252: Semi-finished product that has become sentient

"Oh no, this formation is reverse-refining an evil pill." Hei Jing's expression changed drastically as he pulled Bai Xuan back several yards.

Within the phantom of the alchemy furnace, Jiao Rong's primordial spirit was being forcibly stripped away by a pitch-black vortex.

It tangled frantically with the soul power of the entire Yin Jiao Clan sacrificed beneath the altar.

The dark-red pill fire boiled and surged, and a dragon transformation pill covered in black spots was taking shape at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Pill poison slithered across the surface of the pill like spiritual snakes; wherever it passed, the air let out a "sizzling" corrosive sound.

"It's an evil pill with pill poison seeped into its marrow." Bai Xuan concentrated his mind, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

"Spiritual Energy Revival, Dragon Transformation, Ascension... what Jiao Rong said was actually not a lie."

Niu Mengmeng made a prompt decision, waving her hand to signal the Underworld Soldiers to treat the wounded while searching Yao Zui Cliff for any survivors.

"Not necessarily."

"He thought that by sacrificing Ghost Messengers, his demonic body could transform into a dragon. But he didn't know that no matter who the sacrifice was, the final result would only be a semi-finished Seventh-Grade dragon transformation pill."

She glanced at the expanding evil pill and sneered, "Besides, looking at the momentum of this pill poison spreading, even if we threw both Little Bai and Little Hei in, the toxins wouldn't decrease by half."

"Swallowing this thing would probably cause instant death on the spot."

Ma Sanqiang rubbed his chin, his gaze sweeping over the mountain of bones piled beneath the altar.

"The High God who ordered the Yin Jiao Clan to guard this place for generations must have long been wary of this fickle tribe."

"If they had behaved themselves, they could have naturally continued their lineage; but once they harbored ulterior motives..."

His words came to an abrupt halt.

The shocking sight of the numerous bones before them...

...had already vividly illustrated the unspoken conclusion.

"Suo—" a strange hiss rang out.

It sounded exactly like a leaking old stove, breaking the brief silence of the group.

The dragon transformation pill that had just "rolled" out from the phantom of the alchemy furnace trembled; its oval-shaped body was coated in a layer of sticky, dark-red pill fire.

It looked just like a soft-boiled egg thrown into a frying pan.

Its not-yet-fully-solidified sentience struggled within the pill poison, giving "it" a sense of ignorant cunning.

The dragon transformation pill wobbled around twice, keenly capturing a gap in the left-rear defensive line of the Underworld Soldiers.

The Third-Grade Underworld Soldiers there had just been scattered by Jiao Rong's previous dragon tail sweep.

Currently, they were huddled together treating the wounded, completely oblivious to the "sentient" pill.

"Holy crap! This thing knows how to pick on the weak."

Hei Jing's right hand instinctively reached for the Underworld Marshal Token at his waist, but he forgot that the wounds on his body were still bleeding.

This movement pulled at his wounds, causing sharp pain and making him gasp.

He stumbled forward half a step and simply grabbed Bai Xuan's sleeve with his left hand.

He shouted at Ma Sanqiang, who was rubbing his buttocks diagonally ahead, "Brother Ma, the northwest corner! The dragon transformation pill is heading your way."

"Huh?"

Ma Sanqiang suddenly looked up.

He saw a small red ball of light, covered in pill poison, rolling toward his kneecap at extreme speed.

The pill poison traced a pitch-black, ink-like mark on the bluestone slabs; wherever it passed, dense bubbles rose on the surface of the stones.

The "sizzling" sound was incessant as the stone slabs were corroded into deep pits.

"What the hell, even a semi-finished product can gain sentience?" Ma Sanqiang hurriedly swung the "Nine Rings" at his waist.

But his aim in the panic—was truly terrible.

The dragon transformation pill took the opportunity to make a sharp turn.

The black spots on the pill's surface suddenly arranged themselves into a pattern resembling a "sneer," and it bounced twice toward Ma Sanqiang.

It looked just like a bratty child who had gotten the upper hand, full of provocation.

This instantly ignited Ma Sanqiang's fury.

