Nonsense! How could my adopted son be a villain?

Below the Shennong List.

After waiting for two days, everyone saw that Xu Lingguang's ranking had changed again.

This time, it jumped from sixty-eight to thirty-eight.

This was already the sixth day since the Hundred Refinement Tower opened, and the vast majority of the alchemists who had challenged the tower had already emerged from it.

Then, upon emerging, he learned from his companions that someone had actually conquered the Hundred Trials of Mountains and Seas this year, and had even carved out a bloody path, leaping from obscurity to sixty-eighth on the Shennong Ranking.

Even more shocking is that this alchemist has a close relationship with the owner of Qianjin Tower, and is said to be the second young master of Qianjin Tower.

Previously, a group of young alchemists made wild speculations in the Daowen Hall, which actually led to the owner of Qianjin Tower showing up to put pressure on Xu Lingguang to clear his name. This is truly an extraordinary event throughout history.

After all, that person's cultivation was unfathomable and he lived a secluded life; even if the Human Emperor wanted to meet him, it would depend on whether that person was willing.

I never expected that such a large commotion would be made for a junior alchemist.

However, when discussing the background of that young alchemist in private, no one could give a clear answer.

They knew nothing about their lineage or teachers.

The high-ranking alchemists who originally planned to leave after conquering the tower stayed behind after hearing the news, all wanting to see who this suddenly appearing alchemist was.

Two more days passed, but the person still hadn't appeared. Instead, the ranking on the Shennong list jumped up significantly.

Even some Earth-level alchemists were getting restless this time.

"What do you think?"

Instead of joining the young people at the Daoist Temple, the several high-level alchemists found a new place to meet.

After all, these people are older, and their seniority and status are what they are. If they force themselves to join the younger generation, the younger generation will feel uncomfortable, and they themselves will not be able to enjoy themselves.

At this moment, five or six old fellows gathered at a table. The most impatient of them all was Master Biluo, a guest elder of the Danyang Sect. He was the youngest among them, but he was already over 260 years old and ranked 40th on the Shennong Ranking.

He was originally number thirty-ninth, but when Xu Lingguang came up, he went down one place.

"I've never heard of the name Xu Lingguang before. Have you?"

"Never?"

"Could they be those reclusive families? Otherwise, why would they wait until they are over 120 years old to challenge the Hundred Refinement Tower?"

"It's highly likely, and the fact that someone from Qianjinlou showed up to protect him suggests that he must be someone of considerable influence."

"What rank do you think he is now?"

"It should be at the Earth level, right?" Master Biluo was the lowest-ranked among them.

Xu Lingguang's current ranking is higher than his; surely he can't not even be a prefecture-level city?

After he finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

Master Tianshu stroked his beard and spoke slowly: "My disciples and grand-disciples have found out some information. I heard that before he challenged the tower, he was only a Yellow-level alchemist, but he seems to be able to refine some pills of grade three or higher that are beyond his level."

"Yellow level? How is that possible?"

Everyone else was shocked.

If he were truly a Yellow-level alchemist, let alone carving a bloody path through the Hundred Refinements of Mountains and Seas, he would have a hard time even getting through the first ten levels of the Hundred Refinements Tower.

The Heavenly Book Master said, "Anyway, this is the information I received. When this person first arrived in Junan City, he inquired around the city about alchemists who could refine pills for him. I don't know the specific pills, but I do know that they are sixth-grade pills. Because they are difficult to refine, ordinary Earth-level alchemists cannot refine them, so a Profound-level alchemist is required."

"I heard that this person seems to think that Xuan-level alchemists are too expensive, so in order to save spirit stones, he went to Gongyang Youji. If Gongyang Youji hadn't been captured and taken back to the Gongyang family, the information would probably be more accurate by now."

"This……"

Everyone looked at each other in silence.

Logically speaking, Xu Lingguang should not lack spirit stones, given his connection with the owner of Qianjin Tower and his strength.

But why does it sound so stingy?

"But that's fine too, because having desires leads to burdens."

Master Lingquan chuckled: "A person like this is perfect for my Dao Alliance. Don't try to snatch him away from me. The Dao Alliance is in dire need of such talent."

Master Biluo sneered: "Danyang Sect is not short of people, but there is never too much talent like this. I have already sent a message to the sect leader that Danyang Sect must get this boy."

"If he really has no affiliation, he'll be getting a great deal no matter which school he joins. Once he's out, everyone can compete based on their own abilities. Why waste time on empty words now?"

Xu Lingguang was unaware that several Earth-level alchemists had already started arguing over him.

He leisurely rode Jue Ru up the mountain.

After bidding farewell to the old man, he continued along the rugged mountain path. After turning a bend, he found that the scenery before him was completely different from before.

When he looked up from the foot of the mountain, he could only see the outline of the continuous mountain range, with white clouds floating halfway up the mountain. Beyond that, he could not see anything clearly.

But now that he had reached the mountainside, he turned a bend and looked again, and was surprised to find that there was a towering tower at the top of the mountain.

The tower is surrounded by clouds and mist, with strange birds with nine heads circling among them. At first glance, it looks like a fairyland, but upon closer inspection, it feels somewhat eerie.

In particular, the nine-headed bird would occasionally emit a piercing cry.

Xu Lingguang lowered his head and quietly asked Jue Ru, "Can you beat that nine-headed bird?"

Jue Ru understood, and frantically shook her head, kicking and tumbling on the spot.

So many heads, so big, who can beat them!

Xu Lingguang said disdainfully, "Who else can you beat?"

Jue Ru lowered her head in shame.

"Forget it, I wasn't counting on you anyway."

Xu Lingguang comforted himself for a moment, then jumped off Jue Ru's back and patted its head: "You go ahead, I'll go up myself from here."

He was already struggling to take care of himself, and if he brought along such a big guy, he was worried that Jue Ru wouldn't be able to run fast enough and would become food for those nine-headed birds.

Jue Ru stood still, reluctantly nudging Xu Lingguang's hand with her head, her dark red eyes furtively glancing at the Sumeru Ring on Xu Lingguang's finger.

"..."

Xu Lingguang was truly exasperated, and gave it a light kick: "You've gotten addicted to mooching meals?"

Not only can they not help, but they also have the nerve to beg for food.

Jue Ru, with her thick skin and flesh, nudged him with her head, looking like she was shameless and wouldn't leave without food.

Xu Lingguang had no choice but to grab two bottles of pills and toss them to it, waving his hand dismissively: "Hurry up and go, or you'll be coming up with me!"

Upon hearing this, Jue Ru put the two bottles of pills in her mouth and ran down the mountain.

Xu Lingguang rolled his eyes as he looked at the billowing dust on the mountain road.

Given Jue Ru's shameless and cowardly nature, if this race were even slightly pretty and cute, they would never have to worry about going hungry.

Xu Lingguang muttered a couple of words before calming down and, using the roadside weeds for cover, the dog stealthily made its way towards the Tower of Babel at the top of the mountain.

The nine-headed bird looked formidable, and he didn't intend to confront it directly; he would avoid it if possible.