Rumble!
The deafening roar of the three-colored pill lightning continued, the terrifying sound waves surging like a tide.
However, beneath the sky-covering dark clouds, a robust, dark golden figure laughed and swung his fists, unleashing streaks of sharp dark golden battle qi that shattered the three-colored pill lightning with overwhelming force.
Within Holy Pill City, countless people stared in shock at the powerful energy that erupted and swept across the area.
Those who had originally intended to meet this alchemy master subconsciously abandoned the idea; they would never have the chance to meet this alchemy master… at least not now.
Below, outside the mountain peak, an enormous, silver-white spatial shield descended in a semi-circle, firmly protecting the tranquil and charming manor on the mountaintop.
"As expected of the Ancient Void Dragon, this spatial power is truly breathtaking…" Cao Ying's beautiful eyes shone with surprise as she looked at the incredibly sturdy spatial barrier outside.
Today, she was honored to meet the legendary Ancient Dragon of the Void, a truly eye-opening experience.
"Lu Lu, do you really know Yao Chen? How is he now?" Xuan Kongzi's gaze sharpened, and he asked in surprise. Yao Chen had been missing for a long time; he couldn't even remember the last time he saw him.
Lu Lu smiled slightly, remaining silent.
"Tell us your conditions, and we won't hesitate to help if we can," Xuan Yi said speechlessly. She had been searching for Yao Chen for a long time, with no news to be found, and she was extremely anxious.
"Senior Yao Chen..." Lu Lu stroked his chin and smiled, "Senior, how about I tell you how he disappeared?"
"How did he disappear?" Before Xuan Yi could speak, Xuan Kongzi immediately pressed on.
Cao Ying and Dan Chen simultaneously pricked up their ears, listening intently. No alchemist in the world could ignore the legendary Medicine Venerable, and they were no exception.
"He... was ambushed by Han Feng and killed in collusion with the Soul Hall," Lü Qiu chuckled.
"What!?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi's expressions changed drastically, and they exclaimed in shock.
"It's truly a pity. Yao Chen rejected you to raise Han Feng, but who would have thought that this trash Han Feng would actually commit patricide? Senior Xuan Yi, your sacrifice was somewhat in vain..." Lü Qiu sighed.
Boom!
Before he finished speaking, a violent aura suddenly erupted from Xuan Yi's body, her long black hair dancing wildly, her robes billowing incessantly.
"Xuan Yi!" Xuan Kongzi shouted, raising his hand to protect his two juniors.
On the other side, facing the aura of a peak Dou Zun, Lü Qiu merely chuckled, his eyes gleaming with purple-gold light. His violent aura was like a tide crashing against a rock, having no effect whatsoever.
Xuan Kongzi's shout exploded in Xuan Yi's ears like thunder, instantly bringing her back to her senses.
"Damn it, how did you know?"
Xuan Yi glared at the smiling Lü Qiu, thinking, "You brat!
" "I have a special source of intelligence!" Lü Qiu said quietly, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Tell me, where is he now? And where is Han Feng?" Xuan Yi pressed.
Lü Qiu smiled slightly, remaining silent.
"Speak, what are your conditions?" Xuan Kongzi was somewhat speechless. To be honest, he didn't quite understand what Lü Qiu wanted. He was an eighth-grade alchemist, currently one of the eight elders of the Pill Tower. Logically, the resources he could mobilize, while not as numerous as his, the Pill Tower's president, were still considerable. What exactly did this kid want?
"I want to go into the Star Domain and meet the Starry Sky Flame Fire," Lü Qiu chuckled, smiling broadly.
"Don't you already have a different kind of fire?" Xuan Kongzi frowned.
The Starry Sky Blazing Flame, known as the immortal flame, combined with the terrifying energy accumulated from countless years in the starry sky, is something even peak Dou Zun like them cannot subdue.
Unable to kill it, unable to refine it, and unwilling to see such a powerful strange flame fall into the Soul Palace, the three giants of the Pill Tower could only seal it away, hoping that the Three Thousand Blazing Flames would find a kindred spirit outside the Soul Palace and leave the Pill Tower's star field.
This idea is absurd, but what if it works?
