Chapter 385

"I don't care about being born of Eternal Calamity or dying of it. Even if this is the fate decreed by Heaven, I, Xiao Yan, today demand she have a second ending!" Xiao Yan stood up, his eyes gleaming with madness, and roared—right then, the Burn Scripture within him surged like a frenzy, spinning uncontrollably!

"Fuse the Strange Fires of Heaven and Earth, shatter the fate ordained by Heaven!"

Xiao Yan roared, and instantly, within the three Infernal Flames enveloping Xiao Yixian, the Yin-Yang Flames and Bone Spirit Cold Fire transformed into streaks of light, flying back into Xiao Yan's body—leaving only the Netherworld Poison Flame!

Xiao Yan had no other options—this was his only chance to utterly resolve the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique!

The Eternal Calamity Poison Physique endlessly absorbs toxins to grow; this physique is like Heaven's curse—no matter how you temporarily contain it, you can never contain it forever.

Heaven has decreed: the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique is born of calamity and dies of calamity.

Xiao Yan had even asked Hun Xu Zi, and Hun Xu Zi's final answer was the same: though once there had been a wielder of the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique who created the Poison Pill Method, that person's Poison Pills ultimately could not last—when their Eternal Calamity Poison Physique reached Sage Emperor, they still died from it.

In the end, to avoid bringing ruin upon others, that person vanished quietly and died without a trace; no one knows where they were buried.

Even the Founder of the Poison Pill Method died from the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique—so Xiao Yan had hesitated whether to tell Xiao Yixian the Poison Pill Method, because this method could not fully resolve the problem of the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique.

Fear not of failure—but of hope so great, disappointment so crushing.

Special Physique is fate ordained by Heaven; no one can defy it. Just like Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques—the "Heavenly" in Heavenly Rank already makes it clear: the more Heaven and Earth Power you can harness, the stronger the method or technique.

If anyone could defy Heaven, it would be only the Emperor.

Even if Xiao Yan were as powerful as he was—even if he were now an Eighth-Grade Alchemist—he still could not defy Heaven.

But! That wielder of the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique once created the Poison Pill Method—so I, Xiao Yan, can build upon that foundation and create a new "Poison Pill Method"!

Strange Fire Poison Pill Method!

The Strange Fire Dou Technique he created was based on the Strange Fires of Heaven and Earth, using their power to forge entirely new Dou Techniques.

Now, Xiao Yan would use the Strange Fires created by Heaven and Earth, wielding Heaven and Earth Power, to oppose Heaven and Earth Power!

Like a paradox: can an omnipotent god create a stone too heavy for him to lift?

"Fuse the Pill!" Xiao Yan instantly formed hand seals—and the Netherworld Poison Flame within Xiao Yixian, as if sentient, flowed along her meridians and internal organs like a gentle stream, merging into the Poison Pill!

The Netherworld Poison Flame itself is a strange, dual-natured Strange Fire—both fire and poison.

The function of the Poison Pill is to collect all toxins absorbed afterward—naturally, the Netherworld Poison Flame could do the same!

When Xiao Yan fused the Netherworld Poison Flame into the Poison Pill, the Pill instantly changed—it became like a Fire Pill, and in an instant, the entire Library Pavilion was shrouded in a thick, ink-green Toxic Miasma.

Xiao Yan knew: this was the Pill Fragrance! A special Pill Fragrance—odorless!

Normal Pill Fragrance brings comfort to body and spirit—but the Poison Pill Fragrance is the opposite: if Xiao Yixian willed it, this Fragrance could poison and kill every living thing within range!

ZZZZZZ!!! Finally, above Jia Nan Academy's sky, countless clouds gathered; when they swelled like an ocean, a vortex appeared above the Library Pavilion's Space Lock—the dark vortex roared, and the sound grew louder and louder!!

"That's storm clouds! Pill Lightning!"

"Senior Student Xiao Yan succeeded!"

