhang high, used to test Soul Power.

"Then let it be this stone."

Before his words finished, Li Ao pointed his fingers like a knife and, from a distance, lightly sliced at the Soul-testing stone.

There was no light, no sound.

But under the horrified gaze of everyone, on the surface of that Soul-testing stone, which was hard enough to withstand the Soul impact of a Dou Zun, a cut mark, smooth as a mirror and a foot deep, abruptly appeared! At the cut surface, all the spiritual essence and structure of the stone seemed to have been completely "erased," leaving only the most fundamental dead silence!

This was not physical destruction, but rather... a "return to nothingness" at the level of Dao!

Silence!

A deathly silence!

With bare hands, from a distance, to sever a Soul-testing stone with a single thought?!

What kind of Divine Ability was this?! Unheard of!

Yao Wanhuo opened his mouth, but no sound came out, and his forehead instantly beaded with cold sweat. He had no doubt that if that slash had landed on him, his fate would not have been much better than that of the Soul-testing stone!

At this moment, all his arrogance and provocation were crushed to pieces by that single gesture!

Yao Chen took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the turbulent waves in his heart, and quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Young Friend Li Ao's Divine Ability is astonishing, truly admirable! Elder Wanhuo was also just a bit too eager, I hope Young Friend will not take offense. Please, this way, please!"

He dared not show the slightest neglect, respectfully leading the way.

Li Ao glanced indifferently at the pale-faced Yao Wanhuo, said no more, and departed with Medusa, following Yao Chen.

Left behind in the square were a stunned group of Medicine Clan members and the broken Soul-testing stone, as if silently mocking them.

The name Li Ao, even before participating in the Medicine Stone Heart Inquiry, had already, in the most powerful and inconceivable way, stirred the first huge wave within this exclusive Medicine Clan!