He couldn’t be allowed to live!
He praised Xie Linlang. “Well done. You’re no longer a temporary menial. Come help out at the Pill Room from now on.”
Xie Linlang produced the Identity Token. “Senior.”
This was a demand to formalize the status change immediately.
The cultivator sneered inwardly. Soon, you’ll be the material going in!
He generously changed Shen He’s status from outer sect menial disciple to inner sect Pill Room helper.
Shen He had remained silent throughout but nearly lost his composure at that moment.
“Wasn’t that menial disciple earlier promoted the same way?”
He had mistaken it for an opportunity, only to find it was a path to death?
Xie Linlang sensed Shen He’s complex and sorrowful emotions and felt a bit surprised.
Shen He had been in Silent Night Palace for some time now—did he only just realize how Demonic Cultivators deceived and schemed, that one shouldn’t casually take advantage of “bargains”?
But then Xie Linlang thought it was only fitting.
The reincarnation of Pei Ji was naturally an upright and noble gentleman. He would surely be moved by such a sight.
Xie Linlang reassured Shen He. “Rest easy. I’ve got everything under control.”
He withdrew the Identity Token and continued tossing materials into the Pill Furnace.
Time ticked by. With only Qi Refining Layer 1 cultivation, Shen He’s Demonic Qi soon depleted.
At the moment his face paled and his strength faltered, the cultivator suddenly reached out to grab him.
But in the next second, Xie Linlang’s body twisted lightly like a swimming fish. He dodged the grab while slapping the preparation table with his other hand.
A jade-white Umbrella Mushroom on the table suddenly unfurled its cap and sprayed a large glob of viscous liquid, which perfectly coated the cultivator’s incoming arm.
The cultivator froze as if immobilized!
Immediately after, the previously stable Pill Furnace seemed to come alive. The lid flew off as a surge of qi erupted from within, forming a terrifying hand that dragged the cultivator straight into the furnace.
This time, there wasn’t even a scream. The cultivator melted into a wisp of material and fused into the Demonic Pill.
Shen He stared in dumbfounded shock. Heavens, this was Dao Ye’s idea of reassurance?
Xie Linlang then skillfully tore the Umbrella Shroom into three pieces. With one hand forming a Magic Formula and the other ready to throw, he continued.
Only after tossing in the Umbrella Shroom and sprinkling a vial of aqueous solution did Xie Linlang show signs of fatigue. He stepped back two paces and said to Shen He, “Alright, your turn.”
Shen He stammered nervously, “B-but that senior brother…”
Xie Linlang said coolly, “What? Do you want to go in? The furnace already has two Fierce Souls. It’s just missing one to form the Heaven-Earth-Human Three Talents Furnace.”
Shen He mumbled incoherently for a while.
The pill refiner was dead, leaving only him, a menial disciple. How was he supposed to explain this to the other seniors in the Pill Room?
Besides, wasn’t Dao Ye’s efficiency in taking action a bit too high and swift?
Xie Linlang seemed on the verge of speaking but ultimately said nothing.
If Shen He lacked even this much quick wit, he was better off not mixing in the Demonic Sect and returning to the Pang Family Tavern to work as a waiter instead.
A dozen seconds later, Shen He gritted his teeth, abruptly undid the array, and staggered out the door.
Shen He shouted with feigned reverence, “Senior Brother threw himself into the furnace to refine the pill and became a demon with his body— a model for our generation! Someone come quick! This furnace is just one step from completion. I don’t know how to collect the pills, but we can’t waste Senior Brother’s hard work!”
Xie Linlang breathed a silent sigh of relief. Shen He was indeed clever.
What? An unguarded furnace just one step from pill collection?
Immediately, several people poked their heads out from their own refining rooms, eager to snatch the bargain.
In the end, a burly man dressed in black short robes intimidated the others and strode into the room in three steps.
With a quick glance, the big man saw the three Fierce Souls within the Pill Furnace.
He first raged, “I knew Junior Brother Liu wouldn’t abandon the Human Pill Method! But this technique harms heavenly harmony and will be settled by Heavenly Tribulation in the future. It’s a crooked path—none of you should learn it!”
In the next breath, he changed his tune. “But since he threw himself in just to complete this batch of Demonic Cores, we can only respect and bless him. Congratulations on perfecting your Demonic Path.”
The big man casually glossed over the matter and turned to Shen He.
Shen He was extremely tense, his little face drained of color.
The big man pondered briefly, then pointed a finger and took Shen He’s Identity Token.
“Shen He? Since you’re the menial left behind by Junior Brother Liu, you must inherit his will and achieve the great path of Demonic Cores. I am Hong Kui, the senior disciple of Lin Shibo. Are you interested in coming to work as my helper?”
Shen He had heard of the name Hong Kui.
Lin Shibo, as the head of the Pill Room, usually ignored the needs of sect disciples and only refined pills for the Jiye Palace Lord and other seniors.
Senior Brother Hong Kui, on the other hand, was the first choice for most disciples buying pills.
Shen He received no guidance from Xie Linlang but understood his intent.
He trembled as he said, “Thank you for valuing me, Senior Brother Hong. I am willing.”
