Chapter Nineteen: Essence Pill

Yi Tian immediately unleashed the seventh layer of the Wave Stacking Secret Technique. Fiery true energy erupted within him, granting him unparalleled power.

Swish!

The Armor-Piercing Arrow shot across two hundred yards like a bolt of lightning, piercing the Dragonblood Lizard’s skull with a sudden pop. Only a marble-sized hole remained, from which blood gushed forth.

Roar...

The Dragonblood Lizard’s head was split open by the arrow, and its massive body faltered—but then it grew even more frenzied and violent. Although Yi Tian’s earth-shattering shot struck its vital spot, its formidable vitality prevented it from dying instantly.

Like a tank, the beast thundered over the ground, shaking the earth with each step, closing the distance to them in mere breaths.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

At this moment, Yi Feng, Yi Shan, and Yi Li released three more Armor-Piercing Arrows, tearing through its skin and scales, embedding deep within its flesh.

The Dragonblood Lizard was wounded again—its neck, head, and chest armor breached—but none of the injuries were truly fatal, barely slowing it down.

Yet, the repeated blows caused its speed to falter, giving Yi Tian an opening.

In just a few seconds, Yi Tian fired two more Armor-Piercing Arrows, both sinking into the creature’s skull.

By the time the Dragonblood Lizard reached them, it was already at death’s door.

Yi Tian and his companions scattered in all directions.

If they had remained in place, even a dying Dragonblood Lizard, with its enormous bulk, would have struck with such force that none could withstand it—death or injury would have been inevitable.

Despite its grievous wounds and white brain matter leaking from its head, the Dragonblood Lizard did not perish. Its cold eyes were filled with murderous rage as it charged after Yi Tian, who had inflicted the most harm.

“So fast!”

Yi Tian sprinted across the ground, the Fiery Art running wild within him, leaving deep, scorched footprints behind.

But the Dragonblood Lizard was not slow—it gradually gained on him. Its massive stride covered the distance of ten of Yi Tian’s steps in a single bound.

“Watch out!”

Just then, Yi Feng and the others saw the Lizard’s scale-covered left foreleg suddenly stretch out, its sharp claws slicing through the air toward Yi Tian.

Yi Feng and the others knew all too well the claws’ sharpness—they cut through mountains and rocks like tofu. In the next moment, Yi Tian would be torn apart.

Yi Tian felt the chilling wind and a surge of danger behind him.

No choice!

In the next instant, the tungsten-steel greatsword landed in his hand.

Boom!

Fiery true energy surged into the sword, flames flickering across its blade.

“Slash!”

Yi Tian spun suddenly, swinging the heavy sword to meet the several-foot-long claw.

Clang! Clang!

Steel clashed against scale, sparks flew, and the tremendous force nearly tore the sword from Yi Tian’s hand. Using the momentum, his body was hurled backward.

Roar!

The Dragonblood Lizard locked onto Yi Tian, pursuing him relentlessly, colliding with him time and again.

Yi Tian’s tungsten-steel sword left wounds across the creature’s body, but its terrifying strength caused his blood to surge, his organs feeling as if they were being ripped apart.

If not for his physique, stronger than even a mid-tier warrior’s, he would have succumbed long ago, his organs ruptured, unable to carry on.

Yi Feng, Yi Shan, and Yi Li wanted to help, but could not keep up. All they could do was shoot arrows to distract the lizard.

Finally, amidst this chase, the Dragonblood Lizard could no longer endure and collapsed on the path.

Its brain was now completely dead.

Only after the beast had finally perished did Yi Tian cease his frantic retreat.

Only then did he understand the true might of extremely dangerous beasts, particularly their vitality. Even when fatally wounded, they would not die immediately, but attack with greater ferocity.

Moreover, his cultivation of the Fiery Art made his body stronger than most mid-tier warriors, rivaling high-tier physiques, his strength reaching five thousand pounds. With the Wave Stacking Secret Technique’s enhancement, his archery skills surpassed even fourth-tier tribal warriors.

His combat power could rival ordinary sixth-tier fighters.

This was why he dared venture deep into the outskirts of the Fulong Mountain Range—he had only underestimated the strength of these extremely dangerous beasts.

With the Dragonblood Lizard slain, Yi Feng, Yi Shan, and Yi Li finally caught up.

Seeing the mountain-like corpse of the lizard left them shaken.

“Strip off any useful materials. I need to recover for a while.”

Yi Tian sat cross-legged on the ground, circulating the Fiery Art. Fiery true energy flowed through his meridians, gradually healing the fine cracks and ruptures in his flesh.

The process was slow, but compared to an ordinary person’s healing rate, it was at least ten times faster.

During this healing, Yi Tian felt intense pain, as if his flesh were being torn apart.

An hour passed; most of Yi Tian’s wounds had healed.

He opened his eyes. Yi Feng and the others had already skinned the Dragonblood Lizard, cutting out the tenderest, most delicious pieces of meat and wrapping them in beast hide.

As for the skin, scales, and most of the flesh, they could only leave it behind with regret.

“Look at this!”

Yi Shan, covered in blood, emerged from deep within the lizard’s body, holding something the size of a dragon’s eye—a snow-white orb veined with crimson, as beautiful as a natural pearl.

“Could this be an Essence Pill?” Yi Li asked, puzzled, approaching.

Yi Feng was equally confused. “I thought only ferocious beasts condense Essence Pills after death?”

The Dragonblood Lizard before them was clearly not a ferocious beast!

Yi Tian stepped forward, glanced at the pearl in Yi Shan’s hand, and affirmed, “It’s definitely an Essence Pill. And who told you only ferocious beasts produce Essence Pills?”

During his studies of this world, Yi Tian had read countless ancient texts. Not only ferocious beasts but also a rare few extremely dangerous beasts on the verge of breakthrough could condense Essence Pills upon death. However, these pills’ quality was lower than even the lowest mortal-grade Essence Pills, worth about one or two spirit stones.

Despite its inferior quality, the pill’s discovery filled them with joy.

The energy within an Essence Pill far exceeded that of a spirit stone—even this low-grade Dragonblood Lizard pill contained at least the energy of a dozen to twenty low-grade stones.

In history, some had tried to directly absorb the Essence Pill’s energy.

Yet the pill harbored the beast’s residual aura, its energy wild and difficult to assimilate. Those tainted by the beast’s aura struggled to purge it, risking madness.

Hence, Essence Pills were almost exclusively used in alchemy, prized for refining their volatile power.

Yi Tian and his companions quickly finished harvesting the dragon lizard meat, wrapping it up. Each carried one or two thousand pounds of materials back; Yi Tian alone bore three thousand pounds, though he could have managed more, yet needed to conserve strength.

The Armor-Piercing Arrows were recovered, though three were lost.

Yi Tian led the way, sword in hand, ever vigilant for other beasts lurking nearby.

Their journey out was safe.

Though attacked by several beasts, each fell beneath Yi Tian’s blade.

“We made it out at last!” Yi Feng exclaimed.

Every time they returned from the Fulong Mountain Range, they felt safe and relaxed.

Just as Yi Feng was expressing his relief, a battered figure suddenly appeared ahead of them.

In the next moment, that figure noticed Yi Tian and his companions.