Chapter 268: Do You Think You Can Mess with Someone from My Pill Tower?
Xiao Ze listened to the black-robed elder's bold words and couldn't help but laugh coldly.
"Old man, do you really say that? If my ring fell into your hands, couldn't you just take anything and say whatever you want?"
The other spectators also nodded in recognition. At this level, manipulating a ring like that would be quite simple. If the Tian Yao Huang clan wanted to frame someone, giving them the ring would mean they could claim anything was inside.
Huang Xuan's face darkened when he heard Xiao Ze call him old. He released a pressure, but Xiao Ze remained unfazed.
"My Tian Yao Huang tribe's perception never fails. You have something of our tribe!" exclaimed the white-haired man.
Xiao Ze stayed impassive.
"If you don't cooperate, don't blame this elder for making you cooperate by force," said the black-robed elder with a cold look in his eyes, advancing towards Xiao Ze with an outstretched hand.
Xiao Ze was ready to face the power of a five-star Dou Zun when he suddenly felt a familiar presence and stopped his movement.
"Hmph, old man, do you think you can mess with someone from my Pill Tower?!" The figure of the Great Elder appeared in front of Xiao Ze.
With a wave of his sleeve, a violent spatial fluctuation clashed against the black-robed elder's hand.
The terrible spatial wave spread out, making the spectators rush to flee. Only now did they remember the terror of a Dou Zun. Thanks to Xiao Ze, the previously dispersed energy had not been so severe, allowing the spectators to be safe. However, the confrontation between the Great Elder and Huang Xuan had no such restriction.
The resulting spatial cracks almost turned the area into a giant crater, and the bustling exchange market disappeared in an instant. Vendors who didn't have time to pack up their things lamented, but seeing the four Dou Zun, they didn't dare complain and swallowed their grievances.
The black-robed elder retreated, looking at the Great Elder with a grave expression.
"Are you from the Pill Tower?"
"And if I am," said the Great Elder casually. With his power, dealing with Huang Xuan wouldn't be a problem, and the Pill Tower didn't fear the Tian Yao Huang tribe.
"Are your men hiding members of our tribe? Shouldn't you give us an explanation?"
"Explanation? You say we're hiding members of your tribe, and we're supposed to admit it?" responded the Great Elder bluntly. The Tian Yao Huang tribe was not in a position to be so dominant with the Pill Tower.
Seeing the Great Elder's unyielding attitude, Huang Xuan gritted his teeth in anger, clearly sensing the presence of someone from his tribe in Xiao Ze's ring. But the situation didn't favor them; even in a two-on-two fight, the Great Elder and Xiao Ze had the advantage.
"Pill Tower, I will remember this!" Huang Xuan threw a threat before turning to the white-haired man, "We're leaving!"
"Elder Huang Xuan..." The white-haired man didn't want to give up so easily.
"Do you still want to make a fool of yourself?" Huang Xuan's scolding made him stop, casting a final glance at Xiao Ze.
Since the underwater ruins hadn't opened yet, everyone was on edge, and no major battles had erupted.
Xiao Ze smiled as he watched them leave. Ever since he had refined two puppets from the Tian Yao Huang tribe, he had anticipated a conflict with them. Supported by the Pill Tower, he wasn't afraid of the Tian Yao Huang tribe, especially with the presence of Ziyan, the princess of the Taixu Ancient Dragon tribe.
As the two powerful members of the Tian Yao Huang tribe left, the Grand Elder turned to Xiao Ze with a resigned expression.
"Xiao Ze, do you really have someone from the Tian Yao Huang tribe?"
"Yes, I found two puppets from the Tian Yao Huang tribe while exploring some ancient ruins."
The Grand Elder took a deep breath upon hearing that. Two puppets from the Tian Yao Huang tribe! The owner of those ruins was indeed daring!
"Since you were lucky enough to find them, we can't just hand them over to the Tian Yao Huang tribe," said the Grand Elder. "Don't worry, with the strength of the Pill Tower, we do not fear the Tian Yao Huang tribe."
Xiao Ze nodded, though he remained concerned. "I'm worried they'll cause us trouble in the underwater ruins."
"Don't worry. No one knows the exact conditions of those ruins. There might be so many challenges that they won't have time to bother us. And even if they do, we are not afraid," said the Grand Elder confidently.
"By the way, how strong are those puppets?" asked the Grand Elder.
"Each one is a five-star Dou Zun," replied Xiao Ze, causing the Grand Elder to pause.
"Your luck is incredible!" exclaimed the Grand Elder.
"Well, let's return for now and try to stay out of trouble."
"Alright."
Back at the Pill Tower's mountain, Xiao Ze reviewed the recipes he had obtained. After mentally studying them, he determined he didn't need to perform a refinement to fully understand them.
Then he took out the dark red scroll and unfolded it, reading the creator's introduction.
"Xuan Huo Jue: Fire control is a subtle art. Fire has incredible destructive power. After years of dedication, I have mastered the art of controlling fire..."
"Whether in combat or pill refining, this art provides great assistance."
Xiao Ze spent some time mastering the Xuan Huo Jue technique, and soon, a bright yellow flame appeared. Although it wasn't the Emperor's original flame, he could manipulate it easily in various forms.
"Xuan Huo Jue has its merits. My fire control skills have improved..."
Time passed as Xiao Ze trained.
Suddenly, he heard a great commotion outside and went out to see.
From his position at the mountain's peak, he had a clear view of the enormous underwater vortex that had appeared in the Sea of Shadows, with a diameter of several miles.
The people flying toward the coast made a lot of noise about this.
Xiao Ze also felt a variety of complex energies emanating from the vortex.
"No wonder the magical beast families haven't left; they must have sensed the energies of the underwater vortex."
Many powerful fighters were excited upon seeing the vortex, knowing that this meant the underwater ruins were about to open.
The Grand Elder appeared next to Xiao Ze and commented, "It attracts so many powerful fighters; it looks like there will be a big battle this time."
"Let's see what happens. Maybe we'll have some surprises," said Xiao Ze, looking at the vortex's center.
The space there was already distorted, and a large amount of dark energy was flowing outward.
Anyone who approached would be instantly invaded by this energy and die on the spot.
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