Xiao Yaed a suspicious yet familiar figure with his enhanced Spiritual Perception.

  If it weren't for his Spiritual Strength advang by another level, given the distand the figure's cealment abilities, he wouldn't have been able to detect him.

  Shaking his head helplessly, Xiao Yan quietly opehe window, unfolded his Eagle Wings, enveloped himself with Spiritual Strength to prevent being sensed, and silently flew into the air.

  At that moment, in an inn a kilometer away, a mysterious figure was secretly Xiao Yan's every move from afar.

  The figure was entirely ed in a pitch-bck robe. He slightly raised his head, and the moonlight revealed a swarthy, aged face.

  This person was her than Ling Ying, whom Xun Er had dispatched to 'protect' Xiao Yan.

  "How has this kid's Spiritual Strength cultivation improved so quickly?"

  "Sigh, to monitor a little Dou Grandmaster kid, I have to stay so far away to avoid beied. Looks like I'm really getting old." Ling Ying gazed from afar. He didn't even dare to get close to eavesdrop on Xiao Yan's versations.

  "Old Ling is still robust and vigorous. How could you be sidered old?"

  ! ! ! ! ! !

  Suddenly, a voice came from above the inn. Ling Ying's scalp instantly went numb because he reized whose voice it was!

  'How is this possible!! I didn't even notice!!' Ling Ying was going crazy! He had been monit Xiao Yan all along. Although he couldn't get too close, his peak Dou Emperor strength allowed him to sehings from very far away.

  Yet, even at such a distance, Xiao Yan not only discovered him but also stealthily approached without him notig—evehe other party was right above the inn!

  Xiao Yan's voice, infused with Spiritual Strength, drifted over: "Old Ling, would you mind ing up for a chat?"

  Ling Ying suddenly felt a bit aggrieved. He had flown all the way from Jia Nan Academy to Jia Ma Sacred City. Even as a peak Dou Emperor, it had still taken him two days to arrive.

  He hadn't even been monit Xiao Yan for two days, and he had already been discovered! How frustrating!

  He now didn't even know how he was going to expin this to Xun Er.

  Brag himself, Ling Ying transformed into a shadow and appeared on the inn's rooftop, where he saw the bck-eyed, bck-haired youth waiting with a smile.

  Ling Yi a chill in his heart upon seeing that smiling expression and hurriedly said, "Young Master Xiao Yan, this was my own idea and has nothing to do with the Young Miss."

  Xiao Ya out a chuckle and said, "Old Ling, you're really not good at lying, are you? I didn't even say anything, yet you've already fessed."

  Clearly, ae Dou Emperor like Ling Ying might not have lied more than a handful of times in his entire life.

  "Old Ling, don't be so nervous. I'm not here to make a fuss. I'm actually gd that Xun Er is ed about my safety. Although I don't like being monitored, if it put Xun Er's mind at ease, Old Ling tio follow me until I plete the duel with Nan Yanran."

  "After the duel, Old Ling return to report my safety, and help me deliver a letter to Xun Er. Ohe duel is over and I've settled my affairs, I'll soourn to Jia Nan Academy to advao the Inner Academy with her, so she doesn't o worry about me," Xiao Yan said softly with a gentle smile.

  Ling Ying wore a wry smile. He was a dignified peak Dou Emperor, the stro Dou Emperor of the Gu ! And you wao be a messenger pigeon?!

  Nodding helplessly, Ling Ying said, "I uand, Young Master Xiao Yan. Your Spiritual Strength is truly formidable. You mao detect me even at such a great distance."

  After briefly inquiring about Xun Er's ret situation, Xiao Yauro his room with peaind. He also informed Ling Ying that he would be visiting the Alchemist Association the day.

  As soon as he entered his room, the expression on Xiao Yan's face became solemn. 'Fortunately, my Spiritual State has improved. Otherwise, if Ling Ying discovered that I was searg for the Hall of Souls, it might bring unnecessary trouble.'

  Back when he was in Wu Tan City, Hun Huzi had e looking for something and had always deliberately avoided Xun Er, all because of the fa behind her.

  Acc to Xiao Yan's specution, the Hun to which Hun Huzi belonged likely had a petitive retionship with Xun Er's ; both sides were vying for something.

  'I'll slowly search for the Hall of Souls after pleting the duel with Nan Yanran.'

  Xiao Yan had deliberately told Ling Ying that he would return after the duel to make him leave first. If he directly drove Ling Ying away, it might arouse suspi.

  …

  Xiao Ya his room early the m. In any case, he had to at least put on a show for Ling Ying to see.

  "Little Yan, heading out so early?" The bare-chested Nan Jie was exerg and w up a sweat in the courtyard.

  After a few days of recuperation, his body had recovered a lot; he had gained some muscle and no longer looked emaciated.

  Xiao Yan nodded and said, "Mm, I want to refine a pill, but I need some hard-to-find medial ingredients. So today, I pn to visit the headquarters of the Alchemist Association to see if I find them, and perhaps pick up some good items."

  Nan Jie wiped his sweat and said, "Alright. By the way, I've already spoken to the Alchemist Association. In a few days, there will be an internal test. If you're ied in participating in the Alchemist Graing, you go directly to the Alchemist Association for an internal test. If you pass, you directly ehe final elimination stage."

  "Got it."

  Leaving the Nan Mansion, at the interse of several streets in Jia Ma Sacred City, aremely rge building shrouded all year round in a faint mist of pill fragraood there.

  The two grand, a words 'Alchemist Association,' written in fmboyant strokes, glowed with a faint silver light, causing passersby to involuntarily cast reverent gazes toward it.

  As the headquarters of the Alchemist Association in the Jia Ma Empire, even the emperor himself would have to show respect upon arriving here. After all, the power wielded by the residents of this building was enough to shake the entire empire. They beloo the most esteemed profession on the Dou Qi ti.

  Alchemists, who were rarely seen on ordinary days, could be found everywhere here. Their robes of various colors proudly procimed their tiers.

  Xiao Yan even saw several 4th-tier alchemists apanied by their apprehough each of these 4th-tier alchemists was a white-haired elder.

  Fortunately, the Alchemist Association wasn't just a gathering pce for alchemists; it was also a marketpce where alchemists set up stalls. So ordinary people in need of pills could eo make purchases.

  Stepping into the grarance of the Alchemist Association, a rich fragranedial pills wafted over, causing oo involuntarily take a light breath and feel refreshed.

  Thump!!!

  The moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Alchemist Association, his heart suddenly pounded, and a throbbiion emanated from the depths of his soul.

  "What is this feeling!?"

  "The Soul and Token? No, this isn't the Soul and Token."

  A mysterious heartbeat spread throughout his entire body. It was the first time in his life that he felt such a unique sensation!

  Following the guidance of this sensation, Xiao Yan walked to a very secluded er, where a skinny, somewhat wretched-looking man was setting up a stall to sell his wares.

  Oall were scattered various worthless medial ingredients. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and looked at an inspicuous, bck, broken jade fragment pced at the edge of the stoform.