Chapter 816

Just as Cao Shenzǐ was about to strike, Xiao Yan slammed the alchemy furnace, instantly covering it in countless cracks, as black flame erupted from within, blasting Cao Shenzǐ away with terrifying force.

Boom—! The alchemy furnace exploded instantly, a violent flame wave spewing outward in all directions like a volcanic eruption, surging straight toward the sky.

"The furnace exploded!!"

"I told you, does this Yan Zunzhe even know how to refine pills? Why's he dumping in random medicinal materials?!" some alchemists shook their heads.

"Hmph, I said all along he was just lucky—how could a pill alchemist from a Lower Plane surpass the ancient Wancao Plains alchemists? See? He's exposed himself trying to refine a high-grade elixir." Others sneered, convinced Xiao Yan had merely been lucky.

Yet as the black flame surged skyward, the heavens above suddenly began to subtly shift. The terrifying fire pillar scorched the heavens, piercing straight into the cosmos. Endless dark space twisted as if warped by the Spirit Flame, forming a colossal vortex.

A vortex appeared above Xiao Yan's head, and from within it, a voice emerged, growing louder and louder.

"That's… Black God Thunder!" Someone gasped, staring at the vortex in the sky: "My god, he actually perfected a Divine-Star pill!!"

The black flame surging skyward formed a Spirit Flame vortex, a black hole-like swirl that devoured the thunderclouds and surrounding Heavenly Earth Spirit Qi, refining them into pure threads of Heavenly Energy that merged into the pill.

"This pill refining method…" Nushan Yisheng stared at the vortex swallowing thunder and absorbing heaven, his eyes sharp—he, as a Grandmaster Alchemist, knew this wasn't merely the advantage of a Spirit Flame; it was a unique pill refining technique.

Even in the Great Thousand World, let alone the Dou Qi Continent, Pill Lightning generated during spirit refining is something alchemists dread, desperately trying to fend it off.

But Xiao Yan invented a technique—Hundred Generations Refining Heaven—that absorbs the energy of Pill Lightning into the pill itself, refining even the sky.

The Hundred Generations Refining Heaven drew inspiration from the Refining Heaven Ancient Formation, but also from Xiao Yan's refusal to waste anything. As the Water Without Leak Yan Zunzhe, he believed it was a waste to merely block and dissipate the Pill Lightning.

After all, Pill Lightning arises precisely because the pill has formed; its intensity and type vary with the pill, making it effectively part of the pill itself.

Thus, Xiao Yan created the Hundred Generations Refining Heaven technique, capturing the Pill Lightning drawn by the pill and absorbing every last drop without waste.

"Brilliant method!" Nushan Yisheng watched Xiao Yan's refining technique, his eyes gleaming with excitement: "Pill Lightning is part of the pill itself! Refining its violent energy into the pill elevates its quality."

"So that's why he removed part of the Primitive Pill's medicinal properties and energy—so the Heavenly Power of the Pill Lightning could integrate and balance the energy ratios."

Nushan Yisheng, himself a powerful alchemist, had figured out Xiao Yan's method.

Seeing Nushan Yisheng protect Xiao Yan, Cao Shenzǐ's face turned pitch black. Clutching the Absolute Saint Treasure, he no longer cared—he unleashed his strongest technique, slashing straight at Xiao Yan: "I won't let you live!"

Cao Shenzǐ surged forward like a ferocious lion; in an instant, his Supreme Form glowed, unleashing overwhelming heavenly might, his blood qi surging wildly, making him appear as a god descending from heaven, radiant with divine light and an aura of invincibility.

Xiao Yan, still refining the pill, didn't move. Suddenly, a towering figure appeared before him. Facing the charging Cao Shenzǐ, the figure flicked his finger—Bang! The godlike Cao Shenzǐ was blasted backward, crashing through a mountain peak.

Closer look revealed the figure who had flung Cao Shenzǐ away was none other than Nushan Yisheng, summoned by the Heavenly Saint Sect!

"So powerful!"

"Kuang! What the hell? Nushan Yisheng is also a Full-Circle Earth Supreme like Cao Shenzǐ—how is his power so much stronger?!"

One finger casually flung Cao Shenzǐ—who wielded the Absolute Saint Treasure—away. Countless people felt their scalps go numb. Cao Shenzǐ was a Full-Circle Earth Supreme with an Absolute Saint Treasure—his ferocity was legendary—and yet Nushan Yisheng had flicked him away with a finger.

Splash! Cao Shenzǐ burst from the rubble, his body streaked with blood, staring at Nushan Yisheng with shock and disbelief.

