Word Count: 3,396 Words
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"You're Qing Hai!" Tian Shuang Zi's eyes widened in shock. This was a fucking Hall of Souls Honorable Elder!
A Hall of Souls Honorable Elder cooperating with an alchemist? This had to be a joke!
"Jie Jie Jie, Tian Shuang Zi, my old friend. It's been quite a while since we last met. I trust you've been well?" Qing Hai laughed strangely. From their exchange, it wasn't difficult to tell that Qing Hai and Tian Shuang Zi knew each other!
Tian Shuang Zi's expression grew increasingly gloomy instead of showing any joy at hearing Qing Hai's words.
Qing Hai still remembered their past relationship yet chose to act against him anyway. This meant Xiao Yan's offer was extremely high!
The price had been raised!
"Qing Hai, you're a Hall of Souls Honorable Elder. If word of your cooperation with an alchemist reaches the Hall of Souls, you'll have a hard time explaining yourself to your Hall Master." Tian Shuang Zi's Dou Qi surged as he forcefully broke free. He looked gravely at the blue-haired Qing Hai, his words filled with extreme wariness.
Venerable Qing Hai was momentarily stunned before remembering that Venerable Yan's identity remained confidential, unlike his own and Mu Gu's, whose identities had already been exposed.
Generally, a Hall of Souls Honorable Elder's identity was kept secret. Only when an attempt to capture an alchemist failed, or a mission went awry, would their identities be revealed.
Qing Hai let out a strange laugh and said coldly, "Jie Jie Jie, Ven... hehe, although Mr. Xiao Yan is indeed an alchemist, the price he offered is one that even I, a Hall of Souls Honorable Elder, find difficult to refuse. Besides, while my Hall of Souls hunts alchemists everywhere, it's purely for profit. As long as the price is right, I believe the Hall Master won't blame me."
Qing Hai laughed inwardly: Blame my foot! This person is also from the Hall of Souls!
These words made Tian Shuang Zi grit his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. He burned with hatred! An 8th-tier alchemist didn't possess unlimited influence. First, one had to actually know Dou Venerates!
Xiao Yan had come from outside the Central Plains, not from a major clan like the Five Great Clans. He was a wandering alchemist. Ice River Valley never believed Xiao Yan would know any Dou Venerates besides Venerable Tian Huo.
Who would have thought! This guy could actually get the Hall of Souls to act!
'Could Xiao Yan have been hunted by the Hall of Souls before and negotiated a price?' Tian Shuang Zi couldn't help but furrow his brow, realizing things weren't so simple.
It wasn't strange for Tian Shuang Zi to think this way. Many alchemists had indeed been hunted by the Hall of Souls, but not a few had managed to escape.
"Xiao Yan, you're colluding with the Hall of Souls! If the Pill Tower learns of this, you won't even be able to participate in the Pill Gathering!" The half-step Dou Venerate Elder Tian She shouted with a dark expression.
Xiao Yan smiled indifferently. Qing Lin immediately understood and brought over a chair.
"If you're all dead, the Pill Tower won't find out, will they?" Xiao Yan sat down slowly and glanced at Venerable Yan She, who was fighting Venerable Tian Huo. With a somewhat enticing tone, he said, "Venerable Yan She, why risk your life for the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe? One tier 8 healing pill that attracts two-colored Pill Lightning. Help me capture that Tian Shuang Zi."
!!!!!
The moment Xiao Yan spoke, even Tian Shuang Zi's expression soured as he involuntarily looked toward Venerable Yan She. Even Venerable Tian Huo couldn't help but click his tongue. A single sentence from an alchemist could truly make anyone's heart race.
His own Green Fungus Pill was also merely a pill that attracted two-colored Pill Lightning.
Of course, there was a difference. His pill had been exactly what he needed most at that time.
"Venerable Yan She!" Tian Shuang Zi's eyes sharpened as he called out in a deep voice.
Venerable Yan She snorted coldly. "Hmph, Xiao Yan, don't think you can order me around just because you have pills. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils must not be allowed to exist in this world!"
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. He smiled and said, "Very well, you've got backbone. I like fools like you."
Of course, he knew this fellow didn't truly have backbone. He simply knew Venerable Bing was still lurking in the shadows.
"Zi Yan, go play without holding back."
Zi Yan flashed a toothy grin and chuckled. She had endured for far too long. During her previous battle with Fei Tian, she hadn't gained much advantage. But now, having reached 5-star Dou Ancestor strength, she might need to unleash her bloodline strength and transform into her true form to defeat the half-step Dou Venerate Tian She, but the other 8-star Dou Ancestors were another matter entirely.
Boom!
