Word Count: 2,724 Words
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"You... you little brat. Sigh, never mind." Su Qian could only sigh in the end. It had only been three full years since Xiao Yan left the Inner Academy, yet in those three years, he had advanced from peak tier 6 to tier 7!
For others, this would be virtually impossible. The ti required to break through such a barrier might even exceed the entire duration spent at tier 6. Advancing in alchemy wasn’t just about having sufficient skill; fire control and Spiritual Strength were both significant hurdles.
Of course, Xiao Yan rely smiled without saying anything else, wanting to avoid hurting the fragile hearts of First Elder and Deputy Headmaster Hu Gan.
In truth, he was not just a low-grade 7th-tier alchemist. He was already a peak alchemist capable of refining the Great Ancestor Pill, a peak tier 7 pill. He only lacked alchemy technique and experience to reach tier 8.
"First Elder, that girl Zi Yan also ca, but she’s currently heading to the Black Emperor Sect and the Demon Fla Valley," Xiao Yan said.
"I was wondering why I didn’t see that girl." Su Qian was the one who had brought Zi Yan back from the wilderness. He breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Xiao Yan’s words; as long as she was safe, all was well.
Of course, Su Qian guessed why Zi Yan was heading to the Black Emperor Sect and the Demon Fla Valley. He waved his hand and said, "Just in case, I’ll take a few elders to et up with her. Xiao Yan, you and Hu Gan return to the Inner Academy first and inform the two Guardians of the Book Collection Hall about your purpose."
"You still have a lot of popularity in Jia Nan Academy; many people are eager to et you."
Xiao Yan could only smile wryly and rub his nose. He glanced at Little Fairy Doctor, who nodded. Waiting a day or two was not urgent for her.
After First Elder Su Qian left with his group, Xiao Yan suddenly recalled sothing and mumbled, "I forgot to tell First Elder that Zi Yan has already broken through to Rank 7."
"Huh?!"
Hu Gan was montarily stunned, then shook his head helplessly. That old fellow Su Qian was going to be heartbroken.
Soon, Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor followed Hu Gan into the Inner Academy. As they heard the whispers and felt the curious gazes upon them, especially from so young ladies with fiery, star-filled eyes who looked barely able to restrain themselves from pouncing forward, even with Xiao Yan’s thick skin, he couldn’t help but blush slightly.
He had not expected that after three years away, people at Jia Nan Academy still rembered him. However, feeling the youthful energy and vitality of these students, the tension in his heart eased quietly. He softly muttered, "Ah, it’s good to be young."
Little Fairy Doctor covered her mouth and chuckled. "You’re not much older than they are."
"Alright, this old man will see you off here. Head to the Xiao Hall and wait; I’ll apply for your entry to the Book Collection Hall," Hu Gan said with a smile. "By the way, your Xiao Hall has relocated its headquarters. As for where exactly, you can just grab soone and ask."
With that, Hu Gan vanished. It was evident that he was already a half-step Dou Ancestor and might soon break through to the Dou Ancestor realm!
"Hello, could you tell where the headquarters of the Xiao Hall is?" Xiao Yan revealed a confident smile and casually grabbed a passing student.
This junior student frowned, displeased at being suddenly stopped. But then, his chest puffed out when he saw the uniquely elegant Little Fairy Doctor with her picturesque features standing beside Xiao Yan. He pointed earnestly in a direction and said, "It’s that way. Walk straight for two kiloters, and you’ll see it."
"Thank you." Xiao Yan smiled slightly and casually tossed sothing from his storage ring to this junior student.
However, the student clearly did not notice. His eyes were glued to the departing figure of Little Fairy Doctor, his heart visibly stirred.
"Is that guy new here? He doesn’t even know where the Xiao Hall’s headquarters is?" The student’s companion muttered in a low voice after Xiao Yan had walked so distance away.
"I wonder who that fairy-like woman is."
"Can you show so backbone? Look at what that person just gave you."
At that, the student snapped back to reality. He opened his palm, and a tier 3 Qi Recovery Pill appeared before their eyes.
"Holy shit! A dicinal pill!" *2
After Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor had walked leisurely for about ten minutes, a courtyard even more magnificent than the previous one appeared before them.
"Hmm? The fragrance of pills?" Xiao Yan’s nose twitched. Although it was very faint, as an alchemist, he could naturally detect it.
Following the fragrance with his eyes, he looked toward an open space within the large courtyard. There, on a stone platform, sat a woman cross-legged in a light blue dress. The woman was extrely beautiful, her exquisite and well-proportioned figure alluringly outlined by her attire, enough to stir one’s heart.
However, it was sowhat regrettable that this woman’s temperant contained a hint of coldness that kept others thousands of miles away. A single glance revealed she was the rather cold and arrogant type.
Of course, appearances ant little to the current Xiao Yan. With Little Fairy Doctor beside him and having Cai Lin, he was practically like an old monk now—devoid of worldly desires.
