Chapter 77: Yao Chen! Meeting Someone from the Pill Tower!
Zhao Li returned to the Pill Tower and saw the young woman who had taken the assessment with him earlier. He walked up to her and asked for directions.
Xuan Yi looked at Zhao Li's awkward expression, which was completely different from the aloof and pretentious demeanor he had shown earlier. She found it quite amusing. Instead of answering, she asked:
"Burning Flame Valley? Are you going there for the ceremony too?"
Going to Burning Flame Valley at this time was likely only for that one event.
She didn't ask if Zhao Li had received an invitation. As a Seventh Grade High Grade Alchemist, he would be welcomed anywhere he went.
Zhao Li nodded when he heard this:
"Please tell me the location of Burning Flame Valley."
"Why don't you rest here for a bit and come with us tomorrow? We can look out for each other on the way."
Xuan Yi extended the invitation. She had been quite affected by Zhao Li earlier, but now seeing him like this, she felt much better.
Zhao Li was surprised and asked:
"Us?"
Seeing Zhao Li's confusion, Xuan Yi said:
"The one who assessed you just now was my aunt. She's representing this branch tower. Oh, and she really thinks highly of your Alchemy Technique. In all these years, besides Brother Yao Chen, I've never seen her praise anyone like that."
Zhao Li was stunned when he heard that familiar name. He could hardly believe it and asked again:
"Who did you just say?"
Xuan Yi looked confused. She had spoken very clearly, so how could he not have heard?
But she still raised her voice slightly and repeated:
"My aunt, she's representing this branch tower and is also going to Burning Flame Valley. We're going together."
"No, the other person."
Xuan Yi was puzzled and asked doubtfully:
"Brother Yao Chen? What about him?"
Hearing the name again, Zhao Li instead calmed down. He gently shook his head and said casually:
"Nothing, I just thought the name sounded familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before."
He had seen much of the world and had even fought with Hun Tiandi. How could a mere Yao Chen surprise him?
Upon hearing this, the expression on Xuan Yi's face visibly brightened. She quickly pressed on:
"Do you know Brother Yao Chen? How is he? I haven't heard from him in over two years."
But she quickly saw Zhao Li shake his head, and immediately her earlier happiness vanished.
Zhao Li truly didn't know where Yao Chen was at the moment.
He thought to himself, although he didn't know Yao Chen's current strength, Zhao Li was confident that he wouldn't be stronger than himself.
As for Alchemy Technique, Zhao Li wasn't so sure.
Before successfully refining an Eighth Grade Pill and attracting Pill Lightning, he didn't know his own strength either.
He only vaguely sensed that his current Soul Power might be able to refine pills that would attract six or more colors of Pill Lightning.
Seeing the young woman's mood drop again, Zhao Li seemed to just realize something and said sheepishly:
"Thank you, miss. Since we're going the same way, I'll gladly accept your offer. Oh, my name is Zhang Li. May I ask for your name?"
Traveling with them would make getting to Burning Flame Valley more convenient. Moreover, they were both from the Pill Tower, and if they reached Burning Flame Valley, they would likely contact each other, saving Zhao Li the trouble of searching on his own.
"Brother Zhang Li, just call me Xuan Yi. Then you can stay here for a night and we'll leave tomorrow."
Zhao Li understood. So it was the young woman who admired Yao Chen. No wonder she called him "Brother Yao Chen" so sweetly. It's just...
Thinking about the future in the book, Zhao Li sighed slightly in his heart and looked at Xuan Yi with a hint of pity, but he quickly hid it.
Afterward, Xuan Yi was in a low mood, and Zhao Li didn't know what to say, so the two of them fell silent.
Zhao Li stayed at the Pill Tower Branch for a night. Early the next morning, he set off with Xuan Yi.
Xuan Yi seemed to have recovered. She was sure that her Brother Yao Chen was fine, just out gaining experience and hadn't returned yet. When he reappeared, he would definitely make a splash.
