Chapter 981: The Terrifying Pill

Ye Mo didn't return, instead activating the stealth formation on his flying ship and carefully following the vessel he'd observed. He could only pursue in the direction of its disappearance.

Over the next few days, he found no trace of the ship, but encountered dozens of islands. As the cultivators had described, these islands were completely barren of spirit herbs. Ye Mo was shaken. Was this truly the case? If so, how many beasts would be needed to accomplish this? How many herbs had been harvested? The sheer number of islands within a 100,000-kilometer radius, all stripped bare, was staggering. This resembled a beast wave, yet it was far too organized.

Considering this, Ye Mo abandoned his pursuit. Regardless of the cultivators' claims, he lacked the power to intervene. He altered his ship's course.

Days later, he discovered more barren islands. He decided to venture deeper into the sea, despite the increased danger. Seven days later, he found an island where spirit herbs and beasts remained.

Ye Mo found the Ao Chen Merchant Association's actions unsettling, though he dismissed it as none of his concern. He searched the island, finding only low-level spirit herbs. The thorough harvesting of low-level herbs on other islands hinted at something significant.

Three days later, Ye Mo landed on a small island, only a few hundred kilometers in circumference. He was elated to find a single water weed, unguarded, in the deep sea. It wasn't enough, but it would determine if he could concoct the Heaven Glory Pill.

Finding a safe spot, Ye Mo entered the Golden Page World to begin the process. He had gathered all four main ingredients. As he added the herbs to the Shen Nong cauldron, he meticulously filtered out impurities with his spirit sense. The pill liquid began to boil and mix.

Ye Mo approached this trial with utmost seriousness, repeatedly refining the pill liquid. After half an hour, a faint herbal aroma filled the air, confirming Su Jingwen's hypothesis. Fifteen minutes later, as he weaved the finishing pill signs, the Heaven Glory Pill neared completion. Ye Mo held his breath, proceeding with extreme caution.

Then, a barely perceptible crack appeared. Was the pill failing? Was Su Jingwen's conjecture wrong? Was the missing ingredient not harmful, but essential for formation?

Ye Mo's heart sank. He halted the process, using his spirit sense to prevent the pill from shattering. As a level-four Pill King, he far surpassed the requirements for this level-nine pill.

Carefully examining it with his spirit sense, he identified the problem: a lack of spirit power, preventing condensation. He immediately added three spirit crystals and resumed the process.

This time, the Heaven Glory Pill formed without incident, yielding three pills. Ye Mo breathed a sigh of relief, realizing he had indeed missed an ingredient, though it wasn't a spirit crystal. He knew its purpose was to provide spirit power and harmonize the pill's energy. However, he couldn't identify it.

Though his initial concoction had been correct, he hesitated to administer it. Even if 99% certain, he wouldn't risk it; he couldn't fathom what manipulation the pill might have undergone.

He had intended to create six pills, but only three were successfully formed, their power compromised by the added spirit crystals. These pills, while potentially enabling ascension, could cause injury or even explosion in weaker individuals.

Now, Ye Mo knew the Heaven Glory Pill had five main ingredients, the fifth being something to provide spirit power and harmonize the pill's energies, but he couldn't identify it.

He wasn't discouraged. He knew the pills were correct, but he wouldn't risk giving them to anyone else. He decided to consume one himself.

…

The pill dissolved into countless streams of spirit liquid, instantly filling his meridians and dantian. The cooling sensation surprised him; he hadn't anticipated such a mild initial reaction. He began using the Three Birth Chant to aid digestion.

Immediately, he was beset by intense burning pain as his meridians turned to fire. He felt as though he would immolate from within. Had he not immediately employed the Three Birth Chant, he might have perished.

The chant prevented unconsciousness, but his meridians cracked, bleeding, his ligaments convulsing. He'd never endured such agony. He clung to consciousness, knowing that losing it meant certain death. The pill’s volatility was terrifying.

The added agony? He was seated atop a spirit root, its energy passively fueling the inferno. It was like fighting fire with oil.

At that moment, Ye Mo fully grasped the power of the Three Birth Chant. His meridians cracked, yet his golden core expanded, simultaneously repairing the damage.

He knew not how long it lasted, but when the pain subsided, the explosive spirit power swiftly transformed into cultivation essence. Ye Mo felt his power surge dramatically.