After Sun Xi’er, it was Sun Xiang’s turn to step forward. His face looked slightly somber as he walked toward the tower. He stared at the first tower deeply, as if preparing himself for an outcome that might not be satisfying. As soon as he entered the tower, the first light immediately glowed, followed by the second and third. He successfully reached the Heaven Soul level, the same as Xing Zizhen. However, when he moved to the second tower, his expression became tense. As the tower’s light pierced the sky, the image of the sun formed once more above. All eyes looked upward. The rings surrounding the sun slowly appeared one by one until they stopped at seven. He only had seven rings surrounding the sun. That meant his talent was below Sun Xi’er’s, who had eight rings. Although seven rings were still considered exceptional compared to most people — since only a few could reach that level — he still felt uneasy. He never expected his younger sister’s bloodline would surpass his own.

After the explosion, Grandma Nuren slowly returned to her senses. Her body was exhausted, her breathing ragged, and sweat dripped down her face. She struggled to keep herself upright while the heat from the blast still lingered in the air, blanketing the hall that had now become a sea of dust and rubble. Each breath felt heavy, as if weighed down by the residual energy still pressing through the space. Unlike her, Jhi Chen stood tall among the scattered debris, calm and focused. His gaze swept over the remnants of the tower, observing every pattern of formation and type of artifact used in its construction. Dust continued to fall gently around him, yet he did not move. Every crack on the floor and every fragment of stone made his mind race, trying to understand what had truly happened. He knew very well that the tower was no ordinary artifact. It was a sacred relic left by the ancestors, used to test the talents of all disciples and reveal hidden bloodlines. Its structure and forma

Sun Xi’er was the first to regain full awareness, smiling awkwardly as she looked at him. Her body still felt weak, but her eyes were clear again. She gazed at Jhi Chen standing not far away, surrounded by the remnants of debris and the fading formation. The hall still carried the heavy aura from the previous phenomenon, but the silence was broken by Sun Xi’er’s soft voice. Sun Xi’er looked at Jhi Chen with an uneasy smile. “Brother, you really are terrifying. I already knew your talent was incredible, but I never thought it would be this dangerous. Anyone who saw it would’ve passed out immediately.” Her tone was half joking, half serious. She tried to lighten the mood with a shy smile, though behind it lay a sense of awe she couldn’t hide. She knew well that such power could not belong to any ordinary person. When everyone saw the talent-testing tower destroyed, they could only shake their heads. Murmurs of astonishment and soft comments echoed among them. “He’s truly not human.

When Jhi Chen arrived at the main chamber, the elders immediately led him to the pill refining area. The room was spacious, surrounded by neatly arranged large furnaces. The air inside felt warm, filled with a faint fragrance from the remnants of burnt medicinal herbs. Several senior disciples were busy preparing ingredients and adjusting the temperature of the furnaces on the other side of the room. But just as Jhi Chen stood in front of the main furnace, a sharp shout was heard from the right. “What are you doing there? A brat like you doesn’t deserve to stand in that place.” The voice was sharp and loud, breaking the brief silence that had just formed. All heads turned toward the source of the voice. A tall young man stood there with an arrogant face, his posture firm and his movements filled with confidence. Beside him were two men and two women who followed him respectfully. From the energy radiating around his body, it was clear that his cultivation was at the sixth rank of

Jhi Chen tightened his grip. Yixue’s breath hitched, his body shaking violently. His face turned pale, veins bulging on his neck, tears and snot dripping uncontrollably. His pride shattered before everyone. Zuanshi broke into tears, falling to her knees, begging Jhi Chen to spare Yixue’s life. Her cries trembled, panic making her whole body shake. She no longer cared about appearances; she just wanted her lover to live. Jhi Chen only sighed and tossed Yixue aside like trash. Yixue’s body hit the floor hard, the sound echoing across the hall. Several disciples held their breath, unable to believe someone as strong as Yixue could be treated so easily. “I spared him not because you knelt, but because he’s a fellow disciple of the Alchemist Hall. And here’s a suggestion for you: reduce your chest size — women with chests too big tend to have small brains.” The room fell silent. The insult was loud and clear, echoing among the furnaces. Zuanshi was furious; the insult struck directly a