Chapter 306

Xiao Yan was used to it; every time he refined a strange flame, he had to prepare a pill to counter its nature.

To refine the Ten Thousand Beasts Spirit Flame, use the Blood Lotus Pill; to refine the Fallen Heart Flame, use the Earth Spirit Pill.

Without pill protection, these wild, ferocious strange flames could easily kill Xiao Yan.

Now that Xiao Yan has refined so many strange flames, he naturally fears their high temperature—but he must guard against their unique properties!

"Is it enough time?" Xiao Yixian asked softly; she knew Xiao Yan desperately needed the strange flame.

Xiao Yan smiled confidently, clenching his five fingers, and said: "Rest assured—I want it all: the strange flame, the Pure Soul Orchid, and the legacy of the Nether Poison Sovereign!"

Xiao Yan had known about the Nether Poison Sovereign from the start; when he exchanged information at the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop, that intelligence had mentioned the Nether Poison Sovereign.

But unlike the rumors, the Nether Poison Sovereign was not killed by other Dou Zun surrounding him—he simply vanished after arriving here, and soon after, the Deep Abyss Gorge was mysteriously shrouded in toxic miasma, giving rise to this rumor.

Moreover, Xiao Yan learned from the Soul Sect that the Nether Poison Sovereign possessed the Acquired Misfortune Poison Body!

After learning Xiao Yixian had the Eternal Calamity Poison Body, Xiao Yan had also searched through ancient texts in the Bone Flame Ring and discovered that the Acquired Misfortune Poison Body could be artificially created.

Although called the Acquired Misfortune Poison Body, it differed greatly from the true version—it was merely a special cultivation method that retained poison within the body to enhance strength.

Its power was inferior to the true Acquired Misfortune Poison Body and carried fatal flaws.

Xiao Yan suspected the Nether Poison Sovereign died from a burst of the Acquired Misfortune Poison Body's flaw, perishing here.

"Regardless, preparing thoroughly is always right." Xiao Yan took out the Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron and various precious medicinal materials from his storage ring.

Xiao Yan didn't just gather precious medicinal materials accumulated by Han Feng over the years in Feng Cheng—he also returned to Jia Ma Sheng Cheng and Yun Lan Sect; how could he possibly hold back his hands!

In Jia Ma Sheng Cheng, Ya Fei had already prepared and gifted Xiao Yan numerous Five-Grade and Six-Grade medicinal materials; even the major families, the Imperial Family, and the Alchemist Guild, when requesting pills from Xiao Yan, paid with medicinal materials—and Xiao Yan took the chance to gather a fortune of them.

Otherwise, Xiao Yan would have struggled to break through to Seventh-Rank Alchemist; even now, refining Detoxification Pills was a challenge.

Seeing Xiao Yan pull out so many precious medicinal materials, Zi Yan's mouth watered.

Seeing Zi Yan sneakily reach out, Xiao Yan glanced at her and said: "Don't mess around—these are for refining Detoxification Pills and Anti-Toxin Pills."

"Once we enter the Secret Realm inside the Space Lock tomorrow, do you really think you'll lack medicinal materials? Just work hard to find some; whatever you find, we split it fifty-fifty."

This scheming bastard still tried to swindle Zi Yan's medicinal materials.

"Lion King, guard outside for me—I'm refining a Six-Grade pill; don't let anyone disturb me," Xiao Yan said.

"Understood."

Roar! (Understood!)

Little Lion King roared too—he still hadn't learned human language.

With a bang, Xiao Yan pressed one hand on the Ten Thousand Beasts Cauldron; in an instant, a sub-flame of Void Swallowing Flame shot out, and a pill formula instantly appeared in his mind.

The superior pill to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Ice Spirit Liquid sold in the Inner Court—the Six-Grade High-Level Anti-Toxin Ice Spirit Pill—had essentially the same effect: specifically removing fire poison.

The difference was that upon ingestion, it also granted the body extreme resistance to poison, countering fire poison.

The Anti-Toxin Ice Spirit Pill's rank matched the Earth Spirit Pill, and this was the highest-grade pill Xiao Yan could refine to remove fire poison; he planned to use it to resist the Netherworld Poison Flame.

Even though it was a Six-Grade High-Level pill, only slightly simpler than the Imperial Ultimate Pill, Xiao Yan's alchemy flowed like water—smooth, practiced, effortless.

Though no Alchemists were present, Xiao Yixian was no fool; moreover, Xiao Yan revealed his alchemy technique fully for her to observe.

Xiao Yixian found it strange: other girls loved cosmetics, gold, and jewels—but she? Unless refining poison for self-defense, she loved watching Xiao Yan refine pills and studying how to grow herbs!

