Life Devouring Pill (Seeking Investment, Recommendations, and Bookmarks)

Stone Desert City had merely been a small city near the Tagor Desert in the Jia Ma Empire in the original story.

Its strongest expert was only a Da Dou Shi, not even comparable to Wutan City.

Thus, it took the Xiao Family only a few days after moving into the Tagor Desert to unify all of Stone Desert City.

Moreover, with the resources Xiao Chen had left behind, Xiao Zhan and the others steadily expanded toward the nearby cities.

In just half a month, they had seized three cities roughly the same size as Stone Desert City.

Night fell, and darkness shrouded the land. High in the sky, Yinyue hung overhead as faint moonlight scattered down, slowly dispelling some of the gloom.

The former Desert Iron Mercenary Group headquarters in Stone Desert City, now the Xiao Family residence, was exceptionally lively.

Wine flowed freely, and cups and dishes lay scattered everywhere!

They had conquered three cities in a row, and there was even a Dou Ling expert within the family.

In any power within the Jia Ma Empire, possessing a Dou Ling expert was enough to make one a quasi-second-rate faction.

Of course, if that Dou Ling expert reached the fourth star, the faction would directly become a second-rate power.

More importantly, even in Salt City, the largest city near Stone Desert City, a faction with a Dou Ling expert would have a place for itself.

While the younger generation of the Xiao Family was ecstatic, Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Family's three elders, and its sole Dou Ling-level elder were gathered in the family's council hall, discussing the Xiao Family's next steps.

With Xiao Chen as their backer, if they wished, even overturning the entire Jia Ma Empire would be a matter of minutes.

However, that would draw far too much attention, and Xiao Chen had also reminded them that the Xiao Family's enemies had always been watching them.

The Xiao Family's development absolutely could not be rushed. They had to advance steadily.

They would strive to become the strongest force in the Jia Ma Empire within a year.

"Third Elder, how many among Xiao Ning, Xiao Mei, Xiao Shi... have reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi now?"

Xiao Zhan asked.

Among the resources Xiao Chen had left for the Xiao Family was a spirit liquid unique to the Pill Tower: the second-tier Qi Nourishing Powder. Like the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid refined by Yao Chen, it could assist in Dou Qi cultivation.

Therefore, during this period, every member of the Xiao Family's younger generation had been allocated an appropriate amount of Qi Nourishing Powder based on their status, realm, and talent.

What was more, Xiao Chen had deliberately used the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame to refine a drop of Dou Saint essence and some Xiao Clan bloodline into the Qi Nourishing Powder, all to reshape the foundations of the Xiao Family's younger generation.

As a result, Xiao Mei and the others' progress could no longer be described as fast. They were advancing by leaps and bounds.

"Patriarch, Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei have both taken Qi Gathering Powder and become Dou Zhes. Based on their Dou Qi attributes, I gave them the cultivation methods, Dou techniques, and medicinal pills left behind by Ancestor. It is enough to support their cultivation all the way to Da Dou Shi."

"As for Xiao Shi, Xiao Yun, and the others, they are still at the ninth stage of Dou Qi. Since the Dou Qi in their bodies has not yet reached perfection, they cannot rashly take Qi Gathering Powder for now."

"Mm! Good."

After hearing the Third Elder's report, Xiao Zhan was overjoyed.

He was even more excited than if he himself had broken through to the nine-star Da Dou Shi realm.

That was right. Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Family's three elders had all reached the nine-star Da Dou Shi realm through the massive resources Xiao Chen had left behind, and they could break through to Dou Ling at any time.

Xiao Zhan had never doubted Xiao Chen's identity.

Would a Dou Saint expert need to pretend to be the Ancestor of some third-rate minor family?

"Your progress has been quite impressive as well."

Suddenly, ripples spread through the space in the center of the hall, and Xiao Chen stepped out from within.

A white-haired old man followed closely behind him.

It was none other than Heavenly Fire Venerate. If Xiao Chen had not explained things to him beforehand,

he truly could not have imagined that a family with a Dou Saint expert could actually be nothing more than a third-rate force in some remote empire.

"Greetings, Ancestor."

"Greetings, Ancestor."

"Greetings, Ancestor."

"Greetings, Ancestor."

The four people in the hall rose and bowed respectfully to Xiao Chen.

Their tones and expressions were filled with reverence.

"Enough, no need for such formalities. Rise!"

Xiao Chen shook his head, then continued.

"This is Heavenly Fire Venerate. From now on, he will be a guest elder of the Xiao Family, with status below only mine. If there is anything you cannot resolve, you may have him handle it."

Xiao Chen did not mind Heavenly Fire Venerate holding the same status as himself, but even if he said so,

no one present dared take it seriously.

"Also, you have developed the Xiao Family quite well during this time."

"Therefore, I shall give you a choice."

As he spoke, Xiao Chen extended a broad hand from his sleeve. Then, a streak of blood-red light shot out from his Storage Ring.

A slightly strange transparent bottle appeared in his hand.

The eyes of everyone else in the hall then fell upon the round blood-red pill inside the jade bottle.

The pill was entirely blood-red and about the size of a longan. It looked extremely mysterious. At a glance, it resembled a transparent pearl filled with blood. At its center was a dark crimson glimmer, faintly resembling a tiny eye, giving the entire pill an eerie air.

"Life Devouring Pill, a peak seventh-tier medicinal pill. This pill can forcibly raise someone around the Da Dou Shi realm to the Dou Wang realm in an extremely short time. However, once this pill is used, the user can only live for three more years. In other words, this pill uses all of one's remaining lifespan in exchange for three years of Dou Wang strength!"

"However, it is not without a solution. As long as one breaks through to Dou Emperor within those three years, the poison will dissolve on its own, and there will be no further concern over lifespan. This is the choice I offer you."

Xiao Chen spoke without emotion.

He held no feelings for the entire Xiao Family. He was doing this purely for the mission.

After hearing Xiao Chen's words, Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Family's four elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock.

A Dou Wang was absolutely someone not to be provoked in the current Jia Ma Empire.

In the past, their greatest wish had been for the Xiao Family to produce a Dou Wang expert who could lead the family to prosperity.

Now, that goal could be achieved simply by taking the pill before them.

"Thank you, Ancestor, for your generous gift."

After a moment, unlike the other four, who were still stunned, Xiao Zhan did not hesitate much. His expression hardened as he respectfully spoke to Xiao Chen.

Clearly, he had made his stance known.

Breaking through from Dou Wang to Dou Emperor within three years was something that probably no one but the most astounding geniuses on the continent could accomplish.

Yet Xiao Zhan had that confidence, because he had a Dou Saint Ancestor.

He believed Xiao Chen would never simply watch him exhaust his lifespan and die.

After all, he had devoted his entire life to the family.

"Not bad."

Hearing this, Xiao Chen was briefly taken aback, but he quickly guessed Xiao Zhan's thoughts.

In fact, even if he did not intervene, with Xiao Yan's identity as the Son of Destiny, Xiao Zhan would not perish so easily.

Xiao Yan had been reduced to a waste for more than two years now. Before long, the so-called Three Year Pact would begin.