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Chapter 573: The Appearance of Zhong Xuan

However, despite passing numerous stores, the black-robed figure did not enter any of them.

In a tavern along this street, a group of elderly men sat together, reminiscing about the past as they watched the bustling street. These old men were once residents of Xuancheng and had witnessed the rise of the Great Zhen Dynasty. The memories brought mixed emotions.

One of them, leaning against the window with a wine cup in hand, was suddenly struck still, as if paralyzed.

"Old Li, we were asking you something!" one of his companions called out.

But Old Li remained frozen, his eyes wide open.

"Old Li, what\'s wrong?" another man asked, and the others also turned their attention to him.

"I... I think I just saw Zhong Xuan!" Old Li said.

"How can that be? Zhong Xuan is long dead," a companion said incredulously.

"I played with Zhong Xuan when we were young. I remember his walking posture and his back. It was exactly the same!" Old Li insisted.

"Where did you see him?" The others crowded around the window.

"He\'s gone now. He was wrapped in a black robe and walked that way!" Old Li pointed.

"Old Li, you\'ve had too much to drink," another man said.

"Yes, you always say such things after a few drinks. Last time, you even claimed to have seen a Qingluan!" another added.

"Did I really just imagine it?" Old Li shook his head, feeling a bit dizzy.

Two hours later, in the east of Tianlang Island, at the foot of a high mountain.

Emperor Xuan Sha stared coldly at the black-robed figure before him.

"Who are you?" Emperor Xuan Sha demanded.

"That is not important. I am here to give you a warning," the black-robed figure replied calmly.

"Oh?" Emperor Xuan Sha\'s gaze sharpened.

"The Blue Flame Empire\'s Grand Alchemy Gathering is a tumultuous event that has drawn the attention of the world\'s powers. This gathering could trigger significant upheaval across Shenzhou, the beginning of chaos. The Emperor of Great Zhen is heading there, and will surely become involved in the conflict. Supreme of the Wolf Clan, you should prepare accordingly," the black-robed figure said solemnly.

"Why are you telling me this?" Emperor Xuan Sha asked, puzzled.

The black-robed figure bowed slightly and then turned to fly away.

Emperor Xuan Sha did not stop him nor demand further explanation.

Once the black-robed figure had left, Emperor Xuan Sha stepped away from his spot.

In the next moment, Emperor Xuan Sha appeared in a grand, cyan palace.

"Guard Tianlang Island well. I need to go out for a while," Emperor Xuan Sha ordered.

"Yes!" The dozen or so wolves, transformed into human shapes, nodded immediately.

With a step, Emperor Xuan Sha vanished from the palace.

In Blue Flame City, Crown Prince Chongtian led his subordinates and the alchemist out of the city swiftly.

"Crown Prince Chongtian, I feel something was off. It wasn\'t my fault!" the alchemist suddenly said.

"What do you mean it wasn\'t your fault?" Crown Prince Chongtian asked, slightly puzzled.

"It\'s definitely not my fault. I\'ve refined that kind of pill many times without any issues. Someone must have tampered with it, just like that servant who tampered with Tai Dan Sect\'s pills. Someone did the same to mine!" the alchemist declared with certainty.

"Oh? Is that true?" Crown Prince Chong Tian looked at the alchemist gravely.

"Absolutely. But who could have done it?" The alchemist frowned.

"Who would dare tamper with your pills at the Grand Pill Assembly? Could Tai Dan Sect dare? It must be Long Hu Dan Sheng! Only he would dare!" said a subordinate nearby.

"Long Hu Dan Sheng!" A cold light flashed in Crown Prince Chong Tian\'s eyes.

"Shall we confront him, Your Highness?" the subordinate asked.

"Hmph, there will be plenty of time for that later. Lan Long Hu? He won\'t be prancing around for much longer!" A trace of coldness flickered in Crown Prince Chong Tian\'s eyes.

At the Grand Pill Assembly site!

Crown Prince Chong Tian, accompanied by a group of Emperor-level experts, had already left. The assembly was to continue!

Eighth-grade pills, refined with specific medicinal materials, had been successfully created by only seventy-two people!

All of them had earned the opportunity to ascend the Ancient Sage Platform!

Only by ascending the Ancient Sage Platform could one compete for the title of \'Dan Sheng\' (Pill Sage)!

With a wave of his hand, Dan Sheng (Pill Sage) had numerous servants quickly clean the square, removing all the pill furnaces and other items, leaving the ground spotless!

Everyone watched Dan Sheng in complete silence.

"Alright, including me, seventy-three people will enter the Ancient Sage Platform! The rest of you may observe our pill refining and gain insights into your own pill-making paths. I hope that after this Grand Pill Assembly, everyone\'s understanding of pill refining will reach a new level!" Dan Sheng said.

"We obey Dan Sheng\'s command!" Nearly everyone bowed respectfully.

"You must all be curious why I chose this location for the Grand Pill Assembly!" Dan Sheng suddenly said.

"Huh?" Almost everyone was slightly taken aback.

