Chapter 343: When the Time Comes, Heaven and Earth Unite Their Strength

"Sir, you told me so much—what does it mean?"

The Heavenly Demon King laughed, "I only tell you, living in this world, don't think you're the protagonist; we are all supporting characters."

"He will, at an unimaginable speed, swiftly cultivate to the Great Vehicle Stage, defeat one enemy after another that stands before him, turn the impossible into possible… Sir, are you saying such a person will appear in this world?" Yan Buji asked.

"When the time comes, heaven and earth lend their strength; when it departs, destiny is not free."

The Heavenly Demon King smiled, pulled several jade slips from his bosom and tossed them to him: "If you wish to defy such fate, first try to resist the saints' restrictions."

Yan Buji took the jade slips, laughed, "Is that so."

In the end, such matters were still far beyond his reach; everything Yan Buji did was solely for himself.

But as the Heavenly Demon King said, if one cannot break the taboo, perhaps one doesn't even deserve to stand before them.

Yan Buji thus began studying the Martial Dao Profound Skill the Heavenly Demon King gave him.

These Martial Dao Profound Skills each had different focuses: one, Violent Tiger Skill, emphasized strength; another, Returning Dragon Nest, emphasized defense; the third, Great Xuan Break, specialized in lethal force.

All three skills had their merits; Yan Buji pondered and formed a plan.

He intended to first integrate the three skills into a single system before incorporating them into his own cultivation framework; if he simply cultivated them one by one, he might likely break through the Core Formation Stage, but it wouldn't significantly boost his combat power.

With his current complete foundational Martial Dao system, the Blood Heaven Ascension Degree can trigger the Bright King Level and Sudden Rage Level, markedly raising his strength and combat power; he does not wish to toggle states mid‑battle, so after fully attaining the Blood Heaven Ascension Degree, even if he can employ multiple states simultaneously for a surge in power, the True Essence consumption remains extremely intense.

It is like originally only activating the Sudden Rage Level, which didn't tax Yan Buji that much. Yet if he uses both Bright King Level and Sudden Rage Level together, the consumption is not merely additive—it multiplies severalfold.

On top of that, employing any other True Essence techniques would likely prevent his peak form from lasting beyond ten seconds.

Given that, merging the differing focuses of the three skills into a single refined skill would at least keep True Essence consumption from becoming so dreadful.

After some time.

Yan Buji stayed indoors each day, refining Grain-Avoiding Pill and then revising the skill.

Until half a year later.

Yan Buji opened his eyes and laughed, "Done, the revision is complete."

Next, he only needs to fuse the revised Three-in-One Dragon Tiger Xuan Skill into his Blood Heaven Ascension Degree, and he should be able to break through the later Foundation Establishment stage.

But at that moment, a knock came from outside the door.

"Brother Yan, Brother Yan!"

【4】 Yan Buji heard the voice, knew Wang Chao had come, and rose to open the door: "What's the matter, Brother Wang?"

【5】 Wang Chao looked at Yan Buji, frowned, and said, "Come with me!"

【6】 "What's happened that it's so urgent?"

【7】 Yan Buji followed Wang Chao, walking all the way to the street of Wan Long Palace.

【8】 He saw gambling tables set up everywhere, countless Dragon People gathered around them, shouting excitedly, some crying loudly.

【9】 Wang Chao pointed at the vicinity, then glanced at Yan Buji, at a loss for words.

【10】 Continuing onward, Wang Chao led Yan Buji to another hall, where even more Dragon People were present, turning it into a full‑blown casino.

【11】 "Place your bets, place your bets!!"

【12】 "Big big!"

【13】 "Small!"

【14】 "Open! Leopard straight kill, banker wins!"

【15】 "You're cheating, aren't you?"

【16】 "Cheating? If you can't play, don't play, get out!"

【17】 Wang Chao watched the scene and took a deep breath.

【18】 "Do you know how many new casinos have appeared inside Wan Long Palace recently?"

【19】 "Casino? This… what about it?" Yan Buji looked at him and asked.

【20】 Wang Chao inhaled deeply: "I originally thought that after they took the Grain-Avoiding Pill, they'd find it tasty and want more. Using this momentum, we could send them out to hunt, or make them intensify cultivation; in short, it would spur them into proactive action. But look at what this has become?!"

【21】 "When did our Dragon People become a huge casino?!"

【22】 Yan Buji asked, puzzled, "So? What necessary relation does this have to me?"

【23】 Wang Chao said coldly, "Don't think I don't know—you must have put something into the Grain-Avoiding Pill, right?"

"Also, since Wang Man started communicating with you, he's been handling these matters; these casinos are his doing. He even uses Grain-Avoiding Pill as currency for gambling. Do you think that's right, Yan Buji?" Wang Chao stared at him.

