An earthen-yellow streak tore through the clouds, carrying vast Dou Qi as it crashed to the ground.
As Jia Xing Tian's gray robes billowed, a sharp glint burst from his sunken eye sockets.
"This scent... a pill?"
"A Sect Breaking Pill—it truly is a Sect Breaking Pill!"
This Peak Dou Huang expert was breathing heavily.
His withered hand hovered three inches from the pill Xiao Yan held up, trembling faintly.
Six faintly visible pill patterns flowed within the radiant glow.
They had even caused the Dou Qi vortex dormant within him for years to tremble.
Relying on his years of composure, he forcefully suppressed his excitement.
He cupped his hands toward Xiao Yan in salute.
"This old man is Jia Xing Tian of the Jiama Royal Family. Greetings, Master Xiao!"
"I have an important matter I wish to discuss with you, Master. I sincerely ask for your permission."
A Peak Dou Huang expert had lowered himself so much and offered such a respectful salute.
He had clearly given Xiao Yan plenty of face, so Xiao Yan could hardly reject his goodwill.
"Elder Jia, please rise quickly. This junior will naturally consider your request!"
"However, why don't we change locations and discuss this properly?"
Xiao Yan wore an affable smile. There was still a whole crowd of alchemists watching below.
The commotion had not even settled down yet.
Then a Peak Dou Huang expert had suddenly appeared and treated him with such respect.
The scene, which had only just calmed somewhat, began boiling over again.
"Yes, yes, yes. This old man was too abrupt."
"Master, please!"
The group turned and entered the Alchemist Guild. They had just taken their seats in the tea room.
Before Jia Xing Tian could speak, Hai Bodong's voice rang out in the room.
"Old Rooster, you're asking for help empty-handed?"
"I'd say your sincerity isn't all that great!"
Jia Xing Tian frowned and lightly flicked his sleeve.
"Heh, you old fellow vanished for so long."
"Who would have thought you'd found such an eminent master out here?"
"Consider yourself lucky!"
"This old man did not come here without understanding proper etiquette!"
As he spoke, Jia Xing Tian flipped his hand, and an exquisite jade box appeared in his palm.
"I heard that Master is searching for medicinal ingredients that restore the soul."
"This piece of Sixth-tier Soul Nourishing Wood..."
"May be considered this old man's gift of introduction. I hope Master will not disdain it."
Xiao Yan did not refuse and accepted it with a smile.
Seeing Xiao Yan's action, Jia Xing Tian was delighted.
This is settled!
"Master Xiao, I came this time to request a Sect Breaking Pill."
"And a pill capable of healing the Hidden Injuries of a Sixth Tier Magical Beast."
"If Master is willing to refine pills for the Imperial Family, the secret vault on the third floor of the Treasury Pavilion will be yours to choose from!"
Jia Xing Tian abruptly turned around, and the Coiled Dragon Jade Pendant at his waist struck with a crisp chime!
His gaze was resolute, displaying the manner of someone lavishly wealthy.
Xiao Yan gently stroked his Storage Ring, a smile curving his lips.
"Three days later."
"Three days later?"
Jia Xing Tian's gray-white brows twitched violently.
"I have already agreed to the Nalan Family head's request."
"The Brand Poison within Old Master Nalan's body..."
"If it is delayed any longer, it will invade his heart meridian."
The moment Xiao Yan spoke, Nalan Su, who had been trembling anxiously at the side, was instantly overjoyed.
"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"
Both his hands trembled with excitement, and the Gilded Calling Card he held dropped with a slap.
Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve, and green flames swept the calling card into his embrace.
"I will visit tomorrow at dawn."
When Nalan Su left the Alchemist Guild with endless thanks, his footsteps hurried.
Jia Xing Tian suddenly flicked out a Black Iron Token.
An azure dragon moved across the token's surface, glowing with a blood-red luster beneath the moonlight.
The old man stepped into the air, his voice spreading along ripples of Dou Qi.
"With this item, you may enter the Imperial Family's Forbidden Area."
"When Master has time, this old man will prepare Spiritual Medicine in the Imperial Family's Forbidden Area."
"I shall await Master there!"
After Jia Xing Tian's figure disappeared into the distance, Fa Ma stepped forward and drew out a pill recipe from his Storage Ring.
The crystal lamps atop the guild illuminated the Sixth-grade Pill Recipe brightly.
Fa Ma's age-spotted fingers rubbed over the parchment scroll.
The gilded decorations along its edges reflected a dim blue gleam.
"Master Xiao, this old man has some matters concerning the convention to tell you."
"The champion's reward for this convention differs from previous years."
"Not only is there the Heavenly Luan Phoenix Beast Fire, which is on the verge of dissipating, but there is also this Sixth-grade Pill Recipe."
Xiao Yan's gaze fixed upon the three ancient characters in the center of the scroll: "Spirit Fusion Pill."
A three-dimensional illustration of a dark-blue pill had been drawn along the recipe's edges.
Pale-purple annotations curled like tadpoles.
"This pill can allow a soul to perfectly merge with a newly formed body."
