Dragon Group Base.
When Zhang Yang arrived, he searched the building but couldn't find Qi Dalei.
Fortunately, the base soldiers recognized Zhang Yang. Upon learning that Zhang Yang was looking for Qi Dalei, they led him to the training ground.
Just as he reached the entrance of the training ground, Zhang Yang heard the sounds of fighting from within.
Curiosity piqued, Zhang Yang peered inside. Eight arenas had been set up within the training ground.
On each arena, two people were engaged in sparring.
"Zhang Yang, why are you here?"
Qi Dalei, who was supervising the training, asked with curiosity.
Zhang Yang rubbed his nose and smiled, "Captain Qi, I have something to discuss with you."
Qi Dalei led Zhang Yang to a nearby seating area.
"What is it? Have the Patrol Division people not let you off the hook yet?"
"It has nothing to do with the Patrol Division. I've come to give you something."
Zhang Yang shook his head and took out a jade bottle from his pocket.
This familiar action immediately made Qi Dalei's eyes light up.
Could it be...
He immediately took the jade bottle and opened its stopper.
Instantly.
A rich medicinal aroma wafted out of the jade bottle.
It directly entered Qi Dalei's nostrils.
"Hiss, the scent of a pill, this! This!"
Qi Dalei was shocked, his face filled with disbelief.
"Zhang Yang, where did you get this pill from?"
"It's something newly refined by the alchemy master you've been looking for," Zhang Yang said with a smile.
Newly refined!
Qi Dalei's eyes gleamed as he looked at Zhang Yang, then at the pill in the jade bottle.
"Has that alchemy master broken through to Grandmaster realm?" Qi Dalei asked excitedly.
Breakthrough?
Zhang Yang blinked. Thinking about it, it could be considered so.
This Great Return Pill was indeed a pill he could only refine after breaking through to the Earth realm.
"Yes, he has broken through," Zhang Yang replied.
Upon hearing this, Qi Dalei's hand trembled as he held the jade bottle.
"Really! That's great!"
"I never thought our Jiangnan City could produce an alchemy Grandmaster, hahaha!"
Zhang Yang hadn't expected such an excited reaction.
Not wanting to dwell on it, he quickly steered the conversation back.
"Captain Qi, I'm here today to thank you for your help yesterday. This pill is called the Great Return Pill."
"The Great Return Pill can help the user condense inner energy and assist those at the bottleneck of the Outer Body Refining realm to break through to the Inner Energy Gathering realm in a short period."
What!
Qi Dalei shot up from his seat.
"Zhang Yang, are you serious? Does such a pill exist in this world?"
Qi Dalei was astonished.
He had never heard of such a pill, not only in Jiangnan City but even at headquarters.
Wait!
Zhang Yang just said this pill was a thank you for his help yesterday!
"You said this pill was for me?" Qi Dalei asked in disbelief.
"Yes, your competition is approaching. If you break through to the Inner Energy Gathering realm, you'll naturally have a greater chance of winning," Zhang Yang smiled.
Hearing that the pill was for him, Qi Dalei became even more excited.
"Zhang Yang, thank you so much."
"You're welcome. Didn't you help me unconditionally yesterday?"
"..."
After expressing his gratitude, Qi Dalei put the Great Return Pill into his embrace.
However, he seemed to recall something and suddenly asked.
"Zhang Yang, this Great Return Pill must be difficult to refine, right?"
Although Qi Dalei didn't ask directly, Zhang Yang knew what he meant and immediately presented his prepared explanation.
"It seems I can't hide it anymore. Actually, the alchemy Grandmaster you've been looking for is my master."
"Last night, when I returned, I told my master about my encounter at the Patrol Division, and he asked me to send this Great Return Pill as a token of our gratitude."
This reason was something Zhang Yang had carefully considered.
And it was the most plausible one.
After all, the Great Return Pill was quite precious.
Back then, Zhang Yang had even sold the Guiyuan Pill to the Dragon Group for one hundred million each.
If he didn't find a good enough reason for the Great Return Pill,
He wouldn't be able to get past Qi Dalei.
"So that alchemy Grandmaster is your master, no wonder."
Qi Dalei suddenly understood.
If that were the case, Zhang Yang's recent transformation could be completely explained.
Zhang Yang nodded with a smile, "Captain Qi, please take the Great Return Pill as soon as possible. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Qi Dalei nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation.
"Alright, I'll take it shortly."
Then, Zhang Yang got up to leave, with Qi Dalei seeing him off.
However, at this moment, an accident occurred in the training ground.
