Chapter 112: The Third Level of the Human Realm!

East of the Dead Silence Swamp.

Shi Yan sat cross-legged on the ground, his body flushed crimson and his eyes tightly shut. An intense, scorching heat radiated from him, climbing steadily as if he were burning from within. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, only to be instantly evaporated by the high temperature into a veil of mist. Gradually, a ring of water vapor enveloped him; it was constantly being produced and just as constantly being evaporated, yet it never dissipated.

Shi Yan’s expression grew increasingly ferocious, as if he were enduring the agony of the searing heat within. Beside him, Xiao Hanyi wore a solemn expression, his gaze locked onto Shi Yan, observing every subtle change in his countenance. Several Shura Blood Guards gathered around out of curiosity, but under a single glance from Xiao Hanyi, they fell into absolute silence, not daring to make a sound for fear of disturbing him.

Time lost all meaning. Shi Yan’s body began to tremble, and sweat poured off him like rain, fueling the dense mist. From beginning to end, he did not utter a single groan of pain. As time wore on, his expression became even more resolute, his iron will locked in a struggle against the torment within his body.

Xiao Hanyi had underestimated the agony of absorbing the Undying Creation Pill. When the sons of the Yang family consumed such a pill, they were usually supervised by someone specially assigned, and an additional Profound Ice Pill was provided as an aid. The Profound Ice Pill could mitigate the severity of the pain and offset some of the pill’s raw, violent potency, ensuring the user did not suffer quite so intensely. However, once a Profound Ice Pill was taken, twenty percent of the Undying Creation Pill’s medicinal efficacy would be lost, as the ice pill would evaporate part of the potency while reducing the pain.

Xiao Hanyi actually possessed another Profound Ice Pill and had originally intended to give it to Shi Yan. But after witnessing Shi Yan’s talent and tenacity, he had abandoned the idea, wanting to see if the young man could truly endure it. If Shi Yan had reached his breaking point, Xiao Hanyi would have produced the ice pill to ease his suffering. He could not bear to waste twenty percent of the Undying Creation Pill’s power, which was why he had withheld the auxiliary pill, hoping Shi Yan could absorb the maximum possible benefit. Still, he remained anxious, terrified that Shi Yan’s resolve might fail, and thus stayed on high alert, prepared to intervene at any moment.

Nearby, Xia Xinyan watched everything in silence, a trace of astonishment flickering in her beautiful eyes. As a daughter of the Xia family—which had always shared a close relationship with the Yang family—she was well-versed in the secrets of the Undying Creation and Profound Ice pills. She knew that unless a Yang clan member was of high status or reaching the Hundred Tribulations Realm, they would always be provided with a Profound Ice Pill. While there were some in the Yang family who, in their desire to absorb the full potency of the pill, had forsaken the ice pill, very few could actually hold out. Most would give up halfway, forced by the unbearable pain to demand the Profound Ice Pill to stave off the torment.

Xia Xinyan had been standing not far from Shi Yan and Xiao Hanyi. When Xiao Hanyi produced the Undying Creation Pill, she had keenly noticed that he did not bring out a Profound Ice Pill. In that moment, her sharp mind had grasped Xiao Hanyi’s intentions. She was deeply curious to see if Shi Yan could truly endure it, or if he would open his eyes or lose consciousness halfway through.

The seven spiritual-grade miracle medicines of the Endless Sea each possessed unique effects. The Yang family’s Undying Creation Pill had long been known for its domineering and violent nature; the immense pain accompanying its consumption was equally infamous. Expecting Shi Yan to reach his limit and be unable to handle the wild, surging power soon, she had quietly drifted closer to observe.

Xiao Hanyi frowned, glanced back at Xia Xinyan, and made a gesture for silence. Nodding to show she understood, she kept quiet and paced to Shi Yan’s side, watching him in silence.

The first day passed. Shi Yan remained crimson, shrouded in mist, his expression twisted in terror as he endured the agony.

The second day passed. Shi Yan’s body trembled slightly, and the mist around him grew denser, yet his eyes remained shut as he fought the fiery medicinal power.

The third day passed. The mist around Shi Yan turned murky and foul, and the sweat seeping from his skin began to take on a dark, brownish hue. Xiao Hanyi’s expression grew even more solemn, his eyes filled with genuine surprise. Xia Xinyan was secretly stunned, shocked by Shi Yan’s resilience; she knew the Yang family had truly struck gold. It was rare for a Yang clan member at the Human Realm to consume the Undying Creation Pill and persist for three days without crying out, and every one of those individuals had gone on to become a formidable powerhouse.

The fourth day. Shi Yan’s body shook violently, his clothes soaked through as if he had been submerged in water. The sweat on his skin was now pitch-black and accompanied by a foul stench that grew stronger by the hour. On this day, the astonishment on the faces of Xiao Hanyi and Xia Xinyan was unmistakable. The surrounding Shura Blood Guards also whispered in wonder, their faces filled with awe. These warriors, already in the Earth or Nirvana Realms, were certain that Shi Yan would surely become a core member of the Yang family with a boundless future.

