Within the Primordial Hall, streams of chaotic Qi swirled, obscuring the structure of the hall. Only the sealing platform floating in the air at its center was clearly visible. It was made of an unknown white jade and covered in runes from the same source as the fragments of the Heart of the Pill Realm. As the runes circulated, they radiated a vast presence capable of suppressing heaven and earth.
The final fragment of the Heart of the Pill Realm floated quietly at the center of the sealing platform, giving off a soft, complete radiance.
"Bring the fragments together," the Pill God's remnant will said, its voice echoing through the hall with a hint of anticipation.
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and sent the seven fragments in his hands toward the one at the center. The eight fragments met in midair and erupted in brilliant light. As if alive, they drew together and fused, finally forming a crystalline sphere the size of a fist-the Heart of the Pill Realm was whole at last!
The energy radiating from the complete Heart of the Pill Realm shook the entire Primordial Hall violently. The surrounding streams of chaotic Qi scattered, revealing the hall's true form. The Primordial Hall was not a physical building, but a field of energy woven from countless laws of the Pill Dao and laws of space. At the far end of the field floated a book formed from condensed light: the Pill Realm's supreme legacy, the Primordial Pill Scripture.
"Now that the Heart of the Pill Realm has returned to its place, the seal can be reforged." The Pill God's remnant will pointed at the sealing platform. "Use your bloodline as the catalyst, the Burning Heaven Cauldron as the vessel, and the Pill Realm's Origin Fire as fuel. Infuse them with the power of an Origin Venerate, and you can activate the seal."
Xiao Yan nodded and placed the complete Heart of the Pill Realm on the sealing platform. He summoned the Burning Heaven Cauldron, which floated above the platform. The Pill Realm's Origin Fire poured from it and coiled around the Heart of the Pill Realm. At the same time, he poured his Origin Venerate power into it without reservation. The Pill God's power in his bloodline awakened in turn, resonating with the runes on the sealing platform.
"Buzz-!"
The sealing platform burst forth with golden light ten thousand zhang high. The Heart of the Pill Realm began to rotate, and the energy it released spread throughout the Pill Realm along the runes. Xiao Yan could clearly sense the space at the edges of the Pill Realm growing stable, the cracks that had loosened healing, and the dark energy being steadily driven out.
Reforging the seal went more smoothly than he had imagined. Perhaps it was because the Heart of the Pill Realm was whole, or perhaps his bloodline power had played a crucial role. Half an hour later, the light from the sealing platform gradually subsided. The Heart of the Pill Realm floated quietly above it, giving off a soft glow. The Pill Realm's seal had finally been reforged!
As the seal was reforged, the Primordial Pill Scripture at the far end of the Primordial Hall's field turned into a streak of light and flew into Xiao Yan's sea of consciousness. Countless pieces of profound knowledge of the Pill Dao flooded his mind, from refining emperor-grade pills to fusing laws with pills, and even how to use the power of the Pill Dao to create a world. Its contents were far more profound than anything he had learned before.
"The Primordial Pill Scripture is the Pill Realm's core legacy. Now I entrust it to you." The figure of the Pill God's remnant will began to turn illusory. "The power of my remnant will is nearly exhausted. From here on, I leave the protection of the Pill Realm to you."
"Senior!" Xiao Yan's heart tightened.
The Pill God's remnant will smiled, and his figure turned into specks of golden light that entered Xiao Yan's body. "My bloodline shall endure. Go. The Great Thousand World is still waiting for you. The Lord of Darkness's true body... has breached the final line of defense."
As his words faded, the golden light vanished completely. The Pill God's remnant will, the supreme expert who had protected the Pill Realm for countless years, had finally reached the end of his journey.
Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his heart filled with complicated emotions. He could feel the last of the Pill God's remnant will merging into his bloodline, deepening his understanding of the Pill Dao and the laws. His cultivation at the Initial Origin Venerate stage had also stabilized completely, and there were even faint signs of a breakthrough to the middle stage.
"Mo Chen, it's time we went back." Xiao Yan looked toward Mo Chen, who had been standing guard outside the hall.
Mo Chen nodded, awe in his eyes. "The seal has been reforged. The Pill Realm is safe."
"Only for now." Xiao Yan looked beyond the Primordial Hall. "The Lord of Darkness's true body has arrived. The Great Thousand World is the real battlefield."
The two left the Primordial Hall. The Pill Realm's sky was clearer than ever, its Pill Essence power pure and vast. Fresh shoots had even begun to sprout from the purified land. Pill Spirits danced merrily through the air in Medicine God Valley, and the violent resentment of the souls in the Soul Refining Tower had grown gentle. The entire Pill Realm was coming back to life.
"The Pill Realm's teleportation array should lead directly to any region of the Great Thousand World," Xiao Yan said. "Let's return to the Southern Region and join Senior Xuan Kongzi."
The two came to the ancient teleportation array in Fallen Fire Valley. Xiao Yan activated it with his Origin Venerate power, and it erupted with light a hundred times brighter than before, forming a stable spatial passage.
Before stepping into the passage, Xiao Yan looked back at the land that had just been given new life and thought, Once the Lord of Darkness has been dealt with, I'll be sure to come back and see it again.
