C9 The Pill Thunder That Is Half a Step into the Ninth Grade
In the Pill Chamber,
Sushang proved to be exceptionally bright. With Xie Feng's tutelage, she quickly mastered the art of flame control, adeptly bending it to Xie Feng's intent, much to his astonishment.
Amidst the azure flames, atop the pitch-black Pill Furnace, a rough, pale-red pill slowly took shape.
It was referred to as a "pill" only because it had not yet been successfully refined; it bore the form but not the essence of a true "pill."
Xie Feng retrieved the final ingredient, Lifeless Amber, harvested from a pine tree in the medicinal garden behind the mountain. A tree that grew a mere inch over a millennium, it had been reduced to just six or seven inches after years of harvesting.
He placed the translucent, jade-like amber into the Pill Furnace, and the North Nether Illusory Fire, like a coiling azure dragon, swiftly enveloped it.
Xie Feng then concentrated, channeling his vast soul power into the pill, aiding its formation with deliberate patience.
"Sushang, stoke the flames, open the vents!" instructed Xie Feng.
"Ah, what?"
"We need a strong fire for the final step. Fetch the coal hook and open the vents!"
"Understood!"
Sushang quickly found a three-foot-long hook on the ground, its entirety gleaming silver with a finely curved, sharp tip. Its material was a mystery, but it felt pleasantly warm to the touch.
Curiously, unlike typical coal hooks that blacken over time, this one remained pristine silver, even emitting a mysterious glow.
Lacking experience, Sushang didn't question its peculiarities. She simply followed instructions, using the hook to open the eight vents on the Pill Furnace.
The emerald flames surged like an angry sea, becoming even more tumultuous with the addition of Xie Feng's immense soul force. A crimson pill emerged, smooth and patterned, radiating an awe-inspiring aura—it was the Nine Luminaries Forbidden Pill!
Hum!
The Pill Furnace vibrated with a boiling hum, its red glow pulsating through the room. Xie Feng, seizing the moment, flung his sleeve open, revealing the completed pill.
Boom!
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from outside, plunging the sky into darkness as a storm brewed overhead.
Massive clouds amassed above Armillary Sphere Mountain, lightning flashing chaotically within, casting deep purple glows.
Purple Pill Thunder!
Ordinary Pill Thunder was silver or yellow, but the eighth grade was purple, the ninth black, and the tenth a spectrum of colors!
This deep purple, verging on black, signified a Grade Eight Great Perfection Pill, nearly a half-step into the ninth grade. Such Pill Thunder could obliterate Armillary Sphere Mountain and unsettle this unnamed realm!
Sushang's eyes went wide with shock, her tiger ears atop her head standing on end. Her brows furrowed, she gripped the hook, ready for a fight.
"Don't be scared, little one. Here, take the Medicine Pill."
"But outside..."
"That Pill Thunder..." Xie Feng glanced out coolly. Lightning raged within Armillary Sphere Mountain, its ferocious energy scattering leaves from the Sect Master's purple bamboo.
"Leave the Pill Thunder to others. Swallow the Medicine Pill, and I'll safeguard you."
Xie Feng's gaze softened into a serene smile. With a mere thought, the Nine Luminaries Forbidden Pill flew to Sushang, who, trusting fully, swallowed it without hesitation.
Inside her, the pill dissolved into a calm, sea-like energy, enveloping her body and amassing a formidable force that surged toward her heart—the seat of her imprisonment.
A wild energy erupted, the power of the seal unleashed!
The pill's energy turned fierce, manifesting as a crimson dragon, while the seal's power took the form of a black greatsword. They clashed in a ferocious duel!
Wuuu—
Sushang cried out in pain, drenched in sweat as the battling forces wreaked havoc on her body. Xie Feng had her sit cross-legged, channeling his energy to protect her meridians, guiding her through the ordeal.
Meanwhile—
The purple Pill Thunder outside roared its arrival!
Armillary Sphere Mountain trembled!
The Pill Thunder, like a wrathful tiger and dragon, bellowed, and the world turned chaotic in its wake.
Suddenly!
Purple bamboo leaves lifted on the wind, swirling into a hurricane that carved through the sky.
The hurricane spun wildly, morphing into a shield that blotted out the sun. The fierce Pill Thunder struck but was repelled, vanishing against the shield!
High above, the clouds churned angrily, unleashing even more ferocious Pill Thunder to no avail. Eventually, the Pill Thunder waned, retreating slowly, and tranquility returned to the space.
In the courtyard, a purple bamboo rustled softly.
...
The unveiling of the Heaven Ranking, with its top ten shaking the Three Thousand Worlds, was only three months away from its second round.
During this period, countless watchful eyes and calculating minds were fixed on those listed in the Heaven Ranking. The undercurrents were already stirring. Two days later, the Heaven Ranking reemerged, revealing astonishing changes!
The Heaven Ranking, stretching across the sky, shone forth amidst a myriad of golden rays, and a world-shaking announcement echoed once more:
"The Heaven Ranking has changed!
