Lightning Spirit

Shi Yan opened his eyes and stared blankly at the drug slaves not far away.

Most of these individuals, driven by poverty, had reluctantly agreed to become drug slaves under a pact with Mo Yanyu. If they could endure for six months, they would not only gain their freedom but also receive two hundred purple crystal coins. Of course, if they perished from drug testing, their families would also receive this sum.

In the Divine Grace Continent, one black crystal coin equals one hundred purple crystal coins, which in turn equals ten thousand blue crystal coins. The annual income for an ordinary person is only around five or six purple crystal coins. Therefore, it would take forty years of hard labor for a drug slave to earn two hundred purple crystal coins.

On the day the agreement was signed, their families received fifty purple crystal coins. The remaining sum would be given to them after six months. If they were unfortunate enough to die, the purple crystal coins would go to their families. For these individuals, two hundred purple crystal coins represented a lifetime's worth of earnings, which is why they were willing to take such risks.

However, they had never anticipated the cruelty of the drug testing. Almost every few days, someone among them would die from the testing in a particularly gruesome manner, causing them constant fear and despair.

Unfortunately, the agreement was explicit: once signed, it could not be withdrawn. This meant that they had committed their lives to the Mo family for these six months. Should they defy the agreement or attempt to escape, the Mo family had the right to kill them.

By the time they realized the cruelty of the drug testing, it was already too late, and they could only endure.

Shi Yan knew that none of these people would survive until the end. He understood that these drug slaves would die sooner or later—perhaps someone would perish from drug testing the very next day. He knew his own limitations and felt powerless to change this reality. Thus, he avoided interacting with them, bearing no sentimental ties, so he would not grieve when they died.

Shi Yan frowned, glancing briefly at the alchemist Karu sitting high in the dragon cart before quickly averting his gaze.

From the five white medicine bottles embroidered on Karu's chest, Shi Yan deduced that he was a fifth-rank alchemist of the Mortal level. Alchemists are a rare and special group, even rarer than warriors in this world.

Every alchemist is typically a warrior, and the pills they create can enhance a warrior's cultivation. The most formidable alchemists can even produce special pills that improve a warrior's "Martial Soul."

Unlike the ten levels of martial cultivation, alchemists are classified into five grades based on their skill in pill creation: Mortal, Profound, Spirit, Saint, and Divine, each further divided into seven ranks.

Each alchemist level has its own distinctive emblem: Mortal alchemists have white medicine bottles on their chests; Profound alchemists have flames; Spirit alchemists have herbs; Saint alchemists have pills; and Divine alchemists have cauldrons. Karu, with five white medicine bottles, is clearly a fifth-rank Mortal alchemist.

The pills made by alchemists can transform warriors and boost their vital essence, elevating the alchemist's status among warriors. Due to their rarity, every alchemist is highly sought after by major factions, enhancing their status even further.

Karu, as a fifth-rank Mortal alchemist, was hired by the Mo family from the Pill King Valley of the Divine Grace Empire. The Mo family, like the Shi family, is one of the five great families of the Merchant Alliance. The Mo family also possesses a "Martial Soul" of lightning power, with many members born with this lightning Martial Soul, which grows stronger with their cultivation.

Mo Yanyu, a prominent young expert of the Mo family, has the lightning Martial Soul.

The Mo family, involved in the herbal business within the Merchant Alliance, has always sought to recruit alchemists from various regions. However, due to the eccentric personalities and high self-esteem of alchemists, few are willing to be bound by a family's constraints, leaving the Mo family continually unsuccessful.

Though Karu is merely a fifth-rank Mortal alchemist, persuading him was no easy feat. Mo Yanyu must have used some method to convince Karu to leave the Pill King Valley and agree to work for the Mo family.

However, Karu seemed to deviate from the conventional path, showing great interest in the craft of toxicology, which is deemed a corrupt branch of alchemy. To accurately create poisons, live subjects are required, which is why the drug slaves are used.

