When Tang Yan leaped onto the peak, his mind suddenly cleared, and the fatigue he had just accumulated vanished in an instant.

Sensing the incomparably dense Spiritual Qi, Tang Yan's gaze fell upon a stone platform at the very center of the peak.

At the center of the stone platform rested a depression about the size of an infant's head. Inside it lay a dark blue liquid that resembled the night sky-deep, vast, and distant.

"This is... Star Spirit Liquid?" Tang Yan's heart shook violently.

According to ancient records, Star Spirit Liquid possessed wondrous effects on the human body. Enhancing Spiritual Qi and extending lifespan were the least of its benefits; more importantly, this substance was the main ingredient for refining the Spirit Root Pill!

The Spirit Root Pill was a legendary treasure. It lacked a specific grade, for even a First Grade Alchemist could refine it. Yet, it transcended all grades, because Star Spirit Liquid was as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in this world.

Consuming a Spirit Root Pill could elevate a person's natural aptitude by an entire level!

Taking a deep breath, Tang Yan did not dare to hesitate. He hurried forward, pulling out a large porcelain bottle. Just as he prepared to collect the Star Spirit Liquid, a tremendous suction force erupted from within the Heaven and Earth Creation Cauldron. The entire depression full of Star Spirit Liquid was instantly swallowed whole!

"Damn it! I worked my ass off to get up here, and you just gobble it all up in one bite?"

Tang Yan cursed inwardly, but he knew that if he left empty-handed like this, he would inevitably be hunted down by the three people below with everything they had.

In the blink of an eye, Tang Yan's hands moved without pausing. He retrieved a flask of water from his Spatial Spirit Ring and poured it all into the depression, while dropping a few pills into his palm.

Circulating his True Qi to rapidly dissolve the pills, he mixed them in. Blended with the medicinal power and the remaining traces of the Star Spirit Liquid, the ordinary clear water suddenly brimmed with Spiritual Qi. Even a single whiff was enough to refresh the mind.

Feeling it was still not convincing enough, Tang Yan pulled another bottle of spirit liquid from his robes and poured it directly into the depression. This time, the medicinal fragrance wafting through the air grew even richer.

Sensing three terrifying auras rapidly approaching, a faint smile touched the corner of Tang Yan's mouth. Unhurriedly, he picked up a porcelain bottle and feigned the motion of scooping up the diluted concoction.

"Stop!" a sharp rebuke rang out. Tang Yan's figure paused, his hand freezing mid-motion.

"Put down the bottle in your hand!" A cold, feminine voice followed.

Tang Yan glanced at the trio. Though he recognized none of them, he knew that not a single one was easy to provoke.

So as not to reveal any flaws in his act, Tang Yan took a deep breath and spoke in a chilling tone, "Those who see it get a share. With so much spirit liquid, how about I take a tenth?"

"Put it down!" A piercing aura erupted from the white-clothed youth. Feeling this heart-palpitating pressure, Tang Yan reluctantly lowered the porcelain bottle.

"Get lost!" the white-clothed youth barked again.

Under the watchful eyes of the three, Tang Yan retreated step by step toward the edge.

"We are all new students, and we will likely cultivate in the same academy. Aren't you afraid of public criticism for being so unreasonable?" Tang Yan's expression was one of extreme indignation and grief.

"Get down. This is not something you are worthy to touch!" the cold beauty, Leng Ning, said icily.

"Mountains may not turn, but waters will. Just wait and see!" Leaving behind a harsh threat, Tang Yan glanced at the peak hundreds of meters high and sighed as if profoundly disappointed, before leaping into the abyss.

Seeing Tang Yan return so quickly, the crowd below was full of curiosity. Did this guy manage to get a share of the spoils or not?

Feeling the malicious gazes locking onto him, Tang Yan immediately pointed at the peak upon landing. He strained his neck and roared at the top of his lungs, "You three big idiots up there, go fuck your mothers! So many treasures, and you wouldn't spare a single drop for your grandfather! Shameless! Worse than pigs and dogs! Morally bankrupt! Completely deranged! I curse you to have sons born without assholes!"

The onlookers who had been plotting to rob Tang Yan instantly banished the thought upon hearing this.

Come to think of it, it made perfect sense. In front of those three towering figures, it would be a miracle if Tang Yan actually obtained anything.