This spectacular scene naturally drew the attention of everyone in Jia Nan Academy; many had heard Xiao Yan was refining a Pill, and all had heard the legendary tale of Xiao Yan refining the Six-Grade Peak Pill, the Emperor's Heaven Pill, within Jia Nan Academy.

So the moment the storm clouds appeared, everyone knew: this was Xiao Yan refining a Pill!

"Is this the Pill Lightning of a Seven-Grade Pill? So magnificent—I feel this storm cloud is wider than the Inner Court itself."

"Yes, this is a Seven-Grade Pill—so powerful."

"It blocks out the sun and sky—the heavens have turned black."

At this moment, Xin Lan, who had grown up in the Dan Domain of Zhong Zhou, looked up at the vast storm cloud that covered the entire Inner Court—her beautiful eyes first flickered with confusion, then widened in shock!

"This isn't ordinary Seven-Grade storm clouds!" Xin Lan's family had declined, but they once had Seventh-Rank Alchemists—Seven-Grade Pill Lightning had never been this large!

"Eighth Grade!" Xin Lan bolted out of the Hall, crying out.

Beside her, Xiao Yu's heart jolted—she hurried out of the courtyard, murmuring: "He's refining an Eighth-Grade Pill!"

At this moment, Grand Elder Su Qian, Hu Qian, and other Inner Court elites all soared into the sky, staring in stunned silence at the monstrously vast storm cloud.

"No wonder that brat borrowed the Library Pavilion!" Su Qian snapped irritably—Eighth-Grade Pill Lightning rivals a Dou Zun's attack! How can Xiao Yan's puny frame withstand it?!

"All Inner Court Elders, listen! Form the Array! Every bit of protection helps!" Su Qian shouted through Soul Resonance.

"Yes, Grand Elder!"

Inside the Library Pavilion, the Thousand and Hundred Elders exchanged weary smiles—Eighth Grade? They had speculated it, but thought Xiao Yan's most likely target was a Six-Grade Peak Pill; they never imagined they'd underestimated him so badly.

"This kid is truly astonishing."

"Enough talk—activate the Guardian Array! If this Pill Lightning strikes, the entire Library Pavilion will be destroyed."

But the Thousand and Hundred Elders still underestimated Xiao Yan.

Eighth Grade was their limit of imagination—not Xiao Yan's!

Watching the Strange Fire Poison Pill slowly take shape, Xiao Yan's gaze grew heavier—he realized: this wasn't enough!

Ordinary Eighth-Grade Pill wasn't enough!

Not enough!

The Poison Pill isn't about rank—it's that the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique keeps growing. Fusing Strange Fire into the Pill did raise its quality, but it still wasn't enough!

Xiao Yan needed a Strange Fire Poison Pill that could grow infinitely, just like the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique!

And such a Pill that could keep growing—did exist!

Dan Beast!

The higher a Pill's rank, the stronger its spiritual essence; with Pill Qi Condensing Spirit, Pill Qi could condense into different beast forms depending on the Pill's rank. An Eighth-Grade Pill that endured more than eight-colored Pill Lightning could even become a physical Dan Beast—a creature that feeds on Pills, preferring those of Six-Grade rank and below; within this rank range, the higher the Pill's rank, the more the Dan Beast craves it—and if well-fed, such a Dan Beast might one day ascend to Ji Pin Dan Yao!

If this Poison Pill could become a Dan Beast, and as the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique grew, so did it—then there would be no future worries!

And! The Strange Fire Xiao Yan fused into the Poison Pill—Strange Fires have the concept of Spiritual Flame Fusion! Xiao Yan couldn't yet refine a high-grade Eighth-Grade Pill, but if the Strange Fire could become a Spirit, just like the Fallen Heart Flame once did—it would work!

This was Xiao Yan's Strange Fire Poison Pill Method: become a Dan Beast! Become a Spiritual Flame Fusion!

A Poison Pill that grows alongside the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique!