Along the way, the few of them occasionally discussed Alchemy Technique. Through their mutual exchange, everyone gained a lot, and even Zhao Li benefited greatly.
Strictly speaking, Zhao Li's alchemy experience might not be as rich as Xuan Xueling's.
He relied more on his understanding of the Pill Formula, his meticulous control over the Flame and Soul Power, rather than alchemy experience.
Although his success rate in refining was high, he hadn't actually refined many pills.
And this was the main factor limiting Zhao Li from reaching the Grandmaster level and creating his own High Grade Pill Formulas.
Time flew by quickly in the harmonious and enthusiastic discussions. Two days later, the three of them arrived at Burning Flame Valley.
Burning Flame Valley is located in the Blazing Fire Mountain Range in the southwest of the Central Region.
This mountain range is entirely composed of scorching volcanoes. Looking out, it's a monotonous crimson.
Some of the peaks even constantly emitted thick white smoke, and occasionally, lava would overflow from them.
Perched on the wide back of the Crimson Plume Bird, Zhao Li sensed the gradually thickening Fire Attribute Dou Qi around him. Looking down, his eyes were met with nothing but crimson.
Zhao Li gazed at the volcanic landscape, his eyes filled with awe.
Xuan Xueling spoke at the opportune moment:
"This is the Blazing Fire Mountain Range. Although it's occasionally dangerous, the rich Fire Attribute energy here attracts many fire-element cultivators to train, making it a constant stream of people. Burning Flame Valley is right in the center."
Zhao Li nodded. Soon, the group landed between two crimson mountain peaks.
Following the winding mountain path, at the end of the road, people from Burning Flame Valley were already waiting.
Xuan Xueling presented the invitation, and the three were led into the spatial barrier behind them.
Passing through the barrier and stepping inside revealed a completely different world.
Unlike the crimson outside, this place was surprisingly lush and green, truly a hidden paradise within the volcanoes.
Looking at the scene so different from the outside, Zhao Li felt a renewed sense of wonder. The greenery within the active volcanoes was likely a unique sight in this different world.
Creating such a place amidst the dense Fire Attribute energy was even more remarkable than an oasis in the desert.
"Zhang Li, we need to meet up with the people from the Pill Tower first. Do you want to come along?"
Zhao Li nodded. This was one of his purposes for this trip:
"That's fine. I'll need to go to the Headquarters for the assessment later, and I'll probably have to deal with them, so it's good to get acquainted beforehand. I'll trouble you to introduce me then."
Zhao Li casually made up a plausible excuse.
Following the two women, Zhao Li thought to himself:
I hope the people from the Pill Tower have some standing.
Zhao Li didn't want to get too entangled with nobodies right now. He just wanted to finish exploiting them as soon as possible and then go into seclusion.
Burning Flame Valley arranged accommodations specifically for all invited guests.
As one of the two strongest forces on the surface in the Central Plains, even surpassing Burning Flame Valley, the Pill Tower naturally enjoyed extremely high treatment and had its own separate residence.
The three arrived at a pavilion. Upon seeing the elderly leader of the Pill Tower group, Xuan Xueling eagerly walked up and said in a sweet, coquettish voice:
"Master, why are you here?"
Hearing this, Zhao Li's impression of the aunt who had been somewhat respectful to him along the way did a complete 180-degree turn. His expression was a little strange, and he thought to himself:
Tsk, women, they really have two faces.
Beside them, Xuan Yi looked at her aunt's demeanor, then glanced at Zhao Li, her eyes filled with helplessness.
Seeing Zhao Li's strange expression, she sighed internally, covering her face. She lightly coughed and also stepped forward:
"Hello, Grandpa Han. Aunt Ling, there are people here."
Han Zichuan knew his disciple's personality perfectly. He was happy, and seeing that Xuan Yi was also there, he nodded.
He then looked at Zhao Li, having seen him arrive with the two women.
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