C3 Killing Thunder!

Upon returning to the Heaven Sect, Yuwen Tian sought out Elder Xu Shu, the most skilled alchemist within the sect.

"Elder Xu, could you assist me in concocting the Heavenly Fate Illusory Divine Pill?" Yuwen Tian asked, looking at the elder whose hair and beard were streaked with white.

In the midst of Xu Shu's contemplation, the true disciple Huang Zhengshan, having caught wind of Yuwen Tian's visit, hurried over.

"Zhengshan, what pill do you need to refine? Just tell me straight," Xu Shu greeted him warmly, beaming at his arrival.

Xu Shu was a staunch supporter of Huang Zhengshan becoming the Holy Son of Heaven, which made their relationship particularly close.

"There's no need, Elder Xu. I'm here to find out why Yuwen Tian is seeking your expertise in pill refinement," Huang Zhengshan said coolly, casting a sidelong glance at Yuwen Tian, whose expression had darkened.

Realizing the situation, Xu Shu turned icy. Yuwen Tian was Huang Zhengshan's rival for the title of Holy Son of Heaven. "Yuwen Tian, you should seek assistance elsewhere. I will not be refining any pills for you," he stated bluntly.

Huang Zhengshan's smile broadened with satisfaction upon hearing this; he relished thwarting Yuwen Tian's plans.

"Hehe," Yuwen Tian chuckled lightly. The man before him, Huang Zhengshan, was the very one who had schemed against him six months prior. Yuwen Tian longed to exact his revenge.

Yet, Yuwen Tian was prudent. With his current concealed injuries, he was not at full strength to confront his adversary.

"Very well!"

With those icy words, Yuwen Tian turned and strode away, resolved to refine the Heavenly Fate Illusory Divine Pill himself.

As the main villain in his own tale, Yuwen Tian was well-versed in the ways of an antagonist. His expertise spanned alchemy, artifact crafting, and array formation, with alchemy being his forte.

His visit to Elder Xu Shu was meant as a precaution, but now, armed with the Heaven's Mandate Flower, Yuwen Tian was confident in his ability to succeed.

"Hu, procure a top-tier third-grade alchemy furnace for me," Yuwen Tian commanded.

"Understood." Hu would execute Yuwen Tian's commands without a moment's hesitation.

In the alchemy chamber, Yuwen Tian centered his spirit, striving to keep his mind crystal clear. With a single gesture, the top-tier, third-grade Dark Furnace materialized before him. Honeysuckle, white grass, and destiny flowers, among other herbs, were seamlessly placed into the Dark Furnace with a fluid grace by Yuwen Tian.

His fingers danced nimbly, swiftly moving as if performing a ballet. Strands of innate Yuan energy were meticulously drawn out from his fingertips, following a specific pattern, transforming into gleaming, translucent threads that spiraled into the Dark Furnace, which suddenly burst into brilliant light.

With a snap of his fingers, Yuwen Tian expelled the black impurities, leaving behind nothing but the purest medicinal liquid. Pleased with the outcome, he nodded in satisfaction. As a former villain, his alchemy prowess was rivaled only by the elder Xu Shu within the vast Heaven Sect.

"Now is the time."

With swift precision, Yuwen Tian summoned the purple Divine Fruit with a gesture, and it soared into the Dark Furnace. Under his meticulous control, the fruit melted into a small orb of pure purple liquid in the blink of an eye.

"Condense the pill!"

Yuwen Tian was the picture of concentration, his hands moving in rapid succession as a torrent of Xiantian Yuan Qi flowed into the Dark Furnace. The medicinal liquids whirled and merged into one.

"Ha ha! The pill is complete."

The room was soon filled with the rich, intoxicating scent of the freshly-crafted pill. Yuwen Tian gazed at the snow-white Heaven's Mandate Illusory Divine Pill in his hand, its mesmerizing aura prompting a triumphant smile.

"Huang Zhengshan, you're in for it now. You dared to cross me? I'll make sure you regret it!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Yuwen Tian swallowed the Illusory Divine Pill. As the pill dissolved, a formidable wave of medicinal power coursed through his body like a raging river, turning his complexion a fiery red as heat enveloped him and wisps of white steam rose from his head.

Bearing the intense discomfort, Yuwen Tian assumed a meditative posture and began to channel the Heaven Divine Arts, rapidly assimilating the pill's potency. Every cell in his body voraciously absorbed the pure medicinal power, mending the hidden wounds within.

Three days passed, and then, a formidable presence erupted from Yuwen Tian, an aura so powerful it seemed to shake the very heavens themselves.

His cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the ninth level of the Innate realm, just one step shy of ascending to the Zifu realm.

"Haha! This Destiny Illusion God Pill not only healed all the internal injuries in my body and solidified my foundation, but it also brought me one step closer to the Zifu realm." Yuwen Tian laughed triumphantly.

Had the Violet Palace Realm not been so challenging, he might have already made the leap into that fearsome level.

"Hehe, Huang Zhengshan, your demise is certain, and as for the Holy Son of Heaven—don't even dream of it!"

Yuwen Tian shot up into the sky, and within moments, he arrived at the mountain peak where Huang Zhengshan was located.

"Come out and face me, Huang Zhengshan!"

His voice, loud and imperious, reverberated throughout the entire Heaven Sect, with every disciple recognizing it as Yuwen Tian's.

"What a commanding presence! What is Yuwen Tian up to?"

The question was on everyone's mind.

