Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

Yuan Mie suddenly snapped back to his senses, his gaze sharp as he fixed his eyes on Xu Yang.

Xu Yang's heart trembled, and he hurriedly lowered his head.

"This old man came here seeking a piece of Sublimated Shadow Gold, and to heal my wounds in passing."

Speaking of this, Yuan Mie felt a surge of indignation.

First, he was injured by Yang Hua, and after leaving, he discovered an astonishing treasure that would greatly benefit even a Golden Immortal. However, there were also other Golden Immortals; though he managed to seize a share, he was gravely wounded in the process.

Even his Primordial Spirit suffered damage.

Though he possessed excellent heavenly materials and earthly treasures, to fully recover would still take ten days to half a month.

Now, with a day remaining before the intense Starry Extreme Night concluded, he dared not roam outside at will.

Opportunities below the level of Golden Immortal were useless to him. Those on the level of Golden Immortal, and their hidden blessed lands, were mostly occupied by the great clans and sects, each guarded by their own Golden Immortal—seeking any was impossible.

This is the tragedy of a solitary Loose Cultivator.

His cultivation was only at the Peak of Early-stage Golden Immortal, and he intended to take this chance during Starry Extreme Night to find a fortuitous opportunity for a breakthrough to Middle Stage of Golden Immortal.

But now, compared to the other great powers' Golden Immortals, most are even stronger than he.

As for the Shadow Gold here—

He was searching it out solely for his only disciple.

"Sublimated Shadow Gold?"

Xu Yang kept his head lowered, his expression freezing.

"The Ancient Shadow Gold Mine was once abandoned, but now it has revived. Under its source's sublimation, a truly extraordinary ancient embryo of Shadow Gold will first be nurtured deep within. Using this to forge a Primordial Spirit-attacking treasure is unparalleled under Third Grade."

Yuan Mie grinned, striding slowly toward the mine tunnel.

"Senior—"

"There is no Shadow Gold here."

Xu Yang suddenly looked up, forcing a bitter smile. "The sublimation and revival power of the ancient mine was wholly devoured—there's no way for even the slightest Shadow Gold to be nurtured."

"What?"

Yuan Mie halted in his tracks, eyes on Xu Yang, his brows tightly furrowed.

"The treasure pill refined by my master can devour the sublimation and revival energy." Xu Yang said gravely.

He had no thought to hide it—nor could he have hidden it.

Before a Golden Immortal, he was powerless. Yuan Mie needed only to check below with his own eyes to know everything.

"Dan Qi…"

Yuan Mie's heart gave a jolt.

If this was true, with Dan Qi's means, refining a pill that could devour the revival and sublimation power was no difficulty.

Damn it!

"Treasure Pill?"

A thought flashed through Yuan Mie's mind, and he immediately strode into the great cavern.

Xu Yang's face paled drastically, and he hurried after him.

All the way to the lowest depths.

Yuan Mie's eyes landed at once on the three treasure pills beneath the Immortal Spirit Qi.

His gaze filled with astonishment: "What astonishing treasure pills! Such accumulation of power—nearly the equal of Third Grade."

"Not only Immortal Spirit Qi—these are all the purest essences of heaven and earth, and the sublimating revival force of the origin."

"Such treasure pills…"

Yuan Mie was greatly shocked.

Thinking of Dan Qi's strength and the Alchemy Dao, a flash of light passed through his eyes.

These were of little use to himself.

But to his disciple, they were treasures beyond price.

Two among them had nearly reached full maturity in their power, and though the third was somewhat inferior, with one more day of accumulation it would be nearly equal.

Though not an ancient Shadow Gold embryo, the value of one such treasure pill in a crucial moment was in no way inferior to the ancient embryo.

It could even greatly aid his disciple's breakthrough.

"Boy, this old man will not bully you."

Yuan Mie suddenly turned, his gaze on Xu Yang full of amusement.

At this, Xu Yang's heart skipped a beat!

A Golden Immortal would stoop to covet such an item?

"These three treasure pills—this old man will take two. In return, I'll spare your life and owe you a favor. What do you think?"

Yuan Mie cared little for this favor; after all, Xu Yang's own status was so astonishing that if any trouble arose, it wouldn't fall to him to intervene. The favor, present or not, made little difference.

But still, a Golden Immortal's favor was no small thing.

Invaluable.

"Take two…" Xu Yang took a deep breath, meeting Yuan Mie's eyes. "Senior, these pills were prepared by my master—they are of critical importance to me."

Yuan Mie's brow arched: "What, you think little of this one's favor?"

"I would not dare."

