"For now, let's not make a move.
There are three Yuan Foundation Realm cultivators outside. Once they notice something is wrong, they'll likely desperately try to stop me from taking the Small Alchemy Tower.
We should wait first, and find the right moment to take the tower."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before saying.
"That's a good idea."
Huang Shang nodded.
After all, the strength of a Yuan Foundation Realm cultivator was not to be underestimated. If they attracted the attention of those three experts, it would create a lot of trouble.
Inside the first level of the Small Alchemy Tower, Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged, motionless.
At this point, many people had already withdrawn from the test, unable to withstand the terrifying Soul Power pressure.
The remaining participants were struggling to climb towards the second level.
"Look!
Sima Xuan has successfully ascended to the second level!"
At that moment, the plaza erupted into a stir.
Beside the Small Alchemy Tower stood a shimmering stele. Sima Xuan's name suddenly appeared on that stele.
This meant Sima Xuan had succeeded in reaching the second level.
Before the test, the higher-ups of Tongsheng Gate had arranged a small formation on the tower's second level linked to this stele. Once a participant reached the second level, the stele would react and display their name.
"Heh, well done."
Long Hai was quite satisfied and smiled.
Earlier, during the first round of testing, Sima Xuan's results had been completely overshadowed by Lu Qianqian, which had displeased Long Hai.
Sima Xuan was his personally recruited disciple, yet he had been defeated by an unknown little girl. Others might laugh at his lack of discernment.
Fortunately, in this second round, Sima Xuan had redeemed himself.
"Heaven truly blesses my Sima Family for producing such an outstanding talent!"
In the plaza, a tall, imposing elder laughed proudly.
The crowd recognized this elder as someone of significant standing—the patriarch of the Sima Family, which belonged to the second-tier powers in the Eastern Domain and possessed considerable strength.
"Haha, I'm the first to reach the second level.
That little bitch refined better pills than I did? So what.
In this second round, I've crushed her!"
Inside the second level of the Small Alchemy Tower, Sima Xuan laughed heartily. His pride and arrogance had fully returned.
Just then.
"I finally made it up!"
A girl's clear, young voice rang out. Lu Qianqian had also successfully ascended to the second level.
"Oh no!
The Soul Power pressure here on the second level is even more terrifying!"
Before Lu Qianqian could even feel happy, her face instantly paled. Sweet sweat poured down her, and her delicate frame trembled uncontrollably.
The Soul Power pressure present on the second level was at least five or six times stronger than on the first!
"Hmph!"
Sima Xuan immediately scowled, his gaze turning cold as he stared at Lu Qianqian.
He hadn't expected Lu Qianqian to climb up so quickly as well.
While he was the first to reach the second level, Lu Qianqian had followed right behind him.
This annoyed him greatly!
The effect he wanted was to utterly dominate and crush Lu Qianqian.
But now, Lu Qianqian had ascended to the second level almost right after him. Her results weren't significantly worse than his at all.
"Look!
Lu Qianqian has also ascended to the second level!"
"That little girl is truly a prodigious alchemy genius!
In the first round, she refined five perfect-quality True Spirit Pills, and now she's performing so excellently in the second round!"
"I have a feeling that girl's alchemy talent is no worse than Sima Xuan's at all."
...
In the plaza, seeing Lu Qianqian's name appear on the stele, the crowd couldn't help but praise her.
These praises reached Long Hai's ears, causing his expression to turn rather unpleasant.
"Haha, our Lu Family has finally produced an exceptional alchemy genius!"
A gray-robed elder couldn't help but laugh excitedly.
"Qianqian's alchemy talent was never bad to begin with.
She was just a bit timid, lacked confidence, and shied away from grand occasions.
Once she becomes stronger, she absolutely won't be inferior to Sima Xuan."
Ye Yunfei smiled to himself.
Now that he had refined the Small Alchemy Tower, he was clearly aware of every single movement happening within it.
At this moment.
Inside the Small Alchemy Tower's second level.
