"Jiang Chen, you're just being evasive. The soul, when condensed into a divine soul, is much more powerful than a soul manifestation. You can't gauge its strength? Who are you trying to fool?"

One of the Elixir Valley elders didn't believe it at all and shouted out angrily.

Jiang Chen simply glanced at that elder. Currently, four Elixir Valley elders had spoken, the same ones who had blocked Lin Jiuxiao, Fu Lengfeng, and Fu Tianbo earlier.

Jiang Chen was already well aware of their stance, completely unsurprised.

"Elder, your words make it sound as if I've previously engaged in soul separation attacks. Ask yourself, who would idly engage in soul combat?" Jiang Chen spoke indifferently.

"You..." The elder's expression changed, somewhat speechless.

Jiang Chen's words contained no flaws. Even if one's soul strength reached the Divine Spirit Realm, no one would randomly engage in soul battles.

After all, even in a divine soul state, the soul is fragile. Earlier, an elder sought to crush Jiang Chen's soul figure using aura, intending to obliterate Jiang Chen's divine soul!

"Enough!"

An Elixir Valley ancestor waved his hand and turned to stare directly at Jiang Chen: "To have the Family Head of the Jiang Family condense his divine soul to such a degree makes me feel ashamed. Soul combat naturally carries immense risk, both parties giving their all is not wrong, Lu Elder's death only means he was inferior, cannot blame others. Family Head Jiang, you need not participate in the first round of the elixir competition, proceed directly to the second round, the battle for the top ten!"

"Ancestor?!"

"Ancestor, this..."

A few Elixir Valley elders were momentarily stunned. Not only was Jiang Chen not punished, but he was allowed to skip the first competition. It seemed too convenient for him!

"Skip the first round?!"

"Nonsense, since the ancestor doesn't plan to hold Jiang Chen accountable, is there any suspense in him passing the first round given his soul strength?"

"But why would the Elixir Valley ancestor let Jiang Chen go? He did kill an elder!"

"Can't you tell? The Elixir Valley elders are trying to win over Jiang Chen. Didn't you sense his aura when he unleashed it? He's merely at the early stage of the Venerable Realm! To condense a soul to the Divine Soul Realm at the early stage, there's great hope for achieving the legendary realm of soul sublimation!"

"Exactly! The ancestor must value Jiang Chen's talent; high talent is indeed beneficial!"

"Envy won't get you anywhere! He's reached the Divine Spirit Realm at the early stage of Venerable, it's simply defying the heavens!"

People from various major forces began to discuss, their gazes toward Jiang Chen full of fervor!

"Thank you, ancestor!"

Jiang Chen, with a change of heart, cupped his fists and saluted toward the Elixir Valley ancestor.

"This matter ends here, the competition continues!" The Elixir Valley ancestor instructed, his figure flickering and soaring back into the sky.

Elder Long and the other two nodded at Jiang Chen, then took flight alongside the other two Elixir Valley ancestors.

Jiang Chen glanced at Fu Tianbo and the others, a hint of astonishment in his eyes.

Fu Tianbo and Fu Lengfeng both had expressions of relief after surviving a disaster. Among the other five elders, four cast murderous looks at him, while the Great Elder's gaze was somewhat odd.

That gaze seemed... tinged with worry?

Is he worried about me?

Jiang Chen felt a twinge of doubt, involuntarily lingering a bit longer on the Great Elder.

Swish!

The Great Elder didn't give Jiang Chen much chance to observe, his figure flickering as he returned to the center of the square, leaving a faint reprimand: "Why are you all gathered here? Aren't you ashamed? Get back to watching the competition!"

Fu Tianbo and the others exchanged varied glances with Jiang Chen before flying into the air to oversee the competition. Several disciples from Elixir Valley proceeded to carry away Lu Zhengqiu and Chen Boting's bodies.

Jiang Chen took a deep look at the Great Elder and then returned to the south viewing area with Lin Jiuxiao and the others.

"Sect Master Lin, are there only those seven elders in Elixir Valley now?"

Returning to the viewing area, Jiang Chen scanned around and asked in a low voice. Although there were numerous Elixir Valley disciples flanking the square, only Fu Tianbo and seven elders were in the Venerable Realm. This puzzled Jiang Chen as it didn't align with Medicine Saint's introduction.

Lin Jiuxiao was slightly surprised, responded softly, "Of course not. Elixir Valley has many elders. As long as one reaches the Venerable Realm, they can be titled elder. However, typically only the Valley Master and the seven Great Elders manage affairs, while other elders focus on enhancing their strength or improving their alchemy in the depths of Elixir Valley and seldom appear to the public."

After a brief pause, Lin Jiuxiao quietly explained, "The situation in Elixir Valley is quite complicated now. Although Valley Master Fu is the Valley Master, the true decision-maker in Elixir Valley is actually the Great Elder Tian Bujie."

"Among the seven Great Elders, Second Elder Liu Wenjian, Third Elder Zhu Jiaming, Fourth Elder Chen Tian, Fifth Elder Lu Zhengqiu, and Sixth Elder Zhao Xianping all support the Great Elder. Only Seventh Elder Fu Lengfeng, who is Valley Master Fu's sibling, supports the Valley Master."

"Fortunately, they are legitimate. Some of the old members in Elixir Valley support them; otherwise, the Great Elder would have already seized power!"

Jiang Chen glanced at the elders, his brow slightly furrowing, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

It seems the other elders are led by the Great Elder, yet why is the Great Elder worried about me, while the others are bent on killing me?

Also! What was that aura just now?

Did the Elixir Valley ancestor let me go so easily tied to that aura?

That was the aura of the Eight-Headed Serpent! Could the Eight-Headed Serpent have convinced the ancestor to spare me? What... what is all this?!

Recalling the events that had just transpired, Jiang Chen grew increasingly puzzled!

"All pill masters, once you've selected your pill furnace, you may begin refining elixirs!"

A shout rang out, and Jiang Chen looked up, noticing that everyone on the square had chosen their Elixir Valley furnace. Upon hearing Fu Tianbo's words, they began preparing medicinal materials to refine elixirs.

"Will we just watch here?"

Watching for a while, Jiang Chen softly asked Lin Jiuxiao. Those pill masters indeed had some skills, but compared to the alchemy techniques in the ancient medical arts he studied, they were far inferior!

Lin Jiuxiao gently shook his head, "Not exactly, Elixir Valley has prepared accommodations, though... perhaps not for the Jiang Family. Mr. Jiang, if you're tired, you can rest at our Chixiao Sect's quarters."

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow, glanced again at Fu Lengfeng in the air, "Elder Fu made a special visit to invite me to the elixir competition, surely he wouldn't neglect to prepare accommodations for me?"

Hearing this, Lin Jiuxiao hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly chuckled, "That... that I don't know!"

"You don't know?" Jiang Chen was taken aback.

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