The alchemy chamber chosen by Wan Zhenyuan was a supreme haven of feng shui, a place where the treasures of nature converged, gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into one chamber. The vast grotto was lined with formations and runes meant to prevent intrusion by either Yin or Yang spirits. At the center of the stone chamber lay a massive Yin-Yang Bagua array, its core hollowed out to reveal a great abyss—the medicinal pool.

Within the pool, flames flickered in and out of existence amidst the boiling vapors. Suspended above the flames was a massive bronze tripod—the personal artifact of the renowned Tang Dynasty Medicine King, Sun Simiao—the Medicine King Cauldron. Directly above the cauldron, a skylight had been carved into the roof of the grotto, symbolizing the alignment of the Nine Heavens above and the Nine Hells below.

The Medicine King Cauldron, roughly half a meter in diameter, was entirely black, inscribed with ancient characters and totems. From the pool beneath the cauldron, plumes of multi-hued, ethereal mist continuously rose, spiraled upwards, and then seeped into the bottom of the cauldron, slowly gathering within its belly. These varied vapors churned and writhed, displaying six brilliant colors, resembling luminous, radiant pearls.

Wan Zhenyuan seized the opportune moment and cast the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus in his hand into the medicinal pool. He swiftly executed a series of hand seals, roared once, and pointed sharply into the pool!

Instantly, the pool erupted with a deafening boom, sending a pillar of flame soaring skyward. Roasted by this intense fire, the Medicine King Cauldron absorbed a cyan-and-white hue amidst its existing six-color brilliance, transforming into a seven-colored radiance that twisted and constantly shifted in shape.

After an unknown duration, a sudden roar, like a dragon crying and a tiger howling, burst forth from the medicinal pool, shaking Mount Tiandu violently. The seven-colored light, previously confined to the chamber, shot up through the skylight, forming an intense column of illumination. As this beam appeared, the chamber filled with a strange, intoxicating medicinal fragrance of exquisite beauty.

Li Yundong watched the light pillar shoot straight up through the skylight, seemingly piercing the Nine Heavens, and asked in alarm, "What is happening?"

Wan Zhenyuan declared with fanatical eyes, "It’s done! The Earth Origin Spirit Pill is refined!"

Li Yundong hadn't expected the refinement of the Earth Origin Spirit Pill to be so swift or the ensuing spectacle so grand. He exclaimed, "So fast?"

Wan Zhenyuan roared with ecstatic laughter, "Of course! I spent more than ten years gathering the herbs in preparation for this day! Everything was in place; all that was missing was the final catalyst! Once the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus arrived, the Earth Origin Spirit Pill immediately succeeded in its refinement!"

Li Yundong stared wide-eyed at the seven-colored light column, where he could now faintly discern four thumb-sized, seven-colored medicinal pills suspended in mid-air.

These four pills were utterly crystalline, emitting a soft, seven-hued glow that bathed the chamber in a dazzling, colorful brilliance.

Wan Zhenyuan was beside himself with joy. "Four pills in one furnace, hahaha! Master, did you see? I have forged the legendary Four Pills in One Furnace! Even the Medicine King Sun Simiao only achieved Five Pills in One Furnace!!"

Before his words fully dissipated, a figure suddenly plunged through the circular skylight, barely the size of a football, at the top of the chamber.

The figure initially appeared stretched thin, like a rolling pin, but upon entering the chamber, the shape immediately inflated, rapidly resolving into a black-clad figure whose face was masked.

The black-clad figure materialized in a blink, reaching out instantly to snatch the four Earth Origin Spirit Pills floating in the air!

Li Yundong and Wan Zhenyuan were completely taken aback that someone had breached their sanctuary this way. They shouted in unison, "Stop!" and "You seek death!!"

Li Yundong’s mind moved, and before his body shifted an inch, a streak of lightning shot towards the black-clad figure—the Six Harmonies Sword executing a thunderous strike!

This intruder, daring to steal at such a critical moment, was clearly a cultivator of immense power. He didn't even look, merely extending two fingers to firmly clamp down on the Six Harmonies Sword.

However, the Six Harmonies Sword was a sentient magic treasure; the moment it was grasped, it struggled violently, like a trapped beast in a cage.

