Word Count: 3,043 Words
******
The next day, Xiao Yan brought Little Fairy Doctor, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Venerable Tian Huo along as they followed Xin Lan to the annual alchemist marketplace.
While leading the way, Xin Lan asked sowhat nervously, "Big Brother Xiao Yan, what are you looking for today? I can help keep an eye out for specific items."
These past two days had finally allowed the Ye Clan to hold their heads high again.
Just imagine, with Xiao Yan participating in the Pill Gathering, staying at the Ye Clan’s residence, and even planning to help the Ye Clan pass the assessnt of the five great clans—what kind of situation would the Ye Clan be in once such news spread?
The impact was imdiate. Those small factions that had originally thought the Ye Clan was about to collapse and had looked down on them, now flocked to the Ye Clan mansion one after another to offer congratulations and discreetly assess the situation.
This brought renewed vigor to the Ye Clan mansion, which had been desolate for years. Ye Zhong was so occupied that he couldn’t accompany Xiao Yan personally, instead assigning Xin Lan to guide him.
After a mont’s consideration, Xiao Yan replied, "Besides tier 8 dicinal ingredients and pill recipes, keep an eye out for heavenly treasures that can enhance Spiritual Strength. I’d like to improve mine."
Xiao Yan found it puzzling. Since advancing to the Soul State, that High Xuan Class Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique could no longer effectively boost his Spiritual Strength.
Due to his innately powerful soul, his Spiritual Strength had initially improved rapidly, quickly reaching Mortal State perfection before breaking through to the Soul State with the help of the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill.
However, his progress within the Soul State had slowed considerably. After all these years, he had only advanced from initial Soul State to early Soul State. Refining tier 8 pills that attracted four-colored Pill Lightning was his limit. To refine pills that attracted five colors, his Spiritual Strength needed to reach middle stage of Soul State.
Hence, Xiao Yan planned to use heavenly treasures to nourish his soul.
Xin Lan smiled wryly at his words. "Big Brother Xiao Yan, treasures that enhance Soul State Spiritual Strength are practically priceless! They’re extrely rare even in Holy Pill City."
"No worries. If there aren’t any, then there aren’t any." Xiao Yan shrugged, unconcerned. Once he attended the Hall of Souls’ coming-of-age ceremony and utilized that Dou God Bloodline, he would be able to cultivate the Emperor Soul Technique!
He had been craving that Tian Class Soul Training thod for ages!
Soon, the group arrived at the Alchemist Trade Fair venue in Holy Pill City.
Unsurprisingly, it was packed with people.
"Let’s go to the second floor. I don’t feel like hunting for treasures among this crowd," Xiao Yan suggested.
The cacophony was deafening.
The first floor resembled a vegetable market. It was so noisy that Xiao Yan and his group found it unbearable. They abandoned it entirely and headed directly to the upper floors.
While any alchemist could enter the first floor, the second and third floors maintained rank requirents for entry.
Upon reaching the second floor, the clamor diminished considerably. The second floor’s spacious area featured dazzling crystal flooring that glead like mirrors, almost blinding to look at. Nurous crystal platforms dotted these crystal floors, and even from a distance, the items displayed were clearly of much higher quality than those in the hall below.
Though the quality was indeed better, most were tier 5, 6, and 7 dicinal materials. For Xiao Yan, who had reached tier 8, they seed sowhat ’tasteless to look at, yet a pity to discard.’
"Xin Lan, help scout this floor for anything that might enhance Spiritual Strength. I’ll check the third floor and et you later." Xiao Yan handed her a written list.
"Understood, Big Brother Xiao Yan."
"Qing Lin, accompany Xin Lan and ensure her safety."
"Yes, Young Master."
Xiao Yan wasted no ti heading straight for the third floor. At the entrance, two elderly guards stood watch. Xiao Yan retrieved yesterday’s rank badge from his storage ring.
Both elders’ eyes widened upon seeing his rank badge. They imdiately stepped aside with extre deference. Such a young 7th-tier alchemist was extraordinarily rare, even in Holy Pill City!
Watching the backs of Xiao Yan’s group of four as they went upstairs, one of the elders exclaid in amazent, "Such a young 7th-tier alchemist, yet I don’t recognize him. Could he be from outside the five great clans?"
"I don’t know. Any clan capable of nurturing such an alchemist must be formidable. Perhaps he’s from one of the Two Sects. That young man beside him—his strength is unfathomable. He’s a Dou Venerate."
