A mouthful of fresh blood spewed out, and the footsteps of the envious Elder stumbled back two steps before he steadied himself. His eyes were filled with vindictive malice as he glared at Xiao Yan. The sight was terrifying. The Envious Elder, even when regarded among the Central Plains, was a well-known figure. However, now, he had been severely diminished by the hands of Xiao Yan, a junior. How could he swallow such humiliation so easily? But no matter how furious he was, he had to suppress his murderous intent at this moment. He understood that his appearance had already made Xuan Kongzi and others view him as a thorn in the flesh. They had not acted yet only because they lacked an excuse, but if he dared to make any reckless move, Xuan Kongzi would definitely use overwhelming force to obliterate this menace on the spot.
Therefore, at this moment, he had to swallow his anger.
“Xiao Yan, don’t get too cocky. The Pill Refinement Conference isn’t over yet. This Five-Color Pill Lightning, attempting to take it down with your strength, is simply a delusional dream!”
But the Envious Elder was a man of deep cunning. After suppressing his rage, he suddenly glanced at the massive Five-Color Thundercloud in the sky and sneered. Receiving Pill Lightning was also considered a trial of the Pill Refinement Conference. Eighth-grade pills were too powerful, invoking the power of the heavens and earth to destroy them. If the alchemist could not protect the pill, it would be destroyed. Therefore, receiving the Pill Lightning and protecting the pill was also a crucial final test.
The potency of Pill Lightning increases with the quality of the pill. Ordinary Dou Zun level experts wouldn’t dare to underestimate such a Five-Color Thundercloud. In the Envious Elder’s view, Xiao Yan was merely at the Battle Sect level. Even with many tricks up his sleeve, receiving the Pill Lightning would not be easy. If he were a bit unlucky and the pill was destroyed during the lightning, Xiao Yan would not only lose the title of Champion but also his eligibility to participate. After all, without a pill, how could he compete?
Hearing the Envious Elder’s sneer, the excited voices in the crowd dimmed slightly. Prompted by the former, they realized that Xiao Yan’s true strength was still at the Battle Sect level. Such strength, while significant, seemed somewhat weak compared to the Five-Color Pill Lightning.
Many people exchanged glances. The most difficult part was over. Could they really be pushed to the brink at this point?
Though few worried about whether he could receive the Pill Lightning, in regular pill refinement, alchemists usually gathered many assistants to help withstand the Pill Lightning. After all, alchemists’ strength lies not in battle but in their ability to refine high-grade pills, which naturally attracts countless strong experts to protect them. Finding helpers was not a concern.
But though that was the case, receiving Pill Lightning was a long-standing rule of the Pill Refinement Conference. Even if it didn’t align perfectly with reality, there was no choice.
“This guy, still won’t give up.”
Cao Ying frowned slightly, but worry flashed in her eyes. The power of the Five-Color Thundercloud was too great. Although she had some confidence in Xiao Yan, the Five-Color Pill Lightning was no joke. A slight mistake, and capsizing at the last moment, was not impossible.
Under the numerous worried gazes, Xiao Yan smiled and looked up at the Five-Color Pill Lightning in the sky. The smile on his lips grew wider. This stuff was truly a perfect tonic for the Earth Demon Puppet…
“You don’t need to worry about such trivial matters.”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s calm demeanor, the Envious Elder assumed he was putting on a brave face, and his sneer deepened. “Fine, I shall see how you, with your strength, can handle this Five-Color Pill Lightning today!”
Xiao Yan smiled, looking up at the fiercely churning thunderclouds. Brilliant lightning crackled and illuminated the world like daylight. Judging from the lightning’s intensity, the Five-Color Pill Lightning was indeed formidable. No wonder the Envious Elder felt so smug.
Without the Earth Demon Puppet, which could absorb the power of the lightning, Xiao Yan might have indeed found today troublesome. But alas, a soft laugh escaped his lips. He raised his hand, and his finger’s storage ring flashed. A brilliant silver figure appeared before him.
The Earth Demon Puppet, due to the fight in the Pill Realm, was in a pitiful state. Not only was a large portion of its chest caved in, but even its skin, tougher than iron, was torn, revealing the silver flesh underneath.
