Chapter 381: "Senior Yao Chen, How About a Deal?"
"Second Brother!"
From afar, Heavenly Scorpion let out a heart wrenching wail, consumed by grief and rage. He wanted to move in and rescue Earthly Scorpion, but the raging inferno surged in waves, forming one fiery palm after another, forcing him to focus on defense.
"Earthly Scorpion… defeated?!"
Hearing Heavenly Scorpion's anguished cry, the faces of the Hall of Souls and Sky Nether Sect members changed drastically. They quickly turned to look and were instantly struck with dread. Earthly Scorpion's right arm was dripping with blood, severed at the elbow, and his lower body was trapped in an eerie black energy field. The black rings of light were destroying his body inch by inch, leaving his legs completely obliterated as he desperately resisted their encroachment.
"How is this possible?!"
The Four Heavenly Guardians of the Hall of Souls had dark, grim faces. One of them couldn't help but shout in disbelief. Earthly Scorpion was a Nine Turn Dou Venerate and an Eight Tier Peak Alchemist. His overwhelming soul power was even envied by the Four Heavenly Guardians.
How could someone like that lose to a mere Five Turn Dou Venerate someone so insignificant and unknown?
Far away, even Chen from the Sky Nether Sect, who had been relentlessly attacking Starfall Pavilion's protective barrier, froze, his expression one of utter shock. Earthly Scorpion was the strongest among them!
Even Heavenly Scorpion, who had one foot in the Half Saint realm, couldn't overpower Earthly Scorpion due to the latter's cultivation and soul strength. And yet, this peerless figure had been swiftly defeated by some pretty faced Five Turn Dou Venerate?
"Why are there two Lu Bu?" Elder Qiu Mao frowned, his pale face showing signs of fatigue as he clutched his chest. Despite Xiao Yan's assistance, the Four Heavenly Guardians of the Hall of Souls were formidable, leaving Qiu Mao struggling to hold his ground.
But the sudden appearance of two Lu Bu figures puzzled him deeply. Even with his Eight Tier Alchemist level soul perception, he couldn't distinguish which was the real one.
"That's the Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body… but how did he refine it to this degree?"
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. He had refined his own Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body using the unique star energy of Starfall Pavilion after a hint from Yao Lao. This method had allowed his refinement to outpace even the cultivators of Wind and Lightning Pavilion.
But how had Lu Bu managed to refine his illusionary body to surpass even Xiao Yan's? After all, it involved splitting one's soul a dangerous process that could permanently damage the soul if mishandled.
"So, it's a soul clone…" Elder Qiu Mao suddenly understood. No wonder he had been unable to tell them apart.
With clarity dawning, he and Xiao Yan quickly turned their attention back to the Four Heavenly Guardians of the Hall of Souls. With Earthly Scorpion defeated, the tide of battle had shifted in their favor. They couldn't afford to let the Four Heavenly Guardians escape.
Feeling the two locked onto him, one of the Four Heavenly Guardians grimaced before forcing a sinister smile. "Heh heh heh… It was Earthly Scorpion who was defeated, not me. Do you think I'm so easy to take down?"
"Whether that's true or not, we'll know after fighting," Qiu Mao replied coldly.
"Very well. That newly awakened Xiao Clan bloodline of yours I'll take it!" the Guardian sneered. Blood energy surged around him, thick and cloying, staining the air with a nauseating stench.
"Let's see if you're capable," Xiao Yan retorted with disdain. Flames from five different sources flared to life around him, exuding waves of heat strong enough to counter the Guardian's icy, blood soaked techniques.
Inside Starfall Pavilion, Nalan Yanran stood within the protective barrier, channeling her Dou Qi to maintain it. Her gaze fixed on Lu Bu in the sky, her brows furrowed with curiosity.
"Qing Lin… what's Lu Bu's current strength?" she asked.
"My lord is now a Five Turn Dou Venerate," Qing Lin replied with a soft laugh, her bright eyes curving into crescents.
"Five Turn Dou Venerate…" A look of astonishment crossed Nalan Yanran's face. To her, that was the realm of legends.
"And you?"
"Me? I'm a Six Star Dou Venerate now," Qing Lin answered modestly, smiling faintly.
The Starfall Pavilion elders nearby turned pale at her words. A Six Star Dou Venerate? Even Feng Zun zhe, with his many years of cultivation, had only recently reached that level, and that was with Yao Lao's alchemical assistance.
Who was this girl, and how was she so powerful?
Nalan Yanran was speechless. I shouldn't have asked…
Not that she was weak. As a Five Star Dou King, her talent surpassed most of the Four Way Pavilion's younger generation, including Huang Quan Pavilion's Wang Chen, Starfall Pavilion's Mu Qingluan, Myriad Sword Pavilion's Tang Ying, and even Wind and Lightning Pavilion's Feng Qing'er.
She could even hold her own against Tang Huo'er, the strongest of the Burning Flame Valley youth. But compared to these monstrous talents who seemed like they were cheating… she couldn't compete.
