Word Count: 3,469 Words
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Nalan Yanran looked at Xiao Yan with confusion in her beautiful eyes, not understanding why he was sizing her up. Then she realized he must be looking at the Psychic White Fox in her arms.
She picked up the Psychic White Fox, held it out to Xiao Yan, and said, "Do you like looking at it that much? You can touch it anytime you want."
"Huh?! Touch it anytime!" Xiao Yan was startled, but then noticed the white fox in front of him. "Oh, you meant the Psychic White Fox."
Nalan Yanran tilted her head quizzically. He coughed lightly twice and said sheepishly. "Ahem, let's go meet up with Elder Yao and the others first."
If they didn't get to the main group soon, Xiao Yan feared he might end up afflicted with fire poison himself.
Nalan Yanran nodded and led Xiao Yan as they flew toward a location in the Wind Lightning Mountain Range. It was no wonder they hadn't been able to find the Yan Alliance at first; it turned out the main force hadn't entered Wind Lightning City but had instead set up a temporary camp somewhere in the Wind Lightning Mountain Range.
"Young Master Xiao Yan!"
Qing Lin sensed Xiao Yan's arrival and shot out from a tent like a beam of green light.
Dressed in a green long skirt, she spread her arms wide and leaped straight into Xiao Yan's embrace. Her pair of deep green Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils looked up at him from below.
At this moment, Qing Lin displayed none of her serpent traits. She behaved more like a puppy that hadn't seen its master in ages, practically wagging her tail, her eyes shining with the joy of reunion.
Then she noticed Nalan Yanran standing nearby. Her pretty face flushed red as she quietly stepped back, resembling a little maid who had overstepped her boundaries.
A faint fragrance wafted over. Touched by Qing Lin's devotion, Xiao Yan stroked her silky hair and smiled, "Qing Lin is such a good girl. By the way, are Elder Yao and the others here?"
Qing Lin nodded and led the way, saying, "They're here."
Watching Qing Lin appear and then seeing Xiao Yan's figure moving steadily toward the camp, Nalan Yanran couldn't hide the trace of loneliness in her beautiful eyes. Their time alone together in the Heaven Eye Mountain Range was gone forever.
But that was only natural. Xiao Yan, after all, was like the moon surrounded by stars. She and Xiao Yan were merely fellow members of the Yan Alliance with no other connection. Any time alone together could only happen by fate's design.
Whimper, whimper. Though weak, the Psychic White Fox seemed truly sensitive to emotions. Sensing its master's sadness, it stood up and licked her pretty cheek.
"I'm fine."
Nalan Yanran hugged the Psychic White Fox and walked alone behind the others toward the camp.
Inside the camp, Xiao Yan looked completely at home, lounging on a reclining chair and basking in the sunlight.
"Is Young Master Xiao Yan comfortable?"
"Oh, very comfortable. Qing Lin's technique has improved a lot."
Qing Lin smiled faintly as her hands firmly pressed the acupoints on Xiao Yan's shoulders. One had to know, Xiao Yan's body was as tough as a magical beast's. Even an ordinary Dou Emperor would struggle to harm him with a Dou Technique. Giving him a proper massage was no simple task.
It was only because Qing Lin was now a 4-star Dou Ancestor and possessed a magical beast bloodline that she could massage his body and relax his meridians.
Pure enjoyment was written across Xiao Yan's face as he reclined in his chair. After endless cultivation, being able to relax and enjoy a leisurely afternoon like a wealthy young master was quite a pleasant experience.
"Hey, Nalan Yanran, fetch me a Yan Alliance special drink, lightly sweetened with less ice." Xiao Yan was too lazy to even get up. He simply waved his hand toward Nalan Yanran, who was playing with the fox not far away, and called out.
"Why should I do these things for you!" Nalan Yanran's expression was one of shock. She was a Dou Ancestor! Did he have any idea what that meant! Back then, there hadn't even been a single Dou Ancestor in the entire Jia Ma Empire!
"Going back on your word, are you? I wonder who it was that cried and said she would be a servant or a slave after losing the three-year agreement," Xiao Yan said with a smile.
"You—!" Nalan Yanran gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, and picked up the Psychic White Fox. "Hmph, I'll challenge you again after the Four Pavilion Grand Meeting!"
Though she verbally refused, her body was quite honest.
Not long after, the two old men, Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian, arrived together.
"You little brat, you know how to enjoy life better than an old man like me." Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Yan, who was sipping a cold drink while enjoying a massage, and even had Nalan Yanran fanning him from the side, and couldn't help but give him a thumbs up.
You really know how to live, kid.
Xiao Yan glanced at Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian with a hint of laziness and smiled. "It's rare for me to come back. If I don't give myself a break, being wound too tight isn't good for cultivation."