While holding the sword with one hand, the black-clad figure reached with the other for the Earth Origin Spirit Pills. At that precise moment, Wan Zhenyuan’s Ruler artifact flew out and hurtled toward the intruder.

Seeing the Ruler hurtling towards his chest, the black-clad figure gritted his teeth and maintained his grip on the pills. Smack! His five fingers closed firmly, securing all four Earth Origin Spirit Pills in his palm.

The instant the pills were seized, the soaring seven-colored light in the chamber vanished, plunging the once dazzling room into deep shadow.

Though the black-clad man successfully snatched the pills, his greed led him to meet the magical artifacts head-on with his physical body. Wan Zhenyuan’s Ruler struck his chest with a wet thud. The intruder let out a violent cough, spitting up a mouthful of blood, his Yang Spirit—the very essence of his soul—being blasted clear out of his body!

When the soul is separated, the physical body is masterless; it cannot even muster the strength of an ordinary person, let alone wield True Essence or magical power.

The Six Harmonies Sword, previously held, immediately sprang free like a tiger escaping its cage. Its edge spun, and with a zheng, it instantly severed the intruder’s fingers. Then, another flash of lightning struck, severing the arm holding the Earth Origin Spirit Pills at the wrist with a crack. The Six Harmonies Sword, unforgiving, flashed again, piercing the black-clad man straight through the heart.

As the severed wrist fell away, the fingers involuntarily relaxed, releasing the four Earth Origin Spirit Pills back into the air. The chamber was instantly filled once more with seven-colored light.

The intruder’s physical body was instantly crippled. His enraged Yang Spirit roared, about to lunge again for the pills, when he suddenly heard a booming recitation of true words in his ear: “Bhum-ro-ra-gna-na-nam! Ah!”

In an instant, a resplendent, golden Vajra Realm Self-Sovereignty Seal slapped directly onto his Yang Spirit. The black-clad figure didn't even manage a grunt before his spirit shattered into countless tiny specks of cyan light.

These motes of light dared not linger, shooting rapidly toward the skylight exit.

Wan Zhenyuan sneered, "You think you can come and go as you please? Humph!" He exhaled a plume of purple qi from his nostrils, quickly manipulated hand seals, and pointed at the medicinal pool. A fire of bizarre colors instantly surged up from the pool, rushing towards the escaping lights.

Simultaneously, Li Yundong produced the Finger-Burning Alms Bowl. A flick of his finger produced a sharp ding, and the bowl emitted wave after wave, snagging the scattered vestiges of the Yang Spirit and dragging them back.

With Li Yundong and Wan Zhenyuan acting in concert, the unfortunate expert’s spirit had nowhere to flee. In moments, he was either completely consumed by the flames from the medicinal pool or largely drained of his spiritual essence and True Essence by Li Yundong’s bowl, resulting in utter annihilation of both form and spirit.

Although Li Yundong and Wan Zhenyuan had jointly eliminated the cultivator who dared steal their treasure right before their eyes, they felt no exhilaration of comradeship. Instead, they eyed each other with mutual wariness and hostility.

Wan Zhenyuan, his face etched with anger, spoke, "True Master Li, I wasn't planning on withholding the Earth Origin Spirit Pills from you. Why the haste?"

Li Yundong retorted angrily, "You shift the blame? Didn't you say this place was utterly safe and secret? How did someone suddenly appear to snatch the pills?"

Seeing the genuine indignation on Li Yundong’s face, Wan Zhenyuan paused, then stated gravely, "True Master Li, if I intended mischief, would I resort to such a clumsy tactic?"

Li Yundong’s gaze sharpened like lightning, fixing on Wan Zhenyuan. After a moment, he slowly said, "Then you didn't leak the information?"

Wan Zhenyuan laughed out loud in fury, "I suspect you leaked the news! I labored for over a decade to reach this day. Do you think I've lost my mind and deliberately invited thieves to steal my Earth Origin Spirit Pills?"

Li Yundong frowned. "Then what happened?"

Just as Wan Zhenyuan opened his mouth to speak, another figure suddenly flew in through the skylight. Li Yundong and Wan Zhenyuan roared in unison, and both their magical artifacts immediately lunged at the newcomer.

This newcomer’s cultivation was clearly inferior to the previous black-clad man. In an instant, he was struck down by their powerful artifacts, falling silently to the ground. His Yang Spirit was dealt with swiftly and ruthlessly by the combined efforts of Li Yundong and Wan Zhenyuan.

