harleyscars 476. The Secret Within
476. The Secret Within
Xiao Yan immediately turned around and asked, "What do you know?"
A hint of smug satisfaction flashed in Wei Jiangyuan's eyes, and he then remarked with a sigh, "I thought you were really so cold-hearted and didn't care about anything."
Xiao Yan also coldly observed the person before him. He could sense that the person's strength and soul power were quite formidable, and coupled with his youthful appearance, unless he was an older generation expert skilled in preserving his youth, his strength was indeed quite terrifying. Furthermore, both encounters had occurred at the Pill Tower, indicating that his identity was unlikely to be simple.
"Weren't the five major affiliated families lured away by the Spirit Clan's immense profits?"
Wei Jiangyuan immediately shook his head and said, "Then you really only know one side of the story. As for the other three families, let's just say that's one thing. The Cao family produced a once-in-a-millennium alchemy prodigy, Cao Ying, an eighth-grade alchemist in her early twenties and Xuan Kongzi's personal disciple. But even the Cao family of that caliber has all pledged allegiance to the Spirit Clan."
Xiao Yan fell silent upon hearing this. Since his attempt to break into the Heavenly Talent Ranking, he had naturally become aware of the many geniuses participating in the Pill Gathering, among whom Cao Ying was indeed a shining top contender. Before Ling Zhuo and he made their move, she was already the most promising young alchemist.
She became an alchemist at the age of seven, entered the inner sect of the Pill Tower at fifteen, and advanced to a seventh-grade alchemist before the age of twenty. Judging from Cao Ying's performance in the various trials, it can be confirmed that she has advanced to an eighth-grade alchemist. Moreover, she is indeed a personal disciple of Xuan Kongzi of the Pill Tower, and many people even believe that Cao Ying will definitely have a place among the next generation of Pill Tower giants. However, the Cao family's early allegiance to the Spirit Clan and Cao Ying's becoming a member of the Spirit Clan has always been a puzzling matter.
Before today, Little Fairy Doctor sensed something was wrong, but limited by intelligence, she could only suspect that the Spirit Clan had some special methods targeting them. She used a combination of coercion and enticement to finally subdue the Cao family.
"Tsk tsk tsk, these people from the Pill Tower..." Wei Jiangyuan also looked disgusted: "They made you the flag bearer against the Spirit Race, but they never tell you the truth. They're heartless, truly heartless."
Xiao Yan bluntly asked Wei Jiangyuan, "If you are from the Pill Tower, why are you telling me these things? If you are not from the Pill Tower, how do you know these things?"
"Hahaha, I already told you I'm the reinforcements that Danta brought in. As for why I know all this, it's because I'm smart. Unlike you, who just foolishly lets Danta use you."
Xiao Yan ignored Wei Jiangyuan's sarcasm and simply asked with a calm expression, "So why did the Cao family join the Spirit Clan?"
"Because..." Wei Jiangyuan drawled, "their most precious Cao Ying has encountered a problem, and it's a major problem that only the Spirit Clan can solve."
"Neither the Cao family nor the Pill Tower could resolve the issue, so in order to protect this future rising star, the Cao family had no choice but to join the Spirit Clan. That's all the information I have for now, and to be honest, I'm very curious."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's heart stirred. What Wei Jiangyuan said matched Little Fairy Doctor's initial assessment. The Cao family and the Pill Tower had a close relationship, and it was impossible for them to be swayed by mere bribery. Cao Ying represented the foreseeable future for the Cao family, so it was not unreasonable for the Cao family to side with the Spirit Clan.
"What are you curious about?"
"I'm curious whether the Cao family would really betray the Pill Tower for Cao Ying. I'm also curious about the Spirit Clan's methods, and even more curious about whether I can handle their methods." Wei Jiangyuan smiled generously: "I value my life very much, you wouldn't believe it."
"Then why did you come to me? Wouldn't it have been better to ask Xuan Kongzi yourself?"
"That's what I originally thought." Seeing that Xiao Yan had become more talkative, Wei Jiangyuan walked over to Xiao Yan and put his arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder: "But since you've also become a savior for the Pill Tower, then we can totally be allies."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan fell silent again. Wei Jiangyuan's appearance had indeed stirred within him the idea of inquiring with Xuan Kongzi. In any case, Xiao Yan didn't want his pursuit of the Three Thousand Burning Flames to jeopardize the safety of those around him. The Spirit Clan's methods, whose details were still unknown, were what he needed to be wary of, because complete ignorance meant no way to counter them.
Xiao Yan was even more wary, because Wei Jiangyuan, though seemingly unreliable, had actually been guiding him all along.
"So, are you willing to go? I'm being very sincere. Those guys in Danta think more highly of me, which is why they're letting you go and fight that good-for-nothing Lingzhuo now, while I'm to stay in the shadows and not make a move."
Wei Jiangyuan said to the letter, "Otherwise, if I were to make a move, how could Ling Zhuo have taken first place?"
"Yes, I'd really like to know the answer too."
"Hey, come on, come on! I told you, Lao Xiao, you're a good guy!"
Looking at Wei Jiangyuan beside him, Xiao Yan felt somewhat helpless. This guy's unreliable personality made it hard to imagine him as a proper alchemist. Yet, Wei Jiangyuan's soul power was in no way inferior to his own, and Xiao Yan knew that his confidence was not unfounded.
……
"Xuan Kongzi, I've come to find you!" Wei Jiangyuan called out casually after entering the main hall.
The three giants of the Pill Tower were all here at this moment. Xuan Kongzi felt a headache after seeing Wei Jiangyuan and Xiao Yan hanging out together.
Seeing this, Xuan Leizi scolded, "Wei Jiangyuan, didn't I tell you long ago that you shouldn't contact anyone or expose your existence before the Pill Gathering!"
Wei Jiangyuan, however, put his hands behind his head and said nonchalantly, "Who knows about any of you, including Xiao Yan? You didn't say anything."
"You bastard..."
"And do you really think Lao Xiao would betray me? If he were really a member of the Spirit Clan, and he directly scored two perfect marks for the Spirit Clan, your Pill Tower would probably be in an uproar. At that time, your poor hair on Xuan Leizi's head would fall out from worry."
"...Wei Jiangyuan, you are utterly rude!"
"Well, I'm your guest, so the guest is always the most important. Just bear with it." Then, Wei Jiangyuan's eyes flickered, all playfulness vanishing, and he met Xuan Kongzi's gaze directly, questioning, "President Xuan Kongzi, how long are you planning to keep the Spirit Clan's methods against the Cao and Dan families a secret?"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the three giants of the Pill Tower changed. Xiao Yan remained silent on the side, knowing that there must be a secret behind this scene.
"The Spirit Clan is using great profits to lure us in, what else is there to say?" Xuan Leizi immediately explained, though his voice sounded somewhat weak.
"Xuan Kongzi, how long are you going to keep up this blushing act? Don't tell me that the Pill Tower knows nothing. Keeping it from the two of us is probably a decision made unanimously by the higher-ups of the Pill Tower."
Wei Jiangyuan also said decisively, "If you continue in this state, then don't blame me for withdrawing at the last minute and not keeping you company any longer."