Shi Yan remained silent, teeth gritted, body trembling incessantly. He felt like red-hot iron, his temperature incredibly high. Four full days, and he hadn't let out a single groan of agony. Even the most iron-willed men of the Yang family, if they did not use a Profound Ice Pill, would let out heart-wrenching screams, and some would even roll on the ground in a futile attempt to alleviate the internal pain. Yet, Shi Yan stood as steady as a mountain, as immovable as a rock that had stood for ten thousand years.

The fifth day. That night, Shi Yan suddenly let out a sharp, piercing roar. His expression still fierce, he abruptly stood up, and the mist around him rippled outward like a tide.

"Young Master Yan!" Xiao Hanyi called out in a deep, urgent voice. "Can you still hold on?"

Shi Yan opened his eyes; they were blood-red. He gritted his teeth, then bared them in a grin. "Exhilarating!"

"Exhilarating?" Xiao Hanyi’s expression froze, staring at him blankly. "Was it not painful?"

"Painful?" Shi Yan shook his head. The crimson flush on his face gradually faded as he smiled. "The pain is over. I have now stepped into the Third Heaven of the Human Realm. This Undying Creation Pill is truly powerful; I nearly lost control and roared out loud. But now, the medicinal power has permeated my entire body, and the scorching, violent force within is beginning to fade."

"Third Heaven of the Human Realm!" the surrounding Yang family warriors exclaimed, all of them looking on in wonder.

Seventeen years old, and already at the Third Heaven of the Human Realm! Even the core members of the Yang family, who grew up with access to countless spiritual medicines, rarely reached the Third Heaven of the Human Realm by the age of seventeen. Shi Yan had been in the Merchant Union, without the support of the Yang family’s vast resources, yet he had achieved this by seventeen. Such talent and such speed of cultivation were truly staggering.

Xiao Hanyi’s eyes gleamed as he took a deep breath. "Young Master Yan, it seems I underestimated you. Absorbing the full effect of an Undying Creation Pill in five days without any external help is truly unheard of. If the Patriarch knew of your performance, he would be overjoyed. Once you return to the family, I suspect you will immediately be gifted an island and a Level 6 demonic beast, the Twin-Headed Flood Dragon."

"An island? A Level 6 Twin-Headed Flood Dragon?" Shi Yan was stunned. "How big of an island?"

"Larger than Skyfall City—more than enough for you to manage. Haha, do not be surprised, Young Master Yan. Once you return to the family, you will see how truly staggering our influence and wealth are. We control nearly a thousand islands; some are several times larger than the entire Merchant Union. Only then will you realize how small the Merchant Union truly is," Xiao Hanyi said with pride.

"I look forward to it," Shi Yan nodded, looking pleased.

"Young Master Yan, can we head to the Endless Sea now?" Xiao Hanyi mused. "Since Young Master Hai does not wish to return, there is no need for us to go to Skyfall City. We might as well set off now. The Fourth Demon Realm is stirring, and it is not good for me to be away for too long. If we return early, the family gains more strength, and you will need to undergo the family baptism to master the 'Undying Rebirth Manual' and become a pillar of the clan."

"Leaving like this without a word wouldn't be right. Let's return to Skyfall City first. It must be chaotic there right now. The Mo, Ling, and Beiming families might target the Shi family, and before I leave, I want to ensure the Shi family has no enemies in Skyfall City," Shi Yan said, frowning as he pondered. Although he wasn't a true member of the Shi family, Shi Jian, Han Zhong, and Yang Hai had treated him well. With the Shi family in trouble, he couldn't leave quietly without feeling a pang of guilt.

Xiao Hanyi’s group possessed enough strength to sweep through the five major clans of Skyfall City. With their help, the Shi family could clear all obstacles and truly become the supreme power in the Merchant Union. He felt he had to do something for them; repaying kindness with kindness and hatred with vengeance had always been his code of conduct.

"Young Master Yan is a man of honor," Xiao Hanyi nodded. "Very well, we shall return to Skyfall City."

"Uncle Xiao," Xia Xinyan suddenly spoke up.

"Hm? You should come with us, too. We won't stay in Skyfall City long. Once things are resolved, we will head straight to the Endless Sea. How about that?" Xiao Hanyi suggested.

Xia Xinyan nodded. "Very well, I will leave the arrangements to you, Uncle Xiao."

As she spoke, she took another deep look at Shi Yan. After a moment of hesitation, she added, "Uncle Xiao, don't forget that Shi Yan also possesses the Star Martial Soul of the Three Gods Sect."

"The Patriarch will handle that," Xiao Hanyi grinned. "The Three Gods Sect and the Yang family have never seen eye to eye. If they find out Shi Yan has obtained Ouyang Zhi’s Star Martial Soul, I wonder what their faces will look like? Haha, Young Master Yan is truly blessed by the heavens to have even obtained the Martial Soul Source Seal. The Patriarch will be grinning from ear to ear this time."

"Let's go," Shi Yan said, ending the conversation and walking toward the Level 6 Green-Blooded Demon Bat.