Yan Buji laughed, "So you already knew I put something into the Grain-Avoiding Pill?"

"I know that herb; the priest once told me it has a mild hallucinogenic effect. But I didn't expect… you actually refined it into a poison!"

"No, you're wrong about that."

Yan Buji walked over, gestured toward the excited gambling Dragon People, and said, "Look at them—now they're so motivated, so thrilled; aren't they much better than the stagnant state they were before?"

"Furthermore…" Yan Buji came closer, whispered to Wang Chao, "Since you also know the Grain-Avoiding Pill makes people addicted, why did you still let me keep refining the pill? Why didn't you expose me before? Why didn't you rebuke me loudly?"

Wang Chao widened his eyes, staring angrily at Yan Buji: "You!"

"The reason is, you're just like me," Yan Buji said calmly. "You also want to use this method to make Dragon People, while arousing their appetite, resist laziness, stimulate their spirits to become excited, so that you can achieve your goals. I, however, am merely one step ahead of you."

"What exactly are you trying to do?!" Wang Chao seemed to have his inner thoughts exposed, becoming indignant and angry.

"I don't deny your idea; just as you have been covertly observing events, trying to rally the Dragon People to improve the Dragon People together with you?"

Yan Buji said lightly, "But your methods…"

Wang Chao was clearly not as gentle as he seemed; he also had his own thoughts.

He could tolerate employing some unsavory means to revitalize the whole Dragon People, but could not tolerate that after revitalization they would be gambling.

What difference does this gambling‑loving Dragon People have from before?

Yan Buji looked at Wang Chao and said, "So? What are you planning?"

"I won't let them continue like this," Wang Chao said, looking at Yan Buji.

Wang Chao took a deep breath: "I originally thought that after they took the Grain-Avoiding Pill and found it tasty, they would definitely want to eat it again. Using this momentum, I could take them out hunting, or push them to train harder; in any case, it would get them to act proactively. But look at this—what does it look like?!"

When did our Dragon People turn into a huge gambling den?!!

Yan Buji said doubtfully: "So what? What inevitable connection does this have with me?"

Wang Chao said coldly: "Don't think I don't know—what did you put in this Grain-Avoiding Pill?"

Besides, Wang Man has been in charge of all this ever since he started communicating with you; these gambling halls were set up by him. He even used Grain-Avoiding Pills as money for gambling—do you think that's okay, Yan Buji? Wang Chao stared at him fixedly.

Yan Buji laughed: "So you already knew I put something in the Grain-Avoiding Pill?"

I know that herb; the priest once told me it has a mild hallucinogenic effect. But I never expected.... you could actually refine it into poison!

Hey, you got that wrong.

Yan Buji walked over, extended his hand toward that group of excitedly gambling Dragon People, and said: "Look at them—now they're so energetic, so excited, isn't that much better than their previous stagnant pool-like state?"

Furthermore.... Yan Buji walked over, looked at Wang Chao and said softly: "Since you also know this Grain-Avoiding Pill causes addiction, why still let me keep refining it? Why didn't you expose me earlier? Why didn't you loudly rebuke me?"

Wang Chao widened his eyes, angrily looking at Yan Buji: "You!"

After all, you and I are the same." Yan Buji said calmly: "You also want to use this method to let the Dragon People stimulate their appetite while resisting laziness, to excite their spirits so they can do what you want to do. And I merely did it one step ahead of you."

What exactly do you want to do?!" Wang Chao seemed to have his inner thoughts exposed, appearing somewhat ashamed and angry.

I don't deny your idea, just as you also secretly observed the developments, wanting to win over the Dragon People and together make the Dragon People better, right?

Yan Buji said calmly: "But your methods are too gentle. The Dragon People are a patient on the brink of death; without a strong medicine they cannot possibly survive."

Wang Chao is obviously not as gentle as he appears on the surface; he also has his own ideas.

He can tolerate using some unsavory means to revive the entire Dragon People, but cannot tolerate that after they are revived they end up gambling?

What difference does this gambling-prone Dragon People have compared to before?

Yan Buji looked at Wang Chao and said: "So what? What are you planning now?"

"I won't let them continue like this." Wang Chao looked at Yan Buji.

"Then we'll see if you have the ability to take them away, don't forget...."

Yan Buji smiled, clenching his fists: "Only I know how to refine that kind of medicinal powder."

Grain-Avoiding Pill is not hard to refine, but that kind of appetite-stimulating powder is something only I have.

Of course, if Wang Chao used even more ruthless means to control more dragon people, then Yan Buji would think more highly of him.

Wang Chao didn't say anything more and turned to leave.