Learning how to break the restriction from me? Wait, it actually moved?

At this moment, Gu Han’s mind was completely occupied by these two questions.

Even though Gu Han had stopped, the humanoid figure hadn’t. The hand seal was also much simpler. Yet as soon as it was done, it began repeating its previous movements again and again.

Shen Xuan was bewildered. “What is it exactly doing?”

Murong Yan was taken aback. “No way... Does it want these pills too? Isn’t it just a lingering obsession? What would it need these things for?”

This casual remark made Gu Han recall the shadow’s words. Obsession and unfulfilled wishes. Could it be that its wish is related to these pills?

Instinctively, he carefully observed the humanoid figure’s movements, noticing its abnormality. He wasn’t breaking the restriction, but properly unsealing it!

Gu Han sighed softly. “I understand.”

Based on that, he assumed that the figure was the lingering obsession of someone who had once been in the Profound Pill Pavilion. However, he was just a wisp of obsession now, possessing not a shred of cultivation. Even knowing the correct technique, the figure couldn’t deal with this restriction.

Gu Han stared at the humanoid figure with mixed feelings. “Do you want these pills?”

He couldn’t understand. Did he wait all these years just for these pills?

The humanoid figure didn’t speak, but his movements also didn’t stop.

Gu Han shook his head, feeling somewhat heavy-hearted. “Never mind. I’ll help you.”

Not only did he memorize the hand seal at a glance, he could also use it effortlessly. Breaking a restriction was often way harder than unsealing one. The shadow’s restriction-breaking technique was extremely sophisticated, but it was still ten times harder and more taxing than normal unsealing.

In less than a second, the restriction on the wooden shelf vanished without a sound. The humanoid figure’s movements also completely ceased. Under normal circumstances, Gu Han would probably have swept all the pills away. Now he didn’t.

Instead, he glanced at the humanoid figure. “Take a look. Is there anything you want?”

No reaction whatsoever.

Murong Yan’s eyes widened. “No way! You don’t want all of them, do you? At least leave us two bottles! My brother worked pretty hard too.”

The humanoid figure still didn’t speak.

Gu Han frowned slightly. “How strange. Could it be that its wish isn’t these pills?”

Yang Ying hesitated for a moment. “Perhaps, he just wanted to help you unseal the restriction?”

Gu Han was taken aback. “Help me? How is that possible? It can’t still have consciousness—”

He stopped mid-sentence. Obsession.

Even the shadow didn’t know much about it, let alone him? Besides, this humanoid figure had been following him from the start. There had to be some secret he didn’t understand. The figure could also be helping him out of pure instinct.

Shaking his head, Gu Han didn’t dwell on it further. “Never mind.”

He went to collect the pills that had retained most of their medicinal power. Sure enough, half of the pills were still usable.

After thinking for a moment, he took out a Soul-Nourishing Pill with somewhat diminished potency, and put it into his mouth. “I’ll try one first.”

He regretted it immediately. The pill didn’t only heal his soul injuries, but also increased his soul power significantly. If he hadn’t exhausted himself trying to suppress it, he would have broken through on the spot.

He shuddered to think about it, but dared not consume any more. “That was close!”

At this moment, everyone felt like they had struck it rich. Pills that could replenish soul power were much more precious than other pills. Taking just one bottle out would absolutely cause a frenzied rush. And here, they had a lot!

Gu Han was energized. “Let’s go! This is only the second main palace. There’s definitely more good stuff in the later ones! We have to get to these pills before they do!”

Instinctively, he glanced at the humanoid figure. He really wanted to know if it was truly helping him.

Soon, they found another palace.

“Body-Tempering Pill? Blood-Nourishing Pill? Body-Fortifying Pill?”

The pills here all seemed to be for body tempering. Aside from those about to undergo Heavenly Tribulation, they seemed suited for those with rare physiques and specialized in physical refinement.

Of course, Murong Yan was overjoyed. Her path had always leaned toward physical refinement.

Meanwhile, Gu Han deliberately tested something. He had Murong Yan, Shen Xuan, and Yang Ying take turns trying to break the restriction, but none of them could trigger any change in the humanoid figure. However, the moment he tried to break the restriction, the humanoid figure would immediately demonstrate the correct unsealing method.

Now, he was fully convinced the humanoid figure was genuinely helping him.

Yang Ying said, “It seems like its connection to you is not as simple as we imagined.”

Gu Han stared at the humanoid figure. “You’re helping me. What is it that you want? Waiting for so many years, even time power couldn’t erase you... What exactly are you waiting for?”

Still no answer.

Gu Han sighed softly. “Forget it.”

He silently resolved to help the figure if he had the chance. With the correct unsealing method, the efficiency of collecting pills increased dramatically.

Soon, they went to the third palace, then the fourth. They swept through like a whirlwind, clearing everything in their path.

