77: Chapter 77: Secret Poisoning, a Deadly Act of "Filial Piety"

Alchemy Pavilion.

"Vice Alliance Leader Nangong!"

Seeing Nangong Xue arrive in person, Elder Wang, who was in charge of the Pill Hall, quickly put down his work and respectfully greeted her.

"Elder Wang, you've worked hard."

Nangong Xue had a perfectly appropriate smile on her face as she handed over the cold jade box.

"Revered Master has already retrieved the main ingredient, 'Nine-leaf Soul Sculpting Grass.' Please, Elder, immediately open the Pill Furnace and refine the Medicinal Pill."

"What? The Alliance Leader has already found the Immortal Plant?"

Elder Wang was overjoyed upon hearing this and carefully took the jade box.

Upon opening it, a pure and potent medicinal power assailed him, invigorating his spirit.

"Good, good, good! As expected of a ten-thousand-year-old Immortal Plant! With this main ingredient, this old man has a ninety percent chance of refining a Medicinal Pill of perfect quality!"

Elder Wang's beard trembled with excitement.

"Then I shall trouble Elder." Nangong Xue nodded slightly. "Revered Master is currently in seclusion healing her injuries, so I will supervise this matter throughout."

"It should be so, it should be so."

Elder Wang dared not delay and immediately summoned the most elite Alchemists from the Pill Hall.

They activated the Heavenly Sovereign Alliance's highest-Rank Nine Dragon Earth Fire Array and began the intense Alchemy process.

Nangong Xue stood with her hands behind her back outside the Pill Refining Room, quietly watching the busy crowd inside through a special crystal wall.

Her expression was calm, but the hands hidden in her sleeves were already tightly clenched into fists, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.

Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.

On the first day, the purification and Fusion of medicinal ingredients went smoothly.

On the second day, the condensation of the pill embryo proceeded without any major scares.

The third day was the most crucial stage of pill formation.

Inside the Pill Furnace, a nascent Medicinal Pill, the size of a longan, shimmering with iridescent light, had slowly formed, emitting a refreshing and unusual fragrance.

Elder Wang and the others were completely focused, their foreheads covered in fine beads of sweat, continuously performing complex Pill Incantations and carefully controlling the heat.

Now is the time!

A sharp glint flashed in Nangong Xue's eyes.

She slowly walked into the Pill Refining Room, approached Elder Wang, and spoke with feigned concern.

"Elder Wang, you're covered in sweat, and your spiritual Qi seems quite depleted. How about I lend you a hand?"

"This... how dare I trouble the Vice Alliance Leader." Elder Wang was somewhat flattered.

"It's no matter. Refining a Medicinal Pill for Revered Master is of utmost importance."

Nangong Xue said without allowing for argument, and at the same time, took out a small bottle of 'Spirit Recovery Pill' that she had refined herself from her purple ring.

"This is 'Purple Qi Reversion Liquid' that I refined from an ancient formula I obtained years ago. It can instantly restore spiritual Qi. Elder Wang, please take it, and I will control the heat for a moment."

Elder Wang didn't think much of it upon hearing this.

Nangong Xue's Alchemy skill was also well-known in the Alliance, second only to his own.

Moreover, this was for the Alliance Leader's Medicinal Pill, so he naturally wouldn't suspect Nangong Xue of foul play.

"Thank you, Vice Alliance Leader!" Elder Wang gratefully took the bottle of "Purple Qi Reversion Liquid" and went aside to meditate and recover.

Nangong Xue naturally took his place.

Her palm pressed against the main control array eye.

It was at this very instant!

Her other hand, hidden in her sleeve, flicked a finger, and a drop of purplish-black liquid, finer than a strand of hair, silently flew from her fingertip.

It precisely merged into the Medicinal Pill that was about to fully form!

The purplish-black liquid melted upon contact with the heat, causing no spiritual Qi fluctuations and emitting no strange smell.

It eerie and perfectly fused with the medicinal power of the pill.

After doing all this, Nangong Xue's heart pounded wildly.

She quickly handed over control of the array eye to a nearby assistant and then casually retreated to the side.

The entire process was seamless and did not arouse anyone's suspicion.

Elder Wang, who had taken the "Purple Qi Reversion Liquid" on the side, felt a surge of pure energy dissolve within his body.

His depleted spiritual Qi was instantly replenished, and he couldn't help but praise Nangong Xue's Medicinal Pill.

Little did he know that this so-called "Purple Qi Reversion Liquid" was merely a cover for Nangong Xue.

