Xiao Jietian froze on the spot.
"…What?"
"System… you better not be joking with me."
Before he could react, an overwhelming torrent of information exploded into his mind like a collapsing universe.
Pill refinement principles, heaven-defying techniques, ancient flame control methods, soul cultivation arts, lost pill formulas, medicinal theory beyond mortal comprehension—countless memories that did not belong to him yet felt as though he had lived them for tens of thousands of years.
This was not knowledge.
This was inheritance.
It was as if a legendary Ninth-Rank Alchemist had lived an entire lifetime inside Xiao Jietian's soul and then handed everything to him without holding back.
His soul trembled.
His consciousness expanded.
His alchemist realm shattered its previous limits and climbed endlessly upward.
At this moment, Xiao Jietian could confidently refine any Seventh-grade pill, and even eighth-grade pills were no longer beyond reach.
"This… this isn't experience sharing."
"This is a complete legacy."
He slowly opened his eyes, and within them flickered an ancient, profound brilliance—like a true grandmaster who had seen through the rise and fall of countless eras.
Even Yao Lao, if present, would have been shaken.
It was as if Xiao Jietian had been born with this knowledge; this was direct experience infusion, not like a pill formula book that he would have to read and learn himself.
Xiao Jietian composed himself and, seeing that no one had arrived yet, directly released his aura.
Yun Shan, who was in seclusion in the back mountain, felt Xiao Jietian's familiar aura and opened his eyes.
"Is that brat finally here?"
Yun Shan opened his eyes, narrowing them slightly.
Yun Shan immediately stood up, preparing to walk out of the Mountain Cave.
"Are you going out?"
A sinister voice echoed within the Mountain Cave.
"It's none of your business. I won't expose your existence either."
Yun Shan waved his sleeve and vanished from the Mountain Cave.
Yun Shan arrived in the main hall where Xiao Jietian was and saw Xiao Jietian sitting in a chair, drinking tea.
"Oh, I didn't expect Sect Leader Yun to personally come and receive me?"
Xiao Jietian looked at the open door, at Yun Shan walking in, and said with a smile.
"With such a distinguished guest arriving, naturally, I had to come and meet you. Otherwise, people might say we lack proper etiquette."
Yun Shan instantly appeared and sat down in a chair next to Xiao Jietian.
"Where's Yun Yun? Why haven't I seen her?"
Xiao Jietian scrutinized Yun Shan.
"Yun'er is out on a mission and isn't in the sect. Do you have something you need? I'm very busy right now and don't have much time to talk to you."
Yun Shan picked up a teacup, took a small sip, and said, his eyes carrying some other implications.
Xiao Jietian understood Yun Shan's hint, combined with his words, that Protector Wu might be spying on them. After all, Protector Wu didn't completely trust Yun Shan.
"Then when will she be back? I have an agreement with her."
Upon hearing the word 'agreement,' Yun Shan understood Xiao Jietian's meaning.
"Based on past situations, she should be back tonight. You can just come over then."
Yun Shan pretended to ponder for a moment before speaking.
"Alright, then you should inform Yun Yun tonight. I'll probably come over around the beginning of the Hai hour."
Xiao Jietian directly hinted at other things and then set a time.
"Understood. She'll definitely be here then. Just come over."
Yun Shan heard Xiao Jietian emphasize the word "inform" and, being an old fox, naturally understood. Although he was somewhat unwilling, he still agreed.
As for whether the agreed time was for meeting Yun Yun or for something else, only the two of them knew.
Just then, the main hall's door suddenly opened, and an old man walked in. It was Cloud Mist Sect's Great Elder, Yun Ling.
The mountain-guarding disciples, unable to find the Sect Leader, could only report to the Great Elder.
Yun Ling was very curious when he heard that a man had come with the Sect Leader's token.
Yun Yun had always been indifferent to any man, yet the Sect Leader's personal token was now in the possession of a man.
"Greetings, Old Sect Leader and this esteemed guest."
Yun Ling walked in and saw Yun Shan, who was in seclusion, already here. He was momentarily stunned, then quickly recovered and bowed in greeting.
"You may withdraw. I'll handle things here."
"Yes."
As Yun Ling withdrew, he deliberately scrutinized Xiao Jietian. This incredibly handsome young man not only possessed the Sect Leader's token but also had the Old Sect Leader personally come out to greet him. His mind couldn't help but race with thoughts.
"Since Yun Yun isn't here, and I still have things to do, I won't disturb Sect Leader Yun. I'll head back now and return tonight."