Their journey through the spatial passage was much more stable than on the way there. With his Origin Venerate Realm strength and mastery of the laws of space, Xiao Yan easily resisted the spatial tearing force. Half an hour later, the two emerged from a teleportation array in Pill City in the Southern Region.
The atmosphere in Pill City was far more tense than when they had left. Cultivators hurried through the streets, guards in gleaming armor patrolled the city, and the air was thick with the tension of an impending war.
"It seems things are more urgent than we imagined," Mo Chen said with a frown.
The two headed straight for the Pill King Hall, where Xuan Kongzi was discussing matters with several Origin Venerate Realm experts. At the sight of Xiao Yan and Mo Chen's return, they all froze, then rejoiced.
"Xiao Yan! You're back!" Xuan Kongzi hurried forward. Sensing the pressure of an Origin Venerate coming from Xiao Yan, he looked briefly stunned. "You... broke through to the Origin Venerate Realm?"
"I was lucky enough to break through." Xiao Yan nodded. "Matters in the Pill Realm have been settled, and the seal has been reforged. How are things in the Great Thousand World now?"
At the mention of serious matters, Xuan Kongzi's expression grew grave. "The Lord of Darkness's true body has taken form at Soul-Severing Cliff in the Northern Region. His dark army is advancing across the four regions. Half the Northern Region has already fallen, and fierce battles are underway in the Eastern and Western Regions as well. We've held the line in the Southern Region for now, but we can't hold out much longer."
An Origin Venerate Realm expert added, "The Great Thousand Alliance has been provisionally formed. The main forces of the Northern Region's Ice Plains Tribe, the Eastern Region's Heavenly Wind Kingdom, and the Western Region's Burning Heaven Pavilion have all gathered in the Southern Region. We have seventeen Origin Venerate Realm experts and over a thousand Origin Emperor Realm cultivators in total, but the gap between us and the dark army is still enormous."
Xiao Yan's heart sank. Seventeen Origin Venerates might have seemed like a considerable number, but the strength of the Lord of Darkness's true body was surely unfathomable, and he likely had even stronger dark generals under his command.
"How is the refinement of the purification pills going?" Xiao Yan asked.
"With the Spirit-Purifying Grass supplied by the Hundred Herbs Hall and the Light Flowers from the Temple of Light, plus the Pill Spirits and water from the Pill Spirit Spring that you brought back from the Pill Realm, production of purification pills has increased tenfold. We've stockpiled over ten thousand, but against the endless dark creatures, it's still a cup of water on a burning cart." Lin Qingxue's voice rang out. She was dressed in battle gear and had evidently been helping prepare for war as well.
Xiao Yan nodded and took out a copy of the Primordial Pill Scripture. "I brought the Primordial Pill Scripture back from the Pill Realm. It records a method for refining Primordial Purification Pills, which can purify dark energy over a wide area. They might turn the tide of the war."
The appearance of the Primordial Pill Scripture brought looks of excitement to everyone in the hall.
Xuan Kongzi took the copy and quickly leafed through it. "With this pill scripture, we have hope!" he exclaimed. "But the Water of the Nine Heavens Star River and Primordial Purple Qi needed to refine the Primordial Purification Pill are far too rare..."
"I know where to find the Water of the Nine Heavens Star River," Xiao Yan said. "A small amount of star river water condenses every hundred years in the Star River Secret Realm near Burning Heaven Cliff in the Eastern Region. Judging by the time, the secret realm should be opening soon."
An Origin Venerate Realm expert said, "Primordial Purple Qi can be found on Purple Haze Mountain in the Western Region, but a dark Origin Venerate is guarding it. We've sent people to fetch it several times, and they've all failed."
"Leave the dark Origin Venerate on Purple Haze Mountain to me." Xiao Yan's gaze was resolute. "The Star River Secret Realm won't open for another three days. I'll use that time to get the Primordial Purple Qi, then refine the Primordial Purification Pills when I return."
Xuan Kongzi nodded. "Good! I'll send three Origin Venerates with you to make sure nothing goes wrong."
"There's no need." Xiao Yan shook his head. "A larger group would be too conspicuous. I can handle it alone."
He was now at the Origin Venerate Realm, and with five kinds of Heavenly Flames, a supreme spatial treasure, and the Primordial Pill Scripture at his disposal, dealing with one dark Origin Venerate would be more than manageable.
Xuan Kongzi knew Xiao Yan's character and did not insist. "Remember to be careful. We'll wait for you in Pill City."
Xiao Yan delayed no longer. He turned and left the Pill King Hall. Lin Qingxue hurried after him and handed her a jade pendant. "This is a map of Purple Haze Mountain and a Holy Light Talisman from the Temple of Light. It can ward off dark energy for a short time. You must take care."
"Wait for me to come back." Xiao Yan accepted the jade pendant and smiled at her. His figure flashed, turning into a streak of light that flew toward the Western Region.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky. A storm that would sweep across the entire Great Thousand World was close at hand. Xiao Yan faced the storm and set out on a new journey. He knew that every step from here on would decide the fate of the Great Thousand World.