Seeing their strongest member so casually wiped out, as if he were just a small cat or dog, the many Elders of the Stone Clan were momentarily unable to accept it.
But Hun Tiandi didn't care if they could accept it. After obtaining what he wanted, he no longer held back. Before anyone could react, he had already passed judgment on their fate.
He had held back before, fearing that the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe Jade wasn't on Shi Potian. He left a few people alive, then destroyed Shi Potian, using it as a 'Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey,' hoping a few who feared death would be sensible and cooperate. Otherwise, how could they have survived until now?
But now that both the Ninth Grade Golden Pill and the Ancient Emperor Tuoshe Jade were found, they were useless.
Hun Tiandi's Hand Seals changed, and the Realm of Nothingness rapidly expanded. Before long, the entire world was enveloped within it. Then, within this world, Black Flame moved without a trace, easily harvesting the lives of the Stone Clan members.
Seeing this, Hun Tiandi walked slowly within the Stone Realm, collecting all the resources. He didn't need them, but the Soul Clan members could use them. Their Combat Power wasn't great, but they could still be useful for things like gathering information, just like this time...
While the Stone Clan was suffering disaster, Zhao Li had already returned to Great Li. But before he could even settle down, he felt the transmission Jade Talisman vibrate in his Storage Ring. It was a message from Gu Yuan; he had also come out of seclusion.
"Brother Zhao Li, you're not being fair. You haven't finished paying back the Pills you owe me, yet you're already refining Pills for that Old Guy, Shi Potian."
Just as the Soul Clan could know that Shi Potian had invited Zhao Li, the Gu Clan, which was no weaker than the Soul Clan, also had that capability. So, after Gu Yuan came out of seclusion, he learned about this from the Gu Clan members and immediately contacted Zhao Li.
Zhao Li was a little distracted. The scene he witnessed in the Stone Realm gave him a poor impression of these Ancient Factions.
He replied somewhat perfunctorily, casually making up an excuse to brush it off, only promising to deliver the Pills to Gu Yuan within ten years.
Gu Yuan had only mentioned it to urge Zhao Li a little. He knew the bad tempers of Alchemists. If he pushed Zhao Li too hard, it was possible he might just quit on the spot. After receiving Zhao Li's promise, he stopped pressing.
"Clan Elder, what did Senior Zhao Li say?"
In the Ancient Realm, a man exuding a terrifying aura from head to toe saw Gu Yuan put away the transmission Jade Talisman and asked urgently.
"Tell Gu Dao and the others to cultivate diligently. If they can break through Eight-Star within ten years, with the help of the Ninth Grade Golden Pill, perhaps they can also advance to the Nine Star Dou Sheng level like Uncle Lie. At that time, my Gu Clan will have no rivals."
Gu Yuan didn't answer directly, but Gu Lie still understood the meaning behind Gu Yuan's words, and his eyes showed excitement.
The Ninth Grade Golden Pill that Zhao Li refined last time was the one he took. It was precisely because he had personally taken the Ninth Grade Golden Pill that he truly knew its terror. It was indeed worthy of being called Sacred Dao Peerless Grade, and it deserved countless Dou Sheng existences to go mad for it.
Just by taking one Pill, he broke through to Early Stage Nine-Star Dou Sheng. Moreover, with the foundational strengthening ability of that Ninth Grade Golden Pill, Early Stage Nine-Star Dou Sheng might not be his endpoint. Given time, he might even be able to continue breaking through.
"Oh right, Gu Shu seemed to have gone into seclusion after comprehending the Golden Core. How is he doing now? Has he made any breakthroughs?"
Gu Yuan seemed to suddenly remember something and asked about Gu Shu's situation. If his Alchemy Technique could improve further, it would also have a significant impact on the Gu Clan.
