Chapter 410

At this moment, everyone saw that inside the pitch-black alchemy furnace emitting ominous black qi, a primitive pill wrapped in strange fire had clearly taken shape.

This primitive pill was the size of an infant's fist, pitted and uneven, barely round, and still far from the perfectly spherical, dragon-eye-sized elixirs.

It was not yet time for the pill to be completed, for the demon core had not yet been processed—only after handling the demon core would the final step, fusion of the pill, begin.

Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened; at this moment, he was simultaneously controlling two strange fires—one still slowly burning the primitive pill, requiring continuous combustion to compress the medicinal power.

The other, of course, was the Earth Sub Flame of Void Swallowing Flame; fortunately, this was a sentient strange fire, so Xiao Yan did not need to expend great mental effort to control it.

"Mao Wu, I'm entrusting the demon core to you—follow my instructions exactly," Xiao Yan said.

Meow! Mao Wu's expression turned grave; this was the first time it had ever attempted to devour the beast's resentment energy from an Eight Rank demon core—certainly no easy task, even now that it had become Earth Sub Flame.

To refine a Nine Grade Pill, one would need to devour the resentment energy of a Nine-Stage demon core—likely requiring Heavenly Emperor Fire; ordinary flames struggle to handle demon cores.

Of course, spirit refining does not necessarily require a demon core; demon cores are widely used because they contain vast energy, but any sufficiently potent energy source compatible with the pill's nature will do.

Meow!! Mao Wu opened its mouth, revealing its sharp fangs, then slashed out with a paw—instantly transforming into a mass of black flame that surged into the demon core.

Boom—Boom—Boom!!! In an instant, the spiritual pressure of an Eight Rank beast erupted from the alchemy furnace, a terrifying force that nearly toppled Black Demon.

To refine an Eight Grade Pill, the alchemy furnace must be flawless—otherwise, it would explode right now!

"Young Master Yan," Qing Lin, standing guard outside, clenched her fists tightly, sensing this terrifying power and silently praying that her young master's pill refinement would succeed.

"Hmph, if that bastard Xiao Yan fails, I'll beat him up! How dare he trick me!" Zi Yan, who had been deceived by Xiao Yan, had also arrived at the Wind Thunder Mountain Range.

When Zi Yan reached Tianbei City, she happened upon the Hong Family bullying the Han Family—she punched them into rubble with a few blows; even Hong Tianxiao, the Hong Family's patriarch and a Five Star Dou Zong, was no match for her, chased all the way to the North Pavilion of the Wind Thunder Pavilion.

Upon learning Zi Yan represented the Yan Alliance and demanding the North Pavilion Master appear, she discovered Fei Tian was absent—and the three Elders of the Wind Thunder Pavilion accused her of showing off only because the Pavilion Master was away.

Zi Yan was so furious she wanted to grab Xiao Yan and beat him.

After smashing the Wind Thunder Sealing Array formed by the three Elders, she lost interest in further attacking the Wind Thunder Pavilion, declared her name was Zi Yan and dared them to find her at the Yan Alliance, then rushed off to settle accounts with Xiao Yan.

The Han Family, now under the Yan Alliance's protection, could not ignore the Wind Thunder Pavilion—but at least in Tianbei City, no other families would dare bully them.

At this moment, the Eight Rank beast's spiritual pressure was even beginning to strain the Space Lock, especially with the Four Directions Pavilion Assembly approaching—naturally drawing the Wind Thunder Pavilion's attention.

"No one may enter the Yan Alliance's territory!"

"Heh, don't you know why this mountain range is called Wind Thunder Mountain Range? We, the Wind Thunder Pavilion, are the masters here!"

Outside the Yan Alliance encampment, a group of Wind Thunder Pavilion disciples, clad in their robes, gripped their weapons and stormed up the mountain, fierce and aggressive.