Xiao Yan looked toward Zi Yan, who was holding Little Fairy Doctor’s hand, and asked curiously, "What’s wrong with this fellow Zi Yan? Why is she so quiet today?"
Zi Yan rubbed her eyes and said with a sleepy look on her face, "I think I’m about to break through."
Xiao Yan’s Spiritual Strength swept over her, confirming that energy was indeed converging within her body. This was a telltale sign of an impending breakthrough.
Little Fairy Doctor tenderly smoothed Zi Yan’s hair before lifting the drowsy girl onto her back. Catching Little Fairy Doctor’s familiar scent, Zi Yan’s heavy eyelids finally surrendered as she fell asleep against her back.
"This girl—breaking through without even ntioning it." Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. Magical beasts slept during each breakthrough, with major rank advancents requiring even longer periods of slumber.
This was why magical beast lifespans couldn’t be calculated like humans’—they spent so much ti in deep sleep.
Little Fairy Doctor chuckled. "She’s probably afraid you’d leave her behind."
"Really now, how could I ever abandon her?"
Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor chatted and laughed as they walked. To onlookers, they appeared like a small family on a leisurely outing, naturally attracting envious and jealous gazes.
Suddenly, Venerable Tian Huo’s eyes narrowed as he spotted a rust-covered ancient copper piece at one of the stalls.
"Xiao Yan! Buy that copper piece if you can," he transmitted urgently, his tone serious.
Xiao Yan’s smile faded. For Venerable Tian Huo to use spiritual transmission ant this was no trivial matter. Few things warranted such gravity from him.
Venerable Tian Huo had lived for a very long ti; his era predated even the Jia Nan Academy. He was truly an ancient relic.
Maintaining his casual deanor, Xiao Yan approached the indicated stall while seemingly browsing other items.
The stall owner was a scruffy-looking old man wearing a high-grade 7th-tier alchemist badge on his chest. This rank was even higher than that of Elder Han Li from the Pill Tower branch!
’A high-grade 7th-tier alchemist could serve as an elder even in the inner city’s Pill Tower.’ Xiao Yan noted ntally. After sizing up the vendor, he examined the stall while maintaining his casual appearance, though his gaze fixed on the copper piece Venerable Tian Huo had ntioned.
The copper piece was a pale yellow color, and it was covered with so green copper rust. If one looked closely, one could faintly see so rather strange patterns on it.
"What’s special about this copper piece?" Xiao Yan asked via spiritual transmission.
"I don’t know. But I recognize the pattern on that copper piece. It’s an ancient totem. That copper piece is very likely sothing passed down from ancient tis," Venerable Tian Huo replied.
Xiao Yan didn’t beat around the bush. He picked up the copper piece directly and asked, "Boss, how much for this copper piece?"
The old man barely glanced up at Xiao Yan’s inquiry, showing no excitent as he maintained his indifference. This copper piece had attracted nurous treasure hunters before, yet none had traded for it.
"One high-grade tier 7 pill recipe. Fixed price. Don’t ask about origin or purpose—I don’t know either. That’s the price, take it or leave it." The scruffy old man spoke dismissively while picking at his ear.
"Deal." Xiao Yan nodded without hesitation!
"Hmph, if you’re not buying, put it down and stop wast— Wait, you agreed?!" The old man suddenly ca to his senses and looked at Xiao Yan in shock!
His actual ntal price had been a middle-grade tier 7 recipe; he had intentionally quoted a high price just so Xiao Yan could bargain it down!
Why don’t you follow the usual script!
You were supposed to haggle!
"You... you really want it? For a high-grade tier 7 pill recipe?!" To alchemists, high-grade tier 7 pill recipes were nearly as precious as Interdiate Di Class Qi thods. Even many high-grade 7th-tier alchemists struggled to obtain such recipes.
Xiao Yan wasted no words and directly tossed the old man an ice-blue scroll.
Having obtained Ice River Valley’s treasures, Xiao Yan possessed nurous high-grade tier 7 and tier 8 pill recipes beyond the tier 9 recipe that had truly caught his eye.
Most amusingly, one high-grade tier 7 recipe duplicated one in Venerable Yao’s storage ring, giving Xiao Yan a spare to trade.
The old man frantically opened the scroll. Confirming it contained a genuine high-grade tier 7 pill recipe, he stood stunned, unable to process what had happened.
