Chapter 343: The Flawed Nine Dragon Frost Lock
"Correct! Here's your prize."
A cold voice echoed in all directions. In an instant, black translucent ice mirrors formed around the yellow-robed old man, sealing off the surrounding space.
"Xuan Ice Prison."
As the command rang silently in Xiao Yuan's heart, the mirrors trembled slightly, releasing a frost so intense it could freeze a Dou Zong's blood solid.
Next moment, the cold condensed into countless ice spikes—some piercing directly toward the old man, others converging into long icy spears that launched with a whistle.
At the critical moment, the yellow-robed elder's expression turned grim. His legs bent, hands moving rapidly through the air as flaming Dou Qi surged from his body and coalesced into a massive flaming cauldron that shielded him.
"Cauldron to Cover the Heavens!"
His face flushed red under the strain, his eyes glowing like fire as both palms pressed against the cauldron's interior walls.
Ding ding ding!
The frost spears and spikes rained down upon the cauldron, creating a symphony of chilling crashes.
The sound waves rebounded off the surrounding Xuan Ice Mirrors and struck the cauldron again, amplifying the impact.
BOOM!
Like a deep gong, the cauldron began to crack. With only a few seconds of resistance, the elder's defense shattered into fragments of dissipating energy.
At Xiao Yuan's current strength, handling a Dou Zong was like a Dou Zun dealing with a Dou Zong—easy and casual.
This technique he used, though still roughly at the entry level of Earth-rank techniques, was a self-developed fusion of ice-attribute Dou Qi and battle technique insights. When enhanced with the Ice Sovereign Force, even the elder's most powerful defensive Dou Technique could only delay the inevitable.
Snort!
As the flaming cauldron exploded, the yellow-robed elder stumbled back in retreat, coughing blood. Now he realized with dread: this "white-dressed lady" was no six or seven-star Dou Zong, but a peak-stage Dou Zong!
"I…"
He tried to beg for mercy.
But Xiao Yuan wouldn't give him the chance. His fingers formed seals again. The Ice Prison shivered—and unleashed a devastating energy.
Dragon roars thundered.
Nine black ice dragons burst from the mirrors, howling toward the elder.
Nine Dragon Frost Lock.
The seals on Xiao Yuan's arms became dark energy rings. As they rotated, the dragons roared, releasing icy breath infused with the peak-level Ice Sovereign Force—strong enough to impress even the deceased Ice Sovereign.
Dark ice spread over the elder's body. Unlike earlier when Xiao Yuan held back, this time he attacked to kill. The elder's hands had already been frozen by the Ice Sovereign Force. Without a Heavenly Flame or similar power, even a peak Dou Zong couldn't break free, let alone a mere seven-star Dou Zong.
In seconds, the elder was sealed in a thick block of ice.
The dragons collided into him and the ice prison with deafening force—shattering both to pieces.
"Pathetic."
Xiao Yuan snapped his fingers. The ice mirrors disappeared. The black snow faded.
Then he frowned slightly.
This Nine Dragon Frost Lock was a technique he'd developed earlier. Combining it with Ice Sovereign Force had increased its power—but it still felt incomplete.
There was definitely room for improvement.
"At least it didn't waste much time. Tch… rob me? What nerve."
He muttered and took out the Pill Realm map to verify his location.
"Those three herbs… marked in red circles. Guess I'll head to the closest one."
He needed a few more rare ingredients to fully utilize the Earth Soul Essence he'd found earlier. He had some, but others still eluded him.
If he could gather them here in the Pill Realm, he might even push his soul to the next level before leaving.
He also needed compatible ingredients to craft a pill for his Six Qi Transformation, particularly to absorb the Taiyin Moist Earth Qi. If both goals could be achieved, his strength and alchemy would both leap forward.
With that in mind, he rose into the air, locked onto the closest red-circle area on the map, and shot off like a streak of light.
His destination: Ten-Thousand Medicines Mountain Range—the nearest of the three targets. It wasn't particularly special—just the closest.
