Chapter 640 634: A Strange Transformation

Feeling the immense, surging power within his body, Shen Haoran's face was filled with ecstasy. He never imagined that devouring the Dragon Qi from the Dragon Pearl would grant him such incredible strength, allowing him to jump two full levels at once.

"Look at you, so easily impressed. A Dragon Pearl contains the very essence of a member of the Dragon Race. If this one hadn't been used to nurture three Dragon Saliva Fruits, your strength would have likely increased even more!" Elder Yan said with a laugh in Shen Haoran's mind.

Hearing this, Shen Haoran was thrilled by the thought, but he was already very content. Over the past month, he had poured nearly all his time and energy into the Pill Emperor competition, leaving no time for Cultivation. It had been a long time since he'd felt the thrill of a breakthrough. To jump directly from a Tier One Spirit Aspect to a Tier Three Spirit Aspect was already far beyond his expectations.

'Alright, time to find the other Spirit Medicines!' Shen Haoran stood up. The sky had already grown dark; an entire day had passed in the blink of an eye, and so far, he had only found the Dragon Saliva Fruit.

Night was when Spirit Beasts were most active. By this time, the Alchemists who had entered the Medicinal Garden had all found safe places to rest. The consequences of wandering around at night and being besieged by Spirit Beasts were unthinkable. After all, they were just Alchemists, and their individual combat strength was a glaring weakness. Of course, there were a few exceptions, such as Feng Miaoke, Long Aotian, Yan Jue, and Bai Shaohong. These four were Demon Level talents, far surpassing their peers not only in Alchemy but also in Cultivation.

Besides those four top contenders, there were others: Tian Ruyi, Wu Daotian, and the yet-to-be-seen Saint Child of Holy Light City. These individuals didn't stop to rest, even at night. And, of course, there was Shen Haoran. The Spirit Medicines these few were seeking were numerous, and they couldn't afford to waste a single second.

There were over fifty types of Spirit Medicines required. Other than the three main ingredients listed on the Scroll, the locations of the rest were unmarked, which greatly increased the difficulty of the search. This, however, seemed to be part of the Medicine Hall's test. Fortunately, everyone had their own methods, and Shen Haoran was no exception. Perched on his shoulder, Changmao had its eyes closed, concentrating hard on the search.

With Changmao's help, Shen Haoran was able to accurately avoid the areas teeming with Spirit Beasts, even at night. Though he wasn't afraid of them, dealing with them would waste time. To Shen Haoran, time was the most precious resource of all, and he wouldn't make a move unless he had no other choice.

The night passed quickly, and Changmao's treasure-hunting ability had been an immense help. Gazing at the dozen or so Spirit Medicines lying quietly inside his Storage Ring, Shen Haoran smiled in satisfaction. 'At this rate,' he thought, 'I should be able to find all the Spirit Medicines I need within seven days.'

"Help!"

Shen Haoran continued to press on through the dense forest toward the location of the next Spirit Medicine. Just then, a piercing scream suddenly rang out from up ahead. A moment later, a figure drenched in blood came crashing toward him, forcing Shen Haoran to halt his frantic pace.

"Help... help me!"

Shen Haoran reacted in a flash, sidestepping the figure. The man stumbled and fell to the ground, but he immediately scrambled back up and clutched the hem of Shen Haoran's robes. He looked up, his face a blood-streaked mask of pure terror. His expression was twisted, as if he had just witnessed something horrifying.

As Shen Haoran looked at the Alchemist, his brow furrowed. Just as he was about to ask what was happening, the man's face suddenly twisted in agony. A moment later, his head began to swell. He let out a bloodcurdling shriek, and then, before Shen Haoran's horrified eyes, it exploded!

Shen Haoran's reaction was just as swift. The instant the Alchemist's head burst, a Fire Curtain materialized in front of him. The splattering blood and gore hit the fiery barrier and were instantly vaporized.

Shen Haoran dispelled the Fire Curtain and stared at the mangled corpse of the Alchemist, his frown deepening. 'For something like this to happen inside the Medicinal Garden… The Spirit Beasts raised by Yao Wuchen only guard the Spirit Medicines. They shouldn't attack contestants unless they're provoked. Besides,' he mused, 'a method this cruel and bloody is beyond what the Spirit Beasts here are capable of.'

Shen Haoran crouched down. He sensed a strange, lingering aura on the headless corpse. 'This is odd.' This aura didn't feel like it belonged to the Human Race, nor did it seem to be from the Demon Race. It was more like the aura of the Demon Race, considering how extremely cold and tyrannical it was.

'What about the Spatial Crystal Stone? Aren't contestants given one? Why didn't he use it?' Puzzled, Shen Haoran began to search the headless body. He finally found a purple Spatial Crystal Stone on the man's chest, but it was completely shattered and useless.

'This was murder!' Shen Haoran realized with a start. 'A premeditated killing. Could it have been one of this Alchemist's enemies?'

Shen Haoran stood up, his expression growing grim. 'Someone actually dared to murder a contestant during the Pill Emperor competition. Whoever it is, they have some serious nerve.'

"Hm?" Just as Shen Haoran was contemplating this, a cold, sinister aura suddenly shot toward the back of his head.

Without a second thought, Shen Haoran's Fire Spirit Black Obsidian flared, forming a Fire Curtain to shield him. Immediately after, an earthy-yellow halo erupted from his position, instantly expanding to envelop everything within a hundred-meter radius.

THUD—

With a muffled thud, the source of the sinister aura from behind was crushed by the sudden, immense gravity and slammed to the ground. Shen Haoran turned to see a figure completely shrouded in a black robe.

With a wave of his hand, a sharp gust of wind shredded the figure's black robe, revealing a deathly pale face and a pair of eyes filled with venomous hatred. Shen Haoran could clearly sense that this venomous gaze wasn't directed at the corpse on the ground, but at him.

"Speak. Who sent you? Was it Bai Shaohong, or someone else?" Shen Haoran demanded coldly, his brow furrowed as dark flames swirled above the black-robed figure. 'This person is clearly after me,' he thought. 'The only ones who hold a grudge against me are Bai Shaohong, Feng Miaoke, and a few others.'

"You're all going to die… Not one of you will escape! The Blood Moon Plan is about to succeed, and you will all become our sacrifices! HAHA… HAHA…" Instead of answering Shen Haoran, the black-robed figure on the ground began to laugh maniacally. Then, their entire body began to swell. The next moment, they exploded violently, dissolving into a bloody mist that vanished into thin air…