Transformation Pill

"You're courting death, girl!"

"Get lost!"

A One-Eyed Dou Wang and a burly man with a face full of flesh, charging at the very front, saw Zi Yan overtake them despite moving later. Just as she was about to reach the Flowing Light, they roared in anger and attacked without hesitation.

A pale cyan blade light and an earthy yellow fist seal attacked Zi Yan from the left and right.

Their strikes were ruthless, showing no mercy just because she was a child.

Zi Yan curled her little lips, a trace of disdain flashing through her eyes.

Her small fists smashed directly toward the blade light and fist seal.

Bang!

Boom!

Two muffled explosions rang out almost simultaneously.

Both opponents were sent staggering back.

Zi Yan's figure paused slightly, but her little hand had already shot toward the Flowing Light like lightning.

The expressions of the One-Eyed Dou Wang and the other man changed drastically, yet they did not retreat.

After exchanging a glance, they joined forces with three Dou Wangs who had just arrived and charged at Zi Yan again.

"A bunch of trash."

A ghostly figure cut into the battle.

Qin Han spread his five fingers. Fallen Heart Flame rose up and condensed into a ferocious Fire Python that lunged at the men, tearing and biting.

Zi Yan did not even turn her head, as if she had long expected Qin Han to make a move. Taking advantage of that fleeting opening, she firmly seized the Flowing Light.

It was heavy and icy in her hand, while the energy wrapped around it made her little hand go slightly numb.

Yet most of her attention was on her right hand. With a backhand motion, she threw a completely unadorned straight punch at the face of the man trying to ambush her from the flank!

How could he dare take head-on a punch capable of shattering a Dou Wang's attack? Terrified, he hastily withdrew his move and retreated explosively.

Qin Han flashed forward again and took the initiative to meet the last stream of Dou Qi. A layer of dark crimson radiance spread across his right hand as he threw a punch to meet it head-on!

Bang!

In a flash, the two worked together flawlessly—one seized the treasure, while the other guarded her and counterattacked—instantly defusing the first wave of encirclement.

Zi Yan tightly clenched the now-dim Flowing Light. Within it, an ancient jade box was revealed. Her little face was full of smug delight, and she even lifted her chin provocatively at the men who had been driven back.

"Hand over the treasure!"

Two more people lunged fiercely from the side, targeting the jade box in Zi Yan's hand.

"Hmph."

A neither loud nor soft snort rang out, but it did not come from Qin Han or Zi Yan.

Hu Gan, who had been watching over the battle all along, casually waved his gray-white sleeve.

A vast force emerged from thin air and slammed into the two charging Dou Wangs.

Pfft!

Ugh, ah!

The two were struck as if by heavy hammers. Groaning, they flew backward and no longer dared step forward.

Hu Gan did not even spare them another glance. His gaze calmly swept over the restless figures around him.

Though he said nothing, the faint killing intent in his eyes, along with the pressure of a peak Dou Emperor emanating from his body, instantly cooled the heads of those people by more than half.

Quite a few withdrew their gazes resentfully and turned toward the other Flowing Lights still being contested.

Jia Nan Academy might not mingle with others, but it was certainly not a force that ordinary factions could provoke.

With Hu Gan alone, only Silver Elder present could fight him.

With the danger temporarily lifted, the people of Jia Nan Academy immediately gathered around, curiously looking at the jade box in Zi Yan's hand.

"Open it and take a look?"

Qin Han gestured at the jade box with his chin.

Zi Yan's eyes sparkled. "It must be delicious! I can feel it!"

"I'll do it. Don't smash the box, you Maniac King."

Seeing Zi Yan fail to undo the restriction around the box after a few tries and roll up her sleeves as if preparing to smash it, Qin Han hurriedly stopped her.

Zi Yan rolled her eyes at him and tossed over the box.

A flicker of fire flashed in Qin Han's palm, scattering the remaining isolating energy and tiny restriction on the outside. With a click, he opened the clasp.

An unusual medicinal fragrance, so rich it seemed impossible to disperse, immediately spread through the air.