"Ranking nineteenth is ultimately not as good as ranking ninth!" Lü Qiu smiled slightly.
At the same time, the massive thunderclouds in the sky gradually dissipated. Hei Qing's fist was somewhat blackened, but he flew back feeling completely comfortable.
"No way!" Xuan Yi flatly refused: "The Three Thousand Blazing Flames has already been announced as a Pill Gathering reward throughout the world. How can it be changed so easily at this time?"
Hearing this, Dan Chen and Cao Ying exchanged a glance. Both girls were speechless. Did Lü Qiu really need the Pill Gathering championship to prove his strength?
"Ahem... Two members of the Pill Tower, do you know why the Three Thousand Burning Flames resembles my Ancient Dragon Clan?" Hei Qing cracked his neck, grinned, and said.
"What do you mean?" Xuan Yi's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising in her mind.
Cao Ying and Dan Chen's eyes were burning; this trip had been very fruitful, not only witnessing pill refining firsthand but also hearing so many secrets.
"Because the Starry Sky Burning Flames were raised by one of our clan's predecessors." Hei Qing chuckled, raising his hand, and a dark golden dragon seal appeared in his palm.
A brilliant dark golden light shone faintly, and a vast dragon might slowly emanated from it.
The four members of the Pill Tower felt a weight on their shoulders, an invisible pressure quietly pressing down on them.
Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi's expressions changed drastically, because the Three Thousand Burning Flames that they had jointly sealed and imprisoned in the star field were now showing signs of faintly awakening.
"Brother Hei Qing, don't do anything rash!" Lü Tu shouted.
Hei Qing chuckled and withdrew the dragon seal: "Gentlemen, my brother here comes with sincerity. He followed all the rules of your Pill Tower, using his alchemy skills to reach you personally, all so he could discuss this in detail."
"You should know that if he's willing, I can personally send him into your star field. This Three Thousand Burning Flames wasn't originally yours; keeping it would only cause you trouble..." "
Ahem... Brother Hei Qing, please stop. The seniors of the Pill Tower are reasonable and outstanding figures; how could they not know these things?" Lü Qiu coughed lightly, interrupting.
Xuan Yi and Xuan Kongzi's faces darkened. Were you two playing good cop/bad cop?
"However... Brother Hei Qing makes a good point. What do you two seniors think?" Lü Qiu smiled slightly.
"Do you think we'll give up just because we don't agree?" Xuan Yi said irritably.
"Lu Lu, we both agree to this in principle," Xuan Kongzi said. "However, it will take some time. The Pill Tower isn't something we two can decide; we need to consult with Tian Leizi and the eight elders."
"I understand, that's only right…" Lu Lu didn't refuse, smiling as he said, "But… what's the specific timeframe?"
"You brat…" Xuan Kongzi said helplessly, "Three days. We'll send you into the Star Domain in three days."
"Thank you, senior." Lü Qiu smiled, then glanced at Xuan Yi and said, "Senior Yao Chen is still alive, but only a soul remains. His strength is less than one-tenth of what it used to be. As for the specifics… you can go to the Starfall Pavilion and ask Xiao Yan. That kid is Senior Yao Chen's newly accepted disciple."
Lü Qiu didn't reveal his guess about Yao Chen's current situation. He only reported good news, not bad. What if Xuan Yi caused trouble again regarding the strange fire?
It was better to let them explore on their own.
"Thank you!" Xuan Yi glanced at Lü Qiu and thanked him solemnly.
"No need, it's my duty." Lü Qiu smiled. "Then, seniors, I await your good news. See you in three days."
Xuan Kongzi nodded slightly, then led his two disciples and Xuan Yi into the void and disappeared.
…
On the western edge of the Pill Domain, in the deep mountains shrouded in miasma and poisonous fog, a giant palace stood quietly.
"Hehe... Yao Chen, how does it feel? My Soul Palace has taken good care of you, hasn't it?" Mu Gu looked at Yao Chen, who was bound by countless black soul chains, and a smug smile appeared on his aged face.
Yao Lao, upon hearing this, slightly raised his eyebrows and glanced at the smug Mu Gu, a mocking smile appearing on his face. He then slowly closed his eyes, too lazy to pay attention to the arrogant and smug Mu Gu.