"Don't worry too much," Qing Lin reassured her. "We only gained such opportunities because we entered the Ancient Clan's Heavenly Tomb. Your Xiao Yan gained many energy cores there, which will help improve your strength as well."
Nalan Yanran bit her lip, tempted but hesitant. Whether to use those energy cores would ultimately depend on Xiao Yan's decision.
…
"Ahhh!"
Earthly Scorpion's anguished screams tore through the sky. His Dou Qi flared wildly as he struggled against the strange black energy rings devouring him. But the rings' suction pinned him in place, steadily consuming his body.
Meanwhile, Lu Bu's Three Thousand Lightning Illusionary Body maintained its hold, pressing down with the Great Heaven Creation Palm. As for Lu Bu himself… he was busy inspecting his spoils.
There was no urgency to kill Earthly Scorpion. In his current state, the Scorpion posed no threat. Lu Bu's eyes gleamed with mischief as a thought crossed his mind.
"Alright, time to send you on your way!" he announced, his tone laced with mockery.
Terror flashed across Earthly Scorpion's face. His heart seized as a wave of dread engulfed him.
"Die!" Lu Bu shouted, sweeping his sleeve. Violet black flames surged forth, forming a fiery serpent that condensed and compressed until it was the size of a human arm.
Though small, the black purple snake radiated an aura of pure destruction, its power sending shivers down Earthly Scorpion's spine.
Whoosh!
The fire serpent shot out, its gaping maw revealing searing fangs. With terrifying precision, it lunged straight for Earthly Scorpion's throat, trapped within the Great Heaven Creation Palm.
"No!" Earthly Scorpion screamed in horror, but escape was impossible. The snake closed in, the shadow of death looming over him.
Yet even in despair, Earthly Scorpion did not succumb passively. As a Nine Turn Dou Venerate and a prominent figure on the Dou Qi Continent, he wasn't the type to await execution.
"You want to kill me? Then let's die together!" he bellowed, his hands forming a rapid series of seals. His aura swelled wildly, like a volcano about to erupt.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rocked the heavens. Shockwaves spread in all directions, shaking the entire Starry Mountain Range. The protective barrier of Starfall Pavilion rippled violently, like a fragile boat amidst stormy seas, on the brink of collapse.
Golden light flickered as Lu Bu's figure darted through the storm like a phantom. Though the blast's full force couldn't be completely avoided, it failed to inflict any significant harm on him.
And at the epicenter of the explosion… a spectral figure lingered, creeping about furtively.
"Yao Chen, you bastard, this hatred is irreconcilable! I will tear you both to pieces!"
A soul piercing wail echoed, filled with endless resentment and hatred. The voice belonged to Earthly Scorpion, but it was so weak that even "bluffing" was an understatement to describe it.
"Lu Bu, what are you doing?" Yao Chen trembled with anger, his entire body shaking. "Why didn't you destroy his soul?"
This was the soul of an Eight Tier Peak Alchemist! Even though his physical body had been destroyed, as long as his soul remained, there was always a chance he could recover.
The last Eight Tier Peak Alchemist who had recovered to his peak? It was Yao Chen himself.
Yao Chen knew all too well how troublesome Earthly Scorpion could be. They had tangled with each other countless times and were intimately familiar with each other's weaknesses.
Given the circumstances, Earthly Scorpion would definitely prioritize seeking revenge on Yao Chen over dealing with the wildcard Lu Bu.
That bastard Lu Bu was clearly doing this on purpose, setting Yao Chen up for trouble!
How utterly infuriating!
"Oh, that's easy to say. Why don't you come over here and do it?" Lu Bu rolled his eyes, lying shamelessly without a hint of guilt.
"Hmph!" Yao Chen snorted coldly, visibly displeased. He then turned his attention to Heavenly Scorpion. There was still one left. This time, he couldn't let him escape!
"Second Brother!"
Heavenly Scorpion's face changed drastically. He had never imagined that Earthly Scorpion, an Eight Tier Peak Alchemist, would actually be defeated and slain, reduced to nothing but a wisp of a soul.
"Ke ke ke… Heavenly Scorpion, it's your turn now!"
Yao Chen's eyes gleamed coldly, and a sinister laugh echoed ominously in the air. Heavenly Scorpion, still stunned by the death of his brother, had no time to recover his focus before Yao Chen struck him with a vicious sneak attack.
"Urgh! Yao Chen, you " Heavenly Scorpion's expression twisted in shock. He realized that there was no longer any chance of turning the tide. His hands quickly formed a seal, and his aura erupted violently in preparation for self destruction.
"Self detonation? Dream on!" Yao Chen sneered, his figure flashing forward like a bolt of lightning. He slammed his palm onto Heavenly Scorpion's crown.
Unlike Earthly Scorpion, Heavenly Scorpion's soul was far weaker, and Yao Chen eradicated it with ease.
…
A few days later, at Starfall Pavilion:
With the deaths of Earthly Scorpion and Heavenly Scorpion, the battle had finally concluded. The Hall of Souls and Sky Nether Sect, realizing they had lost their strongest combatants, didn't hesitate to retreat, leaving behind a devastated Starfall Pavilion.