What an extravagant buyer!
Just as Xiao Yan completed the transaction and turned to leave, a purple, enchanting-looking iron fan abruptly appeared, blocking his path.
The smile on Xiao Yan’s face slowly faded. He turned his head, cold intent surging in his pitch-black eyes.
"Hehe, friend, I’ve also taken a liking to this copper piece. I wonder if you would part with it?" A young man dressed in white robes stood before him, wearing what appeared to be a warm and gentle smile. However, no matter how one looked at it, this smile exuded a distinctly sinister quality.
The young man retracted his iron fan as Xiao Yan looked over, then snapped it open with a flourish, revealing a large character ’Ming’ (Profound) painted on it.
Behind the white-robed youth stood three elders. When Xiao Yan’s gaze swept over them, he noted that the two standing further back had imposing auras at the 8-star Dou Ancestor stage, while the one at the front was a Dou Venerate.
To have a Dou Venerate accompanying him, one could well imagine that this man’s background was definitely not weak, probably no weaker than the Three Valleys.
Xiao Yan’s lips curved upward as he regarded the man with disdain. So what if he ca from a powerful background? The Ice River Valley Master himself had died at his and Little Fairy Doctor’s combined hands.
"I’ll give you one chance to scram." Xiao Yan’s eyes turned ice-cold. Against those who relied on powerful backgrounds to act tyrannically, he would be even more domineering!
His incomparably overbearing words naturally drew nurous onlookers. Astonished gazes converged on them, especially when people noticed the ’Ming’ character on the fan. Those who understood its significance felt their pupils contract.
"Ming... could it be the Profound Sky Sect?!" soone exclaid.
"No, not the Profound Sky Sect itself, though it’s related. That’s the Profound Xuan Sect, one of the Profound Sky Sect’s three subordinate sects. He’s Chen Xian, the only son of Sect Master Chen Tian Nan!"
Chen Xian’s expression grew smug at the discussions. He fanned himself leisurely and sneered at Xiao Yan. "I, Chen Xian, am magnanimous and won’t stoop to your level. Here’s a tier 6 pill recipe—consider it paynt for your copper piece."
With a ’thwack,’ Chen Xian threw the pill recipe on the ground and looked at Xiao Yan with ice-cold eyes. In the past, rely hearing his na had sent people into panic, so even kneeling to beg forgiveness. He’d witnessed such scenes hundreds of tis.
Unfortunately, this ti he was destined for misfortune.
"That kid’s done for, offending Chen Xian like that."
"Hehe, I wouldn’t be so sure."
Those who recognized Xiao Yan couldn’t help but smile. Those saying that offending Chen Xian ant misfortune probably had no idea who Xiao Yan was!
Xiao Yan sighed helplessly. Perhaps he truly possessed a special constitution, one that attracted trouble wherever he went. He had just co to buy sothing and still ran into this kind of situation!
He couldn’t be bothered to waste words. On the Dou Qi Continent where might determined right, compromise didn’t exist; only the law of the jungle prevailed!
Cold light flashed in his eyes as he struck instantly, his five fingers lunging forward like eagle talons.
Chen Xian sneered at Xiao Yan’s audacious first strike. Dou Qi surged into his iron fan, transforming it into a shield-like defense that he elegantly positioned before himself.
Black flas erupted from Xiao Yan’s fingers. With a soft ’pfft,’ the Nihility Devouring Fla’s Seed Fla instantly burned through the sturdy iron fan. A black shadow pierced through as his hand clamped firmly around Chen Xian’s face, lifting him like a helpless chick.
"Young Master!" The three elders behind stood dumbfounded. He’d been captured instantly! They hadn’t even had ti to react!
Xiao Yan raised a finger to his lips. "Shh, quiet. Don’t wake her."
"Today I’ll give face to the Pill Tower and spare your dog’s life. Cherish it well. If there’s a next ti, not even the Profound Sky Sect Master will save you." With a casual toss, Xiao Yan flung Chen Xian before the three elders.
Ignoring Chen Xian’s darkening expression, he turned and headed for the stairs, with Little Fairy Doctor and Venerable Tian Huo following close behind.
Watching Xiao Yan’s retreating figure, Chen Xian ground his teeth in fury. "Elder Xuan, why didn’t you act just now?!"
