12: The alchemy chamber conceals mysteries, where each person displays their unique abilities.

The white jade corridor seemed endless, connecting pavilions and towers of varying styles. The Immortal Spiritual Qi was still dense, but a faint, subtle scent of age began to permeate the air, as if it had been sealed away for countless eons.

The four traveled onward, encountering no more Puppets or illusion Formations, but this excessive calm made them even more uneasy.

"There is a great hall ahead." Su Wanqing, possessing the best eyesight, pointed toward the end of the corridor. The outline of a massive hall was hidden within the clouds and mist. Above the main entrance hung a plaque inscribed with the ancient Immortal Script characters for "Hundred Herbs Pill Pavilion."

"A Pill Pavilion? Could there be Immortal Pills inside?" Gongsun Yu's eyes lit up, and she flashed a greedy smile.

Qu Feiyan's charming eyes shifted, and she chuckled, "Immortal Pills are good, but I'm afraid they won't be easy to obtain."

Lin Xuan swept his Divine Sense across the area. The hall door was tightly shut, and he didn't detect any obvious Restriction fluctuations, but that subtle sense of unease lingered. "Caution is best."

He stepped forward and tried to push the door open. The door was not locked; with a soft 'creak,' it slowly swung inward.

An aroma mixed with medicinal fragrance and dust rushed out. The hall interior was vast, with rows of white jade medicine cabinets neatly arranged, labeled with the names of various Medicinal Pills. However, most cabinets were empty, with only a few compartments containing fragments of jade bottles and some medicinal residue whose Spiritual Qi had long since dissipated.

"It looks like someone already looted this place," Gongsun Yu muttered disappointedly.

The four spread out and searched carefully. Lin Xuan walked to the depths of the great hall. There stood a tall Pill Furnace, its body covered in profound Talismans. Although silent, its extraordinary nature could still be felt. Next to the Pill Furnace was a stone table, upon which several Jade Slips were scattered.

He picked up a Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

[...Devilish Qi corrosion...Dao Foundation collapse...requires 'Nine Revolutions Soul-Returning Grass,' 'Ten Thousand Year Blood Jade Marrow'...perhaps worth a try...]

The information within the Jade Slip was fragmented, documenting the derivation of a Pill Formula aimed at severe Dao Foundation damage, revealing a sense of despair and unwillingness throughout the text.

"Devilish Qi corrosion?" Lin Xuan frowned slightly. This Misty Immortal Palace was a Righteous Path immortal residence, so why were there records related to Devilish Qi?

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

"Click... click..."

A series of faint mechanical sounds echoed from all directions. Immediately afterward, twisted Talismans suddenly lit up on the surface of the previously empty white jade medicine cabinets! The Talismans flickered with an ominous dark-red light, instantly connecting to form a sheet that enveloped the entire great hall!

"This is bad! It's a trap!" Su Wanqing reacted the fastest, her Moonlight Sword Aura instantly slashing toward the nearest Talisman!

"Clang!" The Sword Aura struck the Talisman, producing the sound of metal clashing. The Talisman only dimmed for a moment before quickly recovering!

At the same time, from countless tiny holes in the floor, walls, and ceiling of the great hall, a dense, pungent, and fishy-smelling green toxic mist sprayed out! The toxic mist spread extremely fast and was highly corrosive; even the Spiritual Power barrier emitted a "sizzling" sound as it was rapidly weakened!

"It's the Spirit-Corroding Bone-Rotting Miasma! Hold your breath quickly!" Qu Feiyan's expression changed slightly. Being knowledgeable, she recognized this malicious toxic mist. Red light flared around her, forming a light screen that temporarily resisted the mist's corrosion.

Gongsun Yu also quickly summoned a glittering golden Talisman, which transformed into a golden light shield protecting herself. Her small face was pale. "Why does this Immortal Palace keep playing dirty tricks!"

Lin Xuan circulated the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art. His Qi and Blood surged, and a pale golden light enveloped his body. As the toxic mist approached, it was mostly evaporated by his Supreme Yang Qi and Blood, but a small amount still penetrated, bringing waves of numbness and stinging pain. His sharp gaze scanned the flickering Talismans, searching for the Formation Core.