***

Inside another palace, Chu Kuang and his two companions were going all out, relying on the restriction-breaking Dao artifacts and methods they had brought. Breaking the remaining restriction and retrieving the pills took them a full hour.

Though burning with rage after being hunted by Gu Han, they hadn’t forgotten their purpose here. The pills were what they truly wanted most.

Qi Jun frowned slightly. “For body tempering, their use for us is actually pretty limited.”

As a Holy Son, his Holy Land had plenty of spirit herbs for tempering the physique. Hence, although these pills were extremely rare, their effect was somewhat mediocre for him.

Chu Kuang waved his hand. “It’s fine. You should have noticed that the complete Profound Pill Pavilion has a great variety of pills. Be patient. As long as we keep searching, our harvest definitely won’t be small.”

Wu Han nodded. “Right! With the three of us working together, we can break restrictions faster than anyone! That’s our biggest advantage. Most of the opportunities in the Profound Pill Pavilion will be ours!”

Chu Kuang squinted. “In the end, he’s just one person.”

Knowing who he was referring to, Qi Jun sneered coldly. “For all we know, he might not have brought any proper equipment. He might be struggling helplessly against the restrictions right now. Although we suffered some losses at his hands, he won’t be able to match our harvest from the pavilion!”

Chu Kuang didn’t delay either. “There’s no time to waste! Our opponents aren’t him, but the other two factions.”

Thinking of Gu Han looking dejected like a kicked dog, Wu Han felt satisfied. “Those two factions are nothing to fear either. We will be the ultimate winners!”

A short while later, they found another well-preserved palace. The moment they entered, everyone was stunned.

“Where are the pills?”

“Where’s the restriction?”

Chu Kuang looked completely calm. “It seems like this place has already been explored. Must be a coincidence. We’ll just find another one.”

Everyone found the explanation reasonable. They understood that the Profound Pill Pavilion was only so big after all.

A short while later...

“Gone again?”

“Find another!”

After another moment...

“Still empty?”

Everyone slowly realized something was wrong.

***

Beside Zhao Mengyou, one of her followers was bewildered. “Divine Maiden, this is the second palace in a row. Why are they all empty? Logically, such a well-preserved place should definitely have pills and restrictions!”

Another person said worriedly, “Could it be that everything here is gone?”

The first person retorted, “How is that possible! We’ve only been inside for less than half a day. And you’ve seen those restrictions! Breaking them with our artifacts takes a considerable amount of time. Even if others are fast, how much faster could they be?”

Zhao Mengyou cut them off. “That’s enough! Let’s just keep looking.”

Although she appeared calm on the outside, she was starting to feel a little uneasy underneath.

Could it be that everything is really gone?

***

Meanwhile, inside another palace not far from Zhao Mengyou, Di Kan stared blankly at the wooden shelf filled with ruined pills.

He asked instinctively, “How many times has this happened in a row?”

Behind him, one of his followers stammered, “Young Valley Master, t-the sixth?”

“Where are the pills?”

That follower nearly cried. You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask!

Di Kan was so angry his golden fur trembled, roaring, “Where the fuck are those pills?! Where did my damn pills go?!”

***

After hearing that faint roar in the distance, Gu Han was filled with emotion. “How many has it been?”

Yang Ying answered without hesitation, “Twenty-five.”

In just a few short hours, they had almost swept all the palaces clean. As for the harvest, even someone with his formidable calculation ability was having trouble keeping track. There was simply too much! Compared to this haul, their plundering of the Yang and Meng families’ secret realms felt like a joke!

Gu Han frowned deeply. “Only twenty-five? This won’t do. If we’re claiming the prize, they shouldn’t even get the leftovers.”

Shen Xuan’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.

On the contrary, Murong Yan nodded in agreement. “That makes sense! How about we take the whole prize away?”

“We absolutely have to take it!” Gu Han nodded emphatically and immediately strode into the palace. “Friend, I’ll need to rely on you again this time.”

In just a few hours, his feelings toward the humanoid figure shifted from fear to adaptation, and now to familiarity. The humanoid figure remained motionless. Whether it understood him or not was unclear.

Gu Han then looked toward the wooden shelf. “Who knows what kind of pills are these this time—”

Suddenly, he turned serious. The description on the jade bottle was crystal clear.

Endure the pain of having marrow drawn and bones sucked to enhance potential and foundation. For mortal physique users, taking it will allow their progress to rival a genius for ten years! For geniuses, taking it will allow their progress to rival a Heavenly Pride for ten years! For Heavenly Prides, taking it will allow their progress to rival a heaven-defying prodigy for ten years! After ten years, foundation and potential are exhausted, making further progress impossible for life!

On the side of the jade bottle, three small words were incredibly clear.

Marrow-Draining Pill!