Thick, dark clouds gathered above the valley, obscuring the morning light that had just appeared. The valley was plunged into an extraordinary darkness, illuminated only by the silver lightning slicing through the gloom. As the black clouds amassed in the sky, the fragrance of the elixir on the stone platform reached its peak, even causing the ambient energy around it to tremble subtly. Inside the medicine cauldron, emerald flames raged fiercely. Above the flames, a perfectly round pill with a blend of green and red colors spun merrily. A tremendous surge of energy continually emanated from it, colliding with the cauldron walls and producing metallic clangs.
Xiao Yan gazed at the swirling pill inside the cauldron, and a faint smile crept across his pale face. His eyelids drooped slowly as a wave of exhaustion spread from deep within his soul, making him feel drowsy. The effort of this pill refinement had been immensely taxing, and without sheer willpower, he might not have succeeded. The lightning that tore through the dark clouds illuminated Xiao Yan’s pale, fragile face, clearly showing his complete exhaustion.
“Little friend Yan Xiao, I am eternally grateful. Leave the matter of the Pill Thunder to this old man. You should rest for a while,” Tang Zhen, seeing Xiao Yan’s weary state, quickly said, bowing his fists.
After speaking, Tang Zhen prepared to ascend and engage with the Pill Thunder. However, he suddenly heard Xiao Yan’s voice: “Master Tang, leave the Pill Thunder to me.”
Tang Zhen was taken aback for a moment, then urgently said, “Little friend Yan Xiao, rest assured. This old man can handle the Pill Thunder. Given your current condition, how could you still take on this challenge?”
“I know you can handle the Pill Thunder, but my earth demon puppet needs it to refine its body,” Xiao Yan muttered to himself, rolling his eyes. He then waved his hand, and the gleaming silver earth demon puppet emerged. Xiao Yan glanced at Tang Zhen and smiled, “Master Tang, this Pill Thunder has some use to me, so please don’t compete with me for it.”
The last time the earth demon puppet experienced the baptism of Pill Thunder, it had significantly improved. If it underwent another round, its power might increase further. This was Xiao Yan’s top enforcer, and any enhancement to its strength was highly beneficial.
Upon seeing the sudden appearance of the earth demon puppet, Tang Zhen was again startled. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he exclaimed, “A puppet?”
With Tang Zhen’s discerning eye, he naturally recognized the puppet’s true nature. Xiao Yan was not surprised. He glanced at the increasingly dense clouds in the sky and nodded. “Since little friend Yan Xiao insists, let your puppet handle it. If there are any issues, just inform us.”
Although Tang Zhen did not understand why Xiao Yan was so confident in his puppet, since the Pill Thunder was summoned by Xiao Yan, he could not say much. Moreover, Xiao Yan had already given him a great favor by successfully refining the Fire Bodhi Pill, so he would not object to such a small thing.
Xiao Yan nodded with a smile. Looking up at the sky, he raised his hand weakly and whispered, “Go.”
As soon as the command was issued, the earth demon puppet stomped hard on the ground, its form rocketing upward like a missile. It halted in mid-air, with the thick, thunderous clouds hovering several dozen feet above it.
Seeing the puppet suspend in the air like a Battle Sect, Tang Zhen’s astonishment grew. He marveled inwardly, realizing that he found it increasingly difficult to fully comprehend this young man. Not only did he possess an unique flame, but he also displayed such high proficiency in alchemy. Now, he had produced a puppet that could rival a Battle Sect. These traits made Xiao Yan’s identity all the more mysterious.
The spectators on the platform noticed these changes, especially when they saw Xiao Yan summon a silver figure to rise into the sky. They were all taken aback. Since the puppet had no aura, those with keen senses could quickly determine its nature.
“Is it really a puppet? Does Yan Xiao want to use it to withstand the Pill Thunder?”
“The Pill Thunder from a high-grade seventh-tier elixir is no joke. Even a Battle Sect stronger than five stars would find it challenging. Can the puppet handle it?”
Everyone was puzzled by Xiao Yan’s actions, but after witnessing his astonishing performances earlier, they dared not mock him. They knew that this young man, who appeared much younger than them, was far superior in alchemy.
This fact was hard for the alchemists to accept, but it was undeniable. Even if it was hard to swallow, they had to acknowledge it. The students of the Flame Burn Valley, who surrounded the square, were equally perplexed by Xiao Yan’s move. If Xiao Yan were in his prime, they might have believed in his ability to take on the Pill Thunder. But now, he was at his weakest. Even an ordinary Flame Burn Valley student could defeat him at this moment.
“Father, although the puppet is taking the Pill Thunder, it is clearly linked to Yan Xiao. If the puppet is destroyed, he will be hurt again. In his current state, it will be difficult for him to bear the impact…” Tang Huo’er, frowning slightly, looked at the silver figure in the sky and murmured.
Xiao Yan ignored the puzzled looks from the crowd, focusing instead on the brewing storm. The clouds, after a period of preparation, began to rumble ominously.
“Maybe if the puppet absorbs the Pill Thunder, it could advance to a higher level…” Xiao Yan muttered to himself. The earth demon puppet was divided into three levels: heaven, earth, and man. Initially, it was at the lowest, human level, but after the previous Pill Thunder, it advanced to the earth level.
Even at the earth level, the puppet could match a five or six-star Battle Sect. If it reached the highest, heavenly level, it would have the strength to stand against a Dou Zun…
“A Dou Zun-level puppet…” The thought filled Xiao Yan with excitement, but he quickly cooled down, realizing that advancing to the heavenly level wouldn’t be easy. Such a feat required time and careful handling.
*Boom!*
Just as Xiao Yan mused, a bolt of lightning crackled in the sky. A thick, silver bolt, as wide as a thigh, tore through the clouds, striking the cauldron on the stone platform with lightning speed.
As the silver bolt shot out, Xiao Yan’s heart stirred. The earth demon puppet, now in the sky, flashed down, appearing first on the platform. It extended its arms, allowing the massive silver bolt to crash into its body.
*Bang!*
An extremely dull sound echoed as the silver bolt collided with the puppet’s body, making everyone’s hearts skip a beat. The puppet, hit by the bolt, was smashed down nearly thirty meters before stabilizing. Silver currents now flickered over its surface, seeping into its body. If it were a normal person, they would have been torn apart, but the puppet felt nothing. Instead, its withered form, under the lightning’s assault, gradually strengthened.
“Is it absorbing the Pill Thunder’s energy?” Tang Zhen, watching the puppet remain unscathed despite the bolts, was visibly shocked.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The puppet easily absorbed the first bolt, and the sky’s clouds roiled violently. Moments later, three more, thicker bolts burst forth, charging towards the puppet.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Facing the three bolts, the puppet, under Xiao Yan’s control, acted without hesitation, attracting the lightning to its body like a lightning rod. Under the fierce impact, the puppet kept falling, eventually crashing to the ground, its feet embedded in the solid stone. Yet, as the lightning dissipated, it rose once more, shimmering brightly in the sky, an indomitable figure, radiating authority.
The Pill Thunder, seemingly enraged, continually spewed forth massive bolts, hitting the puppet like a machine gun. The spectacle was awe-inspiring, leaving many breathless.
On the platform, Xiao Yan watched the puppet, which was continuously hit by the Pill Thunder, yet managed to rise again. A hopeful smile crossed his face, wondering how powerful the puppet might become after this baptism. With growing anticipation, Xiao Yan’s heart raced.
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