He pushed himself up, leapt into the air, and used a move called 'Spiritual Snake Emerging from its Hole,' his Nine Rings snaking around the pill like a bolt of lightning.

Before he could even look triumphant, the pill poison acted like countless tiny fangs, frantically gnawing dense holes into the surface of the Nine Rings.

In the blink of an eye, the Nine Rings shattered into several pieces with a "clatter."

Scorching iron filings splashed onto the back of his hand, burning him so badly he hurriedly shook his hand to avoid them, and blisters immediately formed on his skin.

"Sister Niu, saving the day is like putting out a fire!" Hei Jing patted Bai Xuan's shoulder anxiously.

The latter calmly took out a broken formation plate from his storage ring. With a light flick of his finger, a layer of faint golden light appeared on the surface of the plate.

Niu Mengmeng had already flanked from the right, carrying her Steel Fork, the cinnabar cord on her ponytail fluttering in the wind.

"Brother Ma, your aim isn't even as good as my Yan Hui's spear technique."

Before her voice could fade, the Steel Fork slashed toward the dragon transformation pill with the sound of breaking wind.

However, the thing "whooshed" half a yard high, brushing past her ear.

The pill poison grazed the hair at her temples, scorching several strands of black hair to a crisp.

The stench of burnt hair filled the air.

"Damn! I've never seen a newborn with its evasion skills maxed out." Niu Mengmeng cursed as she turned her head.

The dragon transformation pill was heading for a crack at the edge of the altar, which led directly to the underground karst caves of Yao Zui Cliff.

Once it escaped into them, catching it would be harder than reaching the heavens.

In an instant, the formation plate in Bai Xuan's hand erupted with a dazzling golden light.

With a "snap," it stuck to the body of the pill, transforming into a large golden net that scooped it up.

"Waa waa waa..." The dragon transformation pill let out a sharp cry like a child's wailing.

Tentacles formed from the pill poison tore desperately at the mesh of the net, but it couldn't break free.

The golden net rippled under the tearing of the tentacles, but it still firmly trapped the pill.

"Get down here!" Ma Sanqiang took the opportunity to pounce, pressing his hands firmly onto the pill.

Immediately, a burning pain came from his palms; the pill poison was crawling up his arms along his sleeves.

Wherever it passed, purple spots appeared on his skin.

"Argh... this thing is even spicier than Lady Meng's chili soup."

He rolled around on the ground, startling the nearby Underworld Soldiers, who all pulled out their Kailing Phones to take pictures.

The sounds of shutters clicking rose one after another, and the scene was in total chaos.

Bai Xuan silently handed over some golden sore ointment, watching Ma Sanqiang's comical struggle with the pill, and for once, the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Perhaps I should suggest to His Majesty that future special training include a 'Catching Pills' project."

In the distance, Niu Mengmeng had already pulled out a Demon-Binding Rope and shouted toward Ma Sanqiang.

"Bear with it, I'm going to tie you up like a zongzi."

The dragon transformation pill seemed to understand the threat; its body contracted and it rolled out of Ma Sanqiang's embrace, landing right at Hei Jing's feet.

One ghost and one pill stared at each other; the black spots on the pill poison's surface formed a pattern resembling "begging for mercy."

"Too late."

Hei Jing sneered and kicked it toward the Soul-Suppressing Formation that Bai Xuan had already drawn.

"Keep it safe for now... As for how to handle it, we'll wait until His Majesty comes out of seclusion."

He glanced at the smoking Ma Sanqiang and then at the Underworld Soldiers who were holding up their phones for a live stream, barely suppressing his laughter.

The Soul-Suppressing Formation lit up with golden light, and the dragon transformation pill let out an unwilling muffled sound, eventually turning into a fist-sized ball of light that floated obediently in the center of the formation's eye, no longer struggling.

Ma Sanqiang slumped on the ground, looking at his scorched black sleeves, wanting to cry but having no tears.

"I finally understand why formations need to be set up when Seventh-Grade and higher pills are born."

"Those slippery evasion skills cost more pants than reaping souls."