Refining an ordinary Poison Pill was no test for Xiao Yan—but refining a sentient Poison Pill, one that could grow alongside the Eternal Calamity Poison Physique—that was the true test of his Alchemist skill!

For this wasn't just a test of his Pill Formula creativity—it tested his Pill Alchemy skill, and was also his final "graduation exam"!

At this moment, Xiao Yan roared—and his Dou Qi surged skyward; with a sweep of his hand, the remaining Eight Different Flames instantly appeared.

In the instant the Eight Different Flames appeared, even the thunderclouds in the Sky halted their rolling, as if Heaven itself wished to see what other tricks Xiao Yan had yet to unleash!

The Eight Different Flames each occupied a corner of Heaven and Earth, surrounding Xiao Yixian, who sat cross-legged in the center.

The Eight Different Flames were not positioned randomly; after cultivating the Five-Ring Fire Array, Xiao Yan had gained some understanding of the Flame Array. The Eight Different Flames resembled a Bagua Array, forming a Bagua Furnace, each guarding its own position.

Instantly, Xiao Yan stepped upon the earth, and the Eight Different Flames erupted—green lotuses swayed, myriad beasts rose and sank, black-and-white fish drifted—and in that moment, Xiao Yan, relying on his immense Fire Control Power and the Heavenly Rank Burning Scripture, connected with Heaven and Earth, drawing upon the power of Heaven and Earth.

The Heaven and Earth Power surged wildly from all directions.

"How is the Heaven and Earth Power boiling?!" Elder Su Qian suddenly gasped in alarm.

"Is it Xiao Yan? Didn't he nearly complete the Elixir?!" Elder Bai looked bewildered—why was Xiao Yan now acting as if he were about to perform something, drawing upon the Heaven and Earth Power of this space?!

At this moment, the entire Library Pavilion's Heaven and Earth Power seemed to serve Xiao Yan alone; under the operation of the Burning Scripture, combined with the power of the Eight Different Flames, Xiao Yan reached his peak state within moments.

"Soul Gathering by Flames!"

Xiao Yan instantly switched Cultivation Methods, activating the Soul Cultivation Technique Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering Decree. Using the Bagua Array formed by the Eight Different Flames, he frantically gathered the soul specks in the air—those specks, uncontrollably, all surged into Xiao Yixian's Poison Pill!!

The thunderclouds far above the Sky, as if pulled by some unseen force, suddenly churned violently again!!

Once, a genius Alchemist, during a Pill Gathering, created a unique Secret Technique through sheer madness and seized the Pill Gathering Champion.

At this moment, the young man who inherited that genius Alchemist's legacy, after many years, revived this Secret Technique!

"Soul Ascension!!" Xiao Yan roared.

At this moment, whether the Flames or the Soul Force, Xiao Yan unleashed his strongest state. Inside Xiao Yixian, the Poison Pill trembled violently, as if something were about to be born!

Instantly, terrifying Yin-Yang Poison Fire erupted endlessly from Xiao Yixian's body—the originally ink-green Netherworld Poison Flame now mixed with the gray of the Eternal Calamity Poison body, as if something were taking shape!!

The Yin-Yang Poison Fire seemed to rise from the Nine Underworld, dreadfully potent; the protective arrays around the chamber were instantly corroded by the terrifying poison force. Had Xiao Yan not used the Eight Different Flames to guard one side, the entire Library Pavilion would have been destroyed not by Pill Lightning, but by poison.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!! Suddenly, without warning, the entire Jia Nan Academy shook violently!

"What happened?!" All students, Elders, and Mentors of Jia Nan Academy froze, bewildered—what had occurred here? Why had the ground suddenly trembled?!

And why was this earthquake so strange—just one shake, then it stopped!

"Look at the thunderclouds in the Sky! How have they changed?!"

"Kuang? Just now they had colors—why are they gone now?!"