"For situations such as symbiosis between different bodies, it can reconstruct spirit and flesh."
A faint tremor came from within his sleeve as the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python slithered from his wrist bone to his shoulder.
Its emerald vertical pupils reflected the design on the pill recipe.
Faint, imperceptible thoughts entered Xiao Yan's mind.
"Master Fa Ma."
Xiao Yan flicked his Storage Ring, and a jade slip glowing with green light landed on the sandalwood table.
"I am quite interested in this Spirit Fusion Pill recipe."
"I will use this Sixth-grade Mysterious Nether Cold Pill recipe..."
"To exchange for the Spirit Fusion Pill as the reward for the Alchemist Convention. What do you think?"
A flush rose on Fa Ma's withered face.
The frost patterns flowing across the jade slip's surface made his eye sockets shine.
"Of course!"
"The Mysterious Nether Cold Pill is a treasure capable of helping an Ice-attribute Dou Wang break through a bottleneck!"
The old man suddenly raised his head, a sharp gleam bursting from his clouded eyes.
"The Spirit Fusion Pill has far too narrow a use and too little demand."
"In this exchange, this old man is the one taking advantage."
Xiao Yan nodded. After exchanging the pill recipes.
He went alone to the top-floor lounge, intending to rest for a while.
Moonlight passed through the carved window lattice, weaving silver gauze across the bluestone floor.
The instant the door closed behind him, a cool, supple snake tail suddenly wrapped around Xiao Yan's waist.
Seven-colored scales transformed inch by inch into jade-like skin, while red gauze poured down like a waterfall of blood.
Queen Medusa's purple tail shattered the moonlight across the floor.
Her sharp nails were already pressed against the youth's throat.
"Human!"
Dou Qi flowed through the snake markings at the corners of the Queen's eyes.
"You should understand what this Spirit Fusion Pill means to me, shouldn't you?"
"If you can refine this pill for me..."
"I can let all that happened before go."
The snake tail wrapped around Xiao Yan's waist suddenly tightened.
The sound of brocade tearing and scales scraping was especially piercing in the silent room.
Xiao Yan's Adam's apple rolled against her claws, crimson flames gradually igniting in his pupils.
"Must Her Majesty the Queen always resort to weapons whenever she appears?"
He suddenly seized her fair wrist, his thumb precisely pressing against her throbbing pulse.
"Like this, perhaps?"
The emerald bed curtains stirred without wind.
Surging auras collided and intertwined, shattering the moonlight filling the room.
Just as Medusa was about to gather her Dou Qi, a Three-Colored Fire Lotus mark appeared at her waist.
With a muffled groan, the Dou Qi within her dispersed.
"Your Majesty the Queen, could it be that you do not understand your own situation?"
"Presumptuous!"
Her wine-red pupils emitted a dangerous crimson glow.
She was about to attack by force when she suddenly realized that Heavenly Flames had already woven a three-colored cage around her.
Xiao Yan's nose nearly touched the red markings at the corners of her eyes.
"Why don't we make a deal?"
"I will grant you Spirit and Flesh Integration, and in the future, I will do everything in my power to help elevate your bloodline!"
"You, in return, promise me..."
"To remain by my side for a lifetime. How about it?"
Bang!
The jade pillow suddenly exploded into powder as Medusa turned over and pinned the youth beneath the brocade quilt.
Yet Xiao Yan did not care in the slightest, wrapping his arm around her soft, fair waist.
The warm touch carried an unfamiliar sensation, coursing through his body like electricity.
"Human, do not push your luck!"
Medusa's scarlet nails carved bloody lines across Xiao Yan's chest.
Yet her breathing exposed the disorder in her aura.
"Once I recover, I will definitely..."
"What will you do to me?"
Xiao Yan suddenly clasped the back of her neck, his scorching palm pressed tightly against her cool skin.
"Want to imprison me on the bed, like you are doing now?"
His fingertips brushed aside the long hair that had fallen over her fragrant shoulder.
"Or could it be..."
Crimson fire climbed along her hair and reached the Queen's earlobe.
"Her Majesty the Queen has never had any romantic experience at all?"
"Are you embarrassed?"
Boom!
The phantom of the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python suddenly appeared behind Medusa!
Killing intent bloomed in her eyes as her snake tail coiled tightly around the youth's waist.
Even without Dou Qi, she could still crush a Dou Wang to death with her physical body alone!
Yet when she gradually exerted strength.
She discovered that the human youth before her possessed a terrifyingly strong body!
She could not do anything to him at all.
"How could a mere human...?"
Xiao Yan stared unblinkingly into those bewitching red eyes beneath him.
Moonlight outlined his smiling profile.
"Your Majesty the Queen, don't be so worked up!"
"I can refine the pill for you, but..."
Xiao Yan changed the subject.
"By the rules, one who seeks medicine should offer something of equal value in exchange."
At that point, he suddenly leaned closer.
His soft breath almost brushed Medusa's face.
Xiao Yan's voice was gentle:
"I can refine pills for you for the rest of my life."
"As long as you stay by my side."
"What do you think of those terms?"
Before you continue