Yao Ye's tall figure walked ahead.
Xiao Yan's gaze involuntarily drifted toward her, and then—
A force came from his waist.
Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Yan with a smile, the hand at his waist slowly tightening.
Xiao Yan immediately withdrew his gaze and casually took her small hand.
After passing through a long corridor!
At its end:
"Creak, creak, creak!"
The Bronze Giant Gate of the Imperial Family Forbidden Area slowly opened amid a deep rumble.
Heaven and earth energy, so dense it was nearly tangible, surged forth.
As it rushed toward them, it actually condensed into wisps of thin, visible mist.
Behind the gates, Jia Xing Tian had already shed his tattered gray robe.
He had changed into luxurious formal attire embroidered with coiling dragon patterns.
Even his sparse beard had been carefully trimmed, making him appear especially spirited.
He stood respectfully before the nine-tiered jade steps and bowed slightly.
"I have been awaiting you for quite some time!"
A flattering smile squeezed out from the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, his voice full of enthusiasm.
"For Master to grace us with your presence is truly the Imperial Family's greatest fortune!"
Xiao Yan's expression remained calm as he gently led Xiao Yi Xian by the hand through the gates.
His gaze was tranquil, and his tone indifferent.
"You are too polite, Elder Jia. This junior cannot bear such praise."
"Still, the Jia Ma Imperial Family's forbidden palace is truly magnificent!"
After the customary exchange of compliments, Xiao Yan took the initiative to bring up business.
"For this pill refinement, has Elder Jia prepared the medicinal ingredients in advance?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a smile curved Jia Xing Tian's lips.
"Clap! Clap!"
He personally clapped his hands.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
The air was suddenly pierced by the sound of rushing wind.
Sixteen Dou Ling with powerful auras carried gilded jade cases.
They entered in orderly succession with neat steps.
The instant the case lids were lifted, the fragrance of countless strange medicinal ingredients immediately filled the air!
Jia Xing Tian's face was full of pride as he listed the treasures within the cases one by one.
"Thousand Year Blood Ganoderma, Netherworld Earth Core Milk, Sixth Tier Demonic Core..."
Each time he named an item, the arms of the guards holding the jade cases unconsciously sank a little lower.
Jia Xing Tian looked at Xiao Yan with considerable confidence.
"Although the primary ingredients for refining the Sect Breaking Pill are exceptionally precious!"
"With the Imperial Family's foundations, gathering several sets of ingredients is not difficult."
"After Master completes this refinement, you may enter our Imperial Family's treasury whenever you wish."
"And choose anything you desire!"
However, Xiao Yan merely swept his calm gaze over the jade cases.
Then he spoke softly.
"One ingredient is still missing: Seven Revolutions Profound Ice Grass."
Upon hearing this, Jia Xing Tian frowned.
"Master, this Seven Revolutions Profound Ice Grass..."
"Does not seem to be listed in the pill formula."
Xiao Yan lightly waved his hand.
"The ingredients listed in the formula are not the optimal combination."
"If you want the pill's effects to improve further and raise the odds of breaking through to Dou Zong."
"Then prepare several stalks of Seven Revolutions Profound Ice Grass for me."
"If you are unwilling, forget I mentioned it!"
Yet before Xiao Yan had even finished speaking, upon hearing that it could increase his chances of breaking through to Dou Zong—
Jia Xing Tian vanished in an instant, leaving only a sentence behind.
"Please wait, Master!"
At the center of the Imperial Family Forbidden Area:
Amid a beautiful expanse of mountains and rivers, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged upon the vast grassland.
The instant the Black Demon Cauldron landed, the formation patterns on the ground lit up automatically.
Silver light flickered.
Xiao Yan looked focused as he raised a hand and made a grasping motion.
His hand lightly swept across the cauldron's body, and the Three-Colored Exotic Fire coiled and moved like lively creatures!
Stalk after stalk of medicinal ingredients floated out and fell into the cauldron.
Three Heavenly Flames fused into it at once, wrapping around every medicinal ingredient!
All the medicinal ingredients began melting simultaneously!
Jia Xing Tian, who was watching the pill refinement from the side—
His pupils suddenly contracted, and he stood rooted to the spot in shock.
