Morning broke beneath a sky washed in gold.
Sunlight poured across the earth, warm and gentle, carrying with it the crisp breath of a new day. The world stirred awake beneath its glow. Dew shimmered on leaves, birds sang from unseen branches, and life, vibrant and fresh, unfolded once more.
Inside the first-floor hall, Xiao Se, Long Kui, Xiao Yixian, Zhu Zhuqing, the little kitten, Medusa, Die, and Zi Yan gathered around a wide wooden table, enjoying a beautifully prepared breakfast. The scent of fresh pastries and warm broth drifted through the air, blending with the soft chatter of the group.
Die tilted her head, studying Xiao Yixian and Zhu Zhuqing with open curiosity.
"Xian'er, Zhuqing… why do I feel like your skin looks even better than yesterday?" she asked, eyes sparkling. "It's already so fair and delicate, but now it seems… glossier somehow. And there's this healthy glow on your cheeks."
At her words, the two beauties froze.
They exchanged a quick glance—eyes meeting, then immediately lowering. As if rehearsed, both bowed their heads, pretending sudden fascination with their teacups. A faint blush bloomed across their cheeks, spreading slowly, unmistakably.
After all, as fellow "foreign language learners" from last night's rather… practical session, they both knew exactly what the other had experienced.
Seeing his wives react so obviously, Xiao Se couldn't help but smile to himself. Of course he knew what was going through their minds.
Before the awkward silence could thicken, he smoothly stepped in.
"Die, they used a facial mask I specially prepared for them," Xiao Se said casually. "If you like, I can make some for you later too."
Die's eyes lit up instantly.
"Really? Thank you, Xiao Se!"
He gave a slight nod, then deftly changed the subject.
"It's nothing. But I'll need everyone's help later. Xian'er has gathered most of the medicinal ingredients, and with the collection from Han Feng's ring of the幽海纳戒, we finally have everything needed to refine the Transformation Pill."
The moment those words left his mouth, Zi Yan's small fists clenched with excitement.
"Don't worry!" she declared, waving her pink little fist fiercely. "If anyone dares get close while you're refining, I'll beat them so badly even their mom won't recognize them!"
There was no mistaking the resentment in her tone. She had never liked her petite body. The Transformation Pill represented something far more personal to her.
"No problem," Medusa, Die, and the others agreed without hesitation.
—
After breakfast, they moved to an open clearing at the corner of the bamboo forest.
Under the joint efforts of Xiao Yixian and Medusa—both Dou Zong experts—a sturdy spatial lock was constructed, sealing off the entire clearing. The air within trembled faintly as invisible layers of protection settled into place.
Only after activating the Vast Sea Protective Barrier did Xiao Se begin preparing to refine the Transformation Pill.
A seventh-tier pill would inevitably trigger a heavenly phenomenon upon birth. There might even be Pill Lightning. This was no time for carelessness.
Hovering in the sky, Die looked uneasy.
"Xian'er… are we safe refining it here? I've heard seventh-tier pills can summon lightning tribulations. Won't it attract the other forces in the Black-Corner Region?"
Xiao Yixian smiled gently.
"Don't worry. I informed the Sea King Palace yesterday to seal off Feng City. This bamboo forest is covered in my poison formation. Without my permission, even a Dou Huang won't be able to enter. And with two Dou Zong here guarding him, no one will get close."
Only then did Die relax slightly, her beautiful eyes shifting downward toward the clearing where Xiao Se stood.
Inside the Vast Sea Protective Barrier, Xiao Se had already withdrawn completely into himself. His mind was razor-focused; external disturbances could no longer shake him.
He took a slow breath.
A solemn light flashed across his eyes.
With a flick of his hand, a massive crimson medicinal cauldron appeared out of thin air. Its body was carved with intricate beast patterns, ancient and majestic. It crashed onto the bluestone ground with a heavy metallic clang, making the earth tremble.
The Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron.
Xiao Se inhaled deeply once more.
Opening his mouth, he exhaled a stream of golden flame.
Without any grand gestures, the flame curved gracefully through the air, trailing a dazzling tail as it entered the cauldron's fire port. The moment it settled inside—
Boom!
