Inside the Hundred Herbs Pill Pavilion, Spiritual Qi was dense and misty, and the fragrance of medicine filled the air. The four of them walked through this medicine garden that resembled a fairyland, carefully collecting the Legacy Jade Slips that carried the wisdom of ancient Alchemy. Each Jade Slip contained a unique Alchemy Concept, insights into refining lost Pill Formulas, or exquisite explanations on the mutual generation and inhibition of herbal properties, holding immeasurable value.

Liang Ling obtained an "Ice Heart Pill Manual," which combined ice-attribute Cultivation Techniques with Alchemy in an original way; Lin Wan received a copy of the "Hundred Flowers Spirit-Nurturing Compendium," which recorded the cultivation and medicinal use of hundreds of spiritual flowers; and Liu Yiyi found an essay titled "On the Vitality of a Hundred Herbs," which focused on how to stimulate the medicinal properties of Spiritual Plants, greatly benefiting her wood-attribute Spiritual Root.

Fang Hao’s gains were even more astonishing. Deep within the medicine garden, he discovered an independent Pill Refining Room. The furnishings inside were simple, with only a half-person-high, three-legged Pill Furnace standing quietly. The entire furnace was the color of Chaos, neither metal nor stone, and its body was engraved with blurred patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and plants, as if depicting a scene from the dawn of creation. The furnace lid was tightly closed, yet it faintly emitted a Dao rhyme of the birth and death of all things and the flow of Chaos.

"Is this... the chaos pill furnace?!" Fang Hao’s heart shook violently. According to the scattered records in the Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Scripture and the Chaos Evolution Dao Art, chaotic objects were the most fundamental existences in the world, containing the opportunities of creation. A Pill Furnace made of chaotic material had a value far exceeding ordinary Spiritual Artifacts or Magic Treasures, and might even involve a higher level! Using it for Alchemy would not only greatly increase the success rate and quality of the pills but also make it possible to refine Heaven-Defying Medicinal Pills containing a trace of Chaos Origin!

Suppressing his excitement, he stepped forward to try and collect it. There was no Restriction blocking the Pill Furnace, but when his Divine Sense and spiritual power touched the furnace body, he felt a majestic and ancient will. This furnace was not a dead object but possessed spirituality! It seemed to be scrutinizing Fang Hao.

Fang Hao had a sudden moment of insight and circulated his Chaos Evolution Dao Art, slowly channeling that faint trace of Chaos Qi toward the Pill Furnace.

Hum!

The chaos pill furnace vibrated slightly, and the patterns on its body seemed to come to life, emitting joyful ripples. It recognized the Chaos aura on Fang Hao! In the next moment, the Pill Furnace transformed into a streak of chaotic light and proactively entered Fang Hao’s Dantian, floating submissively above his Qi Sea, resonating with that trace of Chaos Qi.

"It can actually be taken into the Dantian for nurturing!" Fang Hao was overjoyed. This meant the furnace had initially recognized him as its master and could be continuously refined as his cultivation improved, possessing infinite potential!

This was absolutely the most precious harvest of this ruin exploration! It might even influence his entire future path of the Dao!

Just as Fang Hao had subdued the chaos pill furnace and his mind was racing, a sudden change occurred at the entrance of the Hundred Herbs Pill Pavilion!

A powerful Golden Core pressure crashed down, sweeping through the entire medicine garden like a storm! A crimson figure rushed into the pavilion as fast as lightning, their voice like a resonant bell, carrying an unquestionable tyranny:

"Which juniors dare to steal the Opportunity of my Chiyang Sect! Hand over all the legacies and treasures you’ve obtained!"

The newcomer was a red-haired old man wearing the robes of a Chiyang Sect Elder. His face was sinister, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s, and the flaming spiritual power around him was surging—he was clearly a great Cultivator at the Late Golden Core Stage! His greedy gaze swept across the medicine garden, finally locking onto Fang Hao, who had just collected the furnace and whose aura had not yet settled.

"Chiyang Sect Elder, Yan Sha!" Liang Ling’s expression changed drastically as she cried out in alarm. Immortal Master Yan Sha was notorious in the West Province for his explosive temper and ruthless methods.

Lin Wan and Liu Yiyi were intimidated by this Golden Core pressure; their faces turned pale, and they could hardly breathe.

Fang Hao’s heart also sank. The Late Golden Core Stage was far beyond what he could currently confront head-on! However, he calmed down instantly and completely withdrew the aura of the chaos pill furnace into the depths of his Dantian.

"Senior, you are mistaken," Fang Hao bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly. "Exploring ruins depends on one’s own Opportunity. This place is unclaimed territory; how can you call it’stealing’?"

"Humph! Sharp-tongued boy!" Immortal Master Yan Sha sneered. "If I say this belongs to the Chiyang Sect, then it belongs to the Chiyang Sect! A mere Foundation Establishment junior dares to talk back? You’re looking for death!"

He didn’t bother with reasoning at all and struck out with a palm! A giant flaming hand condensed, carrying the momentum of burning the heavens and boiling the seas as it crushed down toward Fang Hao’s group! He intended to kill them and seize the treasures!