"Old Hai, you broke through to Dou Ancestor?" He then looked over at Hai Bodong. The Great Ancestor Pill he had refined was originally meant for Hai Bodong. He had estimated Hai Bodong to be a 9-star Dou Emperor, and that was why he specially refined a Great Ancestor Pill while waiting at the blood pool. It was just that he ended up giving it to Nalan Yanran instead.
He had even initially guessed that Hai Bodong might come to the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool to make his breakthrough. But it turned out Hai Bodong had already advanced to Dou Ancestor!
"Hehehe, this old man isn't that incompetent. Breaking through to Dou Ancestor doesn't necessarily take over a decade." Hai Bodong couldn't resist taking a veiled jab at Jia Xing Tian beside him.
Hearing Hai Bodong's barb, Jia Xing Tian was visibly displeased. But there was nothing he could do. Who told Hai Bodong to have such good luck?
Though Xiao Yan hadn't had a Great Ancestor Pill to give when he left, he had refined several Zong Breaking Pills. And the quality of the pills he refined was indeed exceptional, actually allowing this fellow Hai Bodong to successfully break through!
That's just fate! He, Jia Xing Tian, had waited bitterly for over a decade without obtaining a single Zong Breaking Pill.
"By the way, where is Elder Yao?" Xiao Yan asked.
"Elder Yao is cultivating the Flame Creation Skill you gave him inside the Space Lock. At the Dou Venerate realm, even a casual cultivation session takes several days," Hai Bodong replied.
Even Xiao Yan, who possessed the Fallen Heart Flame and an Intermediate Tian Class Flame Mantra, needed years to advance one star as a Dou Ancestor. It went without saying for a Dou Venerate.
A Dou Venerate had already transcended the mortal realm. Some, with exceptionally long lifespans, could live for a thousand years, but their cultivation periods were equally staggering. Without a Tian Class Qi Method, advancing just one star might take ten or even dozens of years.
So after reaching Dou Venerate, even if two cultivators were only one star apart, there might be a gap of several decades between them!
Just one star represented a massive chasm!
Xiao Yan slowly stood up, shedding his leisurely demeanor. Now was not the time for enjoyment. With the Yan Alliance's current strength, they couldn't even catch the eye of the Gu Clan.
The closer his strength approached Dou Venerate, the more intense his longing for Xun Er became.
"Do you know how strong Venerable Lei is?" Xiao Yan asked, his gaze sharp.
"Venerable Lei?" Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian exchanged glances, unsure why Xiao Yan was asking about him.
"I've heard that Venerable Lei is stronger than both Venerable Huang Quan and Venerable Jian, but slightly weaker than Venerable Feng. He should be a 3-star Dou Venerate, not exceeding 4-star," Jia Xing Tian thought for a moment before speaking.
None of them had ever seen Venerable Lei in person, and at the Dou Venerate realm, only Venerable Tian Huo could truly discern their strength.
"3-star, huh..."
Hai Bodong noticed Xiao Yan's contemplative look and his heart skipped a beat. "Xiao Yan, don't do anything reckless. Although our Yan Alliance has conflicts with the Wind Lightning Pavilion, we've always maintained restraint and tried not to provoke Venerable Lei. Elder Yao could at most delay him."
After all, Venerable Tian Huo was only a 1-star Dou Venerate. The gap was insurmountable! The main thing was that they didn't know Little Fairy Doctor's current strength had reached peak 4-star Dou Venerate, nearing 5-star!
Xiao Yan smiled faintly, not putting Venerable Lei in his eyes at all. He said calmly, "If the Wind Lightning Pavilion is wise enough not to stand in my way, it can continue as one of the Four Pavilions. But if it blocks my path, then the Four Pavilions will soon be one short."
Even Nalan Yanran was startled by Xiao Yan's domineering declaration. He was actually threatening to uproot the entire Wind Lightning Pavilion!
Xiao Yan took out paper and brush, made a few broad strokes, and handed it to Hai Bodong. "Old Hai, are Yue Er and Xin Lan here too? Have them check which of these medicinal ingredients the Yan Alliance can currently provide."
The Green Fungus Pill!
Before the Four Pavilion Grand Meeting began, Xiao Yan planned to refine this pill to restore Venerable Tian Huo's strength to 3-star Dou Venerate!
He believed that with Venerable Tian Huo's strength, he definitely wouldn't lose to Venerable Lei if they were at the same level.
Understanding Xiao Yan's intent to refine pills, Hai Bodong's eyes flashed with realization. He already had some guesses. Although he didn't recognize the ingredients on the list and found it almost unbelievable, Xiao Yan might truly be planning to refine a tier 8 medicinal pill!
Medicinal pills used by Dou Venerates would naturally be tier 8!