Xiao Jietian put down his teacup, stood up, waved to Yun Shan, and walked out of the hall.
Yun Shan also vanished from the main hall in an instant, returning to his secluded Mountain Cave.
"Hehehe. That person's soul was quite good. I like it very much."
A ball of black mist appeared before Yun Shan, and a strange laugh emanated from within.
"This person won't do. He is a distinguished guest our sect intends to recruit, and also the current Sect Leader's good friend."
Yun Shan understood the black mist's meaning: that he should capture him and hand over his soul.
"If you bring him here, and I take his soul, I can increase your sect by at least two Dou Emperors."
Upon hearing the conditions offered by the person in the black mist, Yun Shan sneered inwardly.
If he hadn't known about the soul mark beforehand, he might have believed the dog's words. But now, he knew that any Dou Emperors created would likely end up like himself, their souls eventually harvested by him.
"I'll consider it. He's an Alchemist, and very useful for the sect's development."
Yun Shan didn't directly refuse, choosing instead to stabilize the black mist. If he refused too strongly, it wouldn't align with his previous behavior and might arouse suspicion.
"You can contact me once you've considered it. I await your good news, hehehe."
The black mist gradually vanished, leaving only a series of strange laughs.
"That dog's laughter is truly unpleasant. Laugh all you want; you might not get another chance later," Yun Shan sneered inwardly.
Xiao Jietian, a considerable distance from the Cloud Mist Sect, moved his thoughts and instantly returned to his training room in his sleeping quarters in the Eternal Heaven World.
Seeing that there were still four hours until the agreed time, Xiao Jietian activated the newly acquired alchemy knowledge in his mind and began to examine it.
"As expected of a Ninth-grade Alchemist's experience. Although it's only from his seventh-grade period, it has benefited me immensely, especially some of the techniques within. They truly seize the creation of heaven and earth, and are even comparable to Yao Lao's Soul Ascension method."
A peculiar herb appeared in Xiao Jietian's hand. The entire herb was gray, with a faint blue-white glow on it. It was a small grass, several feet tall in total, with one stem and five leaves, topped with many heart-shaped, rice-grain-sized fruits.
Xiao Jietian first checked the method of use. It was very simple and crude: just chew and swallow it directly.
Xiao Jietian quickly took two bites and swallowed the Heavenly Heart Soul Grass. Immediately, a nauseating taste surged up, like eating something incredibly fishy and foul-smelling.
Xiao Jietian suppressed the nausea and refined the medicinal power of the Heavenly Heart Soul Grass. As the medicinal power was absorbed by his soul, Xiao Jietian's soul instantly felt a wave of comfort, like returning home after being out in the bitter cold of winter and then soaking in a hot spring.
"Ugh..."
Xiao Jietian involuntarily let out a comfortable groan. If there were outsiders present, they might have misunderstood.
Xiao Jietian's soul power continuously increased. Just as the medicinal power was fully absorbed, a tremendous surge erupted from his body.
Within his soul, the Nine Nether Soul Refining Technique awakened fully. Dark, ancient energy spiraled outward, forming nine towering shadowy dragons that circled his soul core. Each dragon exuded a power that made the very air inside his mind shiver.
Then, his Nirvana Devil Emperor Soul stirred. A black-red aura exploded outward, merging with the Nine Nether dragons, forming a soul domain of unfathomable might.
The Jiama Capital trembled. The sky darkened as if night had fallen. Soul-sensitive cultivators screamed in pain as their hearts were pierced by waves of oppressive soul energy. Even ordinary people fainted or felt an unexplainable terror grip them.
A devil roar erupted from Xiao Jietian, shaking mountains and rivers, twisting the heavens and the earth. Buildings cracked, the streets split, and distant mountains quivered.
Inside his body, Yao Lao's consciousness trembled violently. "What's that"
The black-robed men with Yun Shan, who had been observing, were thrown into sheer panic. They retreated in terror as the soul domain pressed down like a mountain upon them.
Despite all this, Xiao Jietian remained calm. The fusion of his Nine Nether Soul Refining Technique, and Nirvana Devil Emperor Soul had made him the living embodiment of soul supremacy.
Energy rippled across the city; soul-sensitive alchemists clutched their heads, screaming as the overwhelming aura pierced into their very essence.
He slowly opened his eyes. Dark-gold energy shimmered around him. The city, the people, the skies, even the mountains themselves trembled under the weight of his newly awakened power.
"Tonight," Xiao Jietian murmured, voice calm yet imbued with eternity, "Jiama Capital will know the true meaning of my soul."