Black-Corner Region, Outside Jia Nan Academy.
Boom.
A spatial rift silently tore through the calm sky. From it emerged a figure clad in white. His eyes scanned the surroundings sharply, and a dazzling glow surged from the ring on his finger, streaking directly toward the depths of Jia Nan Academy.
"As expected, it's here."
A glint of determination lit his eyes, a faint smile flickering across his lips. With a single step, faint spatial ripples radiated from his body, sealing off the surrounding space.
He then closely followed the guidance of the Ancient Jade, heading straight for the hidden domain of the ancient emperor.
This figure was none other than the Soul Emperor of the Soul Clan. Years ago, he had suffered defeat at the hands of Chen Xiaoming, and only through the power of Void Swallowing Flame had he been able to recover. Over the years, he had used various means to secretly obtain the final Xiao Clan Ancient Jade before anyone else.
With the Ancient Jade in hand, he had been searching in secret for the ancient god's hidden abode.
To the Soul Emperor, Chen Xiaoming was an opponent he could not challenge without stepping into the Dou God realm. For that reason, he came alone today to Jia Nan Academy—keeping a low profile to avoid drawing the attention of the Titled Palace.
Before long, he reached the bottom of the magma beneath the tower. His gaze locked onto the Ancient Jade submerged in lava. Without hesitation, black mist enveloped his body as he dove in after it.
How deep he plunged, he did not know. Eventually, the black magma parted, revealing the gate of the ancient emperor's domain.
A colossal stone gate tens of thousands of feet tall loomed before him, though only the massive frame remained intact—the center was completely hollow. From its ancient form emanated a timeless pressure, enough to make the Soul Emperor's heart tremble, filled with awe at the aura of the ancient Tuo She Ancient God.
An open gate to welcome all who possess fate, accepting all from the Four Seas and Eight Desolations.
"What grandeur—this is the aura of a Dou God!"
He couldn't help but marvel. Such unguarded openness toward his own domain, even leaving the gate wide open—only a being as domineering as the Ancient God could possess such confidence.
Stepping forward, the Soul Emperor flew into the domain.
Just as he entered, two overwhelming energy auras surged from the depths of the space.
Their presence was vast and unfathomable—like oceans with no end. The Soul Emperor's expression changed slightly. His spiritual sense reached out toward the source of the fluctuations.
Boom!
From within a fog-covered area, a deafening explosion suddenly echoed. A terrifying energy shockwave erupted like a nuclear blast, mushroom clouds rising high. Fierce winds blew in all directions, dispersing the haze to reveal the combatants.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Two figures stood suspended in mid-air: one a striking silver-haired youth, the other an old man with white hair and a youthful face. They hovered above the void, locked in confrontation, terrifying waves of energy radiating from their bodies.
Even a slight taste of those energies sent chills through the Soul Emperor's heart.
"Dou God...!"
He couldn't suppress a startled cry. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed, replaced with a gleam of madness.
"I'm... too late?"
After all these years of plotting, someone else had beaten him to the treasure? How could he bear that?
Still, after observing the two combatants, he chose caution—retreating into the shadows to await the moment when both sides would exhaust themselves.
"No wonder he helped me ascend... So you possessed Dou God strength all along."
After a brief exchange, the Emperor Pill realized he had underestimated Chen Xiaoming. Only someone with extraordinary power would dare to help him break through to the Emperor Pill Realm.
Unfortunately for Xiaoming, his opponent... was him.
"I don't know how you did it, but this ends now."
The Emperor Pill's voice was calm. Then his aura shifted. Wisps of green smoke drifted from his body, and the void trembled as the smoke rapidly spread throughout the entire space of the Ancient God's Mansion.
The smoke carried a subtle medicinal fragrance, so potent it made the distant Old Dragon King Zhu Kun begin to drift into a trance.
Boom.
A deafening roar shook the heavens. The void churned violently as scorching light exploded from the Emperor Pill, blanketing the entire world in blinding brilliance.
Hummmmm...
Buzzing filled the air as flickers of flame appeared across the trembling void. In moments, they surged into a blazing inferno, transforming the entire realm into a sea of fire.
"Open!"
With a thunderous roar, the Emperor Pill unleashed his full strength. Tidal waves of energy surged behind him, linking heaven and earth. The space shuddered violently under the pressure of his power.
Rumble rumble...
The void split apart. Above the Ancient God's mansion, a vast illusion materialized—its form round and complete, the very image of the Emperor Pill himself. As the illusion rotated, a horrifying force of spatial power followed its movement, and the fire across the heavens swirled with it.
Clang...!
With a thunderous sound, the fire surged wildly. From the void beneath, immense energy coalesced and instantly formed a colossal nine-mouthed pill cauldron, tens of thousands of feet tall. Its openings faced skyward—right beneath it stood Chen Xiaoming, at its very center.
"Fire."
A crisp command echoed.
As if finding its rightful home, the fire surged into the cauldron. In seconds, all the flames in the realm had poured into it. The outside of the cauldron glowed a deep red, ancient inscriptions beginning to glow on its surface.
"Refine!"
The Emperor Pill's expression turned solemn. With a flicker, he appeared atop the massive cauldron, sitting cross-legged. Faint medicinal fragrance wafted from his body, entering the cauldron and triggering an explosive reaction in the flames—as though they had encountered a powerful catalyst.
The towering cauldron stood like a pillar between heaven and earth, flames roaring within. An oppressive atmosphere filled the Ancient God's Mansion, the temperature rising to unbearable heights.
Even the Soul Emperor and the Old Dragon King Zhu Kun felt the pressure bearing down on them.
Gulp...
Having watched from the beginning, Zhu Kun was now unable to hide the shock in his eyes.
A pill refining another being into a pill—what kind of twisted alchemy was this?
A pill turning someone into a pill... What kind of experience must that be? Zhu Kun couldn't even imagine it.
Meanwhile, atop the cauldron—
The Emperor Pill sat in deep focus. Surprisingly, his face showed no hint of joy—instead, doubt flickered in his eyes.
Everything was going far too smoothly.
Chen Xiaoming hadn't resisted at all—not something a true Dou God would do.
But since the other party dared target him, he naturally wouldn't hold back.
Surging power continued to pour from his body into the cauldron below. To prevent any unexpected reversal, he didn't hesitate to burn even his true pill essence to intensify the flames.
But just as he was refining the fire, a strange sound echoed from within the cauldron.
Then—a brilliant silver light suddenly burst forth from the crimson blaze.
A thunderous explosion roared from within the cauldron, making the Emperor Pill's heart lurch.
"So this is the might of an Emperor-Grade Pill? Pathetically weak."
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