Chapter 371: Courting Death
On the high platform, Xiao Ze slightly raised his eyebrows. He had been multitasking: using his soul power to read information from the jade slip while also keeping his mind focused on the Pill Realm. The golden small tree in his lightning avatar allowed him to monitor the situation at any time.
In the Myriad Medicine Mountains, inside Xiong Zhan's former cave, a figure radiating silver light sat cross-legged. Below him, a trembling gold-striped black tiger shivered, feeling helpless. The tiger had finally gotten rid of Xiong Zhan, a powerful ancient dragon species, and thought it could rule the area. But soon after, this intruder appeared.
The tiger initially wanted to drive away the intruder but was struck by a bolt of lightning, leaving it powerless. The intruder, with overwhelming strength, chose not to kill the tiger but simply occupied its cave. For the past two days, the intruder had been emitting lightning that spread far and wide in a way the tiger couldn't comprehend.
Xiao Ze was confident that his lightning avatar could locate Mu Gu because he had some special methods. While the lightning avatar couldn't use the Mirage Sea Field's detection, it could create a lightning net to quickly scan the surroundings. This would typically consume a lot of lightning power, but Xiao Ze had an abundance of Dou Qi and lightning power, allowing the avatar to use it freely.
Once again, the lightning avatar emitted a flash of lightning that spread rapidly in all directions. Suddenly, the avatar stood up. The black tiger thought its end had come but was surprised when the avatar stepped out of the cave and vanished.
"Gone... gone?" The tiger spoke in human language, incredulously. The intruder had been non-communicative, only responding to any attempts at contact with lightning strikes. The tiger, despite being the ruler of the Myriad Medicine Mountains after Xiong Zhan, had been completely subdued by the lightning avatar. Now, with the intruder gone, the tiger was hesitant to believe its good fortune.
The tiger waited quietly for a while, then began moving more freely. Not sensing any lightning, it joyfully roared, "I'm the king again!" Just as it stepped out to announce its return, a massive silver lightning bolt obliterated a nearby mountain peak, sending the tiger scurrying back into the cave.
Elsewhere, Mu Gu had just crushed a dark figure with a palm strike, his expression darkening. He thought he had cornered his prey, but now he was more frustrated than ever.
"Enough! They must be heading to the exit. I'll intercept them there and finish this!" Mu Gu's words were cut short by a sudden sense of impending danger. Instantly, he struck himself with a crystalline hand, sending his body flying just as a massive silver lightning bolt obliterated his previous position. The energy impact was so powerful that he coughed up blood.
Mu Gu, terrified, called out, "Whoever you are, I mean no offense. If I've trespassed, I'll leave immediately!"
"Hehe, no need. I've been waiting for you, Mu Gu. You came right to your death." A familiar voice sounded, and a lightning figure descended before Mu Gu. Recognizing Xiao Ze's voice, Mu Gu was about to speak when another massive lightning bolt struck, reducing him and the mountain to dust, his soul annihilated.
"With Mu Gu dealt with, there should be no other problems in the Pill Meeting," Xiao Ze's avatar said, satisfied. He then collected the Sea Heart Flame before continuing to patrol the Pill Realm.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan had just left the Myriad Medicine Mountains when he saw the silver lightning strike.
"What a terrifying energy! Is it a Pill Thunder?" Xiao Yan asked.
"No, it seems to be the work of a cultivator," Yao Lao replied, looking grave.
"A cultivator? This level of lightning power is rare even among Dou Zuns!" Xiao Yan exclaimed. "This Pill Meeting is indeed full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!"
"It might not be a contestant. The Pill Realm, once the headquarters of the Pill Tower, is rich in ancient resources. It could be a lightning-type ancient species or a leftover defensive measure from the Pill Tower."
"Teacher, I think Mu Gu is in trouble," Xiao Yan said.
"Haha, if he survives, he's very lucky!" Yao Lao laughed. With their spirits high, they headed towards the Pill Realm's exit.
In the Saint Pill City's inner domain, Xiao Ze smiled, relieved that Mu Gu was dealt with. With no more concerns, the Pill Meeting could proceed smoothly, whether the winner was from the Pill Tower or another faction.
To ensure everything was safe, he continued to patrol the Pill Realm with his lightning avatar.
"Vice President Xiao Ze, people are starting to come out of the Pill Realm," an elder reminded him. Xiao Ze turned to see excited participants emerging from a large black stone gate. The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices thunderous.
"After two rounds of screening, only the strongest alchemists remain. This final round will be a true battle of dragons and tigers," Xiao Ze thought, understanding the crowd's enthusiasm. The participants had been hidden in the Pill Realm, and now the audience's excitement was bursting forth as they cheered for those who made it through.
(End of chapter)