Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Supreme Emperor Pill

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I have been feeling restless and irritable lately, with no mood to write, which is why I have been procrastinating. I feel a bit better today, so I am rushing to post this. I ask for your understanding.

"Is... is this truly the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower?" Lu Zhe asked, looking with disbelief at the crystal-clear jar held by the two figures after hearing the old physician's words.

"No, there can be no mistake. It is indeed the Extreme Mountain Fire Sunflower," the old physician said with certainty after fixing his gaze on the jar for a moment.

Hearing the old physician’s unquestionable tone, a glint of greed appeared in Lu Zhe’s eyes. A miraculous herb—this was something countless people dreamed of. While traveling with the old physician, he had heard the old man speak of the myriad benefits of such miraculous herbs hundreds of times. Every person harbors greed, and the old physician’s descriptions had filled Lu Zhe with an infinite longing. Now that this dreamlike herb was right before his eyes, how could he not be stirred?

"Then, let us go and seize it!" Lu Zhe said, rubbing his hands together.

Hearing this, the old physician turned to look at Lu Zhe, pondered for a moment, and said, "No, I cannot go."

"Wha... what?" Lu Zhe replied, stunned and bewildered.

The old physician leaned back against the wall, stared at Lu Zhe for a moment, then turned to look through a crevice in the stone. "I cannot go for my own reasons. I cannot explain them now, and you must not ask. Therefore, you must go yourself this time."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhe pulled a long face and scratched his head, sighing helplessly, "But, I cannot defeat them! They are all experts at the Spirit King level. If I go, I am surely walking to my death."

The old physician nodded, then lowered his head in thought. As if remembering something, he reached into his robe and pulled out a blue bottle. He shook it, poured out a pale gold pill, and handed it to the baffled Lu Zhe with a smile. "This is the 'Extreme Emperor Pill.' After consuming it, you will temporarily possess the strength of a Spirit Emperor. However, it only lasts for one quarter of an hour, so you must act quickly."

"Wow, it’s that powerful?" Lu Zhe said, taking the pill and looking at it with astonishment and admiration.

"Alright, time is running out. Eat it and go," the old physician urged, watching Lu Zhe as he remained transfixed by the effects of the pill.

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After examining the 'Extreme Emperor Pill' for a while, Lu Zhe gripped it tightly and looked at the old physician with the resolve of someone heading into battle. "I am going, Master."

"Go," the old physician said solemnly. He suddenly found Lu Zhe’s earnest expression somewhat amusing, but this was not the time to laugh, lest he dampen the young man’s resolve.

Hearing this, Lu Zhe took a deep breath, tossed the pill into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it with a gulp.

"How do you feel?" the old physician asked quickly.

"Master, are you sure you didn't give me the wrong medicine?" Lu Zhe turned back to ask.

"How could I have given you the wrong medicine? It is the Extreme Emperor Pill, without a doubt," the old physician said, shaking the bottle for emphasis.

"Then why do I feel absolutely nothing?" Lu Zhe asked, spreading his hands in confusion.

The old physician looked at him, stroking his chin and furrowing his brows in a state of utter bewilderment, muttering that it shouldn't be like this.

Just as the old physician was at a loss, Lu Zhe’s body suddenly jolted. The muscles in his arms began to swell violently, veins bulging, and his bones began to crackle.

"Urgh!" Lu Zhe felt the sudden mutation. He was shocked, but then felt his body flooded with an unknown power. It was clearly not his own—it was violent and unruly, rampaging through his body like a caged beast trying to break free. He felt as if he were about to explode.

"Hah!" Lu Zhe gritted his teeth, doing his utmost to suppress this strange, encroaching power.

Surprisingly, it worked. As Lu Zhe channeled his own spiritual energy to suppress the force, the swelling of his muscles ceased and the crackling of his bones stopped. He rapidly drove his spiritual core to push out energy, first containing the force, then guiding it through his limbs and meridians to flush out the chaotic energy, finally concentrating it in his abdomen.

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After forcing the energy into his abdomen, Lu Zhe directed his spiritual power to create a cage around it. However, before he could even catch his breath, the energy erupted once more, shattering his painstakingly constructed cage with ease!

"Pfft!" A spurt of bright red blood escaped Lu Zhe’s lips, landing on his collar like a small crimson dot.

The power rampaged through his body like a wild, unbridled horse, running amok.

The interior of a human body is undoubtedly its most fragile part, with delicate meridians and organs, but this unknown force cared little for that, tearing through him with reckless abandon.

Lu Zhe, meanwhile, continued to draw energy from his core, splitting his focus: one part to protect his heart meridian from damage, and the other to hunt down this unknown force. But the force would not be captured easily, and a chase ensued within his body.

The power was not only formidable but also fierce. It continued to hammer against his meridians, stretching them to nearly double their size. Had Lu Zhe not used his own energy to fortify them, he would have been burst asunder long ago! Despite his efforts, the unknown force was simply too powerful. When it sensed Lu Zhe protecting his heart, it increased its intensity! This was life-threatening. Lu Zhe had no choice but to abandon the chase and dedicate all his energy to shielding his meridians from trauma. Yet, even so, he felt as if they were on the verge of rupturing. Could he hold on?

Just as he was about to collapse, he suddenly felt another surge of power arrive. This force was fierce and unyielding, its might no less than that of the unknown force, even threatening to overpower it. Yet, within this fierce energy resided a gentle, unknown power—like a mother's embrace, warm and comforting, making him feel as though he were bathed in a spring breeze.

"What... what is happening?" Lu Zhe wondered to himself in the midst of his agony.