You couldn't figure it out.

Perhaps Forgetful Dust Water just liked bald heads. Maybe you should try shaving your head next time.

To prevent future simulations from failing to produce the Five Regions Sacred Pill, you decided to thoroughly investigate what Zhen Pin had experienced throughout his life.

Every place he went to at what age, how long he stayed there—all of it had to be figured out clearly and truthfully.

You took out a specially made container and poured the Forgetful Dust Water into it.

Now, the Five Regions Supreme Treasures were complete!

All that was left was for Li Chengqian to deliver the Imperial Mausoleum Nethersoil, and then to get the peach from the Sword Lord, and you could finally refine the Five Regions Sacred Pill!

When you and Zhen Pin returned to the palace, you were shocked to find the Sword Lord there!

"Sect Master, what are you doing here?"

"I just arrived too."

The Immortal-Binding Rope and the other high-ranking officials of the Spirit Artifact Nation were trembling before the Sword Lord.

Because during the suppression of the great Spirit Artifact rebellion back then, the Sword Lord had beaten the fear right into them.

Other human grandmasters would more or less exploit the weaknesses and characteristics of spirit artifacts.

The Sword Lord just pummeled them.

Don't be fooled by the Sword Lord's usual gentle, refined, and amiable demeanor. When he truly fought, he would let his enemies know what it meant for one sword's frost to chill fourteen provinces!

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner hadn't been beaten, but he was shrewd. Before the Martial Saint with the strongest combat power, he didn't utter a single unnecessary word, treating him with the utmost respect.

The Sword Lord was here to deliver something to you.

"The Five Regions and the Great Wastes Demon Tribe have entered full-scale war. The current situation is not optimistic. I heard the Female Emperor and the Longzhi Emperor mention you. I thought, given their relationship with you, you probably lack nothing now except the Forgetful Dust Water."

Now, the Longzhi Emperor had personally led the imperial expedition to Cangqiong Ridge, and Li Lingyue had long since taken her position.

So the Sword Lord had met both of them and learned about your terrifying network of connections.

If he didn't give this peach to you, who else could he give it to?

"The Forgetful Dust Water has also been found."

"That's good. Take the Sword Heart Immortal Peach and the Imperial Mausoleum Nethersoil. Break through to Spirit Condensation as soon as possible and come to Cangqiong Ridge to help our Five Regions overcome this calamity!"

Originally, Longzhi had arranged for a trusted aide to deliver the Imperial Mausoleum Nethersoil to you.

But the Sword Lord, seeking absolute reliability, decided to deliver it personally, conveniently giving you the Immortal Peach as well.

At this moment, all five treasures of the Five Regions were in your hands!

"Are you lacking any auxiliary ingredients?"

"Not at all! When I borrowed the pill formula from Danxiang Valley, the Valley Master already gave me all the auxiliary ingredients—a full ten sets!"

Danxiang Valley being so generous naturally wasn't because they were rolling in wealth. It was because Li Lingyue was standing by your side.

"I brought the Valley Master with me this time. He is the number one alchemist in the Five Regions today. With him refining the pill for you, presumably..."

"No need, Sect Master. I can do it myself."

"Are you sure? There's only one Immortal Peach. Just one chance."

"Sect Master, believe in me! It won't be long before the Demon Tribe remembers the fear of being dominated by me, 'Demonbane'!"

The Sword Lord smiled.

"There's always a layer of mysterious power about you that I cannot see through... Very well. The war at Cangqiong Ridge is tense, and I should hurry back to help."

"Oh, right, Sect Master. Have you figured out why the Demon Tribe took action?"

"It's already clear..."

"What is it?"

The Sword Lord sighed.

"You should break through first. When you reach Cangqiong Ridge, I'll discuss the details with you. The two races are already at war, with casualties piling up. Regardless of who was right or wrong at the start, it can't be stopped now."

As soon as the Sword Lord left, you immediately took the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and the Demon Refining Pot, rode your sword in flight, and flew to the most desolate and remote part of Xiliang.

You pulled out all the resources you had obtained from the Shen Family in one go.

Protective formations, restriction talismans, armored puppets, mechanical traps...

You were going to refine a pill and break through; you needed someone to guard you.

Now, with the Demon Tribe attacking, everyone was busy. You could only rely on yourself.

Of course, there were also your two Immortal Artifacts, and Da Chun.

"Don't worry, Yi Brother, I will definitely protect you!"

You began pill refinement.

It was very simple.

Just put the materials into the cauldron according to the proportions and sequence listed in the pill formula.

The Nine Provinces Cauldron guaranteed a one hundred percent success rate!

When you threw the Imperial Mausoleum Nethersoil into the Nine Provinces Cauldron, you noticed something strange about it.

"Isn't this supposed to be soil? But no matter how I look at it or touch it, it feels more like a piece of meat?"

Previously, Li Lingyue said the Central Plains had half a Martial God, and it was related to this thing, but she hadn't clarified the specific connection either.

"That little girl, playing riddles with me... what a mood..."

Remembering the three days and three nights on the Flower Bed, you couldn't help but curl the corner of your mouth upwards.

Never mind that, breaking through your realm was what mattered!

Soon.

A Five Regions Sacred Pill, its body radiating a holy light, its pill fragrance wafting for a thousand miles, its pill patterns mysteriously shifting constantly, capable of autonomously hovering in mid-air, was successfully refined!

The normal quality of this pill should be an Immortal Pill.

Heaven-Grade pills are considered precious medicines, and Immortal Pills are of an even higher quality than precious medicines.

But now, this was something you had refined, so...

The 「Enhancement!」 trait activated!

Five Regions Sacred Pill level +1!

Was it still an Immortal Pill?

You weren't entirely sure.

Because the 「Enhancement!」 trait's level +1 didn't necessarily increase quality.

Whatever, just eat it first!

You placed all the protective measures outside the Nine Provinces Cauldron, having the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and the Demon Refining Pot guard you.

Then, you entered the miniature world inside the cauldron.

Just as you were about to swallow the Five Regions Sacred Pill, you suddenly heard a timid, childlike female voice.

"Are you going to eat me now?"

Your opened mouth closed again.

"Holy..."

The pill was talking!

The pill patterns on the surface of the Five Regions Sacred Pill formed the face of a cute little doll, blinking its eyes as it looked at you.

"Well, um, even though you can talk and seem to have intelligence now, but..."

You thought of back home when slaughtering the New Year's pig, your grandmother would often recite a little rhyme to comfort Second Senior Brother.

"Piggy... no, Pill oh pill oh don't blame me, you are a medicine in the mortal world, shed your straw coat for a cloth one, be a scholar in your next life in the mortal world..."

"Master, you can eat me. It's okay. I know I am a pill."

"I thought you would be like the Immortal Pills written about in books, running away as soon as you gained intelligence."

"Running away is useless. Who could I possibly defeat? If others saw me, they would still eat me. Master created me. I hope the one who eats me is Master."

"No, you..."

This milky, childish voice calling you 'Master' made your nose sting with emotion.

You squeezed your eyes shut hard, suppressing your compassion.

"Pill, under normal circumstances, you shouldn't have developed intelligence. The Five Regions Sacred Pill doesn't reach that grade."

"Master, I haven't surpassed the grade defined as 'Immortal Pill' in this world. I just gained extra intelligence and a little additional medicinal efficacy."

"What additional efficacy?"