After destroying this second spirit, Li Yundong’s expression shifted. "One might be coincidence, but two?"

Before his words finished, another shadow flickered fleetingly at the skylight opening.

Li Yundong erupted in fury. With a thought, the Six Harmonies Sword flashed like lightning, stabbing towards the figure with a poof.

The person peering out of the skylight failed to dodge in time and fell out with a shriek. His cry of pain echoed clearly into the chamber: "They’re inside! The Earth Origin Spirit Pills are inside!"

The moment the cry ended, the alchemy chamber began to rumble violently, as if assaulted by countless magical spells and artifacts.

Li Yundong felt as if the stone chamber he occupied was undergoing a terrible bombardment, a downpour of invisible projectiles shaking the ground, causing dust and debris to rain down continuously.

Wan Zhenyuan’s face turned ashen. He snarled through clenched teeth, "What in the blazes is going on? Why are there so many people! Zhong Qingsong, you dare betray me?"

Li Yundong’s face was grim. He quickly surveyed the surroundings, calculating how long the stone chamber could withstand the onslaught of artifacts and spells.

Noticing Li Yundong’s assessment, Wan Zhenyuan let out a cold snort, sounding rather self-satisfied. "True Master Li, no need to look. They cannot break in! I have laid more than a dozen defensive formations here. Unless an expert undergoing Heavenly Tribulation attacks, they won't break through anytime soon." Wan Zhenyuan then raised his gaze to the skylight with cold malice and stated, "I sealed the entrance when I came in. If they want access, they must come through here…"

Li Yundong scoffed, "One man holding the pass against ten thousand! Let them come; we kill them one by one, in pairs!"

Wan Zhenyuan gave a cold laugh. "Easier said than done. How many can we kill? What if they just surround us? Are we supposed to stay here forever? Furthermore, no fortress in this world is truly unbreakable!"

Li Yundong’s expression darkened. "Then what do you suggest we do?"

Wan Zhenyuan glanced at Li Yundong, then suddenly chuckled slyly. "True Master Li, I do have a solution..."

Li Yundong countered, "And what is that?"

Wan Zhenyuan smiled faintly. "It’s called shedding the cicada’s shell! With that," he said, sharply flicking his whisk, which instantly coiled around one of the floating Earth Origin Spirit Pills. He then transformed his body into a streak of cyan light and fled towards the skylight.

The moment Wan Zhenyuan escaped, Li Yundong instantly projected his Yang Spirit, chasing him closely out through the skylight.

As Wan Zhenyuan reached the open air, he ground his teeth in extreme hatred and shouted down at Li Yundong, "Li Yundong, there are three Earth Origin Spirit Pills left below! Aren't they enough? Why must you pursue me relentlessly?"

With that, he transformed completely into a streak of cyan light and sped toward the horizon.

Li Yundong was simultaneously stunned and enraged. He recognized Wan Zhenyuan’s ploy to use him as a decoy to escape, but he couldn't pursue him, for three Earth Origin Spirit Pills remained in the alchemy chamber below. If he chased Wan Zhenyuan, he would lose everything—the pills and the fight—and the soaring seven-colored light from the remaining pills would undoubtedly attract other cultivators to the scene!

"What skill! What nerve has this Wan Zhenyuan! Four Earth Origin Spirit Pills, and he could restrain himself to taking only one!" Li Yundong felt a tumultuous mix of rage and shock churning within him.

If Wan Zhenyuan had taken all the pills, Li Yundong would have surely risked his life to chase him to the ends of the earth. If he had taken three, the light emanating from the chamber would have diminished significantly, causing other cultivators to naturally chase the one holding the greater bounty.

But Wan Zhenyuan took only one! He didn't even take two! It was as if he feared his scheme to divert disaster might fail, feared his own escape would be thwarted, feared that Li Yundong would become the target of mass attack!

"This man is ruthless, an enemy and not a friend—he cannot be spared!" Li Yundong was boiling with anger. Just as he prepared to flick his Finger-Burning Alms Bowl, countless magical artifacts flew in from all directions under the cover of night. These varied artifacts descended like a terrifying tidal wave, forming a colossal torrent crashing down upon him.