Chapter 234: Great Rewards, Return to the Refuge
"Hmm?"
Xiong Zhan, in his Dragon-Bear form, suddenly stopped in mid-air, sniffing the remnants of a powerful presence.
"What's wrong, Great Bear?"
Zi Yan and Qing Lin were sitting on Xiong Zhan's shoulders. Zi Yan, swinging her legs slightly, asked upon seeing him stop.
"It seems a strong presence was here... although it's somewhat hidden, I can feel it's not weaker than me."
Xiong Zhan's words made Zi Yan thoughtful.
Although Xiong Zhan had just reached the Dou Zun level, he was still a true Dou Zun. For him to say that the presence wasn't weaker than him, it must be another Dou Zun.
"Is there a Dou Zun lurking outside the Ten Thousand Medicines Mountain? Could it be that Xiao Ze's frequent eighth-level pill refinements have attracted a strong one?"
Zi Yan murmured, touching her lips with concern.
"But in this Pill World, aside from me, there shouldn't be other eighth-level magical beasts..."
"Well... it could be one of the elders from the Pill Tower. Young Master Xiao Ze came here to protect the Pill World, and one of the elders accompanying him is also one of the Eight Great Pill Tower Elders, with Dou Zun strength."
Qing Lin hesitated a bit before speaking.
"Another elder? Isn't Xiao Ze breaking some rules with his behavior?"
Xiong Zhan asked worriedly. Although he was straightforward, he knew some human rules due to his experience with alchemists.
"It shouldn't be a problem. Elder Liu Tian is very understanding. If Xiao Ze were really breaking any rules, Liu Tian would have warned him already."
Qing Lin pondered for a moment and added, "In any case, it's better for Young Master Xiao Ze to decide what to do."
"You're right. It's an elder from the Pill Tower. It's best to inform Xiao Ze as soon as possible."
Xiong Zhan said, heading quickly towards the center of the Ten Thousand Medicines Mountain.
Back in his cave, Zi Yan and Qing Lin got down from Xiong Zhan's shoulders, who returned to his human form.
Just then, Xiao Ze came out stretching. He had been refining pills non-stop, and although he was exhausted, the rewards had been abundant. At least, he had been able to compensate for the losses from the Xuanqing soul technique.
Moreover, he had several extra eighth-level pills that he could trade for recipes at the Pill Tower.
"Young Master Xiao Ze, you came just in time. Xiong Zhan found Elder Liu Tian's trace around the Ten Thousand Medicines Mountain. What should we do?"
Hearing Zi Yan, Xiao Ze smacked his forehead.
What a mess!
He was supposed to be here to protect the Pill World, but after his first stay at the refuge, he hadn't returned.
With a rare expression of embarrassment, Xiao Ze replied, "I completely forgot about that. I came here to protect the Pill World."
Xiong Zhan, somewhat nervous, asked, "Will this affect Xiao Ze?"
"I don't think so. Elder Liu Tian is very understanding. If there were any significant prohibitions, he would have warned me already."
"But now that we know, it's better not to ignore it. Xiong Zhan, I'll return to the refuge. I won't have much time, so the next time I enter the Pill World, I'll find you."
"Haha! Don't worry, Miss. I need to return to the Taixu Ancient Dragon Tribe with you. I've been in the Pill World long enough."
Xiong Zhan scratched his head and smiled. Indeed, he had spent a long time in the Pill World, but leaving would be possible with Ziyan's help. Even though he had reached the Dou Zun level, he couldn't leave the Pill World without Ziyan due to the protections of the Pill Tower.
"I understand," Xiao Ze replied quietly, realizing that his influence had led Xiong Zhan to reach the Dou Zun level and leave the Pill World earlier than expected. However, Xiong Zhan leaving was a good choice for the Pill Tower since a Dou Zun-level magical beast was a risk for the Pill World. To prolong the life of the Pill World, the Pill Tower would need the help of a strong Dou Sheng to stabilize the dimension and prevent its deterioration.
After organizing everything, Ziyan handed Xiao Ze a spatial ring.
"These are the treasures I found and all the herbs from the herb market."
"Thank you!" Xiao Ze patted Ziyan's head. During breaks from refining, he had prepared some pills for her. Ziyan, happy with the ring Xiao Ze gave her, smiled broadly.
"Well, we are leaving," Ziyan said, placing a golden mark on Xiao Ze's hand. "This mark will allow me to find you easily."
With that, a purple light enveloped Xiong Zhan, who transformed back into his Dragon-Bear form. Wrapped in the light, he opened a rift and disappeared into it.
Xiao Ze and Qing Lin watched their friends leave. "Alright, we should also return to the refuge."
"Qing Lin, how did it go?"
"Xiong Zhan was very kind. He helped me subdue many high-level magical snakes in the Ten Thousand Herbs Mountain."
Qing Lin responded with some embarrassment, as she had dominated Xiong Zhan's subordinates.
"Don't worry. Xiong Zhan became a leader because of his strength and lineage, not sentimentality. He has no emotional ties with his subordinates," Xiao Ze explained with a smile. "Magical beasts respect strength and lineage. Besides, he will leave soon. Without his leadership, those beasts will be on their own."
"I understand, young master Xiao Ze."
When they returned to the refuge and used the elder's badge to open the door, they didn't find Liu Tian. Xiao Ze checked the records and saw that he had gone to patrol the Pill World.
"I really haven't done much during this time... I'll have to prepare a thank you gift for Elder Liu Tian," Xiao Ze said with remorse. He selected some herbs from the ring Ziyan gave him and placed them in another ring for Elder Liu Tian.
Shortly after, they felt a powerful presence approaching quickly.
"Haha! Xiao Ze, you've finally returned."
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