A sharp sword hummed—suddenly, a blade of light flashed from afar, whooshing past in a flash, its icy radiance stretching a hundred li, leaving a deep sword scar across the path of the Wind Thunder Pavilion disciples.

"Step forward, and you die," Nalan Yanran, holding the Black Sword, stood lightly atop a treetop, clad in a silver robe, her aura razor-sharp, like a blade poised to strike.

"Dou Zong!"

"My god, she's Nalan Yanran of the Yan Alliance! Wasn't she just a Four-Star Dou Huang a few months ago—how is she a Dou Zong now?!"

The Four Directions Pavilion Assembly isn't just for the Four Pavilions—many sects from the outer regions of Zhong Zhou have also sent disciples to attend.

Hearing of the conflict between the Yan Alliance and the Wind Thunder Pavilion, they came to watch the spectacle.

"That's right—I heard Nalan Yanran appeared in the Heaven Eye Mountain Range three months ago, clashed with Wind Thunder Pavilion disciples, and fought Wang Chen of the Huangquan Pavilion. Back then she was only a Four-Star Dou Huang—now she's a Dou Zong?!"

"Is the Tian Shan Xue Tan really that incredible?"

"Are you stupid? If the Tian Shan Xue Tan were that miraculous, the Three Valleys or even the Two Sects of central Zhong Zhou would've seized it long ago—why would it be left to the Four Pavilions and the Golden Mice Clan? Haven't you forgotten the Yan Alliance has a Seven-Grade prodigy alchemist, Xiao Yan? I heard he was also present in the Heaven Eye Mountain Range then."

At this moment, the tense atmosphere naturally drew heated discussion from onlookers nearby—after all, the hottest topic in the North Domain right now was the conflict between the Yan Alliance and the Wind Thunder Pavilion.

"Heh, such a brash little girl, just entered Dou Zong—truly doesn't respect us old bones at all," came a light laugh from below the mountain. Upon closer look, it was Fei Tian, the North Pavilion Master of the Wind Thunder Pavilion—who had briefly clashed with Xiao Yan before!

"North Pavilion Master Fei Tian?!" Nalan Yanran's eyes narrowed—she recognized him immediately.

The Wind Thunder Pavilion had four pavilions: East, South, West, and North—the East Pavilion Master was naturally the Thunder Sovereign.

"North Pavilion Master? Who's the North Pavilion Master?" Zi Yan, hearing the North Pavilion Master had arrived, ran out from the encampment, looking left and right—adorably confused.

Seeing Zi Yan appear, Fei Tian's face darkened—during the time he left the North Pavilion to escort Feng Qing'er'er to the Heaven Eye Mountain Range, the Yan Alliance had stormed his pavilion, even smashing the Hong Family, who resided within the North Pavilion's inner quarters—how could he not be furious?

And the culprit was this adorable porcelain-doll-like girl before him—Zi Yan!

Had it not been for the imminent Four Directions Pavilion Assembly, the Wind Thunder Pavilion would have certainly retaliated against the Han Family and Zi Yan.

"You're the one who injured Hong Tianxiao and shattered the Nine Heavens Thunder Prison Array?" Fei Tian's eyes flashed with sharp light as he asked.

"You old bastards bully men and force women into marriage with your inner disciples—I'd say I didn't hit hard enough," Zi Yan said with an old-womanish air, one hand on her hip, the other thumb scraping her nose.

Fei Tian's eyes narrowed—immediately, the overwhelming spiritual pressure of an Eight Star Dou Zong crushed down. He didn't care about the Hong Family's bullying—but he couldn't let the Wind Thunder Pavilion's reputation be ruined!

Feeling the terrifying pressure of the Eight Star Dou Zong, Zi Yan grinned, revealing her cute little fangs and dimples—her body instantly glowed with brilliant purple light, dispelling Fei Tian's pressure.

"Eight Star Dou Zong—now this is interesting," Zi Yan punched her fists together, dong-dong-dong—each fist clash made the space tremble.

