Soul-Slaying Maiden: Master Of Ancient Divine Weapons

Yes, the insect race.

Han Zhan could not have mistaken it.

That overwhelming shadow of insects devoured the entire world.

The largest among them was a mass of black mist, constantly spinning.

That mass of black mist was countless times larger than the one he had encountered today.

If he had to describe it, only one word came to mind: black hole.

Wherever it went, it consumed everything endlessly, obliterating the world like a black hole. Behind it lay infinite darkness.

Han Zhan also saw many majestic figures standing tall, guarding the world's forefront. Each of them radiated dazzling light, akin to blazing suns, resisting the devouring force of the endless darkness.

But the power of the obliterating black hole was far beyond their imagination. After an unknown period of stalemate, those "suns" dimmed one by one.

They were swallowed by darkness and silenced. The entire world fell into a dead silence, like a void in the universe.

"Is that what the Shennong Sage referred to as... the Void? A force beyond the ninth rank, the true culprit behind the destruction of this world—shadows of the insect race."

Han Zhan murmured to himself, but no one could provide him with answers.

So, was the Sacred Heart of Hundred Herbs also destroyed by the insect race? Could it be inferred that all the world fruits on the Bodhi Treasure Tree were worlds destroyed by the insect race?

This would explain why the insect race could utilize those tools—because they originated from those worlds. And now, the race aimed to destroy this blue star.

"I left behind a safeguard in the Heavenly Palace. That is our only chance. Gather the four prescriptions and find it, future inheritor..."

A hoarse, elderly voice suddenly echoed beside his ears, as fleeting as the wind, disappearing just as quickly.

By the time Han Zhan realized it, it was long gone.

This was the Shennong Sage's final message to him.

The Heavenly Palace? What was this so-called Heavenly Palace? Was it related to these prescriptions? Why had a world that should have been annihilated and turned into a void now been reshaped?

These lingering mysteries troubled Han Zhan, leaving him unable to resolve them for the moment.

"Patriarch Jiang, it's getting late. Let's stay here for the night."

"Here? Very well." Jiang Huai initially wanted to suggest returning the way they came, but seeing Han Zhan's expression that left no room for negotiation, he wisely refrained.

As the cave dwelling created by the Shennong Sage, this place, as Han Zhan had stated, could indeed resist the invasion of darkness. The two of them spent the night there.

The next morning, when they awoke, they found themselves unknowingly lying in a wild mountain plain.

The cave dwelling had vanished without a trace, along with the towering ancient tree.

In the distance, a striped tiger glared at them fiercely. Unable to bear it any longer, it roared and charged at Han Zhan and Jiang Huai.

Jiang Huai snorted coldly, finally finding an outlet for his pent-up frustration.

At his peak strength, Jiang Huai struck the tiger with a single punch, sending it flying hundreds of meters away. Blood spattered everywhere, and countless trees were broken in its path.

Even when the tiger's twisted, miserable figure was no longer visible, its anguished roars echoed throughout the valley.

Jiang Huai turned his head and locked eyes with Han Zhan.

In the next moment, Jiang Huai, who had just been brimming with anger, suddenly bowed, clasping his hands respectfully as he addressed him as "Holy Master."

At this point, Jiang Huai, representing the Jiang clan, fully demonstrated his stance, gaining Han Zhan's complete recognition.

Thus, the two stopped testing each other and returned to the village together.

As soon as they arrived at the Jiang Clan's settlement, they were surrounded by its people.

After being missing for a night, news of Jiang Huai and Han Zhan's disappearance had already spread, leaving the clan in a state of anxiety.

For this outsider, Han Zhan, they might not have cared much if he was lost, but Jiang Huai's safety was of utmost concern. Upon seeing both of them safe, the people's worries were finally put to rest.

Jiang Huai didn't bother explaining much to them. He simply summoned his subordinates and instructed them to collect the herbs needed for the Mixed Essence Pill formula as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Han Zhan faced Jiang Huo and others' concerned inquiries.

Looking at Jiang Yue, standing beside Jiang Huo with an innocent expression, Han Zhan felt a pang of guilt.

If not for his hasty use of the Shennong Cauldron to escape the dire situation, Jiang Yue might have been much safer now. Even in a deep sleep, her condition would have been better than her current state.

Breaking the curse had become an urgent priority.

This curse might not have originated from the Shennong Sage but was likely a remnant left by the insect race when they destroyed this world.

They all shared a common enemy.

After exchanging a few words with the others, Han Zhan returned to his quarters.

Before long, Jiang Huai sent people to deliver a variety of materials needed for alchemy.

These included ingredients for both the Lesser Revival Pill and Mixed Essence Pill. Everything necessary was provided.

Having established initial mutual trust, Jiang Huai became highly accommodating to Han Zhan's requests.

It seemed that Jiang Huai's previous complaints about material shortages had been mere precautionary measures to guard against Han Zhan.

Now was not the time to dwell on such matters. Han Zhan, following the recipe for the Mixed Essence Pill, summoned the Shennong Cauldron once more and placed the ingredients inside.

Having gained experience from his first alchemy attempt, the process went much smoother this time.

Soon, the Shennong Cauldron began emitting a special radiance.

This time, the light was gray-white, unlike the pure white of the first attempt. The Mixed Essence Pill appeared significantly larger.

If the Lesser Revival Pill was the size of a pigeon egg, then the Mixed Essence Pill was about the size of a chicken egg.

Likewise, the Mixed Essence Pill exhibited an anomaly, more terrifying than that of the Lesser Revival Pill.

The moment the pill took shape, a mass of black mist, about the size of a fist, howled as it tried to escape from the cauldron.

The Shennong Cauldron emitted a radiant glow, sealing its opening and preventing the black mist from escaping.

The mist rampaged within the cauldron, crashing against its walls with deafening sounds.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Each impact reverberated in Han Zhan's heart like the ancient war drums of a battle god, shaking the entire Shennong Cauldron.

After an indeterminate period, the turbulence finally subsided. A perfectly round gray-white pill rolled out of the cauldron.

The Mixed Essence Pill was complete.

Han Zhan fixed his eyes on the pill, and soon, his innate ability, Divine Illumination, revealed all its details.

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[Name: Mixed Essence Pill]

[Effect: Chaos of Heaven and Earth, Unity into One. Consuming this pill grants immunity to all physical damage.]

[Note: Crafting this pill carries significant life-threatening risks. One life per pill—proceed with caution!]

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Similarly, the Mixed Essence Pill adhered to the principle of "one life per pill." However, its effects differed from the Lesser Revival Pill.

The Lesser Revival Pill allowed one to bypass rules and move freely at night.

The Mixed Essence Pill, on the other hand, provided immunity to physical damage.

"Could it be that some upcoming trials will require immunity to physical damage to overcome?"

Every prescription was a key to solving a mystery.

With two of the four prescriptions in hand, Han Zhan was getting closer to uncovering the truth left by the Shennong Sage.

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