"Vice-captain, what's wrong with you!?"
On one of the arenas in the training ground, a Dragon Group member fighting with A Tian suddenly shouted.
The sudden turn of events also attracted Zhang Yang and Qi Dalei's attention.
The two of them hurried towards the arena where the incident occurred.
As they approached the arena, Zhang Yang saw large patches of blood on the stage.
And A Tian, lying on the ground like a bloodied man, covered in wounds, exclaimed in alarm.
"Not good! This is a qi and blood collapse!"
Zhang Yang quickly jumped onto the arena.
His fingertips manifested true qi, and he quickly pressed vital acupoints on A Tian's body.
Afterward, he swiftly flicked out several silver needles from his pocket and inserted them into A Tian's body.
Only then did he manage to stop the continuous bleeding.
"Zhang Yang, is A Tian really suffering from a qi and blood collapse?" Qi Dalei asked with a grave expression.
"Yes, it's indeed a qi and blood collapse. But you are all in the Outer Body Refining realm. You shouldn't be experiencing this situation during sparring."
"Could he have fought someone in the Inner Energy Gathering realm?" Zhang Yang asked suspiciously.
Inner Energy Gathering realm?
Qi Dalei's eyes widened in surprise, and he suddenly turned to ask Xiao Dao beside him.
"Was A Tian not at the base yesterday?"
"Captain, Vice-captain is a local from Jiangnan City. He went out last night," Xiao Dao replied.
Hearing this, Qi Dalei clenched his fist.
The problem likely stemmed from here!
At the same time.
A Tian, whose injuries had stabilized, also opened his eyes.
After regaining consciousness, the pain from his body almost made him faint again.
"Cap... Captain, what happened to me? Why can't I move!"
"A Tian, your qi and blood have collapsed. Did you go out last night and fight someone?" Qi Dalei asked sternly.
For someone in the Outer Body Refining realm, the most dreaded thing was qi and blood collapse.
After all, the collapse of qi and blood signified that all your accumulated efforts in the refining realm would be in vain.
If you wanted to increase your strength, you would have to start all over again.
"What? My qi and blood have collapsed? This... how is that possible!"
A Tian's pale face was filled with shock and disbelief.
"I... I just ran into Nangong Wu last night, and in a fit of anger, I exchanged a move with him."
Nangong Wu!
Hearing this name, killing intent flashed in Qi Dalei's eyes!
"You said you met Nangong Wu yesterday? And you ended up like this after exchanging just one move with him?"
"Yes, when I went out last night, I happened to run into him, and we had a verbal argument, so we exchanged a move," A Tian replied.
Hearing this.
The Dragon Group members were instantly enraged.
"Damn it! Are the people from the Patrol Division really this shameless? Let's go find him now!"
"Their methods are truly dirty. They don't dare to face us head-on, so they resort to sneakiness!"
"No need to wait for the competition, let's go find Nangong Wu and demand justice now!"
"..."
Xiao Dao, who was hot-tempered, was the first to step forward indignantly.
The other Dragon Group members voiced their support, all standing up for A Tian.
Having reached a consensus, they angrily turned to leave.
Fortunately, Qi Dalei stopped them in time.
"Stop right there! You have no evidence, so why are you going to confront them?"
"Besides, the other party might have already set up a trap waiting for you!"
"Even A Tian is injured like this, wouldn't you be walking into a trap?"
The Dragon Group members paused.
"But Captain, are we just going to endure this? Nangong Wu will definitely laugh at us for being cowards!"
Qi Dalei said with a serious expression.
"Everyone, calm down. The competition starts tomorrow. No one is to cause any trouble!"
"If you want revenge, I won't stop you tomorrow. Fight him to the death."
"But for now, everyone must calm down!"
This...
The Dragon Group members exchanged glances, and in the end, could only unwillingly punch the air to express their anger.
As for Qi Dalei, the captain of the Dragon Group, he had more to consider.
A Tian was the vice-captain of the Dragon Group, and besides himself, he was the strongest in the Outer Body Refining realm, with a strength around the Xin rank.
If what Zhang Yang said was true, then Nangong Wu was no longer at the Outer Body Refining realm.
He had likely broken through to the Inner Energy Gathering realm.
If that were the case,
Even with the Great Return Pill given by Zhang Yang, he might not gain any advantage in the competition.
Furthermore,
A Tian would be unable to participate in the competition.
Then...
"Zhang Yang, do you have any ideas?" Qi Dalei asked, looking at Zhang Yang, who was deep in thought.