Though Zi Yan's cultivation realm was inferior to Fei Tian's, she was a Grand Void Dragon—her physical strength surpassed even Fei Tian's Eight Star Dou Zong! Within the Yan Alliance, even the Heavenly Flame Sovereign's physical power fell short of Zi Yan's!

"Heh, this little girl's interesting—I can't even tell what kind of beast she transformed from," came a croaking voice as an old woman leaning on a cane slowly climbed up the mountain, accompanied by a silent old man.

Seeing these two appear, those familiar with the Wind Thunder Pavilion gasped in shock.

"Kuang! That's the South Pavilion Master, Lei Po—Guan Su!"

"Even the West Pavilion Master, Kuang Lan the Elder—Kong Sun—is here! Both are terrifying Nine Star Dou Zongs!"

"All three Pavilion Masters—South, West, North—are here! Is the Wind Thunder Pavilion planning to strike the Yan Alliance at the Assembly?!"

Though the Thunder Sovereign wasn't the strongest of the four Sovereigns, the Wind Thunder Pavilion had the largest power—four pavilions. And Fei Tian, the North Pavilion Master, was the weakest among them!

"Sigh, clearly the Wind Thunder Pavilion is stronger—word is the South and West Pavilion Masters are nearly at Dou Zun."

"Heh, you don't understand the Yan Alliance. The Yan Alliance still has two Nine Star Dou Zongs—the Mei Du Sha Queen's infamous reputation was known even in Zhong Zhou over a decade ago. And the Eternal Calamity Body—the Yan Alliance is full of hidden tigers and dragons—who will win is still uncertain."

"I doubt it. The Yan Alliance is an outsider force—this Wind Thunder Mountain Range is the Wind Thunder Pavilion's headquarters. The Mei Du Sha Queen should be in the Northwest Region, and as for the Eternal Calamity Body—heh, that's no good thing."

Suddenly, the entire mountain range erupted in heated debate—everyone argued over which side, Yan Alliance or Wind Thunder Pavilion, was stronger.

This tense standoff even drew Qing Lin out. With the Mei Du Sha Queen absent, if the Wind Thunder Pavilion truly launched a full assault, Zi Yan and Nalan Yanran alone would not be enough.

As Xiao Yan's maid, protecting her young master was her mission!

Hum—hum—hum—dozens of Seven Rank Sea Giant Pythons emerged from the Qi San Hua Tong's space, their massive bodies blotting out the sky, filling the entire mountaintop.

Seeing Qing Lin's eyes glow with emerald light, even the silent West Pavilion Master gasped: "Qi San Hua Tong!"

Although they are all human, the Qi San Hua Tong still carries immense prestige, for the ancient Biyan She Sheng was once a Half-Sage powerhouse! Doesn't this mean the girl before us might one day become a Half-Sage!

For a moment, the Pavilion Masters of the Three Pavilions dared not cross the sword mark Nalan Yanran had drawn, all wary of Qing Lin—the girl with long green hair who had barely lifted a finger.

The two characters "Half-Sage" weighed heavily upon Feng Lei Pavilion, suffocating it.

As the air grew heavy, a boy's voice echoed across the entire mountain peak.

"Go back. If Feng Lei Pavilion wishes to wage war, let that boy from the East Pavilion come himself. You few cannot cross that sword mark."

!!!

Everyone snapped their heads upward—there, floating steadily in space, stood the Heavenly Flame Sovereign, his appearance and physique that of a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy.

After reshaping his body, the Heavenly Flame Sovereign now looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, yet in actual age, he was far older than Lei Zunzhe.

"Dou Zun!"

At the utterance of "Dou Zun," every disciple of Feng Lei Pavilion went weak at the knees. Outside Zhong Zhou, Dou Zun were gods!

In the current Dou Qi Continent, no Dou Di exists; without Dou Sheng, Dou Zun reign supreme!