This was his first time watching Master Xiao refine pills!
He knew Master Xiao's skill was heaven-defying, but he had not expected it to be this heaven-defying!
Did ordinary alchemists not refine ingredients one stalk at a time?
Yet Master was refining all the medicinal ingredients at once!
With such precise control, even a seventh-grade alchemist might not possess it, right?
And what did it mean to use three Heavenly Flames at the same time?
Damn it, three Heavenly Flames—what kind of concept was that!?
For a Dou Huang expert, refining even one Heavenly Flame was nearly impossible.
And it was absolutely a life-or-death gamble. Three—and Master was only a Dou Wang!
What kind of monstrous luck was this!
Master was the legendary Son of Destiny!?
"Condense!"
Xiao Yan suddenly shouted, raising his hand to draw talismans in the air!
Seventy-Two Fire Talismans shot into the cauldron like meteors!
Under the scorching heat of the Heavenly Flames, the medicinal ingredients swiftly transformed into streams of light.
They condensed in midair into a mass of crystalline medicinal liquid, refracting dazzling radiance.
Brilliant beyond compare!
The liquid mass rapidly shrank, while the impurities within it—
Were swiftly dispersed at a speed visible to the naked eye!
"The pill is complete!"
Xiao Yan's clear shout rang out in every direction!
The cauldron lid flew up!
Seven-colored radiance burst forth in an instant, flashing as it illuminated the entire forbidden area!
The Sect Breaking Pill, wrapped in Six Dragon-Shaped Pill Patterns, fell into a Jade Bottle.
Jia Xing Tian held it in his trembling hands.
The aura of a Peak Dou Huang leaked out beyond his control.
The powerful pressure forced all the plants within a hundred zhang to bend low.
Even his voice trembled with excitement.
"Master is truly divine!"
"This pill will surely allow our Imperial Family to advance another step!"
Jia Xing Tian carefully put away the Sect Breaking Pill.
Only then did he turn around, his smiling face even somewhat fawning as he faced Xiao Yan.
"Master, regarding the matter of treating the Magical Beast that we discussed earlier..."
"Has Master agreed?"
Xiao Yan nodded softly.
"Lead the way."
Jia Xing Tian turned and led the two of them deeper into the forbidden area.
After passing through three layers of barriers, a lake as black as ink came into view.
The lake surface was still as a mirror, yet it gave off an unfathomable feeling!
Even the sunlight shining upon it was ruthlessly swallowed.
It was a bottomless expanse of blackness!
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, his Spiritual Power touching the lake surface.
"A Sixth Tier Magical Beast?"
"Only, its condition is somewhat dire."
"Splash!"
The next instant, the lake surface suddenly exploded into a hundred-zhang curtain of water!
A ferocious beast head broke through the water.
Dark golden scales were covered in cracks, while a shocking piercing wound remained over its left eye.
Within Xiao Yan's spiritual perception, beneath that seemingly powerful body—
Were countless Hidden Injuries!
"Roar!"
The Abyssal Sea Flood Dragon Beast's furious roar resounded across the land like rolling thunder.
"Who is it? Who dares disturb me!!"
"Old Jia? What are you doing here!?"
As Jia Xing Tian looked at the Abyssal Sea Flood Dragon Beast, sorrow gradually filled his eyes.
His figure flashed.
He stroked the Magical Beast's massive wounds, his voice carrying a trace of desolation.
"Three hundred years ago, the Abyssal Sea Flood Dragon Beast protected the Imperial Family's bloodline."
"It endured the siege of three Dou Huang experts, and now its old injuries have flared up again!"
"I searched for every alchemist throughout the Jia Ma Empire, but all were helpless..."
The Abyssal Sea Flood Dragon Beast let out a low roar.
"Hmph, the past is like smoke. Why bring it up again!"
"My current state is a choice I made myself."
Xiao Yan walked across the water, his expression grave.
"Let me take a look. It is not as though there is no chance."
As his figure flashed, his palm pressed against the Magical Beast's forehead.
His Spiritual Power traveled along its meridians, gently brushing over every hidden injury like dusk.
"Roar!"
Yet the Abyssal Sea Flood Dragon Beast suddenly let out a threatening roar.
"Human..."
Before you continue