The true killing move had already been quietly laid.

Another half an hour passed.

"Rumble!"

Above the Pill Refining Room, the sky changed color, five-colored auspicious clouds gathered, and faint shadows of Dragon and Phoenix coiled.

A rich, almost tangible pill fragrance instantly spread throughout the entire Heavenly Sovereign Alliance.

The pill was complete!

"Hahaha! It's done! A perfect quality Nirvana Soul Pill! I did not fail in my mission!"

Elder Wang looked at the floating, glowing Medicinal Pill in the Pill Furnace, tears of excitement streaming down his face.

He carefully stored the Medicinal Pill in a jade bottle, then, beaming, held it out to Nangong Xue.

"Vice Alliance Leader, I did not fail in my mission!"

Nangong Xue looked at the Medicinal Pill, her eyes shining, her breathing quickening.

An uncontrollable glint of greed and fanaticism erupted in her eyes.

She almost impatiently "snatched" the jade bottle from Elder Wang's hand.

Her eager movement made Elder Wang momentarily stunned.

"Vice Alliance Leader, this is..."

"Cough, Elder Wang, you've worked hard."

Nangong Xue also realized her lapse in composure and quickly composed herself, returning to her aloof demeanor.

"Revered Master is still waiting for the Medicinal Pill to heal her injuries, so I must deliver it immediately. For this Alchemy, all the Elders have made invaluable contributions. When Revered Master comes out of seclusion, I will certainly request rewards for all of you from her."

After speaking, she no longer lingered, turning into a streak of light and heading straight for the Forbidden Ground in the back mountain.

...

Outside Fairy Ziyun's secluded cultivation chamber.

Nangong Xue took a deep breath, calmed her turbulent emotions, then activated the Restriction and walked in.

Inside the chamber, Fairy Ziyun was sitting cross-legged on the cold jade bed, her aura still somewhat unstable.

Seeing Nangong Xue enter, she slowly opened her eyes, revealing a hint of a gratified smile.

"Xue'er, is the Medicinal Pill refined?"

"Yes, Revered Master."

Nangong Xue walked to the bed and respectfully presented the jade bottle in her hand.

"I did not fail in my mission. Elder Wang refined a perfect quality Nirvana Soul Pill."

"Good, good indeed."

Fairy Ziyun took the jade bottle, opened the stopper, and a pure and vast aura of life assailed her, invigorating her spirit.

Looking at her beloved disciple before her, she noticed a peculiar expression and slightly red eyes.

"Xue'er, what's wrong? Is it that supervising the Alchemy these past few days has been too exhausting?"

Fairy Ziyun merely thought she was worried about her injuries, and her heart warmed. She comforted her gently.

"Silly child, Revered Master is fine. Although Revered Master's Divine Soul Origin was injured this time, with this Nirvana Soul Pill, my Divine Soul will stabilize, and my Divine Soul power will reach Perfection."

"Then, after taking the nine aperture exquisite elixir that Revered Master has already prepared, I will attempt to break through to the Dao Fusion Realm in one go. By then, we, Revered Master and disciple, will be able to discuss the Dao together again."

"Yes, Revered Master." Nangong Xue lowered her head, her voice slightly choked.

"Alright, you may retreat to the side and act as Protector for Revered Master."

Fairy Ziyun smiled, without the slightest guard against her beloved disciple.

She pulled out the stopper and slowly put the potentially fatal "Nirvana Soul Pill" into her mouth.

The Medicinal Pill melted upon entry, transforming into a vast warm current that surged through her limbs and hundred bones.

Fairy Ziyun immediately closed her eyes, circulated her Cultivation Technique, and began to guide this medicinal power to repair her damaged Meridians and Divine Soul.

Nangong Xue slowly retreated to the side, ostensibly acting as Protector for her Revered Master.

In reality, her heart was in her throat, staring intently at Fairy Ziyun, waiting for the medicinal effect to take hold.

Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.

Inside the Immortal Cave, it was terrifyingly quiet, with only the faint breathing of the two remaining.

Half an hour later.

Fairy Ziyun, whose breathing had been steady and complexion rosy, suddenly began to tremble slightly.

Immediately after, the trembling intensified, becoming more and more violent, as if she was enduring immense pain.

She abruptly opened her eyes, and those gentle eyes were now filled with shock, pain, and disbelief!

"Pfft—!"

A mouthful of ink-black blood gushed from her mouth.

It splattered onto the smooth, mirror-like white jade floor in front of her, making a "sizzling" corrosive sound.