Chapter 632: Life Devouring Pill
The pressure on the mountain stockade was immediately reduced when the troops from the βBlack Allianceβ scattered in defeat. The large intense battle had ended in an anticlimactic way with Xiao Yanβs imposing pressure. It must be said that the strength of a βHeavenly Flameβ was really too terrifying.
Of course, to be precise, it was the special effect of this βFallen Heart Flameβ to summon heart flames that was too terrifying. The moment he summoned the heart flame against an opponent who was stronger or similar in strength as him, he might not be able to cause them to self-ignite, but he would be able to distract while they attempted to suppress it. This way, their fighting strength would be slightly weakened. If he were to meet an opponent who was much weaker than him, the heart flame would become the lock that took their lives. Those people from the βBlack Allianceβ who self-ignited and turned into ashes were the best example.
The threat to the stockade was resolved as the troops from the βBlack Allianceβ scattered in retreat. Many black figures flashed and appeared from the stockade, and began to clean up the messiness following the great battle.
Xiao Yan, Xiao Li, Zi Yan, and the others were sitting in a large hall in the middle of the stockade. Although everyone was to some extent a little tired, this was all suppressed by their excitement from that intense big battle earlier.
βI didnβt expect you to be so vicious. You actually really did finish off Fan Lao. He was an elite Dou Huang. If this news were to spread, it would likely cause the βBlack-Corner Regionβ to shake violently.β Lin Yan was stunned for quite a while after hearing the news that Fan Lao was killed by Xiao Yan before he finally smacked his lips and spoke.
Xiao Yan smiled, but did not continue to be entangled with this topic. He cupped his hands to everyone and said with a smile, βXiao Yan thanks everyone here for the favor this time around. If there is an opportunity in the futureβ¦β
Xiao Yan had yet to finish speaking when Lin Yan interrupted, βWe have already known each other for so long. Forget about these boring words. If I meet any trouble in the future, I will come and look for you even if you didnβt open your mouth.β
Xiao Yan was dumbfounded before he immediately smiled and nodded his head. This fellowβs character was as straightforward as it had always been.
βHey, Xiao Yan, I have also contributed a lot. You better not forget.β When Zi Yan at the side saw that Xiao Yan had only thanked Lin Yan, she immediately muttered unhappily.
βRelax, little girl. I will not forget your βBody Transformation Pillβ.β Xiao Yan patted Zi Yanβs head as he smiled and flattered Zi Yan until she smiled.
βI donβt think I need to be that polite to the both of you right?β Xiao Yan turned his gaze toward Wu Hao and Hu Jia at the side and spoke with a smile.
The two of them smiled and nodded. Including these two years, the three of them could be considered old friends. From not seeing eye to eye back in the day to the day they had joined hands to establish a faction like βPanβs Gateβ, the friendly feelings between the three had grown increasingly mellow. Wu Hao was a little stiff when dealing with issues, but it was extremely difficult for him to be disloyal once he recognized someone as a friend. Hu Jia was very clever, and was also a genuine person who did not hide her feelings. Her relationship with Xiao Yan was similarly quite good. Hence, she did not mind those meaningless words of thanks.
Everyone thanked one another before Xiao Yan finally turned his gaze toward Xiao Li who was in the leaderβs seat in the hall. Due to them being pressed for time earlier, Xiao Yan did not observe Xiao Li in detail. Now that he had quietened down and took a look, his eyebrows had also become slightly knit together.
The two years had added some coldness to Xiao Liβs face. However, the faint death aura that lingered between his brows was extremely obvious in the eyes of someone like Xiao Yan whose Spiritual Strength was extremely strong.
βSecond brother, what happened to you during these two years?β Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment before involuntarily opening his mouth to inquire.
Xiao Liβs face, which was originally smiling as he watched Xiao Yan converse with his friends, suddenly became dull when he heard this question. His smile was also slowly withdrawn as he became silent.
The originally somewhat joyous atmosphere of the large hall gradually quietened down following Xiao Liβs silence. Everyone looked at the expression of the former before looking at each otherβs eyes. All of them had some doubt. Finally, Hu Jia, who was more sensitive as a female, gave Wu Hao and the others a look with her eyes before quietly withdrawing from the hall. She even gently shut the door when she left.
Xiao Yanβs gaze watched the silent Xiao Li intently. He did not open his mouth to stop Lin Yan and the others from leaving. From the death aura that was lingering over Xiao Liβs brows, it was as though he was a person whose death was imminent. This kind of situation did not allow for the slightest negligence on Xiao Yanβs part.
After a long while under Xiao Yanβs continuous tense gaze, Xiao Li finally let out a long sigh. He revealed a bitter smile toward Xiao Yan and slowly said, βXiao-yan-zi, you are the most outstanding person in our Xiao clan. Before I arrived, big brother had told me that I can die but you cannot! I do not have the slightest disagreement with this point.β
Xiao Yanβs face twitched slightly. Even with his mental strength, his nose could not resist the urge to turn sour at these words.