Up on the peak, the three geniuses-who were still tense and wary of one another-nearly twisted their noses in sheer fury at the sound of Tang Yan's curses. Three killing intents shot downward like cascading ribbons of light.

"Immortal Sword Gang, hear my orders! Seize that brat!" Yun Zhonghe's voice echoed from the summit.

The members of the Immortal Sword Gang were unable to scale the peak themselves, but they all craved a piece of the pie. Naturally, they refused to let such a golden opportunity for merit slip away. Howling wildly, they charged toward Tang Yan.

Tang Yan had anticipated this. He did not linger. Executing the Phantom Step, his figure darted into the distance like a fleeting ghost, and it did not take long to completely shake off his pursuers.

Coming to a halt, Tang Yan was just about to check on the condition of the Star Spirit Liquid when he suddenly felt a violent churning within the Heaven and Earth Creation Cauldron.

Greatly alarmed, Tang Yan immediately found a hidden spot and sat down cross-legged.

Sinking his consciousness into the Heaven and Earth Creation Cauldron, he discovered that the Star Spirit Liquid was completely gone. It had transformed into a viscous Spiritual Qi that continuously expanded throughout the cauldron's interior.

The Heaven and Earth Creation Flame spun rapidly at the center of the chaotic space, fiercely devouring the Spiritual Qi born from the Star Spirit Liquid. At the exact same moment, his Dantian began to revolve, faintly forming a resonance with the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame.

Immediately after, the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame unexpectedly emerged from the cauldron itself, gathering speck by speck toward his Dantian.

The Spiritual Qi within his body suddenly boiled over. Without Tang Yan deliberately guiding it, it began to circulate on its own!

A wave of pain even more intense than the last assault crashed into him. Tang Yan frowned tightly as a fine sheen of sweat instantly covered his forehead.

Forcibly enduring the agony, Tang Yan calmed his mind and observed for a long time. Only then did he realize in astonishment that the Heaven and Earth Creation Flame was undergoing a profound fusion with his Dantian!

Not daring to be negligent, Tang Yan focused his mind, held his breath, and began to cultivate.

That familiar, piercing pain swept through him again as his True Qi circulated cycle after cycle.

Fortunately, Tang Yan possessed extraordinary willpower. He gritted his teeth and silently endured the bone-gnawing torment.

...

At the base of Water Blue Peak, even though the scenery at the summit was completely obscured, a massive crowd of onlookers still remained.

On the peak.

Yun Zhonghe swept his gaze over Leng Ning and Bai Yu, laughing heartily. "You two, how shall we divide this spirit liquid?"

"How does Young Master Yun intend to divide it?" Bai Yu asked in return.

"Between the three of us, even if my personal strength isn't the highest, my Immortal Sword Gang still has nearly a hundred brothers top to bottom. We share blessings together. As the gang leader, I cannot hoard the treasure while the brothers below don't even get a sip of soup.

"How about this? I will take half of this spirit liquid, and you two can split the rest. What do you say?" Yun Zhonghe asked with a smile.

Leng Ning and Bai Yu's expressions shifted slightly upon hearing this. Yun Zhonghe's words appeared to consider the brothers beneath him, but in truth, it was a thinly veiled threat: Our Immortal Sword Gang is a massive force. If you two don't know what's good for you, my gang will unite to crush you!

Although the Immortal Sword Gang lacked ninth-grade Black Rank experts, they still possessed quite a few at the seventh and eighth grades. With their overwhelming numbers, once an encirclement was formed, taking the spirit medicine away would be incredibly difficult.

"Young Master Bai, there isn't much spirit liquid to begin with. Splitting it three ways is hardly fitting. Why don't the two of us each take half?" Leng Ning's cold, clear voice rang out, causing Bai Yu's eyes to light up.

If he and Leng Ning were to cooperate in good faith, breaking out of a siege would not be difficult!

A flicker of wrath flashed through Yun Zhonghe's eyes.

However, his mind ran deep with calculation. Showing no rush to tear away all pretenses, he immediately pivoted to court Bai Yu as well. "Young Master Bai, I trust you have heard of my Immortal Sword Gang's strength. Trying to resist all of us on your own may not end well for you.

"I only intend to take half anyway. How about we split it evenly between just the two of us?"