btth: receive your own sucide note

  The unexpected acquisition of a Soul Heart Jade and a portion of Heart Nourishing Essence gave Chen Guan more ways to pass his free time.

  He was particularly fascinated by the refining of the Soul-Pregnant Dust. Only by experiencing it could one truly understand its potent effects.

  Being able to wield it at a young age would undoubtedly put him significantly ahead of others.

  Therefore, after daybreak, Chen Guan returned to the Monster Mountain Range, said goodbye to Queen Medusa and Little Medical Fairy, and entered his secret chamber to begin refining.

  …

  Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, over twenty days had passed.

  During this time, the Monster Mountain Range was virtually untouched. Despite the rigorous defenses of the Serpent People and the Heavenly Alliance, they could not conceal the occasional gathering of rolling black clouds and earth-shaking thunder.

  Such frequent activity brought extreme grimness to the faces of many leaders of the factions who had been keeping an eye on the area.

  They saw this as a sign of refining a seventh-grade elixir. While the frequency was somewhat unbelievably high, considering the rumor that Chen Guan was already an eighth-grade alchemist, they found it understandable.

  Perhaps these alchemy masters possessed a method for rapidly refining elixirs?

  Seventh-grade elixirs were mostly suitable for Dou Zong-level warriors, and they could already foresee a surge in the overall strength of the Heavenly Alliance.

  Inside the Medusa Temple, the

  top leaders of the Heavenly Alliance gathered today, a rare occasion. They included Fama, who had been promoted to a sixth-grade senior alchemist, and Hai Bodong, who was ready to break through at any moment and was preparing to retreat once this incident was over.

  And naturally, there was a reason for their gathering.

  Today was a great day for a treat!

  Chen Guan sat on the Medusa throne, in high spirits. Seeing the curiosity in the crowd's eyes, he spread his hands, and a fine mutton-fat jade bottle suddenly emerged.

  The jade bottle hovered quietly, emitting a faint yellowish glow. At first glance, it resembled an underpowered lightbulb...

  "Alliance Leader, is this... Soul Pregnancy Dust?!"

  Even as the others were still speculating, Fama had already reached a startling conclusion.

  He knew how precious Soul Pregnancy Dust was, and he also knew its size. The word "dust

  " was no exaggeration. Yet, what he saw before him was something that could penetrate the jade bottle, emitting such an intense light—it was hard to imagine how many particles were contained within!

  Chen Guan gave a slight affirmative nod, then, without further ado, got straight to the point.

  "Dieyi and I have learned that everyone in the Guantian Pavilion has been diligent over the past few years, contributing significantly to the development of the Heavenly Alliance. According to Heavenly Alliance rules, rewards and punishments must be clearly defined. This is also an apology from this leader for being a hands-off manager. Everyone present today will receive a share!"

  An atmosphere of surprise quickly spread. Many, like Nalan Jie, had no idea what Soul Pregnancy Dust was, but this did not dampen their excitement.

  The Alliance Leader personally bestowed it, something even Alchemist Guild President Fama expressed his desire for. How could it be anything less?

  "Alliance Leader, you're worrying too much. The Alliance Leader has made invaluable contributions to the rapid development of the Heavenly Alliance. Without the Alliance Leader's backing, building networks like Canaan Academy and the Black Horn Territory, we wouldn't have anywhere to use our strength."

  Hai Bodong followed suit, offering a rather unusual level of flattery.

  Just as those who knew him were surprised, Hai Bodong suddenly changed the subject, becoming playful and smiling.

  "So, Alliance Leader, how are we going to divide this Soul Pregnancy Dust?"

  Chen Guan glared at the old man, ignoring him, and briefly explained.

  "Before we distribute it, there are some things you need to know. You must keep silent about the Soul Pregnancy Dust upon your return, lest it leak and cause unnecessary trouble."

  Upon hearing this, everyone nodded.

  They'd recently heard from Venerable Skyfire, Old Monster Phantom Poison, and others that there were many forces more powerful than the Heavenly Alliance. Even Danta had the formidable Soul Palace as a rival.

  Although Chen Guan had Danta's backing, it was best to avoid any trouble.

  This would prevent him from becoming a target of public criticism from the alchemist community and complicating matters for Xuankongzi.