"Return, please. Guests are welcome. This year's Four Directions Pavilion Assembly is hosted by Feng Lei Pavilion—we naturally welcome all Sects to attend." From afar, in the East Pavilion, a voice crossed hundreds of miles of rivers and mountains.

At that voice, Feng Lei Pavilion's disciples instantly regained their confidence—it was Lei Zunzhe's voice! Their own Feng Lei Pavilion also had a Dou Zun!

At that moment, atop a grand, magnificent pavilion in the center of Feng Lei Cheng, stood a man. He was tall, appearing no more than forty or fifty, yet a strand of silver-white beard hung from his chin.

He wore a silver robe, embroidered entirely with lightning patterns. From afar, the patterns seemed alive, swirling continuously, and faintly, a trace of thunderous might seeped from them.

He was Lei Zunzhe—one of the Four Sovereigns!

At this moment, Lei Zunzhe gazed toward the horizon. Even from afar, he could see the Yan Alliance's encampment, lock onto the Heavenly Flame Sovereign, and project his voice beyond a hundred miles.

At the Dou Zun level, one could effortlessly achieve the effect of an Earth-Rank Low-Level sonic Dou Technique.

Lei Zunzhe did not know what the Yan Alliance was scheming, so he sent three Pavilion Masters to investigate—but this probe was doomed to uncover nothing.

"Now is not the time for full-scale war with the Yan Alliance. Mutual destruction would only benefit the other three." Lei Zunzhe murmured to himself, then turned his gaze inward, toward Feng Qing'er'er, whose body was entwined in wind-and-thunder energy, with a spectral shadow forming around her.

Soon after, Feng Qing'er'er slowly opened her eyes. The wind-and-thunder energy receded, and the spectral shadow vanished.

"Qing'er, how is the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body?" Lei Zunzhe stroked his beard and smiled.

"Excellent. It is a Body Technique perfectly suited to our clan's cultivation. Especially for my Wind-Thunder Body—I believe I can unleash even greater power." Feng Qing'er'er's eyes sparkled with joy; she had stumbled upon the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body by chance and knew instantly it suited her, which is why she came to Feng Lei Pavilion to learn it.

She had assumed it would be extremely difficult for a beast to learn human Dou Techniques—but she never imagined the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body would align so perfectly with the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's cultivation!

Then Feng Qing'er'er spoke: "Pavilion Master, do not worry. Once I master the Three Thousand Thunder Illusion Body to the Minor Success stage, I will return to my clan. I am certain our Elders will recognize its value."

"Then Feng Lei Pavilion will befriend—or even ally with—my clan. If we send our disciples here, even the Star Fall Pavilion and the Three Valleys will pale beside Feng Lei Pavilion!"

Hearing Feng Qing'er'er's promise, Lei Zunzhe was overjoyed. He had granted her the secret Dou Technique of Feng Lei Pavilion precisely to cultivate goodwill with the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan!

Lei Zunzhe had perfectly executed the art of clinging to nobility.

Of course, while some cling to nobility, others climb dragons.

Three days after the minor clash between the Yan Alliance and Feng Lei Pavilion, Mao Wu was well-fed—the negative energy suited it perfectly. But the negative energy from a mere Eight Rank Magic Core was utterly insufficient to trigger its evolution into Heavenly Emperor Fire.

In the Black Demon, without negative energy, the Magic Core had become a pure energy mass, and the Primitive Pills, having been burned, compressed, and polished by the Strange Fire, were growing ever more pill-like.

"Merge the Pill!"

Xiao Yan roared, unleashing his Soul Force, Fire Control Power, and Dou Qi to their limits, fusing the two energies together—once fused, the Fuling Green Pill would succeed!

Watching the Magic Core energy mass and the Primitive Pill merge, the Heavenly Flame Sovereign's heart rose to his throat—this was the final step!

