In pill chamber number one, the fragrance emanating from within the pill furnace grew increasingly rich. Gu Han was pale, his eyes tightly shut. When the waves of emptiness swept through him, he continuously stuffed pills into his mouth. He gritted his teeth and held on desperately.

Almost there! Just a little more! Hold on a bit longer, and the pill will be finished!

He failed to notice that as time passed, his surroundings grew more and more hazy. Even the humanoid figure beside him was no longer as stable as before. From time to time, it would tremble slightly as if it would disappear at any moment.

After an unknown amount of time, the pill flame erupted with an even stronger suction force, nearly draining Gu Han dry. He had no time to curse and shoved another handful of pills down his throat. Suddenly, the pill flame and suction force weakened rapidly, then vanished. A slightly burnt, rich aroma filled the pill chamber, lingering for a long time.

Gu Han let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, it’s done!

Although he had never refined pills before, all the signs of a successfully formed pill were there. He eagerly opened the pill furnace and saw a thumb-sized pill. Shrouded in a hazy spiritual glow, it exuded an extraordinary aura as faint green and white qi swirled around it.

Just smelling it reinvigorated his spirit, and more than half his fatigue dissipated. However, streaks of black lines marred the pill that should’ve been lustrous white like jade. The burnt smell came from them.

At the end of the day, he was no alchemist. Even with the technique and a stabilized pill flame, his control over the heat still lagged far behind. Had the pill not been on the verge of completion, the result would have been nothing but a ruined pill.

Nevertheless, Gu Han could tell at a glance that it was among the top tier of half-saint herbs, subtly higher than the Soul-Nourishing Lotus seed. He was certain it would have surpassed a saint herb if perfectly refined. Even so, it should still be enough to make up for the foundation and potential Yang Ying had lost. The Marrow-Draining Pill he had taken wasn’t a perfect one either.

“Brother Yang, you’re just in luck.” Without hesitation, he took the pill and glanced at the humanoid figure. “This time, I owe it all to you—hmm?”

With no interference from pill refining, Gu Han’s absurdly powerful spirit perception was activated once more. He instantly detected the abnormal state of the pill chamber and the humanoid figure, as well as the sounds of battle coming from the base of the pill tower.

His heart sank straight to the bottom. “Shit!”

Without investigating the anomaly here, he rushed straight toward the tower’s base. His killing intent already peaked midway there. Dan Chen slowly turned and followed immediately after.

***

Outside the pill tower, Murong Yan had just regained consciousness from the soul damage. Shen Xuan immediately recounted what had happened.

She was enraged. “Yang Guy, you idiot! Damn it, have you lost your mind?! You’re going to die!”

Shen Xuan sorrowfully sighed. “Junior Sister, he probably can’t hear you anymore.”

Sure enough, not far away, Yang Ying seemed neither here nor there. His aura grew increasingly explosive and chaotic, showing signs of spiraling out of control. It wasn’t as if he had any intention of controlling it.

Against both aerial strikes and direct assaults, his spear moved like a divine dragon, confronting endless waves of attacks. Sharp, domineering spear intent radiated in all directions, holding Chu Kuang and his group at bay just outside the pill tower’s entrance.

At this point, Yang Ying had already lost count of how many attacks he had blocked. Eventually, he simply gave up on defending. After all, with the Violent Blood Pill and the Emerald Condensation Pill, he could recover in an instant no matter how severe his injuries were.

His soul power was nearly exhausted. His consciousness had long blurred, and he was only holding on by instinct—holding on until the moment Gu Han returned safely.

Severed limbs and mangled bodies lay scattered across the dark ground, which was dyed red with blood.

Wu Han and Qi Jun wore feral expressions, shedding all the airs of a young master and a Holy Son. Yang Ying had nearly wiped out a third of their people. Chu Kuang was also covered in wounds, looking wretched. His patience and confidence had been worn away completely.

The saint’s reincarnation was truly at a loss. Yang Ying’s physique was that of a mere mortal, the kind of mediocre constitution one couldn’t pick out of a crowd. Moreover, the pills’ effects should have begun to fade. So why was he still this strong? On what basis? Just because of the word “friend”?

Not far away, Zhao Mengyou watched the bloody Yang Ying with an unreadable expression. It was impossible to know what she was thinking.

Di Kan couldn’t help but say, “He said his name is Yang Ying?”

A follower nodded. “Yes. That seems to be his name.”

Di Kan was silent for a moment. “Yang Ying of the mortal physique? I will remember him.”

