Xiao Yan's current mood was akin to receiving red envelopes during the New Year-outwardly expressing modesty, but inwardly eager to accept.
Princess Yao Ye, as the future queen of the Jia Ma Empire, possessed keen insight. Naturally, she saw through Xiao Yan's inner thoughts with just one glance.
And acted decisively!
Grasping Xiao Yan's hand, she firmly placed the storage ring and scroll into his palm as she said, "Yao Ye believes in Grandmaster Xiao Yan's ability and talent. On behalf of the imperial family, I extend a standing invitation to Grandmaster Xiao Yan."
Since she had already placed them in his hand, Xiao Yan coughed lightly and didn't stand on ceremony. He said, "Then I thank Princess Yao Ye and Elder Jia for your trust. I'll accept this pill recipe and these medicinal ingredients for now. In the future, I will certainly complete the refinement and have someone deliver the pill, not disappointing Princess Yao Ye's request." Xiao Yan could only obediently accept since the other party had already said this much.
Before coming, he had anticipated that Yao Ye might have something she wanted his help with. Considering he had already received a Mighty Huang Fruit from them, assisting a bit was only appropriate. But he hadn't expected this.
Yao Ye let out a soft laugh and said, "Then Yao Ye will rest assured and await Grandmaster Xiao Yan's good news. Once the matter is accomplished, the Jia Ma Imperial Family will offer an additional generous reward."
Xiao Yan raised his hand in acknowledgment and, without further ado, returned to the Miteer Auction House to begin his alchemy cultivation.
Watching Xiao Yan unfold his Fire Wings and fly away, the massive Serene Sea Scaly Beast said, "That kid's alchemy skills aren't the only thing that's extraordinary. Just now, I sensed an extremely powerful force within his body."
Jia Xing Tian looked at Yao Ye and said, "I heard that the Miteer Clan was even willing to give half of the auction house's assets to Xiao Yan and intended to betroth Ya Fei to him, all in order to keep him."
Yao Ye's beautiful eyes gazed at the gradually fading trail of flames in the sky, a strange glint flashing within them. "He's worth that price."
Jia Xing Tian glanced sideways at Yao Ye, "Yao Ye, you're not that young anymore."
A dangerous light flickered in Yao Ye's eyes as she smiled at Jia Xing Tian. "What is Great Grandfather trying to say?"
"I didn't say anything."
Shortly after, Xiao Yan returned to the Miteer Auction House. He no longer stayed at the Nalan Clan's residence.
Xiao Yan did exactly as he said for the rest of the time. His primary task each day was to refine tier 5 medicinal pills. He would refine pills until his Dou Qi was exhausted and his Spiritual Strength depleted. Subsequently, he would cultivate the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique and Flame Mantra to replenish his Spiritual Strength and Dou Qi. Any remaining time would be spent practicing Dou Techniques.
Xiao Yan had gained some valuable experience in refining tier 5 pills after successfully refining one before. Although failures still outnumbered successes in the first week, his possession of a Heavenly Flame, coupled with formidable fire control and Spiritual Strength, allowed him to extract more essence from the medicinal ingredients, giving him ample material to work with.
After a week, Xiao Yan had achieved a certain success rate with low-grade tier 5 pills.
In the second week, he began challenging middle-grade tier 5 pills. By the end of the month, he had actually managed to refine a high-grade tier 5 Dou King Pill, and its quality was quite exceptional. Even Chairman Fa Ma couldn't help but smile wryly upon seeing it.
He marveled at the astonishing speed of Xiao Yan's progress. In a mere month, Xiao Yan had gone from successfully refining his first tier 5 pill to being able to produce a Dou King Pill. Moreover, the quality of the finished product was already not inferior to what he, the Chairman of the Alchemist Association, could refine.
Xiao Yan had thoroughly solidified his status as a 5th-tier alchemist in just a short month and a half. He could even refine high-grade tier 5 pills with a high success rate, becoming a genuine high-grade 5th-tier alchemist.
In a spacious secret chamber on the seventh floor of the Miteer Auction House, soft lamplight illuminated every corner, thoroughly dispelling the darkness.
This chamber was the highest-grade secret chamber of the Miteer Auction House. Not only could it block spiritual perception, but it could also withstand attacks from a Dou King. And now, it had become Xiao Yan's exclusive alchemy room.
A flat bed stood in a corner against the wall. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged upon it. Before him lay an array of meticulously prepared medicinal ingredients, all of which he and Hai Bodong had painstakingly gathered.
