Chapter 79: The Hidden Dungeon Has Arrived! [Seek Investment, Votes]

Hearing Xiao Yixian's sobs, Xiao Yan felt a deep ache in his heart. He never wanted to tell Xiao Yixian the Poison Pill method so soon.

Ideally, Xiao Yixian would naturally overcome her addiction to consuming poisons—but reality always defied wishes.

Now that he had revealed the existence of the Poison Pill method, it was as if he had told her: you can eat poisons freely, you have the Poison Pill method to protect you.

Xiao Yan's greatest fear was that, with no more worries, Xiao Yixian would no longer suppress her "appetite," continuously swallowing poisons until the accumulated toxins triggered the Eternal Calamity Poison's outbreak prematurely.

Moreover, Xiao Yan knew the Poison Pill method was merely a temporary fix—it could not fully control the Eternal Calamity Poison.

According to the specific steps in the Poison Pill method scroll, it involved using Three Infernal Flames to refine the toxins inside the body, along with the Magic Core of the Heaven Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast and Puti Huati Yan, into a Poison Pill—effectively treating the Eternal Calamity Poison body as an Alchemy Furnace, refining all toxins into a single pill.

As an Alchemist, Xiao Yan naturally understood that the principle behind the Poison Pill method was Spirit Refining; the Poison Pill method was, in fact, a Seven-Rank Peak Pill Formula.

Thus, Xiao Yan understood even more clearly that the Poison Pill method was only a temporary solution, incapable of permanently resolving the Eternal Calamity Poison.

The Poison Dou Qi of the Eternal Calamity Poison body would cause problems upon reaching the Dou Zong realm, always at risk of explosion. A Seven-Grade Pill was precisely designed for Dou Zong users.

In other words, the Poison Pill could only absorb toxins below the peak Dou Zong level; once Xiao Yixian's Cultivation Realm surpassed Dou Zong and reached Dou Zun, the Poison Pill would begin to fail.

After all, the Pills used by Dou Zun were Eight Grade Pills—the gap between Seven-Grade and Eight Grade was immense; Eight Grade Pills required the Soul Force to reach the Spirit Realm, a staggering difference.

So far, Xiao Yan had combed through every book in his storage ring and found no way to completely resolve the Eternal Calamity Poison.

Xiao Yan did not want to end up powerless, watching Xiao Yixian die before his eyes.

Gently patting Xiao Yixian's head, Xiao Yan said softly: "Breakfast is a bit late tonight."

Hearing this, Xiao Yixian snapped back to reality, stepped back two paces, saw the damp patch on Xiao Yan's clothes, and blushed deeply, whispering: "Thank you, Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yan waved his hand. "What's there to thank me for? We're still far from having everything—this is just the first step. I've only successfully refined one Fourth-Rank Pill so far, and the other two ingredients are still nowhere to be found."

"Ah, it's a pity we didn't find the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Fire during this trip to the Mo Shou Shan Mai."

Although the Void Swallowing Flame's offspring is also an Infernal Flame, it's still far too weak in its newborn state—its power pales in comparison to the Bone Spirit Cold Fire.

Xiao Yan estimated that the Void Swallowing Flame's offspring must grow strong enough to burn a Sixth Rank Demon Beast alive before it can truly match the power of a genuine Infernal Flame.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Yixian finally understood why he had come to the Mo Shou Shan Mai.

"So you must control yourself and not overindulge—remember to wait until I gather all Three Infernal Flames and become a Seventh-Rank Alchemist to refine the Poison Pill for you," Xiao Yan pleaded earnestly.

Looking at Xiao Yan's serious, earnest expression, a warm current flowed through Xiao Yixian's heart; she wiped the tears from her cheeks, sniffled softly, and silently vowed: "No matter what happens in the future, before you, I am still the Xiao Yixian of Qingshan Town."

Seven days passed in a flash; to Xiao Yan's relief, Xiao Yixian's Cultivation Realm had not risen a single bit during those seven days.

Watching Xiao Yixian smile brightly as she carried her small flower basket to gather herbs, Xiao Yan prepared to return to the small cave to continue refining pills. Over the past seven days, aided by the Black Demon's effect, he had successfully refined another Fourth-Rank Healing Pill.

Only when he could fully control it would he truly master the Black Demon.

BOOM!! A thunderous crash echoed from the sky—right then, a colossal creature emerged from the mist at the entrance of the Small Valley; as soon as it appeared, the valley's Infernal Heat surged violently.

A scorching purple flame erupted upward, like a purple sun rising at the valley's entrance, even dispersing the mist.

"The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King!!" As Xiao Yan looked up and saw the giant beast radiating purple flames, he instantly recognized its identity.

