Sixth-grade Alchemist

Xiao Yi Xian smiled in some relief. Thinking that she would soon master the Flying Dou Technique, she grew a little impatient.

Gu He stopped her. "When you channel your Dou Qi into the Eagle Wings, it will force two extremely tiny branch meridians out from the meridians along your spine. Even battle-hardened mercenaries could faint from that pain. Take a Pain-relief Pill before continuing your cultivation." As he spoke, he handed Xiao Yi Xian a pill.

Hearing that continuing the cultivation would be so terrifying, Xiao Yi Xian felt a lingering fear. After all, no one wanted to suffer such excruciating pain for no reason.

After swallowing the pill, Xiao Yi Xian placed both palms against the Eagle Wings once more. The Dou Qi within her body slowly circulated along the route described on the scroll. A moment later, it reached her arms and gradually flowed into her palms. The instant Dou Qi appeared in her palms, the Eagle Wings on the black scroll suddenly shone brightly. The purple and black light grew increasingly intense before finally turning into two thin purple-black streaks that shot into Xiao Yi Xian's palms like lightning.

They then rapidly coursed through her meridians. When they reached the meridians along Xiao Yi Xian's spine, they abruptly stopped, then forcibly pulled two extremely tiny branch meridians from them. These two branch meridians extended from the main channels and only gradually stopped once they reached her back.

Since she had already taken a Pain-relief Pill, Xiao Yi Xian merely felt as though something extra had appeared on her back, without any other sensation.

"All right, you've successfully cultivated this Flying Dou Technique. Next, as long as you circulate your Dou Qi to your back, a pair of black Eagle Wings will naturally appear. But you should test that in your room, or your dress will tear." Gu He clapped his hands, stood up, and spoke to Xiao Yi Xian.

Hearing Gu He's teasing, Xiao Yi Xian said coquettishly, "Master."

"Haha, when you go out to buy clothes in the future, get ones that expose a bit of your back. That way, you won't burst your clothes whenever you use the Flying Dou Technique." Gu He dodged her jade-like fist. "But there's no need to rush for now. Flying Dou Techniques require a considerable amount of Dou Qi. With your strength, even making it glide would be difficult. You'll have to wait until you reach the Dou Master realm before you truly have enough Dou Qi for it to consume. Only then will you be able to fly. I'm having you cultivate it now mainly so you can get used to it."

"So it all comes down to me not being strong enough!" Xiao Yi Xian said unhappily, pouting stubbornly.

"Don't blame your master for constantly pushing you. Most tragedies in this world are caused by the people involved being too weak. So even though you've improved quickly, I still need you to improve faster. After all, your master's enemies are very powerful. Before I openly reveal my hostility toward that monstrous force, you need enough strength to protect yourself." Gu He's voice suddenly became somewhat low. Thinking of his identity as an alchemist, he knew that as his alchemist grade rose, his soul would sooner or later draw the attention of the Soul Hall. Conflict between them was inevitable, and the Soul Hall was merely a minor force of the Hun Clan. Naturally, his enemies also included the strongest force on the Dou Qi Continent.

Seeing Gu He speak so gravely, Xiao Yi Xian put aside her playful mood. "Master, are your enemies very strong?"

"Yes, extremely strong. They could be called the strongest force on this Dou Qi Continent." Gu He suddenly crooked his mouth mischievously. "As for what force they are, I can't tell you yet. At the very least, I'll have to wait until you reach the Dou Zong realm before telling you anything about them."

Gu He had stirred up her curiosity, yet refused to tell her anything. Xiao Yi Xian could not help saying gloomily, "Master, you're awful."

However, she also knew that once Gu He made up his mind, he was nearly impossible to persuade. She could only return to her room to inspect her back. But now that she knew Gu He had enemies too, Xiao Yi Xian murmured inwardly, Master, I don't intend to have merely the strength to protect myself by then. I want to help you!

After Xiao Yi Xian left, Gu He continued familiarizing himself with the strength of a Dou Emperor. Three days passed like this. Once Gu He felt that he had basically mastered the Dou Qi within his body, he decided to refine Spirit Dou Pills.

The medicinal ingredients had been gathered days ago, so Gu He went straight to the small hill and began his next stretch of alchemy. Although the Spirit Dou Pill had only barely reached Sixth Grade, it was not something an alchemist like Gu He—who had only once attempted and failed to refine a Sixth-grade pill—could successfully refine in one try. Only after failing twice did Gu He successfully refine a Spirit Dou Pill. Gazing at the emerald-green pill constantly darting about within the cauldron, Gu He felt heartfelt joy. After more than half a year of effort, he had finally raised his alchemist grade to Sixth Grade.

With his first success, the subsequent refinements became much easier. Gu He quickly refined two more Spirit Dou Pills, stopping only after exhausting all the ingredients in the valley for refining them. He then attempted to refine an Imperial Pill. However, the violent medicinal power within the pill furnace caused Gu He's first attempt to fail. After gathering all the ingredients in the valley suitable for refining Imperial Pills, he only had enough for four more attempts. When he reopened the furnace, luck favored him, and he successfully refined two. Looking at the few medicinal ingredients left in the Small Valley, Gu He thought it was time to make a trip outside.

Since he would be away for some time and would be unable to use the Devouring Flame to raise his strength, while his current realm had already been completely stabilized, Gu He went to his room on the third floor and used the Devouring Flame to absorb the lowest-quality Imperial Pill. He smoothly advanced to Dou Emperor Two Stars. Afterward, Gu He called Xiao Yi Xian over and told her to pack her clothes and accompany him to the Imperial Capital.

Refining these Sixth-grade pills had taken nearly half a month. Since he would not need to fight much in the Imperial Capital, Gu He took a Fifth-grade Alchemist Sealing Pill, whose purpose was to seal part of his strength.

After taking the pill, Gu He outwardly appeared to be at Dou King Five Stars. Rising three stars in eight months was still something ordinary people could accept. His true strength, however, would shock those familiar with him.

"Xian'er, we'll need Xiao Lan to carry us to the Imperial Capital next." Gu He spoke to the already-packed Xiao Yi Xian, casually taking the luggage from her hands and placing it into his Ring.

Perhaps remembering how Gu He had carried her through the Monster Mountain Range last time, Xiao Yi Xian's cheeks flushed slightly. She took out the Bamboo Whistle from her bosom and gently blew a strand of sound through it. A moment later, a massive blue eagle flew swiftly over from the distance, circled above the valley, and finally descended slowly.

Watching the Blue Eagle descend lower and lower, Gu He wrapped an arm around Xiao Yi Xian's slender waist and leaped onto its back.

Under Gu He's guidance, Xiao Yi Xian directed the Blue Eagle toward the Imperial Capital.

Sitting on Xiao Lan's back, Gu He felt that he could nurture this Blue Eagle. In the original story, Xiao Yi Xian had raised it into a Fifth Tier, or even Sixth Tier Magical Beast no weaker than a Dou Emperor, which showed that this Blue Eagle possessed great potential.

As soon as the thought arose, Gu He acted on it. He gave Xiao Yi Xian the Nourishing Spirit Liquid, which was no longer of much use to him, and asked her to try feeding it to the Blue Eagle. After all, Xiao Yi Xian was the Blue Eagle's master. Even Gu He could not forcibly command a proud Magical Beast; only words from Xiao Yi Xian, its master, would make it obey.