Chapter 380: Dou Venerate

After leaving the assessment hall, Ye Xin Lan's cold demeanor disappeared, and she excitedly chatted with Xiao Ming about various topics.

As the most talented person of the Ye Clan in her generation, she had been burdened by clan matters that left her breathless. Now that those issues were resolved, a weight had been lifted off her chest.

Xiao Ming listened silently, occasionally responding with a word or two, not feeling bored by the conversation.

Beside them, Ye Zhong observed Xin Lan's excitement and recalled the serious expression of Elder Sheng earlier.

He gave Xin Lan a serious look and said, "Xin Lan, please quiet down."

Blushing, Xin Lan realized that she had been too carried away and nodded in response, falling silent.

Once Xin Lan quieted down, Ye Zhong turned to Xiao Ming and asked, "Elder Xiao Ming, I noticed the serious expression of Elder Sheng earlier. Has something significant happened?"

Xiao Ming glanced at him and smiled lightly. "Oh? What did you hear?"

"I heard the words 'Hall of Souls'," Ye Zhong replied in a deep voice. The mention of the Hall of Souls reminded him of the incident when Old Ghost Zhai Xing came to Ye City. The Hall of Souls was an extremely difficult force to deal with, as they acted without restraint.

Xiao Ming nodded slightly, not hiding anything.

"The latest news is that one of our Pill Tower's branch towers was silently annihilated. Association Head Xuan Kong Zi suspects it was the work of the Hall of Souls, so we need to be cautious."

Elder Ye Zhong's expression changed drastically upon hearing this news. "A branch tower was silently annihilated? Didn't our conflict with the Hall of Souls end already?"

The annihilation of a branch tower was a significant matter, and it would undoubtedly provoke the Pill Tower to seek revenge, just as they did in the previous attack on Xiao Ming.

"Who knows what those lunatics are thinking," Xiao Ming replied.

In the original story, the Hall of Souls even dared to attack Holy Pill City. Annihilating a branch tower was nothing to them, and they wouldn't feel any psychological burden.

"However, Central Plains will continue to be in turmoil, so be careful when conducting yourselves outside the Ye Clan," Xiao Ming cautioned.

If the Pill Tower suspected that the Hall of Souls was responsible, they must have some evidence, even if it wasn't conclusive.

This incident occurred shortly after the peace agreement was reached, severely trampling the Pill Tower's reputation. Alchemists were particularly proud and valued their reputation, so the upcoming battle would not be a mere skirmish like before.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhong found the caution reasonable. He decided that after returning to the clan, he would take measures to properly restrain the clan members, preventing them from dying in mysterious circumstances.

...

The assessment of the Five Great Clans was a highly significant event in Holy Pill City, attracting attention from various influential forces. As soon as the assessment was completed, news of the events that took place in the main hall quickly spread like wildfire.

The revelation that the Ye Clan had secured the first place came as a shock to those who had hoped to witness their downfall or to rival factions. Many people questioned whether the Ye Clan still had the qualifications to retain their position among the Five Great Clans. However, this unexpected announcement felt like a resounding slap to their faces, leaving them incredulous.

As the news spread and became clearer, some people began to understand the reason behind it all - Xiao Ming had extended his help to them.

Once this reason became known, those who found it hard to believe now felt that it was only natural. With Xiao Ming's formidable strength and capabilities, winning the championship was undoubtedly an effortless feat for the Ye Clan.

Aside from Xiao Ming, the two outstanding female talents, Cao Ying and Dan Chen, also captured the attention of many. If it weren't for Xiao Ming's presence, their influence would have been even greater. Especially Cao Ying, who was on the verge of becoming an eighth-tier alchemist!

While the news of the assessment circulated with great fervor in the outside world, Xiao Ming became extremely low-key.

...

In a luxurious secret room of the Xiao Mansion, a night pearl embedded in the ceiling emitted a soft glow, casting a gentle light throughout the room.

At the center of the room, Xiao Ming sat on a cushion, holding a high-quality jade bottle in his hand. With a slight tilt, a small amount of gelatinous substance poured out from the bottle.

The gelatinous substance was of a small volume, covered by a layer of gel-like material. Faintly visible within was a slowly flowing liquid - the astonishing and mysterious energy of the Dou Saint Bone Marrow that Xiao Ming had extracted a few days prior.

Upon learning about the annihilation of the Pill Tower branch by the Hall of Souls, Xiao Ming felt a sense of urgency and decided not to delay his breakthrough any longer. After attending to the matters concerning the Pill Tower, he returned to his residence and distributed three pieces of Dou Saint Bone Marrow each to Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa. Following that, he prepared to enter seclusion.

Xiao Ming pondered with curiosity as he held the gelatinous substance in his palm. 'I wonder to what stage I can break through during this seclusion.'

With a calm expression, he gently placed it in his mouth. Almost instantaneously, the substance dissolved, and immense and pure energy surged like a flood, rushing through his body with the force of a hurricane.

The sudden influx of this powerful energy caused Xiao Ming's body temperature to rise rapidly, and wisps of white smoke emanated from his head.

The energy contained within the Dou Saint-level Bone Marrow was vast and potent. The vortex where Xiao Ming's "Spirit" resided instantly vaporized into an extremely pure milky white liquid, and an endless sea of milky white mist filled the room.

Xiao Ming, however, would not allow the energy to run rampant. With a mere thought, his Spirit began to absorb and consume the energy, which pure Dou Qi would then replenish.

The transformed pure Dou Qi flowed through his meridians, following the route of the "Rise of Twin Spirits." It permeated his muscles, blood, and bones, continuously strengthening Xiao Ming's physical strength, hardness, and resilience.

Having surpassed the peak nine-star Dou Ancestor realm long ago, Xiao Ming had always felt as though he had reached an insurmountable limit. The only hindrance had been the lack of accumulated energy that prevented him from breaking through the thin film and reaching the Dou Venerate realm.

Now, with the assistance of this pure Dou Qi, Xiao Ming forcefully tore through that thin film, stepping into a realm that was mysterious and unfathomable.

As Xiao Ming entered this profound state, the power of heaven and earth within his room, and even throughout the entire mansion, surged and boiled instantaneously.

Such a tremendous movement immediately alarmed Xiao Yi Xian and Medusa, who appeared outside Xiao Ming's secret room and exchanged glances.

'He's breaking through to the Dou Venerate realm,' It had been evident from Xiao Ming's previous mention of his seclusion that he intended to achieve a breakthrough.

'It seems like I need to work hard as well,' They both thought to themselves, considering what Xiao Ming had given them.

With a light tap of their feet on the ground, their figures disappeared in an instant, each determined to make progress in their own cultivation.

After their departure, Venerable Tian Huo appeared on the scene to protect Xiao Ming during his breakthrough.