She bent her legs slightly and instantly transformed into a purple streak shooting skyward. Her fist carried Spatial Strength, ignoring even defensive Dou Techniques as it shuttled through the void, landing directly on an Ice River Valley 8-star Dou Ancestor elder's face!
With a muffled sound, that Ice River Valley elder had several teeth knocked flying by Zi Yan's punch as he spat blood and was sent flying backward.
Completely unleashed, Zi Yan was like a purple rampaging dragon. With every swing of her terrifying fists, even space couldn't withstand the force. Streams of spatial turbulence flew out in all directions.
Zi Yan reached out and actually grabbed the spatial turbulence to use as a whip. She lashed out once, and space itself twisted.
"Qing Lin, go help Zi Yan as well. Your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils can't yet affect that 3-star Dou Venerate with your current strength."
Qing Lin nodded, her eyes somewhat dim. If only her strength were greater, she could directly control that 3-star Dou Venerate. Then her Young Master wouldn't need to use extra pills.
Xiao Yan reached out and pinched her cute little cheek. "Don't worry. I believe your cultivation will advance very quickly soon."
"Yes, Young Master."
With Qing Lin joining the fray, the entire situation underwent an earth-shattering transformation. Particularly on Qing Hai's battlefield, Tian Shuang Zi was merely a 1-star Dou Venerate and couldn't possibly match Qing Hai, even with the half-step Dou Venerate Tian She and two 9-star Dou Ancestors forming an array to assist.
They were still suppressed by Qing Hai and could only struggle to hold on.
Xiao Yan sat in his chair and took out a chilled beverage from his storage ring. He had to admit, that Ice Spirit Cold Fountain had been worth the purchase. He was still using it even now.
'I want to see how long you can endure. If you keep holding back, your Ice River Valley elites will be finished.'
Ice River Valley had never expected Xiao Yan could summon a Hall of Souls Honorable Elder. Otherwise, with one 3-star Dou Venerate, one 1-star Dou Venerate, plus Ice River Valley's various elders and elite disciples, they would have been sufficient to sweep through the entire Yan Alliance.
Boom boom boom!!
Though Qing Lin wasn't as strong as Zi Yan, the snake servants she summoned all possessed Rank 7 strength. That She Tian Hao in particular displayed astonishing destructive power after transforming into his true form, killing Ice River Valley disciples left and right until they fled in disarray.
No wonder the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe feared the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Qing Lin alone could match an army of millions!
"I never expected you could actually summon a Hall of Souls Dou Venerate to act. Alas, I miscalculated."
A soft sigh transmitted from within the distorted space. Faintly visible, an ice throne materialized from within that space. Upon that throne, a white-robed figure slowly stood up.
Xiao Yan wasn't surprised at seeing that massive ice throne. He glanced at the enormous ice throne, put down his chilled beverage, and shook his head. "I also miscalculated. I didn't expect you wouldn't act from the beginning."
The cold air in the surrounding world suddenly reached its peak as that white-robed figure in the distorted space slowly stood. Snowflakes drifted down from the sky. In just a short moment, all of Ye City was enveloped in a sea of snow. From afar, it was wrapped in silver, appearing exceptionally enchanting yet cold.
When this white-robed figure appeared, countless gazes immediately shot toward him.
This suddenly appearing person wore white robes and had a slender build. His face appeared quite young, with some indifference between his brows. Even so, it was difficult to conceal the handsomeness in his features, though this handsomeness seemed to carry a somewhat feminine quality.
Additionally, at the center of this mysterious white-robed man's brow was a pitch-black snowflake pattern. Looking at it seemed as if it could freeze one's very soul, appearing exceptionally eerie.
The white-robed man stood with his hands behind his back upon those black ice steps. Snowflakes falling from the sky swirled and whistled around him. The seemingly fragile snowflakes possessed terrifying destructive power at this moment.
Venerable Bing! The founder of Ice River Valley, Bing He!
"Xiao Yan, hand over the Woeful Poison Body. You may name your price, as long as my Ice River Valley can afford it." Venerable Bing glanced at Venerable Tian Huo and Venerable Qing Hai, his tone carrying a faint hint of concession.
With Bing He's appearance, Xiao Yan naturally couldn't remain seated. He looked at Venerable Bing and spread his hands. "Since you want to negotiate, then let's talk."
"Give up the Woeful Poison Body. I have a Poison Pill Method that can help you eliminate the flaws of the Woeful Poison Body."
Seeing Venerable Bing's good attitude, Xiao Yan also chose not to strike a smiling face.
After pondering for a moment, Venerable Bing shook his head as expected. "This Venerable has also heard of the Poison Pill Method, but it cannot enhance my strength. I need the innate Woeful Poison Body."
Instantly, the space around Xiao Yan's body began to distort. A wave of high temperature erupted from within him.