"Set out!" Mo Yanyu's voice called from afar. The resting warriors immediately got up, packed their things, and prepared to march. The drug slaves, huddled together, quickly stood up, fearing they might be beaten if they lagged behind.

Shi Yan rose silently, casting a cold glance at the slender yet venomous figure of Mo Yanyu leading the group. With a barely audible scoff, he obediently followed the front of the line.

In the Merchant Alliance, the Mo and Shi families had a strained relationship. Mo Yanyu's fifth uncle was killed by Shi family's Shi Dang three years ago during a dispute over a mine. The Mo family retaliated fiercely, killing many of Shi family's guards, leading to ongoing covert conflicts between the two families.

Shi Yan knew that if he were to reveal his original identity, he would not only fail to gain freedom but might even face a worse fate.

Fortunately, the original owner of this body, lacking a Martial Soul and having no inclination towards martial arts, had never participated in any Merchant Alliance martial activities, which made Mo Yanyu unfamiliar with him. Otherwise, his situation might have been even worse.

At night, the moon was a silver disk and the stars were scattered.

The Mo family camped by the riverbank, the dragon emitting a "huffing" sound as it rested quietly by the river. The Mo family warriors ate dry meat, laughing and discussing various infamous courtesans in the Merchant Alliance.

Several bold warriors, when Mo Yanyu's back was turned, would occasionally cast furtive glances at her alluring figure, secretly swallowing their saliva. They knew well that a woman of Mo Yanyu's status was beyond their reach, so they could only indulge their gaze.

Shi Yan sat down quietly, preparing to continue circulating his vital essence. Suddenly, he noticed Mo Yanyu and Karu approaching him from the front of the group.

A chill ran through Shi Yan as he sensed impending trouble, his expression darkening.

"The heart-wrenching powder is too potent for ordinary people to endure. Two have died within six days. It seems only warriors can withstand it. That kid has been nurtured for so long; he seems to have recovered considerably recently and should be put to use..." Karu said with a sinister smile, holding a bowl of black concoction.

"Master, feel free to do as you wish with him, but do not let his death be too easy," Mo Yanyu said with a light laugh.

"Heh heh, you can rest assured, Miss Mo. Since he has fallen into my hands, he will not die an easy death. You have seen the effects of the heart-wrenching powder. Those civilians died slowly and painfully, their bodies rotting. The stronger his body, the slower the decay, and naturally, the greater the suffering. Enjoy the show," Karu laughed heartily, completely indifferent to Shi Yan's presence.

"That is most agreeable," Mo Yanyu nodded, her eyes gleaming with cold malice, clearly harboring deep resentment towards Shi Yan.

The two spoke and laughed as they approached Shi Yan. Without further ado, Karu handed the bowl of black heart-wrenching powder to Shi Yan, saying coldly, "Drink this."

Mo Yanyu extended her snow-white left hand, lightning flickering across her fingers from the pinky to the thumb, like a lively and agile electric snake. The "Lightning Martial Soul" combined with vital essence caused the air to crackle with energy.

"Heh heh!" Strongson's sneer came from behind Shi Yan. "Kid, you know what happens if you dare refuse to drink."

Karu's eyes were filled with excitement as he rubbed his hands together, exclaiming, "Kid, the heart-wrenching powder is quite interesting. It will make you rot from the inside out, starting with your intestines..."

Mo Yanyu's gaze remained fixed on Shi Yan, waiting for any sign of resistance. If Shi Yan showed any hint of defiance, she was prepared to strike with thunderous fury, eager to vent her frustrations.

In recent days, she had been infuriated by Shi Yan's unrestrained advances, an affront to the sanctity that even her betrothed had not yet touched. This had caused her great humiliation and anger.

"I'll drink it," Shi Yan replied calmly, accepting the bowl of heart-wrenching powder and drinking it in one gulp.