On a mountaintop, three cauldrons blazed with fire, and the enchanting aroma of medicinal pills spread throughout the ruined Starfall Pavilion, uplifting everyone's spirits.
"Qing Lin, how skilled is your lord at alchemy nowadays?" Nalan Yanran asked curiously, her gaze fixed on the lone figure atop the mountain.
"I'm not sure… I haven't seen my lord refine pills in a long time," Qing Lin replied, tilting her head thoughtfully.
Not far away, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow in surprise. A long time since he's refined pills? Then where did all those Eight Tier pills come from?
"Really? But didn't you say you frequently use Eight Tier pills?" Nalan Yanran asked, echoing Xiao Yan's unspoken question.
As expected of Yanran, Xiao Yan thought smugly, his brows lifting slightly. We're on the same wavelength, truly destined for each other.
"We stole them!" Qing Lin replied with a sweet smile, her tone confident and self assured.
Xiao Yan: "…"
Of course it's you, Lu Bu.
"Actually, my lord's supply of pills was running low," Qing Lin sighed softly. "But Earthly Scorpion sent him a new batch, so we're all set for now."
As she spoke, she playfully waved her fingers, revealing the glimmer of a spatial ring. As her lord's steward, Qing Lin was typically entrusted with handling loot like this.
Of course, more valuable items, such as Dou Saint energy cores, were exceptions those were reserved for Lu Bu's other companions. It wouldn't be proper or polite for her to handle those herself.
Nalan Yanran was left speechless, unsure of what to say.
"Condense!"
A loud shout suddenly erupted from the mountaintop. Elder Qiu Mao stood abruptly, his hands weaving seals as flames roared around him.
"He's condensing the pill!"
The crowd gathered below buzzed with excitement. Despite injuries ranging from bandaged wounds to pale complexions, everyone was energized, their faces flushing red.
After all, this was Elder Qiu Mao, one of the Eight Great Elders of the Pill Tower, refining pills!
Among the crowd, Feng Zun zhe stroked his beard with a satisfied smile. This pill refinement session had been Yao Chen's idea, aimed at boosting morale.
After the previous battle, Starfall Pavilion had been nearly wiped out. Without reinforcements from the Pill Tower and Lu Bu, it might no longer exist.
What Starfall Pavilion needed now was a grand event to lift their spirits and there was no better way to do so than refining pills.
Rumble!
A low thunder rolled through the skies as six colored lightning began to gather above. Qiu Mao laughed heartily, his spirits soaring.
"Ha ha ha… Not bad at all!"
Popping a pill into his mouth, Qiu Mao's pallid complexion gradually turned rosy, recovering some of his strength.
"As expected of Elder Qiu Mao, truly extraordinary!" Lu Bu chuckled softly as he stood up.
"Not at all, not at all… Wait." Elder Qiu Mao's expression froze as he noticed something. Lu Bu stood there calm and composed, his breathing steady, showing no signs of exertion whatsoever.
Clang!
The lid of a cauldron shot open, and a pillar of emerald green light surged skyward from the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron.
In an instant, the dense fragrance of the medicinal pill energized everyone within the Starfall Pavilion. Their Dou Qi surged uncontrollably, and some of the younger disciples even sat down immediately to begin their breakthroughs.
"What… what kind of pill is this?"
Elder Qiu Mao was stunned. Was this some high tier pill that enhanced cultivation?
Boom!
Above, the skies darkened as seven colored thunderclouds began to form, churning with streaks of blue, silver, red, gold, purple, white, and yellow.
"Seven colored lightning tribulation…" Elder Qiu Mao's gaze turned solemn, but when he glanced at Lu Bu, still calm and unfazed, the corners of his mouth twitched.
This brat… was refining an Eight Tier Seven Colored Pill like it was a simple One Tier pill? Was it really that easy?
"What kind of pill is this, Lu Bu?" Elder Qiu Mao shook his head, pushing aside his stray thoughts as curiosity took over.
"It's a Wulian Pill," Lu Bu replied with a smile. "A supportive pill for breaking into the Saint realm."
"What? Such a pill exists?" Elder Qiu Mao's eyes widened in shock. How had he, one of the Eight Great Elders of the Pill Tower, never heard of it before?
"Heh… I acquired the recipe from the Yao Clan," Lu Bu said with a meaningful smirk.
Nearby, Yao Chen rose to his feet, the light of his Dou Qi rippling around him. He gazed at Lu Bu with a complicated expression.
It seemed that Lu Bu was now his equal.
If only he hadn't been so stubborn back in the Magical Beast Mountain Range…
"Senior Yao Chen, how about a deal?" Lu Bu suddenly said with a sly smile. "I can give you the Wulian Pill recipe."
After all, the recipe came from the Yao Clan. Trading it with Yao Chen was essentially selling their own product back to them a perfect cycle!
"What do you want in return?" Yao Chen's eyes narrowed. He knew Lu Bu too well to trust him lightly.
"The location of the seal suppressing the Calamity Poison Body," Lu Bu replied, his smile deepening.
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