"Yuwen Tian, I didn't come looking for you, yet you've come seeking me out. Utterly nonsensical!" Huang Zhengshan, standing on air, gazed at Yuwen Tian with a defiant sneer.

He believed Yuwen Tian had fallen victim to his schemes. In terms of fighting prowess, he was certain to be superior to the wounded Yuwen Tian.

"Hehe." Yuwen Tian let out a cold laugh. "Huang Zhengshan, you dared to ambush me six months ago? Today, you will meet your end!"

His chilling words seemed to freeze the very air around them.

"Haha! Yuwen Tian, who do you think you are, the Holy Son of Heaven?" Huang Zhengshan was momentarily taken aback, then burst into derisive laughter. "But you've got it all wrong. Today, it's not I who will die, but you who are doomed!"

With a single step, Huang Zhengshan unleashed the full might of the Innate ninth level. His hair whipped about as if caught in an invisible gale, and his garments billowed like flags in a storm, his aura as majestic as a war deity. A resplendent golden radiance erupted, illuminating the void around him.

"Such a fearsome aura. I never imagined Brother Huang Zhengshan to be this formidable. His presence alone rivals that of Brother Yuwen Tian." Most of the Heaven Sect disciples watched, mouths agape in awe.

"If I say you die, you die!"

Yuwen Tian remained unfazed by Huang Zhengshan's imposing aura, unleashing a punch that erupted with a blinding golden radiance. The unmatched energy shook the very fabric of the void, as his terrifying power surged toward Huang Zhengshan like an overwhelming tidal wave.

"Hmm?" Confronted with such a ferocious assault, Huang Zhengshan's previously arrogant demeanor shifted subtly, clearly taken aback by the injured Yuwen Tian's formidable strike.

"Hmph! I'll see if you're just putting on a show!"

Huang Zhengshan stood his ground, meeting Yuwen Tian's attack with a solid punch of his own. The void quaked under the impact, unleashing a formidable force.

Boom!

The two colossal forces collided, sending a thunderous roar through the void. Waves of energy rippled outwards, spawning a massive storm that swept across a hundred miles.

"Unbelievable! Is this the might of the top three disciples of the core sect?" the disciples of the Heaven Sect marveled.

Within the tempest, a man with black hair grunted, stumbling several steps backward through the void.

Huang Zhengshan's complexion paled, his clothing in tatters, as he gasped for air.

"How can this be? Yuwen Tian, weren't you suffering from hidden injuries? How can you still possess such strength?" Huang Zhengshan's face was etched with astonishment.

"Trash, my world is beyond your comprehension," Yuwen Tian declared, unscathed and radiating a rainbow of energy.

Huang Zhengshan's face darkened with a stormy expression. "Yuwen Tian, don't get cocky with me. We're both martial artists of the ninth Xiantian level. What gives you the right to talk down to me?!"

"Heh." Yuwen Tian let out a contemptuous chuckle. "I can't be bothered to argue with trash like you. Time to die!"

"Five Thunder Strikes!"

As Yuwen Tian's voice boomed, the once clear sky darkened with ominous clouds. Countless serpents of lightning hissed angrily, converging into a fearsome Thunder Dragon that streaked towards Huang Zhengshan.

The presence of a peak Xiantian Ninth Realm master was undeniable. Huang Zhengshan felt an inescapable grip of terror, his body quaking and his complexion ashen as he nearly lost all resolve to fight back.

"Argh! I refuse to believe you can best me!"

With a single wave of his hand, Huang Zhengshan summoned a golden scepter. The Yuan Qi from his Dantian surged wildly into it, and he hurled the scepter toward the Thunder Dragon in the sky.

"Pathetic, do you really think your desperate efforts will make a difference?"

Boom!

The Thunder Dragon, brimming with colossal energy, thrashed its head and tail, flinging Huang Zhengshan's golden scepter aside with immense force. The residual power continued its onslaught toward Huang Zhengshan's head, threatening to crush the very void with the Thunder Dragon's might.

The disciples of the Heaven Sect were left in awe at the horrifying spectacle.

"How is Brother Yuwen Tian's lightning so formidable? Even Brother Huang, with equal cultivation, stands no chance against him."

"I'm not sure, but it seems to me that Brother Yuwen alone is worthy of being the Holy Son of Heaven Sect."

Puchi!

A gush of dark red blood spewed from Huang Zhengshan's mouth. Struck by the lightning, he was burnt to a crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, foaming at the mouth and shaking uncontrollably.

"You, Yuwen Tian, dare you kill me?" Huang Zhengshan was barely coherent, but the threat to his life spurred him to instinctively cry out, "Elder Minghui, save me!"

Minghui?

Yuwen Tian recalled that Elder Minghui was a powerful figure within the Heaven Sect, a supporter of Huang Zhengshan's claim to the title of Holy Son, much like Elder Xu.

"Heh, thinking that old man can save you? It's already too late."

Yuwen Tian then lifted his finger, and a Thunder Dragon burst forth from the void, radiating a ferocious aura that shook the very air. The blinding lightning illuminated the earth.

"Rest in peace."

With a forceful downward stroke of Yuwen Tian's index finger, the Thunder Dragon's eyes snapped open. Lightning shimmered, and with a swift dive, it lunged at the ashen-faced Huang Zhengshan, carrying a tide of overwhelming power.

"Ah!"

The Thunder Dragon moved with incredible speed. The gravely wounded Huang Zhengshan couldn't evade, and with a harrowing scream, a transparent hole was blasted through his chest.