Chapter 187: Ninefold Immortal Pill

Beyond the Qi Kingdom lay an endless ocean. On that ocean stood a nameless island, a place even the most seasoned fishermen had never heard of.
This island was too far from the Qi Kingdom, so the fishermen never ventured here.
The space around the nameless island was distorted. Six men, each with a cold expression and an ethereal aura, stepped out from the mystic realm.
“The outside world is filthy… truly unbearable,” King Chaos frowned. Unless absolutely necessary, they would never descend to the lower realms. The lower realm’s spiritual energy was too scarce—an unbearable condition for those used to living in mystic realms rich in spiritual energy.
“Plus, the power of faith now is weaker than it was two months ago,” the Night King complained. Although the drop wasn’t much, it was enough to show that the people were beginning to question them.
This was a bad sign. It had to be snuffed out the moment it appeared.
“Word is that Bu Jing spread the old martial arts manuals through the Black Market a month ago. If I’d come down a month earlier, this whole mess wouldn’t have happened,” the Night King regretted. Just a month late. Had he attacked the Bu Clan then, they wouldn’t need half the Heavenly Kings today. Their incompetent descendants had allowed things to spiral out of control, even bringing shame to him, the ancestor.
“Settle this as soon as possible,” King Chaos said coldly. “Begin drawing on the power of faith.”
The six Heavenly Kings fused the power of faith from the Huan Yu World into their bodies, raising their strength to the limit.
“According to the Envoy, our current state can be considered half-step Fusion Stage.” King Chaos felt the power surging within him. With a light palm strike, the skies darkened and the calm ocean erupted into monstrous waves.
“So this is the power of half-step Fusion Stage… truly overwhelming. What a shame it doesn’t extend our lifespan.”
The six were very satisfied with their current strength.
They only dispatched six Heavenly Kings because with the support of faith, these six could reach half-step Fusion Stage. If all twelve came, the power would have to be split—barely reaching the peak of Soul Formation Stage.
Six half-step Fusion cultivators were far more effective than twelve at Soul Formation peak.
They flew low over the ocean, sending water splashing in all directions.
A whale surfaced to breathe and spray water, but King Chaos casually waved his hand and sliced the creature in half. Blood dyed a section of sea red.
“A mere whale dares block the path of the Heavenly Kings?”
The Heavenly Kings moved like deities, aloof and contemptuous.
“So this is Wubu City… brings back memories,” one of the Kings laughed. “Back then, Alliance Leader Bu Wu was someone I could only look up to. Thinking back now, my vision back then was far too narrow.”
“Bu Wu? Just a brainless brute. Shame he gave the Bu Clan’s immortal inheritance to that useless Bu Dong. I could only watch as Bu Dong vanished before my eyes,” said the Night King with regret. “They say it was a teleportation talisman to another world. If I had gotten it, I might’ve left this world behind—let people in other realms witness the glory of the Twelve Heavenly Kings!”
Surely in that other world, his Soul Formation cultivation would make him a true powerhouse.
“What a shame indeed.”
The six Kings exuded terrifying pressure. The citizens of Wubu City felt an overwhelming dread, as if death loomed over them.
Sensing the arrival of the Heavenly Kings, the people dropped to their knees and prostrated, calling out in worship to these godlike figures above.
The six Kings were pleased. If even the people of Wubu City—the source—still worshipped them, that meant fewer than expected had begun doubting them.
“Where is the traitor Bu Jing!”
Bu Jing and six peak human cultivators stood atop the city wall, solemnly facing the aggressive Kings, saying nothing.
Their hearts sank. The Kings had arrived too quickly. They had hoped for a few more days—enough time for the court to be alerted, during which they could break through to the Outer Realm and gain the strength to fight.
They never expected the Heavenly Kings to show up this soon.
Far too soon.
“You, a remnant of the old martial world, survive to this day only by drinking blood, digging hearts, gnawing bones, sucking marrow—training in the vile techniques of old martial arts!”
