Chapter 342: The Key to Breaking Through to Dou Zun
The sudden turn of events startled the alchemist, but he didn't panic. With a cold shout, a surge of powerful Dou Qi burst out and slammed into the giant python's head, shattering it with a loud bang.
With the serpent slain in a single blow, a look of pride crossed the alchemist's face—but before he could enjoy it, his vision blurred and a sinister chuckle echoed beside his ear:
"Kid, you've got some skills—but get lost."
Before he could react, a heavy steel rod smashed into his chest, sending him flying like a cannonball. He skidded across the ground for nearly a hundred meters before finally coming to a stop.
As he tried to steady himself, a flash of white light erupted from his palm and space warped around him—he had crushed his spatial stone and was forcibly ejected from the Pill Realm.
This shocking turn of events stunned many of the others. Their gazes quickly locked onto the attacker.
It was a burly man in an alchemist's robe with a face full of scars. He carried a massive steel rod on his shoulder, now stained with blood.
"Heh, lucky bastard ran fast," he sneered, licking the blood off the rod before glaring at the other participants.
Many alchemists immediately tensed and drew their weapons. Everyone here was a rival; if eliminating one increased their chances, so be it.
Seeing the reactions, the burly man scoffed and swung his rod, flinging the massive python's corpse away. As it crashed into the sand, a deep crater formed—and at its center lay a yellow-brown root the size of a child's head.
"Earth Essence Root?"
Cries of shock rang out.
High above, Xiao Yuan watched the scene unfold, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Earth Essence Root was a rare herb formed from condensed earth energy. In times of violent energy fluctuation, it could help stabilize one's power, making it invaluable for cultivation or pill refinement.
But what caught his attention wasn't the root—it was the crater itself.
A century-old Earth Essence Root was usually no larger than a fist. This one was head-sized, clearly over a thousand years old. Such a treasure would be coveted by all.
But natural growth alone couldn't explain its size. There had to be something more beneath the surface.
The burly man, overjoyed, grabbed the root and yanked it from the earth. His greedy gaze swept the crowd, then he snarled:
"Anyone else wants to die, step forward."
Despite their desire, none dared challenge him. His previous brutality had left an impression.
Many sighed and retreated. Though the Earth Essence Root was precious, it wasn't worth getting disqualified—or worse, killed.
The brute sneered. Though several in the crowd were close to his strength, none had the guts to act.
"The strong devour the weak. Without courage, how can you rise?"
But just as he was about to store the root, a suction force tore it from his hands.
"What bastard dares steal from me?!"
He looked up—and saw a veiled woman in white floating midair.
"I did. What of it?" came Xiao Yuan's cold voice.
Floating unaided in the sky—this woman was a Dou Zong at minimum. The brute's face paled.
Grinding his teeth, he backed down. He wasn't stupid—he could rob others, but others could rob him too.
Just as he turned to leave, Xiao Yuan's icy voice rang out:
"Still glaring at me? Harboring a grudge? I should just eliminate the threat."
Crack! A black ice coffin instantly froze the brute, his face turning ghostly pale.
From the sheer cold, he could tell—this woman was likely a six or seven-star Dou Zong!
He immediately crushed his spatial stone and vanished in a flash of white light.
"Too bad you escaped. But with Ice Sovereign Qi invading your meridians, you're crippled even if you live," Xiao Yuan muttered, dispersing the coffin and retrieving the root into his ring.
His real interest, though, lay deeper.
Yao Lao once said that Earth Essence Root only grows to this size when nourished by other rare treasures. That meant something valuable lay beneath.
He warped space to cloak the area, then summoned a massive hand of Dou Qi to dig deep.
After excavating for several meters, he struck something.
With a sweep of his sleeve, he cleared the earth—revealing a pure white Heart of the Earth Jade.
"Heart of the Earth Jade?" Xiao Yuan's eyes lit up.
Jackpot!
This treasure, formed over millennia of condensed earth energy, was extremely rare. It suppressed chaotic energy, prevented deviation during cultivation, and was priceless to alchemists.
Even Xiao Yan's Blue Lotus Platform wasn't as stable as this jade.
But for Xiao Yuan, this had another use.
It could help him cultivate the Taiyin Moist Earth Qi, one of the six elemental energies needed to become a Dou Zun!
With this, he was one step closer to breaking through.
Excited, Xiao Yuan placed his palm on the jade and channeled soul force into it.
"Rise!"
Boom! With a thunderous crack, the Heart of the Earth Jade tore free from the ground.
It was nearly half a meter tall and arm-width wide—unbelievably rare in size.
"This is more than enough!"
Even more surprising, Xiao Yuan felt his soul force becoming… euphoric?
Could it be…?
He quickly scanned the jade's interior—and gasped.
Earth Soul Essence!
A creamy white liquid filled a small hollow at its center. This substance could temper the soul, purify and refine it.
Better yet, it could nearly rival Soul-Nurturing Dust as an ingredient!
Elated, Xiao Yuan stored everything away and was about to leave when—
"Hehe, little friend. Found a treasure and didn't want to share? Isn't that against the rules?"
A yellow-robed old man stepped out from rippling space.
"Hiding's over? I thought you'd never show yourself," Xiao Yuan said coldly.
"You saw me fight. Are you sure you want to challenge me?"
A chill swept through the air. Black snowflakes drifted down.
"I'm a seven-star Dou Zong," the old man warned. "Fighting will draw others—and that won't end well for you."
"Please." Xiao Yuan scoffed.
A massive black ice hand materialized and slapped toward the elder.
Caught off guard, the man raised a brown Dou Qi shield.
Crash!
The ice hand hit. Frigid power surged across the shield, freezing everything in an instant.
"Is that… Ice Sovereign Qi?!" the elder shrieked.
(END CHAPTER)
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