Xiao Yi Xian of Qingshan Town

Because Old Yao had consumed the Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva, his Soul Power had recovered, and he was confident he could successfully refine a Sixth Grade Pill in one go.

Thus, Old Yao directly abandoned the combination of the Fifth Grade Pill Blood Lotus Pill and Ice Spirit Cold Spring, choosing the more effective Sixth Grade Pill, the Earth Spirit Pill.

Moreover, one of the Earth Spirit Pill's ingredients was a Sixth Rank Water Attribute Magical Core, which echoed the Dry Blue Water Flame Xiao Yan had used to temper his body. The Earth Spirit Pill's effects on Xiao Yan might even improve by another ten or twenty percent.

The only fly in the ointment was that Xiao Yan could not obtain a single one of those ingredients.

But clearly, the problem was not the Pill Recipe. It was Xiao Yan...

"Put aside those unrealistic fantasies of yours. The Beast Mountain Range is rich in resources. Spend some time looking, and gathering the four ingredients needed for the Earth Spirit Pill won't be difficult."

After smacking Xiao Yan down, Old Yao felt thoroughly refreshed and returned to his usual calm.

"I wonder if there are any ruins left behind by ancient experts in the Beast Mountain Range. I think there should be some from Dou Zong or Dou Zun experts. What do you think, Teacher?"

"Even if there are, they have nothing to do with a Dou Zhe like you. Don't count on me either. I have no body right now, so the strength I can wield is limited."

Xiao Yan patted himself off, secured the Heavy Black Ruler across his back, stopped babbling with Old Yao, and entered Qingshan Town.

Although Xiao Yan had come to Qingshan Town at Old Yao's instruction, he had another purpose as well: he wanted to find Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yan vaguely remembered that at the start of the original story, Xiao Yi Xian had merely been an "ordinary" beauty. Her main attractions were her slender waist and elegant temperament. Later on, she directly rivaled Xiao Xun Er as a peerless beauty. He wondered whether eating poison had somehow mutated her.

After wandering around Qingshan Town twice, Xiao Yan still failed to spot Xiao Yi Xian, that refined beauty. He also could not remember which obscure faction she belonged to, so he simply entered a medicinal herb shop called Myriad Medicine Hall—the only medicinal herb shop in Qingshan Town.

"Pah. The name sounds nice enough, but there isn't a single decent medicinal herb here." Xiao Yan had hoped to strike it lucky and buy some Blood Lotus Essence, but he could not find any at all.

Xiao Yan assumed he had arrived too early and turned to leave, only to be called from behind.

"Our Myriad Medicine Hall is preparing to explore deeper into the Beast Mountain Range. Perhaps you might find the medicinal herbs you need there. Would you be interested in temporarily joining our Mercenary Group and going with us?"

Xiao Yan turned around and found a refined beauty with a slender waist. He immediately grinned and replied, "Sure!"

However, Xiao Yan asked Old Yao inwardly, "Teacher, is there something wrong with this woman? How did she see at a glance that I'm so heroic and extraordinary?"

"Nonsense. You're carrying such a huge lump of metal weapon on your back. Anyone can tell you're different!" Old Yao mocked him, but he still dutifully released his Soul Power and swept it over the girl suspected to be Xiao Yi Xian.

"Eh? There really is something unusual about this little girl."

"Explain."

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Let me take a closer look first."

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes and casually tossed the Heavy Black Ruler from his back onto the ground. Its terrifying weight instantly crushed the floor. Freed from its suppression, Xiao Yan also emitted the dangerous aura of a Peak Dou Practitioner, forcing back the shop assistants who had been about to approach.

"Oh, I'll pay for it." Xiao Yan glanced at the damaged floor and tossed out a pouch containing several hundred Gold Coins in loose change.

"You're not from Qingshan Town, are you?" The girl who was now practically confirmed to be Xiao Yi Xian came up to Xiao Yan and asked.

"Indeed." Xiao Yan straightened his back, only to find that he was still shorter than the girl, so he silently shrank back down.