Though the Pill Realm had shrunk over time, it was still a third the size of the entire Pill Domain. That was no small thing. The wealth of herbs here would tempt any faction. It was a bottomless treasure trove—a testament to the Pill Tower's terrifying foundation.
Even at top speed, Xiao Yuan would need a day to cross it. By late afternoon, he neared the outskirts of Ten-Thousand Medicines Mountain.
Along the way, he saw many other participants. Most avoided him entirely. A beautiful woman flying openly through the skies wasn't someone to mess with—especially one strong enough to fly like that.
Most alchemists here were sixth-tier or Dou Huang level. Xiao Yuan's presence as a Dou Zong scared them off.
He ignored them.
He'd also encountered a few other Dou Zong-level contestants. Though weaker than the yellow-robed elder, they were veteran powerhouses with respectable reputations.
He revealed a five-star Dou Zong aura and deterred them immediately. No one wanted trouble.
So his journey was smooth. Only two magical beasts attacked—and they both became materials for future pills: two seventh-rank magic cores.
He also noticed that the beasts here were more violent than those on the continent—likely due to the chaotic energy saturating the Pill Realm.
By dusk, he reached the outer edge of Ten-Thousand Medicines Mountain.
The name alone suggested its value. And as he gazed upon the vast range, he was briefly awestruck by the overwhelming energy surging through it.
It looked like a sleeping dragon, cloaked in mist—not ordinary fog, but condensed spiritual energy.
Roars echoed within, filled with ferocity and danger.
Floating at the edge, Xiao Yuan frowned. Even from here, he could sense formidable threats.
But he wasn't one to flinch.
In fact, if he trained here, he'd progress even faster.
Besides, this wasn't just curiosity. He faintly remembered… Zi Yan might be here. If she had returned to find her clan, this was the likeliest place.
Before he could move forward, human voices caught his attention. Landing quietly, he saw a cluster of tents on a hill—and over a hundred people gathered nearby.
"…Huh?"
Peaceful coexistence in the Pill Realm?
Now this was suspicious.
No one stopped him as he approached. Some glanced at him, then looked away.
He moved to the center and spotted a crowd surrounding a large boulder. A familiar voice spoke from atop it.
"It's that guy who seemed jealous of Xiao Yan over Cao Ying…"
Looking through the crowd, Xiao Yuan spotted Song Qing, who had once scowled at Xiao Yan for being too close to Cao Ying.
If Song Qing was here, then Cao Ying and Xiao Yan must be too.
Sure enough, on a nearby rock, sat Cao Ying—smiling playfully, twisting a strand of hair, completely at ease. Around her, eyes burned with longing.
And beside her stood Xiao Yan—expressionless. Though she had urged him to sit, he preferred standing. He hated the jealous stares from others, but also couldn't move too far…
Because if he did, Cao Ying would chase him down and start with:
"Senior Brother Xiao Yan, why so far away? Am I that embarrassing?"
"Senior Brother Xiao Yan, in this dangerous place, would you leave your weak little junior sister alone?"
"You really dislike me that much, Senior Brother?"
Her endless whining drove him insane.
Wang Yuandan had nearly passed out trying not to laugh.
Eventually, they struck a deal: Xiao Yan would stay nearby, and Cao Ying would stop being insufferable.
Xiao Yuan swept his gaze across them and frowned thoughtfully.
It looked like they had run into trouble in the mountain and decided to band together.
His soul sense detected powerful beasts within. Song Qing's words were quickly verified by others—many had charged in and been driven out by hordes of magical beasts. Some hadn't made it out at all.
"I've heard there's a creature inside—near peak seventh-rank or even early eighth-rank—that has gathered most of the herbs in its lair. Many of our task herbs are there."
Gasps followed.
But Xiao Yuan's eyes narrowed.
If he remembered correctly, the creature wasn't almost eighth-rank…
It was a true eighth-rank Ancient Dragon Bear—with dragon blood!
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1