Sixth Rank Demon Beast—Purple Crystal Winged Lion King!

Only when Xiao Yan faced the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King directly did he realize the true might of a Sixth Rank Demon Beast.

If Yun Yun hadn't lured the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King away earlier, a single flap of its wings would have reduced Xiao Yan to ashes!

This was the terror of a Sixth Rank Demon Beast—a force even Yun Lan Sect's Sect Master Yun Yun might not defeat!

Xiao Yixian immediately dropped her basket, rushed to Xiao Yan's side, clutching tightly the most potent Poison Powder she had ever brewed—she knew this poison might kill ordinary Third Grade Magical Beasts, but it would be utterly useless against the Sixth Rank Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.

Yet she did not flee—she chose to stand beside Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists. With Yun Yun gone, he had no way to confront a Sixth Rank Demon Beast—even if he could use the Soul Token to send a Soul Resonance message, spending Soul Points to summon a Dou Huang from the Soul Hall for help.

But by the time a Dou Huang from the Soul Hall arrived, he'd already be nothing but ashes.

With a deafening crash, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King landed heavily within the valley; the terrifying heatwave nearly overturned Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian.

This was the first time Xiao Yan had seen the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King so close—less than three meters away.

Facing a Sixth Rank Demon Beast directly was utterly different from watching from afar; Xiao Yan's entire body bristled with goosebumps.

Death was this close to him!

Not only the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King—but also the juvenile Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was present.

Under the gaze of two top-tier Demon Beasts, Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes. He could even feel his heart pounding wildly. He took a slow, deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

The only one who could save him now was himself!

"The Lion King graces my humble abode," Xiao Yan smiled faintly to Xiao Yixian. "Xian'er, no need for anything else—go gather some fine medicinal herbs and flower nectar, brew a pot of medicinal tea, and properly entertain the Lion King."

Xiao Yixian stared in shock—now you want me to brew tea? And you're hinting I shouldn't poison it!

Xiao Yixian nodded solemnly. "No matter what happens, I won't abandon you."

Xiao Yan gave a calm nod but said nothing.

"Human, you have guts," the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King snarled, its fury locking onto Xiao Yan with lethal intent. "That Dou Huang woman is gone, yet you still dare remain in the Mo Shou Shan Mai—and you stole my symbiotic Purple Source Crystal!!"

Xiao Yan merely smiled calmly. "If the Lion King merely wished to kill me in rage, I wouldn't be standing here chatting with you now—this place would already be a hell of ash and fire."

"Moreover, though I am but a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, I am known within the Alchemist Guild of the Jia Ma Empire. If you kill me, this Soul Token will transmit the event via Soul Resonance straight to the Guild Master."

"I believe killing a Fourth-Rank Alchemist brings the Lion King nothing but harm."

Xiao Yan idly toyed with the Soul Token; the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King could sense that the object in Xiao Yan's hand was no ordinary item—it was a Soul Tool capable of transmitting Soul Information.

He had heard that Alchemists could use Soul Resonance to summon powerful allies who owed them favors.

Of course, Xiao Yan was bluffing—no, bluffing the Lion.

Though he had refined a Fourth-Rank Pill, he had never joined the Alchemist Guild, never even applied for a rank assessment, and didn't even know who the Jia Ma Empire's Guild Master was.

"Hahaha! You're threatening me? A Fourth-Rank Alchemist? I don't believe the Jia Ma Empire would go to war over one!" A terrifying pressure instantly crushed down on Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan immediately activated the Roaring Lion's Protection, his Soul Force surging outward to resist the pressure.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Xiao Yan stood firm against the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's pressure. Though his face appeared calm, he was frantically channeling every ounce of Soul Force to hold back.

Had it not been for the Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering Technique, which had raised his Soul Level to Mid-Common Realm, he would have already collapsed.

Moments later, Xiao Yixian's voice came from the thatched cottage: "Xiao Yan, the tea is ready."

Xiao Yan smiled and made a welcoming gesture, saying, "Perhaps we might step into my humble quarters and sample some medicinal tea?"

After a moment of silence, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's gaze hardened, and finally he slowly withdrew his oppressive aura; the body that had been dozens of meters tall also slowly shrank down until it was only three meters tall.

"As expected, the Amethyst Winged Lion King did not come for the Companion Amethyst Source Crystal."

"Could it be that thing?"

Regarding the matter of going live on premium, I won't be going live that quickly for now — I plan to write for another week or two and put up a few more free chapters.

I only ask that on the first day of premium, I can receive everyone's subscription support. The subscriptions on the first day of premium (initial subs) are far too important.

If you can turn on auto-subscribe, subscribing to the first-day chapters would be a tremendous kindness. ORZ

(End of this chapter)