Xiao Yan’s sudden action immediately drew many curious gazes, but these gazes turned disappointed when they saw a puppet that was almost beyond repair. Did he plan to rely on this near-worthless puppet to counter the fearsome Five-Color Pill Lightning?
The Envious Elder also stared, bewildered, at the summoned Earth Demon Puppet. He was no stranger to it; in the Pill Realm, if not for the obstruction of this puppet, Cao Ying might have been slain. Because of his prior experience, seeing Xiao Yan wanting to rely on this puppet against the Five-Color Pill Lightning, a sneer curled his lips.
This puppet couldn’t even withstand his single palm, so how could it possibly withstand the Five-Color Pill Lightning?
The Envious Elder estimated that the silver puppet was probably at the Eight or Ninth Star Battle Sect level—a decently high-grade puppet. It might be able to withstand one or two bolts of Five-Color Pill Lightning, but relying on it to survive the Pill Lightning was absurd.
“I think you’ve lost your mind betting on this…”
The Envious Elder shook his head, sneering.
Indifferent to his mockery, Xiao Yan thought it was a pitiful way for a failure to vent his frustration. Gently stroking the Earth Demon Puppet, although it was badly damaged, fortunately, it had no intelligence or pain receptors. As long as its body wasn’t annihilated, it would always obey Xiao Yan’s commands…
“This time, I’ll depend on you…” Xiao Yan patted the Earth Demon Puppet and chuckled. Lifting his head to the roiling Five-Color Thundercloud, he laughed heartily, “Come on!”
As if hearing Xiao Yan’s challenge, the rumbling of the Five-Color Thundercloud intensified. Bolts of lightning shot through the clouds.
In the midst of the swirling thunderclouds, a Five-Color bolt, like a giant serpent, burst forth and tore through space, hurtling towards Xiao Yan’s stone platform.
“Go!” Xiao Yan chuckled, pointing to the air and shouting.
At the sound of Xiao Yan’s command, the Earth Demon Puppet, on the brink of destruction, stomped the ground and launched itself into the sky. In everyone’s shocked gazes, it crashed head-on into the powerful lightning bolt.
“Ahh…” At this sight, the plaza erupted in a sigh of exasperation.
“Haha…” The Envious Elder cackled, but before he could say anything, his expression changed abruptly. He noticed that not only had the Earth Demon Puppet not shattered upon being struck by the Five-Color Lightning, but its damaged body was gradually repairing itself under the lightning’s flash. The caved-in area on its chest was starting to rise!
“This puppet is absorbing the lightning’s power?!” The Envious Elder’s pupils constricted as he witnessed the Earth Demon Puppet becoming even more luminous after being struck. Such an oddity was unheard of!
“No wonder he was so confident. He had such a strange puppet. Damn! I should have destroyed it in the Pill Realm!” The Envious Elder’s face darkened, filled with regret. If he had been more forceful in the Pill Realm, the Earth Demon Puppet would have been utterly destroyed, and Xiao Yan would have lost this lightning-repelling tool.
Compared to the Envious Elder’s gloom and regret, Cao Ying and the others were immensely relieved. Though they didn’t know why this peculiar puppet had such abilities, the facts proved that Xiao Yan had safely passed the final hurdle of the Pill Refinement Conference. The title of Pill Emperor was rightfully his!
“Haha, this little fellow has quite a few treasures. I once saw a puppet that could absorb lightning in an ancient ruin, but sadly, it was destroyed in the competition,” the beautiful woman on the high platform said with a smile.
“That old rascal, Envy, must be thoroughly depressed this time,” the dark-skinned elder said, a trace of glee in his eyes.
Xuan Kongzi nodded, smiling. “This time, the Alchemy Guild owes this young fellow a favor.”
The two women nearby also nodded with smiles. Had it not been for Xiao Yan’s heroic act, the title of Pill Emperor might have been in Envy’s clutches, tarnishing the reputation of the Alchemy Guild.
As they conversed, Xiao Yan, on the stone platform, watched the Earth Demon Puppet become increasingly radiant under successive Five-Color Lightning strikes. Excitement flashed in his eyes. He wondered if the Earth Demon Puppet, after absorbing this Five-Color Pill Lightning, could truly evolve to the Heavenly Demon Puppet realm?
Thinking of the Heavenly Demon Puppet, whose power could rival Dou Zun experts, Xiao Yan’s breathing became more rapid…
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