Battle Through the Heavens: I can solidify the talents of all things

Chapter 91, Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, Traces of the Soul Palace!

Deep inside the cave, the once billowing, milky-white mist had thinned out.

The "Warm Soul Elixir" in the center, which Xiao Qing had painstakingly prepared by collecting medicinal herbs, had lost most of its luster and become crystal clear.

A figure, somewhat ethereal yet with a clear outline and an incredibly solid form, slowly opened its eyes.

The wisdom that had endured so much was rekindled in those eyes, though a trace of weariness and weakness lingered deep within.

"teacher!"

Xiao Qing, who had been sitting quietly by the side like a stone statue, noticed it almost the instant Yao Lao opened his eyes.

Xiao Qing suddenly stood up, her voice filled with the joy of something lost and then regained.

The old apothecary turned his head and looked at Xiao Qing. He was first pleased, but then his expression turned to deep astonishment.

He looked Xiao Qing up and down, his soul perception surging forth, and the shock on his face grew stronger and stronger.

"Good disciple, you—" The old doctor's voice was hoarse from just waking up, but it couldn't hide the disbelief in it.

"A five-star Dou Wang? No, this aura is solid and powerful, already reaching six stars! And your soul power—the peak of the early stage of the Spirit Realm?! How long has it been?"

Before Yao Lao fell into a deep sleep, Xiao Qing was still exploring the initial stage of the Dou Wang level, and his soul power had just reached the Ling Realm.

Now, upon waking up, he finds himself facing a disciple whose strength has surged and whose soul realm has once again achieved a leap forward. How could this not startle him?

Xiao Qing stepped forward, looking at Yao Lao's nearly solidified soul form, and asked with concern, "Teacher, how are you feeling? Has your soul stabilized?"

"It's alright, it's alright." The old apothecary waved his hand, his gaze still fixed intently on Xiao Qing.

"Thanks to your Soul-Nourishing Elixir, its effects are gentle yet long-lasting, and it has a miraculous effect on nourishing the soul source. I've been given a second chance at life!"

"But you—tell me quickly, what exactly happened to you during my slumber? How could your cultivation have improved so rapidly?"

Xiao Qing sat down on the smooth stone platform to the side, collected her thoughts, and began to tell her story.

His voice was steady, deliberately omitting the most crucial parts.

"That day, to protect me, my teacher burned his very soul's essence to fight against the Blood Nether Saint's soul power, ultimately falling into a deep sleep from exhaustion—"

A hint of guilt and lingering fear flashed in Xiao Qing's eyes. "After I led my teacher away from that main hall, we explored that dilapidated Dou Sheng small world and accidentally triggered another seal."

Xiao Qing continued with his prepared statement: "Within that seal lies the remnant soul of a senior who called himself the Pure Spirit Saint."

.

"She and the Blood Nether Saint seemed to be mortal enemies. After the seal was broken, her remaining power erupted, annihilating the Blood Nether Saint's already weakened remnant soul—and I was saved because of this."

"The Pure Spirit Saint?" The old apothecary frowned slightly, searching through his ancient memories.

"To be able to kill Blood Nether Saint, who was also a Dou Sheng remnant soul, even when the opponent was at his last gasp, this Pure Spirit Saint must have been extremely powerful in life."

The old apothecary exclaimed, "You lad, your fortunes are truly astounding! Even I have to admire them! And what about Queen Medusa?"

"Senior Qingling Saint seems to have a past connection with the ancestors of the Snake-People. She recognized Queen Medusa's potential and bloodline, keeping her behind to help her receive the complete 'Nine-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python' inheritance."

Xiao Qing continued to explain.

"A nine-colored, sky-devouring python?!"

Upon hearing this, the old apothecary's pupils constricted sharply, and a genuine look of shock appeared on his face. He exclaimed, "It's actually such a legendary being! The supreme bloodline of a serpentine magical beast!"

"Ancient texts record that its potential is limitless, and if it can be fully awakened, its future achievements will be immeasurable! I never expected that such a bloodline, which only existed in legends, would actually appear in the world, and even fall into Medusa's possession————"

The old apothecary looked at Xiao Qing with even more complicated feelings. The people and things around this kid always seemed to be associated with the word "legend".

"Before I left, Senior Qingling Saint, remembering that I helped her break free from the seal and settle the karmic debt, gave me two volumes of combat techniques."

As Xiao Qing spoke, he took out the intermediate-level Heaven-rank combat skill "Annihilation Sword Technique" and the intermediate-level Heaven-rank cultivation technique "Heavenly Serpent Sacred Scripture" from his storage ring and handed them to Yao Lao.

As Yao Lao's soul power swept across the scroll, even with his vast experience, he couldn't help but gasp: "A mid-level Heaven-rank combat technique?! What a grand gesture!"