The Dou Venerate gazed warily at Venerable Tian Huo’s departing back. "Young Master, let this matter rest. That seemingly seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth beside him is a Dou Venerate, stronger than myself."
As for Little Fairy Doctor, this Elder Xuan was rely a 1-star Dou Venerate, not yet qualified to perceive her true strength.
Chen Xian’s fists clenched tighter at Elder Xuan’s words. He said in a low voice, "Regardless, I must learn this person’s identity. Elder Xuan, send soone to investigate!"
...
Returning to the second floor, Xiao Yan found Xin Lan looking dejected. He comforted her, "Don’t worry. Coming up empty-handed is normal in treasure hunting. We’ve made so gains today. Let’s head back."
After returning to the mansion, they first established a Space Lock to protect the slumbering, breakthrough-bound Zi Yan. Then they began studying the mysterious copper piece.
"Elder Yao, what’s special about this thing?" This ti Xiao Yan was stumped. Despite repeated examination, he couldn’t discern anything significant.
Even with Soul State Spiritual Strength, he detected nothing specific—only a faint, inexplicable spiritual fluctuation whose source he couldn’t identify.
Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin discovered nothing either.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s frustrated expression, Elder Yao straightened proudly and coughed lightly. "Xiao Yan, if this item’s secrets were so easily unraveled, do you think it would have waited for you to claim it?"
Xiao Yan glanced at Elder Yao with a wry smile. "Please enlighten , Elder Yao. What makes this worth a high-grade tier 7 pill recipe?"
Seeing the trio’s curious expressions, Elder Yao stopped being mysterious. He picked up the copper piece and used Life Transforming Fla to condense a long fire needle, then began carefully removing the rust bit by bit.
The more they watched, the more confused they beca, completely bewildered by Elder Yao’s actions.
"You all have talent and strength, just lacking experience." Elder Yao collected the rust particles ticulously. "The secret lies in this rust. Try calcining it with a Heavenly Fla."
Xiao Yan started slightly. He had been completely fooled! Who would have thought that the copper piece wasn’t the treasure, but rather its rust!
Without ceremony, Xiao Yan summoned his most powerful Bone Chilling Fla and began calcining the rust. The corrosion quickly transford, releasing extrely tiny pale yellow dust particles that fell from the lting rust to float within the fla, twinkling like sprites with an aura of profound spiritual essence.
"This is... good stuff!" Though Xiao Yan didn’t recognize the powder, his soul stirred with intense craving for it.
"Well, well! You do indeed have fortune on your side." Elder Yao was pleasantly surprised. "This is the long-lost Spirit Nourishnt Powder! In ancient tis, enhancing Spiritual Strength wasn’t as difficult as it is now. Many substances could boost Spiritual Strength then, and Spirit Nourishnt Powder ranked among the most precious."
"This substance adheres to the soul, then guides spiritual energy from the air to accelerate Spiritual Strength enhancent."
"It can enhance Spiritual Strength!" Xiao Yan imdiately wore a smug expression. It seed his talent for finding hidden gems had returned! Just when he needed sothing like this, it appeared!
"Hehehe, thanks Elder Yao! This suits perfectly. Now I have a chance to reach the middle stage of Soul State." Xiao Yan chuckled proudly.
Having an elder in the ho truly was like possessing a treasure.
Little Fairy Doctor and the others saw Xiao Yan’s expression and departed without disturbing his cultivation.
Gazing at the Spirit Nourishnt Powder before him, Xiao Yan licked his lips and slowly closed his eyes. The next instant, his soul body erged from his physical form. When his Spiritual Strength contacted the powder, a mysterious suction force appeared and continuously absorbed the Spirit Nourishnt Powder.
The small wisp of spirit powder was quickly absorbed completely. Shortly after, a stabbing pain erged. Xiao Yan’s face tensed as waves of dull aching radiated from within his head.
However, this pain soon subsided.
Xiao Yan circulated the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique and felt a stronger suction force than ever before. Countless tiny motes of soul light from the surrounding air surged toward him.
"I should put on the Soul Robe."
The Soul Robe also possessed the effect of accelerating soul cultivation.
A strange fluctuation suddenly perated the surrounding ten miles. Wisps of extrely faint spiritual energy slowly seeped into him through his forehead.
And thus, Xiao Yan remained seated in ditation for an entire month, awakening only when the ti ca for the five great clans’ assessnt.
"Middle stage of Soul State!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers