The grand chamber beneath the Phoenix Cry Empire's imperial palace was filled with a solemn yet determined atmosphere. The air was thick with the scent of potent herbs, their auras intertwining and forming a suffocating presence. At the center stood Long Chen, his gaze sweeping over the gathered warriors of the Dragon Blood Legion and the Starry Sky Legion. His wives, Meng Qi, Chu Yao, and Tang Wan'er, stood beside him, their eyes filled with resolve.
Master Yun, the Pill Emperor, stood before them, holding a wooden box containing the 108 Poison Pills. The pills shimmered with ominous energy, each one exuding an aura of toxicity that sent shivers down the spines of even the most battle-hardened cultivators.
"This will be the first stage of the Poison Body Refinement Technique," Master Yun announced, his voice steady and authoritative. "Each of you will consume the poison pills one by one, starting with Tier-3. The poison will invade your body, tearing through your meridians, muscles, and bones. You must endure. Only by surviving this torment will your bodies be reborn."
Long Chen stepped forward and took the first poison pill—a small black pill with faint red veins pulsing along its surface. Without hesitation, he swallowed it.
The moment the pill entered his body, an explosion of searing pain erupted through his veins. It felt as if a thousand needles had been driven into his flesh, each one injecting a deadly toxin. His skin darkened slightly, his veins turning black for a moment before he clenched his fists and directed his energy to suppress the poison.
"Circulate your energy and let the poison seep into every part of your body," Long Chen instructed, his voice calm despite the agony coursing through him. "Feel the venom. Let it burn away your weakness."
One by one, the warriors followed suit. Each took a Tier-3 poison pill, their faces contorting as the toxins spread through them. Some coughed up blood, others trembled violently, but no one backed down. They sat cross-legged, focusing entirely on absorbing the poison while preventing it from destroying them.
For the next hour, the warriors refined the first few pills, each one slightly stronger than the last. The toxins burned away impurities in their bodies, strengthening their meridians and making their internal organs more resistant to external forces. The weaker members of the Starry Sky Legion trembled under the strain, their faces pale, but they gritted their teeth and pushed through.
Tang Wan'er let out a breath, her face flushed from the heat of the poison coursing through her veins. "This… is worse than I thought," she admitted, wiping sweat from her brow. "But at least I don't feel like dying just yet."
Long Chen chuckled. "This is only the beginning. The real challenge will come with the later pills."
Meng Qi, ever composed, had already absorbed her poison pill without showing minimal outward signs of discomfort. "By the time we reach the Tier-5 pills, our resistance should be strong enough to withstand the deadliest of poisons," she reasoned. "But that also means the pain will become exponentially worse." But wanting to keep the girls calm and be steady, she herself as the weakest in compared to body used her Spiritual Strength to suppress her own pain i.e. hide her emotion while secretly bunting the pain.
Also, Elder Xie had actually been reducing the Pain that the girls had to suffer as they were not to be bulky or B=brawler like the boys.
Master Yun watched carefully, ensuring no one was on the verge of collapse. After a few more cycles, the warriors had refined the first nine poison pills, their bodies already showing signs of transformation. Their blood flowed smoother, their bones felt denser, and their skin had developed a faint resistance to toxins.
As the first twelve pills were completed, Master Yun retrieved the Tier-4 poison pills. These pills emanated an even stronger aura of toxicity, and the moment the warriors consumed them, their bodies convulsed violently.
Long Chen felt his entire bloodstream boil, as if liquid fire was coursing through his veins. His skin took on a faint bluish hue before stabilizing, his internal energy rapidly working to counteract the poison. The pain was excruciating, but his will was unshaken.
The others fared differently. Some coughed up dark blood, their bodies shaking uncontrollably. A few collapsed momentarily before forcing themselves back up. The poison was relentless, attacking their very essence, but none of them backed down.
Guo Ran's face was drenched in sweat, but his expression remained firm. "This is… far worse than I imagined," she murmured, gripping her knees. "But my meridians… I can feel them becoming stronger."
Long Chen nodded, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. "That's the point. We're being reforged."
Tang Wan'er let out a strained chuckle. "If this is reforging, I'd rather just get a nice spa treatment instead." She herself unable to know what she was saying and blabbering whatever came to her mind.