It wasn't even love—it had reached obsession; she was clearly Xiao Yan Master's biggest fan.

For Xiao Yan, who could refine Breakthrough Pill and Imperial Heaven Pill, a Six-Grade High-Level pill was no problem; even on his first attempt, his terrifying Soul Force and Fire Control Power ensured immediate success.

But Xiao Yan didn't stop—he kept refining, since he now had five people and needed five pills.

On his second and third attempts, Xiao Yan achieved the terrifying feat of two pills per furnace.

As for Detoxification Pills, they were even easier—they were insurance against unseen, silent poisoning in dangerous zones within the Secret Realm.

Xiao Yan refined for two full days and nights before completing all the pills; even he, with a Heaven Grade Cultivation Method and Full Common Realm Soul Force, couldn't withstand such frantic Six-Grade pill refining without strain.

He spent half a day recovering his Soul Force; now, even the Soul Gathering Decree's recovery effect was negligible, no longer restoring it as swiftly as before.

Night fell; the entire Poisoned City remained lively, with chatter below the inn discussing the past two days.

"Xiao Yan."

The voice of the Heavenly Flame Sovereign suddenly came from the storage ring; Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of flame passing through them—he had also sensed a faint soul fluctuation from afar.

"So it's finally opened." He stood up slowly; soon, Xiao Yixian and the others appeared in his room—they too had sensed the Space Lock had opened.

Whoosh—Xiao Yan put on his long-missed Soul Robe; this Soul Robe was no longer a Tian Ji Protector's—it was the Sovereign's Soul Robe, sent to him during his half-month stay in Jia Ma Empire, when the enforcer named Hun Lu came to inspect soul body records.

When he learned Xiao Yan had ascended to Sovereign in just two years, he smiled warmly, feeling he'd chosen the right person to flatter.

The Sovereign's Soul Robe looked identical externally, but its effect was worlds apart; wearing it, only those with Full Spirit Realm or higher could sense him.

Though night had fallen, the Deep Abyss Gorge, now cleared of toxic miasma, was brightly lit—on both sides of the gorge stood pavilions and jade towers; many major sects from Chu Yun Empire had set up camps near the Space Lock.

"It's open! It's open!!"

"The Space Lock has finally been broken!"

"Quick, follow! The Dou Zun legacy!"

The instant the Space Lock opened, a powerful poison array was immediately set, sealing the entrance.

Suddenly, the entrance was packed with crowds; in the sky, pairs of differently colored Qi Wings floated—but none dared charge the poison array, for it had been set by the Poison Sect.

The Poison Sect was renowned in Chu Yun Empire not only because its Sect Master, Du Gu Tian Gao, was a Dou Zong, but also because they possessed highly advanced poison array heritage.

When many arrived after learning the Space Lock had been broken, it was too late—the Poison Sect Master and powerful figures like Xie Shan had already stationed their top experts to guard the area.

Clearly, they wanted to monopolize it!

Now, to enter the Secret Realm, one must not only defeat the guards but also break the poison array sealing the entrance—otherwise, no one could get in.

"The Deep Abyss Gorge belongs to no one—why should your Poison Sect seal the entrance!" An elder from another sect, seeing the Poison Sect guarding the entrance, demanded angrily.

"You misunderstand," an old man said slowly. "The Deep Abyss Gorge is a treasure of Chu Yun Empire, belonging to all its subjects. But to prevent everyone from killing each other over the treasures and legacies within the Secret Realm, our Sect Master, out of compassion, unwilling to see bloodshed among fellow cultivators, has, together with Xie Shan of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, the Poison Guanyin, and the Chu Yun Emperor, compiled a list based on which sects contributed to breaking the Space Lock."

"Only sects that contributed to breaking the Space Lock may enter the Secret Realm; those that did not assist in breaking it—whether sects or lone cultivators—are barred."

When the old man tossed out the list, his aura of authority was unmistakable—he made no effort to conceal his Dou Huang spiritual pressure, which rolled forward, silencing weaker Dou Wang sects who dared not speak out.

"Hmph, for these past few days, your Poison Sect has sealed off the entire valley!" a sect leader said coldly. "Do you intend to make enemies of every Poison Master in the Chu Yun Empire?"

"Exactly! What right do you have to block the entrance!"

Many powerful figures present wanted to enter, and the Poison Sect's action naturally angered numerous sects and freelance Poison Masters.

Facing this situation, Elder Zhang Wan of the Poison Sect also hardened his tone and said coldly: "If any of you dare force your way in, don't blame us for being uncivilized!"

