"The Soul Hall is an organization that specializes in collecting souls and manipulating the undead. Through special methods, they capture souls, imprisoning and enslaving these innocent spirits to fuel their cultivation or as a source of power." Xiao Chong tone was heavy, each word striking Zi Yan heart like a hammer.
"The old man mention of 'not wanting to become a slave of the Soul Hall' implies that his soul had already been captured by them, but he awakened and resisted at the last moment. Unfortunately, it was too late."
As he spoke, a faint trace of pity flashed in Xiao Chong eyes—a sympathy for those innocent souls and a righteous anger at the injustice of the world.
"Our mission is not just to eliminate the enemies before us but, more importantly, to expose and destroy the root of countless tragedies—the Soul Hall."
Zi Yan clenched her fists, the fire in her eyes burning even brighter.
"Then what should we do? Should we just wait for the next confrontation with the Soul Hall?"
Xiao Chong nodded thoughtfully. "We will meet them again someday!"
*****
The Jia Nan Academy, with its towering ancient trees and abundant spiritual energy, exuded an air of timeless elegance and scholarly solemnity in every brick and tile.
Xiao Chong and Zi Yan strolled along a cobblestone path, flanked by whispering green bamboo. Occasionally, the tranquility was pierced by the chirping of birds, adding a touch of vitality to the serene atmosphere.
Passing through a quiet bamboo grove, they arrived at a secluded spot in the academy's back mountain.
Here, mist swirled, and the occasional low growl of spiritual beasts could be heard, making it feel like a hidden paradise.
Xiao Chong chose a small clearing beside a massive rock, an ideal place for refining medicinal pills—far from the noise of the world yet still connected to the natural energy.
"This is the place" Xiao Chong said, surveying the surroundings with satisfaction.
He took out several jade slips engraved with intricate runes from his robe and gently tossed them. The slips spun in the air, transforming into layers of light that slowly descended, eventually forming a translucent barrier that enveloped the area.
Inside the barrier, all external disturbances seemed to vanish, leaving only the pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth mingling with the fragrance of medicinal herbs.
Zi Yan watched this with curiosity. Though she was a warrior, she knew nothing about the art of pill refining and couldn't help but ask.
"Is this 'Life-Restoring Pill' really that miraculous?"
Xiao Chong smiled faintly, his expression filled with determination and confidence.
"This is an eighth-grade pill. Not only can it strengthen the body, but it can also repair damaged souls to a certain extent. If taken in time, it can even bring someone on the brink of death back to life."
With that, he began to take out carefully selected high-grade herbs from his sleeve, each emitting a refreshing aroma.
Together, they created a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation.
Xiao Chong sat cross-legged, forming hand seals, and closed his eyes, immersing himself in the mysteries of pill refining.
"Pill refining is not just about understanding herbs but also about grasping the laws of heaven and earth"
Xiao Chong said calmly, each word sounding like a tale from ancient times.
"The heat, the materials, and the intent—all three are indispensable."
Under his guidance, a warm, gentle flame gradually gathered in the surrounding air—a soul fire unique to pill refiners, pure yet intense.
The flame licked the cauldron, and the herbs slowly melted, releasing their unique spiritual energies. They blended together, gradually taking the shape of a pill.
Xiao Chong was completely immersed in the focused process of alchemy, oblivious to the passage of time outside.
He knew well that the Life-Restoring Elixir was no ordinary pill. The slightest mistake could not only waste precious herbs but also trigger a catastrophic explosion, the consequences of which would be unimaginable.
Therefore, every step had to be executed with utmost care, leaving no room for error.
"Zi Yan, guard this place for me. Make sure no one or any beast comes near" Xiao Chong instructed Zi Yan before entering his meditative state.
Zi Yan nodded gently, her demeanor both lazy and alert. She understood the gravity of Xiao Chong words and silently stood guard, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, ensuring no threat could approach.
Time flew by like a fleeting horse, and several days had passed in the blink of an eye.
Within the natural barrier Zi Yan had set up around the perimeter, she began to grow restless. For someone as lively as her, waiting was nothing short of torture.
She paced back and forth, trying to find something to occupy herself while shooing away curious little creatures that ventured too close.
"Hmph, this alchemy is taking forever. It's so boring" Zi Yan complained, her emerald eyes suddenly narrowing as a rustling sound came from the distant grass, alerting her.
"Looks like some fun is coming" Zi Yan murmured with a cold smile, silently approaching the source of the noise.
As expected, a pack of third-tier magical beasts—Rampaging Thunder Wolves—had been lured by the potent aroma of the elixir.
Their eyes gleamed with greed, clearly enticed by the rare delicacy.
Thunder Wolves were known for their incredible speed and the electric power coursing through their fur.
An ordinary alchemist would likely flee at the sight of them.
But for Zi Yan, this was just a bit of entertainment. With a flash, she darted into the pack like a streak of blue lightning.
Before the wolves could react, she had already taken them down, her movements precise and efficient, leaving no room for error.
After dealing with the Thunder Wolves, Zi Yan strolled around leisurely, as if the battle had been nothing more than a casual game.
"Ah, that was a bit of a distraction" she muttered to herself, her gaze once again turning toward the alchemy site.
A warm feeling rose in her heart, a deep trust and commitment to Xiao Chong.
At that moment, the aura within the cauldron suddenly shifted, and a surge of immense life force began to emanate. The Life-Restoring Elixir was nearing completion.
"Is it done? I can't wait" Zi Yan whispered, leaping back to the edge of the barrier, her eyes sparkling with excitement as if she could already envision the moment of triumph.
***
The Black Corner Region, a place steeped in both crime and opportunity, where every inch of land held unknown dangers.
On the edge of this chaotic land, a small hut surrounded by lush bamboo groves stood in stark contrast to the surrounding violence and strife, exuding an air of tranquility.
Han Feng stood in front of the hut, his purple robe fluttering gently in the breeze. His handsome face and deep eyes radiated a calm yet formidable presence.
He had just finished a fierce battle with a powerful foe. Though his breathing was slightly uneven, his eyes burned with a curiosity for the unknown.
"The Jia Nan Academy, the back mountain... fluctuations of life energy?" Han Feng murmured to himself, his brow slightly furrowed. He could sense the unusual energy waves emanating from that distant direction.
It wasn't just the ordinary refinement of medicinal herbs; the life force contained within it was so potent that even he, thousands of miles away, could perceive it clearly.
Such a disturbance was a signal that no powerhouse in the Black-Corner Region could ignore.
"There must be something unusual going on. The Jia Nan Academy has always been low-key. Such a significant move today surely has something behind it."
After a moment of contemplation, Han Feng decided to investigate personally.
He turned and entered the small cabin, quickly gathering a few essential items.
A long sword inlaid with a dark gem was slung across his back, and in an instant, his figure transformed into a streak of purple light, speeding toward the direction of the Jia Nan Academy.