Three more days passed. Xiao Yan had been refining for over half a month. Such intense Spirit Refining was unbearable even for him; even Yue Er, the young princess, and Xin Lan, watching nearby, were exhausted, both beautiful girls now pale and haggard.

Wummm!!! Suddenly, a storm of emerald Pill Fragrance erupted from the Alchemy Furnace. The instant it surged, Yue Er and Xin Lan's fatigue vanished—they instantly revived.

"It's about to succeed!"

Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened. He surged the flame's Infernal Heat to its peak, then abruptly withdrew it, slamming his palm onto the Alchemy Furnace and bellowing: "Pill Complete!"

Puff! The furnace lid flew open. A streak of emerald light shot skyward, followed by a swirling vortex of emerald energy spinning wildly—this was the Pill absorbing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Power and Spiritual Light!

An Eight Grade Pill does not merely emit a colored pillar—it forms a vortex, absorbing Heaven and Earth Power and Spiritual Energy to enhance its own spiritual nature.

Boom-boom-boom!!! Within the Heavenly Flame Sovereign's Space Lock, storm clouds gathered. Within them, silver lightning crackled incessantly—thicker than any Seven-Grade Pill Lightning, terrifying as mountains and rivers.

Seeing the Pill Lightning appear, Xiao Yan smiled faintly and waved his hand, summoning Xing Tian: "Go!"

Xing Tian surged skyward. The Pill Lightning, as if provoked, roared down like a silver dragon.

Seeing such a massive Pill Lightning, there was no doubt: Xiao Yan's Pill was at least Seventh Rank Peak. Whether it reached Eight Grade depended on whether a second color appeared.

Amid the silver Pill Lightning, Xing Tian's bronze hue rapidly faded, revealing vast stretches of silver-white.

"Red! Red Pill Lightning!!" Xin Lan shrieked, pointing at the storm clouds, eyes alight with delight—she had witnessed the birth of an Eight Grade Pill!

No sooner had the silver lightning struck than crimson Pill Lightning surged from the clouds—undoubtedly, Xiao Yan's Fuling Green Pill had reached absolute Eight Grade in both quality and spiritual nature.

"Xiao Yan, do you need my help?" The Heavenly Flame Sovereign asked anxiously, wishing he could use his own body to block the Pill Lightning—he feared the Pill might fail.

"Hehe, Elder Yao, you distrust me too much. Don't worry—Xing Tian loves Pill Lightning." Xiao Yan smiled. The crimson lightning was already a Half-Dou Zun strike; if a third appeared, it would be a One Star Dou Zun.

But he trusted Xing Tian could withstand it!

Boom!! The crimson lightning crashed down—its power far greater than the silver. It crushed Xing Tian's body inward.

Yet as the crimson lightning struck, even as Xing Tian's body caved in, the remaining bronze peeled away rapidly, revealing a fully silver-white form.

"Hahaha! Earth Demon Puppet!" Xiao Yan rejoiced.

Only an extraordinary Alchemist like Xiao Yan could evolve a Puppet so swiftly—other Alchemists could barely dream of summoning Pill Lightning.

Zizizi… The storm clouds still churned. A streak of orange lightning slowly formed.

"What?! Three colors? No way!" Xiao Yan's heart jolted. The Fuling Green Pill was only supposed to summon Two-Colored Pill Lightning—how could a third color appear?!

Unfortunately, the orange lightning merely churned, never falling—after all, the Fuling Green Pill had never reached that level.

When the storm clouds vanished, the Heavenly Flame Sovereign took the Fuling Green Pill from Xiao Yan. He stared at the Pill within the Brocade Box, trembling with excitement—it could restore him to Three Star Dou Zun!

At that moment, Xiao Yan and the Heavenly Flame Sovereign exchanged glances—no, they exchanged cackles. For Xiao Yan's condition for refining the Fuling Green Pill had been: the Heavenly Flame Sovereign must join Xiao Yan's Soul Palace.

"Jiejiejie." *2

The seventh day!!!

(End of chapter)