Even in the face of agony, laughter rippled through the group, giving them a momentary reprieve from the intense suffering.
The second cycle stretched over hours, each pill taking a toll on their bodies. Some of the weaker warriors were on the verge of collapse, but Long Chen's presence was a constant reassurance. He personally guided them, stabilizing their energy when needed.
By the time they completed the Tier-4 poison pills, their bodies had undergone even more dramatic changes. Their skin had taken on a slightly translucent sheen, their bones had hardened, and their resistance to poison had increased tenfold.
Master Yun finally presented the last set of pills—Tier-5 Poison Pills. Unlike the previous ones, these were entirely black, pulsing with dark energy. The mere presence of these pills made some of the warriors break into cold sweats.
Long Chen took the first pill and swallowed it without hesitation.
The moment it entered his stomach, a violent eruption of energy surged through his body. His meridians twisted, his bones cracked, and for the first time in years, he felt genuine pain that threatened to break him.
But he held firm.
Sweat poured down his forehead, but he forced his energy to circulate, stabilizing the poison and letting it integrate into his being. He could feel his body adapting, becoming something beyond human.
The others followed, each one struggling under the immense pressure. The weakest among them screamed in agony, but they held on, refusing to falter. The toxins were merciless, but so was their will.
Lu Fang'er gritted her teeth, her entire body trembling. "It's… like fire consuming every cell…"
Tang Wan'er, despite the overwhelming pain, still managed to smirk. "Damn it… I'd… still like a manicure after this."
Long Chen let out a breath, his body finally adjusting. "Almost there," he encouraged. "Just a little more. We're at the final threshold."
As the warriors completed the final poison pill, a strange transformation took place. Their skin took on a faint glow, their meridians pulsed with newfound strength, and their aura became heavier, more refined.
Long Chen clenched his fists, feeling an overwhelming surge of power within him. His body had become something else—something far beyond its previous limits. He could sense every toxin in the air, every fluctuation in energy. His senses had been sharpened to an almost supernatural degree.
Master Yun stepped forward, nodding in approval. "You have all achieved it. The 1000 Poison Body and the Clear Jade Body."
The warriors looked at each other, the exhaustion evident in their eyes but also something else—an undeniable sense of triumph. They had endured the unendurable. They had survived.
Tang Wan'er flexed her fingers, inspecting her nails with a grin. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I feel pretty damn amazing. And look! My nails actually do look better!"
The group erupted in laughter, the tension breaking at last.
Long Chen smiled, shaking his head. "Alright, enough jokes. We've conquered the poison, but this is only the beginning. The real battles lie ahead."
The warriors straightened, their expressions turning serious once more.
They had been reforged in the flames of poison.
It was clear, yet the air was heavy with anticipation. The poison refinement process had left everyone stronger, their bodies reforged through suffering. But as Long Chen had always believed, true progress could only be tested in battle.
Elder Xie, one of the most senior figures of the empire, stood at the center of the battlefield, his gaze sweeping over the assembled warriors. The warriors of the Dragon Blood Legion and the Starry Sky Legion stood in disciplined ranks, their auras much denser than before. Their physical resilience had reached terrifying levels after refining the 108 Poison Pills, but would it hold up in combat?
"Enough standing around." Elder Xie's voice rang like thunder. "Long Chen, step forward. Your strength will be tested against all of the higher-ups. Prove to me that the poison refinement was not in vain."
Long Chen cracked his knuckles and smirked. "Old man, you sure know how to push people. Fine, let's make this interesting. Everyone, come at me!"
A collective roar shook the battlefield as Meng Qi, Tang Wan'er, Wilde, Little Snow, Shi Feng, Yue Zifeng, and the strongest commanders of the Dragon Blood Legion surged forward. Behind them, Chu Yao, Xiao Hua, and the healing division stood in formation, ready to support when needed.
This wasn't just training. This was war.
Yue Zifeng was the first to strike. His sword qi roared like a river in flood, slicing through the air with terrifying precision. His blade shimmered with a deadly light; its trajectory unpredictable as it aimed for Long Chen's weak points.
Long Chen side-stepped, his instincts sharper than ever. With a slight tilt of his wrist, he redirected Yue Zifeng's attack, forcing the swordsman to shift his stance.