Negotiations had broken down.
This Venerable Bing didn't just want to resolve his own defects. He also wanted the Woeful Poison Body to increase his own strength.
"She's someone who prefers tranquility. If possible, I don't want her involved in these matters of fighting and killing."
"You want the Woeful Poison Body so badly. I just wonder if you can handle it." Xiao Yan's voice carried a trace of coldness. Disturbing that person's tranquility was not something to take lightly.
Just as his words fell, a graceful figure suddenly walked out from the void. The woman wore elegant white clothing, ethereal and unmatched, like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal realm.
Her jet-black lustrous long hair draped over her shoulders. The scene before them defied description by mere words. Her aura was transcendent, as if untouched by mortal concerns, with unparalleled grace.
When Little Fairy Doctor appeared, there were no strange phenomena, no purple qi coming from the east, no drifting snow. Yet she gave people the feeling of finding sweet spring water in a desert, of hundreds of flowers blooming and ice melting, bringing comfort to the heart like flowing spring water.
She made people forget their troubles. Even the usually fierce Zi Yan felt her heart become calm and peaceful at this moment.
But when Venerable Bing saw Little Fairy Doctor appear, he didn't feel peace in his heart, only a sudden surge of terror.
"You!! How is this possible? Impossible! Your Woeful Poison Body can actually be controlled to this degree! You've reached 5-star Dou Venerate strength!!" Terror filled Venerable Bing's eyes. He had also obtained the Poison Pill Method from the Pill Tower.
That Poison Pill Method was merely an ordinary technique. It could only temporarily suppress the Woeful Poison Body, but did nothing to enhance one's strength!
5-star Dou Venerate??? After absorbing so much poison, that Poison Pill should be about to explode!
But why did he sense not a trace of poison from this woman before him? If he weren't an acquired Woeful Poison Body himself, he would never have believed this woman possessed the Woeful Poison Body!
"Venerable Bing, you've chosen the most wrong answer. Venerable Qing Hai!" Xiao Yan shouted loudly.
Venerable Qing Hai, who had also been shocked by Little Fairy Doctor, finally reacted. He immediately formed hand seals. Space distorted instantly as it shattered in all directions, and eight pitch-black gates appeared.
"Eight Gates Sky Locking Formation!"
Dong!
With a massive sound, the eight gates instantly transformed into a prison, sealing off this entire space. Even a 4-star Dou Venerate would need time to break through this quasi-Tian Class sealing Dou Technique.
Venerable Qing Hai had also expended considerable effort executing this move, consuming more than half his Dou Qi.
Since negotiations had broken down, Xiao Yan naturally wouldn't leave alive someone who harbored such malice toward Little Fairy Doctor. Today, he would add a heavy stroke to his Soul Command Token!
"Skyfire Three Mysterious Change!" The determined Xiao Yan rapidly formed hand seals. The three Heavenly Flames within his body erupted. An aura that even made Tian Shuang Zi somewhat alarmed instantly soared!
Xiao Yan, already a 5-star Dou Ancestor, saw his strength continuously climb.
"This is Burning Flame Valley's Skyfire Three Mysterious Change!"
Under Tian She's horrified gaze, Xiao Yan's strength rose like a rocket. 6-star, 7-star, 8-star, finally reaching 9-star.
"Half-step Dou Venerate... How is this possible? Even the Skyfire Three Mysterious Change couldn't enhance strength by this much!" Even the 2-star Dou Venerate Qing Hai stared in shock.
Even a quasi-Tian Class Secret Technique couldn't boost strength this much!!
"Little Fairy Doctor, kill him. This person cannot be left alive. Keeping him will only bring disaster!" A ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
This Venerable Bing had already made his intentions clear. He was determined to obtain the Woeful Poison Body, and given the chance, he would never let Little Fairy Doctor go.
Better to resolve the trouble now than let it grow!
Little Fairy Doctor nodded gently. She indeed disliked fighting and killing, but if Xiao Yan felt it necessary, she would transform from Little Fairy Doctor into Sky Poison Fairy in an instant!
With a humming sound, the space around her seemed to melt like glass as it was instantly poisoned. Her jet-black hair visibly faded to gray. Her eyes were covered by a gray sheen, gaining a ruthless light.
After refining the Heavenly Flame Poison Pill, this was her first time fully unleashing the Woeful Poison Body!
She could be the Little Fairy Doctor who saved Qingshan Town, or the Sky Poison Fairy who poisoned countless Sky Serpent Mansion disciples! It all depended on Xiao Yan's single word.
Her jade-like hand gently lifted. Terrifying poisonous gas surged forth. Ghostly wailing sounds emerged as a massive poisonous gas skull materialized!
