Nonsense! How could my adopted son be a villain?

Before we knew it, the day for the Hundred Refinement Tower to open arrived.

Xu Lingguang has been wholeheartedly preparing for the tower challenge for the past two days, working almost day and night without sleep.

Besides reviewing Yuan Jiu's notes and the knowledge taught by Master Liu Zhu, he also finished reading the nameless notes that Mu Yun had given him.

After reading it, he realized that although the notebook looked ordinary, it contained all the things that Grandpa Muyun had seen and heard over the years as he traveled all over the country, including countless rare treasures and miraculous medicines.

He had seen the names of many of these rare and precious herbs in Yuan Jiu's notes before, but Yuan Jiu's notes only mentioned the names and effects without any corresponding pictures. Although Xu Lingguang remembered them, there were still some things he didn't understand.

But now, with the help of Grandpa Muyun's notes, he has a clearer understanding of the properties of some spiritual herbs that he has never seen before, and he has a more thorough understanding of what Yuan Jiu recorded in his notes.

Moreover, perhaps because he had been focused on his practice these past two days, he vaguely felt that his ability to draw qi into his body for cultivation had become more fluid and smooth.

Although he hadn't rested for the past two days, after circulating his qi through several major cycles, he felt even more energetic.

When Huaiqing came to deliver the message early in the morning, Xu Lingguang came out of his secluded room and felt that his whole body was filled with a refreshing energy, as if he could walk more lightly than before.

Let alone conquering the tower, it feels like a fight could break out any minute.

Seeing his radiant appearance, Huaiqing cupped her hands and smiled, "It seems I was worrying for nothing. The carriages and horses are ready and waiting downstairs."

Xu Lingguang nodded before looking at Lan Jian and the cubs.

The cubs either huddled around Lan Jian or were held in You Yu's arms, all staring longingly at Xu Lingguang.

Knowing that Xu Lingguang was going into seclusion to prepare for the Tower Challenge, the little ones have been very obedient and well-behaved these past two days. Even when they miss Xu Lingguang, they tiptoe and sneak outside to listen to what's going on inside, not daring to make a fuss at all.

Finally, Xu Lingguang finished his seclusion and came out in the morning. Now, seeing him, she wanted to pounce but dared not. She could only squat in place anxiously, stomping her paws, eager to try.

Xu Lingguang met the eyes of the little ones, then squatted down with a smile and opened his arms.

The cubs, having received a response, let out a joyful cry and rushed into his arms.

Xu Lingguang held Youyu and Yunfeng in his arms, with Muyun on his head and a fluffy little Zhaoling perched on his shoulder, making him look rather comical.

He told Youyu that he had worked hard, then looked at Lanjian, who remained motionless to the side: "Shall we set off?"

Lan Jian glanced at the cubs clinging to him before slowly standing up and jumping into You Yu's arms.

The group then went downstairs and took a car to the Hundred Refinement Tower.

Although the Hundred Refinement Tower is called a tower, it is not actually a tower, but a small secret realm created by human hands.

The entrance to the secret realm is located at Longyantai in the central area where Sanyanxia is situated.

When Xu Lingguang set off, the streets and alleys were already crowded with people.

To facilitate management, on the day the Hundred Refinement Tower opened, the use of flight techniques was prohibited in the city. Cultivators and ordinary people mingled together, shoulder to shoulder, creating a bustling and noisy atmosphere.

As the carriage moved through the crowd, Xu Lingguang lifted the curtain to look at the scene in the distance, and was immediately startled by the noisy crowd.

He covered the cub's ears, peeked around for a while, and then, unable to bear the noise any longer, quickly lowered the carriage curtain and sighed, saying, "This is too noisy; I'm afraid the whole city has come."

Lan Jian twitched his ears and said, "The Hundred Refinement Tower is a famous event in Shangyang Continent. Every year, countless people come to challenge the tower, but it should only be crowded and lively on the first day."

"As long as you pay spirit stones, you can enter the tower and try your luck. Anyone who knows a little about alchemy should come and give it a try."

"After today, the mixed bag will be weeded out, and there will be fewer people."

Xu Lingguang hadn't expected this: "If we had known there would be so many people, we should have come later to avoid being squeezed with them."

The carriage was caught in the crowd and only managed to move a few steps after a long time; it was truly difficult.

Fortunately, it wasn't long before patrolling soldiers came to disperse the crowd, and the process was noticeably faster.

The carriage followed the other vehicles onto a wider lane, and after another half hour, it arrived at Longyantai.

Two huge stone tablets stand on the left and right sides in front of Longyantai. The tablets are similar in style, with the slightly taller one exuding an ancient and rustic charm. The words "Shennong List" are engraved in dark gold on the top with flowing strokes. Below them are rows of names, all of which are alchemists who have been listed on the Shennong List.

The other, slightly smaller stone tablet exuded a less imposing aura. Although it also listed names, there were no other words on the tablet. It should be the so-called "Little Shennong List".

At this moment, the area around Longyantai was already crowded with people, most of whom were focused on the Shennong Ranking, and everyone was discussing the alchemists listed on the ranking with great interest.

I heard that a certain alchemist who had been in seclusion for a long time and had not attempted to challenge the tower had made a breakthrough and had come to challenge the tower again this year.

There was also a certain alchemist who had heard that he had created a new elixir, and he was greatly praised;

And then there were two alchemists who, upon hearing of their feud, got into a fight in the bustling marketplace but couldn't defeat each other, and agreed to settle their differences on this year's Shennong Ranking, with the loser having to serve as the winner's alchemy apprentice for a year...

All sorts of gossip spread with the voices of the people, and Xu Lingguang listened intently, not wanting to leave.

In the end, Huaiqing held back and whispered, "These rumors are nothing but rumors. The alchemists at the Dao Wen Hall are all gathered here, and their information is much more reliable."

Xu Lingguang immediately became interested: "Then let's go to the Taoist Temple."

The Daowen Hall is built around Longyantai and serves as a place for alchemists who are attempting to conquer the tower to rest, meet with friends, and exchange ideas.

Of course, not just any alchemist can enter the Dao Asking Hall; they either need to be exceptionally skilled or have powerful backers.

Xu Lingguang naturally entered the Daoist Hall by taking advantage of Wenxianju's influence, and Huaiqing had already reserved the best seat with the best view.

The carriage stopped in front of the Wenda Hall, and a young boy led the carriage away to be settled. Xu Lingguang and his party were then led up to the second floor by a maid.

The entire second floor of the Wendao Pavilion is built in the open air, with lush flowering branches that scatter mist and clouds as its roof. The pavilion is hidden among the trees, shrouded in a light mist and a faint fragrance. As soon as you step inside, you feel as if you are separated from the noisy and bustling world downstairs.

However, as the saying goes, wherever there are people, there is a world of its own.

The second floor looked like a fairyland, and everyone inside seemed like an immortal who did not eat the food of mortals. But Xu Lingguang had just entered and had not yet sat down when he heard someone say, "Have you heard? A few days ago, Gongyang Songfeng made a bet with an unknown alchemist. The other party made wild claims, saying that he would be on the Shennong List, and even used the Xi Ri Furnace of the former Alchemy Emperor Liuzhu as a wager!"

"Do you know the background of that alchemist?"

"I don't know. I heard he's over a hundred years old, but his rank isn't high, maybe Yellow or Earth..."

"Wow, that's incredibly arrogant! Could that Sun Furnace be fake?"

Xu Lingguang, who was already over a hundred years old and still didn't know his place, was speechless.