His expression immediately turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Little Qingzi, this is no ordinary item! Although you cannot cultivate a Heaven-rank cultivation technique, this Heaven-rank combat skill is enough to unleash a bloodbath across the continent! Before you possess sufficient strength, you must never use it lightly, not even reveal it! Do you understand the principle that possessing a treasure is a crime?"

"Disciple understands." Xiao Qing nodded solemnly.

"I have carefully reviewed the cultivation requirements. At least the Dou Zong realm is required to even attempt it. I will keep my teacher's teachings in mind and will never reveal this item unless absolutely necessary."

Seeing that Xiao Qing understood, Yao Lao's expression softened. He handed the scroll back and instructed, "Keep it safe. When you advance to the Dou Zong realm in the future, it will be a powerful weapon for you."

After carefully inquiring about Xiao Qing's other gains and cultivation details in the Dou Sheng Small World, and confirming that Xiao Qing's foundation was solid and there was no risk of forcing growth, Yao Lao was finally relieved.

The master and apprentice talked for a long time, mainly Xiao Qing recounting his experiences at the Alchemist Conference in Jia Ma Holy City, how he refined the Imperial Pill, and how he dealt with various forces.

As the old doctor listened, he would sometimes stroke his beard and smile, and sometimes nod in approval, quite satisfied with Xiao Qing's mature performance in handling these matters.

A day later, it was sensed that Yao Lao's soul had completely stabilized. Although his power still needed time to recover, there was no major problem.

Xiao Qing then removed the soul barrier at the cave entrance and, with Yao Lao now residing in the ancient black ring, set off to return to the Holy City of Jia Ma.

Inside the study of Haibodong at the headquarters of the Mittel family.

"You're finally back!"

Hai Bodong visibly relaxed when he saw Xiao Qing push the door open and enter, but then his brows furrowed again, and his face lost its usual teasing expression, instead showing a hint of seriousness.

"You're back just in time, something's happened."

Xiao Qing's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm, walking to the table and sitting down: "Elder Hai, what makes you so nervous? Is there a problem with the pills, or is it something about the royal family—"

"Neither."

Hai Bodong shook his head and lowered his voice.

"It's that guy who tried to snatch the Imperial Pill at the Alchemist Conference. We've found out his background as a Dou Wang."

Xiao Qing's eyes flickered slightly as he asked, "Oh? Which force is so bold as to dare to make a move in the Holy City of Jia Ma?"

"People from the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect of the Izumo Empire."

Hai Bodong uttered these words with a heavy tone.

"The Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect?" Xiao Qing was familiar with this name. The Izumo Empire and the Gama Empire were sworn enemies.

The Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect is the undisputed overlord of the Izumo Empire, with its power deeply entrenched and far more difficult to deal with than the Yunlan Sect of the Jiama Empire.

"That's right." Hai Bodong confirmed with a solemn expression and continued.

"After the old man took the soul back, the royal family used special methods to interrogate it. Although the guy was stubborn and only revealed some information, it was confirmed that he was undoubtedly a core elder of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect."

"Their sect leader, Xie Shan, was already a peak Dou Huang expert many years ago, and his strength is unfathomable! What's even more troublesome is that—they also have an ancestor in their sect named Xie Biyan."

Mentioning this name, Hai Bodong's tone even carried a hint of barely perceptible apprehension: "That old monster, it's said, broke through the Dou Zong barrier many years ago, and now he's probably a three-star Dou Zong!"

"Moreover, he cultivated an extremely insidious and bizarre demonic poison," causing those afflicted unbearable pain, their battle qi gradually eroded, and it was extremely difficult to cure. Even experts of the same level were unwilling to provoke him easily.

Hai Bodong paused, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice even further: "In addition, from those fragmented pieces of intelligence, it was vaguely mentioned that the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect seems to be connected with a mysterious and powerful organization."

"We haven't found out the specific name of this organization or which faction it belongs to, but the fact that even the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect treats it with caution means that its strength and background are absolutely terrifying."

Xiao Qing listened quietly, her fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table.

The Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect—the patriarch of the Three Star Dou Sect—the eerie Demonic Poison Spot—and the mysterious organization that looms in the background, most likely the Soul Palace—

An invisible pressure, like a dark cloud, quietly enveloped my heart.

Xiao Qing had just awakened his teacher and his strength had greatly improved. He thought he could finally relax and focus on refining his teacher's physical body, but he didn't expect that the external threat was already so close.

These enemies lurking in the shadows are all incredibly powerful and employ increasingly cunning methods.

Xiao Qing knew that the peaceful days were probably coming to an end.

The next step is not only to accelerate the improvement of one's own strength, but also to acquire the ability to create a physical body for the teacher as soon as possible.

We must also be constantly vigilant against threats from the Izumo Empire, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, and even the Soul Palace Protector behind them.