Though Nushan Yisheng hadn't yet reached the Heavenly Supreme, he had once refined a Divine-Star Peak Heaven Breaking Pill for himself. Though he hadn't broken through to Heavenly Supreme, the pill's effect had elevated him to Half-Heavenly Supreme—far stronger than ordinary Full-Circle Earth Supremes.

Cao Shenzǐ stood no chance against him.

Seeing Nushan Yisheng intervene to protect Xiao Yan, many present were stunned. Wasn't Nushan Yisheng the Heavenly Saint Sect's ally?! Why had he turned traitor?!

Nushan Yisheng ignored Cao Shenzǐ's fury and confusion, turned, smiled, and studied Xiao Yan from head to toe: "Interested in joining the Ancient Wancao Plains? Become my Cloth Robe Inheriting Disciple—I'll teach you all my pill alchemy."

Hearing this, not just Cao Shenzǐ, but every spectator far away was shaken to their core—they all drew sharp breaths. To join the Ancient Wancao Plains—and be taken as a Cloth Robe Inheriting Disciple by Nushan Yisheng?!

This was unthinkable. Even the most gifted disciples of the Ancient Wancao Plains lacked such privilege. After all, this was a Half-Grandmaster Alchemist—such Ancestors rarely took disciples, let alone now, when Nushan Yisheng was summoned by the Heavenly Saint Sect.

You were hired to fight Yan Zunzhe—and now you're taking him as your disciple?!

"Take me as your disciple?" Xiao Yan smiled, then without hesitation, shook his head: "You do have some strength. Your Ancient Wancao Plains is indeed formidable. I know what treasures you hold—treasures that make the world drool, even possessing Heavenly Supremes and true Grandmaster Alchemists. But I hate your countless rigid rules. Besides, spending time with a crowd of old men will make me old, rigid, and unable to advance."

"Kuang! This Yan Zunzhe is insane! Does he even know who Nushan Yisheng is?!" Some Earth Supremes couldn't help but curse, furious at his stupidity.

"One of the Three Great Medicine Grandmasters of the Ancient Wancao Plains is Nushan Yisheng's elder brother! Joining his sect means becoming a fellow disciple of a Grandmaster Alchemist!!! He turned it down—he's insane!" Some alchemists pounded their chests in rage, wishing they could take his place.

This opportunity was one no one could refuse. The Ancient Wancao Plains held endless medicinal materials and was a top-tier faction—stronger than the Fire Spirit Clan, Ice Spirit Clan, and Western Heaven Palace—a force that terrified countless others, not to mention Nushan Yisheng's vast connections.

If given the chance to join Nushan Yisheng's sect, any alchemist would instantly kneel. If Nushan Yisheng ever sought disciples, every alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent would rush to join the Ancient Wancao Plains.

"I know what the Ancient Wancao Plains is," Xiao Yan smiled at Nushan Yisheng, then shook his head: "But I'm not interested. Besides, I already have a master."

"Still… you've got some insight. If you do me a favor, I might guide you in pill alchemy—teach you my refining methods." Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes at Nushan Yisheng, speaking slowly: "You're a Full-Circle Grandmaster Alchemist now, but you're missing something to break through to Grandmaster Alchemist level. The condition I propose… you'll find interesting."

"You'll teach me pill alchemy?" Nushan Yisheng froze. He'd been moved by Xiao Yan's talent, inspired to take him as a disciple.

With his keen eye, he'd seen Xiao Yan's extraordinary pill alchemy talent and uncanny Fire Control Power—he was a born alchemist, destined to become a Grandmaster Alchemist, even the legendary Saint Grade Medicine Grandmaster.

Yet Xiao Yan had refused him—and now wanted to take him as a disciple?! How arrogant!

But Nushan Yisheng fell silent, thinking. Calmly, he recalled—he'd come here to study the pill alchemy of this plane, hoping to break through his final barrier to become a Grandmaster Alchemist.

Xiao Yan's proposal might be insolent, but it achieved his goal.

"This deal is worth it—for you, and for the Ancient Wancao Plains," Xiao Yan smiled, then ignored Nushan Yisheng, turning to Cao Shenzǐ, his gaze suddenly icy: "You've attacked me repeatedly. Do you truly think I won't raise my blade?"

Feeling the cold in Xiao Yan's gaze, every member of the Heavenly Saint Sect felt their hearts sink, a chill racing to their skulls.

"Yisheng! You promised to protect us!" Cao Zi, bleeding and barely standing, screamed. Without Nushan Yisheng, how could the Heavenly Saint Sect stand against Xiao Yan?

Hearing this, Nushan Yisheng frowned—he had indeed made that promise.

