Heavenly Heart Pill

Only after reaching the Qi Gathering Stage, when a cultivator's Talisman Artifact advanced into a Dharma Tool, Spirit Tool, or even a Magic Treasure, could the gap between them and Great Demons like Flood Dragons and True Dragons gradually narrow.

After taking out the snake's skull, Yan Chihuo put everything he had obtained into his Storage Ring, then set off for the Cloud Soaring Sect. At first, he had been somewhat worried. Although he had changed his appearance, this skin had belonged to the assassin, and he feared it might bear a hidden mark that would let the assassin organization recognize him. But no one came to give him trouble, even after he reached the Cloud Soaring Sect, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

As he walked along the mountain path, he heard an eagle's cry overhead. He looked up and saw a black speck flying toward him from afar. In an instant, it was close at hand: a Black Eagle. It landed and immediately transformed into a burly man in black. Yan Chihuo could feel that the man's aura was unfathomably deep, seemingly not much weaker than Wu Yunhe's.

The burly man in black barked, "Who are you? How dare you change your appearance and come to my Cloud Soaring Sect!"

Though this was Yan Chihuo's first time seeing him, he guessed that the man was Black Eagle, one of the Three Mountain-Protecting Spirits. He hurriedly said, "This disciple is Yan Chihuo, a student of Elder Ping. I changed my appearance because enemies were hunting me outside the sect. I forgot to restore my original appearance for a while. Please forgive me, Senior Eagle."

After speaking, he handed over his identity token and peeled off the layer of skin covering his body. The burly man in black took the token, infused it with a stream of magical energy, then glanced at Yan Chihuo and said expressionlessly, "This treasure of yours that changes your appearance is quite impressive. In the Cloud Soaring Sect, I doubt anyone besides Wu Yunhe could refine it. But you're Ping Qi's disciple. Why would he agree to refine such a treasure for you?"

Yan Chihuo said, "This disciple obtained it after killing an enemy outside. It has nothing to do with Elder Wu."

Black Eagle said, "I see. Still, the person who refined this treasure is no ordinary figure. With it, no Body Tempering Stage cultivator could see through your altered appearance." With that, he handed Yan Chihuo's identity token back. Yan Chihuo took it, bowed to Black Eagle, and headed toward his own cave dwelling.

Once Yan Chihuo had gone far, Black Eagle murmured to himself, "Ping Qi's aura is somewhat like that monkey's. Why is his disciple the same? Could it be because of their cultivation method?"

Yan Chihuo returned to his cave dwelling and rested well for the night. The next day, he went to pay his respects at Ping Qi's cave dwelling. When Ping Qi learned that Yan Chihuo had not only slain the Poison Python but also made enemies of an assassin organization, he said, "You really are a handful, always stirring up trouble."

Looking at the few tiger-head tokens in his hand, he said, "I don't know what this organization is, and I don't recognize these tokens. But I do know that there's a force in the East Cloud Kingdom secretly working against our Cloud Soaring Sect. It's extremely mysterious. The sect has gone to great lengths to investigate, yet hasn't even uncovered the organization's name. Judging by this, the assassin organization may well be that very force."

Yan Chihuo said, "They skulk around in secret and are so mysterious. Their strength must be inferior to our Cloud Soaring Sect's, or they wouldn't need to resort to such tricks."

Ping Qi said, "You may have a point. But this organization dared to target our Cloud Soaring Sect, so even if it's weaker than us, it can't be by much. The only reason it holds back is its wariness of Sect Master Tian Lingzi's remarkable cultivation. The Sect Master is advanced in years. If no one else reaches the Dao Foundation Stage, our sect's prospects won't be promising after he passes away."

He then asked, "Chihuo, what are your plans for next?"

Yan Chihuo said, "I've obtained the Snake Sac, so for now I don't have to worry about being unable to suppress the poison. This disciple plans to enter seclusion and break through to the Body Forging Late Stage."

Ping Qi nodded and said, "I could see that you'd reached the limit of your cultivation in the Body Tempering Middle Stage. It's time to break through to the Body Forging Late Stage. How about this: go to the back mountain and find the ape among the Three Mountain-Protecting Spirits. Tell him you're my disciple, and he'll arrange a cave dwelling for you to help with your breakthrough. Just call him Uncle-Master Yuan. Of all the people in the sect, he and I get along best."

Yan Chihuo was delighted, then added, "Master, I'd also like to ask you about two things. First, what is this Talisman used for? Also, I obtained a few things after slaying that snake demon. Please enlighten me."

After speaking, he handed over the third Talisman he had obtained from Senior Brother Heavenly Evil Blood Demon, along with the two snake eyes and the fist-sized round pearl.

Ping Qi took them and examined the Talisman first. "Your luck isn't bad, boy. This is a Flight Talisman, and only cultivators with wind affinity at the Qi Gathering Stage or above can craft one. As you know, neither cultivators nor demons can fly until they reach the Tribulation Stage—except for bird demons. But wind affinity is an exception."

Hearing this, Yan Chihuo asked, "Why?"

Ping Qi said, "Once you reach the Qi Gathering Stage, the low-level wind-attribute spell Wind Control Art can advance into the Flight Technique. That's why wind-attribute cultivators are the only ones who can fly at the Qi Gathering Stage. This Talisman is extremely valuable, so keep it safe."

He then picked up the two snake eyes and said, "I can't tell what use these two snake eyes have, even after turning it over in my mind. They could be used for either artifact refining or alchemy. As for this pearl, it's no ordinary thing."

Yan Chihuo's eyes lit up. "Could this be a Flood Dragon?"

Ping Qi said, "Flood Dragons are incredibly rare. Where would you ever encounter one? This Poison Python has some Flood Dragon blood in it, but becoming a true Flood Dragon is easier said than done. This round pearl is indeed the horn that the Poison Python had yet to grow. But the snake demon wasn't capable of growing it."

Yan Chihuo asked, "Master, what use is this Flood Dragon horn that hasn't emerged yet?"

Ping Qi said, "It can be used to refine a Heavenly Heart Pill, which will help you advance to the Body Forging Late Stage."

Yan Chihuo said happily, "That's truly a rare stroke of good fortune for me. But whom should I ask to refine this pill?"

Ping Qi said, "Go to the Pill Pavilion and make your request. As long as you can afford the refining fee, someone there will naturally make the pill for you."

Yan Chihuo thanked Ping Qi, asked a few more questions about cultivation, then left for the Pill Pavilion.

The disciple attending the Pill Pavilion was a young man in his twenties, with a cultivation level about the same as Yan Chihuo's.

Yan Chihuo explained why he had come and took out the Snake Pearl.

The Pill Pavilion disciple glanced at the Snake Pearl and said, "This is indeed a rare item. Very well. According to the Pill Pavilion's rules, if you provide eighty Jade Crystals, we'll refine it for you and supply any other ingredients you lack."

Yan Chihuo asked, "When can I pick up the pills?"

The Pill Pavilion disciple said, "Come back in seven days."