Sima Xuan stared at Lu Qianqian with a gloomy look in his eyes.
"No good!
This bitch hasn't performed badly in either round of testing.
If she enters Tongsheng Gate, she might threaten my status in the future.
Right now, there are only the two of us on the second level. I might as well take this opportunity to destroy her!"
A vicious glint appeared in Sima Xuan's eyes.
He then suddenly produced a small black iron bell.
"Bitch, look over here!"
Sima Xuan glared fiercely at Lu Qianqian and suddenly roared sharply.
Lu Qianqian was startled and looked over.
*Ding-ding...*
The small black iron bell in Sima Xuan's hand began to shake, emitting a series of strange sounds.
Lu Qianqian immediately felt dizzy and disoriented; the world spun and twisted.
As a result, she could no longer resist the immense Soul Power pressure present on this level.
*Rumble...*
The vast, torrential Soul Power pressure from the surrounding space bore down on her.
"Ah..."
Lu Qianqian cried out in shock as her Soul Body began to ache severely.
"Haha, the Soul Power artifact my master gave me is indeed powerful!
Once I bring out this artifact, even an expert at the True Essence realm would be affected, let alone this little bitch.
Her Soul Body is about to suffer massive damage.
Even if she doesn't become an idiot, she won't be able to refine pills anymore in the future!"
A malicious smile appeared on Sima Xuan's face.
"Hmph!"
Ye Yunfei saw everything clearly and couldn't help but rage.
*Whoosh...*
Ye Yunfei immediately released a surge of Soul Power to protect Lu Qianqian.
Instantly, Lu Qianqian became clear-headed.
The small black iron bell could no longer affect her in any way.
The crushing Soul Power pressure from all sides also receded like a tide.
Lu Qianqian felt incredibly relaxed. To her, the Soul Power pressure that existed on the second level seemed to have vanished altogether.
Having refined the Small Alchemy Tower, Ye Yunfei could control everything within it, including this Soul Power pressure.
"What did you just do to me?!"
Lu Qianqian glared, her willow-leaf eyebrows shooting upwards as she scolded Sima Xuan indignantly.
"Impossible!
How are you unaffected?!"
Witnessing Lu Qianqian regain clarity in the blink of an eye, Sima Xuan was greatly shocked, his face filled with disbelief.
After all, the small black iron bell in his hand could affect even an expert at the True Essence realm, let alone a twelve-year-old girl.
Right at this moment.
*Rumble...*
The Soul Power pressure within the second level of the Small Alchemy Tower suddenly went berserk.
A torrent of Soul Power pressure, like terrifying tidal waves, surged towards Sima Xuan, forcefully flooding into his soul sea.
"Ah..."
Caught off guard, Sima Xuan screamed. His mouth, ears, nose, and eyes instantly bled, his face twisting into a ghastly, demonic mask.
*Thud!*
His body was flung backward like a tattered scarecrow.
"Aaaah..."
Sima Xuan crashed onto the floor, clutching his head in agony, struggling desperately.
"What's happening?!"
Hearing the series of agonized cries emanating from the Small Alchemy Tower, the people in the plaza were shocked.
"Let's go in and see!"
The three Yuan Foundation Realm experts from Tongsheng Gate simultaneously stood up, their figures flashing as they entered the Small Alchemy Tower.
In the next instant.
The three Yuan Foundation Realm experts arrived on the second level.
Long Hai saw Sima Xuan clutching his head and writhing in pain on the floor. Immediately waving his sleeve, he released a surge of Soul Power to envelop Sima Xuan.
Only then did Sima Xuan feel a sudden easing of his pain. He stopped screaming, lying on the ground gasping for air in great gulps.
"Sima Xuan has already been reduced to an idiot."
Huangfu Sheng observed Sima Xuan and let out a soft sigh.
"What in the world happened here?!"
Long Hai roared furiously, his gaze fixed on Lu Qianqian like a beast about to devour its prey.