Chapter 40: Refining

"As I grow old and useless, I only wish to pave the way for those who come after me," Luo Yan said with a smile, his words carrying a deeper implication.

Several demon powerhouses quickly chimed in with praise: "Senior is robust and vigorous, young and handsome; how could you be considered old?"

Luo Yan fixed them with a meaningful gaze and asked, "Is that truly what you think?"

"Naturally! Your cultivation has reached the pinnacle of creation, unfathomable and vast. You are surely destined for boundless longevity!"

Luo Yan gave a faint smile. "By the way, what are your thoughts on my rather unpromising junior?"

"Young Master Wan Qing possesses the bearing of a Great Emperor; he is truly a hero among the youth!"

"Young Master Wan Qing is a rare talent seen but once in ten thousand years. If possible, we would be honored to follow him!"

"It is only a pity that I was young back then, and now, looking back, I find myself in the twilight of my years..."

The demons showered him with praise, though they inwardly wondered why he would ask such a thing.

Luo Yan continued, "Actually, it is not too late! My time is running short, and Wan Qing has yet to fully mature. He requires the protection of powerful figures such as yourselves. Would any of you be willing?"

One demon powerhouse of the Xilin race replied, "My own lifespan is dwindling; I fear I would not be able to protect Young Master Wan Qing for long." In truth, this Xilin demon’s vitality was flourishing, and living another five hundred years would be no issue.

Luo Yan’s smile vanished. Expressionless, he pointed a finger. The Xilin powerhouse’s eyes filled with terror, and before he could utter a single word, he was dead.

Luo Yan turned to the other great demons, his expression icy. "Does anyone else have an objection?"

...

"To think we would encounter such a stroke of fortune! Even the heavens must believe my life is not meant to end here!" The White Tiger Demon Saint stared fixedly at the cyan-robed figure trapped within the secret formation, his eyes filled with greed.

He had attained sainthood early in his life and had lived for over three thousand years. Now, his vitality was beginning to wane; without a miracle, he would meet his end within five hundred years. To have an anthropomorphic Undying Medicine suddenly appear before him felt as if fate had tailored this moment specifically for his survival!

The only disappointment was that this humanoid Undying Medicine had already shed its herbal form and could no longer regenerate its life-extending properties; otherwise, he might have considered keeping it in captivity.

Among the three great Demon Saints, the Qingluan Demon Saint, who appeared in the world more frequently, felt a sense of unease. The White Tiger Demon Saint was in perpetual seclusion, and the Liuhuo Demon Saint rarely concerned himself with worldly affairs. Only the Qingluan knew of certain obscure rumors.

"I have heard that this person has a powerful elder behind him, likely one on the same level as us. A semi-saint of the Peacock race in my territory mysteriously vanished while attempting to capture this very individual," the Qingluan Demon Saint voiced his anxiety.

Upon hearing this, the Liuhuo Demon Saint’s face also showed concern. Unlike the others, he had attained his form from a Liuhuo Herb and had struggled immensely to reach the level of a saint. His inherent strength was far inferior to the other two. If a war of saints were to break out, he would surely be the one to suffer the most.

The White Tiger Demon Saint was dismissive. "What are you two afraid of? Even if the opponent is a saint, we have three saints here; what is there to fear? Not to mention, the semi-saints gathered here are enough to give that person a headache! If he dares to come, today we shall taste the flesh of a saint. It is rich with life essence—a truly potent tonic!"

The dozen or so semi-saint powerhouses present wore confident smiles and declared, "The Demon Saint is right! If that man dares to show himself, we shall ensure he falls here! I hear he is a human saint; come to think of it, it has been many years since we last tasted human flesh!"

The other demon powerhouses nodded in agreement. Human flesh was indeed a rare delicacy, especially that of a cultivator, whose blood and vitality were rich and comparable to a divine medicine.

The Liuhuo Demon Saint sighed inwardly: "Without reaching sainthood, one is ultimately nothing but an ant!" Even the ancestors of the various demon tribes, who were but a step away from becoming semi-saints, were mere ants in their eyes.

"Quickly, check how the transformation of the divine medicine is progressing!" an Overlord-level demon asked impatiently. With his strength, he would naturally be entitled to a share. It was an Undying Medicine! A divine treasure worthy only of the ancient emperors; he never imagined he would get to taste it.

"Patience, let me see!" The White Tiger Demon Saint activated the secret formation. The figure inside became clearer until it was visible to all. He sat cross-legged at the center of the formation, a glowing green lotus hovering above his head, shedding countless rays of light that merged into the cyan-robed figure below.

The three Demon Saints led the formation, with the other powerhouses providing support, minimizing the drain on each individual's vitality.

Refining the essence of an Undying Medicine was no easy task, and there was always the risk of being consumed by the medicine itself, becoming its nourishment instead. The origins of the Undying Medicine were too mysterious, existing since time immemorial, immortal and indestructible. It held secrets so profound that even the three Demon Saints dared not be careless. This was the only reason the White Tiger Demon Saint had agreed to cooperate—he could not act alone.

"Is this the power of an Undying Medicine? Even through the formation, one can feel the immense life essence it radiates! Just standing here makes me feel as though I have regained decades of youth! If one could consume a drop of its essence, it would surely grant at least a hundred years of life!" Simply by absorbing the lingering wisps of life essence flowing from the green lotus, some of the older demon powerhouses felt their physical bodies rejuvenating.

"What a pity that this medicine has already taken human form and can no longer generate its life-extending properties, or else we would possess a complete Undying Medicine!"

"Heh, you dare to dream! If we truly held a complete Undying Medicine, we would be inviting disaster! The universe is vast, and there are countless powerhouses. Throughout history, only a handful of such medicines have ever been recorded!"

"It is finished!"

The formation ceased its operation. The previously radiant green lotus now dimmed, falling from the air and covered in fine cracks, its final life essence exhausted. Yet, if properly repaired, it would still be a formidable divine weapon, as the lotus contained strange rules capable of shattering ten thousand spells—indestructible and capable of both offense and defense.

Everyone stared intensely at the figure in the center. Even from a distance, they could feel the boundless life essence and immortal divinity within him—the unique traits of an Undying Medicine! At this moment, the Qing Emperor was no different from a true Undying Medicine!

The three Demon Saints moved first, fearing an accident.

Yet, an accident occurred nonetheless. The figure sitting in the center recalled the lusterless lotus, channeled his remaining life essence into it, and unleashed a powerful surge of law-imbued energy!

Without the slightest hesitation, the Qing Emperor turned and transformed into a beam of divine light, rushing out of the formation and nearly vanishing from the sight of the demon powerhouses.

The demons, refusing to let the Undying Medicine slip through their fingers, hurriedly activated the containment array they had prepared in advance!