Although Lord of the Clouds had said this was only a rudimentary, incomplete Soul-Severing Pill, Li was still very curious about its true effects.
A glint flashed through Li's eyes, and a wicked smile slowly formed at the corner of his lips.
A plan came to mind.
He continued lying low where he was. After Lord of the Clouds placed the bowl of medicine into the cabinet and left, Li remained motionless. Just as he was about to act, the doors opened again—Lord of the Clouds had actually returned!
Li's eyes flickered. It seemed he had been right to continue observing because of that earlier sense of unease.
Lord of the Clouds swept his dark-faced gaze across the hall, his eyes deep and shadowy. Li softened his breathing. After a moment, Lord of the Clouds turned and left once more.
Li let out a quiet breath. This man perhaps knew more than merely pill refining—he could actually sense that something was amiss within the hall. Though he had not discovered Li, it was frightening enough.
Li activated Ethereal Steps beneath his feet. Following what Lord of the Clouds had done earlier, he successfully opened the hidden compartment. After taking several Soul-Severing Pills from it and tucking them into his robes, he was about to leave.
Then he heard the sound of a mechanism activating.
Not good!
Li followed the sound and saw that, at some unknown moment, a massive serpent-like form, half stone and half metal, had appeared above him where there had previously been only a starry-sky pattern.
The enormous serpent slowly emerged from the starry pattern. Its body was immensely thick, and its long, narrow scarlet eyes were as large as balls, gleaming with a sinister light.
The serpent flicked its tongue with a hiss. Seeing that its