The follower was startled. “Young Valley Master, he’s very strong now, but it’s probably just because of the pills he took, isn’t it? Not—”

Di Kan glanced at him. “Don’t you see? Since a little while ago, those pills have started to wear off.”

The follower was stunned again. “Huh? Then how is he still this strong?”

Di Kan sighed softly. “It’s probably because of conviction.”

The few demons were confused. Strong is strong and weak is weak. What does that have to do with conviction?

Seemingly guessing their thoughts, Di Kan said somewhat disdainfully, “And that’s why I am the young valley master, while you’re just followers.”

The demons stared at each other in bewilderment. Aren’t you the young valley master because you’re the direct descendant of the old ancestor? What does that have to do with conviction?

Di Kan ignored them, sighing with profound emotion. “To have a friend like this... That human surnamed Gu must have been blessed by three lifetimes of good fortune.”

A soft, wet sound rang out from a follower beside Chu Kuang. Yang Ying had smashed his spear into the man’s waist. His ferocious spear intent exploded, cleaving the man in two. Blood sprayed and the severed body fell. The man didn’t die immediately, letting out endless, miserable screams.

This scene frightened everyone into stopping their attack. Yang Ying, who was senseless and unaware, swung his spear. A beam of spear light swept across, instantly ending the man’s life.

With that, Yang Ying had reached the end of his rope. He swayed twice as if he would collapse at any moment. His spear plunged into the ground again. Despite that, he still stabilized himself, not retreating even a step.

Almost purely on instinct, he shouted, already hoarse to the extreme, “Come... fight!”

Meanwhile, Murong Yan stared at his back with red eyes. She clenched her fists tightly, unable to say a single word.

Shen Xuan was silent for a moment. “Junior Sister, he’s about to collapse. It will be our turn next.”

Murong Yan said, “I will definitely kill every last one of these bastards!”

Chu Kuang found the sight of Yang Ying utterly infuriating. “Continue! Kill him! He’s about to collapse! Before the Profound Pill Pavilion disappears, we must kill him, and also Gu—”

He stopped mid-sentence. Even Wu Han and Qi Jun, who were preparing to strike again, dared not move. Gu Han had appeared at the entrance of the pill tower.

Murong Yan and Shen Xuan’s eyes lit up, then immediately dimmed again. “Brother Gu!”

Ahead, Yang Ying seemed to sense Gu Han’s arrival as well. A faint smile appeared on his face. The explosive and chaotic aura around him visibly weakened, and the bloodlust in his eyes gradually faded, returning to clarity.

“You’re back?” he asked.

Gu Han was silent for a moment, then raised his hand slightly. “Mhm. Brother Yang, your issue can be solved.”

Smelling that fragrance, greed flared wildly in everyone’s eyes. It’s a half-saint herb!

Moreover, it was a legendary medicine that could enhance one’s foundation and potential. So that’s it! He was away because he was getting this thing!

Chu Kuang took a deep breath. If he could get this pill, he would surely be able to elicit nine rings from the Dao Bell!

Yet Yang Ying didn’t even turn around. His eyes flickered in his eyes. “Is that so? Unfortunately, I have no use for it anymore.”

By now, he had lost more than just his foundation and potential. His vital qi, flesh, meridians, soul, even his lifespan. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Gu Han said nothing as the temperature around instantly plummeted.

“I know you’re a man of your word, so don’t avenge me. It’s not worth it. Promise me...” Yang Ying’s eyes suddenly brightened. “Take care of my mother and my little sister, I entrust them to your care.”

Gu Han forced the word through gritted teeth. “... Okay.”

“Thank you.”

Gu Han’s voice was a bit hoarse. “We... are friends.”

Yang Ying’s gaze grew brighter than ever. “Having a friend like you is my fortune.”

“Mine too.”

Yang Ying sighed softly as the light in his eyes rapidly faded. “I’m sorry I can’t repay what I owe you—”

His eyes closed gently. Without spirit power to sustain it, his spear shattered inch by inch, scattering fragments across the ground. Yet the man himself remained as straight as a spear. It seemed that even in death, the promise to not retreat even a step was still deeply etched into his very being.

Gu Han sighed, but Yang Ying could no longer hear him.

At some point, Dan Chen had appeared behind Gu Han, still maintaining a distance of one zhang. He flickered unsteadily, as if he would disappear at any moment like the Profound Pill Camp itself.

Chu Kuang could no longer contain himself. “Everyone, Gu Han seems greatly worn out! He’s not at his peak! Quick, kill him!”

No one dared to move. They couldn’t. Bone-chilling aura silently permeated the space, as if it could freeze them. It was killing intent!