Before he could counterattack, Shi Feng charged in. His broadsword descended like a falling mountain, carrying the force of a thousand strikes in one. The ground beneath Long Chen cracked as the attack landed—but the dust cleared, revealing Long Chen's silhouette standing tall.
With a swift motion, he parried Shi Feng's sword, sending a shockwave through the air. But before he could counterattack, a howling wind descended from above—
Little Snow!
The massive wolf leaped into the air, its claws gleaming with condensed energy. It wasn't just a mindless charge. Little Snow had refined its abilities, and now its attacks carried intelligence and precision.
Long Chen caught the wolf mid-air, spinning in place before hurling it toward Yue Zifeng. The swordsman barely managed to block before being sent skidding back.
And then—
Boom!
Wilde crashed into Long Chen.
The brute force behind Wilde's attack was monstrous. His raw physical strength exceeded everyone else's, and this time, it was enhanced by the poison refinement. His fist, now clad in a venomous red aura, smashed into Long Chen's shoulder, forcing him back for the first time.
Long Chen grinned, his blood boiling with excitement. "Not bad!"
Before he could recover, Tang Wan'er's wind blades came for him like a storm of death. The air was razor-sharp, slicing through space with such speed that even Long Chen had to dodge.
He twisted his body, but Tang Wan'er smirked. "Dodge this!"
Her hands glowed with hurricane force, and with a clap, the air itself compressed—turning into a solid wall of pressure. It was no longer just wind. It was a blade made of condensed force, capable of cutting even steel.
Long Chen slammed his foot into the ground and retaliated with his own fist technique, shattering the wind wall.
But before he could take another breath, Meng Qi struck.
Her spiritual attack came like a silent whisper—yet it was as deadly as a scream. A phantom serpent of pure mental energy coiled around Long Chen, attempting to invade his consciousness.
For a split second, his mind blurred. He felt his thoughts being slowed; his reaction time hindered.
But this was Long Chen.
He let out a roar, his soul force exploding outward, shattering the illusion. Meng Qi was forced back a step, her eyes widening at his resistance.
Long Chen exhaled, his eyes glowing with battle lust. "Alright, my turn!"
With a stomp, he vanished.
Before anyone could react, he appeared before Yue Zifeng, a fist crashing into the swordsman's stomach. Yue Zifeng coughed blood as he was blasted backward.
Shi Feng charged in again, but Long Chen caught his sword with one hand and slammed him into the ground.
Little Snow tried another aerial assault—only to be met with a spinning kick that sent it flying back.
Wilde roared, his body bursting with power, but Long Chen didn't even dodge this time. He met the attack head-on, exchanging a monstrous blow that sent both of them sliding backward.
"More!" Wilde grinned, blood dripping from his lips.
"You bet!" Long Chen laughed, rushing in again.
Tang Wan'er, Meng Qi, and the others regrouped, launching a coordinated assault. Their poison-hardened bodies allowed them to fight longer and harder, but Long Chen was still faster. Still stronger.
But he wasn't fighting to win.
He was fighting to push them beyond their limits.
The fight raged for hours.
Chu Yao and Xiao Hua worked tirelessly, healing wounds and restoring stamina. The healers had never been this pressured before, but their hands never stopped glowing.
Eventually, even Long Chen began to slow. His attacks were still devastating, but the warriors had adapted. They were lasting longer, reacting quicker, and their bodies were no longer breaking under pressure.
And then—
The final clash: A free for all between Dragon Blood Legion and Starry Sky Legion where they could fight within or outside the groups but just fight [1 v/s 1].
Everyone charged at there nearest combat partner and started to battle.
The entire battlefield shook. For hours massive shockwaves erupted, sending dust and energy waves rolling across the ground.
When the dust settled—
The warriors stood, bloodied, exhausted, but still on their feet.
Long Chen smiled, wiping sweat from his forehead. "You've all improved."
Elder Xie, who had been watching the entire battle, nodded approvingly. "This is no longer just a group of cultivators."
He turned to Long Chen and declared, "This is a legion of warriors. You—No-- We are ready."
The warriors of the Dragon Blood Legion and Starry Sky Legion let out a victorious roar.
They had survived the trial of Poison and grown far stronger than before so, now, they were truly unbreakable.
To Be Continued...