Only now did everyone realize—the vast thunderclouds above had begun to contract! From their immense expanse, they steadily shrank, until finally they were no larger than the thunderclouds summoned by a Seven-Grade Pill.

And most bizarrely, the immense Lei Hai within the thunderclouds—the one capable of obliterating the entire Inner Court—had also shrunk. Originally, it had displayed several vivid colors, with thick lightning wildly dancing.

Now, the colors had seemingly faded—gone!

All colors were gone!

"Why has the Pill Lightning lost its color? Has Big Brother Xiao Yan failed his Pill Alchemy?!" Xiao Mei stared at the Pill Lightning in the Sky—she had grown knowledgeable enough to know that the more colored Pill Lightning an Eight Grade Pill summoned, the better.

Now that the thunderclouds had receded and the Pill Lightning had lost its color—wasn't this proof Xiao Yan had failed his Pill Alchemy?!

PAM—seeing the Pill Lightning fade, Xin Lan's face turned ashen, as if she'd seen a ghost; she collapsed onto the ground, trembling fingers pointing at the Pill Lightning above.

Noticing Xin Lan's abnormality, Xiao Yu's heart lurched—she hurriedly asked: "Xin Lan, what's wrong? Has something happened?!"

"Gray-gray Pill Lightning… that's not Pill Lightning… that's Heavenly Punishment!" Xin Lan shrieked—the once dazzling Pill Lightning had lost its color, turned dull gray, and grown dreadfully dark!

"What is Heavenly Punishment?!" Xiao Yu's heart tightened—she demanded urgently.

"For Elixirs, the stronger the Pill Lightning they endure, the higher their quality. Especially for Elixirs above Eight Grade—the more colored Pill Lightning they endure, the more precious they become. Thus, for Elixirs, Pill Lightning is actually Heaven's blessing," Xin Lan said.

"The Pill Lightning of a Seven-Grade Pill is silver. For Eight Grade, it's at least two colors—starting from silver, progressing through the seven colors of the rainbow, finally reaching white Pill Lightning—nine colors total. If one can summon the black Black Demon Thunder, that is a Ji Pin Dan Yao. These colored Pill Lightnings are Heaven's blessings, proving the Elixir has received Heaven's recognition."

"But…" Xin Lan suddenly recalled a passage she had once read in an ancient family text, her body trembling as she spoke: "But, just as there are Elixirs recognized by Heaven, there are those rejected by Heaven."

"When the Pill Lightning's colors fade entirely, turning dull gray; when the thunderclouds grow dark, as if Heaven itself is enraged—that means the Alchemist has brewed an Elixir that defies Heaven's order, rejected by Heaven, even provoking it—and thus, Heavenly Punishment descends."

Xin Lan's teeth chattered as she said: "An Elixir rejected by Heaven, summoned by gray Pill Lightning, is a Forbidden Elixir."

"Forbidden Elixir!" Xiao Yu and the others' pupils dilated—they stared at the thunderclouds above, poised to unleash gray Pill Lightning.

"This gray Pill Lightning won't enhance the Elixir's quality—it will destroy the Elixir—and it will… it will kill the Alchemist!"

!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this moment, Elders like Su Qian, sensing the terrifying power of the gray Pill Lightning, felt their scalps erupt in goosebumps!

They were not students—they wouldn't mistake a shrinking thundercloud for weakness. This wasn't weakening—it had grown far stronger!

In the Library Pavilion, Elders Bai and Qian were stunned—they had thought the eruption of the Fallen Heart Flame was Xiao Yan's limit. But Xiao Yan's actions proved to them: he had no limit.

HU—Xiao Yan shed his Alchemist Long Robe and draped it over Xiao Yixian, who was still undergoing the final Soul Ascension. THUD—a massive black ruler appeared in his hand.

Xiao Yan stepped forward, standing before Xiao Yixian, gazing at the swirling vortex above, as if Heaven itself were enraged. He rubbed his nose and chuckled bitterly: "You can't even play this game."

(End of Chapter)