  "Also, some of you may not be aware of the function of the Soul-Pregnant Dust. Simply put, it can subtly elevate the spiritual power of your soul. For those with a strong foundation, it can help you reach the Spirit Realm faster. For those with a weaker foundation, it can also boost your mental strength. In this way, it's a disguised way of boosting your cultivation talent."

  Upon hearing this, Mu Zhan, Nalan Jie, and the others' eyes suddenly lit up.

  For them, their talent was limited. Even after the significant improvement they'd received since joining the Heavenly Alliance, Douhuang was their limit, and they had no hopes of reaching Douzong.

  But with the Soul-Pregnant Dust...

  Douzong was a possibility!   

  Chen Guan didn't know what they were thinking, or else he'd probably have been tempted to shatter their illusions.

  The Soul-Pregnant Dust was indeed effective, but it wasn't as miraculous as it seemed.

  Ultimately, it was just a supplement.

  Without wasting any more time, Chen Guan uncorked the bottle, and his mental force guided the Soul-Pregnant Dust to scatter like a swarm of fireflies.

  Thirty-eight grains in all!

  "Everyone I call from now on, come forward one by one. No preparations are needed."

  "Yaoyue, for refining over eight hundred fifth-grade elixirs for the Heavenly Alliance over the past three years and regularly teaching alchemy in the Alchemy Hall, your contributions are considerable. Four grains of Soul-Pregnant Dust are awarded."

  "Yaoye, for coordinating the Heavenly Alliance's forces in over eighty battles and personally slaying four Dou Wang masters, a distinguished achievement. Four grains are awarded."

  "Nalan Jie, for slaying one eight-star Dou Wang and one two-star Dou Wang. Two grains are awarded."

  "..."

  As Chen Guan chanted, grains of Soul-Pregnant Dust flew between everyone's brows, more or less, without exception.

  Including Nalan Yanran, who had just emerged from retreat, Chen Guan found an excuse to encourage her and rewarded her with a pill.

  No one objected.

  Such a power was inherently one-man rule.

  Furthermore, Chen Guan was being relatively fair.

  He prioritized the development of younger, talented disciples, a choice he made regardless of location. The Soul-Fertilizing Dust sank into their brows. As Chen Guan had said, there wasn't a noticeable effect, but that didn't stop the group's curiosity. People like Nalan Jie and Mu Zhan sat cross-legged on   the

  spot, eager to see their own improvement.   Meanwhile, outside the Monster Mountain Range, a group of uninvited guests quietly arrived.   Their attire varied: an elderly man in linen, a voluptuous woman with a voluptuous figure revealing large expanses of white, and a dashing middle-aged man in a python robe, a clear example of someone important.   What they all shared was a formidable strength within the northwest region, a mere glimpse of their power instilling a sense of pressure on those around them.   If nothing unexpected happened, they were likely important figures!   Hua She'er, the guard leader, was the first to notice. Even with her current three-star Dou Huang strength, she couldn't see through any of them. This infuriated her.   However, that was all.   The fact that this group chose to walk rather than fly suggested they weren't out to cause trouble, and she felt a little disappointed.   Putting aside any inappropriate thoughts, Hua She'er soared above the city wall.   "Ahead is the Celestial Alliance's holy city, the Serpent People's Holy City. Stop!"   The group, who had been surveying the surroundings, turned to look. Seeing a mere Dou Huang dare to speak down to them, they felt as if they were in a dream.   Anger began to show in the eyes of a few of the more volatile individuals.   But then, their intelligence returned to its peak, and they had to suppress their discomfort.   "Haha, Commander Hua She'er, please don't misunderstand me. I'm Lin Xiuyun, son of the Tianxing Empire's general. This is His Majesty the Emperor. We have long admired your leader. Since we heard your Lordship returned from Zhongzhou and that the Queen is expecting a baby, we've come to offer congratulations and meet you. Please don't be offended by coming uninvited."   A handsome young man in green stepped forward and saluted, his manner extremely gentle and sincere.   Following him, the others joined in.   "From the Liuyun Empire, we've come to congratulate you."   "From the Liuxian Sect, we've come to see the Lordship."   "Me too!"