But before Nushan Yisheng could speak, Xiao Yan smiled: "He can't save your Heavenly Saint Sect."

"You don't even realize you've been poisoned."

!?

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian had arrived at the Heavenly Saint Sect long ago—but hadn't revealed themselves immediately.

The Eternal Calamity Poison Body is one of the Primordial Body Techniques, and poison is an insidious thing—no matter how powerful a cultivator, even they can be killed by poison from a commoner.

Hum—! Quietly, like an invisible ghost, Xiao Yixian suddenly erupted. A gray poison surged from her body—and then, something terrifying happened.

As Xiao Yixian activated her Supreme Form, a colossal gray demonic gate opened behind her, pouring out torrents of poison. Green-black poison flames burned within, the gate creaking open with a guttural sound. Vast oceans of poison flame and gas poured forth, forming a monstrous Qian Mu Ye Jing that flew from the gate, its poison so potent it seemed ready to turn heaven and earth into a demonic wasteland.

Xiao Yixian's Supreme Form wasn't humanoid—it took the shape of the Qian Mu Ye Jing.

Xiao Yixian changed her hand seals, whispering in her heart: "Supreme Divine Technique, Calamity Poison Vein."

At that moment, something impossible occurred—Boom! The entire Heavenly Saint Sect cracked open. Infinite Heavenly Earth Essence Qi erupted from ruptured Earth Veins, like a colossal pulse, a giant pillar surging upward. As the boundless spiritual energy burst forth, every disciple of the Heavenly Saint Sect froze in shock.

By the time the Heavenly Saint Sect's elders realized something was wrong, it was far too late.

Xiao Yixian's Eternal Calamity Poison Body can not only poison people, but also poison space, and even poison Earth Veins!

The Spiritual Vein that originally nourished all things had, a few days ago, been transformed by Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian working together into a Poison Vein!

All the Disciples within the Heavenly Saint Sect who absorbed Earth Vein energy for Cultivation had already been poisoned a few days ago.

The strangeness and terror of the Eternal Calamity Poison simply cannot be guarded against. The Eternal Calamity Poison Body is truly a great weapon of war.

"No!!"

Cao Shenzi screamed, unable to believe his own eyes. This was impossible—even he, a Great Perfection Earth Supreme, could not control this Heavenly Saint Spirit Vein of their Heavenly Saint Sect, nor command all the Heavenly Earth Spirit Qi within the Spiritual Vein.

Legend has it that only a Heaven Supreme can control a Continent's Spiritual Vein. Yet now, all the Heavenly Earth Spirit Qi of the entire Spiritual Vein had been poisoned; the entire heaven and earth, the entire space—all the Heavenly Earth Spirit Qi had turned into Poison days ago, unknowingly absorbed by every Disciple of their Heavenly Saint Sect!

All the Elders and powerhouses of the Heavenly Saint Sect refused to believe such a thing!

"How could this be possible!"

"A Spiritual Vein simply cannot be poisoned—how could such a poison exist!"

Even the Demon Qi of the Domain Beyond evil race can corrupt Spiritual Energy, but it would be very obvious—Demon Qi is Demon Qi. Yet Xiao Yixian was actually able to poison them without anyone noticing!

Even everyone outside the Heavenly Saint Sect was stunned. Never had they heard of anyone being able to poison a Spiritual Vein. You must understand, the Heavenly Saint Sect rules the entire Tian Sheng Continent, and their Sect was naturally built upon the Continent's greatest Spiritual Vein.

If even a Spiritual Vein could be poisoned, doesn't that mean that right now everyone on the entire Tian Sheng Continent has been poisoned?! That the life and death of every single person rests in the hands of that serene, seemingly gentle-as-water woman?!!

At this moment, Xiao Yixian held the power of life and death over an entire Continent and countless billions of people!

"No!!"

Suddenly, with a whoosh, a mass of gray-green Strange Fire surged out of Cao Shenzi's body, his skin beginning to be broken down by the poison—Xiao Yixian had activated the toxins within him. Every day Cao Shenzi had spent Cultivating during this period had been equivalent to inhaling poison.

A trace of Eternal Calamity Poison certainly couldn't kill Cao Shenzi, a Great Perfection Earth Supreme, but when several days' worth of toxins accumulated, combined with the power of the Netherworld Poison Fire and the Supreme Divine Technique of the Pristine Law Body—even though Xiao Yixian was only at the strength of a lower Earth Supreme, it was still possible to poison a Great Perfection Earth Supreme to death.

Cao Shenzi let out a unwilling shriek, and the deepest-hidden Divine Soul within his Supreme Sea melted like ice cream, killed by Xiao Yixian's poison.

(End of Chapter)