“You dare not hide in cellars, away from sunlight, scurrying to survive—and yet have the gall to defy the will of the Kings, spread rumors and old martial arts manuals? Truly audacious! Reckless beyond measure!”
“And you six at the peak of mortal cultivation—not only do you refuse to heed the will of Heaven and serve the court, but you consort with traitor Bu Jing, aiding a villain! Your crimes are unpardonable!”
“Today, we descend from the Upper Realm to slay you rebels and make an example of you!”
“I, Qingming, pay my respects to the Six Heavenly Kings.” The Lord of Listening Wind Tower quickly distanced himself, “I am a secret agent for the court. The will of the Kings is Heaven’s will. I follow Heaven’s will and serve the court. It was I who informed His Majesty of Bu Jing’s actions!”
“Qingming, you b*stard!” The six glared at him furiously.
A traitor among them!
“Then why are you standing on the wrong side?” King Chaos asked coldly, drawing his spear. Without giving Qingming a chance to defend himself, he skewered his head and nailed him to the wall.
That was just a pretense. Qingming had learned the Shangqing Yellow Court Outer Realm Scripture, knowledge he was never meant to have. He had to die.
The six remaining cultivators braced themselves. These Kings were even stronger than Bu Jing had described. Even if they reached the Outer Realm, survival was uncertain—let alone now, when they were only at peak mortal cultivation.
They were doomed!
“Huang Luan Tian, Qi Baiye… and the rest of you!” Bu Jing rose into the air, gritting his teeth as he stared at the vile faces of the six Kings.
Three hundred years ago, the Twelve Heavenly Kings, believing they still had a shred of conscience, masked their faces with flame during their slaughter so the world would not recognize them.
Bu Jing had always assumed the Twelve Kings were otherworldly visitors like Jiang Li. After all, it was unlikely that twelve experts beyond mortal limits would just emerge out of nowhere.
He never imagined… he actually knew these six!
“Fellow heirs of the Twenty-Four Young Lords of the Martial World—I am ashamed on your behalf!”
The elderly Bu Jing trembled as he looked at the youthful appearances of the six Kings.
Three hundred years ago, during the martial golden age, a group of prodigies had emerged—renowned as the Twenty-Four Young Lords. Bu Jing, due to his identity and talent, ranked first among them.
He could never have imagined that these twenty-four innate martial artists would one day become the untouchable Heavenly Kings.
Bu Jing didn’t know that pills existed which could forcibly raise a person’s cultivation.
For instance, Jiang Li had a Ninefold Immortal Pill—capable of instant ascension.
At the time, Jiang Li had figured that since his Immortal Ascension Tribulation was going to be boring, he might as well have some fun. So he did things like: storing a portion of tribulation energy, playing rock-paper-scissors with himself in the mirror, using One Qi to Split into Three Purities to play poker, using Scatter Beans into Soldiers to gather four people for mahjong, even livestreaming his tribulation with a Remote Communication Talisman…
Yu Yin later commented that the tribulation didn’t strike him dead only because it had a good temper.
Afterwards, Jiang Li gave the tribulation energy to Su Wei, Peak Master of Pill Refining Peak. Su Wei was overjoyed and poured all his life’s knowledge into refining a Ninefold Immortal Pill.
This kind of tribulation energy only appeared in true Immortal Ascension Tribulations. Something like the Ruyi Gourd only mimicked tribulations through rules—it had power, but no collectible energy.
Otherwise, Su Wei would’ve worked with the Ruyi Gourd to mass-produce the pill.
Unfortunately, while the pill could grant one an immortal body, it lacked the support of celestial energy—leading to bodily collapse and death. So despite its greatness, no one dared take it. Otherwise Jiang Li would’ve already forced Ji Zhi to take it, make him ascend, and drag him into the River of Time.
Jiang Li often used the pill to threaten Bai Hongtu: “Keep running your mouth, and I’ll shove the Ninefold Immortal Pill down your throat and poison you to death.”
Every time, Bai Hongtu would respond, “I know I was wrong—and I’ll still do it again next time.”