"I thought so. You must be some young master from a great clan who ran away from home." Xiao Yi Xian seemed to notice Xiao Yan's little movement. She clasped her Hands behind her back, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Xiao Yan gave Xiao Yi Xian a slightly puzzled look, unable to understand why she had suddenly come over to build rapport with him.

"I can see that you're quite familiar with medicinal herbs—are you an Alchemist?" Xiao Yi Xian's Eyes sparkled with admiration and envy.

Xiao Yan immediately understood Xiao Yi Xian's purpose. Aside from certain villains surnamed Hun, everyone on the Dou Qi Continent held Alchemists in a level of reverence beyond imagination.

"I suppose I'm half an Alchemist and half a Dou Practitioner! After all, I've barely spent any time on alchemy. Becoming an Alchemist was entirely thanks to my talent..." Xiao Yan could not help himself; the boastful words slipped right out.

Xiao Yi Xian's expression visibly worsened. She clenched her little fists, gritted her teeth, gave a soft snort, then turned and ran away.

"Heh, kid, you really are something. I've never seen anyone as good at talking as you." Old Yao's teasing voice sounded in Xiao Yan's mind.

"Hey, now you have!" Xiao Yan's mouth was once again faster than his brain.

"...That little girl's constitution is somewhat different from ordinary people's. Build a good relationship with her, and you'll have another high-level fighter in the future." Old Yao decided to change the subject.

"How high-level? If we're not talking about Dou Emperor, can she reach Dou Sheng?"

"...She can!" Old Yao forcibly suppressed the urge to smack Xiao Yan into the ground, then let out a thunderous roar in Xiao Yan's mind that left stars swimming before Xiao Yan's Eyes.

Just as Xiao Yan was shaking his head to clear it, a Middle-aged Man ran over to him with a respectful expression, bent at the waist and lowering his head.

"This esteemed sir, I am the owner of this Myriad Medicine Hall. People call me Mr. Yao. I heard that you are a respected Alchemist?" The Middle-aged Man wore an obsequious smile.

Xiao Yan looked at Mr. Yao, who was using all sorts of subtle postures to keep himself slightly shorter than Xiao Yan. Without saying anything, he took out his Second Grade Alchemist badge from his Storage Ring and pinned it to his chest.

Mr. Yao became even more respectful upon seeing the badge and hurriedly said, "Please rest at our Myriad Medicine Hall for the moment, sir. Tomorrow, our Myriad Medicine Hall will organize a mercenary team of fifty members, all Two-Star Dou Practitioners or above, to explore the Beast Mountain Range. If you travel with us, gathering medicinal herbs will be much more convenient."

"Mm." Xiao Yan let out a breath through his nose, indicating his agreement.

"Tsk, I see it now. I can't let you brat have opportunities to enter human society, or it won't serve any tempering purpose at all."

"Hehe, I'm about to live like a savage in the Beast Mountain Range. Let me enjoy myself a little first."

Old Yao snorted coldly and ignored Xiao Yan as he followed Mr. Yao off to soak in a hot spring.

"Sir, what do you think of Xiao Yi Xian?" Mr. Yao personally prepared incense for Xiao Yan and added some fatigue-relieving medicinal herbs to the hot spring.

"She stands head and shoulders above everyone else in Qingshan Town." Xiao Yan thought for a moment before answering.

"Heh, sir, you may not know this, but Xiao Yi Xian is the only healer in Qingshan Town. More than half the mercenaries in the entire town have received her kindness—she is the light in the hearts of most of our mercenaries!" Mr. Yao spared no effort in praising Xiao Yi Xian, clearly hoping to use her to keep Xiao Yan here.

Xiao Yan neither agreed nor disagreed and gave no response.

"Then please rest well, sir. I will take my leave." Receiving no reply, Mr. Yao voluntarily withdrew from the room, leaving only two High-Rank Dou Practitioners outside to "protect" Xiao Yan's safety.