Chapter 111: The Immortality Elixir

The Green-Blood Demon Bat carried Shi Yan, flying toward the east of the Dead Silence Swamp, and soon landed in the dense forest where Xia Xinyan and her two companions were waiting.

This time, Shi Yan sat upon Xiao Hanyi’s sixth-level Green-Blood Demon Bat. The creature’s eyes were blood-red, its talons resembled iron hooks, and its outstretched leathery wings were sharp as blades. Much like Xiao Hanyi himself, the beast exuded an intense, suffocating scent of blood, a testament to the countless martial artists it had surely devoured.

Xiao Hanyi had matters to discuss with Shi Yan in private. Having no desire to entangle himself with Mu Yudiel, Shi Yan rejected her offer to accompany him and climbed onto the Green-Blood Demon Bat, not sparing the manipulative woman another glance.

The beast descended slowly, coming to a halt near Xia Xinyan.

Xiao Hanyi stepped forward and said indifferently, "Girl Xia, the business here is concluded. If you are returning to the Endless Sea, I can offer you a ride."

Xia Xinyan smiled faintly. "Then I thank you, Uncle Xiao."

Xiao Hanyi nodded and walked aside with Shi Yan. His eyes, sharp as lightning, scrutinized Shi Yan for a long moment before he asked, "Young Master Yan, may I examine your body?"

Shi Yan, already impatient for answers, replied immediately, "Of course."

Xiao Hanyi did not stand on ceremony. He reached out with a slightly reddish, large hand and gripped Shi Yan’s shoulder, sending a strand of essence energy imbued with baleful qi quietly into Shi Yan’s body. The essence moved with great agility, slowly traversing every meridian in Shi Yan’s body.

Once the examination was complete, Xiao Hanyi nodded in satisfaction. "Indeed, you have inherited the Yang family’s Undying Martial Spirit."

*Undying Martial Spirit?*

Shi Yan was momentarily stunned. After a brief period of reflection, he realized exactly why this group of experts from the Endless Sea had come.

"Young Master Yan, could you make a cut on your arm? I wish to see which stage your Undying Martial Spirit has reached," Xiao Hanyi requested after a moment of hesitation.

"Very well."

Shi Yan was straightforward. After nodding, he retrieved a dagger from his pack and, in front of Xiao Hanyi, casually carved a centimeter-deep wound into his left arm. Throughout the act, his expression remained calm, as if the blade had not cut into his own flesh; there was not even a flicker of pain on his face.

Xiao Hanyi had been observing him the entire time. Seeing that Shi Yan was so ruthless toward his own body, without the slightest hesitation or weakness, he nodded inwardly, confirming what Kuro had said about Shi Yan’s iron-willed temperament.

Only one who is cruel to himself can be truly ruthless toward others without a trace of mercy. Only such a person is fit to be an expert in this world.

The Yang family, while immensely powerful in the Endless Sea, had many enemies. The demon-men of the Fourth Demon Domain, in particular, harbored a deep hatred for the Yang family and were determined to slaughter every one of its descendants. If Shi Yan were not ruthless, even with high natural talent, he would likely suffer or even lose his life due to misplaced kindness in the future.

Xiao Hanyi’s request served not only to confirm the presence of the Undying Martial Spirit but also to test Shi Yan’s character, with the intention of guiding him along the way. Seeing Shi Yan’s self-inflicted cruelty, Xiao Hanyi knew he would save himself much effort; he would not need to spend time teaching the young man how to navigate the world. A look of appreciative joy appeared in his eyes.

The centimeter-deep wound began to twitch like a living thing. The edges of the flesh drew together, and cells rapidly divided and reorganized.

Xiao Hanyi’s eyes flashed with peculiar brilliance. Under his gaze, the wound on Shi Yan’s arm healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. In just ten minutes, the injury had vanished completely, leaving not even a faint scar behind.

"Good, good, good!"

Xiao Hanyi exclaimed three times, clearly exhilarated. "To reach the second stage of the Undying Martial Spirit while at the Human Realm, without the tempering of an Undying Creation Pill—truly excellent! Young Master Yan, your talent is indeed astonishing. This trip was well worth it."

"The second stage of the Undying Martial Spirit?" Shi Yan was startled, then smiled slightly. "No wonder. When I was in that strange space, I felt as though the Undying Martial Spirit had undergone a change. So, it has entered the second stage, haha."

"Young Master Yan, the Yang family’s Undying Martial Spirit does not evolve through mere cultivation; it requires the baptism of blood. Only by sustaining grievous injury can one stimulate the powerful talent of the Undying Martial Spirit and trigger its evolution. It seems you must have encountered a powerful enemy in the Pseudo-Heaven Gate and suffered injuries, which allowed the spirit to break through," Xiao Hanyi said with a pleased expression, though he had never entered the gate himself.

"That is correct," Shi Yan nodded.