Both Hai Bodong and Jia Xing Tian sensed the resolve in Xiao Yan's sharp gaze. In all the years they had known him, they had never heard him speak an empty boast!
Even the most unbelievable things seemed to be a matter of course in his hands!
Shortly afterward, Yue Er, dressed in a 5th-tier alchemist's robe, and Xin Lan, wearing blue robes, came running over. Unlike Nalan Yanran, Little Princess Yue Er seemed as if she would never grow up. She still like the nimble little elf with playful cunning in her eyes from seven years ago.
"Xiao Yan, are you planning to refine a tier 8 Green Fungus Pill?!" Little Princess Yue Er's excitement was palpable. After journeying far and wide with the Yan Alliance over the years, her experience had grown immensely.
Every time she reached a major city, she would run off to challenge the local Alchemist Association, acquiring considerable alchemy knowledge along the way. She could now refine tier 6 pills with modest success, and her alchemy skills were almost on par with Fa Ma's.
Xin Lan, standing beside her, was equally stunned. The Green Fungus Pill was a tier 8 medicinal pill capable of attracting two-colored Pill Lightning! Was Xiao Yan even human!
Xiao Yan nodded seriously. "Can the Yan Alliance gather all the required ingredients now?"
At his words, Little Princess Yue Er's bright expression faded a little. She said with some regret, "Although the Yan Alliance has been advancing into the Central Plains for nearly half a year and we've obtained many precious ingredients, we're still short four main herbs and the Rank 8 Monster Core for the Green Fungus Pill."
Xiao Yan frowned. No matter how skilled he was in alchemy, everything was useless without the ingredients!
He produced the VIP card from the Yellow Springs Precious Treasure Pavilion and handed it to Yue Er. Then he took out several brocade boxes. "This is a VIP card for the Yellow Springs Precious Treasure Pavilion. There should be a branch in Wind Lightning City. You can go there to see what you can find."
"These are all tier 7 medicinal pills, enough to purchase those medicinal ingredients. Price is not an issue. However many ingredients for the Green Fungus Pill you can find, I want them all."
Grandmaster Yan was indeed wealthy and imposing!
"Qing Lin, keep them safe. This is Wind Lightning Pavilion's main city, and our Yan Alliance is at odds with them," Xiao Yan instructed.
"I understand, Young Master Xiao Yan. Rest assured, Qing Lin won't let anything happen to them." Upon receiving Xiao Yan's command, Qing Lin's beautiful eyes turned razor sharp.
Although she rarely fought, when she did take action, her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils became the enemy's worst nightmare!
"Nalan Yanran, you should go along as well. One more person means more protection," Xiao Yan added.
Nalan Yanran nodded in agreement.
Little Princess Yue Er walked up to Xiao Yan with a smile. "Xiao Yan, teach me some alchemy later. I've encountered some problems in my refining."
"Of course, that's no problem."
Xin Lan couldn't help but feel envious. No wonder Yue Er's alchemy skills had improved so quickly—already at tier 6. It turned out she had such a powerful teacher!
Having a formidable master truly made a difference. They could teach you so much.
…
Facts proved that as long as it wasn't Xiao Yan, ordinary people purchasing things would go smoothly without attracting trouble, no one would mock them, and their disguises wouldn't be seen through.
Though the main ingredients for the Green Fungus Pill were exceedingly rare, Wind Lightning City was the largest metropolis in the Northern Region. As long as one could pay the price, even main ingredients for tier 8 medicinal pills could be bought.
They even managed to purchase the Rank 8 Monster Core directly from the Wind Lightning Pavilion after Xin Lan and Yue Er concealed their identities! This made Xiao Yan not know whether to laugh or cry.
However, even in a super-metropolis like Wind Lightning City, they could only gather enough ingredients for a single Green Fungus Pill. This meant Xiao Yan would have just one attempt.
A day later, inside the Space Lock created by Venerable Tian Huo, he, Little Princess Yue Er, and Xin Lan all watched Xiao Yan with solemn expressions.
Little Princess Yue Er and Xin Lan were naturally there to broaden their horizons. After all, this was a tier 8 medicinal pill! Even if Xiao Yan ultimately failed in the refinement, it would still provide an invaluable learning experience.
As for Venerable Tian Huo, it went without saying. This alchemy session was crucial to whether he could improve his strength! He was far more anxious than Xiao Yan.
The difference between a 1-star Dou Venerate and a 3-star Dou Venerate was enormous.
Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes after adjusting his breathing and mental state for a full day. With a whoosh, a surge of powerful Spiritual Strength erupted from his body. To refine a tier 8 medicinal pill capable of attracting Pill Lightning, Soul State Spiritual Strength was essential.
This time, even he had to give it his all!