"It's currently being updated!"
These words sent shockwaves through the world's mighty, sparking intense debates.
"The Heaven Ranking has changed? Could it be that someone is about to fall?"
"Perhaps someone new is ascending the ranks!"
"No, no, look over there!"
Amidst the bubbling excitement, someone pointed at the Heaven Ranking and cried out in a piercing voice.
Previously, the Heaven Ranking had specific places listed, with the exception of the enigmatic first position. Now, all the names were wildly flickering, bathed in a swirling luminescence, their order unpredictable.
Xuan Tugu of the Vast Dragon Clan observed the scene, her heart filled with surprise and an ominous premonition. Clutching her scepter and narrowing her aged eyes, she murmured, "The Heaven Ranking is about to shift? Who will rise? Or... fall? Could it be my own grandson?!"
At the Azure Phoenix Clan.
Qiuye stood beneath a verdant pine, her meditation complete. As she opened her phoenix eyes, a serene light traced her pupils, adding to her ethereal beauty.
Gu Chen approached with urgency in his step. Qiuye smoothed her dark blue skirt and rose gracefully, her gaze languid as she smiled, "Clan Patriarch, you seem rushed to visit my Cloud Cliff. Is there pressing news?"
Gu Chen's brow furrowed. "The Heaven Ranking is on the verge of change! I suspect it involves the young master of the Vast Dragon Clan!"
Qiuye's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Qu Jiangxuan?"
Gu Chen revealed, "I've uncovered a secret; he's preparing to venture into the Land of Sanguinity!"
Qiuye inquired, "You mean that century-old forbidden land, where the Devil Dragon perished?"
Gu Chen nodded affirmatively. "Exactly. That land harbors immense fortunes. Combined with the Ancestral Dragon Bone he possesses, it could very well trigger a further evolution of his bloodline!
"Today's fluctuations in the Heaven Ranking may well be tied to Qu Jiangxuan! Should his bloodline awaken to eighty percent, he'll embody the Ancestral Dragon Physique, surpassing even your Azure Phoenix Immortal Physique!
"The fortune of that ancient forbidden land is the perfect catalyst for bloodline enhancement, and we too must seize it!"
Gu Chen's demeanor turned grave, his eyes flickering with unreadable intent.
In the Azure Cloud Holy Land.
Beneath a crimson maple, dawn broke through the clouds. Ye Yuan, with his unique eyes, sat beside a chessboard, pondering the grand game of chess. He glanced at the shifting Heaven Ranking and slightly arched an eyebrow.
"The Heaven Ranking has shifted. Is someone unable to contain themselves, or is a new contender about to emerge?"
...
At the Armillary Sphere Sect.
In the Pill Room.
Thanks to Xie Feng's guardianship, Sushang found her peace. The potent effects of the Nine Lights Forbidden Pill overwhelmed the restraints within her, and the energy of the pill ultimately devoured and obliterated them.
With the shackles broken, a profound energy quietly suffused the space. This aura, emanating from the soul's deepest recesses, was akin to a floodgate unleashing a ferocious beast or a towering tidal wave—once released, it could obliterate the heavens and the earth!
Terrifying energy swirled before Sushang, coalescing into a formidable white tiger. Its majestic form and imperious gaze carried the boundless breath of the ancient wilds.
Xie Feng watched her, his heart quivering.
Now, Sushang was utterly transformed—her stature, visage, presence, and aura bore no resemblance to her former self.
Cold! Detached! Dominant!
Was this the awakening of her true nature?
Xie Feng pondered silently.
A soft murmur arose.
Sushang hovered midair, her body swiftly expanding. Her silver hair cascaded down to her bare ankles like a waterfall. Her eyes gently closed, her eyelashes casting shadows like delicate wings, her figure elongated and enchanting. A silver-blue battle dress rippled down, exuding a regal and noble air.
In a mere moment, she had matured from a young girl into a statuesque beauty!
Simultaneously, her cultivation level skyrocketed!
First level of the Qi Refining Stage!
Tenth level of the Qi Refining Stage!
First level of the Foundation Establishment Stage!
Tenth level of the Foundation Establishment Stage!
...
Her cultivation ascended realm by realm, a maelstrom of spiritual fortune erupting from her, sending the Pill Room's energies into tumult!
The awakening of a physique suppressed for over a decade was indeed formidable. Xie Feng couldn't help but inwardly sigh. His palm clenched, energy swirling, ready to intervene should the need arise.
Sushang's power continued its frenzied climb.
...
First level of the Tribulation Passing Stage!
Second level of the Tribulation Passing Stage!
Third level of the Tribulation Passing Stage!
Finally, the young girl's cultivation stabilized.
For others, such a meteoric rise through five major realms would be fatal, but her defiance of the heavens allowed her to withstand such fearsome energy!
"After her awakening, the little girl's constitution has become incredibly robust. Such a transformation is likely the result of an energy overflow."
"However, who could have sealed her powers?"
murmured Xie Feng.
