"What's going on? Was there an unexpected change? Could it be that, in this life, because of my tracking, the development of events is different from the previous life?"
"No, Sikong Yi clearly enticed me into this Demon Refining Tower. How could he die so easily?"
"Did he bring me into this death trap just to exchange life for a life?"
While Li Fan was immersed in endless doubts, he suddenly sensed something and looked up.
Outside the Demon Refining Tower, Bai Lichen, who was targeted by the formless killing intent, was slowly approaching.
Beside him, Li Fan felt that the previously lost lock-ons of the formless killing intent had once again captured the target: Sikong Yi.
Sikong Yi, who was supposed to be dead, had reappeared outside the Demon Refining Tower.
"A puppet? An external incarnation? It doesn't feel like either."
Li Fan stared at the puddle of green water on the ground, unable to help but laugh.
"It seems that the secrets these two hold are even bigger than I imagined."
"However, once I lock onto them, these secrets will no longer be secrets."
In Li Fan's senses, Sikong Yi and Baili Chen continued to advance towards the Cloud Water Heavenly Palace.
"There's the lock-on with the formless killing intent; I'm not afraid they'll escape. I just need to extricate myself from this Demon Refining Tower as soon as possible."
However, the actions of the man in the blue robe followed their own patterns, and Li Fan couldn't control them. All he could do was wait patiently.
Soon, the third round of drug testing arrived.
This time, Li Fan still wasn't chosen. This left him somewhat bemused, not knowing whether it was lucky or unlucky.
The man in the blue robe took out two pink pills and fed them to the human-faced insect.
With a bang, the insect exploded into pink smoke.
In the smoke, painful faces kept appearing.
As the pink mist drifted, the faces contorted and twisted, appearing even more grotesque and terrifying.
Li Fan, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but shiver with goosebumps.
In the end, it was the man in the blue robe who, muttering to himself, inhaled the smoke, finally ending this eternal agony.
The man in the blue robe fell into mumbling again.
The fourth round of drug testing finally arrived.
At this point, only Li Fan remained inside the Demon Refining Tower.
The man in the blue robe was about to pick Li Fan for the test, but Li Fan suddenly spoke up.
"Junior Brother, I heard you don't have enough alchemy materials."
The Gu Daoist [1], upon hearing this, instinctively stopped his reaching hand and nodded, somewhat guilty. "Yes, I don't have enough alchemy materials. I haven't been able to produce new pills for a long time."
He said with a hint of remorse, "I can't make good pills, and my progress in cultivation has been slow. I've been a burden to everyone."
The Gu Daoist's words faltered, and he looked at Li Fan for a while, realizing what he was wearing. He became a bit flustered. "Oh, it's Senior Brother! I thought it was just another insect!"
"Senior Brother, I'm really sorry! I'll release you right away."
With the Gu Daoist's words, Li Fan felt the restraints loosen, regaining control of his body.
The Gu Daoist held his head, lowering it as if unable to face this senior brother.
He said in self-blame, "I messed up again. Every time it's like this. I can't make good pills, and my cultivation progress has been slow. I've been a burden to everyone."
Li Fan approached and held the Gu Daoist's shoulder, saying gently, "Don't say that, Junior Brother. The pills you make have great effects, and everyone likes them."
Upon hearing this, the Gu Daoist suddenly lifted his head, eyes filled with joy. "Really, Senior Brother? Everyone likes the pills I make?"
"Why, don't you believe your senior brother?" Li Fan put on a stern face.
The Gu Daoist hurriedly shook his head. "I believe everything Senior Brother says."
Then he dejectedly said, "But I don't have any more alchemy materials. I can't make the pills everyone likes."
Li Fan patted the Gu Daoist's head and said softly, "It's okay, I'm still here."
"Turn me into a pill, and everyone will have pills to eat again."
"Senior Brother, you..." The Gu Daoist seemed shocked by Li Fan's words, staring at him wide-eyed.
Li Fan sighed deeply and continued, "Although I joined the sect early, my talent isn't enough, and my cultivation has always been low. Senior brothers and senior sisters are fighting on the front lines, and I can't help much."
"Every time I think about this, my heart aches, hating my own incompetence."
"So, turn me into a pill. That way, I can still help a little."
Li Fan grabbed the Gu Daoist's hand, excitedly saying.
The Gu Daoist stared at Li Fan, seemingly deeply moved.
"So, Senior Brother is just like me."
"But Senior Brother is much greater than me. He'd rather sacrifice himself to help the senior brothers and sisters on the front lines."
"And me, I just keep avoiding my problems. Hiding in this tower."
The Gu Daoist twisted his hair in distress.
"No, I can't just watch Senior Brother sacrifice himself."
He seemed to suddenly realize something, and excitedly said to Li Fan, "Senior Brother, I can refine pills for you! As long as you eat the pills I refine, your strength will definitely not be low, and you can help on the front lines!"
The Gu Daoist seemed to have found a goal to strive for. "Pill refining, I want to refine pills!"
He reached into his wide robe and started fumbling.
Not long after, he took out two golden pills.
"Senior Brother, here are the pills for you."
The Gu Daoist held them in his hands, his face beaming with a smile, offering the pills to Li Fan.
Li Fan didn't accept the pills but instead untied the Gu Daoist's robe.
Under the wide robe, only an empty skeleton remained.
On the skeleton, there were only a few traces of barely visible flesh and blood.
The Gu Daoist used his own flesh and blood to refine pills.
*****
TL Note: Gu = Chinese poisonous insect refining