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**
Aside from the trio from the Sky Serpent Mansion, Xiao Lin on the other side similarly harbored suspicions toward the Sky Serpent Imperial Family. At this moment, Xiao Lin was twirling the jade cup containing the Red Flame Celestial Liquid in his hand.
Inside the jade vessel, the liquid continued to resemble a cluster of flames, burning vigorously. However, from within these raging "flames," an intoxicating fragrance continuously wafted out, causing Xiao Lin's throat to involuntarily twitch.
After all, if the effects of the Red Flame Celestial Liquid were truly as the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire described, then downing this single cup would allow him to advance directly to a Nine-Star Dou Zong!
In doing so, he would be only a single step away from the Dou Zun realm. Only upon reaching the Dou Zun realm could one truly be considered a top-tier expert on this Dou Qi Continent.
As for the Dou Sheng realm above that, most people didn't even dare to consider it. Given Xiao Lin's current situation, if he continued to cultivate normally, he would likely only be at the Dou Zun realm by the time the main plot began.
Therefore, how could he not be tempted by this tiny cup of Red Flame Celestial Liquid that could allow him to take the final step toward becoming a Dou Zun?
However, while he was tempted, Xiao Lin's rationality remained intact.
"Truly interesting. The Sky Serpent Imperial Family actually brought out such a precious treasure. It seems what they are plotting is no small matter! I only hope you don't intend to use me as your sacrificial blade..."
A playful smile curled at the corner of Xiao Lin's mouth as he quietly gazed toward the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire atop the altar.
By now, the crowd of Dou Zong powerhouses had slowly begun to calm down. Some among them even revealed a hint of suspicion. This Red Flame Celestial Liquid looked like a treasure, smelled like a treasure, and sounded like an even greater treasure!
But precisely because it was too good, they felt uncertain.
Putting themselves in his shoes, if they were the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire, they wouldn't have brought out such a good thing. What a joke—they would feel they didn't have enough of such a treasure for themselves, so why would they bring it out to share?
"Hahaha, everyone need not feel doubtful. The hospitality of my Sky Serpent Imperial Family naturally harbors no intent to harm you all. Please, join me in drinking this cup of Red Flame Celestial Liquid. Gulp~"
After speaking, the Emperor of the Sky Serpent Empire tilted his head and downed the liquid in his hand in one go.
Following that, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a surge of Dou Qi flames suddenly erupted from the Emperor's body. As these flames rose, the aura of his Eight-Star Dou Zong cultivation actually broke through to Nine-Star Dou Zong in the blink of an eye!
That's right—in the eyes of the various Dou Zong powerhouses, the Emperor had simply and easily broken through by one star after drinking the Red Flame Celestial Liquid.
Simultaneously, they saw a look of comfort appear on the Emperor's face.
"Is that... the healing of internal injuries?"
The old Dou Zong from the Dark Abyss Gate couldn't help but speak up as he watched the Emperor standing perfectly still. Very quickly, in just a matter of moments, all the strange phenomena on the Emperor's body vanished.
However, that Nine-Star Dou Zong cultivation remained solidly in place!
At this moment, the Dou Zong powerhouses went wild!
With the Emperor's performance of drinking the liquid right in front of them, even if these Dou Zong experts had many doubts earlier, they now vanished into thin air. There were no side effects—only a breakthrough in cultivation!
What were they waiting for?
The most anxious one, that old Dou Zong from the Dark Abyss Gate, found his hand trembling slightly as he held the jade cup filled with Red Flame Celestial Liquid.
Seeing the liquid nearly spill, he hurriedly steadied his mind. Then, without waiting for anyone else to react, he followed the Emperor's lead and downed the liquid in one gulp!
He couldn't wait any longer.
The internal injuries in his body were urging him every second to finish the liquid in his hand.
So, he followed his heart.
As the old Dou Zong of the Dark Abyss Gate drank the Red Flame Celestial Liquid, the others could no longer restrain themselves. Almost simultaneously, they all downed the liquid in their hands.
Naturally, this included Xiao Lin.
Only the three from the Sky Serpent Mansion were exceptions; they remained motionless, as if they hadn't even seen the Emperor's breakthrough.
As for why Xiao Lin—someone who knew quite a bit of the underlying truth—would also drink it, it was naturally due to the confidence he had in his Star Dou Qi!
After all, his Star Dou Qi was the ultimate counter to these "fancy" tricks. In other words, the reason Xiao Lin chose to drink this cup was merely to deceive the Sky Serpent Imperial Family. He wanted to see what kind of moves the Imperial Family would pull next!
Don't forget, Xiao Lin, who possessed a Heaven Realm soul, had actually long since seen through the fact that the Emperor was originally a Nine-Star Dou Zong powerhouse.
As for that so-called breakthrough after drinking the liquid, it was actually just the Emperor choosing to no longer hide his true cultivation.
However, only Xiao Lin knew this truth.
The other Dou Zong powerhouses were all completely fooled by the Emperor's act. Then, they followed suit and drained their cups. Xiao Lin simply watched quietly, having no intention of stepping in to stop them.
Firstly, doing so would likely be a thankless task. Secondly, what did it have to do with him? One had to realize that if pie falls from the sky and you don't keep a watchful eye, you deserve to be scammed when the trap closes.
"Gulp~"
At this moment, Xiao Lin had also finished the Red Flame Celestial Liquid.
The Emperor, seeing all of this, suddenly revealed a mysterious smile. He knew that at this moment, half of his plan had already succeeded.
As for Xiao Lin, immediately after swallowing the liquid, he mobilized the Star Dou Qi in his body to wrap around it.
This allowed him to finally experience the true effects of the Red Flame Celestial Liquid firsthand!
However, this experience caused Xiao Lin to feel a momentary sense of shock.
"This... actually isn't poison?"
Doubt began to grow in Xiao Lin's heart.
But as time passed, he finally figured out the "true face" of this liquid.
"The Sky Serpent Imperial Family truly has deep pockets! The effects of this Red Flame Celestial Liquid are actually real!"
After discovering this truth, Xiao Lin was stunned.
No wonder he thought the Imperial Family was being extravagant.
However, if that were the case, there would be no need for the Emperor to put on such a performance. In Xiao Lin's view, the Red Flame Celestial Liquid indeed possessed the effects the Emperor claimed—boosting a Dou Zong's cultivation and healing internal injuries.
But that was only if it were the genuine Red Flame Celestial Liquid!
What Xiao Lin and the others had just drunk was actually a semi-finished product.
Or rather, it should be said that this liquid was just one final step away from completion. To put it bluntly, this semi-finished liquid was similar to the Embryonic Tier Emperor pill in the Ancient God's Mansion from the original story.
Because it wasn't a finished product, its effects naturally couldn't be exerted. However, calling this semi-finished liquid a poison was truly an overstatement.
**
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