The path to the Alchemy Peak was paved with white stone, but it smelled of rotten eggs and burnt meat.
Jiang Chen walked alone, the new "Outer Disciple" token hanging heavy at his waist. The sun had set, and the mountain was bathed in the eerie, sickly glow of green spirit lanterns floating along the trail.
He wasn't foolish. He knew he wasn't walking to a promotion; he was walking to a prison.
"System," Jiang Chen whispered, checking his surroundings. "Open the Mystery Box."
DING!
A small, ornate wooden chest appeared in his mind's eye, rattling violently. The lid burst open, dissolving into golden light particles.
[Mystery Box Opened.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained a Rare Passive Skill.]
[Skill: Venom Heart (Level 1)]
Description: The host's stomach is adapted to process lethal toxins and impurities. Effect: Converts 30% of ingested Neurotoxins and Corrosive Poisons into raw Biomass (EV). Side Effect: Host will begin to crave toxic substances.
Jiang Chen stopped walking.
"Venom Heart?" He touched his stomach. "So if I drink poison... I level up?"
[Correct. Adaptation is the key to evolution. You are walking into a den of poisons. This skill is not a gift; it is a survival requirement.]
The System was right. Elder Han hadn't chosen him for his sword skills; he chose him because he survived the Green Viper Palm in the semi-finals. Elder Han wanted a guinea pig that didn't die easily.
"Fine," Jiang Chen smirked, a dark glint in his eyes. "If he feeds me poison, I'll say thank you and ask for seconds."
He continued up the path.
The Alchemy Laboratory
The summit of Alchemy Peak wasn't a palace. It was a factory.
Massive bronze cauldrons the size of houses were bubbling, releasing thick, colorful smoke into the sky. Disciples in heavy leather aprons ran back and forth, carrying baskets of herbs and buckets of... other things.
Jiang Chen saw a cage being wheeled past him. Inside was a Spirit Monkey, its fur shaved off, its skin covered in glowing purple sores. It shrieked in agony, rattling the bars.
Jiang Chen kept his face blank. 'That will be me if I'm careless.'
He reached the main doors—massive iron slabs engraved with protective wards.
"Enter," a voice echoed from inside before Jiang Chen even knocked.
He pushed the doors open.
The inside was a cavernous hall filled with shelves of glass jars. Floating organs, preserved beasts, and glowing liquids lined the walls. In the center of the room stood a large stone table stained with multicolored fluids.
Elder Han was there, grinding a purple root with a mortar and pestle.
"You are punctual," Elder Han said without looking up. "I like that."
"Disciple Jiang Chen greets the Elder," Jiang Chen bowed low.
Elder Han wiped his hands on a rag and turned around. His eyes dissected Jiang Chen, lingering on his muscles, his throat, his hands.
"Tell me, Jiang Chen," Elder Han walked closer, the smell of chemicals intensifying. "Do you know why the sect produces so many pills, yet so few disciples reach the Foundation Establishment stage?"
"I do not know, Elder."
"Impurities," Elder Han whispered. "Every pill contains 'Pill Toxin.' If you eat too many, your veins clog, and you explode. But you..."
Elder Han reached into his robe and pulled out a small, black box. He opened it. Inside sat a single pill. It was ugly—lumpy, dark gray, and smelling of sulfur.
"This is the Bone-Tempering Pill (Failed Batch)," Elder Han said. "It contains 80% toxin. Normally, eating this would melt a man's stomach. But the 20% medicinal efficacy is potent."
He held the pill out to Jiang Chen.
"Eat it."
It wasn't a request.
Jiang Chen looked at the pill. The System flashed a warning.
[Item Detected: Failed Bone-Tempering Pill.]
[Toxicity: High (Corrosive).]
[Lethality: 70%.]
[Venom Heart: Activates upon ingestion.]
Jiang Chen didn't hesitate. If he refused, Elder Han would likely force it down his throat or kill him.
He took the pill and swallowed it dry.
"Good," Elder Han's eyes widened in anticipation. He leaned in, watching Jiang Chen's reaction.
The pill hit Jiang Chen's stomach.
Instantly, it felt like he had swallowed boiling oil. Pain shot through his gut. He grabbed the edge of the stone table, his knuckles turning white.
"Argh..." Jiang Chen groaned, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Yes... feel the burn," Elder Han muttered, taking notes on a scroll. "The corrosion should begin in ten seconds. Tell me when you taste blood."
Jiang Chen focused inward.
'System! Eat it!'
[Venom Heart: Engaged.]
[Filtering Toxin... Converting to Energy...]
The burning sensation in his stomach suddenly shifted. The "boiling oil" cooled down, transforming into a thick, warm stream of energy that rushed into his bones.
It wasn't hurting him. It was feeding him.
DING!
[Consumed: Failed Bone-Tempering Pill.]
[Toxin Absorbed: +5 EV.]
[Medicinal Energy Absorbed: Constitution +0.2]
Jiang Chen let out a long breath. The pain vanished.
He stood up straight, wiping the sweat from his brow. He looked at Elder Han.
"It... tastes a bit spicy, Elder," Jiang Chen said innocently. "Do you have any water?"
Elder Han dropped his brush.
The Elder stared at Jiang Chen. He grabbed Jiang Chen's wrist, checking his pulse.
"Impossible," Elder Han muttered. "Your stomach lining is intact. The toxin... it just vanished? And your bone density increased slightly?"
A maniacal grin slowly spread across Elder Han's face.
"A Perfect Vessel," Elder Han whispered, trembling with excitement. "You are a Furnace Body. You can digest the waste!"
He spun around, grabbing three more black boxes from the shelf.
"Jiang Chen, you are going to be very useful to me. Very useful indeed."
Elder Han shoved the boxes into Jiang Chen's arms.
"These are the failed batches from last month. Eat them. All of them. I need to see your limit."
Jiang Chen looked at the boxes.
[Scan: 15 Failed Pills.]
[Estimated EV Gain: 75.]
[Estimated Stat Gain: Massive.]
Jiang Chen bowed low to hide the greedy smile forming on his face.
"As you command, Elder. I will... sacrifice myself for your research."
Elder Han laughed, delighted by his obedient test subject. He didn't realize he wasn't feeding a victim.
He was feeding a monster.