Xia Wuyang opened the Alchemy Furnace and found several Body Tempering Pills inside, each shimmering faintly. While the yield was small, the quality was high—every single one rated above seventy.
It was his first time refining a Middle Level Mortal Pill, and it was another instant success. Of course, this was the effect of his epiphany; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been so easy.
This also meant that Xia Wuyang’s Alchemy Skill had once again ascended to a new level, reaching the rank of an Intermediate Mortal Alchemist.
His medical skills had broken through even before this, surpassing his Alchemy Skill. He was now able to diagnose and treat more complex and rare illnesses, and his understanding of pharmacology had grown ever deeper.
However, he still had a long way to go before he could develop an antidote for the Heart-devouring Poison.
Still, his progress was already swift. At his current pace, he had a chance to advance to the rank of a Spirit Pill Master in less than a year. But before that, he needed to raise his Cultivation Realm first, or the promotion would be difficult.
Over the next few days, while raising his Cultivation Power, Xia Wuyang began to consolidate and adapt to his new attainments as an Intermediate Mortal Alchemist. It was a level that took other Martial Artists years, even decades, to reach, yet he had achieved it in roughly half a month.
Although he had ridden the coattails of his epiphany, his Foundation was still solid, so consolidating it wouldn’t be difficult.
Just then, Xia Wuyang learned through his birds that Zhao Wuji had left a message for him—and it seemed to be an important one.
When night fell, Xia Wuyang retrieved the message. After reading it, he was filled with explosive rage.
’Blood Tower... Yan Jiuge... a fate worse than death...’ A cold light glinted in his eyes. ’Good of you, Princess Fushou. I was planning to deal with you later, but I didn’t expect you to jump out so soon.’
From Zhao Wuji’s message, he learned that the Northern Zhao Family was one of the backers of the Blood Tower, and more than one of their Clan Elders held a key position within the organization.
This was a secret almost no one in the outside world knew. It was through these Zhao Clan Elders that Zhao Wuji had learned about a Guard from Fushou Palace placing a bounty with the Blood Tower.
Furthermore, the request specifically demanded that Yan Jiuge be tortured endlessly. The viciousness of her intent was appalling.
Killing intent surged around him, and the temperature in the Practice Room dropped abruptly.
’Since you’re in such a hurry, I’ll send you on your way.’
Xia Wuyang quickly calmed down. Killing her directly would be letting the venomous woman off too easily, and it could attract trouble. It would be better to make her suffer a fate worse than death as well.
Once she had been tormented enough, he could finish her with a single strike. That would be satisfying.
He took out a special Disguise kit. A moment later, a completely unfamiliar face appeared in the mirror—an ordinary one, the kind that would never draw a second glance in a crowd.
Even so, Xia Wuyang put on a Cloak and a set of black Night Clothes. He slipped out of Wenhua Hall without a sound and sped toward Fushou Hall.
The guards here were quite stringent, but to Xia Wuyang, they were practically nonexistent.
He activated his Mental Force Field, bringing the area in a radius of over 170 meters completely under his control. The strongest expert in Fushou Hall was a Third Grade Perfection Martial General. It seemed this Eighth Princess had some power behind her after all.
What surprised him even more was that Princess Fushou’s own Cultivation had also reached the Upper Three Grades. No wonder she was so arrogant and brazen—she had broken through to the realm of a Third Grade Martial General.
At that moment, Princess Fushou was cultivating in a secret chamber, consolidating the Cultivation she had just broken through. A sinister look was still on her face.
He expanded his Mental Force Field. The Soul Capturing Technique and Enchanting Heart Technique, enhanced by the field, descended and completely enveloped her.
Soon, Princess Fushou unwillingly began to recall her years of revenge against the Eastern Palace. Xia Wuyang also learned exactly why she had targeted Yan Jiuge—it was all because of something that had happened decades ago.
The "accidental" deaths of many people from the Eastern Palace were also connected to this venomous woman.
If he weren’t already "old and decrepit" and seemingly close to death, Princess Fushou would have likely already made a move against him. She was even planning to find ways to teach him a few more harsh lessons before he died, ensuring he wouldn’t even pass away in peace.
Such viciousness was truly shocking.
Having understood the cause and effect, Xia Wuyang prepared to act. He would not allow anything similar to happen again.
Princess Fushou, now trapped in an Illusion, thought her mind was merely in turmoil, causing her to constantly recall past events.
Her Qi Blood was already beginning to destabilize. Xia Wuyang increased his interference, causing images of her being disciplined by him and Yan Jiuge to flash ceaselessly through her mind.
’What’s happening...’ Princess Fushou frowned. ’Why do I keep thinking about those two bastards? Don’t tell me the Blood Tower is making its move tonight?’
At this thought, Princess Fushou shook her head, wanting to stop her cultivation. But sensing the turbulent Qi Blood within her, she felt it was better to calm it down first to avoid damaging her Foundation.
But to her surprise, her simple attempt to calm her Qi Blood only gave rise to more chaotic thoughts.
One moment, it was a scene of Xia Wuyang punishing her; the next, it was Yan Jiuge dealing with her; then it was a vision of her killing them both... It was a chaotic and overwhelming mess.
PFFT—
A moment later, Princess Fushou could no longer bear it. She spat out a mouthful of blood as her Qi Blood surged backward toward her head.
"No—"
She let out a short, miserable scream and her entire body began to tremble.
In her mind, she believed that because she had just broken through to the Upper Three Grades, her Foundation was slightly unstable. This, combined with the agitation caused by thoughts of Xia Wuyang and Yan Jiuge, had triggered a state of Qigong Deviation.
’In the end, it was all Xia Wuyang and Yan Jiuge’s fault. If it weren’t for those two bastards, this never would have happened.’
At that moment, the turbulent Qi Blood destroyed Princess Fushou’s motor nerves, leaving only her consciousness and senses intact. This achieved the exact result Xia Wuyang wanted: turning her into a fully conscious vegetable, doomed to a fate worse than death.
After mastering the Herbal Tomb and becoming an Intermediate Mortal Alchemist, Xia Wuyang’s methods had grown ever more skillful, leaving behind almost no trace of his involvement.
Coupled with his Mental Force Field which scanned and erased every trace, no one would ever suspect him. They would only assume it was Princess Fushou’s own fault.
At this moment, Princess Fushou could move nothing but her eyes. She looked somewhat like a sleeping beauty, her previously sinister face now possessing a soft, gentle beauty.
Devastatingly beautiful and pitifully alluring. This was much better; she was ten, even a hundred times more beautiful than when she was awake.
No, that’s not right. Princess Fushou was awake. In fact, she was exceptionally lucid. She could see, hear, and think, but she could no longer control her own body. She couldn’t even blink.
That feeling of a fate worse than death... one could only wonder how Princess Fushou was savoring it right now. If any of the Palace Attendants she had harmed in the past decided to take action against her, one had to wonder if there was anything she could do about it.

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