βAfter I had learned of your death in the Jia Nan Academy back then, I had wanted to directly go and find those people who had participated in the sneak attack to engage them in an all out fight because of the great vengeance of the Xiao clan.β Xiao Li recalled the despair and craziness in his heart when he learned of the news. His fist involuntarily tightened. βIf you were to really die, it was likely that the Xiao clan would be completely destroyed.β
βI have endured this despair for around two months or so before I finally suppressed the impulse to go and find these fellows to fight within my heart. Since you were no longer around, the burden could only be carried by second brother.β
βHowever, I knew that given my training speed, it is likely that I would not be able to achieve the strength that is able to take revenge on the Misty Cloud Sect in the foreseeable future. However, it was fortunate that the Heavens do not leave one with a path that leads to a dead end. Around half a year after the news of your death had been spread, I had fled into the deep mountains while being chased. By chance, I obtained something.β
A fiery heat suddenly surged into Xiao Liβs eyes when he spoke until this point. Xiao Yanβs emotions had also become slightly tensed. He could sense that the reason for his second brother turning into this manner must be due to the thing that he had obtained.
βAmong the things that I obtained, there was one bottle of medicinal pills with two red-colored medicinal pills within it. According to the information that was written on the bottle, this kind of medicinal pill was able to forcefully raise the strength of someone who was around the Da Dou Shi class all the way to the Dou Wang class. Howeverβ¦
Once such a medicinal pill is used, one could only maintain oneβs life for three years. In other words, this medicinal pill basically used all of oneβs remaining life to exchange for a Dou Wang strength for three years!β
A giddiness suddenly swarmed into Xiao Yanβs head. He churned all the memories in his mind before finally finding a medicinal pill that was similar to the one that Xiao Li had just mentioned.
βLife Devouring Pill!β
Xiao Li was also somewhat surprised by Xiao Yanβs ability to call out the name of this medicinal pill which had long been lost on the continent. However, he finally nodded his head.
Xiao Yan immediately sat weakly in his chair when he saw Xiao Li nodded. He scratched his head with both his hands. His face was dark and gloomy. This medicinal pill was something that Yao Lao had mentioned to him during their travels. Even his voice was filled with endearment and admiration when he spoke of this kind of medicinal pill.
βLife Devouring Pillβ. It was a medicinal pill that had once shook the entire continent many years ago. It could be considered to be at the peak of the seventh tier. The creator of this kind of medicinal pill was an alchemist grandmaster who possessed quite a great reputation. The most frightening aspect of this medicinal pill was that it was able to create many expert Dou Wangs!
One could imagine, just how willing people would be when this one pill was able skip all of the tribulations of training they had to undergo in order to climb to this level. Although this kind of temporarily borrowed strength was obtained by squandering oneβs life, which of those people who could truly rely on normal training to reach the Dou Wang class did not have outstanding training talent? How could this talent be something that everyone possessed?
Hence, it aroused the craziness of a countless number of people the moment this kind of medicinal pill was born. Some of the first rate factions in the continent possessed an extreme greed for it. After all, whoever was able to obtain it might be able to create expert Dou Wangs. Just think, who could defeat a faction if it had a thousand or a ten thousand Dou Wang army?
However, this kind of craziness did not continue for long before it was gradually annihilated. This was because the alchemist who created the βLife Devouring Pillβ had disappeared overnight along with the medicinal formula for the βLife Devouring Pillβ.
There were still some people who did not give up and looked for him everywhere during the short period after he disappeared. However, as more time passed, the craziness that had shook the entire continent gradually calmed down. That so-called βLife Devouring Pillβ had gradually disappeared in the long river of time. It even reached the extent that it was foreign to many alchemists today. Had Yao Lao not occasionally told him pertinent information, it was likely that even Xiao Yan would not know some of these secrets of the alchemist world from a long time ago.
Of course, the current Xiao Yan did not have the mood to bother about just how great the βLife Devouring Pillβ was. He only knew that it had nearly been two years since Xiao Li consumed the medicinal pill. In other words, it meant that he only had around one year left to live!
Xiao Yanβs expression was a little pale. His eyes were filled with threads of blood. A moment later, he could not resist raising his head and crying out angrily, βYou clearly know that this thing overdrafts your life in exchange for strength. Why did you eat it?β
Xiao Li helplessly shook his head in the face of Xiao Yanβs angry voice. He said, βYou had already died. What else could I do? If I didnβt do this, just how many years later would it be before I could avenge you?β
Xiao Yan was startled before he immediately came to a sudden understanding.
βKe ke, you need not be too worried. You being alive is the best thing that can happen. Second brother is not important. The Xiao clan can only rely on you!β Xiao Li smiled as he looked at Xiao Yanβs dispirited face. He patted the formerβs shoulders and mused for a moment. With a flip of his hand, a somewhat strange and transparent bottle appeared in his hand.
He carefully placed the bottle on the table. Xiao Li looked left and right before suppressing his voice and said, βThird brother. This is that so-called βLife Devouring Pillβ. This may well be the last one in the entire continent.β.
Xiao Yan was slightly startled. He turned his head over and immediately focused his gaze on the blood-colored round medicinal pill within the jade bottle!