Mu Gu's expression suddenly turned cold. He raised his hand and slammed his palm on the chains beside him. Instantly, a crackling sound rang out, and a black arc of electricity spread out along the chains, striking Yao Chen.
"Hehehe... How is it? The feeling of the Soul-Punishing Black Lightning is not pleasant, is it?"
"Hmph... Ahh! Mu Gu, you just wait!" Yao Chen couldn't help but cry out in pain, his ferocious killing intent completely undisguised.
"You think you can leave after coming to my Soul Palace? Wishful thinking!" Mu Gu sneered, and the black lightning in his hand continued to intensify.
"Alright, don't kill him. The palace doesn't want him dead yet." At this moment, a faint voice came, and the Second Heavenly Venerable, Gu You, slowly walked out of the void.
"Saint!" Mu Gu immediately bowed respectfully.
"Venerable Feng has already found this place. Just in case, I'm personally escorting Yao Chen away," Gu You said.
"Saint, why go to such lengths?" Mu Gu exclaimed in shock. Venerable Feng was just a nobody; he could be easily killed with a slap.
"Fool, don't forget Yao Chen has many friends!" Gu You glared at him and said. If Venerable Feng were so easy to deal with, why did you run away the moment you saw him?
Besides, what about those bastards from the Pill Tower?
"...Yes!" Mu Gu was unwilling but helpless. Damn Feng Xian!
"Also, a new eighth-grade alchemist has appeared at the Pill Tower. Keep an eye on him," Gu You said, raising his chin.
"Saint, do you need me to..." Mu Gu said, making a decapitation gesture with his hand.
"Hmph... If you can do it, then go ahead," Gu You said indifferently. "But don't say I didn't warn you, he's accompanied by a Dou Zun of at least five stars!"
Hearing this, Mu Gu's face twitched, and he instantly abandoned the idea of making a move.
"You'd better be careful. The Heavenly Palace is busy with missions these days. If something happens, we won't have enough manpower to rescue you!" Gu You warned. Mu Gu was an eighth-grade alchemist, and if something happened to him, it would be a significant loss for the Soul Palace.
Moreover, as he said, there was a major operation within the clan, and they couldn't spare any high-level combat power to deal with it, especially when facing the Pill Tower.
"Yes!" Mu Gu's heart tightened, and he quickly replied.
Recently, things had been a bit unsettled in the palace. Zhai Xing and the Eight Heavenly Venerables had all left, and it was said that the Ninth Heavenly Venerable, who was on a mission in the Southern Region, had been urgently recalled. Even the search for the culprit who destroyed the branch palace had been put on hold.
All these events indicated that there was a major operation within the palace, but they didn't know what it was.
...
The Pill Tower, the Sacred Pill Mountain Range!
Three days passed in a flash. A stream of light flew over and landed in front of Lü Qiu. It was Xuan Kongzi's message.
"Lü Qiu, the Dragon Seal is for you!" Hei Qing shouted, flicking out a stream of dark golden dragon blood, which entered Lü Qiu's palm.
"With this, combined with your Dragon Might, the probability of subduing the Starry Sky Flame will be much higher," Hei Qing said.
"Thank you, brother." Lü Qiu raised an eyebrow, although he didn't intend to use the Dragon Seal to subdue the Starry Sky Flame.
"Hehe…" Hei Qing raised his hand and tore open a spatial rift, leading Lü Qiu inside.
On the opposite side, Xuan Kongzi and the other two were already prepared.
"It really is the Ancient Void Dragon!" an old man with dark skin and a stern face exclaimed.
This man was another of the three giants of the Pill Tower, Tian Leizi, whose strength, like Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi, was at the peak of the Dou Zun realm.
Hei Qing nodded slightly in return.
"Boy, that Starry Sky Flame is incredibly powerful. You must remember never to awaken it, otherwise the Pill Domain will face a calamity!" Xuan Yi said solemnly.
"Don't worry, senior," Lü Qiu said with a smile, "You know me, I never force anyone."
A few black lines immediately appeared on Xuan Yi's exquisite face. Yes, you don't force others, but you're full of tricks!