At that moment, a Dou Huang aura emerged from the Poison Array, and an old man dressed in the robes of a Poison Sect Elder from the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Sect stepped out, stroking his beard with a cold laugh: "Elder Zhang Wan speaks wisely. If anyone tries to force entry, the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Sect will stand with you to the end."

The Poison Sect and Ten-Thousand Scorpion Sect's firm stance shocked and enraged many present, yet no one dared to force their way in—after all, the Poison Sect's array was truly formidable, let alone with the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Sect now present; even ordinary Dou Huangs couldn't break through.

"Who the hell are you? A broken array and two low-level Dou Huangs dare block my path?" A domineering, leisurely voice rang out—and instantly drew everyone's attention.

All turned to look, seeing two massive black shadows slowly approaching from afar down the valley. On the backs of two lions, embedded with purple crystals and bearing giant wings, sat three figures clad in black robes.

The newcomers were unquestionably Xiao Yan and his group. The giant Purple Crystal Winged Lion King advanced slowly; using a Sixth Rank Demon Beast as a mount drew attention wherever they went.

"My god, that's a Sixth Rank Demon Beast—the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King!" Seeing the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, many Poison Masters turned pale with fear.

This was a Sixth Rank Demon Beast! Even ordinary low-level Dou Huangs struggled to defeat it. Didn't Yun Yun herself fail to defeat the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King? If Xiao Yan hadn't saved her, Yun Yun's grave would already be overgrown with meters-high grass.

Naturally, Xiao Yan's arrogant words caused the Poison Sect and Ten-Thousand Scorpion Sect to turn pale. Zhang Wan was the Poison Sect's second-highest-ranking Dou Huang, holding an extremely prestigious position within the sect.

Moreover, his Cultivation Realm had reached Three Star Dou Huang, and he was an expert in Poison Arrays—his power was deeply feared. Otherwise, Du Gu Tian Gao would never have entrusted him alone with the Poison Array to prevent others from entering.

"Hmph, ignorant beast! Even if you are a Sixth Rank Demon Beast, today I shall certainly subdue you!" Zhang Wan's face twisted with fury.

If it were one-on-one, he might not defeat the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King—but he had set up the Poison Array. With such a powerful array, he was not afraid of it.

Hearing Zhang Wan's words, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King showed no anger—but Zi Yan's eyes flashed with ferocity. She too was a Demon Beast—and also Sixth Rank!

"Zi Yan, handle the Poison Array and that old man. Lion King, deal with the other Dou Huang. Xiao Yixian and I will enter first; you two follow behind." Xiao Yan said softly.

"Got it!" Zi Yan beamed, leaping eagerly off the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's back. "Let me take care of you!"

Xiao Yixian also leapt down from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's back—but landed on the smaller Lion King's back. For both of them, the Dou Zun's inheritance was secondary; finding the Flame of the Spirit and the Qinghun Orchid was paramount.

Zi Yan charged forward immediately, rolling up her sleeves. Once she went wild, she was more combative than anyone else—and seeing the Poison Array before her, her fighting spirit surged instantly.

Though she was the oldest in age, to the Ancient Dragon race, Zi Yan was no different from a primary school student.

She had never encountered such a Poison Array in the Inner Court; now, she was ecstatic.

In an instant, purple light flashed—Zi Yan plunged straight into the Poison Array. Space rippled. The very array that even a Dou Huang dared not force his way through began to tremble and crack, revealing the entrance to the Space Lock within.

"Roar! Roar! Roar!!" The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King showed no mercy, slamming a paw toward the Ten-Thousand Scorpion Sect's Dou Huang Elder. Boom—the entire valley shook. Terrifying power cracked the ground into deep fissures.

The smaller Lion King carried the two toward the entrance. Disciples of Dou Shi and Dou Ling along the way were no match for the smaller Lion King—they couldn't even slow down a Fifth Rank Lion King.

"Let's go. If your Acquired Misfortune Poison Body shows any trouble, we leave immediately. The Legendary Poison Master is said to have been an Acquired Misfortune Poison Body; the Qinghun Orchid is secondary. If we can't find it, we still have the Poison Pill method." Xiao Yan warned.

"Mm, don't worry—I won't push myself." Xiao Yixian nodded lightly.

"Let's go! Let's go in too!" Behind Xiao Yan, every Poison Master and cultivator grew excited. In an instant, the crowd surged like a tidal wave, crushing forward toward the mountain pass.

Once someone led the way, such an effect was inevitable.

In an instant, the scene became wildly chaotic. Countless Poison Masters fought to squeeze into the pass—even those with only Dou Shi-level power refused to fall behind, fearing they'd miss this once-in-a-millennium chance to claim the legendary Dou Zun's inheritance.

(End of Chapter)