A Grand Gesture

Night, with a moon, a crescent moon.

Xiao Family's Back Mountain, inside a cave.

In the cave, droplets of water fell from the surrounding walls, their ethereal sounds echoing through the cavern, exceedingly pleasant to the ear.

The cave was not dark, because several Moonlight Stones had been placed around it. Their gentle glow dispelled the darkness, making the cave as bright as day.

At this moment, there were two youths in the cave. Before each of them stood a Medicine Cauldron nearly half a meter tall.

Flying birds, beasts, and strange runes were carved over the Medicine Cauldrons, making them look rather mysterious.

"Teacher, the Medicine Cauldrons and medicinal ingredients are all ready. You can start teaching us alchemy now, right?"

Sitting before the Medicine Cauldrons, Xiao Han and Xiao Yan were both somewhat impatient. Their faces were filled with eagerness, and their hearts brimmed with anticipation.

"You two should first channel your Dou Qi into the fire mouths beneath the Medicine Cauldrons and see whether it can transform into flames." At this moment, Yao Lao's figure drifted out from the Ring.

"Okay!"

Hearing this, the two rubbed their hands together and immediately found the fire mouths beneath the Medicine Cauldrons. Then they pressed their palms against them. With a thought, Dou Qi flowed along their palms and surged into the Medicine Cauldrons.

"Pfft..."

"Pfft..."

After the Dou Qi was channeled in, before long, two flames rose within the Medicine Cauldrons, then began to burn fiercely.

"Not bad. You managed to transform Dou Qi into flames on your first try." Yao Lao stroked his beard, smiled, and continued, "However, flames transformed from Dou Qi are only the lowest grade. If you want to refine higher-quality pills, you must control a supremely powerful flame."

"Teacher is talking about Heavenly Flames?" Xiao Yan's eyes flickered as he said.

"Mm. Heavenly Flames are the best choice. Of course, they are also the hardest to obtain. On the Dou Qi Continent, there is a Heavenly Flame Ranking, and even that only records twenty-three types of Heavenly Flames. Heavenly Flames are far too precious. Some are only born in the world once every several thousand years."

Yao Lao paused, then continued, "And Xiao Yan, if the Flame Mantra you cultivate wants to evolve, then Heavenly Flames are the best objects of evolution."

"Teacher, Heavenly Flames are so precious. Where are we supposed to find them?" Xiao Yan was a little depressed.

"Don't worry. With your teacher here, you won't lack Heavenly Flames." Yao Lao said. With his knowledge, finding Heavenly Flames naturally would not be difficult.

"Oh." Xiao Yan nodded, but inwardly he was muttering that this old man seemed a little unreliable.

At the side, Xiao Han's eyes flickered. He had not cultivated the Burning Art, so naturally he did not need to devour Heavenly Flames. However, as an alchemist, he really did need a presentable flame. It seemed he would have to accumulate more points and exchange them for a powerful flame.

"All right, let's not talk about that. Heavenly Flames are still too far away for you right now." Yao Lao waved his hand, then said, "Next, the two of you will begin refining medicine. Just refine according to the formulas I gave you before."

"Okay!" The two nodded. After excitedly rubbing their hands together, they no longer dragged their feet and began recalling the previous formulas in their minds, preparing to start refining medicine.

"Blood Coagulation Powder: one stalk of Blood Condensing Grass, one Vitality Fruit, two poppy flowers..."

After memorizing the quantities of medicinal ingredients in their minds, Xiao Yan and Xiao Han began working. Using their Soul Perception to control the flames, the two repeatedly refined the medicinal ingredients.

However, because this was their first time refining medicine, failures came one after another. When refining the medicinal ingredients, the two would always accidentally burn them. The extraction of medicinal ingredients seemed very simple, but in actual practice it was not simple at all. If the heat was even slightly off, they would fail, leaving the two somewhat depressed.

"Don't rush. Failure is inevitable on your first attempt at refining medicine. Remember not to grow impatient. Steady your mind and keep summarizing your experiences and lessons." Yao Lao spoke up to remind them.

The two nodded. Naturally, they were not the sort to give up so easily. They immediately steadied their minds, calmed themselves, and continued refining. Of course, failure still harassed them frequently.

Everything was difficult at the beginning. Just as Yao Lao had said, failure was very normal. Summarizing experience and lessons was what mattered most.

In the quiet cave, for several days straight, the lamplight did not go out. The two youths cast aside all distracting thoughts and completely immersed themselves in the world of alchemy.

Half a month later.

Ever since the Jialie Family invited a First-grade Alchemist, business in the Xiao Family's Market had plummeted. Now, the Market was deserted and incomparably desolate, and the Xiao Family had suffered tremendous losses because of it.