"A low-grade tier 4 dicinal pill... No, barely tier 4. It doesn’t even et the low-grade standard," Xiao Yan discerned just by slling the dicinal fragrance.
Comparing her to acquaintances he knew, being able to refine a tier 4 pill at such an age should put her on par with Gu He’s direct disciple Liu Ling or Han Xian from the dicine Gang.
Whoosh!
The woman extinguished the fla in her dicinal cauldron and collected a round pill into a jade bottle. She then shot Xiao Yan a fierce glare, likely having overheard his quiet mumbling just now.
Xiao Yan could not help but rub his nose in embarrassnt when he saw the woman look over, thinking to himself, ’How can soone be so unfocused when refining pills?’
"You big pervert, don’t bully Xin Lan!" At this mont, a reproachful voice ca from within the courtyard. Undoubtedly, only Xiao Yu would dare call Xiao Yan a big pervert.
Xiao Yu wore a red instructor’s robe. Although still an Outer Academy instructor, she was actually set to be promoted to an Inner Academy elder this year, and her strength had reached the Dou King realm.
"Hehe, how can this be called bullying? I was just offering guidance to a junior sister in alchemy," Xiao Yan said.
"Alright, you guys co inside and have a seat first. Hu Jia and the others are thrilled to hear you’re back." Xiao Yu noticed the curious glances around them. Knowing that Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor did not like being watched, she beckoned them into the large courtyard.
After the trio left, the crowd exchanged glances. Xiao Yu was now one of the most prominent figures in the Inner Academy. She wasn’t just the ’big sister’ of the Xiao Hall; she also held significant influence in Xiao City.
"Who was that guy? He actually dared to say he was guiding Senior Sister Xin Lan in alchemy. Humph, apart from the elders of the Alchemy Departnt and Senior Brother Han Xian who left the Inner Academy two years ago, who else is qualified to guide her?"
"Wait, why did that guy look a bit familiar? I feel like I’ve seen him sowhere before."
"Eh, no, hold on! I rember a rumor in the Inner Academy saying that Senior Xiao Yan is a big pervert. It’s rumored that he had so unspeakable past with Instructor Xiao Yu when they were young!"
For a mont, the air beca exceptionally still. Many had heard this rumor. After all, those who had been in the sa cohort as Xiao Yan knew that whenever Xiao Yu saw him, she directly called him a big pervert!
"So, he’s Xiao Yan!" Xin Lan could not help but furrow her delicate brows, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
...
"It’s developed quite nicely." Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor followed Xiao Yu further inside. This large courtyard bore a surprising resemblance to the one in Wu Tan City.
Within the courtyard were nurous exquisite rooms. Not all mbers of the Xiao Hall could reside here at the headquarters; only core mbers were qualified.
For example, only Xiao Yu, Xiao i, Hu Jia, Wu Hao, and a few others were eligible to live here. The other mbers of the Xiao Hall continued to reside in the student dormitories as usual.
"This is your room. The layout is the sa as it was back in Wu Tan City." Xiao Yu pointed to the largest and most luxurious guest room at the innermost part of the courtyard.
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and teased with a smile, "How do you know how my room in Wu Tan City was arranged? Could it be that you sneaked in before?"
Xiao Yu’s pretty face flushed crimson at his words. She gritted her teeth, showing a fierce expression, and raised her long leg to kick him.
However, Xiao Yan revealed a crafty smile this ti. He dodged her kick, grabbed her ankle, and laughed, "You really never learn, do you?"
"Let go! You big pervert!" Xiao Yu hurriedly covered her skirt, shouting in angry embarrassnt.
"Whose room is that?" At this mont, Little Fairy Doctor noticed another exquisite room beside Xiao Yan’s. It was locked like his, indicating that no one lived there, yet it was obviously kept clean regularly.
Moreover, the room was situated diagonally opposite Xiao Yan’s, making it the closest one. The owner of this room was clearly soone special.
Xiao Yan’s playful smile gradually faded at her words. He shrugged and released Xiao Yu’s ankle.
Xiao Yu glanced at Xiao Yan, her expression turning sowhat somber as she said, "That room is reserved for Xun Er."
Little Fairy Doctor did not know Xun Er; in fact, this was the first ti she had even heard the na. But just like Cai Lin, she sensed that a graceful figure already resided deep within Xiao Yan’s heart.
’So her na is Xun Er...’ she murmured inwardly.
Xiao Yan smiled. "Little Fairy Doctor, pick any room you’d like and settle in. We don’t know when we’ll be able to enter the Book Collection Hall, so just rest here for the next few days."
Little Fairy Doctor nodded slightly. Just as Xiao Yan was about to enter his room to change clothes, he suddenly sensed a distortion in space. His eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance. Then, two thunderous booms accompanied by violent tremors reached them.
