94: A warning from a time traveler: turbulent undercurrents.

At the center of the Soul Realm, Ten Thousand Herbs Plaza.

This was a colossal plaza capable of accommodating hundreds of thousands of people, its ground paved with a warm, azure jade, intricately carved with countless complex spirit-gathering and Soul-stabilizing runes. Surrounding the plaza, ten giant stone platforms, each a hundred zhang tall, stood erect. These were the final Alchemy stages prepared for the Alchemists who would ultimately enter the top ten.

At this moment, the plaza was empty, save for the highest viewing platform in the center, where several figures quietly appeared. The leader was Elder Xuan Yi, accompanied by several core Elders of the Pill Tower with profound auras and varied attire, as well as a few representatives from other top factions in the Central Plains. They were distinguished guests invited to observe the finals of this Pill Gathering.

Li Ao's figure appeared at the edge of the plaza. He did not rush to ascend the Alchemy stages but instead calmly scanned the viewing platform, especially lingering for a moment on the few faction representatives. Relying on his foreknowledge as a Transmigrator and his experience dealing with the original Hun Clan (the power behind the Hall of Souls), he could faintly sense that the aura of one or two of these representatives carried a subtle, chilling quality, originating from the same source as the Hall of Souls.

“The Hall of Souls’ tentacles are indeed everywhere, daring to infiltrate even the Pill Gathering hosted by the Pill Tower,” Li Ao sneered inwardly. He did not alert them but merely memorized these faces.

As time passed, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Tang Huo'er, the Black-Robed Youth, and other Alchemists who passed the Soul Illusionary Realm assessment also successively arrived at the plaza. Including Li Ao, there were exactly thirty people. They each chose an Alchemy stage, stood silently upon it, adjusted their states, and awaited the start of the final competition.

The atmosphere was solemn and grave.

Elder Xuan Yi's gaze swept over the thirty young individuals below, who were considered the cream of contemporary Alchemists. He paused for a moment on Li Ao, a flicker of imperceptible admiration and gravity in his eyes. He took a step forward, his voice like a grand bell, resonating throughout the entire plaza:

“Congratulations to all of you for passing through numerous trials and reaching this final competition! The rules for this Pill Gathering’s finals are as follows: You may, within this Soul Realm, exert your full abilities to refine the highest-grade or most innovative Medicinal Pill you can control! Materials are self-provided, and there is no time limit! Ultimately, the three giants of our Pill Tower, in conjunction with the distinguished guests present, will collectively determine the rankings based on the Medicinal Pill’s grade, quality, difficulty, and originality!”

“The champion, in addition to receiving unparalleled glory, will also be granted one seven-colored soul nurturing lotus seed and one opportunity to enter the top floor of the Pill Tower’s Library Pavilion to observe ancient Pill Formulas!”

Upon the announcement of the rules, everyone's spirits lifted! Free rein to refine the highest-grade or most innovative Medicinal Pill! This undoubtedly gave everyone the greatest scope for their abilities, but it also placed the highest demands on their personal foundation, accumulation, and courage!

After Elder Xuan Yi finished speaking, he did not immediately announce the start. Instead, he changed the subject, his tone becoming grave: “Furthermore, there is one matter I must remind you all about. Recently, in various parts of the Central Plains, Soul bodies have mysteriously disappeared, and even some Alchemist Families have been attacked by unknown forces, with the target directly pointing to the Soul Origin. Our Pill Tower’s investigation has uncovered numerous clues, all pointing to a mysterious organization—the Hall of Souls!”

As soon as the words “Hall of Souls” were uttered, a low murmur instantly arose in the plaza. Many young Alchemists looked puzzled, clearly not knowing much about it. However, the faces of some faction representatives on the viewing platform, as well as those from major powers like Cao Ying and Tang Huo'er, instantly became solemn.

Li Ao's eyes narrowed, knowing that the Pill Tower was using this opportunity to warn and caution them. It seemed that the Pill Tower was not entirely unaware of the Hall of Souls' infiltration.

Elder Xuan Yi continued: “This organization acts secretively, employs cruel methods, and aims to collect powerful Souls. Behind it seems to be a shocking conspiracy, hostile to us Alchemists, and even all living beings in the entire Central Plains! I hope you all will be more careful when traveling the continent in the future. If you encounter people from the Hall of Souls, you can seek assistance from our Pill Tower or various Righteous Path factions!”

This warning added a few more layers of grimness to the atmosphere in the arena.

Thoughts raced through Li Ao's mind. As a Transmigrator, he knew better than anyone present what the Hall of Souls, or rather the Hun Clan behind it, truly intended—to collect enough Soul Origin to help Hun Tiandi achieve the rank of Dou Di, and then sacrifice the Central Plains with blood! This was a crisis concerning the life and death of everyone, far from being encompassed by the Pill Tower's understated phrase, “be more careful.”

He had originally planned to look out for himself, quickly raise his strength to deal with future major changes, and save Medusa. But the Hall of Souls' repeated provocations, and the world-engulfing conspiracy behind it, made him realize that while fighting alone might ensure his own safety, to protect those he wanted to protect in the coming catastrophe, and even to seize a sliver of hope, he absolutely needed his own faction and allies.

“The Pill Tower, as one of the most powerful factions on the surface of the Central Plains, is undoubtedly a crucial potential ally. And this Pill Gathering is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate my value and attract attention,” Li Ao decided in his heart. “Not only must I win the championship and obtain the seven-colored soul nurturing lotus seed, but I must also display a potential that is sufficient for the Pill Tower to take seriously, even rely upon, and… my understanding of the Hall of Souls!”

Just as he was contemplating, Elder Xuan Yi finally announced: “The Pill Gathering finals, now… begin!”

Boom!

