Chapter 52: Allocation of the Elixirs

During this teaching process, Zong Yan gained a great deal. After all, he had watched the demonstration six times in a row and even had someone explain it to him in detail. As for the other alchemists, it was merely an eye-opening experience. Their foundational knowledge was insufficient; even if Qin Tian explained clearly, they could not fully comprehend it. Still, having some impression was better than none and would prove useful in the future.

Zong Yan’s talent for alchemy was indeed extraordinary, so Qin Tian believed it wouldn’t be long before he could attempt to refine imperial-grade pills. Currently, his cultivation was the weakest, so Qin Tian gave him an imperial pill. Then he handed over two pills to Zong Wu, who was now one of Qin Tian’s main combat forces. Next were the three pills auctioned by the Lin Family Trading Company. The remaining twelve pills were given to An Miaoling, with Bai Xiaoru receiving three each. Qian Xue and Bai Xiaoxiao each received one, ensuring everyone got a share. Qin Tian kept four for himself.

For now, Shangguan Ya and others from the Sword Concealing Peak were not given any pills. They would be nurtured after the Lin Family Trading Company developed enough to supply imperial-grade spiritual herbs. With the pills, everyone began improving themselves, while the company started planning the promotion of this auction of imperial-grade pills. The event was scheduled for three months later, aiming for a stunning debut.

Qin Tian consumed a pill and began cultivating. As he possessed the aptitude for imperial refinement, his cultivation advanced quite rapidly. Within a month, after taking two pills, his cultivation broke through to the third layer of the Saint Realm. His combat power increased significantly, though this was contingent on breaking his seals. Following this, An Miaoling and Bai Xiaoru also broke through their barriers. An Miaoling reached the third layer of the Half-Saint Realm, while Bai Xiaoru not only regained her lost cultivation but advanced to the second layer of the Saint Realm. Then Qian Xue and Zong Yan broke through to the Half-Saint level.

Among them, Bai Xiaoru was recovering strength and thus progressed faster. Though others raised their cultivation, they still needed to explore and comprehend the Dao themselves. Hence, they avoided using the pills to push for continuous breakthroughs, lest they spoil their futures by forcing it. However, the medicinal power was not wasted but stored within their bodies and gradually digested during regular cultivation.

As for Zong Wu, he was already at the second layer of the imperial grade, so the pills had limited effect on him, though they significantly lowered the threshold for his breakthrough to the third layer of the Imperial Realm.

…

In the southern valleys of the Haotian Empire lay a sect called the Fallen Demon Valley. At this moment, Luo Hou’s imperial soul was conversing with the Demon Lord of Fallen Demon Valley.

The Demon Lord was Luo Hou’s elder brother, who had come searching for him after Luo Hou’s physical body was destroyed. After recounting his ordeal, he pleaded, “Brother, from now on I will rely on you. Please find me a good physical body.”

“Rest assured, we are blood brothers. I will do my utmost,” Luo Hou replied.

The Demon Lord was also tempted by Zong Wu’s possession of an imperial weapon, but he knew that if Luo Hou could not defeat someone, he himself certainly could not. However, he specialized in Gu techniques. If given an opportunity for a surprise attack, he could use his life Gu to control the enemy. He was confident in his life Gu.

With this in mind, he hurriedly sent people to gather intelligence and began recruiting Luo Hou’s disciples. The Luo Sha Sect had quite a number of promising talents.

A few days later, the son of the Luo Sha Sect’s elder and Qian Wei, among others, were brought to Fallen Demon Valley. Qian Wei’s face was still swollen and her body covered with wounds; she no longer resembled the beautiful woman she once was. This was because the elder’s son had spared her life, intending to prolong her suffering to vent his cruelty.

After their arrival, the Demon Lord began interrogating them about the invaders, offering rewards for any clues. Hearing this, Qian Wei immediately claimed she knew something but made a condition: she wanted no reward, only the chance to personally kill the elder’s son. Her will to survive in recent days had been fueled solely by the desire to avenge herself.

Though displeased, the Demon Lord agreed. After all, killing an insignificant person was no great loss.

Qian Wei’s killing of the elder’s son settled one of her long-standing grudges. She then shared detailed information about Qin Tian’s side, secretly hoping the Demon Lord would eliminate Qin Tian, which would bring her peace.

Upon learning that Zong Wu’s master was an ordinary person without spiritual power, the Demon Lord was skeptical and decided to investigate personally. Fortune favors the bold.

Disguised, he went to the place Qian Wei mentioned but found no one there; even the signboard was gone. He suspected they had moved and began searching the city. Eventually, he found the manor where Qin Tian lived— the new Realm of Artistic Conception Studio.

To be cautious, he waited until late at night before sneaking into the inner courtyard. He stealthily approached Qin Tian’s door and gently broke the window to peer inside. Qin Tian was sound asleep, and the Demon Lord observed carefully—indeed, he had no spiritual power.

Still, the Demon Lord remained doubtful of Qin Tian’s strength; after all, his brother had fallen. As for himself, his direct combat strength might not surpass his younger brother’s.

Then he noticed a kitchen knife lying by the bedside.

“Is this the kitchen knife Qian Wei mentioned?” he wondered.

Carefully, he released a probe of spiritual power to examine it, and his heart began to race. It was indeed an imperial weapon, and of medium grade at that—an instrument even his master did not possess.

Yet he did not let excitement cloud his judgment. After all, his brother had been defeated by this person.

After ensuring the surroundings were silent, he quietly released his life Gu—the Seven-Winged Demon Cicada. This was his life Gu, nurtured for thousands of years, and he was confident in it.

Once the demon cicada entered Qin Tian’s body, it would control him; then both the man and the imperial weapon would be his.

The Seven-Winged Demon Cicada had seven pairs of wings, a jet-black body, and a sharp mouth. It flew stealthily and only needed to touch Qin Tian’s blood to burrow inside.

It landed cautiously on Qin Tian’s shoulder and pecked toward his arm.

Outside, the Demon Lord watched the demon cicada tensely.

Thud—

The cicada pecked once but failed to pierce the skin. The Demon Lord was stunned! The cicada’s mouth could pierce even heavenly-grade weapons. Could this man’s skin be as tough as a semi-imperial weapon?

Sensing something unusual in his sleep, Qin Tian slapped his arm lightly.

Smack!

The slap instantly crushed the stunned demon cicada.

Qin Tian glanced at it with displeasure. “Why is there such a big mosquito here?”

He flicked his finger, sending the cicada’s corpse flying, then turned over and continued sleeping.

Outside, the Demon Lord’s face turned pale, a mouthful of fresh blood rising to his tongue, but he dared not spit it out. He clenched his teeth and carefully withdrew his presence, fleeing from the Realm of Artistic Conception Studio.

Once outside the manor, he could no longer hold back and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

His life Gu was dead, and his cultivation level fell directly to the first layer of the Imperial Realm.

Qin Tian had actually killed his life Gu with a single slap—terrifying beyond measure.

What was hardest to accept was that Qin Tian’s slap had emitted no spiritual fluctuations whatsoever.