Gu Lie heard this, shook his head, and said:
"He's still in seclusion. He must have gained some insight. Perhaps after he comes out, our clan will also have a Great Grandmaster Alchemist capable of refining Ninth Grade Profound Pills. It's a pity, if only he could refine Ninth Grade Golden Pills..."
Gu Yuan heard his sigh, laughed heartily, and said loudly:
"Clan Uncle, if Ninth Grade Golden Pills were that easy to refine, this Continent wouldn't be so lively because of him alone. We should be content that Gu Shu can successfully break through to Ninth Grade Profound Pill."
Gu Yuan saw it clearly. The influence of Zhao Li being able to refine Ninth Grade Golden Pills definitely surpassed the influence brought by his own Combat Power, which was no weaker than Late Stage Dou Sheng. Don't look at how calm the Continent appears now; who knows how big a storm is brewing beneath the surface?
Leaving aside other things, looking at the Gu Lie in front of him, although the breakthrough leap was a bit large and he had only broken through recently, unable to fully utilize his Strength yet, his aura was much more profound than before. Even if he couldn't display his peak Combat Power, he could easily defeat his Eight-Star self.
As long as I can hold back Hun Tiandi, Uncle Gu Lie should be able to sweep through the Soul Clan, right?!
Thinking of this, Gu Yuan had an impulse to go to the Stone Clan and snatch the Ninth Grade Golden Pill. The temptation of the Ninth Grade Golden Pill was simply too strong for these factions.
He could ignore Hun Tiandi causing trouble everywhere because he knew that no matter how much trouble Hun Tiandi caused, he wouldn't be able to achieve his goal of becoming Emperor. But facing this kind of Pill that could make the strong members of his clan even stronger, his moral principles began to waver.
Gu Lie also smiled sheepishly when he heard this, then changed the subject and suddenly said:
"Clan Head, should we deal with the Stone Clan...?"
Saying this, he raised his hand and made a gesture of slitting his throat. As a user who had experienced the Ninth Grade Golden Pill, he knew too well how terrifying it was. In the face of such genuine temptation, so-called morality was nothing.
Moreover, he found that although he had broken through, when facing Gu Yuan again, it seemed no different from before. If it wasn't an illusion, then the Clan Head's Strength was probably always beyond his imagination.
And if he, a Nine Star Dou Sheng, was like this when facing Gu Yuan, the gap would definitely be even larger when compared to Shi Potian, who only had the Strength of a Seven-Star Dou Sheng. If they were to snatch it, there wouldn't be much difficulty.
Gu Yuan heard that Gu Lie actually had the same idea as him and looked at Gu Lie with a strange expression, as if seeing him for the first time. After a long time, he shook his head and said:
"Forget it, bullying others with power is not advisable. If we do this for one Golden Core today, perhaps we will act for one Profound Pill tomorrow. We are indeed stronger than the Stone Clan now, but who can guarantee that they will always be the strongest?"
Although the Golden Core was good and he was tempted, it hadn't reached the point where he would resort to any means necessary.
What Gu Yuan didn't know was that it was this single thought that led to the complete dissipation of the Stone Clan. The countless Descendants in the Stone Realm became nourishment for the continuation of the Soul Clan's Bloodline, and that Ninth Grade Golden Pill even allowed the Soul Clan to produce a half-baked Ninth Grade Golden Pill Alchemist!
This single thought meant that the gap between the Soul Clan and the Gu Clan was not as large as he had imagined, or rather, it was much larger than he had imagined – the Gu Clan was not the stronger side!
After hearing Gu Yuan's words, Gu Lie also suppressed that immoral thought and turned to talk about himself. He scratched his head and said somewhat awkwardly:
"Clan Head, I've just broken through and my control over my own power isn't skilled enough yet. I'll have to trouble the Clan Head to spar with me and practice."
Naturally, Gu Yuan had no objection to this. The stronger Gu Lie became, the more relaxed and carefree he would be...
Thus, beneath the seemingly calm surface, various factions were doing their own things, and countless changes were happening silently in the dark.
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