Immediately, a scorching aura surged out, instantly causing the space inside the Space Lock to show signs of melting. Venerable Tian Huo had to hurriedly reinforce the Space Lock.
Xiao Yan now had nine kinds of Heavenly Flames in his body. He directly used eight of them to merge and create a new Heavenly Flame, leaving only Mao Wu hidden in the void, responsible for handling the resentful energy within that Rank 8 Monster Core.
Generally, Monster Cores of this level were either obtained from the remains of Rank 8 magical beasts that died of old age or found in forbidden lands containing the remains of Dou Venerates or Dou Saints where Rank 8 magical beasts had fallen.
Hunting Rank 8 magical beasts to obtain their cores was almost an impossible task.
Even after so much time had passed, the Monster Core still retained incredibly powerful resentful energy. This was where Mao Wu's assistance was needed.
With a thud, Xiao Yan produced the Black Demon Cauldron. The very use of the Black Demon Cauldron was enough to indicate the difficulty of Xiao Yan's alchemy attempt this time!
Xiao Yan did not hide his alchemy method. If Yue Er, that little girl, could learn something by watching, he would be pleased. After all, Yue Er was now the Yan Alliance's only budding alchemist.
Whoosh!
When the super Heavenly Flame, formed from eight merged Heavenly Flames, was tossed into the Black Demon Cauldron, even this cauldron—ranked eighth on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking—trembled slightly. One could only imagine how high the temperature was.
With these eight Heavenly Flames merged, Xiao Yan estimated their power could match or even surpass the Gold Emperor Incinerating Heavenly Flame. Probably only the top three most unique Heavenly Flames in the ranking could exceed it.
"This Heavenly Flame... how is it..." Xin Lan was astonished. This flame was unlike any Heavenly Flame on the ranking!
Xiao Yan took a deep breath. His slightly narrowed eyes suddenly snapped open, a sharp glint flashing through his dark pupils. With a fierce wave of his sleeve, the numerous medicinal ingredients swirling around him separated. Several herbs, arranged end to end, flew into the medicinal cauldron.
As soon as the medicinal ingredients entered the medicinal cauldron, they rapidly withered under the terrifying temperature. Then, under the control of his Soul State Spiritual Strength, they were refined into pure medicinal powders in just over ten minutes. Finally, with a mental command from Xiao Yan, they lightly floated in the corner of the medicinal cauldron, guarded by clusters of black flames to prevent issues such as oxidation.
Xiao Yan's expression remained unchanged after refining the first batch of pure medicinal powder at top speed. His palm waved continuously as one medicinal ingredient after another flew into the cauldron. Despite their number and variety, they didn't bring him the slightest sense of panic.
Thanks to having once refined the Heavenly Flame Poison Pill for Little Fairy Doctor, and the benefits of his Soul State Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan's refining process was not only rapid but incredibly precise.
Coupled with the Black Demon Cauldron's special power, Xiao Yan focused even more intensely—his Spiritual Strength and fire control ability operated at full capacity.
After his Spiritual Strength advanced to the Soul State, the medicinal ingredients he refined began to incorporate traces of extremely subtle spirituality. Though very faint, this spirituality noticeably improved the quality of the refined medicinal powder.
Watching Xiao Yan's technique, which flowed like water and possessed its own unique aesthetic, Little Princess Yue Er's beautiful eyes repeatedly flashed with wonder. Xin Lan, too, was utterly captivated.
Such was the charm of Grandmaster Yan!
Under Xiao Yan's nearly lightning-fast refinement, one-third of the medicinal ingredients were transformed into the required medicinal powders and liquids in just over an hour.
Despite refining such a large quantity of ingredients, Xiao Yan's expression remained steady and composed. He let out a light breath, his gaze turning toward the four jade boxes before him. A hint of solemnity flickered in his eyes. While he could be somewhat liberal with the other ingredients, these four main ingredients required utmost care.
However, for Xiao Yan, who had successfully refined the Heavenly Flame Poison Pill, these four tier 8 main ingredients posed no problems at all.
Although it took him a full seven days and seven nights, he completed the refinement smoothly without any unforeseen issues.
For a tier 8 medicinal pill, spending half a month or even a full month on the refining process was entirely normal.
Once all the medicinal ingredients were completely refined, the medicinal cauldron was densely packed with various liquid substances, all enveloped by Black Flame.
Next, following the pill recipe, Xiao Yan needed to blend these medicinal substances together according to their respective quantities.
This step tested Spiritual Strength to the extreme, as the quantities for a tier 8 medicinal pill were refined to the nanogram level.
A tier 8 medicinal pill, this was the level of a miraculous elixir!
This step was a challenge even for Soul State Spiritual Strength. Xiao Yan spent a full three days just to properly proportion all the medicinal substances and fuse them into an embryonic pill.