On the Brocade Mat in the center of the jade box lay a pill the size of a longan.

It was perfectly round, with faint, delicate Cloud Patterns flowing across its surface.

Within the pill, a phantom shadow seemed to be swimming about, constantly changing shape.

"This is..."

Wu Tianlang took a breath of the medicinal fragrance, his eyes widening sharply. "A seventh-tier pill! Judging by this phenomenon and these Cloud Patterns, could it be a Transformation Pill?!"

"A Transformation Pill?"

The other elders cried out as well, and everyone's gazes immediately fell upon Zi Yan, whose eyes had instantly begun to sparkle.

Among everyone from Jia Nan Academy present, Zi Yan was the one and only person who needed this Transformation Pill.

A faint smile appeared on Hu Gan's face as well. Shaking his head, he said, "You girl, your nose really is sharp. You could smell that it was something you needed even through the seal and the flowing light?"

At that moment, Zi Yan had no mind to care about what Hu Gan was saying. All her attention was glued to that amber-colored pill, yet she stubbornly refused to say anything.

Seeing Zi Yan's awkward appearance, Qin Han found it a little amusing.

He closed the jade box, cutting off the medicinal fragrance, then raised a hand to ruffle Zi Yan's head under her instantly aggrieved gaze.

Zi Yan, however, darted away in disgust and shot him a glare.

"Don't be hasty."

Qin Han's expression turned more serious. "The Transformation Pill came from the Myriad Fire Furnace, and it's something left behind by the Fallen Fire Sect Ruins a hundred years ago.

"This place is strange in every way, and fire poison is everywhere. No one can say whether the pill is intact or whether it has been contaminated by something it shouldn't have."

"You can keep it for now, but you absolutely cannot eat it. Once we return to the academy, have Elder Huo examine it carefully. Only take it after he confirms there are no problems. Transformation is no trivial matter; there can't be the slightest mistake."

Zi Yan puffed out her cheeks at those words.

But she also knew Qin Han was right. If something went wrong during transformation, the consequences would be severe.

Just like back then—if she hadn't accidentally eaten Transformation Grass, she would not have remained in this form all this time.

"Then... then it has to be examined as soon as we get back."

Zi Yan took the jade box and carefully stored it in her Storage Ring.

"Vice Dean, is this... alright?"

Qin Han turned to look at Hu Gan.

What he had just said was practically equivalent to directly giving the Transformation Pill to Zi Yan, which was somewhat against the rules.

Unexpectedly, Hu Gan merely waved his hand. "Everyone knows this girl's identity. The Great Elder dotes on her, so I imagine he won't object."

"Besides, it's better if she transforms sooner. Then she won't keep raiding the medicinal storehouse for snacks, and the academy can save quite a bit on rations..."

"Hahahaha!"

Everyone was rendered speechless for a moment before they could not help bursting into laughter.

"That really hits the mark!"

Zi Yan's little face rarely reddened. Baring her teeth and claws, she leaped up to beat Qin Han.

"Vice Dean, are we still going to fight for more?"

After pulling Zi Yan off his head, Qin Han asked.

Everyone from Jia Nan Academy was still at their peak, and they could even be considered the strongest group overall on this expedition. Yet the Fallen Fire Sect Ruins were strange in every respect.

Hu Gan did not answer immediately. His gaze swiftly swept across several major battlefields.

Mo Tianquan of the Black Emperor Sect held a scroll that seemed both golden and jade-like, with two elders guarding him like door guardians.

Fan Lao had obtained a Blood-Red Orb and was letting out a sinister cackle.

Silver Elder had used some unknown method to silently collect a streak of flowing light. No one knew what it was, but no one dared approach him lightly.

Han Ya had intended to take the Myriad Stars Flame, but he had not even managed to find its true body. Under the desperate protection of his guards, he could only take another item.

As for the other two or three contested areas, the participants were mostly smaller factions or lone Strong Experts, and the fighting there was the most brutal and bloody.

More often than not, the moment someone got their hands on something, they would immediately be besieged by several people nearby, dying in an instant as the treasure changed hands once again.