"Xiao Yan! Co over here!!" Zi Yan’s heaven-shaking voice, comparable to an Ancient Dragon Roar, echoed from not far away.
Xiao Yan was stunned for a mont, then shook his head helplessly. He led Little Fairy Doctor and Xiao Yu toward an open space behind the courtyard. They were all dumbfounded when they arrived: a huge iron vault and a cave had inexplicably appeared there.
Zi Yan had actually dug up the entire place and brought it over!
"You could have just taken the items; why did you have to dig up their entire treasure vault?" Xiao Yan was speechless. You have uprooted their very foundation; at least leave them sothing!
"Hehehe, it’s quicker this way, right? Co on, co on, see if there’s any good stuff. Let tell you, I haven’t even gone in myself yet. Considerate enough, huh?" Zi Yan gave Xiao Yan a thumbs-up. The two exchanged smiles, looking like partners in cri.
Oh no, Zi Yan had been led astray by Xiao Yan.
The First Elder standing nearby sighed, seeming to have aged a dozen years. Zi Yan had actually reached Rank 7! She was only at peak Rank 5 when she left. How could she break through consecutively like this? It was too discouraging!
Zi Yan smashed a large hole through the Black Emperor Sect’s iron vault with a single punch. However, much to their disappointnt, they had arrived too late. If they had co a week earlier, there would likely have been various precious auction items inside, such as the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe’s dried corpse and the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva.
Now, apart from large piles of gold coins, there were so dicinal pills and scrolls. The most abundant dicinal ingredients were tier 6, which was unsurprising since the Black Emperor Sect had a low-grade 6th-tier alchemist nad Qi Shan.
However, this Qi Shan was now inside the Soul Command Token.
Xiao Yan lost interest after glancing around. He planned to have Ya Fei bring people in a few days to inventory the items and then store them in Xiao City. He also intended to share so dicinal pills and scrolls with Jia Nan Academy, since he was borrowing their Book Collection Hall this ti.
Su Qian was inwardly shocked to see Xiao Yan show little interest even in those few low-grade tier 7 dicinal ingredients. Could it be that Xiao Yan’s alchemy skills had already surpassed low-grade tier 7?!
"Let’s hope the Demon Fla Valley’s treasure vault won’t disappoint us."
Boom!
Zi Yan smashed the stone door of the Demon Fla Valley’s treasure vault to pieces with a thunderous sound. Smoke and dust instantly billowed out. Then, a black shadow lunged from within the dust cloud. Sadly, before this magical beast at peak Dou King strength could reach Zi Yan, it was torn to shreds by Spatial Strength.
"You thought you could ambush with your re Dou King strength? Hmph." Zi Yan tilted her head up proudly.
"Let’s go in and see what’s good." Xiao Yan waved his hand. His Wind and Thunder Fury Fla stirred up a whirlwind, clearing away the dust, and he stepped inside first.
He naturally ignored the low-level items on the front shelves and walked straight to the back of the stone chamber.
However, to Xiao Yan and Zi Yan’s great disappointnt, although the Demon Fla Valley had dominated the Black-Corner Region for many years, their collection of dicinal ingredients was still sparse. The highest grade was rely tier 7, without a single tier 8 ingredient among them.
Even in the Black-Corner Region, tier 8 main ingredients were extrely rare. Even the Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva was only peak tier 7. Clearly, dicinal ingredients of this level could only be found in the Central Plains.
’Di Class... Sigh.’
Xiao Yan couldn’t help but feel greatly disappointed seeing that the items Old Ground Demon Ghost had protected with energy barriers were only Di Class scrolls. Of course, he knew that finding Tian Class scrolls here was just wishful thinking.
Whoosh!
He waved his hand, and a mass of black flas pounced on the energy barrier like a fierce tiger descending the mountain. The energy barrier, painstakingly set up by Old Ground Demon Ghost, was instantly devoured.
Xiao Yan then took out a wooden box from within. It contained two scrolls flickering with lightning.
"’Rushing Lightning Mirror,’ Interdiate Di Class lightning-attribute Qi thod. ’Shocking Dormant Lightning thod,’ Interdiate Di Class Dou Technique—a matching set with ’Rushing Lightning Mirror.’" Xiao Yan nodded. Such a matched set of Qi thod and Dou Technique was quite valuable. Since they were interdiate Di Class, even if he didn’t use them himself, his second brother Xiao Li might find them useful.
"’True Fla Creation Skill?’" Xiao Yan learned only after reading through it that this was the genuine Fla Creation Skill. The Life Transforming Fla created by this Fla Creation Skill was more powerful than the fake Heavenly Fla produced by Fang Yan and his group, but it was also more difficult to cultivate.
Xiao Yan shrugged. He already possessed several true Heavenly Flas, so he really looked down on this fake one.
’Never mind, I’ll give it to Elder Yao. Though it’s fake, its power is real.’
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