Chapter 450: The Frost Tribe
Time passed quietly as Xiao Ze refined the pill. When he opened his eyes again, his soul power surged. The alchemists watching felt a thrill, knowing they were about to witness a moment they would remember for a lifetime.
As Xiao Ze's soul power poured into the golden cauldron, it trembled. Soon, a medicinal fragrance wafted out, and the sky above gathered dark clouds, turning what was once a bright noon into a dark, ominous scene. The clouds were so dense they seemed to press down on the earth, yet no thunder sounded, as if something terrifying was brewing within.
The sudden change in the sky brought a sense of awe and fear, causing many in the crowd to feel uneasy. The deep, dark clouds seemed to absorb even the light, making it hard to look at them directly.
On another high platform in the central plaza, numerous elders and disciples of the Pill Tower watched the proceedings. At the forefront stood the three former presidents. Although Tian Leizi had passed his position to Xiao Ze, he still held significant influence within the Pill Tower.
Xuankongzi, observing the inky clouds, wore a serious expression. "Black Demon Lightning... Only pills of the ninth rank and above can attract it," he said.
"When will I be able to refine a pill that attracts Black Demon Lightning..." Tian Leizi mused, looking at the sky with a sense of longing.
"You've got more free time now, so you can devote yourself to alchemy. Perhaps you'll achieve it," Xuan Yi remarked with a smile. Tian Leizi just gave a faint smile, not taking it to heart. He knew well how challenging it was to become a ninth-rank alchemist.
As everyone watched with bated breath, the clouds in the sky parted, revealing a pitch-black hole. The sight of it made everyone shudder, as if some terrible monster was about to emerge.
"Everyone, don't panic. I can handle this," Xiao Ze's voice, infused with soul power, echoed through the plaza, calming the crowd. Given the dense crowd, any panic could lead to chaos and casualties. His reassuring presence helped everyone settle down.
Xiao Ze then soared into the sky, approaching the dark hole. As he got close, a bolt of lightning, about the thickness of an arm, shot toward him. In an instant, the energy of the world seemed to be under his control, gathering around his fist. As a Dou Saint, he could manipulate the energy of the heavens and earth, unleashing devastating attacks even without his own Dou Qi.
The powerful energy crystallized around his fist, and under countless astonished gazes, he collided with the Black Demon Lightning. A violent energy storm erupted in the sky, but fortunately, Xiao Ze had moved away from the plaza. The elders of the Pill Tower also acted quickly to contain the residual energy, protecting the onlookers below.
Seeing the elders step in, Xiao Ze focused on suppressing the energy storm and mending the rifts in space. This wasn't a pill of the caliber of the Sacred Heart Glazed Pill, so the Black Demon Lightning only struck once. After he blocked it, the clouds slowly dispersed.
As the storm settled, Xiao Ze noticed a small crack in the golden cauldron, from which a pale blue light shot out, aiming to escape. But before anyone could react, Xiao Ze intercepted it. The crowd watched the pale blue light with greed; it was a ninth-rank pill, incredibly valuable.
The light transformed into a thousand-foot-long azure dragon, roaring with energy. The terrifying roar made the space tremble and quelled any greedy thoughts. Xiao Ze flicked his finger, dispersing the sound wave, which would have otherwise killed most of the people below. He then pressed his finger forward, and a faint lightning appeared, shattering the azure dragon back into a pale blue light, which he sealed in his palm.
With the pill securely stored, the greed in the onlookers' eyes faded. They also realized something terrifying: Xiao Ze wasn't just a ninth-rank alchemist; his Dou Qi cultivation was also incredibly advanced, likely at the Dou Saint level.
As Xiao Ze finished sealing the pill, a figure with striking white hair flew out from the crowd. "Thank you, President Xiao Ze, for refining this pill!" The middle-aged man bowed, clearly a Dou Zun.
"I thought you'd wait until the end to collect the pill," Xiao Ze said, tossing the bottle to the man, who caught it carefully, afraid of damaging it.
"Thank you! The Frost Tribe will remember your kindness!" The man's eyes shone with joy. With this pill, their elder's injuries could finally heal, ensuring the tribe's continuation. He thanked Xiao Ze profusely before hurrying to another part of the city, where their elder was waiting to take the pill immediately.
As the man left, some in the crowd started to stir. While the pill was in Xiao Ze's hands, no one dared act. But now, things were different; the man was only a high-ranking Dou Zun, and many present could easily overpower him.