The appearance of the alchemy beasts startled everyone. For years, rumors had circulated about the Alchemy Tower’s guardian beasts, but few had ever seen them. They only appeared when the tower itself was threatened. And since the Ten God-Clans had ruled the Absolute God Heaven for ages, Luo God-Clan dominating the northwest, Alchemy God City thriving, no one had ever dared challenge the Alchemy Tower. Thus, the alchemy beasts became legends.

Yet no one expected these terrifying creatures to have disguised themselves as two ordinary stone statues, standing quietly at the gate for millions of years, unnoticed by all.

The drummer laughed. “You don’t need to defeat the alchemy beasts. Just last ten moves, and you’ll qualify to enter.”

The alchemy beasts were strong, some claimed they were at the Saint Sovereign realm, others said they were at the peak of the Grand Emperor realm. But what mattered was that in the eyes of the people, they were undeniably powerful. Yes, Saint Sovereigns walked everywhere and Grand Emperors were plentiful, but the Nine Heavens was vast, home to countless races. In such a world, the number of strong cultivators was bound to be high. One person in a hundred might be weak, but among a thousand, or ten thousand, someone was bound to be a powerhouse.

The drummer’s announcement ignited the crowd. Joining the alliance meant getting pills personally refined by Luo God-Clan alchemists. Passing the pill beast test meant meeting the Leviathan Prince and the Luo Saintess, and perhaps earning the chance to study the Primordial Alchemy God-Scripture. The temptation was huge.

“I’m willing to join!” someone shouted.

“Great! Pick up your pills and identity token over there,” the drummer replied, grinning.

Drums thundered and people rushed forward. Most people were followers by nature, silent unless others moved first. But once enough voices rose, the crowd surged with them.

“I want to challenge the alchemy beasts!” another cried.

Soon the entrance of the Alchemy Tower was buzzing with excitement.

Xu Zimo looked up. Despite being called a tower, the Alchemy Tower was only seven stories high and rather plain in style, nothing remarkable at first glance.

“I’ll give it a try,” Xu Zimo said. He wanted to see how this so-called alliance intended to resist him, the one who had come to destroy Alchemy God City.

Someone noticed him stepping forward. “Hey! Don’t cut the line! Challenge the alchemy beasts from the back!”

Xu Zimo glanced at him. The surrounding void shuddered. A silent force slipped through space and struck the man.

With a boom, he turned into a mist of blood.

The once-noisy crowd fell silent. They quickly realized this newcomer was dangerous. Even the drummer’s eyes flashed with interest as he watched.

Xu Zimo stepped up to the statues. The two stone figures transformed, shedding their rocky shells and roaring at him. These creatures weren’t ordinary, they were artificially created beings. The Luo God-Clan possessed a secret technique that could grant “life” to pills. Not real life, of course, more like puppetry. Alchemy beasts were crafted from countless discarded pills; they fed on waste pills, their power chaotic and violent.

While they roared, Xu Zimo casually turned to the drummer. “If I destroy them, that shouldn’t be a problem?”

“If you have the ability, I have nothing to say.” The drummer shrugged.

The moment he finished speaking, his eyes widened and his breath caught.

Xu Zimo simply stepped forward, grabbed both alchemy beasts, Grand Emperor creatures, and crushed them like toys. They burst with a single squeeze, offering no resistance at all.

“That’s impossible…” the spectators gasped. “Is that guy insanely strong, or were the alchemy beasts weak?”

Ignoring them, Xu Zimo walked straight into the Alchemy Tower.

The tower had seven floors. The first four were used for selling pills, while the upper three were where alchemists refined them. Today, because of the alliance gathering, the tower was unusually quiet.

As Xu Zimo entered, someone immediately approached and said politely, “This way, young master, upstairs please.”

Xu Zimo climbed to the second floor. Immediately, over a dozen gazes fixed on him.

“Well, looks like another prodigy has arrived.”

“Passing the beast test isn’t bad at all.”

They commented among themselves.

Xu Zimo surveyed the room and saw three people seated in the center, two women and one man. The man’s appearance was strange. His head was oval, his eyes sharp like a roc’s, and around his lips grew several thin whisker-like hairs. A pair of tightly folded wings rested behind him. He sat on the right, exuding authority, with both bestial power and strong spatial energy. Xu Zimo guessed this was the Leviathan Prince.

To his left sat a woman dressed in a purple, translucent silk gown that clung lightly to her form, revealing and concealing at the same time, though her vital parts were covered properly. Her hair was tied high, her expression serene, carrying a detached, emotionless aura. She had to be the Luo Saintess.

Xu Zimo had assumed they were the leaders of the alliance’s younger generation. But then he saw the woman seated between them.

She sat at the highest seat, and before considering her appearance, her presence was striking, she seemed to blend seamlessly with heaven and earth, perfectly attuned to the Dao itself. She wore a deep red robe with pale floral patterns flowing from the waist down. Her figure was tall and poised. Everyone present, including the Leviathan Prince and the Saintess, treated her with utmost respect. Her status was clearly extraordinary.

“How should we address this fellow Daoist?” someone nearby asked him.

“Xu Zimo.”

“So it’s Daoist Xu. Since you joined the alliance, we share the same goal,” another said with a smile.

“I’m mainly curious,” Xu Zimo replied, “how all of you intend to deal with the True Martial Sacred Ground. Aren’t you worried your sects or families will be dragged into this?”

“All things in the world follow their destined course,” the woman on the main seat suddenly said.

“What destiny?” Xu Zimo asked.

“You simply do what ought to be done. Whether it succeeds or fails, heaven will arrange the outcome. If you refuse to act, then there is no meaning in speaking of success or failure,” she said calmly, red lips forming soft words.

“So you’re not following the Heavenly Dao?” Xu Zimo asked.

“You and I are both living beings beneath the Heavenly Dao. Why should we not believe in fate?” she replied.

“I have yet to ask your name,” Xu Zimo said.

“Myriad Immortal Nation, Miao Ruoyin.”