If they did not find a way to resolve the current situation, the Xiao Family's position among Wutan City's three great families would likely be replaced by other powers. The weak were prey to the strong; there was nothing unreasonable about that.

In short, the Xiao Family's situation was very critical.

And it was also on this day that the Xiao Family received a visiting letter, saying that two alchemists would personally come to visit the Xiao Family tonight. What was more, the letter actually said they wanted to cooperate with the Xiao Family.

This sudden alchemist visiting letter instantly threw the Xiao Family into an uproar.

"Pass down the order. Make arrangements immediately. Prepare to receive them tonight." This was the command Xiao Zhan gave on the spot. He felt that the Xiao Family's luck seemed to be turning around.

For a time, everyone in the Xiao Family became busy, cleaning inside and out until everything was spotless.

Time quietly passed amid the anxious waiting of the Xiao Family's people.

Nightfall arrived as scheduled.

The two alchemists also arrived as scheduled. Beneath the moonlight, two figures draped in wide black robes were welcomed by everyone into the Xiao Family's reception hall.

In the reception hall, Xiao Zhan sat in the Head Seat, with the Three Elders beside him. Below his left hand were the Xiao Family's Younger Generation; Xun Er, Xiao Yu, and the others were all present.

As for the two Black-robed Alchemists, they sat in the VIP Seats. Beside them, maidservants poured tea and water, serving them very attentively.

"Patriarch Xiao, welcoming us like this is truly too courteous." The Black-robed Alchemist on the left spoke, and an aged voice followed.

"Not at all, not at all. You two have come from afar as guests, and with two alchemists personally visiting my Xiao Family, it truly brings radiance to our humble home." Xiao Zhan smiled.

Hearing this, the two hidden beneath the black robes both could not help secretly laughing.

"Patriarch Xiao, the two of us still have matters to attend to later, so we will not waste time with pleasantries. The reason we came today is because we want to cooperate with the Xiao Family and do a small business deal." At this moment, the Black-robed Figure on the right spoke. His voice was somewhat hoarse, and very mechanical, as though it had been created through some technological means. It was not as natural as the voice of the previous Black-robed Alchemist.

As soon as his words fell, this Black-robed Alchemist waved his sleeve, and a pile of jade bottles immediately appeared in the Xiao Family's hall. His mechanical, hoarse voice rang out, "Patriarch Xiao, here are one thousand eight hundred bottles of Blood Coagulation Powder. Their quality is absolutely better than that Spring Recovery Powder. We entrust them to you today and ask you to sell them on our behalf. As for the profits, we will split them fifty-fifty!"

As soon as these words fell, Xiao Zhan and the others were all startled. One thousand eight hundred bottles of Blood Coagulation Powder—this... was truly a grand gesture. Moreover, the profits would be split fifty-fifty. To the Xiao Family, this was absolutely a sure gain with no loss, since they only needed to be responsible for selling them.

However, when the Black-robed Alchemist on the right waved his hand just now, he had revealed a fair palm. At a glance, it was clearly the hand of a young man. The wave had only lasted an instant, but it was still caught by Xiao Yu at the side. That hand was very familiar, and it actually made the figure of that shameless scoundrel appear in her mind unconsciously...

"I'm overthinking it, right..." Xiao Yu murmured. Naturally, she could not believe that this Black-robed Alchemist could be Xiao Han.

"Two masters, are you truly willing to split the profits fifty-fifty with my Xiao Family?" Xiao Zhan still asked, expressing confirmation. After all, at a time like this, even if the split were thirty-seventy, he would not dare say much.

"Yes, Patriarch Xiao, you did not hear wrong. It is fifty-fifty. All right, since the Blood Coagulation Powder has already been handed to you, the two of us will take our leave first!" the person on the left said. He was the first to rise, preparing to leave. At this moment, he felt somewhat nervous inwardly, because the Beautiful Eyes of a Green-clothed Maiden beside him had been staring at him the entire time, as though she had detected something.

After saying this, the alchemist on the left turned and left. However, just as he reached the doorway, his footsteps paused. He turned back and said, "Patriarch Xiao, that little fellow Xiao Yan is not bad."

Hearing this, everyone in the reception hall was stunned, somewhat baffled. They had not expected this alchemist to suddenly toss out such a sentence.

The Black-robed Alchemist on the right glanced at the alchemist on the left. As expected of the Flame Emperor. He had indeed brought the Subtle Flex to the pinnacle. Respect, respect.

Immediately, his own footsteps also paused. Then he turned around and said to everyone:

"Patriarch Xiao, that little fellow Xiao Han is also quite good. Moreover, he is handsome and dashing. His future prospects are limitless!"

Hearing this, everyone in the reception hall was stunned again. This... what was going on?

However, the corners of the Black-robed Alchemist on the left's mouth could not help twitching fiercely. Handsome Xiao, did you have to go this far?