"Form the Formation!" Liang Ling shouted. She, Lin Wan, and Liu Yiyi instantly formed a Three Talents Defensive Formation, layering ice walls, vines, and water screens in an attempt to resist.

But how terrifying was a strike from the Late Golden Core Stage! The defensive Formation shattered instantly like paper! The three women spat blood and were sent flying, falling to the ground heavily injured!

The giant flaming palm’s momentum remained undiminished, heading straight for Fang Hao!

At the critical moment, Fang Hao’s gaze turned sharp! Several hidden Formation Plates he had secretly laid out were instantly activated!

"Five Elements Reversal, Spatial Distortion!"

Buzz! The space in front of Fang Hao blurred. The flaming palm seemed to fall into a quagmire; its speed dropped sharply, and its power was mostly dispersed and weakened!

At the same time, Fang Hao pushed his Divine Spirit Steps to the limit, narrowly avoiding the core of the palm strike. However, he was still clipped by the scorching airwaves at the edge, causing his blood to churn and blood to seep from the corner of his mouth.

"Oh? A Formation?" Immortal Master Yan Sha was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected a Foundation Establishment kid to have such Formation attainments that could briefly interfere with his attack. "Trivial tricks! Let’s see how long you can hold out!"

He struck again, this time with a sky full of fire rain, covering the entire area so there was nowhere to hide!

Fang Hao knew that relying on Formations alone was no longer enough; he had to use his trump card! While rapidly dodging, his mind communicated with his storage ring!

"golden puppet! Come forth!"

Boom!

A massive dark-gold figure appeared out of thin air, blocking the way in front of Fang Hao! It was that Nascent Soul Level combat Puppet—the golden puppet!

As the golden puppet appeared, a Nascent Soul Level pressure erupted instantly, rivaling Immortal Master Yan Sha’s Golden Core pressure! It crossed its arms and stubbornly withstood the rain of fire, making the sound of clashing metal, completely unharmed!

"What?! A nascent soul puppet!" Immortal Master Yan Sha’s pupils constricted, and he turned pale with horror! He never imagined this Foundation Establishment kid would have such a terrifying trump card!

"Kill!" Fang Hao issued the command with his mind.

The golden puppet’s eyes glowed with intense gold light as it locked onto Immortal Master Yan Sha. Its massive Forging Hammer, carrying the power to tear through the Void Realm, smashed down fiercely! Simple, crude, yet infinitely powerful!

Immortal Master Yan Sha was both shocked and enraged. He fully activated his Chiyang Sect Cultivation Technique and summoned a flame shield to block!

BOOM!!!

The loud explosion echoed through the pill pavilion! The flame shield vibrated violently and cracks appeared! Immortal Master Yan Sha was shaken back repeatedly, his blood roiling, his face full of horror and disbelief!

A nascent soul puppet, even if its energy was somewhat depleted, was definitely not something he, a mere Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator, could withstand head-on!

"Junior! You dare..." Immortal Master Yan Sha was shocked and angry, but even more so, he was greedy! If he could seize this nascent soul puppet...

However, the golden puppet’s attacks were continuous, giving him no chance to breathe. Immortal Master Yan Sha struggled to parry, facing danger at every turn, and soon suffered significant internal injuries.

He knew he had kicked a steel plate today! If he continued to fight, he might risk falling here!

"Boy! I’ll remember you! Fang Hao of the Azure Cloud Sect, right? If I don’t avenge this, I, Yan Sha, am not fit to be called a man!" Immortal Master Yan Sha threw down these harsh words, unleashed a full-power strike to force the golden puppet back half a step, and then transformed into a crimson rainbow, fleeing the Hundred Herbs Pill Pavilion in a pathetic state.

Fang Hao did not have the golden puppet pursue. Controlling a nascent soul puppet was a huge drain, and one should not pursue a desperate foe to avoid unnecessary complications.

He quickly put away the golden puppet and went to the side of the three women, giving them healing Medicinal Pills.

The three women looked at Fang Hao with complex expressions, containing both the relief of surviving a disaster and a deep sense of shock. Fang Hao actually possessed a nascent soul puppet! This trump card was simply too staggering!

"Junior Brother Ning... you..." Lin Wan didn’t know what to say.

Fang Hao gave a bitter smile. "I ask the three Senior Sisters to keep this matter a secret. After today, I’m afraid I’ve formed a deadly feud with Yan Sha of the Chiyang Sect."

Liang Ling nodded with a solemn expression. "Being hunted by a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator is no small matter. We must leave the ruins as soon as possible and return to the Sect."

After this battle, the four of them had no more desire to explore. Their gains had already far exceeded expectations, but they had also attracted massive trouble. They quickly packed up and hurried back along the path they came, toward the ruins’ exit.

Fang Hao knew clearly that possessing a nascent soul puppet was both a blessing and a curse. Once the news spread, it would surely attract countless covetous eyes. The road ahead was destined to be even more dangerous. But the path of an Immortal Emperor was inherently one of going against heaven; why fear a challenge?

The priority now was to increase his strength. Only by being powerful himself could he truly control everything.