Almost at the instant his words fell, dozens of flames of various colors and strengths simultaneously rose into the sky above the plaza! Scorching heat permeated the air, distorting it, and the initial aroma of medicinal herbs began to emerge.

Cao Ying's jade hand lightly waved, and a magnificent Medicine Cauldron enveloped in a seven-colored halo appeared. She flicked her finger, and a peculiar flame displaying seven colors fell into the cauldron—it was precisely her renowned “Seven-Colored Spirit Flame”! Her expression was solemn, and the medicinal ingredients she took out were all rare treasures, clearly intending to refine a very high-grade Medicinal Pill.

Dan Chen, on the other hand, took out a black Medicine Cauldron that appeared ancient and unadorned. Her flame was a gentle milky white, but the Soul fluctuations it contained were extraordinarily vast. Her Alchemy speed was not fast, but every step was extremely stable, as if resonating with the entire Soul Power of the Soul Realm.

Tang Huo'er was the most overbearing. Her Medicine Cauldron was crimson, and the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame roared out, lightning and flames intertwined, directly throwing several violently-attributed medicinal ingredients into the cauldron simultaneously, beginning a crude refinement.

The Black-Robed Youth remained shrouded in shadow. He used a bone-white flame, chilling to the bone, completely different from ordinary flames. The Medicinal Pill he was refining emitted a strange, unsettling aura.

Other Alchemists also displayed their Divine Abilities, one after another, beginning to process medicinal ingredients and preheat their Medicine Cauldrons.

However, Li Ao did not immediately make a move.

He stood on the Alchemy stage, eyes closed in concentration, seemingly brewing something. His abnormality once again drew the attention of the entire audience.

“What is he doing? Why hasn't he started yet?”

“Could it be that he hasn't prepared the medicinal ingredients for a high-grade Medicinal Pill?”

“No, look at his aura; he seems to be communicating with the energy of heaven and earth…”

On the viewing platform, Elder Xuan Yi and the others also looked puzzled.

A moment later, Li Ao suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint bursting forth! He did not take out any Medicine Cauldron but instead raised his palm again.

The deep, dark Void Swallowing Flame Child Fire leaped out, and a terrifying pressure descended once more, causing the flames of the other Alchemists around him to flicker again.

But this time, Li Ao did not use it to form a cauldron.

His gaze swept across the viewing platform, his voice clear yet carrying an undeniable penetrative power, resounding throughout the plaza:

“Elder Xuan Yi, esteemed Seniors. The calamity of the Hall of Souls is far from being as simple as merely collecting Souls! What they truly plot is to use the Souls of billions of living beings as sacrifices, to perform a Heaven-Defying act, intending to create a world-destroying Devil Head and bathe the Central Plains in blood! Their methods are sinister and treacherous, skilled in Soul manipulation, stealth, and infiltration. Perhaps your side has already been infiltrated by their hidden agents without your knowledge!”

As soon as these words were uttered, it was earth-shattering!

Not only were the Alchemists in the plaza aghast, but even the representatives from various factions on the viewing platform changed color dramatically!

“Impudent child, how dare you speak nonsense!” A representative from a major Family, whose aura was slightly similar to that of the Hall of Souls, shouted sternly, his eyes flickering.

Elder Xuan Yi's pupils also contracted. He raised a hand to stop the commotion, his gaze sharply fixed on Li Ao: “Young friend Li Ao, is there… any basis for your words?”

Li Ao met his gaze, completely unafraid, his voice grave: “Basis? The Hall of Souls collects Souls not for simple Cultivation or refining Puppets! What they need is the most fundamental Soul Power to complete an ancient and evil Formation! If this Formation is completed, the Central Plains… will undoubtedly be plunged into misery and suffering! This is an ancient secret I stumbled upon; whether you believe it or not is entirely up to you.”

He naturally would not expose his identity as a Transmigrator, only able to feign it as an ancient secret. But combined with the Hall of Souls' actions in recent years and the Pill Tower's own investigations, his words were enough to plant a deep thorn in the hearts of all the faction representatives present!

“As for proof…” Li Ao changed the subject, and the dark flame in his palm suddenly flared up, “I will use the Medicinal Pill I am about to refine, and my Nirvana Power, which specifically counters the Hall of Souls' netherworld power, to prove it!”

“Today, I, Li Ao, will refine—a Peak seventh-grade Medicinal Pill, the ‘soul fiend barrier-breaking pill,’ right here in this Ten Thousand Herbs Plaza!”

Before his words finished, the Void Swallowing Flame Child Fire in his palm suddenly split, transforming into dozens of tiny threads of flame. Like living beings, they precisely wrapped around dozens of medicinal ingredients that had already been prepared, emitting peculiar fluctuations and even carrying faint traces of Evil Qi!

Using fire as a guide, refining a Peak seventh-grade Medicinal Pill with bare hands! Moreover, it was a rare Medicinal Pill specifically aimed at Soul Evil Qi, breaking through illusions, and having an extremely strong restraining effect on the Hall of Souls' methods of manipulating Souls and creating Heart Demons!

This action once again shocked the entire audience!

He not only wanted to display astonishing Alchemy skills but also to use this Medicinal Pill to show everyone his understanding and restraint of the Hall of Souls' methods! This was demonstrating value, and even more so… planning for the future!

Elder Xuan Yi looked at Li Ao's confident and resolute figure, and the flame in his hand that contained a strange Nirvana Power, his eyes flashing brightly, his heart already churning with stormy waves.

This child, not only possessed Prodigy-level talent, but what he knew and what he plotted also seemed to far exceed ordinary people!

The Pill Gathering finals, due to Li Ao's words and the Medicinal Pill he was about to refine, became even more enigmatic and fraught with undercurrents!