"This is Elder Li, one of the eight great elders of the Pill Tower!" a guard introduced the old man to Gu Fei.
"Elder Li, I am Gu Fei," Gu Fei smiled and nodded in greeting, without any particularly grand ceremony.
"Gu Fei, young friend, may I ask where you are from?" Elder Li inquired, not minding the lack of formality, considering that Gu Fei's cultivation was on par with his own.
"From the Eastern Region," Gu Fei responded frankly.
"The Eastern Region… surname Gu… Could he be from…" Elder Li's face suddenly showed a look of shock as he processed the information.
The Gu Clan of the Eastern Region was like an emperor over all other forces. The stronger one became in the Central Plains, the more one understood the terrifying power of the Gu Clan. As Elder Li speculated that Gu Fei might be from this powerful family, he felt deeply shaken.
"Young friend, please follow me!"
With Elder Li, one of the high-ranking members of the Pill Tower, leading the way, Gu Fei passed through the strict outer inspections and entered the vast Pill Tower.
Inside the Pill Tower, Elder Li guided Gu Fei straight to the upper levels of the giant tower. After a while, they stopped outside an exceptionally spacious hall.
Gu Fei waited outside while Elder Li went in to announce his arrival.
"All right, young friend, the Association Head has agreed to meet with you," Elder Li said, returning outside to signal Gu Fei to enter.
The hall was filled with numerous bookshelves, giving off a somewhat chaotic appearance. It was adorned with flames of various colors, the intertwining hues creating a dreamlike and mesmerizing effect.
Gu Fei stepped lightly on the stone floor, his gaze sweeping across the room before pausing at a particular bookshelf. There, an elderly man in white robes was carefully dusting the shelves.
This elderly man exuded no aura at all, appearing entirely ordinary. However, someone who commanded the respect of Elder Li could hardly be a common person.
Gu Fei wasn't overly surprised; he had encountered many such powerful figures before. Compared to the Gu Clan, the Pill Tower's strength was like comparing a small stream to a vast ocean.
This old man in the hall is one of the three association heads of the Pill Tower, Xuan Kong Zi.
"This young man is indeed extraordinary…" Although Elder Li had already briefed Xuan Kong Zi, seeing Gu Fei's age, cultivation level, and soul realm for himself left Xuan Kong Zi astonished.
"I assume you are Association Head Xuan Kong Zi?" Gu Fei greeted with a smile.
"Indeed," Xuan Kong Zi nodded. "Gu Fei, young friend, what brings you here?"
"Junior has come to attempt to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame that the Pill Tower has imprisoned," Gu Fei stated directly. He knew that the Pill Tower had been suppressing the Three Thousand Flames Flame for many years, looking for someone suitable to tame it. As long as the flame didn't fall into the hands of their enemy, the Soul Hall, the Pill Tower wouldn't oppose it.
"Are you confident in subduing the Three Thousand Burning Flame?" Xuan Kong Zi asked seriously, his expression changing slightly.
"If I've come, then I have some confidence," Gu Fei replied without hesitation.
"Although the Pill Tower has yet to subdue the Three Thousand Burning Flame, it remains a treasure of the Pill Tower. It's traditionally awarded to the winner of the Pill Gathering, so your request to take it breaks the usual rules," Xuan Kong Zi said calmly, his tone giving no indication of his decision.
"Since it belongs to the Pill Tower, I would naturally offer compensation for taking it," Gu Fei smiled, inviting the elder to name his terms.
"Heh, you misunderstand," Xuan Kong Zi waved his hand, not intending to ask for anything from Gu Fei. "Even I do not have the authority to decide on this matter directly. Please be patient while I discuss it with the others…"
"Very well, I will await your news," Gu Fei agreed before leaving the hall. However, he hadn't walked far when a figure appeared at the end of the wide corridor.
The figure was a tall woman dressed in a black gown, exuding a cold and proud air. Her skin was as white as snow, her long black hair casually draped over her shoulders. Though her face was slightly thin, it was remarkably delicate, like fine porcelain, evoking a desire to cherish her.
She stood at the corridor's corner, her long, narrow eyes lazily looking ahead, carrying an alluring charm that was hard to ignore.
This woman naturally exuded a strong sense of temptation, and even Gu Fei couldn't help but appreciate her beauty.
"Ah, it's youngster Cao Ying!" Elder Li, who was walking beside Gu Fei, greeted the woman warmly, indicating their familiarity.
"Greetings, Elder Li!" The woman in black smiled as she greeted Elder Li, but her gaze soon shifted to Gu Fei.
"Elder Li, who is this?" Cao Ying asked curiously. She had never seen Gu Fei before, so why was he coming from her teacher's place? Moreover, Gu Fei's overwhelming presence was shocking to her.
"This is young friend Gu Fei, who just had a discussion with the Association Head," Elder Li explained briefly, as he wasn't yet sure of Gu Fei's identity.
Hearing how Elder Li addressed Gu Fei, Cao Ying became even more curious. Normally, Elder Li referred to the younger generation in the Pill Tower as "boy" or "girl."
"He came to speak with my teacher? What could it be that required bothering my teacher?" Although Cao Ying was curious, she didn't ask directly.
"Greetings, Gu Fei," Cao Ying said, addressing him politely.
"Hello," Gu Fei responded with a simple nod before continuing on his way.
"What a strange person!" Cao Ying murmured to herself as she watched him leave.
Cao Ying was the most outstanding talent in the history of the Cao family, becoming a personal disciple of one of the three Pill Tower Heads at the age of fifteen. Now, just past seventeen, she had already reached the rank of a sixth-tier alchemist. At this pace, she was a potential candidate to become one of the Pill Tower Heads in a hundred years, or even surpass that status under the right circumstances.
The Pill Tower was considered the holy land for all alchemists on the continent. The Association Heads were revered as spiritual leaders by countless alchemists.
Given her achievements and the various dazzling honors she carried, Cao Ying was someone whom many people admired. Her beauty was also extraordinary, but Gu Fei's casual attitude set him apart from others, making Cao Ying inexplicably intrigued by him.