Today, Xiao Yan planned to refine the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill because, earlier that morning, the Misty Cloud Sect had sent a letter stating that Nalan Yanran had completed her training in the Gate of Life and Death and was formally issuing a challenge to him!
They had even widely distributed invitations to the elite experts of Jia Ma Sacred City to come spectate, intending to use this opportunity to boost Nalan Yanran's prestige as the future Sect Leader!
In plain terms, it was a declaration of war!
The letter didn't even mention a time, implying that Xiao Yan could go to the Misty Cloud Sect whenever he wished.
'Old Hai must be getting impatient by now. Although the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill is a high-grade tier 5 pill bordering on the peak level, it shouldn't pose a problem with my current alchemy skills. If I delay any longer, I'm afraid he'll nag me to death.' A faint smile played on Xiao Yan's lips as he recalled how Hai Bodong had been subtly probing his confidence in refining the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill over the past few days.
With a light flick of his storage ring, a black-colored cauldron materialized and landed heavily on the ground with a thud.
Some people said that alchemists shouldn't rely on superior cauldrons, but Xiao Yan scoffed at such notions. If that were the case, why would alchemists pursue Heavenly Flames? Everyone might as well just use ordinary flames.
Xiao Yan believed: To do a job well, one must first sharpen one's tools.
Possessing good tools was also a part of one's strength!
The Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill could indeed allow the sealed Dou Qi remaining in one's
body to return to the Qi cyclone, thereby restoring one's strength. However, the extent of recovery depended entirely on the pill's quality.
Xiao Yan planned to refine a Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill of the highest quality for Hai
Meow! Mao Wu directly leaped out from the void onto the Black Demon Cauldron with a soft cry. Nowadays, Xiao Yan would summon Mao Wu whenever he refined tier 5 pills. With Mao Wu's Spatial Strength assisting, he could detect issues more meticulously and minimize
losses in a timely manner.
This cat was truly an excellent alchemy assistant.
Moreover, over the past month, Mao Wu had been consuming Xiao Yan's failed medicinal
ingredients every day, causing its strength to increase rapidly. It had unexpectedly turned
into a 'pill-popping pet'.
Without further ado, Xiao Yan began refining using his merged Heavenly Flame. The Dou Qi within his body surged continuously. In no time, the temperature inside the Black Demon Cauldron reached an inconceivable level.
He placed the medicinal ingredients into the cauldron one by one. As the final ingredient entered, his expression grew solemn as he commenced refining according to the pill recipe. Meanwhile, Hai Bodong waited anxiously in the sixth floor reception room. Although he appeared calm, Ya Fei could tell that he was like a husband pacing outside the delivery room, pretending to be composed when he was actually frantic with worry.
Hai Bodong was likely praying fervently in his heart: Don't fail, Xiao Yan. Don't fail!
Three hours passed. With a creak, the door was pushed open, and a weary-looking Xiao Yan
"How did it go?!" Hai Bodong immediately stood up and asked nervously upon seeing Xiao
Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh upon seeing his anxious expression. He took out a pill bottle containing a purple-colored medicinal pill from his storage ring and tossed it to Hai Bodong as he said, "A smooth delivery; mother and child are safe."
Hai Bodong hurriedly caught the bottle in a fluster and nervously opened it. Instantly, a deep purple medicinal mist wafted out, filling the entire room with a purple haze.
From the density of the mist alone, one could tell that the pill's quality was exceptionally high. It could be said to be a perfect refinement!
"Can't you change this bad habit of tossing pills around?" Hai Bodong grumbled, though
relief was evident in his voice.
"Hurry up and take it. The medicinal strength of the Spiritual Recovery Purple Pill requires time to refine. I plan to head to the Misty Cloud Sect first thing tomorrow morning," Xiao Yan
"Alright, this old man will accompany you to the Misty Cloud Sect tomorrow morning." Hai Bodong let out a hearty laugh, clutching the pill as he hurried off to find a suitable place to
refine its medicinal strength.
"Sister Ya Fei, please help me prepare some people and a more luxurious mode of transportation for tomorrow. I want to make a grand entrance."
"So ostentatious?" Ya Fei was stunned for a moment. Xiao Yan wasn't someone who typically
"The one going to the Misty Cloud Sect this time isn't Xiao Yan the alchemist, but Xiao Yan of
the Xiao Clan! I cannot let my clan lose face."
We are officially entering the final arc of this volume!