Xu Yang quickly shook his head.

"Even if Dan Qi were here, I believe he'd agree that a favor from me is worth two mere treasure pills."

"Boy, whether you agree or not, you WILL agree."

Yuan Mie laughed coldly, utterly peremptory.

Xu Yang cursed inwardly without pause.

Should he really give up two treasure pills?

Though, comparing two pills to provoking a Golden Immortal, of course the wise choice would be to yield the pills.

But he was unwilling to accept it.

He had defended this place for seven or eight days, with no chance to seek further fortune elsewhere, only to see it all handed over to another?

As for a Golden Immortal's favor, he truly didn't care.

Just as Yuan Mie imagined: as Black Fire Immortal Mountain's Core Disciple, with a master like Dan Qi, could he possibly need a Golden Immortal's favor for help in the Northern Province?

Damn it, the treasure pills cannot be lost!

Golden Immortal?

Screw him!

Xu Yang's thoughts turned over and over—how to handle a Golden Immortal?

There was only one way.

He had to gamble.

However, even if he lost the gamble, Yuan Mie would not dare kill him.

The worst that could happen would still be to lose two treasure pills.

Swoosh!

Xu Yang abruptly shot forward, making directly for the treasure pills.

Yuan Mie smirked, his face mocking.

Trying to play tricks before a Golden Immortal?

What a joke.

Yuan Mie didn't even make a move, regarding Xu Yang as one would a clown, watching him lunge for the pills.

Suddenly—

A surge of ancient, turbulent power erupted.

Yuan Mie's expression changed slightly, eyes narrowing. He saw a jet-black tripod—dark as ink—appear out of thin air. Just as Xu Yang neared the treasure pills, it enveloped both him and the pills together.

"This tripod, how bizarre."

"Even I cannot see through it."

Yuan Mie frowned, watching as the ancient tripod cloaked Xu Yang and the treasure pills within. He sighed in amusement. "No matter how strange this tripod, do you think hiding inside it can shield you from a Golden Immortal?"

"You're not even qualified to be a turtle in a jar before this old man."

As his words fell, Yuan Mie casually flicked out a finger.

A beam of finger light shot out, striking the ancient tripod.

CLANG!

The tripod shuddered violently. When the ripples faded, it was unscathed.

Yuan Mie's pupils contracted in shock.

After a few breaths, he struck again.

A palm descended.

This time, he unleashed the might of a Golden Immortal.

BANG!

Ripples billowed, but the ancient tripod was left entirely untouched.

Yuan Mie was utterly stupefied by the sight.

"What sort of tripod is this?"

"Even if Dan Qi created it, it shouldn't be able to withstand a Golden Immortal's assault, should it?"

For a Pill Master, the tripod is of paramount significance.

High-ranking Pill Masters all own extraordinary tripods.

But even the Third Grade tripod Dan Qi supposedly found could never emerge unscathed from a Golden Immortal's attack.

Unwilling to believe it, Yuan Mie struck again.

This time, with everything he had.

BOOM—!

BANG!

The tripod shuddered ceaselessly, rippling for dozens of breaths before finally settling down.

Yet it remained unchanged.

Yuan Mie was utterly dumbfounded.

Staring at the ancient tripod, his face became exceedingly grave.

"Boy, one pill—this old man will only take one!"

Yuan Mie bit out, his voice fierce.

Just then—

The Celestial Refining Divine Tripod suddenly soared upward. Xu Yang, hidden within, spewed blood from his mouth, face pale as death, his aura weak—he seemed grievously injured by the reverberations.

But at that same instant, a vast, ancient torrent of Evil Qi burst from within, coiling into a giant dragon and lunging at Yuan Mie.

Yuan Mie's shock deepened.

"What an ancient Evil Qi!"

"This tripod…"

He abruptly flicked his sleeve, lightly shattering the Evil Qi.

Though potent, the Evil Qi still posed no threat to a Golden Immortal.

After destroying the Evil Qi, he flickered, instantly arriving below the tripod. Seeing Xu Yang's state, his eyes narrowed in contemplation: "This tripod can block a Golden Immortal's attack, but hiding inside, one still suffers from the rebound shock."

"Boy, what's the origin of this tripod?"

At that moment, his interest in the tripod grew intense.

Could it be above Third Grade?

Especially that last eruption of ancient Evil Qi—so strange.

Xu Yang's face was bleak, lips clenched, silent.

Seeing this, Yuan Mie grinned, then glanced inside the tripod. At one look, his brows shot up and he let out a startled cry:

"Inside the tripod—like a whole world…"