"Lü Qiu, because you're with the Ancient Void Dragon, we'll close the Star Domain again for the safety of the Pill Domain after you go in. We hope you understand," Xuan Kongzi said.
With the Ancient Void Dragon present, Lü Qiu didn't need their permission to enter or leave the Star Domain.
"Oh? No problem!" Lü Qiu's lips curled into a smile. Such a good thing?
This is just letting me do whatever I want... cough cough, whatever I want!
"Go in!" Xuan Kongzi and the other two formed hand seals, and a vast aura of battle qi emanated from them. Instantly, a deep, dark portal appeared before Lü Qiu.
Lü Qiu and Hei Qing flashed inside, and at the same time, the portal slowly closed and disappeared, no longer existing.
Within the star field, Lü Qiu looked up and saw a colossal dragon, its head obscured by shadows, coiled and undulating. Eerie, purplish-black flames rose from its body, distorting the surrounding space.
"Good heavens, it's grown to this size!" Hei Qing exclaimed in amazement. Among magical beasts, the larger the size, the stronger the power; this purplish-black flame dragon was far beyond his ability to contend with.
"Lü Qiu, how do you plan to deal with it?" Hei Qing asked in a deep voice. He himself admitted defeat; how could Lü Qiu, a mere Dou Zong, possibly defeat something he considered inferior?
"Hehe..." Lü Qiu chuckled lightly, his figure slowly rising, hovering above the boundless purplish-black flame dragon.
"Don't worry, brother, leave it to me!" Lü Qiu said. As soon as he finished speaking, the whites of his eyes vanished, revealing a pair of deep, dark pupils, like endless black holes, devouring all light.
"Devouring Realm!" Lü Qiu formed hand seals and silently chanted.
The next moment, an unusual aura suddenly erupted.
Boom!
Hei Qing's expression changed drastically as an inexplicable pressure suddenly descended upon him.
"What... what's going on?" Hei Qing couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. This aura wasn't battle qi, nor soul power, nor dragon might, but... it made him feel incredibly heavy, as if he would be completely devoured at any moment.
Hei Qing subconsciously retreated, but at that moment, a deep black aura spread out from beneath Lü Qiu's feet. In an instant, the deep black light suddenly surged, and when Hei Qing came to his senses, he found that the purplish-black flame dragon and Lü Qiu had completely disappeared.
Inside the Pill Tower, the three giants' expressions changed drastically: "Not good!"
They suddenly realized that they had lost their senses and connection with the seal placed on the Starry Sky Flame.
"Reinforce the Star Domain!" Xuan Kongzi shouted.
As for Lü Qiu, he wasn't worried at all. With the Ancient Void Dragon, even if he couldn't defeat the Starry Sky Flame, escaping would definitely not be a problem.
...
Meanwhile, within the Devouring Realm!
Starry Sky Flame opened its dragon eyes in disbelief, twisting its body. The seal that had imprisoned it for countless years… had it just been released?
"Heh heh… Foolish human!"
Starry Sky Flame raised its massive dragon head, looking at Lü Qiu floating in the air, and couldn't help but laugh.
"Heh…" Lü Qiu chuckled, his hand seals shifting again: "Chains of Devouring!"
Clang!
Just then, the sound of chains clashing rang out suddenly. Deep, pitch-black chains, formed from pure devouring power, shot in from all directions, piercing fiercely into the purple-black flame dragon's body.
After his soul entered the Spirit Realm, his understanding of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol had greatly improved, allowing him to apply it more perfectly.
Thud Thud Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dull sounds rose and fell as countless chains pierced through the purple-black flame dragon's seemingly endless body.
"Damn it, what is this? What have you done?" Starry Sky Flame roared repeatedly, realizing its power was being drained away little by little.
However, despite his twisting and turning, he couldn't break free from the eerie black chains.
"Nothing much... just erasing your mind!"
Lü Qiu said calmly, raising his right hand while his left hand moved rapidly, forming a deep, mysterious black palm print exuding an eerie aura.
"Devouring Seal!"
The palm print took shape and pressed down!
In an instant, even the soul of the Starry Sky Flame began to tremble violently.
"No..."
Terror erupted like a torrent in the enormous dragon eyes, but... it was all in vain!
(End of Chapter)