The flames erupted violently.
Blazing fire churned within the cauldron, distorting the surrounding air. Heat rippled outward in waves, causing the very space nearby to warp.
As the flames rose, Xiao Se waved his right hand.
One medicinal herb after another floated out from his storage ring, enveloped in Dou Qi, and suspended in the air behind him. Dozens of small glowing lights formed a halo around him—like stars orbiting a blazing sun.
The sight was breathtaking.
"The Transformation Pill: a pill capable of allowing magical beasts to completely shed their beast form, granting them the long lifespan of magical beasts and the cultivation talent of humans. The materials required are extremely complex, numbering over eighty types. The primary ingredient: Transformation Grass…"
The refining method replayed itself in Xiao Se's mind, every step crystal clear. All the possible mistakes surfaced in perfect detail.
The Transformation Pill was a seventh-tier pill.
Even Dan Emperor Luo Hansong had failed to refine it in his lifetime.
Although Xiao Se's alchemy skills had already surpassed his predecessor, this was still his first attempt at refining a seventh-tier pill.
There was no room for error.
Activating his sword intent, he severed all stray thoughts. His handsome face lifted slightly as he sensed the temperature of the Heavenly Flame inside the cauldron.
Satisfied, he nodded.
With a flick of his wrist, the Transformation Grass transformed into a brilliant white streak of light and shot into the flames.
At that same instant, Xiao Se waved his hand again.
Dozens of floating light-points lined up in midair and, under the control of his soul force, streamed into the cauldron one after another.
Inside the inferno, the herbs began to wither.
Milky-white liquid—thick and delicate, almost like yogurt—oozed from the surface of each herb, gathering into swirling droplets. The essence separated from impurities, rising and hovering above the flames as they spun and rolled continuously.
If it were a sixth-tier pill, Xiao Se would need only half a day.
But this was seventh-tier.
Even with the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron and his fused Heavenly Flame, it would still take at least two or three days.
And this time… he was refining two pills simultaneously.
—
Time passed slowly.
By noon on the third day, the sky above Feng City suddenly darkened.
Violent winds howled.
Thunder roared.
Massive black clouds gathered toward the central bamboo forest, swallowing the once-clear blue sky. In mere moments, what had been a brilliant day turned into a scene resembling the end of the world.
"That's Pill Lightning!" Xiao Yixian exclaimed, her expression turning grave as she hovered in the air. "Zhuqing, get behind me!"
Among them, Zhu Zhuqing's cultivation was the lowest—only at the Dou Ling level. Against a heavenly tribulation of this scale, she would stand no chance.
Zi Yan, on the other hand, had accumulated the energy of tens of thousands of medicinal pills over the past six months. Her cultivation was now infinitely close to Dou Huang. Combined with her Dou Huang-level physical body, even a true Dou Huang would struggle to defeat her.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded without hesitation. Spreading her Cloud Bat Heavenly Wings, she flew behind Xiao Yixian.
Medusa, Die, and Zi Yan hovered nearby, faces solemn as they stared at the lightning writhing through the clouds.
Even as Dou Zong experts, they could not suppress the faint tremor in their hearts beneath this overwhelming heavenly might.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, descending like a silver serpent.
It struck the Vast Sea Protective Barrier directly.
The barrier trembled violently—but the lightning dissipated into nothingness.
Inside the barrier, Xiao Se looked up at the thick, oppressive clouds looming overhead.
A fierce light flashed in his eyes.
"So this is Pill Lightning…" he murmured. "Even the Vast Sea Protective Barrier isn't invincible before the might of heaven. If all the lightning descends at once, I'm afraid the Vast Sea Universe Shield will shatter."
He paused briefly.
"Fine."
With a decisive motion, Xiao Se withdrew the Vast Sea Protective Barrier.
The sky's pressure descended instantly.
Then—
With a flick of his right hand, the Demon Sword appeared in his grasp out of thin air.
He stood tall beneath the darkened heavens, golden flames roaring within the cauldron behind him, black clouds swirling above, lightning flashing like dragons in fury.
Sword in hand, eyes blazing—
He was ready to face heaven itself.
(End of Chapter)
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