The poisonous gas of the Woeful Poison Body was too domineering. With a cracking sound, as if some creature had opened its mouth and taken a bite, even space was melted by the poison. The space where the skull existed vanished, and even spatial turbulence dared not appear.
Woo woo woo.
Little Fairy Doctor remained indifferent. She pointed a finger and, amid ghostly wails and howls, the skull shrieked and charged toward the massive ice throne, its jaws thrown wide to devour it whole!
Sensing that terrifying poisonous gas, even Venerable Tian Huo's face went pale with fright. He no longer cared about Venerable Yan She and hurriedly retreated.
The terror of this casual strike was such that even at his peak, he might not have been able to block it!
Venerable Bing's expression changed dramatically as he directly faced Little Fairy Doctor's strike! Could the difference between innate and acquired Woeful Poison Body's poisonous gas be this great?!
"Ice Flower Black Shield!"
Venerable Bing pressed his right index and middle fingers against the black snowflake at his brow. Immediately, ink-black ice Dou Qi erupted from his body!
This was the Dou Qi formed by Venerable Bing fusing the Woeful Poison with his ice Dou Qi.
The black snowflake at his brow flashed rapidly. The snowflakes whistling around him instantly and eerily turned black. Then his fingers pointed forward.
Chi!
As his fingers pointed down, those whistling black snowflakes immediately swept out, transforming into an incomparably massive black snowflake that blocked his front like a giant shield.
Buzz buzz buzz boom!
The gray poisonous gas skull violently collided with that ice flower shield in midair!
Suddenly, time seemed to fall silent, not a sound could be heard. Then with a crack, the collision between ice power and Woeful Poison gas finally broke the balance, raising a terrifying energy shockwave!
Woo woo woo, boom!
The skull condensed from the Woeful Poison Body produced a violent explosion. Immediately, countless amounts of Woeful Poison transformed into poisonous waves, drowning that massive ice throne.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle.
That ice throne personally crafted by Venerable Bing couldn't last even three seconds before being dissolved into nothingness by this gray poison.
"Valley Master!!" Elder Tian She cried out in alarm.
"You still have the mind to worry about your Valley Master?" Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind Tian She. He abruptly turned to see the smiling Xiao Yan standing behind him.
Elder Tian She was first startled, then his eyes turned sharp. "Xiao Yan! Don't think you can compare to this old man by relying on a Secret Technique! As long as I capture you, let's see what that Woeful Poison Body can do."
Tian She's large hand reached for Xiao Yan, an ice hand grasping toward him.
"You're not stupid, just not strong enough." Xiao Yan clenched his fingers tightly. With a whoosh, a ball of bone-white Heavenly Flame surged up on his fist.
"I have ice attribute too!"
Xiao Yan threw a punch, veins bulging on his right hand. Octane Blast plus Bone Chilling Flame!
Eight layers of hidden force burst forth, combined with the icy-fire power of the Bone Chilling Flame. The instant fist and palm collided, that ice hand couldn't withstand it at all and shattered inch by inch.
Pu!
Elder Tian She suffered from the fire poison and hidden force entering his body. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood mixed with ice shards. His left hand was even frozen into an ice sculpture by the Bone Chilling Flame.
"You!! You... what Qi Method are you cultivating!" Tian She's eyes widened as he looked at Xiao Yan in disbelief. How could someone who reached half-step Dou Venerate through a Secret Technique be stronger than him, an orthodox half-step Dou Venerate!
The richness of that Dou Qi didn't seem at all like it was enhanced by a Secret Technique!
"None of your damn business. Anyway, it's stronger than your Ice River Valley's, that's for sure." Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. Even a half-step Dou Venerate's soul was worth some money.
He took out the Heavy Xuan Ruler and charged directly at Tian She, the bone-white Heavenly Flame swirling as he slashed toward him.
Little Fairy Doctor's casual strike hadn't killed Venerable Bing. A white figure shot out from the poisonous gas ocean. Venerable Bing at this moment no longer had his initial composure. His face had even turned somewhat ashen.
If he weren't also an acquired Woeful Poison Body, he would have been poisoned to death just now.
Venerable Bing swept his gaze around. Qing Hai's sealing formation was extremely powerful. Even if he attacked with full force, it would still take quite a while to break through!
This meant Xiao Yan had actually laid an inescapable net from the very beginning, just waiting for him to take the bait!
Little Fairy Doctor glanced over without a word and simply pointed with her finger.
Swoosh!
A dark green line of fire shot from her fingertip. The fire line was as fast as a laser. Even though Venerable Bing once again deployed his defensive Dou Techniques, it was useless.
With a 'pu' sound, the fire line melted the ice and pierced straight through his body.