radicalducati 235. Soul Pressure
235. Soul Pressure
"Alright then, please follow me." The old man sighed and said to Xiao Yan.
The old man then led Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor through a long passage. Along the way, Xiao Yan learned that the old man was also a fifth-grade alchemist named Huang Qi. Due to limitations imposed by his talent, his alchemy level was also capped at fifth grade, so he came to the Pill Tower branch in Nine Star City to work as a testing supervisor.
Throughout the journey, Huang Qi treated Xiao Yan quite well. Huang Qi noticed that Xiao Yan was unfamiliar with the Pill Tower, so he answered all his questions without reservation.
As a member of the Pill Tower, Huang Qi possessed basic discernment, noticing that Xiao Yan's soul power at his age was already beyond his comprehension. He fulfilled his duty as an elder of the Pill Tower, explaining everything Xiao Yan didn't understand.
Just before arriving at the testing room, Huang Qi hesitated for a long time before saying to Xiao Yan, "Young friend Xiao Yan, the magistrate in the branch who can certify seventh-grade alchemists has a very direct temper. At your age, becoming a sixth-grade alchemist is already a remarkable achievement."
Huang Qi knew that the young genius was extremely arrogant, so he changed to a more tactful approach to persuade Xiao Yan to give up the idea.
Xiao Yan was also somewhat curious: "Is there some kind of punishment for failing the verification?"
Huang Qi gave a wry smile and leaned closer to Xiao Yan, whispering, "If someone is close to the seventh rank, that would be fine. But if someone who is clearly only at the sixth rank dares to bother that person, they will be punished by having to stand guard at the entrance of the Pill Tower for half a month and serve as a medicine-serving boy for half a month if they fail."
Xiao Yan couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this punishment. Alchemists, due to their status, often developed an invisible arrogance. While this punishment from the Pill Tower had no real impact, having a sixth-grade alchemist guard the gate was indeed a significant blow to their mentality.
Huang Qi was clearly worried that a young genius like Xiao Yan might become mentally unstable if he failed the test and was punished. So he advised Xiao Yan in advance to give up the idea.
However, Xiao Yan still said, "But I do need to be certified as a seventh-grade alchemist."
Seeing Xiao Yan's insistence, Huang Qi stopped wasting words and led Xiao Yan and the other person to a large hall. The hall was unusually quiet at this time, with only the three of them present.
Huang Qi explained that sixth-grade alchemists are rare, so this place is often left empty and unused.
The most striking feature of the yellow-decorated hall is a huge mural on one wall.
Flames swirled, revealing a tower-shaped structure with nine purple-gold stars radiating dazzling light on its surface.
Xiao Yan knew that it was the symbol of the Pill Tower, and the alchemist badges issued by the Pill Tower were also like that, except that the first grade represented a star.
Wearing a badge with nine stars signifies reaching the pinnacle of alchemy—a ninth-rank alchemist!
That is the ultimate goal of all alchemists, and Xiao Yan knows that even Yao Lao in his youth did not reach that level, which shows how difficult it is to become a ninth-grade alchemist.
However, Xiao Yan must reach the level of a ninth-grade alchemist, otherwise he will not be able to complete the goal that Emperor Xu Tian made him achieve.
Just as Xiao Yan was lost in thought, a slightly impatient female voice rang out: "Which arrogant brat is wasting my time again?"
Xiao Yan looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old woman in a plain robe with white hair walking into the hall. Xiao Yan glanced at her and saw that the old woman's strength was only three or four stars Dou Zong, but her soul power was indeed quite strong.
The old woman was extremely impatient when she entered the hall, but when she saw Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor in the hall, she stopped abruptly from saying what she was about to say.
Seeing Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor frown, the old woman realized that she couldn't see through the two people in front of her.
Seeing the old woman's reaction, Huang Qi was momentarily taken aback. How could her reaction be so similar to his own when he saw Xiao Yan and Xiao Yan? Huang Qi couldn't help but steal a glance at Xiao Yan, and an absurd thought arose in his mind: Could it be that Xiao Yan really is a seventh-grade alchemist?
Then, a powerful pressure appeared out of thin air in the hall. Xiao Yan was very familiar with this pressure; it was the pressure of soul power.
Xiao Yan discovered that the old woman's way of controlling her soul power was extremely peculiar. Huang Qi and Little Fairy Doctor seemed to be completely unaffected, while the oppressive aura seemed to be consciously directed at him.
The old woman's soul pressure was only at the level of a sixth-grade beginner alchemist, while Xiao Yan had already reached the level of a sixth-grade alchemist after leaving the Ten Thousand Beasts Space. Soul power had always been Xiao Yan's forte, so this level of power was naturally no match for him.
Xiao Yan knew that the old woman was testing his level, and he remained calmly in place. The old woman's initial arrogance had left Xiao Yan with a bad impression of her. Since she wanted to probe his strength, Xiao Yan had no intention of hiding his abilities.
Huang Qi was also a little nervous at this scene, after all, the person in front of him was not a nobody even in the Dan Tower.
Little Fairy Doctor frowned, sensing the old woman's test of Xiao Yan. Just as she was about to step forward, Xiao Yan grabbed her forearm, giving her a warm smile to indicate that he was fine.
The old woman was also somewhat displeased with Xiao Yan's actions, and her soul pressure continued to grow stronger.
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, not because the old woman's soul pressure affected him, but because her control over soul power was too precise. That slight increase in soul power was something Xiao Yan had never seen before, aside from Yao Lao.
Grade 6, beginner level.
Rank 6, intermediate level.
The sixth rank is a high-level rank.
Upon reaching the advanced sixth rank, Huang Qi could already sense a trace of pressure from Xiao Yan standing next to him. After all, he was only a fifth-rank alchemist, and the pressure would still affect him standing next to him if it reached a certain level.
Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor maintained their usual posture, and Xiao Yan's slightly thin figure did not waver at all.
The old woman's gaze towards Xiao Yan had softened considerably, revealing undisguised admiration. The fact that Xiao Yan, at his age, could so easily withstand her soul pressure was proof enough of his exceptional talent.
The next moment, Xiao Yan said in a deep voice:
"You think you can test my true strength with the mere soul power of a seventh-grade beginner alchemist?"
The next moment, the old woman felt a tsunami-like soul pressure erupt directly from Xiao Yan's body. The soul pressure that had been enveloping Xiao Yan's body was forcefully pushed back, and the old woman's face instantly turned deathly pale.
The old woman exclaimed in surprise, "How is this possible!"