"The world is divided into meridians and latitudes. Though invisible, they align with the rules of heaven. These meridians and latitudes connect the laws of the world, running in all directions, forming the veins of heaven and earth. The places where the world\'s spiritual energy gathers most are often at the intersections of these meridians and latitudes. The spot under your feet is one such focal point. The Ancient Sage Platform must be placed at this focal point to exert its effects!" Dan Sheng explained.

The surrounding alchemists suddenly understood.

"After this Grand Pill Assembly, if any alchemist stands out above all others, remember this: only at this focal point of meridians and latitudes can the Ancient Sage Platform exert its miraculous effects, gathering the spiritual energy of all directions and accumulating the blessings of all directions to aid both people and pills!" Dan Sheng continued.

"Thank you, Dan Sheng!" Almost everyone responded respectfully.

Dan Sheng nodded, then looked up at the sky.

With a sudden wave of his hand, a gust of wind blew away a cloud in the high sky.

As the cloud dispersed, it revealed a circular metallic object above.

Is that the Ancient Sage Platform?

The moment the cloud scattered, the Ancient Sage Platform fell straight down, descending into the imperial city, landing in the square where everyone stood.

"Boom~~~"

The loud noise in the square wasn\'t from the Ancient Sage Platform hitting the ground but from the impact\'s generated air current.

The Ancient Sage Platform, just an inch from the ground, suddenly stopped.

Mysterious earth-yellow energy sprouted from the ground, connecting to the golden Ancient Sage Platform.

The platform was enormous—circular and golden, spanning a diameter of about a thousand zhang, nearly covering half the square.

Surrounding it were nine steps leading directly to the platform\'s top. The platform itself was divided into three rings. The innermost ring was a central circular area. The second ring contained sixteen equally sized circular areas, slightly smaller than the central one. The outermost ring had sixty-four circular areas, each smaller than the ones inside.

As everyone examined the Ancient Sage Platform, countless streams of luck and merit gathered above it, as if the platform itself had the ability to collect them. Though the amount of luck was comparable to that of a royal dynasty, and the merit wasn\'t as exaggerated as a holy land, the harmonious blend of luck and merit was intriguing.

Long Hu Dan Sheng stepped forward, ascending the Ancient Sage Platform step by step.

Standing above, he looked around and declared, "Seventy-two alchemists, you may now choose your pill pools! There are eighty-one pill pools in total: one main pool, sixteen secondary pools, and sixty-four auxiliary pools. Select your pool and prepare to refine your strongest divine pill! Each alchemist may bring only two assistants onto the platform!"

A divine pill must reach the ninth grade to be so named. The ultimate goal was to refine the world\'s strongest pill, a divine pill!

"How long will it take?" Zhong Shan asked Bao\'er.

"To refine a ninth-grade pill, it takes at least a month. But I\'m not preparing to refine a ninth-grade pill! My pill will take at least three months," Bao\'er replied with a smile.

"Oh?" Zhong Shan raised an eyebrow.

Not preparing to refine a ninth-grade pill? Could she be aiming for an immortal pill?

Zhong Shan showed a hint of surprise.

Seeing his expression, Bao\'er playfully blinked her eyes.

"Are you confident?" Zhong Shan asked, astonished.

An immortal pill? That would be too incredible!

"With the Ancient Pill Scroll, the Heaven and Earth Xuan Huang Cauldron, and soon the Ancient Sage Platform, I have about a sixty percent chance. Otherwise, why would I gather so many medicinal materials? However, I want to refine something even better, so I need Ling\'er\'s help!" Bao\'er suddenly looked at Ling\'er.

"Me?" A trace of surprise flashed in Ling\'er\'s eyes.

"Indeed, I need to borrow your Vermilion Bird. I might need the South Ming Lihuo during the process!" Bao\'er confirmed.

"South Ming Lihuo? The fire from Xiao Hong? Don\'t worry, sister, I\'ll make it help you. If it doesn\'t, I won\'t give it any food!" Ling\'er immediately said.

The Vermilion Bird, eating Fire Spirit Rice nearby, froze upon hearing Ling\'er\'s words.

"Be careful!" Zhong Shan cautioned.

"Mm!" Bao\'er nodded.

"Ling\'er, Zhihuo, you two come with me onto the platform!" Bao\'er said.

The two nodded. Ling\'er managed the Vermilion Bird, while Zhihuo, naturally adept with fire spells, would assist in controlling the flames during the pill refining. Bao\'er would handle the primary incantations, with Zhihuo aiding in flame control due to his fire cultivation.

The alchemists, each accompanied by two assistants, ascended the Ancient Sage Platform.

Xu Fu only brought Bai Ye, as the Great Qin Empire had only two participants.

"Have you chosen your pill pools? Be careful—the closer to the center, the higher the requirements for the pill furnace! Though I am dedicated to pill refining and have a ninth-grade pill furnace, I can only place it in one of the sixteen secondary pools. I dare not touch the central pool!" Dan Sheng warned.

After Dan Sheng\'s words, nearly all the alchemists were filled with astonishment. Even a ninth-grade pill furnace couldn\'t enter the central pool?