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**
To Lin Feng's surprise, the space beyond the passage wasn't the Pill Realm at all, but a vast open area.
As his gaze swept across it, he noticed that the space surrounding this clearing was severely distorted—clearly the result of a powerful expert from the Pill Tower forcibly stabilizing this pocket of space.
At that moment, several figures were already seated or standing within the clearing. They were likely the contestants who had passed through the Soul Fantasy Realm first. Each of them emitted a faint aura of pressure—proof that their strength was not weak.
However, Lin Feng also noticed that all of them appeared to be well over two hundred years old. Seeing this, he immediately understood why they had managed to emerge so quickly.
Shifting his gaze past them, Lin Feng looked ahead to where a massive silver vortex churned in the air. Below that vortex sat an old man dressed in plain robes, keeping watch.
Beneath the elder, a colossal turtle with a shell as black and solid as iron rested quietly on the ground. The old man himself sat cross-legged upon its back. Lin Feng's eyes flicked to the badge on the elder's chest.
Judging by the emblem engraved there, this man was one of the eight Grand Elders of the Outer Pill Tower. After a brief moment of thought, Lin Feng reminded himself that this was still part of the competition.
If he went up to greet the elder rashly, it might cause unnecessary misunderstanding among the other contestants. So, he decided not to approach. Naturally, Lin Feng's sudden appearance drew the attention of everyone present in the clearing.
Several sharp gazes immediately turned toward him. When they saw that the newcomer was a young man who looked no older than thirty, all of them were secretly astonished.
The only reason they had been able to clear the Soul Fantasy Realm so quickly was that they'd participated in past Pill Gathering when they were younger, and already understood the characteristics of this illusionary space.
But this youth before them—clearly under thirty—couldn't possibly have attended the Pill Gathering from thirty years ago… Yet he had passed through the Soul Fantasy Realm almost as fast as they had!
Their shock deepened further when they noticed the eighth-tier alchemist badge gleaming on Lin Feng's chest. Immediately, all of them regarded him with wary, guarded expressions.
After all, the reason they had shamelessly come to compete this time was for the prize—The Three Thousand Burning Flame, ranked ninth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.
Now this young man had displayed such terrifying strength that each of them instinctively felt threatened.
As for Lin Feng, once he realized that none of those present were acquaintances of his, he simply found an empty spot and sat cross-legged.
Judging by how everyone was waiting quietly, it was obvious that the second trial had yet to begin. So all he needed to do was wait patiently.
Whoosh!
After some time, ripples began to stir again at the gray portal's exit. Moments later, a graceful figure in white shot out from within. Sensing the new arrival, the people in the clearing all turned their heads.
The woman who had just passed the Soul Fantasy Realm landed gracefully on the ground. When her eyes fell upon Lin Feng, her pure yet mature face instantly brightened with joy.
"Take a seat for now. The second trial hasn't started yet," Lin Feng said with a warm smile.
"Mm."
Xiao Yixian nodded softly and sat right beside him, close enough that their shoulders nearly touched.
Noticing the closeness between the two, the others exchanged brief glances but quickly withdrew their attention, returning to meditation.
Shua! Shua! Shua!
After Xiao Yixian appeared, it was as though a hidden switch had been flipped—in just a short span of time, several figures streaked out from within the light one after another.
Every single one of them was someone Lin Feng knew well. Among them were Xiao Yan, Dan Chen, and Cao Ying. The moment Xiao Yan appeared, Lin Feng's brows lifted slightly.
What caught his attention wasn't the fact that Xiao Yan's soul had entered the Spirit Realm but that this guy's strength had truly reached the peak of the Seven-Star Dou Zong realm!
Moreover, under Lin Feng's powerful soul perception, he found that the aura of the Heavenly Flame on Xiao Yan's body had changed. It had become hotter, more violent, and far more destructive than it had been back when he ambushed Lin Feng last time.
As for Xiao Yan, the instant he laid eyes on Lin Feng, a deep and undisguised killing intent flashed through his gaze.
If not for this man, he would still be safely staying within the Pill Tower, letting the Three Leaders search for his master's whereabouts. He wouldn't have been forced into a direct war with the Hall of Souls.
Two months ago, for reasons unknown, the Hall of Souls had suddenly gone mad and launched a relentless assault against him.
During the ensuing seventy-plus days of fighting, he did gain a large number of souls from Hall of Souls's enforcers and other cultivators. By refining those souls, he had successfully broken through to the Spirit Realm with his soul power.
However, the cost was devastating. Most of the contacts and allies his master had built up over the years were wiped out in the conflict. Even the strong experts he had painstakingly recruited had fallen—seven or eight out of ten perished.
Although he possessed a method to revive them, the Hall of Souls was adept in soul techniques. Once those experts died, their souls were instantly captured. Even if he wanted to resurrect them, there were no souls left to bring back!
Now, even if he managed to find his master, where would he find enough powerful allies to help in a rescue?
Had he not been expelled from the Pill Tower, he could have simply hidden within the Small Pill Tower when the Hall of Souls came. He wouldn't have had to endure such torment.
All of it—every ounce of suffering— he blamed squarely on Lin Feng. The hatred he felt for this man was bone-deep. Still, glancing around and noticing the Pill Tower elders nearby, Xiao Yan's expression darkened.
If he dared to cause trouble here, his qualification to compete would be revoked on the spot— and he'd lose any chance of obtaining the Three Thousand Burning Flame. Besides, even now, he wasn't certain he could win against Lin Feng.
So no matter how much anger burned inside him, he could only suppress it— finding an empty spot on the ground to sit cross-legged and silently wait for the second trial to begin.
"Looks like Xiao Yan really did obtain another Heavenly Flame while I was in seclusion," Lin Feng murmured to himself, rubbing his chin in thought.
"But how did he get it? Could it be pure luck—that he stumbled upon one somewhere in Central Plains?"
Though puzzled, he set the thought aside for now.
When he noticed Cao Ying and Dan Chen emerging, Lin Feng raised his hand and gestured for them to come over.
Cao Ying's lips curved into a seductive smile. Her long, smooth legs swayed gracefully as she walked over, each step radiating lazy confidence.
Dan Chen, on the other hand, seemed oddly hesitant. For some reason, her beautiful eyes flickered evasively when they met Lin Feng's. A faint blush lingered on her flawless cheeks.
After a brief inner struggle, she bit her lip and finally walked toward him as well. Cao Ying reached Lin Feng's side first and—like Xiao Yixian—sat down close beside him. Her crimson eyes then turned teasingly toward the shy Dan Chen.
"Well now," she said with a smirk, "Is our dear little Dan Chen getting flustered because she's meeting her fiancé?"
At that, Dan Chen's face immediately turned bright red.
"D-Don't talk nonsense! We'll only be engaged after the Pill Gathering. Lin Feng isn't my fiancé yet…"
Her voice grew softer and softer toward the end, almost inaudible. Clearly, she was mortified. Deciding not to respond further, she quietly sat down beside Xiao Yixian, closed her eyes, and waited for the second trial to begin.
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