The possibility of batch manufacturing of Ecstasy

Shen Wen stayed in the Ice River Valley for another three days.

During these three days,

through Bing He and the high-ranking officials who had been completely converted, he quickly and comprehensively mastered core information such as the Ice River Valley's power distribution, resource channels, and personnel composition.

More importantly, he flipped through some secret letters and records of the clandestine dealings between Bing He and the Hall of Souls.

Although the level of contact wasn't high, mostly concerning resource exchanges and intelligence transfers,

he unexpectedly obtained the locations of several suspected strongholds of the Hall of Souls in the Northwest region of the Central Plains.

This intelligence was of immense value.

One day, after handling the trivial matters,

Shen Wen suddenly remembered something and asked Bing He, who was standing by his side, with great interest: "Your Acquired Calamity Poison Body, though not as good as the Innate version,

still allowed you, with a cultivation at the Peak of a Four-Star Dou Zun, to contend with the Five-Star Peak Valley Master Tang Zhen who wields the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame.

If this kind of Physique could be mass-produced..."

Before he could finish, Bing He smiled bitterly and shook his head, replying respectfully: "Reporting to the Venerable, this method is extremely difficult and almost impossible to replicate.

Back then, I was lucky enough to obtain that sliver of Origin remnant power. Combined with the Ice River Valley's secret 'Ice Venerable Strength' to suppress the backlash, I survived a narrow escape from death to barely succeed.

The pain and danger involved are beyond words.

Every attempt is like walking on the edge of life and death; failure means one's bones will be ground to dust and their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

If it could be mass-produced, I would have cultivated an army of poison bodies long ago. Why would there be only me?"

Hearing this, Shen Wen wasn't disappointed. Instead, he stroked his chin, his eyes flashing with the light of contemplation.

Ordinary methods naturally wouldn't work.

But Xiao Yi Xian is a perfect Innate Calamity Poison Body, and her understanding of poison power has reached the Origin.

Furthermore, the Great Poison Technique she practices is a supreme secret art that points directly to the Origin of poison.

If she could thoroughly grasp the principles of this Acquired transformation method and use the Great Poison Technique for reverse deduction and optimization... it might not be impossible to find a safe, controllable, and even popularizable path.

However, he would have to ask for Xiao Yi Xian's opinion first.

Three days later, everything was arranged.

Shen Wen decided to take Heavenly Frost Son back to the Pill Domain.

Having a Dou Zun who completely obeyed him on the surface would make many things much more convenient.

As for Bing He, he would remain to oversee the Ice River Valley, keeping everything normal to the outside world as if nothing had happened.

Secretly, Shen Wen gave him two tasks.

First, use the Ice River Valley's power and channels to continue secretly capturing heinous experts who deserved to die, especially those at the Dou Zong level.

Second, use that fragile connection with the Hall of Souls to secretly gather as much intelligence about them as possible, but remember not to alert the enemy.

On the returning flying boat, the sea of clouds was vast.

Xiao Yi Xian gazed at the glacial mountain range below, which was rapidly shrinking and finally disappearing into the clouds.

She couldn't help but sigh softly: "I really didn't expect that one of the 'Two Valleys' that awes the Central Plains would silently... change its allegiance and fall entirely under your control, Brother Shen Wen."

Shen Wen stood by her side. Hearing this, he shook his head, his tone calm and profound: "Controlling an external force is, after all, a minor external path.

Do you know why those Ancient Emperor Clan are so arrogant, living in seclusion year-round within the small spaces they created, almost never having much contact with the secular world?"

Xiao Yi Xian looked at him in confusion.

Shen Wen continued: "Because in the face of absolute power, the so-called great powers of the Central Plains are nothing but a joke."

"Aside from the Hall of Souls and the Pill Tower, which are at the same level and possess Dou Sheng or even deeper foundations that they might slightly respect, what are the others? The Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions—in the eyes of the Emperor Clans, how are they different from ants?"

"If they really wanted to, they could uproot these forces in the blink of an eye, like wiping away pieces on a sandbox."

"They live in seclusion not because they are weak, but because secular power and territory have no great meaning to them. What they pursue are things at a higher level."

He turned his head and looked at Xiao Yi Xian: "Therefore, one's own power is the root. The Ice River Valley is merely a tool for us to accumulate resources and gather information."

"You must not become arrogant because of this, mistakenly thinking you truly possess the capital to run rampant across the world."

Xiao Yi Xian's heart shook violently.

The subtle sense of ease she had felt from easily controlling the Ice River Valley vanished instantly.

She nodded forcefully, a burning flame igniting in her clear eyes.

"I understand. I will... get stronger as quickly as possible! Strong enough to truly stand by your side, instead of just being protected!"

Shen Wen heard Xiao Yi Xian's tone and smiled: "Relax, there's plenty of time!"

"With your potential, becoming a Dou Di is not impossible."

After all, with the System's support, Xiao Yi Xian's potential was much greater than in the original story. As for the lack of tempering and such...

Xiao Yi Xian was not some delicate person.

Was it necessary to suffer for the sake of suffering?

There was no need for everyone to follow the path of a mortal's cultivation; why couldn't one take the path of the Great Emperor Wushi?

...It was half a month later when Shen Wen returned to the Pill Tower with Xiao Yi Xian and Heavenly Frost Son.

During this half month, the interior of the Pill Tower was not peaceful.

The biggest storm was undoubtedly the official public disclosure of the 'zong ji pill'.

Because for a Heavenly Realm Soul, just like a Dou Zun, controlling Space Power is an instinct.

Although this pill is only effective for a Dou Zong and only one can be taken in a lifetime to increase cultivation by one star, its stable and side-effect-free nature was enough to drive all Dou Zongs crazy.

This included the Skill of Sky Control, which solved the drawback of ordinary pills being unable to let a Dou Zong advance, by using Soul power to allow Space Power to be integrated into the pill.

Someone had proposed this long ago, but even those in the Heavenly Realm could only control Space Power like a Dou Zun; they couldn't systematically allow people to access Space Power through a method.

Once the news came out, the entire Alchemist class of the Pill Tower was shaken.

If a Seventh-Rank Alchemist could master the refinement of this pill, their status would soar, making them almost equal to half an Eighth-Rank.

After all, this was a pill that directly increased cultivation.

Even though it could only advance one star, it was still the most precious pill, and could even circulate as a trading currency, just like the Dou Ling Pill and Huangji Pill.

And the one who created this pill was the currently popular Shen Wen.

Originally, Shen Wen and Cao Ying joining the Council of Elders as a couple had already drawn a lot of criticism.

Some senior Alchemists had private discussions, feeling that although Shen Wen had Eighth-Rank strength, he was too young and lacked experience; taking a seat on the Council of Elders so quickly was somewhat of a joke.

Mainly because of the positions vacated by the Bai and Qiu Families, some senior Seventh-Rank Alchemists thought they might have a chance.

Who would have thought two positions would suddenly be filled from above, leaving these hopeful older generation Alchemists immediately disgruntled.

But once the 'zong ji pill' came out, all voices of doubt disappeared.

For a figure who could create such a pill, who would dare say a word against him taking an Elder's seat?

Some even sighed privately: "With this kind of Genius, even if he were to enter the Little Pill Tower right now, I would be convinced."