"Young Master Yan, let me explain your relationship with the Yang family. Back when the Clan Head campaigned in the Fourth Demon Domain..."

Xiao Hanyi recounted the secrets regarding Yang Qingdi and Yang Hai in great detail. After finishing, he sighed, "Young Master Hai is advanced in years; his edge has dulled, and he has no heart to return to the Endless Sea to fight for the family. It is a great pity. Fortunately, there is you, Young Master Yan. I traveled thousands of miles from the Endless Sea on the order of the Clan Head to bring Young Master Hai back. Now that he is unwilling, I cannot force him. What do you say, Young Master Yan?"

Xiao Hanyi’s eyes sparkled. Before Shi Yan could answer, he added persuasively, "With your talent and temperament, you will surely become a pillar of the family and a hegemon in the Endless Sea. Lowering yourself to stay in a small merchant alliance is not conducive to your development. The Shi family lacks the capacity to provide you with a magnificent future. Young Master Yan, the boundless Endless Sea is filled with endless mysteries, several great Divine Domains, exotic beauties, and roaming experts. That is the true stage for you, Young Master Yan..."

In order to persuade Shi Yan to willingly step into the Endless Sea, Xiao Hanyi used every ounce of his eloquence, painting a picture of the wonders of the Endless Sea, hoping to entice Shi Yan to accept greater challenges and obtain greater power.

"Say no more, I will go with you."

Before Xiao Hanyi could finish his cajoling, Shi Yan interrupted him decisively. "I enjoy challenges. The more dangerous and interesting a place is, the more interested I am. I would have gone to the Endless Sea sooner or later anyway; going early is fine."

Shi Yan was never one to settle. His move from the Dark Forest to the Shi family had been a means to leverage their connections to improve his own strength. He was not the original Shi Yan, and he had never truly felt the Shi family was his home. Now that such an opportunity lay before him, he did not hesitate to agree. To him, the vast, tumultuous Endless Sea held far more appeal than the Merchant Alliance.

"Good! Very good!" Xiao Hanyi laughed heartily.

He had expected to spend more effort, but he was delighted by Shi Yan’s decisiveness. Shi Yan was only seventeen, yet possessed the cultivation of the Second Sky of the Human Realm, dual martial spirits, astounding talent, and a cold heart. No matter how one looked at it, Shi Yan was far better suited for the cruelty of the Endless Sea than Yang Hai. Bringing him back meant the mission was a success.

"Young Master Yan, here is an Undying Creation Pill, personally refined by the Clan Head. It is one of the seven great miracle medicines of the Endless Sea, capable of cleansing the marrow and bones and removing impurities. It is a Spirit-grade pill; even an ordinary person who consumes it can easily become a martial artist, with a slim chance of awakening a martial spirit. It will expand your meridians and permeate your bone marrow, slowly stimulating the potential of your Undying Martial Spirit. Though you have already reached the second stage, it will still be of great benefit to you. You may consume it now."

Xiao Hanyi smiled and took a jade box from his robes. Inside, a pill the size of a dragon’s eye was revealed. It shimmered with brilliant light and was covered in tiny pores like human acupuncture points, emitting a fragrance that refreshed the mind and body.

"The power of this pill is immense. You may suffer for a few days after consuming it, but that is merely the process of purging impurities. Endure it, and it will pass. Young Master Yan, I will stand guard. Consume it now; with me here, no one in the Dead Silence Swamp will disturb you." Xiao Hanyi handed over the pill with a solemn expression.

Shi Yan nodded and took the pill, feeling a secret sense of wonder.

*Thump, thump.*

As he held the pill, a strange sound emanated from it, like the heartbeat of an infant. The fragrance wafting from the pores felt like silky threads, lingering and ethereal.

A Spirit-grade pill.

Shi Yan’s heart stirred. He gained a new appreciation for the wealth and power of the Yang family and looked forward to his journey to the Endless Sea with even greater anticipation.

"Young Master Yan, once this pill leaves the jade box, its spiritual energy will begin to dissipate. Without special restrictions, it will lose its potency in three days," Xiao Hanyi explained with slight urgency as he saw Shi Yan merely observing it.

"A Spirit-grade pill... I almost hate to use it," Shi Yan smiled, feeling satisfied, and swallowed it.

"With your temperament, Young Master Yan, once you enter the Endless Sea, it will be like a dragon returning to the ocean. In the future, you will have countless treasures and exotic beauties. By then, you won't be so surprised by a single pill. Now, sit down and regulate your breath; I will guard you," Xiao Hanyi said with a gentle smile.

While he was cold and ruthless to outsiders, he was incredibly attentive and considerate toward his own kin.

"Understood."

Shi Yan felt a surge of heat in his abdomen like a raging fire. Not daring to hesitate, he sat cross-legged and began to focus all his energy on absorbing the Spirit-grade miracle medicine.