Chereads / The Proud God of Alchemy / Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Reckless

Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Reckless

**Never surrender!** This was what Shen Xiang kept telling himself. Both Su Meiyao and Bai Youyou had gone silent, seemingly approving of Shen Xiang's dangerous actions, and they were deeply moved by his indomitable spirit.

"Hmph, a mere ant!" Elder Dan's voice was filled with gritted anger, sounding as if she was furious.

Shen Xiang had only walked a few steps before collapsing again, this time flat on the ground, blood oozing from his entire body.

"Aren't you also someone who started as an ant? One day, this ant will surpass you," Shen Xiang said through gritted teeth, his voice weak but filled with unyielding spirit.

Shen Xiang couldn't stand, but he continued crawling forward little by little.

"Brother Shen..." Yun Xiaodao's eyes were moist as he watched Shen Xiang. He recalled that years ago, he had given up simply because he couldn't bear the pressure. But now, Shen Xiang was risking his life to pass the second trial. He just couldn't bear to bow to that domineering woman, even if he was an ant.

"Brother Shen, you can make it! Hold on!" Yun Xiaodao, who initially thought Shen Xiang wouldn't make it, couldn't help but shout out in encouragement when he saw Shen Xiang persist this far.

"Shen Xiang, let's enter the inner sect together. If I had your perseverance back then, I wouldn't have stayed in the outer sect for so long!" Zhang De was also moved by Shen Xiang's determination.

"Shen Xiang, hang in there! You can do it!" Someone in the square shouted.

Watching Shen Xiang slowly crawl across the scorching ground, blood evaporating from his body, everyone was deeply shocked.

"Shen Xiang... Shen Xiang... Shen Xiang..." Hundreds of people in the square chanted in unison, their voices echoing through the skies. The entire Taiwu Gate was enveloped in this blood-boiling cry in the dead of night.

Hearing the fervent cheers of the crowd, Shen Xiang's blood surged, and he mustered the remaining True Qi in his body, desperately crawling forward. His body was numb from the excruciating pain, and only his willpower was supporting him now!

Elder Dan's delicate body trembled. She hadn't expected so many people to dare to support Shen Xiang in her presence—this was practically defying her!

"Stop struggling! An ant is still an ant!" Elder Dan's voice was filled with fury as Shen Xiang was only two steps away from her.

"Ah—" Shen Xiang let out a miserable scream as blood spurted from his hands and legs. It was clear that Elder Dan had done this deliberately, increasing her pressure on him.

This was outright personal revenge, but as the second-highest-ranking figure in Taiwu Gate, no one dared to say anything against her!

"Let's see how you'll get across now!" Elder Dan sighed in relief, though Shen Xiang's unwavering gaze still irritated her. He hadn't given up yet.

Suddenly, Shen Xiang burst into laughter. He was only two steps away, not just from the gate to the third trial but also from victory over Elder Dan.

Though he was far from her level, he was determined to win this round against her!

"I will never bow to you!" Laughing wildly, Shen Xiang suddenly shouted. Flames erupted from his back, and a pair of massive wings appeared.

The wings flapped swiftly, releasing waves of scorching fire that lifted Shen Xiang's severely injured body. In an instant, he flew past Elder Dan.

Everyone, including Elder Dan, was stunned.

Shen Xiang actually had a True Qi-based flying technique! This was a rare and precious skill, and in the critical moment, it allowed him to leap the final distance and pass the second trial!

"Haha... I passed the second trial... Haha..." Shen Xiang, exhausted, lay on the ground, looking up at the bright moon, laughing maniacally.

The square fell silent as people listened to Shen Xiang's laughter. Their hearts were filled with shock, excitement, envy, and admiration...

"Stop laughing, there's still the third trial." Yun Xiaodao wiped the tears from his eyes and shoved a handful of pills into Shen Xiang's mouth. Shen Xiang immediately recognized them as lower-grade spiritual pills, including several True Qi Pills for restoring energy and Nine-turn Pills for quickly healing internal injuries.

Shen Xiang was deeply moved.

"This is Baiyu Powder. Use it." Zhu Rong approached and threw down a jade box.

The medium-grade spiritual Baiyu Powder was a very valuable healing medicine. Zhu Rong, known for being stingy, surprisingly gave it to him, which left both Shen Xiang and Yun Xiaodao staring at him in disbelief.

"Don't thank me!" Zhu Rong said smugly.

Yun Xiaodao and Zhang De quickly applied the medicine from the jade box onto Shen Xiang's body. The powder was as beautiful as white jade, translucent and radiant.

"Elder Dan, I dare to ask, why are you targeting me? Isn't this a personal vendetta?" Shen Xiang couldn't suppress his anger. He had defied Elder Dan earlier, and now, he was no longer afraid.

"I made it clear. You're young and arrogant. I want you to toughen up in the outer sect!" Elder Dan wasn't angry anymore. At this point, she couldn't say much else.

"A personal vendetta? So what? I have the strength. I do what I want, and the rules of Taiwu Gate can't constrain me. They're only meant for people like you!" Elder Dan sneered. "You want justice? Strength is justice. If I wanted to kill you now, no one could stop me, and no one would avenge you!"

"You can do that, but some things aren't absolute. For instance, you couldn't stop me from passing the second trial!" Shen Xiang laughed coldly. "But one day, I'll make you pay for this! You'd better kill me now."

Zhang De and Yun Xiaodao trembled as they applied the medicine, shocked by Shen Xiang's audacity to speak to the second-in-command of Taiwu Gate like this!

Elder Dan suddenly burst into laughter, a stiff, unnatural laugh that sent chills down everyone's spines.

"Fine! I want to see how far you'll grow. I promise you this—if you ever manage to defeat me, I'll let you do as you wish with me, even marry me if you want!" Elder Dan said loudly, shocking everyone once again.

Shen Xiang was also taken aback, but he joked, "I'm not interested in marrying you. You always wear a mask. Who knows if you're an ugly hag? I might regret it!"

Yun Xiaodao and Zhang De wanted to sew Shen Xiang's mouth shut for saying such reckless things, while Zhu Rong quickly distanced himself, fearing Elder Dan's wrath.

"Have you lost your mind?" Elder Dan's voice was icy.

"If I cared about my life, I would've run away earlier. Do I look like someone afraid of death?" Shen Xiang retorted recklessly.

"Do you think I won't kill you?" Elder Dan approached, her delicate hand igniting with purple flames.

Seeing the purple flames, Shen Xiang was horrified. He had heard from Su Meiyao and Bai Youyou that only those with the Fire Soul could summon purple flames.

"Then do it! At least I won't have to worry about marrying an ugly hag like you!" Shen Xiang's words were cut off as Yun Xiaodao quickly covered his mouth.

Elder Dan withdrew her flames and coldly said, "I keep my word. If you defeat me, I'll marry you, and you can do as you please!"

"Also… my beauty is no less than your fiancée, Xue Xianxian!" Elder Dan finished and flew away.

Yun Xiaodao and Zhang De were stunned, while Zhu Rong rushed over, grabbing Shen Xiang by the shoulders with disbelief in his eyes. "Is Xue Xianxian really your fiancée?"