Two utterly different Heavenly Flames now obeyed him as readily as his own limbs, gently licking the cauldron as they perfectly extracted and fused the medicinal essence of each immortal herb.
Inside the cauldron, the nascent form of a Breakthrough Pill the size of a longan slowly revolved.
Black and white energies flowed across the Breakthrough Pill's surface, faintly forming a profoundly mysterious Taiji diagram.
Ning Lin formed his final hand seal.
"Condense!"
Boom!
High in the heavens, the winds and clouds changed color. A bolt of purple pill lightning tore through the clouds and struck straight toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!
Ning Lin's expression remained unchanged as he flicked a finger.
The Phoenix Undying Flame became a streak of light that shot skyward, effortlessly devouring the pill lightning.
Humm—
The medicinal cauldron gave a clear, resonant hum, and its lid flew into the sky.
A perfectly rounded Breakthrough Pill, radiating a faint black-and-white glow, floated quietly out.
An indescribably wondrous medicinal fragrance instantly spread, enveloping a hundred miles in every direction.
As they breathed in the fragrance, the Soul Beasts in the forest, whether a hundred or ten thousand years old, all sank into a strange tranquility, as though their very souls had been elevated.
The Heavenly Unity Pill!
It was complete!
Ning Lin reached out and stored the Breakthrough Pill in a jade bottle. Without pausing for a moment, he turned into a blur and vanished into the depths of the forest.
Spirit City.
The lingering light of sunset washed this sacred city of Soul Masters in gold.
The streets teemed with people, carriages, and horses.
Yet one figure walked against the flow, making his unhurried way down the middle of the street.
It was Ning Lin, who had returned.
His expression was composed, and he made no attempt to conceal himself, as though he had come to enjoy the scenery rather than seek revenge.
He simply strolled along in plain sight.
Then, suddenly.
As he passed a corner, his footsteps briefly faltered.
The next instant, a tremendous force struck the back of his head.
His vision went black, and Ning Lin lost consciousness, collapsing limply.
In the darkness, a hand lifted him, then disappeared soundlessly into the depths of the alley.
An unknown amount of time passed.
Ning Lin opened his eyes again.
Dimness filled his vision.
The air smelled of dampness, decay, and a faint trace of blood.
The surrounding walls were cast from an unknown black metal, their surfaces covered in runes that blocked Soul Power detection.
A Secret Chamber.
He had already been brought into Qian Xunji's Secret Chamber.
"You're awake?"
A gentle voice, steeped in boundless hypocrisy, sounded from ahead.
Ning Lin raised his head.
Not far away, Qian Xunji sat upright in an ornate chair, dressed in his splendid papal robes, watching him with a smile.
Opposite Qian Xunji stood Bibi Dong, her lovely face cold with fury and Soul Power surging around her as she confronted him.
Behind each of them, their Martial Soul Avatars had already quietly materialized.
The sacred, majestic Six-Winged Angel and the savage, domineering Death Spider Emperor unleashed suffocating pressure within the cramped Secret Chamber!
A great battle seemed poised to erupt at any moment.
Ning Lin surveyed his surroundings. Not a trace of panic stirred within him; instead, everything was perfectly clear.
Everything was going according to plan.
Qian Xunji, you sanctimonious pervert. You really haven't disappointed me.
With your twisted possessiveness, you were bound to abduct me and make me watch you humiliate Bibi Dong.
You want to destroy my will, and more than that, you want Bibi Dong to reveal her most desperate, wretched self before me.
Unfortunately, you have no idea.
Every step you take is already in my script.
The history [Edit] function has long since paved your road to hell.
"Dong'er."
Qian Xunji shifted his gaze from Ning Lin back to Bibi Dong's face, a hint of mockery in his tone.
"Look, your lover is here."
"Right here, watching closely."
"Watching how I, your master, make you mine, utterly and completely."
His words brimmed with undisguised lust and malice.
Bibi Dong's slender body trembled slightly with rage.
Her phoenix eyes widened as she glared fixedly at Qian Xunji, each word seeming to grind through her clenched teeth.
"Qian Xunji!"
"You beast! You pervert!"
"Even if I die, I'll never let you lay a finger on me!"
"Is that so?"
Qian Xunji's smile grew even more smug.
He extended a finger, pointing at Ning Lin, who was chained to the wall.
"If you refuse, I'll kill him first."
"I'll slice him to death, inch by inch, right before your eyes!"
"Let me think. Where should I begin? His eyes, or his tongue?"
"No, I should sever the tendons in his wrists and ankles first, so he can crawl along the ground like a worm."
"That would certainly be amusing."
He spoke with leisurely deliberation, as though discussing a work of art.
Bibi Dong's face instantly turned deathly pale.
Qian Xunji rose and slowly advanced toward her, his smile becoming feverish.
"Dong'er, stop struggling."
"This is my Secret Chamber, built from Deep Sea Sunken Silver. It can shut out everything."
"Scream. Shout. No one will come to save you."
"Your struggles, your anger, will only make me... more excited!"
Despair permeated the Secret Chamber.
A flash of resolve crossed Bibi Dong's eyes.
She would rather shatter her own heart meridians than suffer this humiliation!
Yet.
Just as swords were drawn and the confrontation stood on the brink of eruption.
"Heh..."
A soft chuckle abruptly rang out.
It was quiet, yet it reached both Qian Xunji's and Bibi Dong's ears with perfect clarity.
Both froze, then turned toward the sound.
Ning Lin, still bound in chains, had raised his head and was looking at them with a peculiar smile.
Bibi Dong was dumbfounded.
How could he still laugh at a time like this?
Qian Xunji frowned as a faint sense of foreboding rose within him.
"What are you laughing at?"
Ning Lin ignored Qian Xunji. His gaze passed through the oppressive air and settled gently on Bibi Dong's face.
"Bibi Dong."
His voice was calm, yet filled with strength.
"I once told you I had a pill that could help you attain the rank of Titled Douluo."
Before his words had finished ringing out.
Clang!
With a sharp snap, he effortlessly broke the specially forged chains strong enough to restrain a Soul Saint!
Ning Lin slowly stood and opened his palm.
A Breakthrough Pill radiating a faint black-and-white glow rested quietly in his hand.
Its rich medicinal fragrance instantly filled the entire Secret Chamber.
Qian Xunji took a single breath of it and felt a faint improvement in the Soul Power within his body!
His pupils abruptly contracted!
What grade of Breakthrough Pill was this?!
Ning Lin gazed at Bibi Dong, a confident smile curling his lips.
"Now, the pill is complete."
Bibi Dong stared blankly at the Breakthrough Pill, then at Ning Lin's eyes, filled with trust.
In that instant, all her worry and despair transformed into overwhelming joy and gratitude!
She did not hesitate!
With a flash, she appeared before Ning Lin, took the Breakthrough Pill, and swallowed it in one gulp!
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