Battle Through the Heavens: Heaven-Swallowing Demon Emperor

Morning sunlight bathed the courtyard as Xiao Heng sat beside a cyan cauldron, the one acquired from the Rakshasa Sect's storehouse. Of the five Dou Ling Pills he'd refined, he gave four to Su Mei, keeping one for himself. Whenever he crafted fifth-grade or higher pills, Xiao Yi Xian sealed the surrounding space to prevent any telltale phenomena from leaking out.

The alluring fragrance of fifth-grade pills was contained by Xiao Yi Xian's spatial lockdown, ensuring no one outside—not even Su Mei in the neighboring courtyard—knew how many pills Xiao Heng had produced.

Su Mei, elated with the four Dou Ling Pills and a batch of third- and fourth-grade pills, distributed three Dou Ling Pills to her Dou Wang subordinates. The surplus pills were sent to shops directly controlled by the Rakshasa Sect for sale.

Glancing at Xiao Yi Xian perched on the rooftop, maintaining the spatial seal, Xiao Heng began refining the Emperor's Extreme Pill. Qing Lin watched from a distance within the courtyard.

In recent days, Qing Lin had condensed her Dou Qi vortex, becoming a one-star Dou Zhe. Practicing the low-tier Di Class Wood Spirit Technique, her wood-attribute Dou Qi carried a hint of chilling yin, a trait from her snake-human bloodline.

Zi Ran stood guard at the courtyard entrance, ensuring no interruptions. Su Mei, ever perceptive, had ensured no one disturbed Xiao Heng's work.

Blue flames surged into the cauldron. Having refined pills for days, Xiao Heng was well-acquainted with this fifth-grade cauldron, which he'd named the Cyan Stone Cauldron. Placing the first herb inside, he enveloped it in blue flames, gradually raising the temperature. For third- and fourth-grade pills, he processed all herbs and beast cores simultaneously. But for his first attempt at a sixth-grade pill, he proceeded with utmost caution.

Refining the Emperor's Extreme Pill slowly, Xiao Heng faltered during the fusion stage, resulting in a pill with only the efficacy of a third-grade one. He tossed the half-ruined pill to Zi Ran, who, as a beast, could handle such imperfect products without issue. Human consumption risked complications, but beasts were far more resilient.

The second attempt went smoothly. A dragon-eye-sized purple pill materialized in Xiao Heng's hand. The Emperor's Extreme Pill could boost a Dou Huang's strength by one to two stars. A two-star increase required both a high-quality pill and a cultivator's Dou Qi nearing the next star's threshold.

This pill's quality was above average for most alchemists but not exceptional. One more set of herbs. I'll aim for a top-grade Emperor's Extreme Pill, Xiao Heng resolved.

In the neighboring courtyard, Su Mei paced, her face calm despite the earlier disturbance. Though Xiao Yi Xian's seal had contained most of the refining's aura, Su Mei, being close, had sensed a faint ripple. At least one Emperor's Extreme Pill is secured. My cultivation can finally break through.

As a four-star Dou Huang, Su Mei ranked eighth on the Black List, but her strength was among the region's weaker elites. The Black-Corner Region was not an easy place to thrive.

For his third attempt, Xiao Heng adjusted his approach, speeding up initially but slowing during fusion, doubling the time. The resulting Emperor's Extreme Pill bore a blue pill pattern, marking it as top-grade. Xiao Heng was delighted—this pill greatly increased the odds of a near-breakthrough Dou Huang like Su Mei advancing two stars.

I'll take the mid-grade pill myself. My Dou Qi is far from three-star Dou Huang, and I have other ways to advance. Better to boost my subordinates' strength first to ease my workload, he decided.

"Done!" Xiao Heng announced. Xiao Yi Xian dispelled the spatial seal from the rooftop.

"Qing Lin, fetch Su Mei," Xiao Heng said.

"Right away, Young Master!" Qing Lin scampered off, her youthful energy making her the courtyard's errand-runner.

Soon, Qing Lin returned with Su Mei, now in a pink dress. "My lord!" Su Mei stopped at the inner courtyard's entrance.

"Take this pill," Xiao Heng said, handing her the patterned Emperor's Extreme Pill.

"A pill pattern! Thank you, my lord!" Su Mei bowed deeply.

"Absorb it quickly and serve well. Dou Zong isn't out of reach," Xiao Heng said.

"Yes, sir!" Su Mei retreated, tasked with gathering herbs and poison-related intelligence.

After she left, Xiao Heng swallowed the mid-grade Emperor's Extreme Pill. Qing Lin trained her Dou Qi, while Xiao Yi Xian, using Xiao Heng's old cauldron, practiced refining second-grade pills, her five-star Dou Zong strength making her a quick study.

By dusk, Xiao Heng had finished the final Emperor's Extreme Pill. By midnight, after fully absorbing the mid-grade pill's potency, he reached three-star Dou Huang.

The Blood Sect's leader, Fan Lao, was a five-star Dou Huang. Xiao Heng planned to strike while the iron was hot and wipe out the sect. Absorbing their strength—Fan Lao's included—should push him from three-star to four-star Dou Huang. If Fan Lao's power held up, equating to roughly three-and-a-half stars, the rest of the sect could make up the remaining half-star.

Two days later, Xiao Heng gathered Zi Ran and the Rakshasa Sect's top fighters in the city lord's mansion. "Your strengths have improved. Well done," he said.

"All thanks to you, my lord," the four replied. With the top-grade Emperor's Extreme Pill and her solid foundation, Su Mei had soared from four-star to six-star Dou Huang. The tall, lean Dou Wang, the pale-faced Dou Wang, and Su Qian each advanced one star, now at nine-star, eight-star, and six-star Dou Wang, respectively.

"What's our objective for the sneak attack on the Blood Sect, my lord?" Su Mei asked.

"With your six-star Dou Huang strength, defeating Fan Lao is no issue. I'll assist in ambushing him. The rest of the Blood Sect—leave none alive. Purple Elder will ensure no one escapes from the perimeter," Xiao Heng said.

"Yes, sir!" Su Mei replied.

The strike team, all masked in black, prepared to move. Su Mei's tight black leather outfit accentuated her figure, Xiao Heng wore a black robe, and Zi Ran trailed the group. Against a sect led by a mere five-star Dou Huang, Xiao Yi Xian's involvement was unnecessary. The Rakshasa Sect deployed fighters above Da Dou Shi, with Dou Ling and higher as the main force. Da Dou Shi handled perimeter containment and blocked rival factions' scouts.

Over a hundred operatives left the city in batches. Half a day later, they assembled outside a grim, black-walled city, its aura far more sinister than Rakshasa City's.

Xiao Heng and Su Mei struck first, silently reducing the Blood Sect guards on the walls to ash. Within moments, the ramparts were cleared.

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