Su Wanqing continuously brandished her Sword Aura, attempting to forcibly break the connection between the Talismans, but with little effect. This Formation was extremely tough and seemed to be absorbing the energy of their attacks; the more they attacked, the faster the toxic mist was produced!

"We can't attack head-on! Find the Formation Core!" Lin Xuan said in a low voice, simultaneously spreading his Divine Sense to analyze the flow trajectory of the Talismans' Energy.

"It's under the Pill Furnace!" Relying on the acute perception of energy fluctuations provided by her Taiyin Youying Bloodline, Su Wanqing quickly locked onto a core where Energy converged—the very bottom of the silent Pill Furnace!

Lin Xuan did not hesitate; his figure was like lightning, charging straight for the Pill Furnace! However, as soon as he approached within three zhang of the Pill Furnace, the Talismans covering its body suddenly lit up, and the furnace lid violently opened. A blazing white flame erupted like an enraged Dragon, striking directly at Lin Xuan! This flame was no ordinary fire; it carried an aura of purification and destruction, and its power was comparable to Golden Core True Fire!

"Be careful!" Su Wanqing cried out, and a condensed Moonlight Barrier instantly appeared in front of Lin Xuan.

"Boom!"

The flame struck the Moonlight Barrier, causing a fierce explosion! The Barrier shook violently. Su Wanqing let out a muffled groan, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth; she had clearly suffered some backlash.

Lin Xuan's eyes turned cold. Instead of retreating, he advanced. The Spiritual Power of his Foundation Establishment Peak and the Power of the Third Revolution Golden Body merged, and he punched out! The Fist Imprint condensed into substance, carrying an unstoppable dominance, forcibly scattering the blazing white flame!

His figure did not stop. He rushed to the Pill Furnace instantly, grabbed the furnace legs with both hands, and roared, "Lift!"

The power of the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art fully erupted. His muscles bulged, and his Qi and Blood were like a Dragon! That immensely heavy Pill Furnace was forcibly lifted half a chi by him! This revealed a complex Core Talisman underneath, spinning continuously and emitting a dark-red light!

"Now!" Lin Xuan roared.

Without needing words, Su Wanqing endured her discomfort. Her Ice Sword transformed into a streak of extreme cold light, stabbing directly at the Core Talisman! Qu Feiyan also struck simultaneously; a condensed Blood-Colored Lotus spun out, colliding with the core! Gongsun Yu, gritting her teeth, threw out three Talismans flashing with lightning!

"Rumble—!!"

The combined force of the four attacks landed simultaneously on the Core Talisman! The Talisman flickered violently, letting out a groan of being overwhelmed, and then exploded with a crash!

The dark-red light screen enveloping the great hall instantly dissipated, and the spraying toxic mist also came to an abrupt halt.

The Pill Furnace dropped heavily, producing a dull thud, and returned to silence.

The great hall was a mess, and the four people all had unstable Qi, clearly having expended a significant amount of energy.

"It's finally resolved..." Gongsun Yu slumped onto the ground, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

Qu Feiyan looked at Lin Xuan, her charming eyes filled with admiration. "Junior Martial Brother, what powerful Physical Body strength."

Su Wanqing walked over to Lin Xuan, handed him a healing Medicinal Pill, and asked with concern in her cool eyes, "Are you alright?"

Lin Xuan took the Medicinal Pill and swallowed it, shaking his head. His gaze, however, returned to the stone table and the scattered Jade Slips. Devilish Qi corrosion... this Pill Formula for Dao Foundation damage... and this malicious trap... The Misty Immortal Palace was far from as peaceful as it appeared on the surface.

He faintly sensed that they seemed to be unveiling a corner of a long-sealed secret.

"Rest for a moment, then we continue," Lin Xuan said solemnly. "This Pill Pavilion might still hold things we haven't discovered."

His gaze fell upon the silent Pill Furnace. The moment he lifted the Pill Furnace, he seemed to sense that the interior was not completely empty...