Chapter 470: Surging Undercurrents
"Now that you’ve become this... thing, living is nothing but torture. It would be a kindness for me to send you on your way," Lin Yun said, sighing as he looked at Tang Wushuang.
There was no saving Tang Wushuang now. The only option left was to eliminate him.
Just as Tang Wushuang completely transformed into a monster, something was happening far away in the Celestial Eagle Valley of the Southeast Domain. Du Ying, who was seated in the Main Hall, suddenly heard a melodious female voice.
"Master Du, you truly have a venomous heart, to actually make your own Disciple consume a Black Heaven Blood Pill."
The sudden voice made Du Ying, who had been cultivating with his eyes closed, snap them open. He scanned the empty Main Hall and bellowed, "What rat dares to trespass in the Main Hall of my Celestial Eagle Valley?"
As soon as he spoke, a laugh like silver bells echoed through the hall. Two figures then swaggered in through the main entrance.
Watching the two figures—a young woman and an old man—enter the Main Hall, Du Ying’s expression darkened. ’To just walk into the Main Hall of Celestial Eagle Valley so brazenly... the guards outside must be...’
"Heh, no need to wonder, Master Du. Your Disciples guarding the Celestial Eagle Valley outside are fine. With Elder He’s abilities, avoiding their notice is a simple matter," the young woman said with a light laugh, as if she had read his mind.
They walked to the foot of Du Ying’s dais. The old man following the young woman produced an exquisite chair from his Space Ring, and she sat down gracefully.
Du Ying finally got a clear look at the young woman and the old man. The man was ordinary in appearance, dressed simply in coarse, gray linen robes.
As for the young woman, she was none other than Qing Zhu.
Du Ying looked at Qing Zhu and Elder He without a word. He cautiously tried to sense their Cultivation, but to his surprise, he couldn’t feel the slightest trace of their auras. He couldn’t perceive their Cultivation levels at all.
’They can’t be ordinary people,’ Du Ying thought, ’absolutely not. How could ordinary people enter the Main Hall of Celestial Eagle Valley so easily? And without being discovered?’
With a faint smile, Qing Zhu said to the man behind her, "Elder He, since the gentleman wishes to know our Cultivation levels, you should let him."
Hearing Qing Zhu’s words, Elder He instantly unleashed an aura that surpassed the Spirit Realm. It vanished in a flash, but sensing it was enough to drench Du Ying in a cold sweat.
"A Semi-Saint..." he stammered in terror. Du Ying never imagined that the old man accompanying this beautiful young woman was actually a Semi-Saint.
Those who had surpassed the Spirit Realm but had not yet obtained the title of Saint were known as Semi-Saints. Being a Semi-Saint didn’t mean one’s power was inferior to a Saint’s; the only difference was the title itself.
With a Semi-Saint suddenly appearing before him, Du Ying grew tense. Although Celestial Eagle Valley had its own Saint, that was their ultimate trump card, not to be revealed unless the sect faced utter annihilation.
What Du Ying found even more baffling was why a Semi-Saint would follow such a young woman. There was only one explanation: the faction behind this impossibly beautiful woman was so terrifying that even a Semi-Saint would willingly serve her.
"Master Du, there’s no need to be so tense. I have not come today with any ill intent," Qing Zhu said with a faint smile, seeing his wary expression.
Du Ying didn’t reply. The threat of a Semi-Saint was too great; he had to handle this with extreme care. He wouldn’t relax until he understood why she was here.
Seeing how tense Du Ying was, the smile vanished from Qing Zhu’s face as she continued speaking.
"Master Du, do you have any idea how terrifying the side effects of the Black Heaven Blood Pill are? I’m surprised you were willing to give such a Forbidden Medicine to your Disciple. I’m afraid that person, Tang Wushuang, has likely turned into a complete monster by now."
Hearing this, Du Ying retorted in disbelief, "Young lady, I may not know who you are or why you’re here, but I know more about the Black Heaven Blood Pill than you do. It can’t possibly be as dreadful as you claim."
"Heh, Master Du, you’re so naive. Your master gave you that Black Heaven Blood Pill, didn’t he? But do you know where *he* got it from?" Qing Zhu replied coolly.
At her words, Du Ying could no longer remain seated. ’How could she know my master gave me the Black Heaven Blood Pill?’
The only reason Du Ying had dared to give Tang Wushuang the pill was because he didn’t truly understand its side effects. He had underestimated it, believing that whatever side effects it had could be suppressed.
Seeing the color drain from Du Ying’s face, Qing Zhu continued in a relaxed tone, "Master Du, no need to be so alarmed. I am Jin Rilai, and I have come to tell you the secret of the Black Heaven Blood Pill. I also want to save your Disciple’s life."
"There’s no such thing as a free lunch. What do you want in return for doing this, young lady?" Du Ying knew she wouldn’t do this for nothing; she definitely had her own agenda.
Unbothered by his caution, Qing Zhu was completely confident she could win him over. The smile on her lips grew bewitching. For a moment, even an expert of the Spirit Realm like Du Ying felt as if he were in a dream, as if her smile was the only thing left in the entire world.
At the last second, Du Ying managed to steady his mind. ’To think a single smile nearly caused me to lose my composure.’ When he looked at Qing Zhu again, his caution had deepened.
"Master Du, the reason the Pharmaceutical Instrument Master’s Guild listed the Black Heaven Blood Pill as a Forbidden Medicine isn’t as simple as you think. Yes, taking it causes one’s Cultivation to skyrocket, but... the price is that you become a bloodthirsty demon for the rest of your days. That is irreversible and cannot be suppressed," Qing Zhu stated calmly.
"What...? Irreversible? Cannot be suppressed...?" Du Ying muttered to himself in disbelief.
"That’s right. Anyone who consumes a Black Heaven Blood Pill is doomed to become a monster. This is unchangeable. When the Black Heaven Blood Pill first appeared ten thousand years ago, countless people turned into such creatures. That is why the Pharmaceutical Instrument Master’s Guild gave a strict order to destroy all existing Black Heaven Blood Pills, and Alchemists from the Guild have been forbidden from performing the Alchemy for it ever since," Qing Zhu explained.
"So, you’re saying... Wushuang has been consumed by the Black Heaven Blood Pill... and turned into a monster?" Du Ying mumbled.
’Of course, I didn’t know it would be this terrifying. If I had known beforehand, I never would have given it to Tang Wushuang.’
’What’s the use of breaking through to the Celestial Spirit Realm if he becomes a monster that only knows how to kill?’ A wave of regret washed over Du Ying. He suddenly looked up at Qing Zhu and asked.
"You said just now that you have a way to save Wushuang, didn’t you?"
"That’s right. I do," Qing Zhu smiled.
"Good! As long as you can save Wushuang, I’ll agree to any of your demands!" Du Ying exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.
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